Archive
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Meet 'will be the best yet'
RICHMOND is hoping to be the hub of the district's Golden Jubilee weekend, combining its biggest annual event with a programme planned to honour the Queen's 50 years on the throne. The Richmond Meet is usually held over the Whitsun weekend, bringing the
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50 years of marriage
A NEWTON Aycliffe couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a party for friends and family. Barney and Betty Milvain, of Arrowsmith Square, were married on May 24, 1952 in their home town of Gateshead. They moved to Newton Aycliffe
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Proposal to boost care of elderly
AN ambitious range of improvements has been proposed to boost the care of elderly people in east Cleveland. Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust - responsible for healthcare in the community - has joined forces with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to launch
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Boots set to refurbish
Health and beauty chain Boots has pledged to "reinvigorate" its core retail business with the refurbishment of 300 stores this year. Six different store formats will be introduced as part of a continuing four-year improvement programme aimed at reviving
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Sign of the times as village
TWO council signs may have helped sink a bid to win village green status for a piece of recreation land. For years people at High Pittington, near Durham City, have used the Buddle, a reclaimed colliery site owned and maintained by Durham County Council
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MP cleared
A NORTH EAST MP caught up in a late-night row in a curry house about his wife having an affair has been cleared of punching a constituent and using threatening language. Ex-miner Ronnie Campbell faced common assault and harassment charges after diner
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Make the most of magic moments
IT'S not easy having a boy wizard in the house. Max, aged five, has become lethal with his magic wand ever since the name Harry Potter became an essential ingredient in family life the world over. And Dad - as usual - bears the brunt of the responsibility
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Text education for parents
RU ready 4 it? Your child leaving home, that is. If so, it is time to flex your fingers and thumbs and introduce yourself to the joy of text - the ideal way to communicate with absent offspring. In our student days, of course, communication was very tricky
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Last Night's TV: Murder (BBC2), Danger! 50,000 Volts (C5)
ABI Morgan's four-part drama Murder begins with a particularly nasty killing. A young man is attacked and savagely beaten while walking through the park. He is shown crawling, splattered in blood, along the path in search of help. By the time the ambulance
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Church denies sale of castle
CHURCH Commissioners have denied reports that the historic home of the Bishop of Durham could be sold. The reports suggested that the Church of England could be forced to sell some of its historic houses including Hartlebury Castle, home of the Bishop
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Pig farmer found guilty of starting outbreak
The pig farmer accused of starting the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Bobby Waugh, was today found guilty at South East Northumberland Magistrates Court of failing to tell officials that his herd had the virus. More details to follow here and in The Northern
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New hope in battle to save pool
CONSULTANTS have been called in to discuss the possibility of a town's doomed swimming pool being handed over to the public. The closure of Shildon's learner pool, as part of a £3.5m package of savings by Durham County Council, has twice led to outrage
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Smiles all round as Dyer lifts the gloom
Kieron Dyer was on the verge of winning his own Battle of Wounded Knee last night after coming through his first full England training session in the Far East. The Newcastle midfielder took a huge step towards convincing Sven-Goran Eriksson that he should
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Pets are being poisoned to death
THE RSPCA has condemned the callous poisoning of pets after three cats and one dog were left to suffer a long and agonising death. Inspector Gavin Butterfield warned he would press for the maximum penalty of a £5,000 fine or six months in prison should
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Mum at Large: Text education for parents
RU ready 4 it? Your child leaving home, that is. If so, it is time to flex your fingers and thumbs and introduce yourself to the joy of text - the ideal way to communicate with absent offspring. In our student days, of course, communication was very tricky
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New road plan for stadium
A major roads scheme that will pave the way for Darlington's new £15m football stadium is set to be unveiled. Multi-millionaire chairman George Reynolds said cash had already been set aside for improvements to the Neasham Road roundabout on the outskirts
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Football boss lends helping hand to Picnic in the Park
ORGANISERS of an outdoor musical event have been given a helping hand in promoting the event by Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds. Picnic in the Park, at Hurworth Grange, in Hurworth, will take place on Saturday, July 6, with tenor Ian
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Why all bridges must be fixed
NEW Transport Secretary Alistair Darling faced fresh calls to sort out the scandal of Britain's crumbling railway barriers last night after a near-miss at yet another road bridge. A lorry was left teetering over the Harrogate to Leeds line yesterday,
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Exchange visit offers insight into working life
GERMAN youngsters are visiting Darlington this week as part of an unusual exchange. It is thought the job shadowing visit involving seven 15 and 16-year-old pupils could be the first of its kind involving students younger than sixth form age. The seven
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Pets target of poison attacks
THE RSPCA has condemned the callous poisoning of pets after three cats and one dog were left to suffer a long and agonising death. Inspector Gavin Butterfield warned he would press for the maximum penalty of a £5,000 fine or six months in prison should
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Community carnival wins £1,442 boost
PREPARATIONS for Darlington's 20th community carnival have been given a boost by a £1,442 donation from Abbey National. Yvonne Griffiths, secretary of the Teesside Community Partnership, which is part of the Abbey National Charitable Trust, handed over
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Parking fees rejected
A MOVE to introduce a £25 annual fee for residents to use national park authority car parks has been defeated. Yorkshire Dales authority officers recommended the charge for about 4,000 residents who have free permits. A report to the authority, which
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Magpies lead Brett chase
NEWCASTLE United believe they are firm favourites to land Australia midfielder Brett Emerton. Liverpool's £5m move for Senegal World Cup schemer Salif Diao suggests the Anfield club have cooled their interest in Emerton, who Feyenoord value at £12m. Leeds
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Charity warns of bogus cash callers
BOGUS callers are posing as charity workers, a charity has warned. The confidence tricksters have been knocking on doors in the Chester-le-Street area of County Durham, asking for money for the charity Scope, which represents people with cerebral palsy
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Respected Quaker Tom Eden dies at 89
ONE of Darlington's oldest and most respected Quakers has died at the age of 89. Tom Eden had a heart attack having just completed a recording of some of his memories of his childhood. He was also highly respected in Darlington for his knowledge and love
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Parking plan agreed
TWO disabled parking spaces are to be introduced for an experimental six months in Newsteads, Aiskew. However, an 11-name petition by local people had called for a residents' parking scheme because a local garage used part of the road as an overflow car
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MP in court over curry house brawl allegation
LABOUR MP Ronnie Campbell went on trial yesterday accused of hitting a diner during a curry house brawl. The 58-year-old MP "lost it" after suffering constant abuse from drunken diner Denise Longman, the court heard. He jumped up from his table "purple
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News in brief: Country fair tenders sought
Tenders are being sought for a chip van, ice cream van, burger van, hot-dog van and tea and sandwich van for a Help the Aged country fair at Whitworth Hall Country Park Estate, Spennymoor, on July 13 and 14. The successful business must have a Sedgefield
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Festival charity prizes
A FERRY operator will use a festival to give away prizes and promote its adopted charity. DFDS Seaways, the North Sea's leading cruise ferry operator, will encourage visitors to North Tyneside's Window on the World (Wow) festival to make donations to
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Village chosen as new base for national park
NATIONAL park chiefs have confirmed that Bainbridge has beaten Hawes to be home to a new northern base in the Yorkshire Dales. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has outgrown the old headmaster's house in the village, and was looking for room
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Wind farm hitch over radar fear
PLANS to build the North-East's biggest wind farm have been delayed over fears about its possible impact on Teesside Airport. The airport's management is not happy about possible effects of wind turbines on its radar equipment and wants more time to consult
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Attack on deaf youngster, 14
A DEAF teenager was left shaken after being punched in the face in an unprovoked attack. Richard Drysdale, 14, from Billingham, who can only communicate through sign language, was making his way home on his bike when he was stopped by a youth, who stepped
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Man admits assault
A MAN has admitted robbing and assaulting an old soldier at his rural home. Robert Peter Emery, 41, is alleged to have taken £300 and a poker in the incident at the 82-year-old widower's house, in the Cornsay Colliery area of north-west Durham. Emery
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Cities hit heights with three-star rating for social services
TWO North-East authorities have been ranked among the country's top five per cent for social services. But others have been judged as serving only some people well and having uncertain prospects. In the first Government report based on new assessments
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Officer moves
AIR cadets have said goodbye to an officer who has left their training corps after 16 years. Flight Lieutenant Lyn White, who has led 2505 Bishop Auckland Squadron for 11 years, will be in charge of training and development in the wing of the Air Training
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50 years of marriage
A NEWTON Aycliffe couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a party for friends and family. Barney and Betty Milvain, of Arrowsmith Square, were married on May 24, 1952 in their home town of Gateshead. They moved to Newton Aycliffe
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Region's shame of teenage pregnancies
The North-East has some of the highest levels of teenage pregnancies in the UK, according to a report by the international children's charity, Unicef. And the UK has the second highest teenage birth rate in the developed world, it said. There were 31
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Auction to benefit hospital
A TEESDALE woman who spent 11 years teaching in Tanzania is hoping a charity auction will help raise funds to provide regular fresh water to a hospital in the country. Joyce Jackson moved to the African country with her former husband in 1959, and taught
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Mobile group hit by losses in first results
MOBILE phone group mmO2 reported losses of £873m, in its first set of results since demerger from BT last autumn. The group, which is expected to break into profit in five to six years, said the market remained challenging, with subscriber growth slowing
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Awards event will honour volunteers
A PRESENTATION of certificates to dedicated local people will launch Volunteers' week in Richmond. Councillor Jane Metcalfe will present the National Centre for Volunteering certificates to 15 members of Richmondshire Volunteer Bureau, which recruits
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Church to screen big World Cup showdown
WORLD Cup fever will reach the masses on Sunday morning when a North-East church screens England's opening football match. As chaplain to Newcastle United Football Club, it is hardly surprising that the Reverend David Tully, vicar of St John's Church
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Buy-back scheme by De La Rue
BANKNOTE printer De La Rue has announced plans to buy back up to ten per cent of its shares - worth about £95m, but said it still had a war chest of £200m for acquisitions. Ian Much, chief executive of the Basingstoke group, which employs 150 staff at
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Inquest told of high speed riders
TWO motorcyclists were spotted repeatedly passing each other at high speed seconds before one of them hit a tree, an inquest was told yesterday. As 36-year-old Neil Eyles lay on the road, the other rider, Peter Wood, rode off with a third motorcyclist
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Relief after ten weeks of red tape
A WOMAN'S traumatic ten-week battle to get her brother cremated has finally come to an end. Robert Banks died from a suspected heart attack in South Africa on March 10, but international red tape and a row over money prevented his funeral taking place
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Charity honour for well-known businessman
A PROMINENT businessman has been installed as president of the County Durham branch of one of Britain's oldest military charities. Oxford-born Peter Catesby, 61, has accepted an invitation to take a key role in the work of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen
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Boost to improve sports opportunities
PLANS to improve sporting opportunities in Redcar have been approved. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's executive approved the plans to use the West Redcar Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) area as the focus for its part of a Tees Valley Sport Action
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Eclectic mix at Swaledale Festival today
Legend, beer, poetry and classical music may seem an eclectic mix but they are all on the Swaledale Festival programme today. A guided walk around Semer Water in neighbouring Wensleydale sets off from St Matthew's Church in Stalling Busk, near Bainbridge
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Three are locked up for credit card scam
Three men have been jailed for a credit card scam traced to a Barclaycard call centre. Two men who worked at the Stockton call centre sold confidential information to a third man, which cost Barclaycard £26,500. The two were caught because their personal
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News in brief: Chalets alert follows arsons
Chalets alert follows arsons PARENTS have been urged to keep their children away from derelict chalets on Scarborough's South Bay after a fifth arson attack in six months. The complex of 18 chalets, which have been unused by holidaymakers for some years
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Five candidates to weigh in for contest
FIVE candidates will be contesting the fight for a vacant seat on a Teesside council. The by-election for the St Germain's ward in Marske, for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, could be one of the most interesting contests in years because of the
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Mobile surgery fills a gap in dales dental care
THE country's first mobile dental surgery, which provides dental care for people living in remote parts of the Durham Dales, is proving a success. The £135,000 surgery, which is part of a three-year pilot project funded by the Department of Health, has
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Officer moves
AIR cadets have said goodbye to an officer who has left their training corps after 16 years. Flight Lieutenant Lyn White, who has led 2505 Bishop Auckland Squadron for 11 years, will be in charge of training and development in the wing of the Air Training
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Family delight as victim's forgotten grave is found
THE forgotten grave of a miner who was finally given a burial 24 years after dying in the North-East's worst pit disaster has been found by The Northern Echo. Sue Coults had searched for years for the final resting place of her great grandfather William
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Jubilee flags waving
A SOCIAL services centre began celebrating the royal jubilee yesterday with the official opening of its new garden and courtyard. The Washington Multi-purpose Centre, part of Sunderland social services, timed the opening to coincide with a jubilee street
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News in brief: College sets up new magazine
A COLLEGE has launched Britain's newest academic magazine. Durham University's St John's College launched the Borderlands magazine as part of a wider project to bring Christian theology into engagement with other academic disciplines through lectures,
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Stark choice for these jubilee party-goers
IT will be just like scores of other street parties held across the region this weekend for the Queen's Jubilee - except for one thing. All the guests will be stark naked. Hundreds of nudists from across Britain will descend on a naturism site near Newcastle
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Man in court on killing charge
A 34-YEAR-OLD man appeared in court in Jersey yesterday charged with the manslaughter of North-East scaffolder Stuart Readman. The father-of-four, from Middlesbrough, died on Sunday from head injuries following an attack in St Helier in the early hours
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Jubilee celebrations off to an early start
THE Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations began early for a group of residents in Shildon, yesterday. Eat, drink and be merry was the theme of the day at the town's Jubilee Fields Community Centre in Shildon, County Durham, where the people over 55 met
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On your marks, get set, go very slowly
IT was not exactly a photo finish. But the participants in the Snail Derby Trials, at Thirsk Racecourse, North Yorkshire, still gave punters a run for their money. The trials were part of the launch of the Herriot Happenings, a series of events at several
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Sex attack on woman
A 27-year-old South Shields woman was indecently assaulted by a youth on Tuesday at about 3pm. She was in the Dene area, near Brockley Whins Metro station, when the youth ran up to her and indecently assaulted her.
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Flotation may value bookmaker at £1bn
BOOKMAKER William Hill will be valued at between £814m and £1bn when it floats on the London Stock Exchange next month. William Hill, which has more than 1,500 betting shops in the UK, will see its shares priced at between 190p and 240p on flotation,
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Slowly does it for Jeffrey Anotherred
PROVIDED the going remains on the slow side at Ayr this afternoon Jeffrey Anotherred (3.55) is an absolute must to have on your side in the seven-furlong Macdonalds Handicap. The Michael Dods-trained eight-year-old has failed to win over the past couple
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Kelly heads off for the high seas
A LIFE on the ocean waves is calling for a teenage Consett dancer. Before Kelly Malone, 19, became the youngest professional dancer for Celebrity Cruises she called in to see old friends at the dance school where she started dancing aged two. Pauline
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AWG hit by losses but orders look good
WATER group AWG has plunged into the red, but said it had clinched a record level of orders in its support services division. The group, which owns Hartlepool Water, was hit by a £99.3m charge covering write-downs and revaluations of the Morrison construction
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Mayor takes over the chain of office
SPENNYMOOR Town Council has appointed Ross Hawkes as its new mayor. Councillor Hawkes took over the chains of office from retiring Mayor Russell Ferguson, at the council's annual meeting. The new deputy mayor is Councillor Elsie Summerson. Coun Hawkes
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Folk singer to serenade grand old lady of the high seas
A CONCERT of maritime songs and shanties will be performed by a North-East folk singer as part of celebrations for a special lifeboat anniversary. Redcar Lifeboat Station and the Zetland Lifeboat, the oldest lifeboat in the world, are both celebrating
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Choir tunes up to help baby hospice
A CONCERT takes place next week to help raise funds for the North-East's first baby hospice. As previously reported in The Northern Echo, the country's second baby hospice is to be set up in a former convent in Normanby, near Redcar. The hospice, called
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Supermarket chain has a taste of recovery
SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury said its recovery programme was paying off as it posted a 14 per cent jump in annual profits after two years of decline. Chief executive Sir Peter Davis, who took charge of the business two years ago, said the group was making
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Care ruling overturned on tragic baby's sister
A MOTHER whose baby son died from a horrific series of 94 injuries yesterday lost her fight to retain custody of her daughter. And the High Court judge who originally ruled the mother had no involvement in the death was found to be "plainly wrong." North
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News in brief: Cadets bid Lyn farewell
AIR cadets have said goodbye to a popular officer who has left their training corps after 16 years. Flt Lt Lyn White has led the 2505 Bishop Auckland Squadron for 11 years but has been given a new role in charge of training and development in the Wing
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Durham police hail anti-speeding tactics
Police in County Durham claim their "softly, softly" anti-speeding tactics have been vindicated after a dramatic fall in traffic accidents. The scheme has been so successful that Government ministers are examining ways of adopting a similar approach nationwide
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Teenage girl killed in head-on crash
TEENAGE motorist Kate Sheppard died when her car struck a drainage gully installed to keep standing water off a road, an inquest was told yesterday. Miss Sheppard, 19, a marketing assistant, had been on her way home to Skelton-on-Ure, near Ripon, travelling
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Jubilee fever takes hold
JUBILEE fever is gripping Wear Valley communities with schools, pubs, clubs and businesses going all out to mark the Queen's 50th anniversary. With the prospect of an extra-long bank holiday weekend ahead, plans are well under way for street parties,
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The good and the bad of the old days
GOSH, is it really 50 years since I won the toddlers' race at the Sunday School sports to celebrate the Coronation and then gave every child in the road chickenpox? No, of course, it's 49, the Accession and the Coronation coming in different years - years
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Burning Questions - Getting on the wrong bike
Q WHO was it who said: "Get on your bike and go and look for work". My son says it was Margaret Thatcher, I say it was Norman Tebbit. - Mrs A Shields, Darlington. A AS far as I know, neither Margaret Thatcher nor Norman Tebbit ever said this. However,
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Telling tales from the owl country
FLY by night as usual, recent columns have been discussing owls and hooting and other matters of a wise and ponderous nature. With an invitation to "top that", therefore, Harry Watson in Darlington wonders: why did the owl howl? Because she hadn't the
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Paired off for a victory
NORTHERN ECHO the racing pigeon has been paired up with a cock bird in a bid to ensure it is keener to reach home a little quicker. The blue hen faces its best chance of a victory under its new name when it takes part in a national 270-mile race from
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Jobs initiative a success
An initiative launched in the wake of job losses at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has shown instant results. The Teesdale Enterprise Fund, set up in March with the target of creating 150 new sustainable jobs, has already helped to create
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Training firm a centre of excellence
Engineering training company SW Durham Training is breaking new ground as one of five new centres for vocational excellence. The organisation is one of the first non-college based training providers in the country to be chosen as a career "pathfinder"
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Mother's anguish at family's drugs hell
A MOTHER whose family has been torn apart by drugs is calling for tougher prison sentences for dealers. Brenda Dalziell's heroin addict son Christopher, 25, was jailed for nine years last week at Teesside Crown Court after carrying out a series of armed
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Residents urged to report troublemakers
VILLAGERS who claim that teenage troublemakers are blighting their lives have been urged to report the culprits. Residents of Frosterley claim that the same small group of youths are responsible for a string of incidents that disturb the peace of a tranquil
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Courts' warning for fines dodgers
Strict new measures are being imposed by courts to cut down on North-East fines defaulters. County Durham Magistrates Courts Committee has contracted an enforcement company to keep on top of people who owe money. Working with the police and Government
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Night of disaster at the 'furney'
FOR 130 years it was there on its corner site, providing employment for hundreds of men and spreading the name of Darlington around the world. But last week, when Echo Memories turned up to have a look at it, it had gone. A new steel fence barricaded
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Firefighting pals provide the lowdown on joker Jonny
THE Big Brother contestants had better watch out. Firefighter Jonny "Joker" Regan is certain to have a few tricks up his sleeves to keep eagle-eyed viewers amused. Firefighters on blue watch at Peterlee fire station, County Durham, have revealed that
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New range for Ringtons
Tea specialist Ringtons has launched a new range of fruit and herbal teas to broaden the selection on offer via its door-to-door delivery service, and to its business customers. The Newcastle-based family business, with an annual turnover of £30m, has
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Council boss: I'll clear my name
COUNCIL boss Rod Hills yesterday vowed to clear his name of the "scurrilous" allegations that led to his arrest earlier this week. The leader of Labour-controlled City of York Council said his conscience was clear and that he was cooperating with the
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Wippet racing's Grand National this weekend
WHIPPET racing fever is about to hit the region when the biggest event in the sport's calendar is held over the next three days. The Chudleys Classic English Whippet Derby, equivalent to horse racing's Grand National, will be held in Newton Aycliffe,
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Dog days in the England camp
ONE of the joys of the international festival of football that is the World Cup, is that it brings with it tantalising glimpses into other lives on the other side of the planet. And so this week, we've learned that 15 per cent of South Koreans are called
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Town's chances wilt
NORTHALLERTON was beaten by a single point in the town category of the Yorkshire in Bloom spring judging - and a poor show at council buildings is being blamed. It was a blow for the town, which is anxious to regain a place in the all-Britain finals.
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Samson is top cat in their book
A CAT'S tale kept schoolchildren spellbound, when Sunderland FC mascot Samson the Cat made a special appearance for book week. People from all walks of life have been visiting St Joseph's RC Primary School Gilesgate, on Mill Lane, Durham, to read stories
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Manufacturing central to N-E future, says Sainsbury
THE region received a double boost yesterday as troubleshooter Sir John Harvey-Jones and science and innovation Minister Lord Sainbury launched a new initiative for manufacturers. The Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (RCME) will be located
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John North: It's full steam ahead for retired gents
THE guys with whom we had a beer on Tuesday lunchtime would unanimously define an orgasm as riding immediately behind a steam engine with only a large whisky for company. Mostly they have never been professional railwaymen, nor even train spotters with
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Jubilee flags waving
A SOCIAL services centre began celebrating the royal jubilee yesterday with the official opening of its new garden and courtyard. The Washington Multi-purpose Centre, part of Sunderland social services, timed the opening to coincide with a jubilee street
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Mystery club add to Mustoe options
ROBBIE MUSTOE'S future was still uncertain last night as a mystery club registered their interest in the Middlesbrough midfielder. Mustoe, Boro's longest-serving player after nearly 12 years on Teesside, has baulked at the offer of a new one-year deal
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Pupils ready for extra time
RARELY can there be too many occasions when pupils are desperate to get into school two hours early. But the relaxation of uniform rules and the prospect of bacon butties galore will have the population of St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, in their
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News in brief: Landlords have advice to hand
DARLINGTON Landlords Association is promoting a new code following an explosion in the buy-to-let sector, which is bringing a number of inexperienced landlords into the market place. The 19-point code provides guidance on quality service and the terms
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Town's charities to benefit from mayor's fundraising
THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised for good causes in the town by the former mayor of Darlington. Councillor Isobel Hart- ley has helped to raise nearly £25,000 for community groups throughout the borough during her year as mayor. The money has allowed
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Participants sought to help Race for Life
A NATIONAL fundraising event in aid of cancer research is coming to Darlington for the first time. Cancer Research's Race for Life event will be held in the town on Sunday, July 14. Organisers are looking for women of all ages and fitness levels to take
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Dolphins are ready
Teams from Darlington Dolphins Water Polo Club will take to the pool for a match this Saturday. They will be competing at Darlington's Dolphin Centre from 5.45pm on Saturday. Spectators are welcome and children must be accompanied by an adult. The club
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Workers 'pay the price for bank holiday'
THOUSANDS of North-East workers will be hit in the pocket because of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, trade unions claim. The TUC estimates that 132,000 people, about 15 per cent of the regional workforce, do not get paid for bank holidays, and about
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Advice over pitfalls of gym membership
PEOPLE planning to join a gym are being urged to be careful before signing a contract or parting with cash. Middlesbrough Council's trading standards department says it is dealing with at least one new claim a month from people dissatisfied with their
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Visitor took drugs into jail
A WOMAN admitted trying to pass a number of drugs to an inmate during a visit to a top security prison. Gemma Rose Pugh was caught trying to smuggle heroin, cannabis resin and herbal cannabis to a prisoner at Frankland Jail, on the outskirts of Durham
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Misprint blunder for exam board
BELEAGUERED exam board Edexcel was under fire again yesterday as details emerged of another test blunder. Hundreds of students were thrown by a misprint in their AS-level paper on government and politics. The exam board said the error was initially spotted
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Trees to be replaced
REPLACEMENTS for up to 90 trees that are being removed in various areas of Darlington will be a priority, Darlington Borough Council has said. A scheme to remove and replace diseased and dying trees from the town's streets is in its final stages. A consultant's
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Women protest over wages gap
FEMALE workers in the North-East will dress as men and present a mock bill to local authorities today to highlight the pay packet gender gap. As council workers prepare to ballot for strike action over low pay, female workers will stage a series of protests
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Grand entrance for a TV star
TV stars come in all shapes and sizes - but few can be quite as magnificent as the eyecatcher that sailed into Whitby last night for a two-week visit. The Grand Turk shot to fame when she was transformed into HMS Indefatigable for the hit television series
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Liam has early taste of life in the fast lane
TWO-YEAR-OLD LIam O'Hara, above, tried out a Formula One car for size when it made a pit stop in Darlington as part of a national tour. Fuel firm Shell has been staging special events featuring a Ferrari show car of the vehicle that propelled Michael
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Who has the right to protection?
In a ruling which has outraged parents, a paedophile has been given the right to protect his privacy. Lindsay Jennings asks whose right should come first? MR Justice Bodey, sitting at London's High Court Family Division, was in an unenviable position.
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Crackdown on graffiti artists
POLICE investigating a spate of graffiti in a coastal resort are hoping to track down the perpetrators through their exercise books. Graffiti artists often leave behind signatures called tags in examples of their work, and it is possible they would make
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Police powerless to warn of evil pervert
POLICE and social workers are powerless to warn parents of a "ruthless" paedophile living in their midst after a High Court ruling reignited the debate over identifying potentially dangerous child abusers. Despite being branded "cold, chilling, ruthless
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John takes a shine to his job
SOLDIER John Loudon will be ensuring that the ceremonial field guns in his care are in tip-top order for next month's Royal Salute. The gunner from the 38 Seringapatam Battery, 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Alanbrooke Barracks, in Topcliffe, North
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Comment: Children must come first
THE handling of paedophiles is the most vexed area of British law. On the one hand, there are understandable reasons why their names should not be widely circulated. Circulation would promote vigilante action. This will drive the paedophile out of the
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Child safety seats warning
BUYING a child seat for your car can be a safety lottery, a survey out today claims. According to tests by What Car? magazine, the levels of protection on offer vary dramatically. Tests were carried out on 20 of the UK's top-selling child seats. Each
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Fans left reeling by boy band
Reel, the new Irish boy band that plays a mixture of pop and celtic music, yesterday made an appearance in Newcastle. The five singer-songwriters were signing copies of their new single You Take Me Away at HMV in Northumberland Street.
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Ceremonial guns prepared for royal salute
SOLDIER John Loudon will be ensuring that the ceremonial field guns in his care are in top order for next month's Royal Salute. The Darlington gunner from the 38 Seringapatam Battery, 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Alanbrooke Barracks, in Topcliffe
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Hear all sides: COMPUTER PROVISION
THE opening of the Internet caf at Darlington Memorial Hospital is good news but it is time for a co-ordinated approach to the provision of computer facilities for public use throughout the borough. Local initiatives have seen such provision at a number
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Safety concerns raised after lightning strike
UNION officials have called for an emergency meeting with senior managers to address concerns over a flagship housing development for elderly people. Public services union Unison called for the meeting, expected in the next few days, after staff raised
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Bride's finishing touches to her second big day
WHILE wellies and hard hats are standard gear for building sites, the sight of a bricklayer in a wedding dress must have turned a few heads yesterday. Michelle Sullivan, front-of-house manager at the Hall Garth Golf and Country Club Hotel, at Coatham
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Mobile youth shelter offers alternative meeting place for youngsters
A NEW initiative which aims to offer disillusioned teenagers an alternative to crime was launched in North Yorkshire yesterday. Colburn, Catterick and Scotton are all communities which have suffered at the hands of gangs of youths, some of whom are responsible
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John takes a shine to his job
SOLDIER John Loudon will be ensuring that the ceremonial field guns in his care are in tip-top order for next month's Royal Salute. The gunner from the 38 Seringapatam Battery, 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Alanbrooke Barracks, in Topcliffe, North
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Reshuffle boost for regional campaign
NORTH-EAST campaigners for elected regional government have welcomed the news that John Prescott will take back the brief for the regions following the resignation of Stephen Byers. The Cabinet reshuffle will see the Deputy Prime Minister regaining full
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Samson is top cat in their book
A CAT'S tale kept schoolchildren spellbound, when Sunderland FC mascot Samson the Cat made a special appearance for book week. People from all walks of life have been visiting St Joseph's RC Primary School Gilesgate, on Mill Lane, Durham, to read stories
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Advisor on fraud charges
A financial advisor has appeared in court charged with conning an 80-year-old client out of more than £123,000 of her life savings. Stephen Martyn Butterworth, 54, of Whitebridge, Parkway, Gosforth, Tyneside, is charged with five counts of deception and
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Service for murdered police officer
A MEMORIAL service in honour of a Special Constable who was murdered by an IRA gunman will be held on the tenth anniversary of his death. Glenn Goodman was mown down while out on a routine patrol in North Yorkshire on June 7, 1992. On that date this year
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Trainee firefighter earns Silver Axe award
A firefighter has been named top student on a 14-week training course for new recruits. Jason Walker, a new recruit at Cleveland Fire Brigade, was presented with the Silver Axe award for best trainee at a passing out day for 20 firefighters, aged between
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Lotto party
GOLDEN Jubilee celebrations came early for staff at Teesside Airport yesterday. Lotto, formerly the National Lottery, laid on the celebration for staff members who are working this weekend. As well as providing food, Lotto bosses dished out free tickets
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An ice treat for World Cup watchers
A NORTH Yorkshire firm has come up with the ideal thing for the dedicated football fan with a sweet tooth. In anticipation of World Cup mania Richmond Frozen Confectionery has launched a new ice lolly under its Treats brand. The football-shaped lolly
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Less hours announced for station
TYNE Tees programmes will get less airtime under a new charter for commercial television. Regional output will be reduced from nine-and-three-quarters hours a week to eight-and-a-half hours. But the station has been promised better slots for its shows
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Focus on young people as parnership tackles crime
A MAJOR new effort is being made to tackle the problem of youth crime in the Hambleton area. The district is being used as a pilot project for a new "community problem solving" initiative directed at youngsters up to the age of 17. Known as Yacab - Youth
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Fans left reeling by boy band
Reel, the new Irish boy band that plays a mixture of pop and celtic music, yesterday made an appearance in Newcastle. The five singer-songwriters were signing copies of their new single You Take Me Away at HMV in Northumberland Street.
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New life for puppies left near road
A MAN walking his dog saved five abandoned puppies when he spotted them escaping from a cramped cardboard box. The six-week-old cross-breed puppies were found next to a busy road in Tynevale Terrace, Lemington, Newcastle, last Wednesday. They had been
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Arts hit gold standard
THE Arts Council of England has recognised the standards of arts education at Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School. It was one of 240 schools to achieve a gold award in the second round of the council's Artsmark scheme. The award recognises schools'commitment
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News in brief: Missing woman safe and well
A 30-year-old woman who went missing from her home in Middlesbrough has turned up safe and well. Alison Jane Buckley, of Portman Street, who was reported missing last week, visited a police station on Tuesday, following media appeals. PAINTING EXHIBITION
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Dolphins take to the water
Teams from Darlington Dolphins Water Polo Club will take to the pool for a match this Saturday. They will be competing at Darlington's Dolphin Centre from 5.45pm on Saturday. Spectators are welcome and children must be accompanied by an adult. The recently-formed
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Man in court over pub assault allegation
A 23-YEAR-OLD man accused of taking part in an assault outside a pub appeared in court yesterday. Edward Gill, of Brough Court, Hartlepool, is charged with grievous bodily harm and affray following the incident in the town on Sunday afternoon. Mr Gill
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Sentence cuts anger victims
A tagging scheme which will release hundreds of young criminals from detention centres has been criticised by North-East victims. The Government move, launched yesterday, aims to ease the overcrowding crisis in child units. It will mean young offenders
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Car driver killed in crash was over limit, inquest told
A MOTORIST who died after his vehicle struck two parked cars and the wall of a takeaway shop, was driving an unroadworthy car while almost twice over the drinking and driving limit, an inquest heard. The inquest at County Hall, Durham, yesterday, heard
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Woman dies after 12 years in coma
A MOTHER involved in a car accident has died after being in a coma for 12 years, it was revealed yesterday. Patricia Whale, 54, from High Spen, north of Consett, County Durham, had received treatment at Shotley Bridge Hospital since the accident on the
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Delight as eleventh school is honoured
A SCHOOL has been held up as a shining example after being awarded Beacon status by the Government. Park View Community School, in Chester-le-Street, is the first secondary school in County Durham to be officially recognised among the best performing
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Young artists put their work on show
YOUNG artists who took part in workshops with textile artist and papermaker Anne Johnson are showing their work to the public. An exhibition called Out of Touch runs at the Bishop Auckland Discovery Centre, in the market place, until Saturday, June 8,
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A healthy profit on offer
A COLLEGE is urging people to get healthy and have a chance to win thousands of pounds in a team challenge. East Durham and Houghall Community College, in Peterlee and Durham City, is taking part in the Health for Life National Challenge, which involves
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Grassroots - Yarm and Eaglescliffe
Fun of the fair on the way Organised once again by Yarm District Lions Club, on behalf of Yarm Town Council, the annual Yarm Charity Fair will take place on Sunday, June 9, in Yarm High Street, from 1pm to 4pm. As well as approximately 30 charity stalls
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Soccer club hero honoured
DEDICATION to his home town's amateur football club has earned Bill Aisbitt one of the league's top off-field accolades. The 71 year-old was awarded the Albany Northern League's Unsung Hero award after almost 50 years service to Shildon Football Club,
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Blatter landslide a very flattering outcome
AT an age when most people are looking forward to a future that contains nothing more strenuous than a spot of gardening, Sepp Blatter is relishing another four stressful years as the most powerful man in world football. The 66-year-old has the future
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Shake-up leads to new look
A COUNTY-wide shake-up of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen the brigade restructured along local authority lines. The intention has been to give the service a new streamlined look and help it to respond to calls more effectively. The
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Shelter aims to cut crime
A NEW scheme aiming to cut the amount of crime committed by bored youngsters is to go on trial in Catterick Village. Teenagers left to amuse themselves have been blamed for a growing number of incidents of vandalism and criminal damage in the area. But
