THE work of an artist who turned to painting as a retirement hobby has gone on display at a gallery. Pictures by Derek Priest, of High Hesleden, near Peterlee, are being shown at Seaton Holme, Hall Walks, Easington Village. Mr Priest studied at the former
TOURISM businesses are being urged to enter an awards scheme. David Andrews, chief executive of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, said the White Rose Awards were dubbed the "tourism Oscars" and played a major part in enhancing the quality of the holiday industry
CHRIS THORNTON has always believed his filly Savannah River (4.25) would improve once stepped up to middle distances and now she has the chance to prove his assertion in the Edgecote Handicap at Warwick. Thornton, who steered Racing North readers in the
NEWcastle may have played only once at the weekend but their defeat at Manchester City, coupled with Middlesbrough's loss at Anfield, dealt their Champions League aspirations a double blow. Add to that Aston Villa's triumph over Spurs yesterday, which
DURHAM head for Lord's for their second successive day of totesport League action today desperately hoping the ground will inspire their struggling batsmen. Against the weakest attack they will face this season, Durham's early batting was a shambles,
MARK JOHNSTON'S flying three-year-old filly, Attraction, maintained her 100 per cent unbeaten six-race record with a pulsating pillar-to-post victory in yesterday's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. It has been ten long years since Johnston's only other Classic
A THREE-YEAR appeal to raise £600,000 to help cancer sufferers has hit its target. Fundraisers say they are amazed at how quickly the money has been raised. The cash will mean that support and care for patients with life-limiting cancers in County Durham
RUNS were in short supply in the league and, after Saturday's scores, just three teams now possess a 100 per cent record. One of these, Burnmoor, skittled out Eppleton for the lowest score of the day when the Church Road side were dismissed for just 30
WORK will start soon on building 350 homes in a project that will see a greenfield and brownfield site transformed. The development will be next to the site of the former rundown 1960s Courts estate, Redcar, east Cleveland, where 270 flats have now been
LOCAL authorities are being schooled in how to defend themselves against legal claims. Council officials from Redcar and Cleveland, Scarborough, Hartlepool, North Yorkshire, Middlesbrough and Stockton, attended a mock trial complete with a fake judge
SUNDERLAND striker Kevin Kyle has asked Scotland teammate Malky Mackay to "go easy'' when Norwich come in search of the Division One title at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night. A point apiece would suit both sides, with the Canaries needing one to as
DEEPCUT: GEOFF Hoon says there is no need for a public inquiry into the deaths at Deepcut. His latest comments only make a public inquiry more essential than ever. In the Parliamentary debate, Geoff Hoon is reported to have said of the latest inquiry
ONE of Kevin Keegan's biggest regrets about his time at Newcastle is that, despite leading the club to second in the Premiership, he never got to manage them in the Champions League. United's reward for finishing as runners-up in the 1995-96 season was
The Two Loves Of Anthony Trollope (BBC1); The Private Life Of A Masterpiece (BBC2); Anyone who travels by train these days is used to people pulling out a laptop computer from a briefcase and working during the journey. Little did I know, before The Two
A CAMPAIGN to restore a war memorial marking the death of 800 soldiers during the First World War is being stepped up. The memorial was erected by survivors, relatives and friends of the Leeds Pals at Colsterdale training camp, a few miles from Masham
AN ancient tradition dating back centuries will be celebrated in style at a gathering of countries later this month. The European Night and Tower Watchmen's annual three-day get-together will be held in Ripon, North Yorkshire, from Thursday, May 20. As
Tomorrow marks 25 years since Margaret Thatcher's first election victory and her arrival in Downing Street as Prime Minister. In the first of a three-part series to commemorate the anniversary Nick Morrison looks at how the Iron Lady left her mark. WHERE
A free four-mile family walk through Guisborough Forest will be held today. People are asked to meet at Guisborough Forest and Walkway visitor centre, at Pinchinthorpe, at 10am.
A railway attraction is on track for more steam fun today. A variety of steam engines are attracting the crowds to Darlington Railway Museum. Today at the centre in Darlington's North Road, there will be rides on steam engines, a miniature railway, as
Yorkshire and Leicestershire are the two counties with the closest memories of England cricket and soccer international, Willie Watson, and it was entirely fitting that they should be playing each other at Headingley last Sunday when both teams lined
POLICE last night began an investigation after two men drowned and a third man was injured when their boat capsized off the North-East coast. The survivor was found clinging to the prow of the pleasure craft yesterday, half a mile off the South Gare breakwater
SIR Bobby Robson last night revealed he is considering dramatically recalling both Lomana LuaLua and Stephen Caldwell to help revive Newcastle's faltering Champions League push. LuaLua has scored four goals in just seven starts since joining Portsmouth
THEATRICAL youngsters prepared for a forthcoming show by manning a market stall. Members of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group's junior section were busy on Chester-le-Street's Saturday market selling donated goods. The section, which has about 50 members
Stokesley SC, who this morning host Boldon CA in the final of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, reached the last stage of the Wearside League Cup with a comprehensive victory over Cleadon SC. Stokesley were also beaten finalists in the Sunderland Shipowners
PEOPLE in the North-East are being encouraged to take part in water activities to raise money to protect dolphins. The WWF's Big Swim, during this month and June, will see people sponsored to take part in a variety of water activities to raise money for
POLICE last night began an investigation after two men drowned and a third man was injured when their boat capsized off the North-East coast. The survivor was found clinging to the prow of the pleasure craft yesterday, half a mile off the South Gare breakwater
West Indian Teneto Willett has made a great start at Ushaw Moor who romped to a nine-wickets win over Etherley - their second consecutive victory. Willett dominated the match from beginning to end. His medium pacers earned him five wickets for a miserly
THREE members of a family have been recognised for services to Scouting. Brian Ellis, wife Angela and daughter Beverley Watkins have recorded a total of 80 years' service. Mr Ellis, Scoutmaster at 1st Shildon (St John's) Scouts, received a long service
A REWARD is being offered after £10,000-worth of Japanese koi carp were stolen from a garden in Bishop Auckland. The six fish were taken overnight on Friday from a garden in Low Etherley. Their owner, Nicola Roe, who runs Chilton Aquatics, in Chilton,
A UNIVERSITY is extending a scheme to encourage North-East youngsters to take a degree after A-levels. Two years ago, Durham University launched its Masterclass programme as a one-day session to encourage applications from teenagers whose families have
A REWARD is being offered after £10,000-worth of Japanese koi carp were stolen from a garden in Bishop Auckland. The six fish were taken overnight on Friday from a pond in Low Etherley. Their owner, Nicola Roe, who runs Chilton Aquatics, in Chilton, said
COMMUNITY support police officers have made 50 arrests since they started work three months ago. The 21 officers were taken on by Northumbria Police to reassure the public and improve life for Sunderland residents by tackling nuisance behaviour. They
A CHURCH is hosting a charity night to raise money for a young soldier who was recently wounded in the Middle East. Private Chrissy Thompson has had to have part of his leg amputated after a mine blast in Iraq, and is now recuperating at his home in Bishop
They are blamed for many misdemeanours, but are the gangs of young people on the borough's streets really to blame? John Dean investigates. IT is 8.30pm on a Friday and the kind of scene which some find intimidating and which leads others to call the
CHILDREN at a Hartlepool school have won the title of best mathematicians in the town. The 13 and 14-year-olds from St Hild's School won the Hartlepool heat of The Tees Valley Maths Challenge. They beat off competition from pupils from five comprehensive
THE RSPCA is offering cat owners on benefits in Derwentside free vouchers so they can get their pets neutered. Anyone wanting to apply for vouchers can call (01388) 730248.
DIETERS are being urged to lose weight and raise pounds for charity by taking part in a sponsored walk. Members of Weightwatchers groups in North Durham will join in the annual walk around the parish boundaries of Esh, whose main village is Langley Park
MORE than 500 youngsters are taking part in an initiative aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy. The 11 and 12-year-olds from east Cleveland and South Tyneside will be involved in a Government energy scheme, called The Renewable Energy School
YOUNG brass band players have received £700 from West Redcar's Single Regeneration Budget fund. The money will enable the South Bank Brass Band Youth Group to buy music stands and band fleeces embroidered with their logo. Ron Wilson, honorary secretary
THE transfer of a town's council houses to a new landlord has been delayed again. Earlier this year, council tenants voted on a plan by Middlesbrough Council to transfer its 13,000 council houses to a new landlord. Sixty per cent of Middlesbrough's council
A SCHOOL is celebrating after recording its most successful sporting season in more than 25 years. Wolsingham School and Community College has enjoyed victories in football, basketball, tag rugby and athletics, with teams from each sport bringing silverware
A £95,000 play park has made a dream come true for a small community. The Middlewood Green Action Group, consisting of residents and councillors from St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, has worked for five years to create a playing facility for the
THE Salvation Army is holding a Last Night at the Proms at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, east Cleveland, at 7pm on Saturday, May 22. The evening is a fundraiser for a local charity.
A RAFFLE backed by some of football's biggest names at the weekend raised more than £8,000 to help Darlington survive its financial troubles. Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen's signed boots were among a host of football memorabilia being raffled
A SCHOOL has received a £300 grant to help pupils improve their eating habits. Croft Primary School was awarded the money to buy and install a greenhouse in its grounds by Yorkshire Bank's Educational Awards Scheme. Three years ago, the school opted out
A POLICE officer has taken his concerns for better protection for the elderly to the top. Detective Constable Peter Clifford represented Cleveland Police at a private reception at 10 Downing Street, where he had a ten-minute chat with Tony Blair and his
MANY would presume Bedale-born soldier Sergeant David Barksby and wife, Susan, have an ideal posting. The couple are living in South East Asia at a garrison not far from beautiful beaches overlooking the Pacific Ocean, but life in Brunei is not always
PLANS have been submitted to build a DIY store, garden centre and another retail unit at a greenfield site on the southern fringe of Ripon. If approved, the development, which has sparked several objections, would be next to Morrisons supermarket and
ROYAL Mail bosses have said postal deliveries in the North-East are almost back on track after weeks of staff struggling to cope with a new system. The assurance came as the Government insisted yesterday the service would not be privatised following national
THE Salvation Army is holding a Last Night at the Proms at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, east Cleveland, at 7pm on Saturday, May 22. The evening is a fundraiser for a local charity. Published: 03/05/2004
THE prizes on offer for the winner of a County Durham beauty contest are growing. More than £5,000-worth of prizes are up for grabs for the winner of Sedgefield Racecourse's Miss Durham Beauty Contest on May 25. Betfred, the bookmakers sponsoring the
TRADING standards officers are warning businesspeople to beware if they receive letters from firms claiming to regulate health and safety legislation. One woman in Hartlepool recently received an official-looking letter from an organisation calling itself
A NORTH-EAST soldier is helping to train the Afghan army of the future. Lance Corporal Keith Wilson, of the 1st Battalion The Green Howards, who is from Hartlepool, is in Kabul working as an instructor. "The soldiers that we teach are very nice and are
MORE than 500 youngsters are taking part in an initiative aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy. The 11 and 12-year-olds from east Cleveland and South Tyneside will be involved in a Government energy scheme, called The Renewable Energy School
CYCLISTS are gearing up for a charity ride taking in some of the region's most picturesque countryside. The 30-mile event, to take place on Sunday, is in its seventh year and will raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Riders take a circular
HUNDREDS of people flocked to a castle in the region at the weekend to catch a glimpse of an exotic orchid named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. The paphiopedilum, which is also known as The Slippers of Aphrodite, was the star attraction at
A hotel was maintaining a discreet silence last night amid rumours that David and Victoria Beckham are to hire the entire building when Royal Ascot heads north. The Beckhams are planning to attend the five-day meeting, which is being held at York next
THE grandfather of a murdered schoolboy has backed new sex laws aimed at protecting children. But Harry Hammond, whose grandson, Wesley Neailey was killed in 1998, said the law needed to go even further if children were to be protected from paedophiles
A breast cancer charity is holding a Healthy Living Day to provide support and information for North-East people affected by the illness. The event, at the St George Hotel, near Teesside International Airport, Middleton St George, near Darlington, is
GOING into the last day of the season with a play-off place up for grabs, while keeping an eye on other results - Hartlepool United have been there before. They went to Hull in May 2000, needing a win and relying on other results to go in their favour
WHEN archaeologists spotted traces of Roman ruins in the vicinity of Bootham Crescent not too long ago it ensured the home of York City Football Club remained the same. But, while one battle may have been won, nothing could stop the Minstermen from losing
CROOK Rotary Club is helping to provide clean, safe drinking water for African villages by raising money to buy filters made in the North-East. The club has donated £2,200 to an AquaFilter project, which cleans up contaminated water using a hand- pumping
CROOK Rotary Club is helping to provide clean, safe drinking water for African villages by raising money to buy filters made in the North-East. The club has donated £2,200 to an AquaFilter project, which cleans up contaminated water using a hand- pumping
PLANS for a children's play centre in Darlington are likely to be rejected. Borough councillors are being advised to refuse an application from Landteam to use premises in Morton Park Way for the development. Planning officers believe the facility could
IT didn't take long for the Macmillan County Durham appeal to hit its first target of £10,000. Within a few weeks of the appeal's launch at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in October 2001, the Rank Foundation set the ball rolling with
RESIDENTS are calling for improved crossing facilities over a busy main road only yards from their homes. Almost 220 people have signed a petition calling for a puffin crossing of the A167 road at North End, Northallerton. They say that the refuge island
A COUNCIL has teamed up with insurance brokers to offer its tenants an affordable home insurance scheme. Sedgefield Borough Council has joined insurance brokers Marsh, and Royal and Sun Alliance to deliver a home contents insurance scheme under the umbrella
DELEGATES who spent a week examining a market town's opportunities have urged community leaders to forge closer ties with their military neighbours or risk a slow decline. The Countryside Agency and Richmond Town Council pioneered the international exchange
ONE of the longest-serving members of staff and one of the newest have been rewarded for excellence by the chairman of a local authority. Chauffeur Derrick Bagley will be retiring later this month after 30 years driving for Richmondshire District Council
THE future of a town centre will come under the spotlight this week. An exhibition will be held at the Arc centre, in Stockton, from Wednesday. It will reveal the suggestions for making the town centre a better place to visit, shop, work and relax. Commissioned
PEOPLE with visual impairments sampled sports and games they would not normally have the chance to try at the weekend. The event, on Saturday, saw ten people with visual impairments take part in rifle shooting and goal ball - a game similar to football
A SCHOOL has received funding from a shopping centre to spend on wildlife gardens. St Patrick's Comprehensive School, in Thornaby, received £250 from Wellington Square Shopping Centre to buy two benches for the gardens. The gardens were created in the
DARLINGTON may be safe from relegation but there is still plenty at stake for the players this season. Manager David Hodgson would agree that in the current climate, every player on the club's books deserves a new contract. While no medals are awarded
MORE than 120 children from schools across Teesside gave up their lunchtimes to complete a training course as student librarians. The youngsters, from 17 secondary schools in the area, were given certificates by children's author Alan Gibbons at the fifth
PEOPLE in Derwentside have the chance to try free activities. The Learning Network Project, made up of Durham County Council, Derwentside College and Return to Learn, will celebrate Adult Learners Week next week with events. Internet quizzes, desktop
THEATRICAL youngsters prepared for a forthcoming show by manning a market stall. Members of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group's junior section were busy on Chester-le-Street's Saturday market selling donated goods. The section, which has about 50 members
VOLUNTEERS working to reopen a rural railway line in July will be celebrating a milestone next week. After years spent painstakingly restoring old premises and rolling stock, the Weardale Railways project, in County Durham, is starting work on its first
STUDENTS from the North-East have been battling it out for a place in the national finals of a construction skills competition. They were set tasks in trades including bricklaying, joinery and plumbing for the regional Skillbuild heats. It was held at
THIS column on Saturday finished by asking: "How much more mistreatment of prisoners has gone unseen?" Even as those words were put to bed, an answer was coming in over the wires as reports of alleged brutality by British soldiers started to arrive. There
THE Symington brothers were prominent but their performances were overshadowed by Allan Worthy as Chester-le-Street won by four wickets at Norton. Marc (31) and Craig, who finished on 56, produced most of the runs in a total of less than 150. Ian Jones
FAMILIES of loved ones who died at Deepcut and other Army barracks have welcomed news that an independent watchdog could be established to crack down on bullying and protect young recruits. According to newspaper reports, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon
CHRIS Pleasants is already looking like he could prove to be Bill Quay's best signing in years. Last season he regularly troubled Federation Special Durham Senior League batsmen when he played for Felling, and in two games for his new club so far he has
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE declared at the fall of their eighth wicket in order to end the match and deny Yorkshire the chance of a third bowling bonus point in the rain-ruined Championship clash at Trent Bridge on Saturday. Had Nottinghamshire continued at 353
MARK JOHNSTON'S flying three-year-old filly, Attraction, maintained her 100 per cent unbeaten six-race record with a pulsating pillar-to-post victory in yesterday's 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. It has been ten long years since Johnston's only other Classic
NORTH-EAST audiences are about to go pie-eyed as Greggs The Musical makes its debut. Two years after a sell-out season at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival, the tribute to Newcastle's sausage rolls and pie bakery is booked to play Tyneside's Live Theatre on
Brian Lara marked his birthday with a match-winning half-century as West Indies beat England by four wickets in the sixth one-day international at Beausejour Stadium. The West Indies captain, who celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday, hit a superb 57
EMILE HESKEY, the man Middlesbrough tried to sign in January, was on hand to severely dent Newcastle United's chances of playing in the Champions League next season. In doing so Heskey - who scored the crucial second goal at Anfield yesterday - also hampered
Hundreds of photographs have been taken of British servicemen mistreating Iraqi civilians, it was claimed last night. Troops serving in southern Iraq have been swapping the pictures among themselves, said the unnamed soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire
Rain-affected pitches caused the majority of games to be called off and Darlington must have wished their fixture with Bishop Auckland had also fallen victim to the conditions. They were caught out on a sodden track at Feethams where Phil Timmens and
Lanchester's new professional, South African Wallace Albertyn, could hardly have made a better start at Annfield Plain who were made 30 all out - their lowest score for many years. And it was Albertyn who decimated the innings taking seven wickets for
DARLINGTON legend Craig Liddle has paid a special tribute to the club's fans after making his 300th appearance for the club. Liddle is only the 11th player to achieve such a feat in the Quakers' 121-year history and his loyal service was recognised with
Hundreds of photographs have been taken of British servicemen mistreating Iraqi civilians, it was claimed last night. Troops serving in southern Iraq have been swapping the pictures among themselves, said the unnamed soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire
AT LEAST Dario Gradi was more diplomatic in his assessment of Sunderland than the cruel Crewe choristers. "Premiership? You're having a laugh'' was the incessant chant from the visiting fans' enclosure at the Stadium of Light as the Railwaymen belied
A competition to write the beginnings of a 'crossover' novel - one which appeals to both adults and children - has just been launched in the North-East. Novelist Wendy Robertson explains what the judges will be looking for. SOME years ago, after a brief
The Albany Northern League: Ashington must pick up at least a point at Washington Nissan in their final game of the season to collect the Northern League second division championship after a dramatic day on Saturday. While Ashington came back from a goal
Anthropologist Kate Fox has spent three years eavesdropping, jumping queues and, horror of horrors, talking to strangers for her new book about the English. Christen Pears reports. FOR the past three years, anthropologist Kate Fox has frequented pubs,
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren last night remained tight-lipped over reports that he will step back into the international arena after England No. 2 Brian Kidd had an operation to cure prostrate cancer. With just six weeks to go before this summer's
DURHAM do at least have Saturday's century-maker Marcus North in form as they prepare to go into Wednesday's C & G Trophy second round tie at home to Sussex with the Western Australian as their only overseas player. It was hoped that first-choice
AFTER being given a rough baptism, Ryan Sidebottom dished out a crushing double blow against his native county as Yorkshire Phoenix tumbled to defeat by 104 runs against Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the totesport League at Trent Bridge yesterday. It was
I HAVE seen some ugly faces in my time, but never as many as when I walked into the Strathmore Arms, at Holwick, in Teesdale. At every turn there were scrunched up mugs, cross-eyed grimaces and tongues poking out - not to mention the odd set of false
Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges will return to Darlington Arts Centre's Rhythm and Blues Club on Friday, May 14, supported by Sugarland Slim. Tickets priced £8 are available from the box office on (01325) 486555. Published: 03/05/2004
NEALE Cooper is in the frame for his first managerial award tomorrow. The Hartlepool boss could be named Division Two manager of the month when the announcement is made tomorrow. It looks like a choice between Cooper and Tranmere's Brian Little, who went
A BATTLE of the bands competition will move into the semi-final phase next week. During the past month, 12 local bands have been battling it out in the Budweiser event at Aruba, in Darlington. Each week, three bands have been given 30 minutes to impress
A SURVEY highlighting concerns about the future of family farms has been welcomed by the region's agricultural workers. Almost a third of the 6,893 respondents to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) survey said they were most worried about losing
DARLINGTON has its first Arts Council Fellowship trainee. Liana Miller has won the fellowship, awarded by the Arts Council of England. She is one of 11 Arts Council Fellowship trainees who will be working at arts venues in the country over the next 12
A CHURCH is hosting a charity night to raise money for a young soldier who was recently wounded in the Middle East. Private Chrissy Thompson has had to have part of his leg amputated after a mine blast in Iraq, and is now recuperating at his home in Bishop
CROOK Rotary Club is helping to provide clean, safe drinking water for African villages by raising money to buy filters made in the North-East. The club has donated £2,200 to an AquaFilter project, which cleans up contaminated water using a hand- pumping
IT was in February 1981 that a chain of events started which led to one of the most remarkable meetings in Darlington's history. The Evening Despatch, the Northern Echo's sister paper, had reported that bored teenagers were flocking to illegal back-street
ENTRIES are being sought for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's flagship competition, the annual Farming Enterprise Awards. A total of £2,800 in prize money is on offer and sponsorship is being provided by property consultants, FPD Savills and Yorkshire
A ROMAN Catholic chapel on a Darlington estate is facing demolition. The chapel in Ribble Drive, on the Skerne Park estate, has not been used as a church for about three years. Built in the 1960s, it was affiliated with St Augustine' Church in the town
LOW-cost airline easyJet apologised to its customers after thousands of holidaymakers, including scores in Newcastle, were left stranded. Forty aircraft - including two in Newcastle - were grounded due to an administrative error, the airline said. The
VISITORS to a fun day at a kennels will see how abandoned dogs and strays can help disabled people. Ian Young, of Chester-le-Street, has set up the International Service Dog Fund to train dogs to perform tasks that people with disabilities cannot do.
CYCLISTS from the region will be descending on a North Yorkshire village next week-end. More than 300 Cycling Tourists' Club (CTC) members are expected to converge on Coxwold, near Easingwold, for its 78th annual service of remembrance. The service at
DURHAM'S MP has criticised the city council for scrapping grants to businesses. The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority ended the grants when it made £900,000-worth of budget cuts, after it was given "disappointing" Government funding. Gerry Steinberg
VOLUNTARY specialist respiratory nurse Deirdre Corbett has come second in the UK for her work with people with breathing problems. She was nominated by patients for a healthcare professional award, and the Teesside branch of the Breathe Easy group presented
WORK will start soon on building 350 homes in a project that will see a greenfield and brownfield site transformed. The development will be next to the site of the former rundown 1960s Courts estate, Redcar, east Cleveland, where 270 flats have now been
