Remembering the life of Brian

A PLAQUE commemorating one of Barnsley’s greatest sons was unveiled in the town centre yesterday.

Brian Glover, who taught at Barnsley Grammar School and Longcar Central School before shooting to fame as PE teacher Mr Sugden in

Kes in 1969, died 25 years ago.

To mark the anniversary, ex-pupil Ronnie Steele embarked on a ‘lifelong dream’ to create a permanent tribute – and the plaque was unveiled on Chennells Bar, on Wellington Street, yesterday.

Mayor of Barnsley Sarah Tattersall, Kes director Ken Loach and actor Dai Bradley were among those to read speeches paying tribute to Brian’s impact on the town. Dai, who played Billy Casper in Kes, struck up a lifelong friendship with Brian and having starred in the iconic film, went on to perform alongside him several times during their careers.

“He was a very special person, one who was larger than life but wore his heart on his sleeve,” he told the Chronicle.

“We worked on three projects together – the first being Kes – and I’ll always remember when Barnsley reached the Premier League for the first and only time in their history and seeing a photo of Brian in the Chronicle, eating his fish and chips,

“I last saw him a few days before he died – he was in a care home at the time but I felt I just had to visit to thank him.

“To connect early on in my life and then at the end of his was special – it felt like tying a bow.”

■ Full story: page three.