EVEN in the context of 35 years in journalism, last week was extraordinary.

Graves being desecrated and skulls stolen, in apparent retribution for stolen lorries being rammed into Darlington houses, along with a petrol bomb attack, is certainly one of the more disturbing series of events in my time.

When the news came in at night that a wagon had been driven into a house in Lynton Gardens, Darlington, I went up there myself to report from the scene.

A car pulled up and a man wound down his window: "This is all about the travellers – and the police and The Northern Echo are too scared to say so," he said.

The Northern Echo: The front page of The Northern Echo after one of the most disturbing events in my 35 years in journalism
The front page of The Northern Echo after one of the most disturbing events in my 35 years in journalism

Newspapers have a duty to report the news but they also have to be careful not to exacerbate situations by publishing hearsay and rumours. At that stage, that's all we had and it was only when the skulls of two young men from the travelling community were taken from a cemetery at Metal Bridge, near Ferryhill, that the police officially confirmed that they believed it was all part of a travellers' feud. That's when we were able to publish the front pages pictured.

On Thursday, 150 police officers from six police forces launched an operation aimed at finding the missing skulls and bringing an end to the feud. Four Northern Echo journalists were allowed to go on the raids and report live.

That's not the police and The Northern Echo being scared – it's just a question of being responsible and waiting for the right moment.

THANK you to St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham for inviting me to take part in their own version of Strictly Come Dancing.

The hospice is looking for 10 couples to take part in what it describes as its "most glamorous and sparkly fundraising event to date".

Aspiring dancers will be given the opportunity to receive expert tuition in dances including the waltz, tango, salsa and jive and it will all culminate in a live final at Rain ton Meadows Arena in February.

"Perhaps you might fancy taking part?" said a Tweet from the hospice.

I have to admit to being tempted but it will be too difficult to find the time to be properly prepared so I've had to decline.

Anyone who saw me on the dance-floor at the fabulous Butterwick Hospice Ball at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield, the other night will probably consider it a wise decision.

All I'd say to them is that I have form. A few years ago, I went to a "Bollywood Night" in aid of St Teresa's Hospice at Bannatyne's Hotel in Darlington. As well as a very nice curry, it featured an Indian dancing competition and, along with Kate Culverhouse – the chief executive of Groundwork North East – I was voted joint winner.

It was all going horribly wrong until a proper Indian dancer whispered in my ear: "Just pretend you're screwing in two light bulbs above your head and jiggle about."

Instantly, I was transformed into a Bollywood winner. Give it a try next time you have a curry.

ON the subject of hospices, 30 years ago last week, a letter was published in our sister paper, The Evening Despatch. It was written by Yvonne Rowe and it called for a hospice to be built in Darlington. From that handwritten note, published in a local newspapers, St Teresa's Hospice was born.

It underlines the importance of local newspapers acting as a conduit for community initiatives and a campaign marking the 30th anniversary of St Teresa's will be featuring prominently in The Northern Echo throughout 2016.

It started with a letter...

GEORGE Osborne's Spending Review was important news last week as he set out how public finances would be managed over the next four years.

It was a complete coincidence that the advert on that particular page (for Burts carpets) was prophetically headlined: "Amazing savings in store."

HERE'S yet another entry, this time from Southampton, in the 2015 "Newsbill of the Year" competition. It's definitely a contender.

The Northern Echo: An entry, this time from Southampton, in the 2015 "Newsbill of the Year" competition. It's definitely a contender.

WHEN I showed my wife the Southampton newsbill, it reminded her of a recent episode of The Archers on BBC Radio 4.

Members of the Grundy family were discussing the production of a leaflet to promote Grundy's Turkeys but they weren't sure where the apostrophe should be.

The conclusion was that it should definitely be between the y and the s – of turkey's.

FINALLY, my best wishes to Ali Brownlee, BBC Tees' undisputed "Voice of the Boro" and my sparring partner on the daily "Headline Challenge" over several years.

Ali has been diagnosed with bowel cancer and has a tough battle ahead.

But one of the reasons he is so popular is because of his infectious positivity and I have no doubt that he will face up to his illness with his typical optimism and good humour.

The Headline Challenge won't be quite the same for a while but I look forward to resuming our daily encounters on the airwaves as soon as possible.

In the meantime, wouldn't it be wonderful if, when his beloved Middlesbrough play Everton in the Capital One Cup at the Riverside tomorrow night, the Boro faithful sent a message of support by singing: "There's only one Ali Brownlee."