OVER the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in many special editions of The Northern Echo, recording moments in history, and supporting important campaigns.

Friday’s edition of the paper – “wrapped” in a four-page tribute to the members of the Durham Light Infantry who lost their lives on July 1, 2016, in the Battle of the Somme – was special indeed.

The edition, which also featured an eight-page pull-out, telling the story of the DLI’s role at the Somme, was the result of a partnership with Durham County Council, the DLI Trustees, Durham University, and Durham Cathedral. It was part of a campaign, launched at the beginning of 2016, to raise money to establish two memorials to the DLI – one at the site of the battle in France, and one in Durham City.

It was an honour to be involved in producing Friday’s edition and seldom have I found the content of a publication so harrowing, so incredible, so moving.‪ I read it from cover to cover on the night before publication, making a last check for errors, and I don’t mind admitting that I read it through tears.

Let’s make sure the money is raised to put those memorials in place. Let’s never forget.

You can help by going to: crowdfunding.justgiving.com/sommememorial THE value of local papers was underlined again on Saturday when I took part in the Park Run in South Park, Darlington.

As I gasped for breath, having completed the 5k in a personal best of 27 minutes 47 seconds to finish 164th, a man I didn’t know came up to me.

“Mr Barron, I just wanted to say thank you,” he said.

“For what?” I asked. “For all the times The Northern Echo has publicised my runs for charity. The support has been fantastic,” he said.

The man turned out to be Keld O’Shea, who runs to raise funds for Action for Dystonia, Diagnosis, Education and Research (Adder). The charity, which has its roots in Middleton St George, near Darlington, and is now based in Gateshead, works with people with dystonia, a neurological disorder affecting the muscles, causing them to vibrate or spasm uncontrollably.

Long may Keld, and so many others like him, run on behalf of their charities – and long may The Northern Echo give them with the oxygen of publicity.

I CAME across a new phrase last week from a company trying to sell me digital services.

They’d sent a previous “phishing” email which I’d ignored, so they sent another, which started. “Hi Peter, I wanted to bubble up my previous email in what I’m sure is a very busy inbox.”

I immediately felt my blood pressure “bubble up”. If they think I’m going to respond to a “bubbling up”, they’ve got another thing coming.

IN these days of austerity, councils struggle to even meet their legal responsibilities.

Consider that in the context of the story told to me by Roger Ramsdale after I’d spoken to Darlington Probus Club at Elm Ridge Methodist Church Hall last week.

Roger used to work as the civic officer for the Mayor in the days of Sedgefield District Council and, one year, the council received a letter from a little girl called Amy, asking if she could have a hamster for Christmas.

It just so happened that Roger had been playing Father Christmas for friends and neighbours since the 1950s, and had his own outfit, so he was immediately primed for action.

Council leader Brian Stephens and his colleagues clubbed together to buy a hamster, complete with cage and a year’s supply of food. Then, in full Santa regalia, Roger was despatched in the mayoral limousine to Amy’s house.

Imagine the little girl’s surprise when the doorbell rang and there was Father Christmas, smiling down at her, with a gift covered by a tea-towel.

“I heard you were hoping for something special for Christmas,” he said, lifting the tea-towel and watching Amy’s face light up.

Roger turns 80 next birthday but looks as fit as a lop and has no plans to hang up his Santa costume any time soon. “I just love doing it and I’ll keep on going as long as God lets me,” he said.

“FIT as a lop” is an interesting expression which had me checking the dictionary.

In case, like me, you didn’t know, a lop is a small jumping insect and to be “loppy” is to be flea-ridden.

“The Penny Lop” was the name given to the local cinema in the days when the seats were full of fleas.