MOTORING
Jack stripping down old prams from neighbours to create a trolley. Don started his education during the Second World War at Burton Road School, with one schoolmate being England and Manchester United footballer, Tommy Taylor, who died in 1958’s Munich air disaster. With many male teachers sent to join the military, Don failed his 11+ exams and went on to Raley School for two years.
Before his journalism career, Don started a building and general education course at Barnsley Technical College after which he worked as an apprentice plumber long before transport was readily available.
The firm only had an old Austin Seven for use and so everything had to be transported by hand, including Barnsley’s first Bendix washer which Don pushed on a handcart to Dr Slack at Stairfoot. After 18 months as a plumber, Don sought a job as a photographer for Barnsley Chronicle. It had already been filled but the editor offered Don an advertising job instead, taking births, deaths and marriage notices. Whilst sitting on the front desk, Don wrote a news piece about his local youth club’s trip to Manchester and was repeatedly asked to join the reporting team. He eventually agreed and Don was given his first motor scooter – an unreliable old thing emblazoned with the paper’s name.
Soon after he met Michael
Parkinson, another Barnsley lad who started off in grass roots journalism, who worked for the opposition, the South Yorkshire Times. But the pair would still meet to collect news together, swap copy or enjoy lunch at the Railway canteen on Midland Road. Aside from his duties at Barnsley Chronicle, where he was editor from 1985 to 1994, Don also had a strong passion for vehicles throughout his lifetime and was a motoring writer for over 50 years, picking up ten national and international writing accolades along the way.
Don’s interest in cars started with a 1946 Standard Flying Eight but it is the iconic Morgan that holds pole position in Don’s motoring memoirs – having owned numerous of their hand-assembled vehicles for 45 years.
Through his time as motoring
writer, Don was invited to launches across the world, visiting 56 countries in total.
In 2005, Don took to the skies
with female pilot, Tizi Hodson to cross the English Channel in a 1945 plane with a Renault engine. He also flew on Concorde on its first flight to Germany.
Aside from the written word, Don led a charitable and ever-giving life, serving his local community for decades. For over 70 years, Don was associated with the Scout Movement, starting up as a member before working his way up to Monk Bretton’s group leader, purchasing a plot of land for £25 to build the new headquarters. He was one of the founder directors of Barnsley Hospice and regularly donated the talk fees he received to the hospice. With faith on his side, Don devoted a life-long loyalty to his local church, St Paul’s of Monk Bretton, having been a choir boy, altar server and church warden for 42 years. In thanks, the church congregation appointed him Emeritus warden.
Through his community spirit, Don was made a Member of The Order of the British Empire for services to journalism and the Barnsley community in 1995 as part of the Queen’s New Year’s Honour list.
A few years later, he was also included in Barnsley’s first Millennium Awards of Merit List as part of their Millennium Heroes – making him the only local journalist to be honoured by Queen and town.
One thing’s for sure, he met some extraordinary people in his lifetime. Along with the Queen, Don also had a chance meeting with Mother Teresa whilst waiting for a plane at Heathrow Airport. But none more so than his favourite character of all time, Norman Wisdom –with whom he created a BBC radio programme about flat caps.
After leading such a colourful life and bringing light to his hometown for many years, we cannot put into words just how much this humble and endearing man with the full head of white hair, thick Barnsley accent and true Yorkshire heart will be sorely missed.
Don leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Freda, daughter Julie, son-in-law Simon and granddaughter, Lucy. We finish off with a touching tribute from Don which mirrors his witty nature and effortless charm that remained with him until the end.
“Life is wonderful, if you can see the funny side of it.”
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