IT emerged this week that Lance Corporal Thomas "Topper" Brown, one of 136 heroes from Teesdale who received bravery awards during World War I, was involved in more gallantry than he was credited with in the recent past.

He was listed as gaining a Mention in Despatches in a survey drawn up by historian Frank Smith and printed in The Northern Echo, but he was also awarded the Military Medal for a separate display of heroism.

Topper, who came from Winston, was killed in action in France, in September, 1916. But his brother Herbert, who had been at his side in a trench a few moments earlier, survived the war and lived for years afterwards.

Eileen Brown, one of their relatives, now has the Military Medal, which she showed me at her home in Stainton Grove.

She felt it only right that Topper should be given recognition for it. In fact the family feels he also received a third bravery award, though nobody is sure about the details. Frank Smith had also heard about other awards for Topper, but had no hard evidence.

He and I will be pleased to hear of any other First World War heroes so they can be added to the roll of honour.

Following pieces here about the witch-like woman whose tales scared many young men, I've come across references to another upper dale story teller, Jane Redford of Seivey Hill, who was equally famous in her day.

She was an Allison before her marriage, but all her life her surnames were hardly used. She was known to everyone as Jane o' Seivey.

She had a vast fund of anecdotes and a gift of relating them in an amusing manner which could keep listeners helpless with laughter.

It was claimed that anyone feeling depressed could call on her in the certainty of being cheered up. She also generously insisted on feeding all visitors. If anyone declined her repast she would declare: "There was nivver yan that could eat went frae Seivey Hill wi' a hungry belly."

Telling of a mass baptism she witnessed in the River Tees she reported, "Yan chap they put in tot watter, he went in gaspin and cum oot gaepin, an' watter cum oot o' his mooth like a pump."

Car enthusiasts are liable to drool when they call at a workshop in Barnard Castle at the moment, for renovation jobs are being done on four Rolls Royces as well as other vintage models.

A long and costly project is nearing completion at the Carrossarie premises on a 1932 Phantom 1, the only survivor of its kind in the world, which will be heading soon to its owner in Germany. Also to depart shortly is a 1935 20/25, which is returning to its owner in York.

But it will come back later for further treatment by Dick Francis and his partners, Steve Layton and Steve Smith. Another of the foursome is a 1935 20/25 shooting brake with a colourful history.

It was used for big game hunting in Africa before being commandeered by German army officers in Second World War. It was later owned by the Wrigley chewing gum family in the US before being bought and shipped to the UK by John Mayhew.

Once it is done up he will use it to transport sporting types to his estate in Lartington. The fourth Rolls is a mere youngster - a 1949 Silver Wraith from Cumbria, which is standing near a 1962 Laganda Rapide. "We have a queue of other clients but are short of space," said Mr Francis. "We'll have to move cars out before we take any others in."

Nothing spoils a town centre more than a shop standing empty for ages with nothing in the window. But a large intriguing painting on cloth is causing attention in a Barnard Castle tailor's shop which has been unused since Ken and Margaret Brown retired.

It shows a fine Market Cross scene from olden days, and a lot of people stop to study it. By chance, Fiona Brookes, who worked for the couple, is now running her own tailoring shop along the road, close to the Market Cross.

* 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.