HERE’S a selection of stories as they were reported in the Chronicle back in April 1998.
MAJOR plans to transform the Cooper Gallery into a centre worthy of its multi-million-pound collection of paintings have been unveiled.
The council-run gallery has a collection of work by the likes of Constable and Turner — but space restrictions mean they are hidden in storerooms and rarely see the light of day.
But that could soon change, as a £300,000 grant to improve the gallery in Church Street has been approved.
The cash — £200,000 from the government and the rest from the trustees — will be used to expand the store rooms, freeing up space for a cafe and shops.
IT WAS champagne today — beer tomorrow for lottery jackpot winner Ernest Ferrington and his wife Fran.
They sipped the finest bubbly at Ardsley House Hotel to toast their £2m win.
But the former Redfearn’s bottle worker is unlikely to get used to the stuff. “I prefer a pint,” said Ernest who celebrates his 72nd birthday this week. “And the next time I call into Staincross WMC I’ll buy everybody a drink to help me celebrate.”
BARNSLEY sculptor Graham Ibbeson has had one of his sculptures of Tommy Cooper used on a set of Royal Mail first day covers.
The stamps designed by Gerald Scarf are available as a limited edition of only 250 first day covers with Graham’s ‘Tommy’ incorporated into a Blackpool postmark.
TWO Barnsley police officers have been suspended as part of an investigation into the handling of compensation pay-outs to gun owners.
Last year, the Home Office announced it would pay compensation to owners who had to hand in their weapons as part of the ban on certain types of large calibre firearms.
In November, South Yorkshire Police launched an internal investigation into how the system was being operated and the officer in charge of the scheme was suspended.
This week, a police source said two Barnsley-based officers had also been suspended on full pay while the enquiry is completed.
A spokesman said: “We can confirm two officers from Barnsley have been suspended. Our investigation is ongoing and we have no idea how long it will be before it is complete.
“It is likely they will remain suspended until then.”
IF THE kids won’t come to church then take the church to the kids — that’s the sermon of a group of Barnsley churchmen.
Church leaders fed up with their ’boring image’ have hired Regents Park Nightclub to put on Christian discos for kids.
Organiser Mark Brown said: “This kind of thing has never happened in Barnsley before and the church don’t really approve of nightclubs in today’s society do
they? It’s going to be strange but we’re sure the kids will enjoy it.”
A PUB could be demolished and replaced with a fast food restaurant.
The owners of the Cross Keys on Wombwell Lane, Stairfoot, have applied to Barnsley Council for permission to knock it down and redevelop the site.
A decision is expected within eight weeks.
