TEESSIDE Airport was originally a former RAF base known as Middleton St George. It was renamed Teesside Airport in 1964 then, in 1987, it was renamed Teesside International Airport.

In 2004, it was re-renamed Durham Tees Valley Airport before reverting back to being Teesside International Airport in 2019.

It would be interesting to know at what cost all these changes have taken place – not that we would ever be told the truth.

And now we have some nutters wanting to change Newcastle Airport to Newcastle and Sunderland. This costs millions – it’s not just a case of getting a sign-writer to paint over the old sign.

This is exactly the sort of thing I meant when I wrote about my concerns of what will happen with the millions that are being promised to help the regeneration of places like Bishop Auckland.

Renaming Speke Airport as the John Lennon Airport in 2001 made complete sense to honour one of Liverpool’s most famous sons as many outside of Liverpool would never have even heard of Speke and a few of us have heard of the famous, if tragic, member of the world famous Beatles.

These airports were named because of where they are situated. Newcastle is, believe it or not, in Newcastle – albeit the outskirts, and not Sunderland. Also London Gatwick and London Heathrow are situated exactly where it says on the wrapper.

What next the “Middlesbrough Hartlepool Darlington Northallerton Durham Bishop Shildon” International Airport?

I may have upset a few by missing their town out, sorry.

I wonder if LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLL has an airport.

John Cumberland, Rushyford.