Hines may well have sought him out to help with research but I think it was largely based on Hines' brother Richard, I read his book last year - No Way but Gentleness, which gives a lot of the background to it. You could maybe contact him.
I didn't go to the memorial but saw a few photos of it from my old mate Del who wrote and performed the song 'little blinder'.
It sounds like it was based on him then for sure. It has made me smile so much reading this because he supposedly wrote one inspired by me too, but he never told me so I didn't think it was true, but others said so. The PE teacher is based on someone he worked with at Hoyland Kirk Balk School. He clearly just left it for you to realise yourself. I used to read The Blinder over and over as a teenager, always thought it would have been a loads better film than any of the others. It's surreal to think you inspired your favourite author.
Should have been placed outside the new Library with the links to literature etc. All the campaigners agreed but the council wouldn't even entertain the idea and many of the councillors just boycotted attending the celebrations.
I am from Hoyland Common & first met Barry when I started to have a drink in the Prince of Wales at Hoyland Common at the age of 18 , he used to come in with his brother Richard , apart from Kes, The Price of Coal & the Gamekeeper were dramatized for TV with some of the lads from Rockingham Colliery & the Prince of Wales getting parts in the productions so he is remembered for other works as well as Kes . There is already a plaque in the village so the statue being mounted in the town is fine , Barry represented the town & the area , the mining community & everything that went with it , so in my opinion the statue in Barnsley is the right place for everyone to enjoy his tribute .
For what its worth I know Richard Hines well enough, and he would tell you that the he was written off at school compared to Barry, who went to Ecclesfield grammar school, and that he found a kestrel and trained it up from books from Barnsley library. So in that respect, Billy Casper was very loosely based around Richard, but that's about it I reckon. I've no doubt your granddad's story is also true though; makes sense that Barry was writing a book that involved training a kestrel up, and he know your grandad was doing that, he would obviously tap into his knowledge too. The thing is, of course, the book isn't about training kestrels...
Close but no cigar.. it was St Helens but St Helens secondary at Athersley South/Carlton Road. Couple of lads I know/knew (ones dead now) were in it... In the football scene you can actully see St Helens primary in the back ground looking towards Monk Bretton..
Bull. Never been proven to be a racist. His support of those from the left. That were suspended, Is the main reason. In other words a witch hunt. Some of the crap pointed at him has never been proved. Cos it doesn’t exist. But mud sticks when dealing with the right wing and in most cases the centre/centre right of the Labour Party. He spoke against Blair then Starmer and championed Corbyn. Nowt wrong with that.