IT has been my privilege to work with many talented photographers over the past 36 years - as well as some pretty unfocused ones too.

Colin Theakston, whose death was reported in this newspaper last week, was undoubtedly one of the best. I didn't work with him for too long before he retired in 1991 but it was long enough to admire is craft. He harvested memories of gritty North-East life, capturing light in a way that I've seen precious few others match.

His pictures at their best were masterpieces, with every right to be hung in art galleries. Many have found their way into the personal collections of admirers; hanging on walls and standing on mantelpieces.

The great irony of his life, however, is that for all the many thousands of pictures he took, he had no photographic record of his own wedding.

A colleague, who remains nameless in the archives, volunteered for the job but somehow managed to "stew" the film in the developer. It is to be hoped their friendship survived.

Thankfully, Colin's pictures of North-East life remain as a legacy of a great gift. Rest in peace.

THE most over the top Tweet of the week came during that "friendly" football match in which Spennymoor Town refused to come out for the second half against Newton Aycliffe because of "dangerous" tackling.

It sounds like it all got a bit nasty but I'm not sure it was quite as bad as the Tweeter made out: "This is war, not a friendly. Aycliffe taking out Spennymoor players like your average Middle East dictator takes out suspected coup plotters."

Let's all calm down, shall we?

THE most predictable news story of last week involved 24 - described by the CN group as "the new national newspaper for the north".

When it was launched, I toured local newsagents trying to find a copy but, apparently, the North-East wasn't included in the "the north".

It has now been announced that 24 is closing after just six weeks after failing to sell the expected volumes.

Since I could never get my hands on a copy, I'm not sure if 24 had a horoscope but the future surely didn't take a lot of working out.

AS an enthusiastic, albeit untalented golfer, my favourite news story of the week was the unveiling of the world's first James Bond-style jet-pack for golfers.

Double Masters champion Bubba Watson was filmed promoting the jet-pack which allows golfers to fly around courses. Also, if a tree happens to be obscuring your view of the green, you can climb skywards in the jet-pack and have a quick look over the top of the branches.

It may sound extravagant but I think it could take off.

IT'S now four months since I spent a day experiencing life as a trader on Darlington's historic covered market for a feature in The Northern Echo - and still the offers are coming in.

I've previously mentioned that I received an email from a Shanghai company wishing to place a substantial order for potatoes with me.

I've now had another email from a Lincolnshire company which begins: "Dear Mr Barron, you clearly already have arrangements in place but would you consider changing your fruit and veg supplier in the near future?"

I'm thinking about it.

MY dear old mum continues to make me smile.

I called in to see her last week and she was watching one of her favourite programmes - The Chase.

One of the contestants went by the name of B.T. and it made me ask out loud: "I wonder what B.T. stands for."

"British Telecom," came the answer.

Give me strength.

FINALLY, the Ingleton Women's Institute competition reported on last week's Darlington and Stockton Times' clubs and societies page was open to everyone but was definitely won by someone who falls into the right bracket...

...And that next WI meeting on August 10 sounds like it might be worth going to.