I’ve just had a call for help from Nigel; have I got another story for the blog? He must think I have an interesting life, how wrong he is. Had a bit think and, this is what I came up with. A few years ago, not long after I moved into the house
I took a few days away from work this week to keep Little Girl company during her half term holiday and ended up decorating. It had never occurred to me before though how much our house walls are like personal relationships. As cracks revealed themselves
UP to 600 jobs could be lost among Armed Forces support staff. The Ministry of Defence announced today that its Defence Support Group (DSG) workforce was likely to be cut by 17.5 per cent nationwide by 2013. One of DSG's sites is based
A high-flying student who alleges she was branded ''a bloody Arab'' by her PhD lecturer is suing Durham University for £200,000. Dr Hadil Bakir claims she was verbally and physically abused by her supervisor while studying at the university's
GOOGLE'S Android operating system is giving Apple's iPhone a good pasting in the smartphone arena. Now it's set to take on the iPad in the hotly contested tablet PC marketplace. Let's be honest, every gadget lover hopes to find an iPad wrapped
The half term break, and travelling through the night to Cornwall seemed like a great plan. Quiet roads, and a peacefully sleeping child as opposed to jams of traffic and a wide-awake, fidgety one (taking the train was not an option; we could've
TICKETS go on sale for next year's Take That concert tomorrow and fans have been camping out to make sure they are first in line. The reformed five piece are starting their schedule at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland next summer. One fan, Tanya Kayne
Nissan said today it is recalling 2.14 million vehicles across the world, including the popular Micra and Note, over an ignition problem that may stall the engine. No accidents have been reported that are suspected of being related to the defect, according
THE tourism capital of the north has launched a bid to be officially named as one of the most creative cities in the world. York has announced its intention to bid to become a UNESCO Creative City of media arts. The international Creative Cities programme
TRADERS have claimed victory in stopping roadworks planned in a city centre set to badly disrupt the busy Christmas period. North Yorkshire County Council planned to dig up Ripon’s Market Place and Kirkgate for eight weeks of repairs. The council’s
A SCHEME which helps visitors to the county town of North Yorkshire get around has proved to be a major success. Launched earlier this year, Northallerton Shopmobility hires out a fleet of scooters and wheelchairs to those who have difficulty
US rockers Kings of Leon will play in the North-East next summer, it has been announced. The chart toppers will play Sunderland FC's Stadium of Light on Friday, June 17. The announcement, made this lunchtime, follows news that former boy band Take
A festive treat for Magpies ONE of Newcastle’s greatest derby successes came on December 22, 1956, as they thrashed Sunderland 6-2 at St James’ Park. ‘Tynesider’ was at the game for The Northern Echo, and the following are excerpts from his
THE Tees Valley was given a major growth boost today, as the Government backed plans for a new enterprise body. The coalition gave the green-light to plans to form a single Tees Valley local enterprise partnership (LEP), covering Darlington, Middlesbrough
THANKS to everyone who has been in touch after the Echo Memories pictures of Coundon a fortnight ago. We published a photograph of Wharton Street in May 1968 alongside a current view of the road from Coundon Gate, which is known locally as
A new book reveals the stories of heroism and tragedy that surrounded WHEN three bombs fell on Dorman Long’s steelworks at Grangetown, Teesside, on December 14, 1942, a string of coincidences cost steelworker Tom Hoskins his life. First, the bombs
A MILITARY tank has collided with a bus on a busy motorway. The incident happened on the A1, near the Barton junction between Darlington and Richmond, this morning at around 10.45am. It is understood that nobody was seriously injured
SINCE the dawn of the railways, the coast has been a popular destination with workers from the cities. Before the railway station was built in the town, Redcar’s main industry was fishing. With the advent of the railway, the town began to
THE annual meet in Barnard Castle began life as a gathering of cyclists in 1885. The first event included a procession from the railway station, with huge crowds lining the streets to watch 20 cycling clubs from the Tyneside and Wearside area
Recollecting the fate of John Clarkson in one of the worst snow storms in history, and following the trail of an ‘unholy gang of Hellkeepers’ THE snow was so deep that a “storm gang” of 200 men was sent out along the tracks to try to
Eastenders and The Bill actor Russell Floyd is keen on his Geordie debut. Viv Hardwick reports. ASOUTH Shields venue is readying itself for a Photo Finish when a world premiere of a play takes place tonight. Written by North- East duo Ed Waugh
Playwright Fiona Evans discusses with Viv Hardwick the importance of not giving away the ending to her new play, which opens in Scarborough tonight. SOMETIMES an arts journalist can be a little too clever for his or her own good… like working out
Lesley Manville tells Steve Pratt about working with veteran filmmaker Mike Leigh, bad driving and being in it for the long haul. IT begins with a phone call. “Do you want to be in my next film?” asks British film-maker Mike Leigh. “There’s
Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell 89 mins SUBTITLED The Final Chapter, the seventh instalment of the hugelypopular horror franchise is the first major motion picture to be shot exclusively on
Stars: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry 91 mins JOHN LANDIS, who counts American Werewolf In London and Blues Brothers among his past credits, directs this true story of two enterprising men from Edinburgh
Bennett reveals to Viv Hardwick how Geordie actor Don Warrington inspired a joke included in his latest play, The Habit of Art. ALAN Bennett bursts into laughter when I remind him that he’s coming to Tyneside with a new play which dubs Newcastle
Stars: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta 106 mins WITH seven Oscar nominations and not a single win between them, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore join that illustrious list
TAKEN from The Defamation of Strickland Banks, The Recluse stands on its own musically, but benefits from being heard in the context of the album. The album tells the tale of Strickland, a soul singer who finds fame and fortune only for it to
MICHAEL BUBLE is at the very top of his game at the moment. Like a better-looking version of Harry Connick Junior, Buble can turn his hand to any song in any style and make it his own. Hollywood is in the pop genre and will have the ladies swinging
WHAT’S ON: Tonight, Ray Chester’s Big Band, Corner House, Newcastle, 0191-265-9602; Monday, ACV, Darlington Arts Centre, 01325-486555. CD REVIEWS: Loose Tubes/Dancing in Frith Street (Loose Marble LM005) This dynamic and irreverent 21-piece band
THERE cannot be many artists who have been in bands with Johnny Cash, Doc Watson and Lester Flatt. Marty Stuart played for them all and many others. He has however been an artist in his own right for many years and in Britain we can see him weekly
WHAT’S ON: Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Eduardo Portal, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm tonight. Programme includes Schubert’s String Quintet and Beethoven’s Symphony No 7. Box Office: 0191-433-4661. REVIEWS: Pergolesi: Stabat Mater etc 3-CD set (
Ahead of the release of her debut single, Nadine Coyle tells Andy Welch what made her go it alone and the long-awaited Girls Aloud reunion. YOU’D think stepping out from the security of the country’s most successful girl band would fill you with dread
AS I crossed the border into Canada earlier this week, the US immigration official eyed my guitar case and asked me “Are you a musician?” I nervously admitted it, whereupon he asked me where I was from. “North-East England,” I replied.
You’re a big reader, aren’t you? What turned me on to reading was English O Level at school and the book that changed my life about wanting to read was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, then Lord Of The Flies… and I carried on reading. I’m reading
Get Him To The Greek 15 104 mins AFTER years of dizzying success, rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) releases the album African Child, which is lambasted by critics. Soon after, he breaks up with girlfriend Maggie Q (Rose Byrne) and falls into
THE exciting climax to Weatherfield’s remake of From Here To Paternity is beginning to take shape in Coronation Street (ITV1). The Soapland Echo will soon be able to publish the name of the winner in the Who’s The Daddy? competition. The names
IT is a rite of passage in any boy’s life. Albert has joined a football team. He has had his name down on the waiting list for about six months, ever since he decided that his ambition in life is to play for Manchester United. He even insisted
Camp moustaches, organic hummus and a cheap pint are all prevalent in our region, according to a book on Northern stereotypes. Ruth Addicott asks author Tim Collins to elaborate further. "T HE North is one of the few places outside the
I GAVE three cheers to The Northern Echo for declining to publish the photo of Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson which was offered for publication by Manchester United for a £300 fee – as outlined in Peter Barron’s From the Editor’s chair column
LIKE Tom Seale (HAS, Oct 22), I was also around in the late Thirties when Herr Hitler was chucking his weight about, getting away with taking over different countries with little or no opposition. Much of what he started to annexe was part of
JOSEPH Marley (HAS, Oct 25) is apparently in denial on the role trade unions played in the loss of British industry as he chastises Joe Wellthorpe (HAS, Oct 21) for stating a sad fact. Strikes and unreasonable demands from dinosaur union bosses
Monte Carlo Or Bust (ITV1, 9pm); How to Get a Head in Sculpture (BBC4, 9pm). THE celebrity jaunt Monte Carlo Or Bust sees three couples on a road trip from London to Monte Carlo with the aim of discovering “the genius, glory and grub” of France.
THE latest Government plan for transport in the Cleveland area would seem to be out of touch with reality in Teesside, which is a car-oriented area, with bus and rail only making up a small proportion of journeys, and most of the people on the
RE Ian Walker’s observations about disappearing blackbirds (HAS, Oct 23). I, too, have noticed the absence of blackbirds from our garden. My wife and I have for a little time now wondered where our pair of blackbirds had gone. It was always a
IN Sunderland we have the same problem over accordion buskers who are musically challenged as people in North Yorkshire (Echo, Oct 22), but in this case their only tune is The Anniversary Song. Our friendly buskers are all from Eastern Europe
YOU reported that an empty barn in Swaledale is being wrapped in wool as part of an “art project” (Echo, Oct 12). Plus, I see the floor of the turbine hall at London’s old Battersea power station (now Tate Modern) has been covered in clay sunflower
NICK Clegg says the Liberal Democrats have tamed the Conservatives and ensured the coalition is pursuing “fairer” policies – but is this really true? To put the claim to the test, let’s imagine what might have happened if the General Election
Two intellectual heavyweights will go head-to-head at Durham Cathedral today over a question which has puzzled man since time immemorial... Here, for The Northern Echo, Rev Dr David Wilkinson and Sir Arnold Wolfendale outline their case, for and
LAST WEEK we saw the unedifying face of professional football as the tedious “will he, won’t he?” Wayne Rooney fiasco ground its way to a perfectly predictable conclusion. Rooney’s public wrangling over a five-year-contract, reputedly worth £1m
LEWIS Moody is ready for a return to action with Bath and then England despite being told by doctors he may never be able to see perfectly again. The England captain has been sidelined since October 1 after damaging the retina in his left eye
RED BULL Racing team principal Christian Horner has slammed claims by Gerhard Berger that Mark Webber deliberately attempted to take out one of his title rivals in Korea on Sunday as ‘‘ridiculous.’’ Webber crashed out on lap 19 of the Korean
EBOR runner-up Rosika has enough about her to deliver the goods in the EBF Cockney Rebel First Crop Success River Eden Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield. Sir Michael Stoute’s filly has bags of stamina and has shown this summer that Listed glory
DAVID Haye has urged the boxing public not to be fooled by Audley Harrison’s conviction that he can cause a stunning upset on November 13. The British rivals meet at the MEN Arena with Harrison adamant he can claim Haye’s WBA heavyweight title
MARTIN KAYMER goes into to this week’s Andalucia Valderrama Masters with the destiny of golf’s world number one ranking in his hands. The German tees off today knowing he alone can stop Lee Westwood being the man to succeed Tiger Woods when
THE war of words between England and Russia’s 2018 World Cup bids has intensified, with England being called ‘‘absolutely primitive’’ by the honorary president of the Russian Football Union for their decision to make a formal complaint to FIFA
YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale accepts that losing Jacques Rudolph will leave a massive hole in his batting line up next season, but he wants to fill it with a young talent. It has already been well documented that the White Rose county are
THE Premier League will have a key input in choosing the next chairman of the Football Association after Bolton chairman Phil Gartside was made the head of the panel given the task of finding Lord Triesman’s successor. Triesman fell out with
MICHAEL Owen has warned Manchester United’s new fans’ hero Javier Hernandez that he cannot afford to rest on his laurels. The 22-year-old Mexican has shouldered the goalscoring responsibility in the last two games to give United supporters something
Police and volunteers in North Yorkshire are working to minimise the impact of the poaching season – which is well under way – on farmers, gamekeepers and landowners. Andy Walker joined them on patrol. GANGS of poachers stalking the countryside
A YOUNG motorist’s car flipped over and landed back on its wheels when her boyfriend pulled on the handbrake as they had an argument, a court heard yesterday. Emma Richardson and James Lynn were both hurt and needed hospital treatment after
A DISUSED office block is to undergo a £1m refurbishment to become the new headquarters of a North-East engineering firm. Beaumont House in Beaumont Street, Darlington, is to be refurbished ahead of becoming the new base for Tompkins UK, a
A HEALTH club operator which has its headquarters in a North-East town has submitted a planning application which could result in 130 jobs. A spokesman for Bannatyne’s Health Club, which has submitted plans for a four-storey office building
GOVERNMENT transport policy could cripple the North-East’s economy, civil engineers claimed last night, despite Prime Minister David Cameron’s belief it would make a “massive difference” to the region. The Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice
AN award-winning West End play based on one of the most famous business collapses in history, arrives in the North-East next week. The business thriller Enron, which runs at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal from November 2 to 6, describes the sequence
Shildon manager Gary Forrest says that his team could easily have scored 15 against Ryton last night. Shildon reached double figures with a more than comfortable 10-0 victory, demonstrating the difference in class between the top and the bottom
A ROYAL Navy warship, which saw action in the Falklands Confict, is returning home to the North-East for a refit. A&P Group Ltd will carry out the work on the HMS Bristol at its yard in Hebburn, South Tyneside. This latest MoD contract for
A LEADING car parts manufacturer, badly hit when the recession struck the automotive industry, created 46 permanent jobs yesterday as conditions in the sector continue to improve. Thyssen Krupp (TK) Tallent, the biggest employer in Newton Aycliffe
COUNCILS have been urged to do more to protect the public purse, despite uncovering millions of pounds worth of fraud last year. Spending watchdog the Audit Commission said good work was being done by many councils, but warned this was “only
A LABOUR MP has seized upon a North-East hospital consultant’s critical comments about the Government’s health reforms to launch his own attack. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop said the views expressed in a national
A VILLAGE nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is to star in a national advertising campaign for a popular chocolate bar. The village of Carperby, near Leyburn, was chosen by confectionery company Mars to front its new campaign in return
A FORMER mining community hopes to be the first in the UK to use the profits from a green electricity scheme to take on and run council services. People living in the County Durham village of Oakenshaw hope the “far-sighted” project would allow
SUNDERLAND footballer Anton Ferdinand was yesterday banned from driving for six months. The 25-year-old brother of England captain Rio was convicted of using a mobile phone while driving his white Range Rover on July 13. Ferdinand was banned because
WHEN Sami-Jo Liddell-Walker was born with brain damage and cerebral palsy, doctors gave her one hour to live. Medics said the tot’s chances of surviving were one in 20 and urged her family to have her christened as soon as possible, in case
THE 30-year dream of a Metro-style light railway scheme across Teesside is in fresh doubt after it missed out in a £1.5bn Government transport package. Now its promoters must try to rescue the project by putting together bids for two separate
POLICE cleared up a string of unsolved crimes when a burglar’s mother called them to shop him for stealing from her, a court heard yesterday. Donna Duff dialled 999 when she saw son Anthony Collins carrying a television out of their home in Redcar
TWO of the region’s councils are to cut their budgets by nearly £200m, as the fallout of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review hits home. Durham County Council is poised to agree £85m of savings, while Newcastle City Council wants to reduce
TWO families have spoken of their horror after their cats were shot with an air rifle and seriously injured. Basil, an 18-month-old cat, was left partially blind but was lucky to survive after being shot in his right eye near his home in Tudhoe
A supermarket battle has erupted in a North-East town after two major stores opened within days of each other. Local traders fear the battle could have unintended consequences. Duncan Leatherdale investigates. SAINSBURY’S shoppers are
POLICE and other agencies have moved to reassure the public after a rise in registered sex offenders being monitored within local communities. Annual Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangement (Mappa) reports for each of the region’s police force
AS he prepares to lock horns with Chris Hughton on Sunday, Steve Bruce has revealed his admiration for the Newcastle United manager and believes speculation surrounding his rival’s future is “ridiculous”. Some reports suggested after the
CHRIS Hughton last night attempted to draw a line under mounting speculation over his future after Newcastle United officials were forced to issue a formal statement dismissing suggestions his job was in peril. While the Magpies crashed out of
MICHAEL Brough’s first Darlington appearance ended in agony last weekend but the midfielder expects to be available for Saturday’s trip to topof- the-table AFC Wimbledon. The 29-year-old hobbled off in the second half of last Saturday’s 6-2
TONY Mowbray will spend the early days of his Middlesbrough reign attempting to recall as many of the club’s loan players as possible. Mowbray completed his first full day as Boro boss yesterday, and with Saturday’s relegation battle against
Newcastle United 0 Arsenal 4 THEIR Carling Cup campaign might be over, but with their biggest game of the season now just three days away, Newcastle will be hoping last night’s defeat to Arsenal accounted for all their bad luck at once. It might
Following last week’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Prime Minister David Cameron tells The Northern Echo how investment in the road and rail network will benefit the North-East. LAST Wednesday, we announced where the cuts in spending will come.
THE Football Association will tonight announce it is donating a five-figure sum to honour a North- East sporting pioneer. The donation, thought to be about £20,000, means work can now begin on a 12ft bronze statue of former Darlington goalkeeper
Roofer Ricky Gelardo was last night beginning a 17-year jail term after he was found guilty of beating 62-year-old Alan Atkin to death in an unproked and sustained assault. Jim Entwistle reflects on the case which shocked the seaside resort of Scarborough
AN anonymous benefactor offered to pay off a £10,000 debt which could force a nonleague football club out of business, it emerged yesterday. But officials from Billingham Town FC were forced to turn down the offer, as the club would be left
A NORTH-EAST man responsible for the “ferocious” murder of a disabled 62-year-old was released from prison two weeks before the attack – despite police protests, The Northern Echo can reveal. Ricky Gelardo was bailed at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates
OH yes... the country’s most famous nodding dog will take a break from his glittering acting career to turn on a town’s Christmas lights. Churchill the dog, made famous by the Churchill Insurance TV adverts, will be the guest of honour at the
