THERE are some remarkable people to be found if you follow the signs. Take Janet Brass and husband Doug, for example.

Well into their retirement years, they could be forgiven for putting their feet up and smelling the roses.

Instead, they spend every day, Christmas Day included, devoted to finding homes for greyhounds that can no longer race or weren’t good enough in the first place.

Drive through Merrybent, near Darlington, follow the sign down for the Darlington branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust, and you’ll reach the site they rent to temporarily house around 20 dogs at any time.

And it’s all because of a lifelong love of greyhounds. While Doug was spending his working life as a continental coach driver, principally working for Sun Travel out of Ferryhill, Janet would be caring for their latest pet greyhounds back home.

When the Retired Greyhound Trust needed a branch between Northallerton and Durham, Janet and Doug – with the support of daughter Claire – couldn’t resist.

“It’s hard work but we just love them,” Janet explained when I followed the sign and called in the other day. “People think we’re mad at our time of life but they’re just such lovely, gentle dogs – perfect for families.”

On Christmas Day, no one’s allowed to open a present until the greyhounds have been looked after. Holidays have long since been a thing of the past.

An old caravan serves as HQ as the couple liaise with trainers about greyhounds that are going to be needing a home, either because they’re too old, injured, or just not fast enough to cut it on the tracks of the north.

Current “guests” include the trio of Prince, Sting and Gerry, who all arrived around the same time. Prince was named in tribute to the rock star who’d just died at the time, and it was decided to follow a musical theme with the three newcomers. Doug’s a fan of Gerry Marsden and the dog that bears his name never walks alone these days.

Izzy – racing name Ballymack Izzie – is one of the more illustrious racers to have ended up at Merrybent. She ran 49 times and won ten at Brough Park.

There are plenty more just waiting for new owners with Claire carrying out home visits first to make sure all’s well with where they’re going.

“We’ve just rehomed our 50th dog this year so we’re on track to beat last year’s record of 76,” said Janet.

It’s a very safe bet that she and Doug won’t rest until they do.

  • The Darlington branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust is holding its annual fun dog day at Hardwick Country Park, near Sedgefield, from 11am on Sunday. To find out more, call 07504871527 or go to darlington.retiredgreyhounds.org.uk

THE dogs were quickly out of the traps, and barking loudly in protest, when the BBC revealed its highest earners.

Gary Lineker knew what was coming when he Tweeted: “Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?”

No one likes having their salaries talked about publicly but, when it comes to the BBC, it’s public money so the Government was totally justified in ordering transparency over how our licence fees are spent. In Lineker’s case, it’s up to £1.8m, some way behind Chris Evans.

With a glaring gender gap in pay being exposed, it’s opened a real can of worms.

Mind you, I bet it’s a move welcomed by council chief executives. At least it gave them a couple of days out of the public sector salary spotlight.

MY wife and I have just had a few days away in the south and popped in to Kew Gardens in London to see The Hive.

It’s an extraordinary work of art, set in a wildflower meadow, aimed at highlighting the all-important lives of bees.

During the visit, I noticed that on three nights during the summer – August 30 and September 6 and 7 – Kew will be turned into an outdoor cinema. It prompted me to ask on social media for suggestions of films you might expect to see in the midst of one of the world’s most spectacular gardens.

The Headline Challenge trophy this week goes to Darlington councillor, Cyndi Hughes, for “Crouching Tiger Lily, Hidden Dragonfly”.

IT may be summer but the Weardale Railway has launched its recruitment drive for people to play various roles on the Polar Express in the run-up to Christmas.

Hats off to Angela Lockwood, chief executive of the North Star Housing Group, for suggesting that applicants should form a queue at Job Santa Plus.

MY favourite story of the week came from Cheshire, where pensioner Lawrence Perry fell foul of the health and safety police.

Lawrence, 77, was ordered to remove two “mooning” gnomes from a grass verge outside his house. The gnomes were baring their bottoms and the local council sent him a letter to say drivers might be distracted.

Only if they happened to glance in their rear view mirror.