BAD news is never far away but one of the joys of this job is meeting inspiring people who are quietly doing great things for others.

Caspar Clyde is a 10-year-old member of the 12th Darlington Scout Group and I first read about him in The Northern Echo last November.

Caspar had needed a spell in hospital after contracting the MRSA virus but he made good use of his time by learning how to make balloon animals. And, having read about the spread of Ebola in Africa, he'd decided to sell his balloon creations to raise money for the crisis appeal.

Caspar was immediately signed up to play a starring role at the Best of Darlington Awards which took place recently. In his scout uniform, Caspar went round the tables, selling balloon animals in aid of St Teresa's Hospice.

I am now able to report that Caspar has presented £149.11 for the hospice. His efforts earned him his fundraising badge and he is justifiably bursting with pride.

But behind every successful balloon modeller is a blower-upper and it is also right to pay tribute to Caspar's dad Iain who finished the night red-faced and completely out of puff.

ANOTHER Best of Darlington Awards post-script...Flowers By Nattrass generously provided the beautiful floral centre-pieces for the tables.

These were sold to the highest bidder on each table at the end of the night and another £225 was raised for St Teresa's. In my book, that's blooming brilliant.

IT was an honour last week to give the address at the funeral in Sedgefield of Betty Amlin.

St John Fisher Roman Catholic Church was overflowing for the service in memory of 90-year-old Betty, best known for her work with the Middleton St George Memorial Association.

Betty's letter to The Northern Echo's Mike Amos in 2004 inspired our campaign to remember "The Forgotten Hero" Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski.

Mynarski had been aboard a Lancaster bomber which took off from Middleton St George in June 1944. When the plane was hit, Mynarski could have parachuted to safety but, instead, turned back to help his friend Pat Brophy.

Brophy lived and Mynarski died and, as a result of Betty's determination to see his heroism properly recognised, we managed to raise £76,000 – thanks in no small part to the Heritage Lottery Fund – to have a life-sized bronze statue erected outside St George Hotel, overlooking what is now Durham Tees Valley Airport.

When I described Betty as a "little terrier of a woman" it seemed that everyone in the church nodded and smiled.

A plaque remembering Betty will soon be installed in the memorial garden close to the statue and I hear that the Middleton St George Memorial Association has plans to fundraise again, this time to elevate the great war hero onto a plinth.

Meanwhile, this Thursday marks the tenth anniversary of the statue being unveiled. Is it really a decade since that magnificent Lancaster bomber, from the Battle of Britain Flight, flew over our statue in an emotional tribute to Andrew Mynarski? How time flies.

THERE can't be many editors who have worked alongside each other for 30 years but that was the case with myself and Malcolm Warne.

Malcolm left our sister paper, the Darlington & Stockton Times, on Friday after 23 years in the editor's chair.

Malcolm and I began working together at The Northern Echo in 1985 and we have been friends and colleagues ever since, ending up in adjacent offices.

He has edited the Darlington & Stockton Times with great distinction and leaves it in fine fettle.

His wisdom, guidance, honesty, professionalism and unflinching support will be missed by the editor next door.