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Barnsley and Beyond

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When you walk through our town, you are walking through a chronicle of our past – lessons in who we are, voices reminding us of what we have achieved, inspiration for generations to come. I started teaching in Barnsley schools in 1969 and left in 1994/95, during which time I had taught every age range from pre-school nursery to A Level – always with extramural involvement. Let me tell you why… there is so much to celebrate about Barnsley – but above all, it is the enduring spirit of our people that sets us apart. Link Tutor visits to students in placement schools of every kind across the old West Riding further broadened my awareness of the pitfalls that schools have in common, and particular areas of strength in some. Some thought that I would step away as MP and keep going with the mayoralty, but I have a fierce loyalty to our town.

She has done an amazing job in keeping the past and those memories alive, to be cherished for future generations. From the First World War to the Second, to the Falklands and every other conflict beyond, Barnsley’s men and women have consistently stepped forward to answer the call.

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Mel Dyke has written and been involved in the production of a number of local history titles. These include: Barnsley is blessed beyond belief with people who can do that; people who in sharing their own stories inspire others to follow suite. In virtually every outlying village, and the town itself, there is someone whose achievement has been nationally or internationally recognised. A Barnsley miner's daughter, Mel Dyke is a former bank clerk and Consumers' Association lecturer who completed Sir Alec Clegg's mature student teacher course. From 1973 she was employed at Bretton Hall College and then the University of Leeds as an education lecturer and link tutor.

As I had also done visiting lectures and secondments at Bretton Hall College of Higher Education since 1972/73 on the PGCE Secondary Teacher Training Courses, I joined them on a full-time basis in 1995. I believe Barnsley deserves more former lovely little car parks – we deserve the best because we are capable of the best. You can’t choose where you were born but you can choose where you want to be – and I chose Barnsley. Theirs was a bond forged over generations. Mineworkers and their families wouldn’t run at the first sign of hardship, they held their ground and withstood hunger, smears and violence.Mel always insisted one of her proudest achievements came at Willowgarth HIgh School when she spearheaded a ‘book-in-a-day’ project, with contributions from miners, families, school children and celebrity supporters. Madam Mayor, you will be an outstanding Mayor for our borough. You are a tremendous councillor and a force of nature! Our community was left devasted by the pandemic, I know everyone here this evening has their own story – me included. I know we are all greatly inspired by the resolve, determination and spirit shown by the Ukrainian people. You only have to walk around our community and speak to the people who make it so special to know that holds true.

Mel Dyke is an incredibly passionate champion for the area. Her books ‘Barnsley and Beyond’ and ‘Grimethorpe Revival’ are so important in remembering the past and in helping future generations. Romero Communities – a wonderful organisation, who have provided invaluable support to countless people in Barnsley. I am however acutely aware not everyone always shares my enthusiasm for when the winds of change begin to blow!

More clips from Howard Pressman

Ladies and gentlemen… that brings me to another fantastic ambassador, albeit one closer to home – our outgoing Mayor, Just look at who was awarded the Freedom of the Borough last month alongside our phenomenal Intensive Care Unit… And Hey! – who do so much for our children and young people suffering with their mental health by providing the care they need when they need it most.

Barnsley’s sons and daughters have a long and proud history of stepping out and shaping a better world. She was also an acclaimed author who used her connections across the globe to showcase the great achievements of people who were Barnsley born and bred. Barnsley is simply the base from which Mel Dyke began a journey round the world to meet people whose success and high achievement are linked to the area. Many of the diverse personalities she interviewed cite their own educational experience as their inspiration. Others felt it was despite that, and early under-achievement or a poor educational start instead spurred them on. It was to encourage emulation by highlighting that wide range of local skill, talent, persistence, gift, versatility, tenacity, lateral thinking, hard work or opportunistic chance-taking, that I wrote the books “All for Barnsley” and “Barnsley & Beyond”. Speaking at the time, Mel, of Staincross, said: “It came as a complete surprise but I’m absolutely over the moon with the news. I don’t see it as a personal achievement, it’s something for Barnsley and everyone I’ve come across during the last 50 years.”I hope everyone knows what an enormous privilege it is for me to represent our community, and how seriously I take that responsibility. To their detriment, successive governments failed to recognise it wasn’t just coal that came out from the collieries, but community too. Caroline… you have been a wonderful advocate for our community and helped see us through the pandemic. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to you for all the work you have done – and will continue to do – for Barnsley. This was a great event and a fantastic opportunity to pay tribute to the incredible resilience of a community. All of those who spoke were brilliant and the variety of people who were at the event from Calendar Girls to the cast of Brassed Off is a testament to Grimethorpe.

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