A STATUE honouring Barnsley’s most famous writer through his most famous characters ‘Kes’ and Billy Casper will take pride of place in the town centre according to plans revealed this week.
Peel Square, close to where the infamous empty plinth once stood, has been named the preferred site for the statue by the group raising money for the project.
It will depict Billy Casper and his kestrel as they appeared in Ken Loach’s revered 1969 film Kes - assuming the estimated £106,000 needed can be raised.
It will honour the memory of the story’s author Barry Hines, who died in 2016, aged 76.
A Crowdfunding website has launched this week which aims to raise half that amount, with hopes the remainder can be raised through a variety of different fund-raising activities - including the sale of scaled down versions of the statue.
The fund-raising bid has been launched this week to coincide with the 50th anniversary on of the publication of A Kestrel for a Knave, the book which was almost immediately turned into the cult film, Kes.
But it was Barry’s work as a teacher, rather than a writer, which inspired his former pupil Ronnie Steele, to kick-start the project to honour him with a statue.
Ronnie announced his aims through a poem he wrote and read out at his former teacher’s funeral.
“I’m a big reader, but I don’t read a lot of fiction,” said Ronnie, 63, of Broadway, Barnsley. “So my admiration and respect for him comes from his work as a teacher.
“I really don’t exaggerate when I say he was the most fantastic teacher, and quite simply a really great bloke, so that’s why I’m doing this.
“But I’m sure most people who will help raise the money for this statue will do so because they admire his work as a writer.
“I know Barry wouldn’t have wanted a statue of himself, but I think he would have been surprised, but secretly very pleased, that people wanted to honour him and his work in this way.”
Ronnie said it was a big challenge for him and his fellow committee members to raise the funds needed, but he was absolutely confident that it would happen.
“We will raise it,” he said. “I have no doubt about that.”
Sculptor Graham Ibbeson has been encouraged back out of virtual retirement to design and make the statue, and has already provided a sketch of how it will look.
He will soon begin to produce maquettes - miniature versions of the work which will preview the main statue and also be available for sale to fund it.
“We’re hoping to raise a good proportion of the total through the sale of the maquettes,” said Ronnie.
There will be a limited run of about 150 made in a bronze-infused resign, and an even more exclusive run - probably only nine - which will be cast in bronze and will sell for about £4,500.
Graham told the Chronicle: “I’m over the moon to have been selected as the sculptor.
“Kestrel for a Knave, and Kes, it’s part of the fabric of Barnsley but it’s not just about Barnsley. It’s about growing up as a working class kid, just trying to muddle through life.
“I’m really looking forward to doing it and can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Author and Chronicle columnist Milly Johnson is also a member of the project group. She said she thought Peel Square would be an ideal location for the statue.
“At the moment it’s a little difficult to visualise the bigger picture with all the development that’s going on,” she said. “But when it’s finished I think it will be the perfect place for it.
“It’s going to be our statue for ‘our Barry’ and what’s nice is that everybody who donates towards it can be proud and say ‘I contributed to that’.
“When I was a kid, Kestrel for a Knave was one of our set texts, and it just blew me away.
“I’ve read everything Barry has ever written. For me it was the first time I’d ever ready something that represented the sort of books I’d want to write. While I’d admired the Jane Eyres and Pride and Prejudices, this was the first time someone was writing about their home town at a time it wasn’t fashionable to be provincial, and it just happened to be my home town.
“He really was a trailblazer.”
To donate to the fund click here or search ‘Barry Hines Memorial Statue.
