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AWAY from their typewriters, printing presses and computers, Barnsley Chronicle staff have always shown an interest in participant sport.

Recent photographs in this column revealed an interest in cricket and football, but many years ago tennis was high on priorities, mainly played at Locke Park.

Former editor, Don Booker, recalls the staff tennis team taking to the courts every Good Friday when they were officially opened for the first time in the new season and then being regular players at this venue.

Alan Ridgill, who later went on to become sports editor at the Daily Mirror and Tony Galvin, who became Barnsley Chronicle editor in February 1969, were keen players.

There were also a few football matches in which staff participated in during the season and Don remembers playing at the Bank End ground. It was raining so heavily that day he wore a flat cap. But it was the game of cricket which brought in every department of the paper. Even former editor Ronald Yates, played.

"When we had an evening cricket game, he would arrive in the office looking very smart in his full whites. One particular day we had a game with Thurgoland and he demanded he went in first to open the innings. He did, and was out first ball.

"Returning to the pavilion he remarked 'That ball would have got Len Hutton (Yorkshire and England player) out.'

"He then got into his Austin A30 and drove away, leaving us with only 10 men."

• Full report in the Chronicle.