Barnsley
A boy and a kestrel. They were made famous by the late Barnsley writer - Barry Hines in his novel, "A Kestrel For A Knave". Both Shirley and I met him - she as his practice nurse and me at a political meeting in the Sheffield Trades and Labour Club. Now there's this impressive memorial statue to Barry Hines in the very heart of Barnsley. I am delighted that he has not been forgotten. Many is the time I read "Kes" with classes of teenagers. It always went down well. A sure fire winner. Today I caught a train from Sheffield Midland Station to Barnsley. After photographing the statue, I then went back to the Transport Interchange and climbed aboard a Number 32 bus bound for Cudworth which is one of Barnsley's suburban villages - all of which were once associated with coal mining. Soon I was back out in the sunshine walking to Smithies and then on to Monk Bretton before descending into the valley of The River Dearne. As I passed Oakwell football ground, I ...