Archive

  • Harrogate swimmer claims Commonwealth gold

    HARROGATE'S Sophie Taylor claimed the biggest win of her career as she won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the final of the 100m breaststroke. Taylor, who is a member of the City of Leeds club, shattered the British record as she took gold ahead

  • Harrogate squash star wins Commonwealth silver

    JAMES Willstrop collapsed in his chair, physically and emotionally spent. He had nothing left to give, nothing left to say and no gold medal to show off. But the scoreline doesn't do justice to the efforts Willstrop made to make the Commonwealth

  • Air Ambulance helps man who had heart problems in Brotton

    THE Great North Air Ambulance was called to assist with a man who had had heart problems.The incident in Brotton, East Cleveland, happened around 10.20am today (Monday).The man was aged between 61 and 70.A spokesman for the air ambulance said the man

  • Anthem's Mag-nificent journey

    A SPECIAL anthem composed to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta was delivered to the North-East by bicycle today (Monday, July 28).The manuscript was hand delivered to Durham Cathedral by Steve Brown, who is cycling the 1,000-mile Magna Carta Cycle

  • Summer fun at cathedral

    A CATHEDRAL has announced a summer programme of family events.Durham Cathedral is hosting events throughout the school summer holidays.A free Gruesome Grotesque Hunt for children aged four to 11 is available every Friday from July 25 to August 29.Fantastic

  • Pride success leads to further LGBTQ events in Durham

    THE success of a city’s first pride festival has led organisers to stage monthly events.The inaugural Durham Pride festival for members of the LGBTQ - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer - scene was held in June.Now Out in Durham with

  • Trade appears to hold up despite parking charges

    A CONTROVERSIAL pay and display parking scheme introduced on a busy high street does not appear to have badly affected trade, despite dire predictions.However, there were still complaints on Yarm High Street that displaced parking from shop workers and

  • Career criminal in court for 181st offence

    A JUDGE spoke of his disbelief as he sentenced a career criminal for his 181st offence - the fifth time he has broke into the same shop after hours.Stuart Collins has repeatedly raided Debenhams in Middlesbrough town centre at night - forcing open fire

  • FA marks anniversary of Sir Bobby Robson's death

    THE Football Association has declared Thursday (July 31) Sir Bobby Robson Day to mark the fifth anniversary of his death.The former England and Newcastle manager lost his own battle against cancer on July 31, 2009, but a year before had launched the foundation

  • Parents asked to report illegal tobacco sales to teens

    NORTH-EAST parents are being urged to help keep illegal tobacco off the streets this summer.With unscrupulous dealers likely to be looking for teenage customers over the school holidays, the North-East tobacco control office, Fresh, is asking parents

  • Dr Who music show visiting Newcastle

    A DOCTOR Who music show is coming to the region next May.The Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular will be performed at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle on Thursday, May 28.It will feature more than 100 performers conducted by Ben Foster, who conducts and

  • Warnings over swimming in cold water during heatwave

    PEOPLE have been warned not to swim in reservoirs and rivers during the hot weather following a number of deaths in just over a week.With the current heatwave forecast to stay for at least another week, Yorkshire Water has joined forces with emergency

  • Protests over rail franchise consultation

    A TRANSPORT union has pledged to ratchet up its campaign against a "bogus" consultation on the future of rail services in the region.RMT has announced a series of protests against changes to the Northern and TransPennine services it claims will

  • Savvy summer savings

    IF you’re counting down the days until you go, while sun cream and clothes may top the list, with a little bit of preprep action you can save serious cash and prevent problems, leaving more money and time to spend on the enjoyable bits… Urgently

  • Pupils learn lessons in protecting bees

    PUPILS from across the North Pennines were busy as bees while learning lessons in helping to protect the endangered pollinators. Youngsters from primary schools in Forest-of-Teesdale, Rookhope, Stanhope and Brough have spent the last year learning about

  • Members sought for sports arena development group

    CAMPAIGNERS drawing up plans for the creation of a sports arena are inviting people to join their group.The Prince Bishops Community Stadium group is looking for more members to help develop proposals for the venue on land at Copeland Lane, in Evenwood.Facilities

  • Kenneth closes in on finishing line after 100 days of running

    SUPPORTERS will gather tomorrow (Tuesday) night as a rugby player completes the final leg of a gruelling charity challenge.Durham City Rugby Club forward Kenneth Reader is trying to run 10km every day for 100 days in a row to raise money for the Alzheimer

  • Business challenges offers students insight into world of work

    PART of a school was transformed into an office-like environment offering students an insight into the world of work.Year 12 pupils at Barnard Castle School were allocated into teams of eight and were challenged to create a marketing campaign based around

  • Durham passport workers stage one-day strike

    NORTH-East passport workers took part in a national strike against job cuts today (Monday, July 28), risking the wrath of would-be holidaymakers. Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union set up a picket line outside the Durham passport

  • Newton Aycliffe nursery holds emotional graduation ceremony

    THERE were mixed emotions at a Newton Aycliffe nursery when 36 youngsters moved on to pastures new.Tissues were at the ready at the House of Eden Nursery graduation ceremony this month.Dressed in their cap and gowns, each child stood on a small stage

  • Fatal accident victim named

    A PEDESTRIAN who was knocked over and killed while walking home along a lane between two villages has been named by police.Kevin Andrew McLoughlin, 45, of Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was walking westbound along the B6313 at Bluehouse

  • Community flooding project approved

    A NEW project supporting communities in more than 6,000 homes to prepare for flooding has been launched on Teesside.The Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee approved local funding for the Community Resilience Project, which will run for three

  • Teeki girls

    Love and sustainability is the concept behind sportswear label Teeki, which aims to brighten up gym classes with its eco-friendly yoga kit IF you are bored of black leggings and want to liven up your look, funky sportswear label Teeki could be

  • Award-winning dementia centre to open

    AN award winning building providing treatment and assessment for people with dementia will be officially opened this week.Dame Gill Morgan, who chairs the Alzheimer’s Society, will open the new Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

  • Sainsbury's backs re-homing charity

    A SUPERMARKET has named its charity of the year.Staff at Sainsbury’s, at the Arnison Centre, near Durham City, will devote a year to raising money for Supporters of Stray and Abandoned Dogs (SoSad).The charity is based at Deerness Kennels, Langley

  • Forest to host Gruffalo anniversary celebration

    FAMILIES are invited to the deep dark woods to celebrate the 15th anniversary of a well-loved children’s book.The Great Gruffalo Forest Tour arrives at Hamsterley Forest, in County Durham, on Saturday, August 16, as part The Gruffalo’s national

  • Growing sessions in Annfield Plain

    A SERIES of free growing activities aimed at providing people with the opportunity to get involved in cultivating healthy, affordable food will be held in a north Durham community.The sessions are being staged at the Annfield Plain Library, near Stanley

  • Honours shared as school passes first year

    A NEW free school has celebrated the end of its first academic year with a prize giving ceremony.Durham Free School opened in the former Durham Gilesgate Sports College premises, on Bradford Crescent, Gilesgate, Durham, last September, with about 30 pupils.It

  • Carnival sculptures taking shape

    THE finishing touches are being put on the large sculptures that will take centre stage during the Stockton International Riverside Festival’s Community Carnival. This year’s theme is ‘voyages of discovery’ inspired by great adventures, explorations

  • Luxury haul from home near Northallerton

    DETECTIVES have turned to the public for help after raiders targeted a property near Northallerton earlier this month.A number of expensive items of jewellery and designer handbags were stolen in the break-in at a house at Kirby Sigston sometime between

  • Crackdown on council tax fraud

    A DISTRICT council is employing the services of a private company to carry out checks on people it suspects are wrongly claiming a council tax discount.Ryedale District Council is launching a new exercise to clamp down on people who are falsely claiming

  • Fracking protection for national parks welcomed

    NATIONAL park chiefs have welcomed government plans to prevent fracking within their boundaries - except in "exceptional circumstances".But the opening of the latest bidding process for companies seeking licences to explore for shale gas could

  • Neil Riddell, high scoring left-hander

    WHEN it comes to North-East batting records, there are few that come close to Neil Riddell’s statistics. Born in 1947 in Staindrop, Riddell started his playing career at Lands before moving on to Raby Castle and then Barnard Castle. At the

  • Electronics firm's £8m deal

    A NORTH-EAST electronics firm has secured an £8m deal to maintain its growth.Stadium Group, in Hartlepool, has acquired United Wireless.Bosses say the agreement for United, which makes electronics for the wireless sector, will allow it to expand

  • Hall is so distinguished

    THERE was always huge interest when any large estate was offered for sale in the dales in olden days. But there was a bigger attendance than usual when Sledwich Hall and its 340 acres of prime land went under the hammer in late 1912. It was

  • Holiday accommodation at Knitsley Mill approved

    COUNCILLORS have approved plans for holiday accommodation next to a rural pub despite concerns about flooding and the scheme becoming a residential development. Durham County Council’s north area planning committee meeting endorsed plans by Leslie

  • Keeping up appearances

    LAST week’s Memories mentioned the horrific Crawleyside Bank bus crash of August 14, 1969, in Weardale, in which 20 people connected to the Blackhall Colliery Veterans’ Bowls Club were killed on their way home from a match in Consett. Blackhall

  • When a butterfly found her wings

    WENDY CRAIG’S schooldays are taking some unravelling. We’ve been on with this particular topic since Memories 180 more than two months ago, but some fascinating photographic evidence is now turning up. Wendy Craig as Titania in the white dress

  • Scaling new heights for charity

    AN intrepid council boss will be scaling new heights this autumn to raise money for charity.Damien Wilson will be climbing in the Alps in mid-September in aid of the Mayor of Hartlepool’s four nominated charities – the RNLI, Hartlepool Hospice

  • Old pupils welcome at school reunion

    OLD classmates are invited to a school reunion this autumn.Former pupils of Whinney Hill school, in Durham City, are organising a get-together at Durham Amateur Rowing Club, on Green Lane, on Saturday, October 18.The idea came from members of the class

  • TV star opens park's new attractions

    CHILDREN’s TV and wildlife presenter Michaela Strachan was the star attraction at the opening of an adventure park’s new theatre. Ms Strachan visited Brasside, near Durham City, which has built the Showtime Theatre as part of a £250,000 investment

  • Teachers sponged for toilet charity

    SCHOOL pupils helped set up clean toilets for poor children across the globe by throwing wet sponges at their teachers.Youngsters at Neville’s Cross Primary School, in Durham City, supported the Toilet Twinning scheme by holding a fun day which

  • Miners who dug Methodism

    In the 18th Century, Swaledale was a tough place and the workers didn’t care too much for appearances. Then came Wesleyanism MEMORIES readers have incredible eagle eyes. Tucked away in an unobtrusive corner last week was an anonymous photograph

  • Stars back James Bond night for hospice

    ROCK legend Sir Elton John and Hollywood star Keira Knightley are just two of the celebrities backing a hospice’s charity ball.St Benedict’s Hospice, in Ryhope, Sunderland, is holding a James Bond-themed ball on September 26 as it celebrates

  • Lloyds to pay out £218m over Libor

    LLOYDS Banking Group will pay £218m fines to UK and US authorities as punishment for the rigging of interest rate benchmarks. The group said the manipulation took place between May 2006 and 2009. It added those involved have left, been suspended

  • Maize maze delights Chernobyl children

    YOUNGSTERS from the still suffering scene of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster enjoyed a fun-packed day in the sun in North Yorkshire.The Easingwold Maize Maze hosted a visit by 20 Chernobyl children who are being hosted by families in region.They are in Britain

  • Cycling superstar's bike comes under the hammer

    THE Tour de France may be over for another year but there is still chance to capture the memories of the event’s hugely successful excursion to Yorkshire.On August 1 aficionados will have their chance to bid for a Scott Addict bike that was used

  • Wood that survived Minster blaze to be sold to highest bidder

    REMNANTS of a blaze that shocked the nation 30 years ago are to go on sale to the public.Charred timbers from the York Minster fire of 1984 are going under the hammer for the first time to help pay for future works at the great cathedral.The blackened

  • Students take on eco-challenge

    STUDENTS have been building on their technology and engineering expertise in a challenge designed to take their thinking into the future. The 120-strong second year at Ripon Grammar School was involved in the annual project, which tested a range of skills

  • Flood protection work starts on historic pier

    WORK on a £3.4m project on a historic pier aimed at protecting an east Durham town from flooding is getting underway this week.The scheme at Seaham’s North Pier will safeguard about 100 homes and 30 businesses in the town against potential

  • Show is a stitch up

    CRAFTY young people have embroidery all stitched up in a new exhibition.The display marks the 40th anniversary of the Durham Young Embroiderers and features work by current and former members.It is on show now at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery,

  • Parks 'protected from fracking'

    NATIONAL Parks in England will only be considered for fracking in exceptional circumstances, ministers have said.The policy was unveiled as the bidding process for shale companies seeking licences to explore for oil and gas was opened.The Government has

  • Ice cream firm continues growth

    A FAMILY ice cream firm founded from adversity has secured funding to continue its growth.Archers Jersey Ice Cream has been supported by Barclays Business to launch a parlour in Redcar.Bosses say the move has allowed the firm to take on two apprentices

  • Cyclist airlifted to hospital after being knocked off bike

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was knocked off her bike by a car towing a caravan which then failed to stop.The cyclist, a 45-year-old local woman, was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with non-life threatening

  • Asda cuts fuel prices potentially sparking petrol price war

    ASDA has sparked a likely supermarket petrol price war by cutting its fuel prices. From tomorrow the company is reducing the price of its petrol and its diesel by up to 2p a litre. Asda customers will pay no more than 126.7p a litre for petrol

  • ‘Well, Kenny, you’re a hero’

    No one knows why miner Thomas Kenny volunteered to fight, but what is certain is that, in his own words, ‘he did his duty’ HAVING read their poem to their war hero that day in 1916, the Durham children then presented him with a marble clock, a

  • The Bicycle

    When the bus is late and walking’s too slow, Travelling by bike is the way to go. It’s the world’s most popular transport solution, It’s energy-efficient and makes no pollution. That’s why I like my bike, my twowheeled friend, I’m off for

  • A Soldier's Regret

    Heading out to war, I was so excited, All of us together, we were united, Saying my goodbyes, thinking it won’t be forever I didn’t once think about fear As my mother was holding back her tears, I held her close and whispered ‘Goodbye my

  • Summer Wildlife

    With doors and windows open wide All sorts of creatures come inside. They flap and buzz and give no peace, All desperate for a quick release. The best device I’ve found so far Is a piece of card and plastic jar, Kept on the kitchen window

  • Job vacancies increase and advertised salaries rise

    JOB vacancies are increasing and advertised salaries growing amid fresh evidence of a recovering labour market, according to a new report. Jobs site Adzuna said advertised pay rates increased by 1.7% between May and June, more than double the rate

  • The Race for Paradise by Paul M Cobb (OUP £20)

    SO refreshing to get a history of the Crusades from the Islamic perspective a real eye-opener in many respects. Using almost exclusively Muslim sources, Cobb paints a picture of an advanced, cultured and often Liberal society faced with waves of bloody-handed

  • Cataloguing the World by Alex Wright (OUP £18.99)

    **** THE worldwide web puts everybody in touch with everything, but if only Paul Otlet’s ideas had matured safely and successfully it would have been with us a lot earlier. How come, I hear you say. Well, Paul Otlet was a genius of a Belgian

  • Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sage Gateshead

    MOZART’S Flute Concerto in D, composed in a week, was a perfect choice to open the Royal Northern Sinfonia’s second Summer Chamber Series concert. The bright and breezy work exuded a sense of joy, with flautist Juliet Bausor making light work of

  • Grease, Newcastle Theatre Royal

    IGREW up on Grease. The film is hard-wired into the memory of generations, and with a hit-tastic score it has a lot to offer audiences and ambitious companies. The Newcastle Upon Tyne Musical Theatre Company certainly does it justice, bringing

  • Spending on sparkles

    Blinging Up Baby (Channel 5, 9pm) WITH BBC1 offering wallto- wall sport, non-sports fans might be tempted to look elsewhere, particularly when an alternative is watching parents deciding that they must outdo everyone else by buying designer outfits

  • Homegrown cricket not to be seen on television

    ON FRIDAY, on national TV, funded by all licence payers (ie: anyone who owns a set), the main channel – BBC1 – was devoted from 9am to 10pm to covering the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow. Just in case you missed any hoops being tossed or ribbons

  • Still going strong

    VJ Connor (HAS July 22) is wrong – I have not retired, and have no intention of doing so until Old Father Time forces me to do so. And I must also take issue with Mr Connor who says that Cilla Black “murdered” good songs. I maintain her rendition

  • Lib Dem disgrace

    I WRITE in response to Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Wilkes’ comments regarding Labour-led Durham County Council’s decision to adopt the Living Wage only if it is affordable (Echo, July 24). Punitive austerity measures made by the Tory/Lib Dem

  • In Clegg's defence

    I WOULD like to ask G Harris of Stockton whether the UK would have been better off had Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, walked away from the coalition talks in May 2010, just like Labour did (HAS, July 21). Our country was in a financial

  • Unfair on jeweller

    I HAVE known Alex Dobbing of D&H Jewellers in Darlington’s Queen Street Arcade for a number of years and regularly call in for a chat and a coffee. On one occasion I popped in shortly after armed raiders had ransacked his shop, terrifying his

  • Pay rise deserved

    I THOUGHT it strange to see a non-story as your front page headline on Friday (Echo, July 25). The chief executive of Hambleton District Council has seen his wage rise by £25,000 in the last two years. This, if the remainder of the story is

  • Live news and public mistakes

    HANDS up all those who’ve never made a mistake in their working lives. Congratulations if you’re one of those with their hands still firmly by their sides. The trouble for those who work in the media is that mistakes are often made in the full

  • A chance for peace in war

    FOR the briefest of moments yesterday, peace came to Gaza. Sadly, after a short lull, the cycle of death and destruction resumed last night. Predictably, both sides blamed each other. Hamas refuses to accept any ceasefire in which the Israeli

  • Gillespie delighted with Yorkshire’s repsonse to T20 exit

    YORKSHIRE found the perfect remedy for losing Friday’s key Twenty20 game with Nottinghamshire by seeing off Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford 24 hours later to start their Royal London oneday Cup campaign with a bang. Andrew Gale’s men won their

  • Somerset v Durham Royal London One-Day Cup

    THE return to 50-over cricket inspired a vintage performance from Paul Collingwood yesterday but it wasn’t enough to save Durham from defeat in a high-scoring Royal London Cup match at Taunton. Somerset’s production line is currently even more

  • Johnston's repeat performance

    HEAVY METAL (33-1) gave trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Joe Fanning back-toback victories in the Longines International Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. After Galician struck at the same price 12 months ago, Heavy Metal was another surprise winner

  • Burke’s Lady an Explosive prospect for potential buyers

    EXPLOSIVE Lady has attracted plenty of interest from prospective buyers on the back of an excellent run in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. The Karl Burke-trained filly did her reputation a world of good when she stayed on strongly

  • Hamilton and Rosberg at loggerheads

    LEWIS HAMILTON and Nico Rosberg face clearthe- air-talks with their Mercedes bosses over Formula One’s summer break after a team orders affair overshadowed a sensational Hungarian Grand Prix. A heavy downpour over the Hungaroring 50 minutes before

  • From Yorkshire to Paris, Le Tour is over

    VINCENZO NIBALI will chase the world champion’s rainbow jersey after completing a hat-trick of Grand Tour victories by winning the 101st Tour de France in Paris. The Italian, winner of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana and 2013 Giro d’Italia, became the

  • Cook falls so close to the perfect response

    ALASTAIR COOK fell five agonising runs short of a longoverdue Test century, but still helped Gary Ballance put his team in a dominant position against India at the Ageas Bowl. England’s most prolific centurion had luck on his side on day one of

  • Hetton’s hopes hang in balance after draw

    THE TITLE hopes of Hetton Lyons are hanging by a thread after they were unable to overpower the championship favourites, South Northumberland, in their top-ofthe- table confrontation. Gosforth was the venue for the eagerly awaited clash, but as

  • Swalwell shoot down Shotley Bridge in revenge mission

    SWALWELL gained swift revenge for their league cup final defeat at the hands of Shotley Bridge when they toppled the league leaders by an emphatic 96 runs to re-ignite their own hopes of making it eight successive championships. Lloyd Anderson

  • Twist at the top as Stokesley move ahead of Richmondshire

    THE fascinating fight for the league title took another twist and turn as Stokesley leapfrogged Richmondshire back into second place and, at the same time, moved to within ten points of leaders Darlington. The Dalesmen lost ground when they failed

  • Pardew is still looking for an extra striker

    NEWCASTLE UNITED’S pre-season Tour of New Zealand consisted with two victories and manager Alan Pardew could add to his improving squad further by bringing in a new striker. The Magpies, who overcame Wellington Phoneix on Saturday courtesy of a

  • Van Gaal unhappy with his United squad

    LOUIS VAN GAAL hit out at his players for almost allowing Roma to break his 100 per cent record as Manchester United manager. Van Gaal made it two wins from two as United boss thanks to a 3-2 win over the Italians in the Colorado heat. Unlike

  • Brownlee forced to shelve his track ambitions

    ALISTAIR BROWNLEE is unlikely to pursue track running despite having won every major honour in triathlon. On Saturday the 26-yearold added double Commonwealth Games gold to his Olympic gold, two world titles and three European crowns and is arguably

  • Drinkhall is going for gold

    PAUL DRINKHALL believes it is his time to rule the Commonwealth Games after he helped England into the table tennis men’s team final. Both Liam Pitchford and Drinkhall won their opening singles matches against India to put England within one victory

  • Gray delighted to bring Mitchell back to Darlington

    Martin Gray lauded the arrival of new signing Adam Mitchell, and admitted he hopes his latest signing goes on to bigger and better things. The energetic winger, who ended 2013-14 with Darlington after being released by Sunderland, harbours dreams

  • Law firm on rise in £265m development

    LAWYERS are playing a key role in a £265m North-East housing redevelopment.A legal team from Ward Hadaway is providing advice on the sale of homes at The Rise, in the west end of Newcastle.The work will see 1,800 properties built on a 66-hectare

  • Bob aims to instil passion for region into next generation

    BOB Paton’s passion for the region is clear. A massive Sunderland fan and a keen market gardener nurturing home-grown produce, his heart is very much in the North-East. But it runs deeper than that. Mr Paton, managing director of IT firm