The Northern Echo | Grandad at Large https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/columnists/dadatlarge/ The Northern Echo Grandad at Large en-gb Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:03:52 +0100 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:03:52 +0100 https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/rss/terms/ M6 toby.granville@newsquest.co.uk (Toby Granville) webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk (Tim Joy) https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/sitelogoalt/?type=rsslogo The Northern Echo | Grandad at Large https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/columnists/dadatlarge/ Grandad At Large: A trip back in time to The London Palladium with my mum https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/columnists/dadatlarge/25860646.trip-back-time-london-palladium-mum/?ref=rss Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000 2cc2e26a9bb9f0f70e9f91ad9f21d843 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Grandad At Large: Taking a stand against old age during a holiday bus ride https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25758651.taking-stand-old-age-holiday-bus-ride/?ref=rss Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000 0ced0f10c25deee7b359231aee451f47 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Grandad At Large latest: The night Santa dropped a right clanger in Darlington https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25725657.night-santa-dropped-right-clanger-darlington/?ref=rss Mon, 29 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 1a267332b1988606f8a882f68acaa387 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Grandad At Large: A trip to The Kinks musical isn't the hit it might have been https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25634515.wrong-note-trip-york-kinks-musical/?ref=rss Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 1e4d9003191987f0d1c7cc991b1fb50e peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Grandad At Large: itching to get back home after Italian island holiday https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25525314.itching-get-home-holiday-italian-island/?ref=rss Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0100 2014c0e7dd24ef94db435093e98092be peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Grandad At Large: How Eric and his trusty metal detector saved the day https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25300476.metal-detectorist-comes-rescue-lost-ear-ring/?ref=rss Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0100 59f6a0f9c6a9db30f6aa45d99ca767df peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Why I ended up lugging a drum-kit along Platform 4 at Darlington station https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25226094.ended-drum-kit-darlington-station/?ref=rss Thu, 12 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0100 3554cfe51afcc5e7bdbf83ab2cc26037 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A bird’s eye view – how I herocially solved the great starling mystery https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/25142817.birds-eye-view---solved-great-starling-mystery/?ref=rss Sat, 10 May 2025 06:00:00 +0100 a6ccb763782876e637de37bf12f0a0ac peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Easy World Book Day outfits to make in 5 minutes with stuff you already have https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/24969132.easy-world-book-day-outfits-can-make-5-minutes/?ref=rss Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:18:12 +0000 9ad74baddad580121582dda849475ee3 jade.wright@newsquest.co.uk | Jade Wright Focusing on the growing challenges us oldies face with reading glasses https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24907141.ingenious-solution-issues-reading-glasses/?ref=rss Thu, 06 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000 ab2375190b124d6a393f20524089e1d6 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron The day a Durham headteacher wished he hadn't asked about a pupil's dog having pups https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24860571.headteacher-wished-hadnt-asked-pupils-dog/?ref=rss Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:12:37 +0000 a90f87b0db142f775302b2431e5ae71e peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A case of mistaken identity that left our family shellshocked https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24772970.sudden-death-left-family-shellshocked/?ref=rss Fri, 06 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000 8c5339d2cf2dd7d5b28e4095fb36c4d2 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron The answer to my 92-year-old mother's hearing problems – Nat King Cole https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24484151.answer-mums-hearing-problems---nat-king-cole/?ref=rss Tue, 30 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0100 bb9f8cfca28544ea026f00d22c8e86af peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Bark of the net! How my mum brought England luck - by nibbling on dog biscuits https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24438050.mum-brought-england-luck---nibbling-dog-biscuits/?ref=rss Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0100 7a03418a19dc82acdd82deb53c2817e2 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Made to feel a right mug on a nostalgic trip to the Norfolk coast https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24377159.made-feel-right-mug-nostalgic-trip-norfolk/?ref=rss Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:16:40 +0100 bc8a145f100cb7133b61309a17fd856c peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Left feeling down in the dumps on a trip to Darlington tip https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24210621.left-feeling-dumps-trip-tip/?ref=rss Tue, 26 Mar 2024 08:23:57 +0000 374553c72d11171f1fc54e63307ace25 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Trouble in store on a Valentine's Day I'd rather forget https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24127782.trouble-store-long-forgotten-valentines-day/?ref=rss Tue, 20 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000 e97ae3741e97c42601d93dca74b65a34 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A blow by blow account of long lost bravery certificate from Darlington hospital https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24061997.blow-blow-account-long-lost-bravery-certificate/?ref=rss Fri, 19 Jan 2024 15:02:06 +0000 6f9958bcafdc5a6bb86ed9aee67925ca peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Dial M for memories of courtship before the days of mobile phones https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/24010777.dial-m-memories-courtship-mobile-phones/?ref=rss Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:35:05 +0000 62b4aea069c3646e31e260cebd4de5e3 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron The epic story of a glass eye that symbolises the unseen horrors of war https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23902909.glass-eye-symbolises-unseen-horrors-war/?ref=rss Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 f4b91c9490445dfffdc547656aa11ce2 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Well, I’ll be hanged! My embarrassing game of Hangman with a seven-year-old https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23905075.embarrassing-game-hangman-seven-year-old/?ref=rss Tue, 07 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 bc2aaa261ebb76abad5caef471bf9460 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Nutty at 92 – the bizarre reason my mum ended up in hospital on her birthday https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23827895.nutty-92---mum-ended-e-birthday/?ref=rss Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0100 c10fa43bcefbc6e44f4c70d08fd90378 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron So close to a sticky end - the day I was nearly killed by a Midget Gem https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23754426.moment-almost-choked-death-midget-gem/?ref=rss Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0100 dd143f1be7dab1f960271e5f4110b28c peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Striking a 'fur deal' for looking after Mister Roly, the guinea pig https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23728431.fur-deal-looking-granddaughters-guinea-pig/?ref=rss Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:18:02 +0100 14dd8c7d6afb2f25afd5e1512ccccf28 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Saying 'sew long' to a much-loved family treasure after 50 years https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23507857.darlington-family-pass-royal-themed-costume-generations/?ref=rss Wed, 10 May 2023 06:00:00 +0100 f3811144184a81b672595f185a9fce60 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron 'Great Margaret' is going like a bomb and playing hopscotch at 91 https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23431378.going-like-bomb-playing-hopscotch-91/?ref=rss Thu, 06 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0100 cac388125b8965a0d08ab518ff718ceb peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Going to pot https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23296071.going-pot-wifes-birthday/?ref=rss Fri, 03 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000 c741569a12e89c7a904da5ec2b753401 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron The finger of suspicion https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23270691.checking-finger-suspicion-nose-picking/?ref=rss Mon, 23 Jan 2023 16:44:42 +0000 33b626768e9f460907b38723e9146860 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Christmas fun with The Naughty-ometer https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23219142.night-christmas-fun-naughty-ometer/?ref=rss Fri, 30 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 b641fb56a0ab38d06811151d4ce9aedb peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Meet Poppy, the little girl with a New Year's wish for a kidney transplant https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23214583.meet-poppy-little-girl-new-years-wish-new-kidney/?ref=rss Wed, 28 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 c9e1578f65630291f94ccc2e35c43489 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A northerner in The Big Soak https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23170578.nightmare-northerner-let-loose-big-soak/?ref=rss Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:17:33 +0000 af75d935b6bbf1b85a00150eecaa6a14 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Badge of honour goes to Chloe's head https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23110688.badge-honour-goes-chloes-head-school/?ref=rss Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000 5d02c7ea9de205a69aa784f28cc82c57 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Testing times for a grandad at the bottom of the 'picking' order https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/23034023.testing-times-grandad/?ref=rss Sun, 09 Oct 2022 08:52:17 +0100 851919f4feccf981bb0e49913a87417c peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron The moment of tooth https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/21263729.moment-tooth-granddaughter-chloe/?ref=rss Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0100 47dee468fb7b64e30f8d7b76c61d4650 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Running through the pain https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20903446.one-north-east-dads-remarkable-road-great-north-run/?ref=rss Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0100 875bb0f08e2667f1118fbfc70f35a630 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Magic moments https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20863375.magic-moments-make-grandad-special/?ref=rss Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0100 f94b6902efd1d24963d51cecccf0af38 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron It’s a find of magic https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20665944.became-holiday-hero/?ref=rss Thu, 18 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0100 3a9068069b915bdfa2478bbc7a4d2e00 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Tide waits for no man https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20528024.depth-surfing-lesson-saltburn/?ref=rss Thu, 28 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0100 c37a5813542e978eb1b3d6ce4380f3f9 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron It’s a mug’s game https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20259706.mugs-game/?ref=rss Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0100 9973a8c652c009a2bf47c226f90ed547 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Fool's gold https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20227006.little-white-lie-jumped-control/?ref=rss Thu, 23 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0100 42ad6e9bf06e6026e15fd21c3dcee9c5 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A stitch in time - the Pearly King costume that served three generations https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20195310.stitch-time---pearly-king-costume-served-three-jubilees/?ref=rss Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0100 2a25b87d6c078872cef862b5d151c3c9 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A slice of the wedding cake action https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20160183.stressful-slice-wedding-cake-action/?ref=rss Thu, 26 May 2022 05:00:00 +0100 dfcea61799da86c1abd7a449c8d429c8 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Being a grandad's hard on the knees https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20127149.kneesy---painful-grandad/?ref=rss Thu, 12 May 2022 05:00:00 +0100 2014c9121bf319edaa3820df7a74e681 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron A baby girl at 30! https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20096899.baby-girl-30/?ref=rss Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0100 2082afac907d3f7e61bf18f506b05598 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Surf far, surf good https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20074314.surf-far-surf-good-make-60/?ref=rss Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:00:48 +0100 933284d6e5afd19c051701b3e72be557 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Driven round the bend by Neighbours https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/20031654.good-riddance-neighbours---drove-round-bend/?ref=rss Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0100 125b01d38b1cf49ac7419919c5e52213 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron How our little granddaughter is finding her voice https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/19991676.little-granddaughter-finding-voice/?ref=rss Thu, 17 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000 479c6e72e63e50a61668d8e002aa24bf peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Tin and bear it - why was I lugging 30 cans of from Darlington to London? https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/19964411.grandad-nearly-60-carry-30-cans-tuna-darlington-london/?ref=rss Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000 b42cf394666d54b1276c407dc907052d peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Miles apart https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/19925084.time-say-furwell-chloes-pet-guinea-pig/?ref=rss Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:00:00 +0000 960da76b047254c801beefd2f8e21c40 peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron Oh my word - what fun we're having in bed these days https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/opinion/19888754.oh-word---fun-wife-bed-days/?ref=rss Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:00 +0000 77619a2289dfe5e32c3f897b7bba8efb peter.barron@nne.co.uk | Peter Barron