WOMEN often sigh in admiration when they see the white silk wedding dress worn by Nora Gibson for her marriage to Percival Charge at Gainford, in July 1914.

The gown is beautiful, but it is the size which catches the attention. It has a 22-in waist, equal to an eight in today's measurements, which shows that at the age of 24 the bride must have had the super-slim figure of a fashion model.

Many visitors will have a chance to judge for themselves when the dress goes on display at a wedding festival in St Mary's Church, in the village, over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

The couple's daughter, Avis Tucker, who has loaned the dress for the event, said: "My mother was always slim, but a lot of people are amazed when they see how tiny the waist is. I've taken it to WI events a few times, but only very young girls can get into it."

Soon after the wedding, Percival joined the Royal Flying Corps during First World War. After demob, he and his brothers, Christopher and Ferdinand, joined a building firm started by their father, Isaac. It became known as Charge Brothers, a name still in use in Gainford.

Most dale men and women were slimmer more than a century ago. That is clear from old descriptions of churches, which quoted numbers who could be seated. Some, which gave the figure as 300 or 400, could take far fewer in comfort now.

TONY Robson is a welcome sight for many people as he drives across Teesdale five-days-a-week with a Durham County Council mobile library carrying more than 1,400 books.

He keeps to a strict timetable so some of his clients are ready to climb aboard as soon as he pulls up. It has become a valued lifeline for many people.

Catherine Cookson used to be the favourite, but Josephine Cox's family sagas lead the field now, closely followed by Danielle Steele's romances. He has a good choice of novels and non-fiction, and can order any subject from Barnard Castle library.

Mr Robson was delighted when he finished his round on Tuesday because he had signed up a new customer. He happened to meet her in a shop, told her about the service and arranged to call at her home in Lunedale.

He said: "It's always good when someone new makes use of the service because that's what it's all about."

Staindrop and Middleton-in-Teesdale get a visit weekly. But most other places are called on once every three weeks. There are talking books and a stairlift.

Five schools are also included in the round. Anyone who would like the mobile library to visit can contact Barnard Castle library for details.

HOW many Teesdale residents have the same surnames as the places in which they live?

For instance, are there any families called Staindrop in Staindrop, Copley in Copley or Hamsterley in Hamsterley? Not that I can find.

The question comes to mind because of an old account I came across about the Mickletons, a wealthy lot who lived in Mickleton. They owned a lot of land in and around the village as long ago as the reign of Edward I, who was on the throne from 1272-1307.

The family was notable in the parish for several centuries after that.

But in 1657, Christopher Mickleton bought Crook Hall, near Durham, and moved there. Every member of the family presumably followed him, because a report in 1890 stated that the surname Mickleton was "utterly extinct" in the dale.

At that time, the surnames of Dent, Raine and Longstaff were said to be among those who had been prominent landowners in the area for centuries, and of course they are all still in evidence.

* I'll be glad to see anyone who calls with snippets of news at The Northern Echo office at 36 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, on Mondays and Tuesdays, telephone (01833) 638628.