BARNSLEY legend and chat show royalty Sir Michael Parkinson has been honoured in this year’s montage of famous people who have died during the year.
The former Chronicle reporter and TV king was possibly Barnsley’s most famous son.
Parky’s death on August 16 resulted in national tributes being paid to the TV chat show king but in his home village locals – from Cudworth History Group and Chewin t’Cud magazine – came together to fast-track a blue plaque alongside Barnsley Civic Trust.
It ensured his legacy would live on in the town after being installed at the Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre.
Since 2016, artist Chris Barker has created a montage of famous people who have died over the year – and it tends to go viral on social media.
This year’s work features celebrities such as Bobby Charlton, Paul O’Grady and Tina Turner – and Parky was front and centre.
Chris said: “This is the eighth one of these I’ve done which – for something I vowed back in 2016 I was never going to do again – is quite something.
“I did the initial montage because 2016 was such a monumental year.
“The triple whammy of Brexit, Donald Trump being elected and David Bowie dying – as well as all the other legends that died that year – felt like something that needed to be commemorated in some way.
“But then people started suggesting I should do it every year and every year I was convinced.”
