TESCO is hoping to mark 30 years of its Stairfoot store by tracking down school children who helped create a time capsule back when it opened.
The capsule itself, planted in the wall of the store, will not be opened until June 28, 2088.
When it was first placed back in 1988 a group of Wombwell High pupils assisted with the ceremony and chose items to go within it.
Now Tesco community champion Lisa Hammond is hoping to get those same people back to celebrate 30 years of the superstore being open.
Lisa said: “We thought it would be great to invite them to the celebration with the landmark 30 years passing.
“No one had an exact memory of the date the store officially opened as staff were in place for several months beforehand, so we went with June 28 as that is what was on the wall with the time capsule.
“But I have since discovered an article with a June 21 opening date on. There were no articles about any grand opening though, all publicity seems to focus on June 28 and the school children with the time capsule, so we are going to stick with that.”
Lisa has been researching using the Barnsley Chronicle’s archives at the Experience Barnsley museum, to put together not just a guest list of who they need to track down, but also some memory boards to display in store too.
The original article, dated from the July 1 1988 edition of the Chronicle, details how teacher Trevor Pearmain was joined by 25 Wombwell High pupils for the time capsule ceremony.
Also present was school headmistress Mrs E Dalton, store general manager David Cawdron and press office manager Sean Callery.
Lisa added: “There was a price list, a pack of Yorkshire pudding mix, a Barnsley football programme, an SR Gent night shirt and lots of other stuff placed into the capsule.
“Tesco ran a competition for local children to list what they would put in too with the chosen school receiving £400. I think the items Wombwell High put in were socks, soap, toilet roll, toothbrush and a can of beer.”
The full list of students who were in attendance, and are invited to celebrate with Tesco on June 28, is: Emma Wright, Melanie Stamps, Emma Victory, Sarah Theaker, Lisa Arnold, Andrea Blackburn, Lesley Clarke, Tracy Pearson, Joanne Kidd, David Brown, David Holland, Kevin Bridger, Jonathan Nowell, Craig Smith, Christopher Eyre, Lee Chadburn, Mark Colley, Paul Haywood, Richard Tinker, Scott Wilkinson, Ryan Wilson, David Vamplew, Mark Thrall, Sarah Stuart and Claire Dunwell.
If you were in attendance in 1988, get in touch with Lisa on 07702 142839 or email barnsleycommunityspace@uk.tesco.com.
