MANY people have been in touch following the article a fortnight ago about Gertrude Bell, who was probably the most remarkable woman to have come out of the Tees Valley.Gertrude was a chain-smoking mountaineer who has a Swiss Alp named after her. She
IT’S seven o’clock in the morning and 85-year-old great-grandad Alan Frankland is ready for his daily swim in his bright blue trunks. But this is no ordinary visit to the local swimming baths. For a start, not many swimmers have a guard of honour
GERAINT Thomas began to sound like a man comfortable in the yellow jersey after retaining his advantage on stage 14 to Mende. After Omar Fraile took stage honours out of the breakaway, Thomas stuck to Sky team-mate Chris Froome and Team Sunweb's
A TEENAGE ping pong player finally swapped silver for gold after winning an international competition.Andrew Green, was Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club's sole representative at the British Para Table Tennis Grand Prix at Draycott.The 18-year-old
TONY PULIS has admitted that Middlesbrough will have to cut out the individual errors by the time the new Championship season starts in two weeks’ time after losing 4-3 at Accrington Stanley. While Pulis, who reiterated he wants to bring new players
LUKE James netted to give Hartlepool United a 1-0 win at Spennymoor Town. The striker, back at Pools after signing last week when his contract at Forest Green Rovers was cut short, turned in from close range, the only goal of a competitive game
BRITISH Cycling have confirmed the route for the HSBC UK Let’s Ride Newcastle event, taking place on July 29.The event will get underway at the Civic Centre at 11am, with the 4.5km course taking participants past local landmarks such as Grey’s Monument
NORTHUMBRIA Police are "Policing with Pride" again as Newcastle prepares to host the biggest Pride festival the region has ever seen.The event is the tenth to be held in Newcastle and is taking place at Nun's Moor Park this weekend. Last
Volkswagen Polo beats 1.0 TSI (Price, as tested, £19,400) WHAT IS IT: THE Polo 'beats' is a limited edition of the hugely popular hatch. With a neat bodykit, banging stereo system, oh and a body stripe it's a car to be both seen and heard
ROUND six of the Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship returns to Croft Circuit next Sunday.For the second time this year, a host of local drivers up against the established front-runners.Former champion Ollie O’Donovan leads the series and will
POLICE are investigating a share selling scam targeting former Tata Steel employees. Cleveland Police have received a report that an ex-employee was approached by a company based in the United States, offering to buys shares for far more than their
Trial dateA MAN who ran a town centre off-licence is to stand trial accused of two counts of sexual assault, later this year.Sivashanmugam Sivasthiyaselan is accused of committing the offences, on two adult women, between January and October last year.The
A MAN was allegedly assaulted outside a bar in the early hours of this morning. Cleveland Police are eager to trace a man they believe was assaulted outside the Blue Lounge bar on the High Street in Redcar. The incident occurred at 2.30am,
Summer lunchFAMILIES are invited to summer lunch-making sessions on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s over the school holidays. The sessions with fun activities and hot food will be held between 11am and 12.30pm in Northland Methodist Church, off
STUDENTS were urged to keep their eyes on the prize, make smart choices and never be afraid to dream when a British Olympian joined them in their celebrations.Olympic, European, World and Commonwealth swimmer Chris Cook spoke to a packed hall of students
FLAER'S Revo Via is billed as the world’s first chain performance system Who are Flaér? Flaér produce chain performance systems and performance bike care products. They sponsor elite cycling teams. As they put it: “We have helped pro
SCOTTISH pop troubadours Del Amitri, they of the bittersweet lyrics and effortless melodies, opened a short UK tour at a stiflingly hot City Hall on Friday evening, writes Dave Lawrence.With a much larger show scheduled at Edinburgh Castle the following
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular primary school headteacher who devoted his life to inspiring children to “be the best they could be”. The family of Neil Hedworth described his dedication to young people as they thanked his former pupils and
THE two schoolboys given substantial custodial sentences for plotting a Columbine-inspired attack at a school in Northallerton can be named as Thomas Wyllie and Alex Bolland. LIVE coverage of the sentencing here Reporting restrictions
THE family of a woman who fell to her death after climbing across the railings of a fire escape will never know why she did it. Hayley Clarke, 29, of Spennymoor, had been drinking for about seven hours with her brother Luke Clarke when she climbed
MY fall on the gallops at Michael Dods’ last Saturday could not have come at a worse time. These next couple of months are where you make your money as a Flat jockey. It’s the busiest time of the year and while we’re insured for injuries like this
ONE of the lessons I’ve learned in my life is the importance of making the most out of a bad situation. When something goes wrong, search for the silver-lining, that’s what I say. Take our 30th wedding anniversary for example. Such occasions don
CARL MAGNAY feels it is a fresh start for all concerned with Hartlepool United.The skipper takes his side to Spennymoor today, with the National League season two weeks away. Pools drew with Sunderland last weekend, while Moors drew at Scarborough Athletic
FROM pond-dipping and gardening to recreating a First World War air raid– a £72,000 development has increased opportunities for outdoor learning at a primary school.St Charles RCVA Primary School, in Spennymoor, celebrated the official opening of its
The Classic action comes from the Curragh this weekend as Aidan O’Brien bids for a 40th Irish Classic success in the Irish Oaks. O’Brien saddles three of the seven runners this afternoon and Magic Wand (11/8 with BetVictor) deserves her place at the top
CHILDREN in County Durham are being encouraged to get lost in a good book over the summer holidays by logging on to an interactive online library service.Fiction Express enables children to access a wide range of books on a home computer, tablet or mobile
CHILDREN are being offered the chance to take part in football courses led by professional FA coaches this summer.The Foundation of Light is hosting sessions for five to 14-year-olds across Shildon, Spennymoor and newton Aycliffe this month and next.A
A BLUEPRINT to shape the future of the North York Moors National Park makes way for 550 new homes and more jobs while preserving and enhancing the communities and landscape.Now people will be asked to have their say on the park authority’s preferred priorities
THIRSK and Malton's Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake has called for a new financial services tribunal to be established to ensure justice for businesses when they are in a dispute with their banks.In a report entitled "Fair Business Banking for All"
PATIENTS who suffer from blackouts can often find themselves facing numerous medical appointments and tests to find the exact cause of the problem.But those attending the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton are set to be diagnosed faster in the future
THE substantial sentences handed down to the two Northallerton schoolboys who plotted a massacre at their school should hopefully allow a community still in shock that such a terrible act could be planned in their midst to recover.The sentences should
COMMUNITY groups from across the county have been taking part in special performances as part of this year’s BRASS festival.The Big Brass Bash events have been held at parks across County Durham this week.Groups worked with Northern Monkey Brass Band
AN artist has hit the heights of upcycling with a beautiful chandelier made almost entirely of discarded pieces of glass.Adorn, created by Helen Pailing, who is studying for her PhD Recrafting Waste in Glass and Ceramics at the University of Sunderland
A MOVE to deter modern slavery and enshrine it as a key consideration for a council and its partner organisations has been approved amid angry scenes. Members of Darlington Borough Council voted for Councillor Marjory Knowles’ motion, which aims
IT has been one of those long and sweaty times when all you can think about is something cooling like ice cream. And then, take another look at this picture of a young man sitting on a bench beside the River Tees enjoying what looks suspiciously
LABOUR’S Stephen Harker is taking on the role of Darlington Borough Council leader from Bill Dixon, who is retiring after 30 years service. Many shoppers in the town centre hope the new leader will try and regenerate Darlington town centre, which
THE new exhibition in Darlington library is entitled Quaker Women in 19th Century Darlington and it is a fascinating collection of faces from a bygone age. Nearly all of them are dressed in plain Quaker clothes, which were usually just black and
THE deputy leader of the Green Party will meet with Darlington campaigners to learn more about their protest against the cutting down of swathes of trees to make way for development.Amelia Womack will visit the town on Monday, July 23 and aims to spend
A NOT-for-profit restaurant providing second chances for people struggling to find employment is extending its generosity to help those finding it hard to provide food for their families.The Fork in the Road restaurant first opened its doors in December
A CAMPAIGNING mother is urging schools to do more to support LGBT+ youngsters after her own trans daughter suffered years of bullying.Darlington woman Carol Greenwood has been speaking at schools across the town after learning that there were none signed
RESIDENTS living in high rise buildings which are to be demolished due to concerns over their long term safety have expressed their frustration that it may take two years to find them new homes. Last month, it was revealed that Anson House and
A WOMAN who lost her baby has hit out at hospital bosses for reducing a counselling service designed to help devastated parents come to terms with their loss.The mother told The Northern Echo that she would no longer be able to receive counselling following
A TEACHING assistant with a passion for special needs has been rewarded with a title that puts her at the top of her field.Stokesley School’s Helen Day is this year’s North Yorkshire Teaching Assistant of the Year, awarded for her supportive work as a
BRICKS from a Victorian gas works thought to have been long-destroyed have been found on the site of a former passport office. The demolition team working on the site of the former passport office in Durham found bricks belonging to the gas works
A COMMUNITY rallied around last week to throw a birthday party for a much-loved WWII veteran.When Douglas Sayles turned 99, he did so surrounded by friends and loved ones in Heighington, near Darlington.They marked the special occasion by presenting him
A COUNCIL will urge county planners and policy makers to make their town's regeneration and improvements to poor housing a priority when they finalise a blueprint for potential development. Durham County Council is consulting the public about the
COMMUNITIES had the chance to dance in the streets as part of a continuing music festival.People in Chester-le-Street and Lanchester got into the swing of ceildidh dancing this week during events organised as part of Durham Brass festival. Scottish street
A POLISH man was jailed for two attacks on his “vulnerable” partner in the space of four days. It was the inability of Patryk Mortimer’s victim, who is also Polish, to speak English that led to his swift release following his arrest after the first
NINJA knitters who have raised thousands of pounds for charity have paid tribute to the woman who inspired them as she casts off into retirement.Chief knitter Jane Bates has been running the headquarters of the Bedale Yarn Bombers for the past seven years
Big matchNORTHALLERTON Town FC say they are expecting a bumper crowd when they entertain Darlington FC at the Calvert Stadium on July 25. The game kicks off at 7.30pm and supporters are advised to turn up early as parking will be at a premium. Admission
MEMBERS of the armed forces are being offered a free day out this weekend as a North-East racecourse revives the spirit of the war years. Redcar Racecourse is staging its “1940s Revival Day” in aid of Help For Heroes and the Royal British Legion
A PROPOSED regeneration scheme that would have seen hundreds of homes bulldozed will not go ahead. Housing association Livin wanted to demolish Newton Aycliffe's Western Area and build the estate again from scratch but faced opposition from some
A CHARITY football match is taking place on Sunday in Darlington in memory of Stephen Craggs.Friends, family and ex-teammates of Mr Craggs, 30, of Marina Road in Darlington, who died suddenly last July, will be involved in the game with money raised going
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help support the families and children of prisoners on Teesside.The charity Nepacs is holding an open day at HMP Holme House visitors’ centre, in Stockton, on Monday August 13 from 1pm to 4pm. Those that attend will hear
POLITICIANS have put their differences aside to give a standing ovation to a retiring council leader, after hearing him confess to high-jinks in one of the authority’s dumper trucks when he was younger. As Darlington Borough Council leader Councillor
THE benefits of a £34.5m bypass have been proven say highway bosses after surveys found traffic going through communities has been cut by thousands. They also found road crashes reduced, the environment improved and more businesses moved in following
A CHEF who worked for famously foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay is celebrating a successful first year in business alongside his wife. Paul Bussey decided to take on the King's Arms village pub in Great Stainton, near Sadberge, with his wife
THE world's oldest Methodist chapel still in continuous use has been given a reprieve from closure.Dry rot and other significant problems were discovered during a survey of High House Chapel in Ireshopeburn, Upper Weardale. And with insufficient funds
HORSE mad youngsters returned home with three dozen rosettes after taking part in the Riding for the Disabled Association National Championships. Disabled riders from the Stokesley Riding for the Disabled group and their counterparts at the Unicorn
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s recent visit to Britain sparked anger from a number of Darlington residents who took to the streets in protest last week.Large protests were staged up and down the country in response to the controversial politician's brief
SAD times are ahead for some of the shops we grew up with and loved. More and more retailers are going to the wall as a combination of business rates, online shopping and changing tastes leave them in debt and out of time.Darlington, in particular, is
DRUGS, violence and mental health in prisons will be laid bare in a new documentary filmed in the North-East. Our review of the first episode of Prison Durham Prison, its inmates and the staff who work there will feature in the three-part
