TRIBUTES have been paid to unmistakable Barnsley policeman Bill Harber - famed for his distinctive handlebar moustache - who died on Sunday aged 86.
Bill is well remembered from his days directing traffic in Barnsley town centre and became almost a landmark on the busy New Street, Sheffield Road and Pontefract Road junction.
Although he worked in and was born in Barnsley, he lived for many years in Wakefield.
Therefore comedy songwriter Dave Cherry hadn’t seen him for decades when he wrote a line in his popular song about Stairfoot Roundabout which referred to Bill ‘turning in his grave’.
“I just thought he must have died years ago,” said Dave. “But I was in the Black Bull at Stairfoot one night, doing a few songs and he came up and collared me, saying ‘are thy that Dave Cherry’ and I sad yes, and he said ‘Well I’m Bill Harber and I’m not dead.
“Well that was it, we just became really pally after that, luckily he saw the funny side.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
