HERE’S a few stories from the Barnsley Chronicle’s archives as they were reported back in 1979.
WHEN picketing dustmen would not let Mayor of Barnsley Coun Gwen Bright’s chauffeur get the Daimler civic car out of the Highways Department garage at Smithies, they had to call a local taxi firm to get the Mayor to a presentation at Agnes Road Infant School.
The Mayor didn’t seem too perturbed by her new car.
She said: “I wasn’t bothered, I can ride in anything.”
A spokesman for the firm, Wood Brothers Taxi Ltd, of Rotherham Road, Barnsley, said: “We are here to provide a service and Mrs Bright is only the same as anyone else.”
The boys of the Penistone Scout Troop linked a 12-mile hike for a Scout Badge with an entry in the Ardsley Scouts’ Pancake Race at the Ardsley Welfare Ground, and won the open event for scouts from South Yorkshire.
The event was organised by Ardsley Scout Council Group to raise funds for the village’s scouts and cubs. Winners of the five events all received special engraved shields to mark their achievements.
Work has started on the multi-thousand pound redevelopment of Barnsley Beckett Hospital.
The redevelopment involves conversion of part of the disused hospital into offices and demolition of the remaining part, to be used for housing development.
Barnsley Council’s direct works department moved in on Monday to begin construction of an access road to the site from Victoria Avenue. It will serve the part of the complex which is to be converted into offices. Work will last approximately 30 weeks and cost more than £24,000.
American and Canadian tourists wanting to trace their heritage in the Barnsley area are causing Ardsley House Hotel to plan its second expansion programme within a year.
This week it announced plans for a 21-bedroom extension, making it a 64-bed establishment.
Only last year 24 bedrooms were added to the complex because of demand from visitors, a project completed in 77 days.
The explanation given was the popularity of TV show Roots, which had supposedly inspired many transatlantic visitors to come to the town to trace their ancestors.
More Evangelism is needed in Monk Bretton, according to the Vicar Rev Harold Ingamells.
Rev Ingamells said the work was necessary to help more of the area’s 20,000 people realise they need Christ in their lives.
Speaking at an annual meeting of St Paul’s Church, he said last Easter there had been 166 communicants and the average number on a Sunday was between 85 and 95, figures which showed a steady growth.
Rev Ingamells said: “This does not just mean filling pews, it means showing the world at large what Jesus means to you and so helping others to see the need for him in their own lives.”
Barnsley comedian Albert Modley, who drove a tram bound for Duplicate in his famous act, has died at his Morecambe home aged 78.
Mr Modley was born in Liverpool but spent part of his childhood in Barnsley and was always known as a Yorkshire comedian.
He appeared on radio and television. His last appearance was in Alan Bennett’s play All Day on the Sands. But he will be best remembered for his role in Up T’Cup, a film about an eccentric Yorkshire inventor and his adventures on a trip to Wembley to see the Cup Final.
Ten years ago he returned to Barnsley to perform at the Ba Ba Club, complete with his drum and cymbals - which became a tram during his act.
