HOW time flies. It is a year since celebrated artist Mackenzie Thorpe produced a stunning image to adorn the front cover of The Northern Echo's historic Remembrance Sunday edition, marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

"Remembrance" was not only one of the most memorable front covers in the paper's illustrious history but the original sold at auction for £13,000, with the proceeds going towards our "£100,000 for 100 years" appeal in aid of the Phoenix House recovery centre, built at Catterick Garrison by the Help For Heroes charity.

As well as the "Remembrance" front cover, Mackenzie also produced an alternative image for the back page of our commemorative supplement a year ago and the original of that piece has been sold to hang proudly in a gallery in Texas.

As if all of that wasn't enough, the Middlesbrough-born artist agreed to produce 100 signed limited editions of "Remembrance" which sold out in a flash, with actor Tom Hardy among those to buy one.

Last week, members of Mackenzie's Arthaus Gallery, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, came in to The Northern Echo newsroom to present us with the poignant "Number 11" limited edition print.

Mackenzie, who is just back from exhibiting in America, said: "In view of the fact that it was The Northern Echo which initiated the project, we felt that the 11th print in the series – marking the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – should go to the paper."

Through Mackenzie's magnificent efforts, £23,000 has been handed over to Help For Heroes and I am increasingly confident that the £100,000 target will be reached in the coming months.

The 11th print will have pride of place in The Northern Echo's offices, and I can't thank Mackenzie enough for being so generous with his talent.

IF, like me, you are a fan of Mackenzie's work, he'll be at The Arthaus Gallery in Richmond between 1pm and 4pm on November 28 to launch "The Richmond Poster", celebrating the square sheep period which made him famous. He'll also be unveiling an exciting new sculpture.

CONGRATULATIONS, by the way, to Mackenzie and his wife Susan who are to become grandparents for their first time any day now. Their son Owen and wife Helen are expecting their first baby this week. Wouldn't it be just perfect if he or she came into the world in the 11th?

LAST week, our "On This Day" feature included former Labour politician Michael Meacher among the birthdays, shortly after his death at the age of 75 was announced.

A number of readers have been in touch to express their dismay at the error, including Brian Dixon, who emailed to point out that Mr Meacher was one of only two Labour MPs elected in May 2015 to have served in the Wilson and Callaghan Governments of 1974-9, the other being Gerald Kaufman, who is now "The Father of the House".

The "On This Day" section is supplied to us a week or so in advance by the Press Association but we should have spotted the error and I apologise.

ON a lighter note, my favourite post on social media last week was about a little boy called Bobby. Has there ever been a better answer in an exam, I wonder?

IT reminded me of the collection of exam bloopers once handed over to me by County Durham's former Director of Education Keith Mitchell.

There were a string of classics but I think my favourite was: "Water is composed of two gins. Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."

Cheers until next week.