TEN years ago, this week, the Northern Echo reported on a legacy of hope left by cancer patient, Dave Hill.

The father-of-four fought for a life-extending drug called Tarceva to be funded by the NHS.

A year after his death, it was announced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) that Tarceva would be prescribed on the NHS.

Mr Hill’s widow, Tina, said: "It is brilliant news that others can now get Tarceva because that is what Dave would have wanted."

Close friend Geoff Marsh, the landlord of the Golden Cock pub, in Darlington, said: "I am gutted that it is too late for Dave, but I am really pleased that it is going to help someone else."

Also, that week, plans to rebuild schools hung in the balance due to a spending squeeze triggered by the recession.

The revelation came as part of an emergency budget, with schools in Darlington, North Yorkshire and parts of County Durham in danger of falling victim to the cuts.

The report was set to anger parents and teachers who had long been promised that schools would be either replaced or refurbished. Many of the schools dated back to before the Second World War.

The news prompted David Laws, the Lib Dem schools spokesman, to urge Children's Secretary Ed Balls to "make an urgent statement coming clean on this issue".

At that time, an aid worker from Ovington, near Barnard Castle, became the first foreigner to be awarded a medal by the Mongolian government.

Ruth Richardson, 25, was presented with the goodwill accolade for her work with vulnerable youngsters in Ulaanbaatar city.

The children there are often the victims of sexual or physical abuse who work as labourers in the sprawling markets.

She said: "I am thrilled to get the medal -it is a huge honour and recognition for the beneficial work we are doing."

Her mother, an art teacher at Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough, was so moved by her daughter's work that she encouraged students to raise nearly £200.

She said: "Ruth has been an inspiration to me and my class and I cannot wait to go to the country to continue the fantastic work she is doing there."