| Abstrakt: |
ONCE again, Dame Jenni Murray subjects us to her views on the inadequacies of Barnsley and its residents (Mail). Recently, it was Jenni's concerns in accepting the title of Dame in the Queen's Honours List, the Barnsley girl who feels she may be betraying her roots and those who live in this former coal-mining town. Why? Lord Mason (former Labour Cabinet Minister Roy Mason) had no such doubts. Now she tells us she fled Barnsley and travelled extensively, tasting the world's cuisine but 'was brought up in a town where most women's idea of a treat was fish and chips'. In fact, many of us also crossed the Channel in the Sixties and Seventies and tasted the delights of foreign food, while others stayed here and kept the home fires burning. Barnsley-bashing has been done, so give it a rest, Jenni. I remember you as a bright, fun-loving, fellow pupil at Barnsley Girls' High School, who had a passion for literature and a desire to excel. Well, you did that: you deserve your accolade and I'm sure there are many in Barnsley who are proud of you and wish you well. Take a lesson from the true Barnsley greats, who either remained here or returned to share their skills and experiences with the next generation. Learn from the great Dickie Bird, fashion guru Rita Britton, novelist Joanne Harris and the wonderful Joann Fletcher, the University of York research fellow and consultant Egyptologist to innumerable museums and media, and fly the flag for Barnsley. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
