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Around Town Meets...
Don Booker MBE
By Brian Elliott
 There is no doubt that Don Booker is one of the most distinguished journalists ever to be associated with the town of Barnsley. His contribution as a motoring writer has - and continues to be - internationally recognised.
Over the years Don has undertaken a great deal of voluntary work for his local church and charities such as the Barnsley Hospice; and has been a wonderful supporter and advocate of his local scout group. His public services were recognised when presented with a MBE by the Queen and Don was chosen as one of Barnsley's Millennium Heroes. Not bad for a young lad who rose from a 30 shillings (£1.50) a week counter clerk at the Barnsley Chronicle, to become its Editor.
Throughout his life Don has met many famous people, visited 56 countries on motoring matters and is even mentioned in Sir Michael Parkinson's autobiography, most notably when 'rescuing' the future radio and television star from Redfearns glassworks by introducing him to the editor of the Barnsley Chronicle - who set Parky on as a reporter. So, there were lots to talk about when I visited Don at his Monk Bretton home.
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 I was given a warm welcome, Don's wife Freda providing a lovely cup of tea within seconds of my arrival. I have known Don for many years but not had the chance to have a detailed chat. It was Don, when he was editor at the Barnsley Chronicle in the mid 1980s, who gave me the opportunity to write a series of local history articles for the newspaper, eventually transformed into my first major book, The Making of Barnsley (1988). A few years later, I returned the compliment in a small way by asking him to contribute to the second volume of the Aspects of Barnsley books - a wonderful piece about early motoring in Barnsley. Don went on to write his own autobiography, the suitably titled Barnsley Lad.
Don Booker's first piece of local journalism dates from May 1948, a paragraph about a visit to Belle Vue, Manchester by members of Monk Bretton Church Youth Club, written when he was a sixteen-year-old counter worker at the Chronicle. This year therefore marks 60 years of journalism for Don, an outstanding achievement and unique in regional publishing.
The first three years of Don's life were spent in and around a terrace house in Silver Street at Dodworth Bottom. Grandfather Tom Booker worked in the 'bag oyle' at Redfearns, packing bottles and jars whilst his other grandad, Joe Pickering, was a miner, at Strafford pit. Known as 'Black Watch', Joe was a local rugby player who was so good that he went on to play for Wakefield Trinity and was capped for England. Don's father, Harry, worked as a 'puller', de-hairing treated skins at Barker's fellmongers at Old Mill.
 Now living at Burton Road, not far from Dad's place of work, young Don attended the local junior school. Also at the school was Tommy Taylor, soon to become one of Barnsley and Manchester United's greatest ever footballers, so tragically killed in the Munich air disaster of 1958. Don remembers Tommy as the lad from Smithies who had basin-cut hair, wore short trousers and clogs; and who even seemed to be stooping to head the ball as he walked. Don and his school friends were proud of Tommy's achievements and felt sad when he was transferred to United as he was very much a home lad. 'You couldn't have met anyone nicer,' said Don. 'He was a gentleman footballer, a modest sort of lad who never sought publicity.' Don attended Tommy's funeral at Monk Bretton 'the biggest one ever held there' and recalled the cortege winding its way up Burton Road headed by pilots from the airline and Bill Jubb, the vicar.
Post Eleven Plus, Don got into the A-stream at Raley Secondary School, staying there until the age of thirteen. Two successful exams entitled him to either transfer to Longar Central and teacher-training or attend Barnsley Technical College. Opting for vocational courses, he studied a range of building trades; and was especially adept and interested in plumbing, subsequently taking first prize when a part-time student.
Leaving the 'Tech' aged fifteen, getting a job was not easy in the immediate post-war period but he managed to become part of a scheme, run by Fields of Stairfoot, helping to build council houses at Kendray. It lasted two months but determination to find something more permanent paid off when he secured an apprenticeship with a small firm of Barnsley plumbers - Fletcher and Sharp - working from a workshop behind St Mary's. It was hard work at the best of times, compounded by the absence of any transport. Everything, from toilet pans to pipes and tool bags had to be carried on foot or ingeniously taken on a Tracky double-decker. On one occasion, he had to carry a long heating pipe from the workshop, down Market Hill and up Peel Street, to the Conservative Club. He was also expected to access rooftops via sky-lights, precariously perching Fred Dibnah-like where others dare not tread.
 Extreme plumbing was hardly satisfactory, so Don wondered what might be on offer via the Junior Careers office in the Town Hall. A drawer was opened and an index card fished out from a shoebox: 'What about this lad? There's a vacancy for an apprentice photographer at the Barnsley Chronicle.' Full of enthusiasm, Don went along to see the editor, Ronald Yates, only to find out that another former Raley lad, Geoff Richards, had been set on. But Yates offered Don a job on the front counter, taking birth, marriage and death adverts. It was just before Christmas, 1947.
After a few weeks Don asked Mr Yates if he might be interested in any Monk Bretton news. A lifetime of journalism began. Promotion to a district reporter soon followed. There were ups and downs, losing his position on several occasions before the age of 21, but he was smitten with the job.
Royston was Don's patch for over twenty years, getting there by bus and on a Swallow Gadabout scooter (BHE 74). Emblazoned at the side of the seat was: BARNSLEY CHRONICLE The Workers' Weekly. The engine overheated, meaning a pause for a rest by Carlton church, Don lessening the problem by the ingenious use of a can-opener, cutting ventilation slits through the bodywork.
Don loved the day to day hunt for news and the lovely people and characters in and around the mining communities of Royston. Long-serving Councillor and founder of the local Labour Party, George Henry Cook was a great favourite. Don remembers how George was never seen without his flat cap in the council chamber and - despite his association with the health committee - took snuff and was even provided with a personal spitoon.
After a few years sub-editing it was back on the beat, collecting news items for the Royston edition of the Chronicle which included places such as Ryhill, Cudworth and Grimethorpe. When Anthony Galvin became Editor Don became Chief Reporter and further promotion followed - to News Editor.
Don's next job was to oversee two small Huddersfield area newspapers that the company had recently bought. Initially he had turned down the opportunity of serving as editor/manager as he felt it was not a big enough challenge in such a relatively conservative area. Over a six month period of many 12-15 hour days the job of turning the traditional newspapers into modern tabloids proved to be a very demanding one. Part of the problem concerned contrasting technology: in one area was the latest computer graphics but in another old linotypes still functioned. One of Don's advertising reps, aged 82, demonstrated his prowess by doing 20 press-ups on the office floor every morning. Another was an often illusive pig farmer who caused panic on just one day before going to press when no advertising had been submitted. Don had to find him on his smallholding on Scammonden Moor. Getting a photograph to publication was so complicated that it involved 400 mile interchanges between Holmfirth and Barnsley. Systems and production methods did improve and amusing experiences continued. Like the occasion Don, traveling back to Barnsley, heard scratching sounds coming from the back of his vehicle. Stopping at Cawthorne, he opened his brief case only to discover that he had accidently brought the office mouse. So some Cawthorne mice must have Holmfirth ancestry.
Back at the Chronicle, Don's career progressed to that of Deputy Editor and, in 1983/4, he succeeded Tony Galvin as Editor. It was a very difficult time to take over because of the miners' strike. Throughout the 12-month dispute the Chronicle tried to support the miners and the mining communities which were such an important part of their readership.
Don Booker continued to write his popular motoring feature and did so for forty-seven years. It was Sir Joseph Hewitt who had the foresight to introduce the idea of a regular motoring slot, and the Chronicle was a pioneer in this respect. Don's first car was a black Standard Flying 8 bought from a Darfield RAF man for a hard-saved £265 in 1954, a vehicle that Parky travelled in too.
Classic cars, particularly Morgans, have been a great passion for Don over many years. His first, ordered in the early 1970s, was listed at £1,300 but cost more than twice the amount by the time it was delivered seven years later. Over the years Don has been a world-wide ambassador for the Morgan car company. He even got the head of VW to buy one and Richard Hammond of Top Gear fame is a proud collector.
Don's association with St Paul's at Monk Bretton spans an incredible 70 years, holding a variety of offices. He now has the title of Churchwarden Emeritus, following a 42-year stint as Churchwarden. He recalls many achievements in the parish, including a wonderful link with Bishop Nigel McCulloch (1992-2003). Work at Lundwood during millennium year was particularly memorable, when over 300 primary school pupils and staff each composed their own prayer for the future.
Golf has also been a great passion, initially on the Barnsley Municipal course and more recently at Silkstone. At his best Don had a handicap of 10 and won the Yorkshire Press Open Championship at Wakefield. He met the Australian champion Peter Thompson when the latter won the Yorkshire Evening News tournament at Leeds but probably the greatest thrill was talking to one of the great legends of the sport - Henry Cotton.
Don has met many famous people but one really does stand out. Whilst attending a mass in St George's chapel at Heathrow he came across Mother Theresa. He told her that the people of the world were really proud of what she did for the homeless. Her hand was noticeably warm when she held his, saying: 'It is not the lack of food and the lack of money that is the poverty of the world, it's the lack of love and friendship.' A diminutive, slightly stooped figure, she came up to him again, adding: 'It's easier to solve the poverty of the world than to heal a broken heart.' What a lady, what an experience.
Don Booker has been a tremendous example for the profession of journalism and still considers it a great career for any young person to embark upon - especially if they are prepared to go easy on computer/telephone and go out and meet people. The words of Alistair Cooke ring true: 'A journalist who says he is on holiday is a journalist who is retired.' Don Booker may be officially retired but is still writing, still contributing and long may he continue to do so.
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