When we were fourteen year olds, myself and Mally Barnes, used to attend Staindrop Comprehensive School, but quite a lot of the time, we didn’t! ‘Playing the Nick’ (truancy) from school was, a regular occurrence for us two. Quite often, if we got
THE training of recruits at Europe's biggest Army base has been given a clean bill of health by a team of inspectors. The Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison was subjected to a three-day inspection by the Office of Standards in Education last
A FAMILY fun day takes place at Asda in Bishop Auckland on Sunday. The free event, which runs from 11am to 4pm, includes fairground rides, a military display, face painting, and refreshments. Proceeds go towards the Chyrelle Adams Breast Cancer Appeal
THE Weardale Friends of the Anthony Nolan Trust are inviting women to a Bubbly and Pearls event on Wednesday. The event takes place at Horsley Hall in Eastgate, and starts at 10.30am. Lunch will be followed by a talk on pearls, and a Virgin Vie stall
A TEENAGER has been arrested in connection with two attempted abductions of young women. A 17-year-old female has been grabbed by a man, described as aged around 19-20 years old, today at around 9am on Catcote Road, Hartlepool. Although shaken, the
THE MAN responsible for setting MPs' pay tonight called for politicians to be given a £10,000 a year pay rise. On the day the full extent of MPs' lavish expenses were finally revealed, Bill Cockburn, head of the Senior Salaries Review Body,
A NOTORIOUS river crossing was reopened today for the first time in 14 months. Stanhope Ford, in County Durham, has been closed since April last year, initially for safety reasons and then for repairs to the carriageway. It had been shut for the winter
RESIDENTS over 60 can take up advice on how to correctly store and handle food to reduce the risks of developing infections. Environmental health officers at Darlington Borough Council are providing advice on listeria following an increase in case in
A MUSICAL featuring show tunes is being performed in north Durham. Theatre Farm, which is based in the North-East will be staging Summer Lovin’ at Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley on Sunday June 28 at 7pm. The show features songs from smash hit West
THIS year’s York Beer and Cider Festival will be the first to be held outdoors in the event’s 35 year history. In the wake of growing success in recent years in various city venues, this year’s festival will be held on the city’s Knavesmire racecourse
FOUR people arrested after a woman was assaulted and a man was shot remained in police custody today. A man who had shotgun pellets removed from his torso is still being treated in hospital but faces arrest on his release. It follows a major police
A MULTI-million pound energy from waste facility on Teesside will start processing rubbish from neighbouring Northumberland after passing stringent tests. The £70m extension at SITA UK's site at Haverton Hill, near Billingham, has been handed over by
GROWING numbers of pupils for an east Cleveland school has resulted in plans to build three new classrooms. Skelton Primary School will be expanded and reshaped to ensure it is able to cater for more and more pupils. The work will include a centralised
A BUDDING thespian was left speechless after being accepted into a prestigious national theatre group. Adam May, 19, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has won a regional place with the National Youth Theatre after successfully auditioning in February
A FURTHER case of swine flu has been reported in connection to a North Yorkshire school closed recently due to a pupil catching the virus. Ripon Grammar School closed on Thursday, June 11, after symptoms of the virus were shown by a 12-year-old female
A PLAY for middle aged women is to be performed at a north Durham theatre. Mutton has played to audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as at regional theatres across the country. The play follow ladies aged 40-50 on riotous night out
AN RAF team that guided a light aircraft pilot to a safe landing after he went blind in mid-flight has been honoured by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. Jim O'Neill, a 65-year-old businessman, was flying solo in his Cessna 182 over North
A MAN has appeared in court charged with murdering his seriously ill father in his hospital bed. Ralph Stephenson, 45, of Tyne Road East, Stanley, County Durham, has been accused of asphyxiating Ralph Stephenson, 86, at the University Hospital
THE WORLD’S oldest railway is set to become the North-East’s newest live music venue this weekend. The Tanfield Railway near Stanley, County Durham, will be showcasing the region’s rich musical talent and heritage. Five local artists and groups
SUNDERLAND will play Darlington in a pre-season friendly next month before facing Portuguese outfit Portimonense. Steve Bruce's side will play the Quakers at the Northern Echo Darlington Arena on Thursday July 16 (7.30pm). The Black Cats have also
IT is all change at the top for one of North Yorkshire’s leading music festivals. Andrew Lawson-Tancred is stepping down after 14 years as the artistic director of the Northern Aldborough Festival, near Boroughbridge. And internationally-known
MYSTERY surrounds an appearance announced for four of The Nolans at Newcastle City Hall after venue boss Peter Brennan confirmed today that an original booking had fallen through. "We've had fans phoning up and asking why we're not getting Bernie, Coleen
DARLINGTON will host the north-easts big three clubs in pre-season after Sunderland and Middlesbrough followed Newcastle in confirming friendlies with Quakers. The Black Cats will visit the Northern Echo Darlington Arena on Thursday, July 16
DISCUSSION show Question Time is being held at Nissan's Sunderland factory tonight. The BBC One television show, hosted by David Dimbleby, comes from the plant's sports and conference centre, and will be screended at 10.35pm. Panellists
KEEN cyclists descended on the Yorkshire Dales in force for some sponsored pedalling. More than 250 riders took part in this year’s North Riding Dales Licensed Victualers Association Charity Bike Ride. The 23rd annual event, sponsored
DURHAM added 30 runs in 30 minutes before they were all out for 433, then took only one wicket in 19 overs before lunch on the placid Edgbaston pitch. Graham Onions knocked out Warwickshire skipper Ian Westwood’s middle stump in the fifth over, but
ICONIC steam engine Sir Nigel Gresley is back in action, hauling passengers across one of the most picturesque landscapes in Britain. After undergoing minor repairs the A4 Pacific No 60007 is steaming along the North York Moors Railway on various weeks
A FULL-size digger will be parked in a Market Place this weekend. A JCB digger from the Diggerland adventure park, in Langley Park, will be brought to Durham Market Place for Saturday, June 20. Visitors can don a helmet and gave a go in the driving
AN 11-year-old boy has been charged with raping a nine-year-old boy. The child is alleged to have committed the rape whilst out on bail for two other sexual offences. The 11-year-old from Houghton-le-Spring
Darlington are to host Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly. Yesterday it was announced Newcastle will travel to The Northern Echo Darlington Arena during July, and so too will Boro. The Teessiders will play Quakers on Wednesday, July
A WOMAN suffered serious facial injuries and is in intensive care after a mystery accident in a North Yorkshire village. Police were called to a house in Ingleby Arncliffe, near to Northallerton, on Tuesday (june 16) to find the injured woman. Named
POLICE teams are waiting to interview a woman found with serious facial injuries at a house in North Yorkshire. A woman, named locally as Margaret Barlow, was found in a house at Ingleby Arncliffe, near to Northallerton, on Tuesday, June 16 at 4.10pm
DOG owners are being invited to a family fun day which has moved to a new venue this year. The Dogs Trust Darlington's annual fun day will be held in South Park, Darlington, on Sunday, June 28. The event, which runs from 12noon to 4pm, is normally held
TENS of thousands of people are expected to visit the famous Hoppings which opens for business in Newcastle tomorrow. Northumbria Police say they hope the annual funfair, which runs from June 19 to 27 on the Town Moor, will be another peaceful event.
Robots are back in disguise as Transformers 2 hits the blockbuster trail this summer. Steve Pratt talks to Shia Labeouf and Megan Fox about the unexpected stresses of stardom. RISING Hollywood actor Shia Labeouf still bears the scars from his latest
Richard Hammond talks about living with that 288mph crash and is still ready to race a steam train from Darlington. Andy Welch reports. RICHARD Hammond has a reputation for staying relentlessly chirpy… hardly surprising having survived a
FATHERS in Crook tucked into school dinners with their children yesterday during an early Fathers Day celebration. Pupils at Stanley Crook Primary School invited their fathers, grandfathers, and male carers to join them for lunch and a tour of their
Richard Simpson looks forward to Paul Weller’s appearance in Dalby Forest. JUST over a year ago I interviewed Paul Weller in a little dressing room in Middlesbrough Town Hall. He was rapidly approaching his 50th birthday, he had a new album to promote
THE local folk scene is very much male-dominated in the week ahead, and Vin Garbutt is particularly in evidence, with gigs at Reeth’s Memorial Hall tomorrow, with Darlington’s own Gardeloo in support, and at Washington’s Davy Lamp on Saturday.
THE Editors have announced a UK tour which includes Newcastle Academy on Wednesday, October 14. The new album, In This Light And On This Evening, is the follow up to the Number One, An End Has A Start, and is due for release in September. Tickets
WHAT’S ON: Tonight Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio at St Margaret’s Church, York, 01904-658338. CD REVIEWS: Tierney Sutton Band/Desire (Telarc CD-83685) In a determinedly fresh look at some well known lyrics, Tierney Sutton offers a very different
CAMPAIGNERS will be hoping to make a clean sweep of three east Durham villages next week when they launch a blitz on litter, flytipping and other environmental problems. Residents and volunteers will be joining forces with staff from Durham County Council
WHAT’S ON: The Northern Sinfonia, Dreams and Ceremonies (1960-90), The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm tonight, Boulez, Birtwistle, Elliott Carter, Woolrich and Matthews. Tomorrow, Ades, Adams and Casken. 0191-433-4661. REVIEWS: Korngold, Violin Concerto
IT was almost 20 years ago in Nashville when I was given the opportunity to interview a new female artist. On arrival, the subject can only be described as being involved in a shouting contest down the phone that ended in a crashing of handset.
Best of the Reggae Film Festival, Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6QB Box Office 0845- 2179909 £7, £5 with festival ticket. Sat, 2-5pm, 2.10 The Story Of Randys. Interviews with Ken Boothe, Big Youth, Stranger Cole and Pat Kelly
THE Red Stripe Boss Sounds Festival takes place this weekend in Newcastle’s The Cluny and Cluny 2, Sat -Sun, with tickets available on ticketweb.co.uk or ring 0191-230- 4474. Saturday: The Cluny £15, Derrick Morgan and Band (Jamaica), Owen Gray
The iconic music venue, The Sage, is five years old and includes Sting in its celebrations. Viv Hardwick reports. KATHRYN Tickell and special guest Sting, Spiritualized, Northern Sinfonia and Evelyn Glennie are among the famous names lined
WOMEN used to chain themselves to railings to promote the feminist cause. Fiz has other ideas in Coronation Street (ITV1). Never mind wanting to get the vote, she wants to get her man – jailed teacher John Stape. He’s otherwise engaged in a
Her arrival as Evita for a national tour was like a TV show plot, Rachael Wooding tells Viv Hardwick, but it’s taken ten years of hard graft. EVITA is one of those roles that most female performers want to play, but don’t know if you’ll ever
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (-) Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2 (-) Valkyrie 3 (-) Curious Case Of Benjamin Button 4 (-) Doubt 5 (3) Seven Pounds 6 (1) He’s Just Not That Into You 7 (5) Bride Wars 8 (6) Defiance 9 (8) The Wrestler 10 (-) My Bloody Valentine
Psychoville (BBC2, 10pm); Undercover Boss (C4, 9pm) SHOPKEEPERS Tubbs and Edward, Barbara the transsexual taxi-driver, restart officer Pauline and carnival owner Papa Lazarou – some might say they were all the creations of disturbed minds. But
THIS play, the second in the Ian Dickens rep season at the Civic, was written by Richard Stockwell and first performed in August 1997. It is a departure from the usual fare of whodunits from the Forties and Fifties, which make up the bulk of repertory
DETAILS of MPs' expenses claims were finally published by the House of Commons today - but with much of the detail that led to a public outcry blacked out. The release of tens of thousands of claim forms and receipts on the Parliament website
A TERRIFYING sense of being out of control has gripped me on many occasions since I entered the perilous world of fatherhood… The childbirth: My wife’s waters broke in the kitchen with our first and I was terrified we wouldn’t make it to the
I READ your article regarding Thirsk railway station being a disgrace for the disabled person (Echo, some editions, May 9). I am confined to a wheelchair and must say that the whole of Thirsk is a disgrace regarding accessible areas. On a recent
I DON’T know what percentage of the 60,000 new cars ordered so far under the Government’s scrappage scheme were manufactured in the UK. I would guess quite a small one. We could equally ask who would have repaired and maintained the 60,000 old
THE cat is out of the bag” is the latest insult to the intelligence of the electorate being peddled by Labour. It is seriously attempting to deceive the country into believing that cuts in public spending being discussed by the Conservatives,
THE furore over MPs’ expenses is subsiding and the local and European elections have had their fair share of publicity, as has the media-inspired campaign to unseat Gordon Brown. The so-called Labour rebellion, which only amounted to a few sour
LIKE other recent correspondents, I believe that the BNP will be defeated by arguments, not by egg-throwing. John Riseley (HAS, Page 5, June 9) hopes the BNP will “Europeanise” and form alliances with like-minded parties in the EU. The BNP’s
AFTER destroying the country’s private pension schemes, denying us a vote on the EU “Treaty”, masterminding the collapse of the UK economy and presiding over a corrupt Parliament, I didn’t think that Gordon Brown could lower himself any further
A quarter of a century ago, Shildon Wagon Works closed and the light went out on a community which has never fully recovered. The column went along when former Shops colleagues gathered once again at the weekend. IT’LL be 25 years on June 29 since
OVER recent weeks the reporting of the MPs’ expenses scandal has been vigorous and intense. Indeed, the power of the press has seen the resignation of some high-profile Government ministers. However, during the same period the number of soldiers
As a schoolboy in Gateshead, Chris Taylor learnt the power of film to influence young lives. He tells Steve Pratt how he mixes community moviemaking with a commercial business. CHRIS TAYLOR became aware of the power of film as a 15-year-old
DON’T believe what you read about Conservative leader David Cameron opposing any changes to the way we elect our MPs – because nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, he has a cunning plan to cull the number of MPs across the North, to
THESE are difficult times for the airline industry. Families are tightening their belts in the recession and expensive luxuries, such as foreign holidays, have been early casualties. Airports like Durham Tees Valley have been hit by falling
GEORDIELAND can deny Yeats an unprecedented fourth victory in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Jamie Osborne’s grey looked a reformed character in beating Patkai at Sandown in the Henry II Stakes three weeks ago and the usually pessimistic former
USAIN Bolt stormed to the fastest 100 metres in the world this year with a breathtaking performance of 9.77 seconds last night only for the wind to be a fraction over the legal limit at the IAAF Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava. The Olympic champion
MARK Stoneman defied the pain of his thigh strain to complete his first half-century since the middle of last season on an otherwise frustrating day for Durham. Although Stoneman fell for 64 in the pursuit of quick runs, Durham achieved maximum
TIGER Woods has backed fellow major winner Padraig Harrington in his quest to further improve his game. Ireland’s Harrington has experienced a slump in form this year as he attempts to remodel his swing in a bid to surpass the level of play that
THE British and Irish Lions have ruled James Hook and Euan Murray out of their selection plans for Saturday’s first Test against world champions South Africa. Both players suffered injuries during a bruising 20-8 victory over the Southern Kings
YORKSHIRE’S hopes of distancing themselves from the bottom of the County Championship were dashed on day two as Worcestershire grabbed maximum batting points on a day where three hours of cricket were lost to rain at New Road. Jacques Rudolph
NAOMI Cavaday is dreaming of a return to Wimbledon after moving to within one match of earning a ticket to the All England Club next week. The 20-year-old world number 286 edged an epic three-set match 6-0, 3-6, 7-5 against 20th seed Angelique
FORGET ‘Henmania’ – for the next two weeks, Britain will be plunged into a state of ‘Andymonium’. Re-writing the record books in a warm-up event is one thing, but for Andy Murray, the newly-crowned Queen’s Club champion, the real work is about
SUNDERLAND are monitoring Liverpool’s pursuit of Sylvain Distin after asking Portsmouth about the former Newcastle defender’s availability. Steve Bruce, the Black Cats boss, has earmarked Manchester City’s Richard Dunne as his top defensive target
ANDY MURRAY feels some intense training in the Miami heat helped ‘‘kick’’ on his game towards a genuine shot at the Wimbledon title. The 22-year-old, who last week became the first British winner at Queen’s in 71 years, has come a long way since
IF anyone needed proof of a shift in the balance of power of North-East football, it will be provided by the first midweek fixture list of next season. In the week commencing August 17, Newcastle will entertain Sheffield Wednesday while Middlesbrough
AN electrician who suffered severe burns in an explosion at a petrochemical plant died from multiple organ failure after his wounds became infected, an inquest heard. Electrical supervisor Graham Hiles, 52, died almost three weeks after the “arc
FAMILIES, lovers and trainspotters will be allowed onto train platforms across the region when ticket barriers are installed. Free passes will be handed out on a discretionary basis to allow friends and family to greet passengers and allow trainspotters
A MARKET research company is helping staff at a North- East university turn business ideas that begin life as academic research into reality. Newcastle-based Marketwise Strategies was one of five experts chosen to advise entrants in this year’
A PROJECT aimed at finding funding for cutting-edge technology companies in the North-East has won financial support to continue its work. Connect North East attracted more than 150 delegates, investors from across the country, national Government
MORE weakness among mining firms dragged the FTSE 100 Index lower yesterday, as supermarket Sainsbury’s caught investors off-guard with a surprise fundraising. The retailer led the fallers for much of the session following the £445m exercise,
A SCHOOL was all smiles after receiving a Healthy Teeth award for helping children improve their oral hygiene. Trimdon Village Community Infants School and Nursery is the believed to be the first in Sedgefield to receive it. Under the scheme
A MAJOR heating company, based in the region, has joined a campaign to secure construction jobs. Myson, which employs more than 400 people, has joined the Repairing Britain campaign. As part of its support, Myson will encourage its staff, suppliers
ENGINE maker Cummins has struck an agreement with its employees over flexible working hours in an effort to prevent further job cuts at its North- East plant. The firm is operating a series of “stand up” and “stand down” Fridays at its Darlington
ENERGY firms were urged yesterday to make the region the big winner in a new £4bn “green” industry that promises to create up to 60,000 highquality jobs. A Government consultation was launched into where to build up to four giant power stations
Forward: 24 cattle and 765 prime sheep, comprising six prime heifers and 18 cast cows; 643 prime and light lambs, 18 prime hoggs and 104 cast sheep. Prices: Prime hfrs to £159 ave £145.9, cast cows to £114 ave £93.3. Prime lambs: light to £163.8
BUDGET hotel operator Travelodge launched a £100m property fund yesterday as it set about snapping up struggling assets in the hotel sector. The joint venture with Meghraj Properties will look to acquire between eight and 14 hotels, which will
BUSINESSES honoured with Queen’s Awards over the past two years were brought together for a special event organised by regional development agency One North East. The firms earning the accolade this year included Arriva, Cleveland Cascades, HVR
MIDDLESBROUGH expect to complete an ongoing backroom reshuffle before the start of pre-season training after dispensing with the services of assistant manager Malcolm Crosby yesterday. Crosby has left the Teessiders after almost five years
MIKE ASHLEY’S attempts to sell Newcastle United took a crucial step forward last night when the first formal offer for the club was made. The identity of the group that has made the first serious move to take over at St James’ Park remains
A STRUGGLING artist who nearly turned his back on his craft has won an international art award. Mark Jameson was last night named Young Artist of the Year at the BP Portrait Awards, beating thousands of entries from across the world. Mr Jameson
TEACHERS have staged a second one-day strike over plans to close their school – and threatened further action could follow. Striking teachers from Belmont School, in Durham City, packed the benches of Consett Civic Centre for a meeting of Durham
THE cream of the region’s teaching crop has been recognised. The 2009 Teaching Awards for the North-East and Cumbria ceremony were held at The Sage, in Gateshead, yesterday. A lifetime achievement award went to Mike Vening, who has taught for
TRIBUTES have been paid to a father-of-two who died hours after his first night out since being paralysed in a car accident. Michael Anthony Bellas died at home in Spennymoor, County Durham, early on Sunday morning. The 26-year-old had just returned
A STREET cleaner has been hailed a hero by council bosses after plunging into flood water to rescue a family from their stricken car. Non-swimmer Richard Greensmith leapt from a 10ft-high wall to reach the Dagnan family’s car, which was stranded
GRIEVING relatives have spoken of their distress after a herd of cows escaped into a cemetery and trampled over dozens of graves. The animals left a trail of destruction at the graveyard in West Auckland, County Durham, after they walked through
A MUSICIAN is demanding compensation, saying his song was stolen by a primary school headteacher. Songwriter John Lewis says copyright laws were breached when the lyrics to his song, Home, were published in a parish magazine. Mr Lewis and his
A NEW online service from the British Library is to allow readers to access historic newspapers – including The Northern Echo – dating back 200 years. The service includes more than two million pages of newspapers between 1800 and 1900, from
SINGER Susan Boyle last night showed the North-East why she has taken the world by storm as she wowed a sell-out crowd. The Scottish singer, runner-up in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, overcame the exhaustion that resulted in her admission
A CHARITY concert held in a farm shed for more than 20 years has attracted a Mercury Music Prize-nominated musician to the bill. The Cornshed is an annual event organised by Judy Kitching, at Sexhow Park Farm, in Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire,
THE father of a terminally-ill girl has vowed to make a fresh start after he was spared jail to care for her. Daniel Dodsworth subjected his girlfriend, Sarah Hodgson, to a horrific ordeal when he went on a drunken rampage with an air rifle at
A MOTHER airlifted to hospital with serious facial injuries was found lying at the bottom of stairs by her 11-year-old son, it emerged yesterday. Police and ambulance crews were called to a house in Ingleby Arncliffe, near Northallerton, North
TWO bus companies were considering their next moves last night, after missing out on a flagship park-and-ride contract. Go North East and Scarlet Band both failed to secure the contract to run the Durham City park-and-ride service yesterday, with
