How has Barnsley been affected by the pandemic?

Barnsley is one of the UK’s worst affected regions. But how have families been coping? We will explore some families that have been struggling throughout this crisis. 

One family that has been hit hard by this pandemic is Trevor Kemp’s family. Trevor was once a minor. And he will always be one to remember. His family and friends call him a “true Yorkshireman”, a “fantastic bloke” and the “salt of the earth”. But according to ITV, they don’t yet talk about him in the past tense. 

Trevor’s Daughter, Donna, spoke to ITV and she says “I’m still numb...You just don’t think it’s going to happen to you. It’s just horrible.”.

Trevor’s childhood friend, Paul, has been playing the last post on his bugle every night since the pandemic first started back in March last year. 

At the crematorium in Barnsley, where friends and family were gathered to celebrate the life of Trevor Kemp, Donna says that at least they had the comfort of being at her father’s side. 

Because of Covid-19, Donna hasn’t held their father’s hand. But she goes on to saying “We held his hand...He gave my mum his last breath. As she went to kiss him he gave her his last breath. It was beautiful”. 

Another person that has been struggling in Barnsley is Jarral Khan, the Secretary of Barnsley Muslim Centre. 

Jarral has faced some challenges because of Covid-19. Dr Gulzar Khan, who is retired, gave some of his life up to the health service. 

In his interview with ITV, he says that Dr Khan was a “brilliant man”. He also talks about Gulzar entering the hospital when his granddaughter was born. 

Jarral says that it was “a gift of life. But he never got to meet her”. Jarral goes on to saying that “the internal anxiety is always there now. Because I have also my own father to worry about. He’s 92.”