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”.

I hope everyone knows what an enormous privilege it is for me to represent our community, and how seriously I take that responsibility. Turning to what this evening is all about… Councillor Tattersall – our new Mayor – congratulations! Mel uses their anecdotal accounts to reflect on the changes in education over the past sixty years, and to put the case for a revival of the arts in teaching, which she argues is currently at risk of being lost in schools, despite being generally accepted as a vital element in education. 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.

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Household names such as actor Shaun Dooley, radio presenter Stephanie Hirst and Egyptologist Prof Joann Fletcher all listed Mel as having a major influence and impact on their careers.

Let me be candid, many people were surprised at my decision to stand down, but I said from the beginning that being a Mayor and an MP wasn’t a long-term arrangement. 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.” 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. Our community was left devasted by the pandemic, I know everyone here this evening has their own story – me included.In every direction, there is much to do. Just as we emerge from a health crisis, we have entered an economic one. Families facing hardship, businesses facing uncertainty. Ladies and gentlemen… that brings me to another fantastic ambassador, albeit one closer to home – our outgoing Mayor,

I do also want to say a word about the Platinum Jubilee – truly a milestone in our nation’s history. Barnsley’s sons and daughters have a long and proud history of stepping out and shaping a better world. Politicians come and go, of course – and if the people of Barnsley want to get rid of me as their MP, then that is their absolute right. But I am not walking away from them. It was in the early 1970s, to obviate foreseeable problems following the raising of the school leaving age, that I first realised the importance of having positive role models to fire up youngsters’ aspirations.

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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 obviously wanted to take Sarah up on her offer – her endorsement would’ve been very useful, but it suddenly dawned on me this encounter was laden with risk. I believe Barnsley deserves more former lovely little car parks – we deserve the best because we are capable of the best.