I recall someone giving me a very helpful hint to the effect that when shaking hands and networking you should repeat your name and describe what you do, not your occupation. So I became “Judith, Judith who helps people at a time of relationship breakdown
A CELEBRATED North Yorkshire pub welcomed guests to its grand re-opening tonight (Thursday, March 27). The Black Bull, in Moulton, near Richmond, closed in January 2012 and has been restored and completely refurbished by new owners Provenance Inns
RETAILERS, business owners and the council need to work together and embrace technology and new ideas if Darlington town centre is to stay sustainable and successful in future, a major conference has heard. The Darlington town centre conference
A DESPERATE robber who carried out knifepoint raids at two betting shops in three days was today (Thursday March 27) jailed for ten years. Richard Black, who was said to have “an appalling record”, including several previous offences of robbery
STUDENTS could work shift patterns and tender for contracts as part of their courses in a bid to make a town’s apprentices more attractive to employers. Peter Wilson, managing director at Middlesbrough College, said local manufacturers were aware
FRESH court action against a television psychic who fled the region leaving a trail of debts was entirely predictable, says one of her victims. Sylvia Mitchell told a local authority in Hertfordshire she had no previous convictions - despite being
A CHARITY which works with prisoners and their families is on the hunt for volunteer drivers. Nepacs, based in Durham City, is launching a bespoke minibus service for visitors to two North-East prisons, HMP Northumberland and Deerbolt, near Barnard
A COUPLE who met at a north Durham dance hall more than six decades ago have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Edwin and Jean Piper got together after meeting at The Palais in Stanley in the early 1950s. They wed at East Stanley
A HIGHLY organised gang who stole more than £300,000 worth of cars during a spate of two-in-one burglaries have appeared in court today (Thursday, March 27). High value cars including BMWs and Audis were stolen before being sold on with fake number
A COUPLE who met on a dating website went on to tie the knot despite both failing to tell the other they were still married. David Michael Bradley and former police officer Caroline Anita Baker began a relationship in January last year, several
A NORTH-EAST actor and writer has been commissioned to pen two episodes of Dr Who. Sherlock co-creator and star Mark Gatiss, originally from School Aycliffe in County Durham, has announced he will write two episodes of the world’s longest running
A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of abusing two children. Peter Edwards targeted the pair on several occasions more than a decade ago. At the time of the abuse the police investigated complaints against
A JUNIOR neighbourhood watch scheme has won nearly £10,000 in funding. Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) has awarded Durham Police £9,475 so the scheme can be offered to all 21 primary schools in the AAP area. The project is aimed at showing
The Tour De France, the greatest cycle race on the planet, is coming to Yorkshire. We know it's happening but it has felt like a fantasy. Suddenly, there are just 100 days to go and the reality of what Yorkshire has achieved is beginning to dawn
PEOPLE are being given the chance to test their IQ. Mensa, the international high IQ society, is holding a supervised IQ test session at New College Durham, Framwellgate Moor, Durham City, on Saturday, May 10. Two more are being held in Newcastle
SEVEN people arrested in dawn raids remain in custody tonight (Thursday, March 27). The six men, aged 27 to 48, and a woman in her late 20s were arrested as police swooped on six houses across Sherburn Village, Thornley, South Hetton and West Rainton
A MAN who was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work for stealing £500 worth of copper cabling last summer has breached the order. Kane Durham, 23, of Coleridge Gardens, Darlington admitted that he failed to attend two of his unpaid work appointments
**** WHAT are your basic multiplication skills like? Probably pretty sound but, in the pressure-cooker of a super-tight 4x4 grid where the matching of similarly numbered tiles only escalates the challenge, your brain could easily be blown off course
**** AFTER the awesomely difficult, but oh-so rewarding experience in the original Dark Souls, the question is, do you now dare to engage again in ultra-intense gameplay, powered by an all-new game engine? If you accept, you’ll be forced to immerse
*** ANY new MGS title should set the gaming senses humming, and Ground Zeroes promises to revolutionise the already super- Solid experience. You must decide how to deploy your intelligence and cerebral strategy to sneak your way through the unfortunately
A £62,000 SURVEILLANCE car to crack down on bad drivers has been unveiled. Middlesbrough Borough Council’s new car will be used to spy on people who park dangerously near schools, bus stops and pedestrian crossings. The cost of the vehicle
**** ANYONE who had the pleasure of slipping into Cole McGrath’s superpowered shoes a couple of years ago in inFAMOUS 2, will know what joy can be had from possessing a suite of extraordinary god-like powers. Second Son presents an excellent action
Community safety, and in particular alcohol misuse, domestic abuse and crime will be central to City of York Council’s third Crime Summit tomorrow (March 28). Agencies and community groups from across the city will take part and feedback will help
Durham County Council planning officers have refused planning permission for the change of use from open land to showman storage and the placement of one static home at 2 Fairview, Thornley. SOCIAL DANCE: A social dance will be held at the Indoor
From stems to blossoms, Cornus will brighten up any garden CORNUS, or what is more commonly known as the Dogwood, is perhaps most recognised as a plant for its attractive stems and bark that provide bright colour throughout the dark days of winter
A NEW swimming pool constructed as part of a £31m leisure centre development has been filled with water for the first time. At 25m long and boasting six lanes, the Redcar pool at the Heart Leisure Centre holds 487,000 litres of water and has been
Wet underfloor heating systems produce an even, consistent room temperature, as well as a toasty floor. Julia Gray reports THE last thing you want to do on a cold morning is get out of bed. But imagine if you could step out onto a warm carpet..
Nothing says grandeur like a chandelier, but these statement fittings don’t have to be reserved for palaces and the sets of Downton Abbey. Keeley Bolger puts dazzling displays in the spotlight THEY may conjure images of royalty and riches, but
Thieves who broke into a temporary building in Northallerton stole power tools including a Stihl saw and grinder. The building , behind Wilkinson’s store near the Applegarth, was broken into between 5.30pm on March 20 and 7.30am the following day.
POLICE have praised the public and businesses for their help in a major abuse investigation. Northumbria officers said the response to Operation Sanctuary, the investigation into alleged sexual offences against vulnerable women and girls, has been
Jenny Needham talks to a couple who haveused their practical and artistic talents to create an upmarket B&B and a lovely family home from a damp and dilapidated ruin IT was on a freezing, snow-covered day in bleak midwinter that Paul and Janet
Carl Todner, 27, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham, County Durham, has been charged with five counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of outraging public decency and four counts of exposure. The offences
A CHARITY will mark World Autism Awareness Day next month by staging a mass-participation walk. The North-East Autism Society’s Walk for Autism will set off from Baltic Square at Gateshead Quayside at 10.30am on Wednesday, April 2. The charity
A talented young chef who has uprooted his young family from London in search of a better quality of life in North Yorkshire tells Ruth Campbell he’s also discovered much better quality ingredients on his doorstep MOST 16-year-olds, should their
AN ANGRY parent of a former Richmond School student has launched an online petition demanding to know the truth about the resignation of its governors. Howard Smith said the petition, which will be sent to Education Secretary Michael Gove MP and
THE last of Thornaby's condemned properties have been demolished. New homes will now be built in the Mandale area of the town as part of a £100m regeneration scheme. A total of 578 houses have been knocked down and 770 new homes built since
DEAF since birth and having never heard a sound, the moment a woman hears for the first time and has her life transformed has been captured on film. Joanne Milne, 40, from Gateshead, was born deaf, and during her 20s also began to lose her vision
POLICE have appealed for information following an alleged indecent assault on a 17-year-old girl. Officers said the teenager was walking at Herrington Burn, between Houghton-le-Spring and Shiney Row, on Wearside, when she was approached by a man
A WRITER is hoping his new book will help clear the name of a North Yorkshire-born First World War seaman who died after leading his men into a doomed battle. Author Steve Dunn’s book, The Scapegoat, delves into the life of Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher
The web is 25 years old, and under threat. The man who invented it, Tim Berners-Lee, is worried about its future, says Giles Turnbull. Perhaps you can help TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented something new for the internet: a technology
Agatha Christie comes up with the perfect solution to a director’s quest AFTER presenting Oscar Wilde in the Mansion House and Sherlock Holmes in the Treasurers House, York-based Theatre Mill is going to court. Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama
Take one journalist, add two judges and chuck in a mystery box of ingredients, Cooking doesn’t get tougher than the MasterChef invention test. Here is what they produced for you to try. Ingredients: Serves Four 400g dried pappardelle
YOU may have noticed that we’ve had some sunshine recently and that temperatures have crawled above freezing. This means spring is in the air and wild garlic is starting to show. And wild garlic is food for free. Excellent cooked like spinach, but
SCHOOLGIRL Grace Maughan came up with a mouth-watering way to help the fight against cancer. Grace, a Year 9 student at Park View School in Chester-le-Street, who is a member of First Great Lumley Guides and is working towards her Baden Powel Award
Customers think they are the world’s best restaurant critics – and they’re right WHO does he think he is?” you might ask. An engineer writing about food is surely about as relevant as the Pope pontificating about marriage. Ah, but here’s the rub
THE North-East's three police and crime commissioners (PCCs) have strongly criticised the Government's plans to tackle problems caused by cheap alcohol. In a joint statement, Barry Coppinger, Ron Hogg and Vera Baird, the PCCs for Cleveland, Durham
A BUDGETING app that helps users manage their money is being presented at a high-profile exhibition in London. Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau has created the app for mobile phone users, which will be presented at the Ideal Homes Exhibition in
HARTLEPOOL UNITED have signed two young prospects from Sunderland to boost their injury-hit squad. Scott Harrison and Connor Oliver, both 20, have moved on loan until the end of the season. Harrison, a centre-half, signed for the Black Cats
Actress Martine McCutcheon, who starred in EastEnders and the hit film Love Actually, has battled illness and financial problems. But now she’s back, she tells Gabrielle Fagan SOMETIMES, music is the answer. And never more so than for Martine McCutcheon
RECRUITS at Catterick Garrison's Infantry Training Centre will mark the end of their basic training on Friday. Members of Scots 5 Platoon will be joined by family from across the country for their passing out parade. Major David Cunningham,
From small beginnings a few years ago, a network of self-support groups for problem drinkers is flourishing. Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to some of those that it has helped WEN Lisa Boyd and Richard Raine got hitched at Darlington Register
HOSPITAL bosses have justified scrapping free parking for disabled visitors after being criticised by a union. Officials from the South Tees Health Branch of Unison said they were “appalled” that the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is
THE quirky, eclectic and downright gorgeous have always found a home at The Station, in Richmond, but now there’s an on-site shop stocking a whole range of delightful goodies. Lost & Found opens its doors today, offering gifts and homeware,
UP-and-coming artists are being given the chance to shout about their work in an innovative scheme offering a platform to showcase their creative talent. A pop-up exhibition will provide the chance for artists and designer makers to demonstrate
A HEALTH and wellbeing coffee morning for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will take place at Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, April 9. Age UK is hosting the event for people aged 50
A new Durham boutique is offering an eclectic mix of fashion items and accessories AN entrepreneurial mathematician has the right measurement for success after relocating her flourishing fashion business to a prestigious city centre location.
NORTHERN Rail will receive a £632m Government subsidy after signing a 22-month extension to its current franchise contract. The region’s biggest rail operator is to face tough new targets on punctuality, reliability and passenger satisfaction as
TEESSIDE and Gateshead’s curvy fashion retailer, Simply Be, is offering a great prize: a £120 shopping voucher, styling session, chocolates and champagne for one lucky mum this Mother’s Day. The winner will be invited in to the store to pick out their
A POLICE officer has been taken taken to hospital after his vehicle collided with a bus at lunchtime today (Thursday, March 27). A Northumbria Police spokesman said the police vehicle and bus collided in the southbound carriageway of the Redheugh
AS the mourners at Tony Benn’s funeral waited in the beautiful Westminster chapel, the applause of the large crowd outside roared through the walls. In an age when politicians are generally loathed, it was the starkest reminder that the once most-hated-man-in-Britain
A BIKER was hurt after he crashed when a car pulled out of a parking space and caused him to lose control of his machine. The 20-year-old hit a parked car and had to be treated in hospital for minor injuries after the incident which happened in
YOU only have to look down a list of former players that went on to earn full international caps to realise how successful the Northern League has been. Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Chris Waddle, Gary Pallister and Eric Gates are just some of the
BIKE MARKING: Officers at Cockerton Police Office in Darlington will be available to put free security markings on bikes this Saturday and Sunday (March 29 and 30) between 9am and 1pm each day. Bikes will be marked with a unique code, which will then
EDWARD FAIRLESS knew tragedy early in life when both his parents died. But he buckled down gamely at his village school and won a scholarship to a grammar school, where he also excelled. He went on to a college where he achieved high grades all
A REUNION for former students of the Middlesbrough Day Training College for Teachers is being held on Thursday, April 24. The college was established in an old convent in Borough Road in 1964 to overcome a teacher shortage in the Tees Valley.
YEAR ten pupils from Darlington School of Mathematics and Science heard from local businesses as part of a programme to introduce employability skills. The Esh Employability programme, delivered since September 2013 at the school by Esh Group aims
HARRY MORTON writes from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, where he has been watching the Winter Olympics from Sochi in Russia. “It is almost 60 years since I left Darlington, but I would love my youthful memories to be rekindled,” he says. “Our favourite
ON February 6, 1894, The Northern Echo reported that at the annual meeting of the Weardale and Shildon District Waterworks Company, held the day before in the Mechanics Institute in Darlington, John Rogerson of Croxdale Hall had been re-elected as
A MAN who was involved in a burglary at a County Durham boathouse has been sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work. John Paul Templeton, of Burnett Crescent, Kelloe, has admitted playing a part in the burglary, which saw a bag and handbag containing
THE memory of a 45ft-long, 35-tonne male sperm whale which beached off the Teesside coast has been preserved forever. The whale became an unlikely tourist attraction in May, 2011 after it came ashore at Redcar and wildlife lovers tried desperately
IN Memories 162, we were on the trail of the Naafi in Darlington. The Naafi – or Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes – was formed in 1921 to provide recreational activities for servicemen and to sell them goods. Of course, when the Second World
A TEAM of dentists is swapping drilling and filling for nine days of puffing and panting. The trio from two North Yorkshire dental practices are gearing up to complete an epic cycle ride to help raise thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support
THE operator of a cargo vessel which steamed across the North Sea with an alarm system switched off and the entire crew asleep for 90 minutes before it crashed into the Farne Islands has been fined £60,000. No-one was awake on the bridge when the
WRITING can be a solitary occupation. It’s driven a lot of our greatest authors to seek solace in the bottom of a bottle and others to become shy and reclusive. But in Darlington, it’s a sociable affair, as writers of all ages, keen to read out
A LAST shot of winter has hit parts of Britain including the Northumberland/Cumbria border with a flurry of snow before temperatures are set to rise at the weekend. Parts of south west England received a dusting of white as well as higher ground
MAJOR works are about to begin to finally decommission a North Yorkshire reservoir. Yorkshire Water is to spend £1.3m on the project at the Oakdale reservoir at Osmotherley near Northallerton. The reservoir was created in the 19th-century to
IT says much about Bistro 21 that when we told friends of our plans for a cold, wet Wednesday, mid-February evening there, a quiet, unspoken envy clouded their eyes. Bistro 21 is without question one of Durham’s most acclaimed, sought-after and
Eli Young Band: 10,000 Towns (Republic Nashville/Decca) THE Eli Young Band comprise four musicians who met during their college days at the University of North Texas and are now 11 years into a career built on touring, without a change in their
WHAT’S ON: Juliette Bausor: ECHO Rising Star, Sage Gateshead, 8pm tomorrow. Royal Northern Sinfonia section leader flute Juliette Bausor and pianist Alasdair Beatson. Programme includes Bach, Dutilleux, Messiaen and Prokofiev. Box Office: 0191-443-
WITH just three months to go before the world’s biggest single sporting event comes to the region, cycling fever is riding high. More than 2,000 people attended an event today (Thursday, March 27) to mark the beginning of the 100-day countdown
LAST week I finally got to see the Coen Brothers film about the early days of the American folk scene, Inside Llewyn Davis, a movie which I first mentioned in this column around 18 months ago, when friends in America alerted me that the project was
A MAN appeared before magistrates today (Thursday, March 27) charged with making and possessing indecent images of children. Andrew Baxter, of Westwood Avenue, Heighington Village, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, faces 16 charges of making
A LITTLE girl who saved her late father’s life after he fell into a diabetic coma has been honoured at a prestigious awards ceremony. Five-year-old Holly Price was one of 32 young people from across the region receiving awards from Peter Bell,
WHAT’S ON: Friday, Martin Taylor, NCEM, York, 01904- 658338; Sunday, Alex Baker Quartet, Forum Music Centre, Darlington, 01325-363135. CD REVIEWS: Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock/Whispering of the Stars (Spartacus STS019) Their two previous albums
WRITER and comedian Ben Elton says that jukebox musicals – shows that use old hits as the show’s score – are good value for money. Well, he would say that wouldn’t he as the writer of two such shows, We Will Rock You and Tonight’s The Night. The
MICHAEL McKell is not only revisiting the Rod Stewart musical by reprising his role in Tonight’s The Night, but also returning to his first career – as a rock star. He was a musician and singer-songwriter in the 1980s until a near-fatal car crash,
VINCENT Dance Theatre’s show Motherland is a show about having it all – “inching its way through airbrushed beauty, boob jobs and Botox, victim-blaming, slut-shaming, the might of motherhood and the challenge of childlessness”. The ensemble of
AMERICAN rap legend Snoop Dogg is coming to Middlesborough. He will perform at Centre Square on Monday, June 9. The show is a coup for the Teesside-based Loose Cannon events team because Snoop is only performing three other dates in the UK on his
BRITAIN’S best-loved rockers Status Quo will be appearing at the MetroRadio Arena, Newcastle, on Monday, December 8, as part of an 11- date tour. Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andy Bown, John “Rhino” Edwards and new boy Leon Cave are promising a
THE Marvel Comics take-over of the universe continues apace with the second Captain America adventure on screen and the Avengers (Assemble) sequel about to go into production. How long before a superhero arrives to rid the world of this growing menace
CREATED almost 60 years ago by Jim Henson, Kermit The Frog and his hand-operated chums gained a new lease of life in 2011 with the release of the seventh feature film, snappily entitled The Muppets. Combining an irreverent script, tongue-in-cheek
GRAMMY-NOMINATED music video director Morgan Neville collected this year’s Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for this rousing, feel-good portrait of some of the unknown voices behind music’s most recognisable hits. 20 Feet From Stardom celebrates
A LONG-serving councillor who shaped his community for almost four decades will be remembered as a dedicated village man and family man.. Coun Bill Waters , from Byers Green, near Spennymoor, passed away last Thursday (March 20) at the age of 77
DEA agent Phil Broker (Jason Statham) is instrumental in an undercover police sting to bring down biker Danny T (Chuck Zito). Unfortunately, Danny’s son is killed during the arrest. Phil hands in his badge and moves with his cherubic daughter Maddy
AS children, Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) love to play, taking full advantage of Elsa’s ability to create ice and snow from her fingertips. When a late-night accident almost ends in tragedy, the King (Maurice LaMarche)
CARRIE White (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a shrinking violet, who has been sheltered from the harsh realities of the world by her religiously zealous mother, Margaret (Julianne Moore). After swimming class, Carrie gets her first period and classmates
THIS isn’t the first time Broken Social Scene founder Kevin Drew has taken time away from the Canadian collective to go it alone. His debut solo album, 2007’s Spirit If... seemed a natural progression from the group’s offerings – a little more
FORMER member of folk-rockers the Felice Brothers, main man behind soul-folk trio The Duke And The King and an acclaimed author, Simone Felice now looks to satisfy his restless talent with his second solo album. Strangers is a beautifully-crafted
X FACTOR presenter Dermot O’Leary also introduces upcoming bands in live performances on his BBC Radio 2 show, The Saturday Sessions. The fourth album from this series features tracks from Keane, the Manic Street Preachers and Primal Scream. Like
MT Warning is a collaboration between Australian musician Mikey Bee and American filmmaker Taylor Steele. Bee composes the tracks, while Steele works out how to bring the songs to life on stage and in video. Their debut, Midnight Set, tells the
FOR someone who has appeared on stage for more than four decades, it’s hard to believe that Joan Armatrading still gets nervous. But until now, the 63-yearold star, whose most memorable hits include Drop The Pilot, Love and Affection and Me, Myself
A WOMAN who crashed a van into four cars while drunk has been banned from driving for a year. Darlington Magistrates’ Court was previously told that 30-year-old Kelly McVay was more than three times over the drink drive limit when she got behind
EVERYTHING always comes in twos, someone once said. Probably Noah, he knew a thing or two about doubling up. Now Peter Barlow has double trouble – a wife and a mistress. And, wait for it, a wife and a mistress who are both in the club in Coronation
CHARITY RUN: Runners are needed to take part in the five kilometre Butterwick Rainbow Race in aid of Butterwick Hospice Care. Entrants on the Hamsterley Forest run will be showered each kilometere in different coloured paint. The race is on Sunday,
FLOWER club members raised funds for breast cancer treatment during their annual ‘spring fling’ get-together. Members of Darlington Flower Club gathered at Headlam Hall Hotel, in County Durham, on Wednesday (March 26). All funds raised at the
TASTER SESSION: A free taster exercise session by Fitness Warrior UK allowing people to take part in up to five workouts is to be held at Ferryhill Community Hub, Lambton Road, Ferryhill. There is also a raffle offering the chance to win a three-month
THE urge to accessorise is by no means a modern element of fashion – it is an idea that has been around for centuries. And a major new exhibition opening tomorrow (Friday, March 28) examines just how important the principle was to both women and
A MIDDLESBROUGH man has gone missing while in the Lake District. Police are concerned for missing Matthew Jordan and are asking him to get in contact. Mr Jordan, aged 20, was visiting Windermere with three friends. He was last seen in Bowness
JOYCE KITCHING, of Dumfries, Scotland, is hoping to make contact with Margaret Glass, wife of Gordon Glass. Mrs Kitching said: “They once lived in Falmouth Road, Newcastle. Margaret will have some important information of a very close relative
A MEN-only fun run for cancer charities is to be held in Sunderland this summer. Miles for Men will take place in Herrington Country Park on Sunday, August 3. The event was launched in Hartlepool and has so far raised almost £85,000 for various
Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock – an honourable and experienced seaman, who led his crew into a battle he knew he wouldn’t be able to win “He lies beneath the ocean – no more fitting resting place for men of our race. His body is separated
VOLUNTEERS clearing part of the former Stockton and Darlington Railway line are seeking helpers to cut away branches and brambles. The Brusselton Incline Group is working on the site at Brusselton, near to Shildon, and it plans further pruning
Durham County Council planners have approved a planning application for a pitched roof to be built over a flat roof at the front of a home in Primrose Hill, Bournmoor, near Chester-le-Street. Irish dancing: An Irish dancing class for children aged
THE North’s leaders have been accused of political impotence in the fight to prise more powers away from Westminster. Speaking during a debate on what Scottish independence would mean for the North of England, David Bell, a highly respected professor
A HEARING to determine whether a town centre grocery store would be granted a licence to sell alcohol has been adjourned because the applicant was in Iraq getting married. Amer Ahmed Khedir has applied to Darlington Borough Council for a premises
THE fascinating lives of wild birds are being captured live on a retirement village’s ‘Nestwatch’ cameras – with nocturnal residents turning out in their nighties so they don’t miss the action. Inspired by the BBC’s Springwatch, cameras have been
THE Shadforth Plough pub, in Shadforth, near Durham, has celebrated one year since it reopened. More than 150 people attended a celebration evening, with food and entertainment. PARISH COUNCIL: Belmont Parish Council will meet in Belmont Community
POLITICIANS and activists bade an emotional farewell to Tony Benn as the Labour stalwart's final departure from Parliament was greeted with both tears and a sustained round of applause. The former cabinet minister's coffin was driven the short
POLICE APPEAL: Police are appealing for help after the window of a Citroen car was smashed in Shildon. The damage took place in an alley off Byerley Road, near to the Friend’s Meeting House, between 7pm and 8.15pm on Monday, March 24. Anyone who can
The accompanying film of Tales of Us recently appeared in selected cinemas. Did you always know you were going to make a film to go with the album? Alison: We didn’t, but we knew we didn’t want to do another straightforward promo video like we’
MIDNIGHT CHORISTER ought to go pretty well on his handicap debut at Kempton. The Alex Hales-trained sixyear- old has hitherto had a rather nomadic career as he began life in National Hunt bumpers last year. But middle-distance Flat races appear
VIRENDER SEHWAG’S quickfire century condemned Durham to a six-wicket defeat in their season curtain-raiser against the MCC in Abu Dhabi. Former India opener Sehwag blasted 109 from 97 balls as the MCC chased down a victory target of 224 in 51 overs
Ravi Bopara insists England cannot rely on complex mathematical equations or favours from elsewhere and must beat Sri Lanka to keep their World Twenty20 hopes alive. Such is the compressed nature of the tournament that England find themselves firmly
THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE emergency loan window closes this evening – and with his dressing room looking like a scene from Emergency Ward 10 on Tuesday, Colin Cooper is aiming to make a couple of signings. Hartlepool United ended Tuesday’s 4-2 home defeat
THE contentious ‘Chosen One’ banner will remain on display at Old Trafford despite a growing clamour for it to be removed in the wake of Manchester United’s increasingly woeful season under David Moyes. United stumbled to their sixth, and another
LAST week viewers were treated to Turks & Caicos, the eagerly-awaited second part of David Hare’s trilogy of dramas about British agent Johnny Worricker. Hats off to the casting genius who teamed up Bill Nighy and Christopher Walken for that one
SIMON COWELL and Cheryl Cole may be returning to The X Factor, but before any aspiring singers get ready to audition, they might want to catch up with the second series of The Big Reunion. Like last year’s first run, it’s shown that pop stardom
OVER the past few years, Adrian Edmondson has become arguably ITV’s most likeable travel presenter, whether pottering around the UK cooking assorted dishes for Ade in Britain, or revelling in the best bits of Yorkshire for his series The Dales.
IT was a first when veteran folk act Tom Paxton and Janis Ian took to the stage – ‘‘together at last’’. The concert was a memorable one, with Robin Bullock on guitar and mandolin in support. With a wealth of quality fare under their belt, the
BRIAN FRIEL sets his play in a hedge school in Gaelic-speaking Donegal in the hot summer of 1833. Hedge schools were set up in response to the law banning Catholics from teaching. These schools were hidden behind hedges and, in this case, in the
THE founder of a university lacrosse club has presented a trophy to her successors, following their victory in a national contest. Caro Garrett, nee Bevan, founded the Durham University Lacrosse Club and helped the club won its first University
HAVING my clothes stolen by my children is something I’ve had to get used to – but I draw the line at my Mr Men Socks... It’s one of the strange thing about being a dad – your kids think you’re the most uncool creature on the planet and yet they
THE UK's economic growth has slowed but remains strong, a report has said. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says the economy slowed in March to an eight-month low after hitting record levels in February. However, despite the decrease
Friday, March 21 IT may not be said that Charles Samuel Craven had been forgotten, simply that he hadn’t been rediscovered. The internet changed all that. The visionary who pioneered the Northern League and – six years earlier – Darlington
A RESIDENTS’ parking scheme looks set for another extension, after complaints of inconsiderate motorists blocking roads for ambulances, fire engines, bin wagons and visitors. Durham County Council has slowly expanded Durham’s controlled parking
I READ with interest the list about the 20 Geordie heroes who have been installed in a walk of fame on the Newcastle Quayside – names like Kathryn Tickell, Sting, Ant and Dec, Brendan Foster, Alan Shearer, Robson Green, Bobby Robson (Echo, Mar 25).
PASSENGERS have been promised improved services under an extension of a rail franchise covering services across the north. Under the deal, Northern Rail Ltd will carry on running trains across the north of England until February 2016. Announcing
AFTER reading Peter Mullen’s column (Echo, Mar 25) I had to double check that I wasn’t reading a spoof column in Private Eye! If the BBC is “a lefty department of propaganda” then I’m a Dutchman, which in turn would presumably be very irritating
THE deputy leader of Durham County Council, Councillor Alan Napier, thinks those who expect free garden waste collection live in “Disneyland”. I am afraid he got the place wrong, it should be “Cloud Cuckoo Land” as we now have “Councillor Cuckoos
I NOTE from your report that Darlington Borough Council is removing its financial support from Darlington Memorial Hospital’s quit smoking service. I was fortunate, having been told by my surgeon that I needed to stop smoking prior to my hip replacement
HARRY MEAD is right to mock William Hague’s finger wagging directed at Russia over the latter’s recent “land grab” in Crimea (Echo, Mar 26). More to the point, since the Eastern half of Ukraine seems to want to be part of the Russian sphere of
FANCY a challenge in 2014 – something you can do as a family, group of friends or workmates? Heart Research UK is a Yorkshire-based national charity that funds pioneering research into heart disease as well as encouraging people to live a heart-healthy
TOLERANCE is the key to a long and happy marriage, according to a Darlington couple who celebrate their 60th anniversary today (Thursday, March 27). Percy and Lilian Abbott were married at St Bartholomew’s Church, in Thornley, near Durham, in 1954
WITH the GeneralElection just a year away, the campaign is shaping up to be the same phony war as the last one – with the awful pain ahead hidden from the voters. That can be the only conclusion from the last week of headlines, promises, analysis
THE number of people working from home has risen by nearly a third in a decade, but if the trend for co-working is anything to go by, it seems colleagues are still something home workers cannot do without. According to analysis of official figures
THE firm that carries out assessments for disability claimants is quitting its contract early, the Government has announced. Atos has been under fire over the number of assessments it has made as well as waiting times. The Department for Work
A FAMILY-OWNED chemical company, which began life converting industrial waste into road surfacing, is showcasing its recent breakthroughs with 21st century miracle material graphene. Thomas Swan and Co, of Consett, is introducing two graphene products
PRIME Minister David Cameron has promised to investigate ambulance response times in the North-East. Let’s hope he keeps his word because the two cases highlighted on our front page story today are deeply disturbing. Florence McNeilly, 85,
Dalton and Gayles (north Richmondshire) village hall are to screen a double bill of short films as part of the Tour De Cinema in the Yorkshire Festival. Velorama (cert U 60 mins) A new feature-length documentary directed by Daisy Asquith set
Final score: Darlington 5 Wakefield 1 Stephen Thompson starred as Darlington enjoyed a comfortable 5-1 win over Wakefield to move up to second in the table. He weighed in with a hat-trick, all three of his strikes coming from outside the penalty
Teesdale based Ann Whitfield will be holding another open studio weekend in Barnard Castle. Her work will be on display on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th April, from 10:00am to 5:00pm on both days, at 2 Raby Avenue. Originals, prints and cards will
FREE advice and support on bidding for funding is being offered by The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership. The group is running a three-hour workshop for anyone who is new to funding applications or who has a minimal knowledge of the funding
HEALTH workers at one of the region’s biggest hospitals are facing a 36 per cent increase in the cost of parking, officials have revealed. Earlier this week officials at the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced that car parking charges
JON-LEWIS DICKINSON is hoping a successful British-title defence this weekend will enable him to step up to European level before the end of the year. Dickinson will win the Lonsdale Belt outright if he sees off Neil Dawson in a British Cruiserweight
IT is not very often a golfer hits a hole-in-one but is not particularly happy when leaving the 18th green. That, though, was exactly how Graeme Storm felt in Morocco recently. Storm, due to head out to Spain next week to play in the NH Collection
GUSTAVO POYET believes Sunderland can take heart from their performance at Anfield last night but he has already challenged his players to play like they are facing Barcelona at the Stadium of Light next Monday. Sunderland's run without a win in
STUART HALL has been offered a starring role in British boxing’s biggest night of the year – provided he sees off Martin Ward to retain his IBF World Bantamweight title this weekend. The Northern Echo understands that Darlington fighter Hall has
HE might still be searching for his first goal as a Newcastle United player, but Vurnon Anita is hoping Luuk de Jong has done enough to secure a permanent move to St James' Park. De Jong's loan deal from Borussia Monchengladbach includes an automatic
THE Foreign Secretary has written to the family of a man found dead in France explaining the Government’s decision to withhold information. William Hague told the mother of Andrew Watt that letters between the French and British government did
NEIL BAUSOR insists Middlesbrough remain in safe hands despite posting a loss of £14m for the financial year ending June 2013. The Championship club are aware that they need to have reduced that figure by a further £6m to avoid sanctions under
PRIME Minister David Cameron has promised to investigate ambulance response times in the North-East after delays left an 85-year-old woman lying on the floor for almost five hours waiting for paramedics. Florence McNeilly fell in the bathroom of
A FIRM has carried out work for a major offshore energy development. Specialists at Barrier Group made and fire-proofed 200 protection boxes to house valves and instruments on rig topsides in the Norwegian Sea's Valemon gas field. The contract
A SON has been left devastated after thieves ransacked his home and stole more than £30,000 worth of valuables belonging to his late mother. Patrick Dowd is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who carried
JOBS have been saved after a laboratory maker was rescued from administration. MSS Clean Technology, in Sheriff Hutton, near York, has been bought by Environmental Engineering, saving all 12 workers' posts. Founded in 1982, MSS specialises
FIFTY-FIVE years ago employees at a chemical plant in Newton Aycliffe started to play golf on a course constructed as part of a sports and social club. A few changes in ownership later, a little bit of tinkering and improvements on the greens and
A LEAP in the number of the region’s teenagers kept from “a life on the scrapheap” was hailed by ministers yesterday (Wednesday, March 26). However, they also admitted much of the increase was down to local authorities finally “tracking” what happens
A CAR parts maker has expanded and created new jobs after a £6m investment to support a North-East vehicle manufacturer. Mecaplast, in Peterlee, east Durham, has extended its plant to handle contracts from Sunderland's Nissan. The company makes
A FORMER carer who slapped a 101-year-old woman in the face has been ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, as a judge heard how she has now lost her career. Angela Cruickshank was heard to say she hated the elderly woman after she slapped
A NORTH-EAST safety business is blazing a new trail after agreeing a deal to train French firefighters. Serco's International Fire Training Centre (IFTC), which is based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, has welcomed airport fire crews from Bordeaux
ALBERT ADOMAH thinks that Middlesbrough’s players have started to believe in Aitor Karanka’s choice of system again. Boro have struggled to return to winning ways since a six-match unbeaten run came to an end in mid-January. Just one win in
A BISHOP Auckland nursery creates an environment in which youngsters feel at home according to an Ofsted report. Inspectors visiting the nursery at Bishop Auckland College found that the quality of provision in meeting the needs of children, its
HOWDEN-le-Wear Bridge Street Methodist Chapel is inviting people to air their views on its future on Wednesday, April 2, at 7.30pm. FILM CLUB: Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, will be shown by the St Cuthbert’s Centre Film Club,
PUPILS from a primary and secondary school in Bishop Auckland joined forces to create a Shakespeare-themed flash mob. With the help of the Royal Shakespeare Company, year seven students from King James I Academy and staff and pupils from Crook
THOUSANDS of domestic violence victims are being failed by police forces across England and Wales due to alarming and unacceptable weaknesses in the way cases are investigated, inspectors have found. In a damning report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate
A MILD winter and a change in the food provided has led to some significant changes in the number and varieties of birds visiting the regions gardens. According to the results of the RSPBs 2014 Big Garden Birdwatch, which involved almost 500,000
FIREFIGHTERS took just 25 minutes to put out a fire at a derelict building in Darlington. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service were first called to the blaze in the commercial building on North Road at 9.30pm today (March 28).
FIRE crews have been battling a blaze at a derelict building in the centre of Darlington. Two crews from Darlington and one from Newton Aycliffe were despatched to tackle the fire in a commerical building near the Odeon cinema on North Road.
