ALAN McBride looked forward to hearing from home when he was doing his National Service in Egypt — especially when his post included the Barnsley Chronicle.

During the 18 months he served in the country with the Royal Engineers, his father Herbert McBride made sure he didn’t miss the news from home by sending his son the Chronicle each week.

“It was the first time I had been abroad and I really looked forward to getting the paper. It was great to keep up with what was happening back home.”

Alan, who was 19 and lived in Vaal Street, Measbrough Dike, had only been out of Barnsley on one occasion prior to leaving for Egypt and this was on a Coopers train trip to Blackpool. However, in his later working life he travelled the world extensively.

“We sailed to Egypt on the Empress of Australia, but we flew back,” he said. Alan has submitted a snapshot of himself reading one of the editions of the Chronicle with his Army pals looking over his shoulder.

On the right of the photograph is another Barnsley lad, Eric Hirst, the father of former Barnsley FC player David Hirst.

After doing a bit of detective work and with the aid of a magnifying glass, we have been able to track down a copy of the Barnsley Chronicle Alan was reading that day over half a century ago. It was, in fact, dated December 8, 1951. The front page lead story of that edition, the headline of which can be seen facing the camera, related to ambitious plans to boost sport in Barnsley for the benefit of local charities.

An influential group of sporting enthusiasts had got together to promote the scheme, one of the chief instigators being Charlie Glover, father of Barnsley wrestler, actor and writer, the late Brian Glover. Brian, who early in his working life worked at the Chronicle in the Advertising Department, took part in several TV productions, including the BBC’s Play for Today, ‘The Fishing Party’ and stage plays, but was best known for his portrayal of a football-mad PE master in the magnificent film ‘Kes’, based on a book by Barry Hines.