WHY is Sunderland FC called the Black Cats when the players wear red and white? Newcastle United are presumably Magpies because they are in black and white? - A Hagger, Newton Hall, Durham.

BLACK Cats is an official nickname voted for by Sunderland fans last year. Nicknames are generally unofficial, but Sunderland's previous "official" nickname was the Rokerites, although few fans used the term. Rokermen or simply Roker was often used by sports journalists but all these names were redundant after the move from Roker Park. Black Cats was long used as an alternative nickname - it is the emblem of the supporters' club. Its connection with Sunderland dates back to the 18th Century when a battery of guns protecting the mouth of the River Wear was called the Black Cats. The Magpies nickname for Newcastle United is often thought to be simply a description of the team colours. However, the name dates back to the 1890s when a Dominican Roman Catholic priest called Father Dalmatious Houtmann regularly led the team onto the pitch. A flamboyant man of Dutch origin, Houtman's distinctive black and white Dominican habit was seen to resemble a magpie by the Newcastle fans.

I REMEMBER a Burning Question some time ago featuring a song called John Gilpin, however it is a certain Bernard Gilpin that is of interest to me. Do you know anything about his life and connection with Houghton fair? Is it true he was another Saint Bernard? - J Anderson, Houghton-le-Spring.

BERNARD Gilpin (1517-1583), who is buried in Houghton church, was known as "the Apostle of the North", but not Saint Bernard. Gilpin was a great nephew of the Bishop of Durham, Cuthbert Tunstall (1530-1559) who made Gilpin vicar of Norton-on-Tees. By 1557, Gilpin was promoted to Archdeacon of Durham and also became Rector of Houghton-le-Spring, then one of the largest parishes in England. Gilpin was long remembered in Houghton-le-Spring for his practice of giving free dinners to all who visited his rectory on any Sunday between Michaelmass and Easter. Gilpin is also remembered at Houghton Feast Fair, held on the first Friday of October, which he is said to have started. Gilpin's principal interest was education and spreading Christian knowledge. He sent his brightest young parishoners to university at his own expense. With the financial help of John Heath, of Kepier near Durham, Gilpin founded Kepier Grammar School at Houghton in 1557.

Gilpin was a "tall, lean person, with a hawk like nose and charming, tactful manners". He could nevertheless strike fear. In Northumberland, he is remembered for missionary-like visits to lawless valleys frequented by Border Reivers. The Border folk were awestruck by Gilpin and on one occasion a horse stealer who took Gilpin's horses returned them after discovering the owner's identity.

His life came to an end on March 4, 1583, when he was knocked down by an oxen in the market place at Durham. He was 66.

l If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail dsimpson