Features: Leader
Features: Columnists

Disability no barrier to becoming a foster carer, says paraplegic carer

CARING COUPLE: Foster carers Ivan and Pauline Smith

5:10pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Ivan Smith was left paraplegic after a road accident. Speaking during Foster Care Fortnight, he tells Joe Willis how he has not let his disability stop him making a difference to a child's life.

Sky’s the limit in techno know-how

Sky’s the limit in techno know-how

2:33pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

WHEN it comes to computers and the internet, I tend to rely on my children to guide me through problems. But the time is rapidly approaching when the brood will all have flown and my wife and I will have to fend for ourselves. So, when our internet connection stopped working last week, I decided to be brave and try to sort it out myself.

Features: Comment
Features: Letters

A role which should be free of politics

5:51pm Wednesday 22nd May 2013

In the age of austerity, it is right that councils examine ways of saving money which do not have a direct bearing on public services.

Immigration

2:18pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

I’M surprised that John Young thinks I have provided a robust defence of the UK’s immigration policy (HAS, May 17).

Features: Echo Woman
Features: Health

Mentor of modern manners

11:33am Wednesday 22nd May 2013

TO most modern teenagers, etiquette and deportment classes are something from a bygone era, a time when genteel young ladies were taught to glide across a room with a pile of books balanced on their heads, in between lessons in elocution and flower arranging.

The power of flowers

Bauhinia

11:07am Monday 20th May 2013

Flower essence consultant Clare G Harvey tells Gabrielle Fagan about remedies for a range of ailments from hay fever to stress

Eating Out
Food and Drink: Recipes

Dining among the stars

The view towards St Mary’s Church

10:49am Thursday 23rd May 2013

Peter Barron relives childhood memories in Whitby and tries a restaurant celebrating an anniversary.

Veggie heaven

Memorable: asparagus tart

11:14am Monday 20th May 2013

Food writer Elizabeth David would have turned 100 this year. As a collection of her recipes is published, her former editor, Jill Norman, tells Keeley Bolger how her late friend continues to influence British tastes

Life Stories
North East History

Carpenter to clown

DIY ENTHUSIAST: Lutheran minister, the Rev Joan Donkin learnt woodworking skills from her father. She met The Beatles in Liverpool while training to be a teacher

10:40am Tuesday 26th February 2013

AS a young girl Joan Donkin helped her father, Norman, in his cellar carpentry workshop at their home in Durham City. She enjoyed working with her hands, little knowng then how much it would stand her in good stead throughout her life.

‘I blew that pipe!’

COOKING ON GAS: Bishop Auckland gasworks in 1955, from the roof of the three million cubic foot gasholder – last week’s distinctive scrubber tower is the second from the left. The street running diagonally from the centre left of the picture is Tindal

10:59am Monday 13th May 2013

‘IT is the works tower scrubber at Fielden Bridge gasworks, which was used for the removal of ammonia and tar vapours from the gas,” says Charles Lilley, of Nunthorpe, who helped prepare the plant for demolition in 1967.

Columnists Header

Peter Barron

From The Editor's Chair
Editor's view of the week's events.
Dad At Large
Peter Barron on the heartaches & belly laughs that go with being a father of four.

Mike Amos

Mike Amos
Discursive and multi-faceted column
Backtrack
Sporting memories

Ruth Campbell

Mum At Large
Ruth on the heartaches & belly laughs that go with being a mum.

Ray Mallon

Ray Mallon
A personal view of the week's events

Rob Merrick

Rob Merrick
Weekly political commentary.

Nigel Burton

Gadget Reviews
Best and worst from the world of gadgets
Video Game Reviews
PC, console and handheld
Motor Reviews
Weekly motoring reviews

Chris Lloyd

Echo Memories
Weekly column taking a look at North-East History
Memories Blog
North-East history blog

Sharon Griffiths

Sharon's View
Opinion from the region's best known woman columnist who never sits on the fence

Peter Mullen

Peter Mullen
Topical weekly column from the Rector of St Michael's, Cornhill, in the City of London

Harry Mead

Harry Mead
A personal view of the week's events

Viv Hardwick

Theatre
A look at who's walking the boards in the North-East.

Steve Pratt

Tonight's TV
Steve's look at tonight's TV
In The Picture
Latest from the big and small screen
Movie Reviews
Weekly movie reviews
Soapwatch
Light-hearted delve into soapworld

Staff Blogs

Blogs: Peter BarronPETER BARRON
Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo since January 1999, joined the paper as a reporter in 1984. He spent a year as editor of the Hartlepool Mail before rejoining The Northern Echo as editor. He is also a former UK columnist of the Year. Sign up for my free email newsletter!

Chris PleasanceLIVING ON BENEFITS
Following this week’s row over the Government’s welfare reforms, Northern Echo reporter Chris Pleasance is taking up the challenge of living on so-called breadline benefits at £56.80 a week.


Richard MasonHALF MARATHON OF THE NORTH
Sports writer Richard Mason is embarking on the Half Marathon of the North - join him as he shares the pain of training for the big day.


Andy Walker blogWALKER'S WORKOUT
With the days counting down to his wedding, Darlington chief reporter Andy Walker is working hard to get fit for the big day. Follow his progress here...


Paul Fraser FRASER KICKS OFF
Football chat with The Northern Echo's chief football writer, Paul Fraser. You can follow Paul and our other sports writers on twitter via our sport page.


Chris LloydECHO MEMORIES
Chris Lloyd's Echo Memories is one of the most popular features in The Northern Echo, generating plenty of reader reaction every week. This blog aims to air as many as the letters and emails as possible, to encourage more memories and feedback, and to act as a first draft for a future column.

Reader Blogs

Colin DevonportSHILDON MATTERS
Colin Devonport offers a view not often aired about the positive side of the railway town with a mining past and glossy future.


Polam Hall Blog picEDUCATION
Polam Hall School based in Darlington writes about the issues affecting our students today from primary to secondary education.


Button's BlogBUTTON'S BLOG
Button's Blog aims to give Darlington residents a unique insight into the thoughts of the town’s Neighbourhood Police Team Inspector, Mick Button. Sgt Louise Guest of Darlington Neighbourhood Policing team will also contribute.

Cockfield BlogCOCKFIELD
Nigel Dowson writes about his home town of Cockfield. Nigel, who was born and bred in Cockfield, owns Jigsaw Hair Salon in Darlington and has a passion for local history.


County Durham FoundationCOUNTY DURHAM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This blog will tell you about new funding streams available through the foundation's grant-making programmes, set up by local donors and through other partnerships including government funding.


Paul GoughFEEL GREAT FOR SPORT
Advice from Chartered and State Registered Physiotherapist, Paul Gough, who is known for his successful running of the physiotherapy department at Darlington Football Club for more than four years.

Wendy's Slimming BlogWENDY'S SLIMMING BLOG
Join Wendy on her weight loss journey as she looks to slim from 32st down to 10st with the help of Slimming World.


Judith Middleton BlogJUDITH'S DIVORCE BLOG
Reflections on divorce, separation and associated topics by Judith Middleton, Consultant at Macks Solcicitors. Judith qualified as a solicitor in 1982 and is accredited as a family law specialist by Resolution. She is also the Regional Press Officer for Resolution, Tees Valley.

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