Archive
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Who swapped my baby for this hulk?
YOU know you're getting old when your wife comes home from the shops, hands you a bottle of special "hair thickening" shampoo and says: "Thought you might like to try this." But something else happened last week which made me realise just how quickly
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Builders of the future start construction
PRIMARY school children tried their hand at building last week. The Branksome Builders day, held at Branksome School, Darlington, allowed Year 6 pupils from feeder schools to work as architects, bricklayers, joiners, electricians and plumbers. They also
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Maths adventure, with pirates
YOUNG adventure-seekers were sent on a treasure quest to make maths more appealing this week. Treasure Islands is a pirate-themed series of maths sessions designed to capture the imagination of primary school children from 50 schools across County Durham
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Trustees face sack
The Charity Commission is seeking to remove all ten trustees of the Durham Mining Convalescent Homes Fund after an inquiry into alleged misuse of funds. The commission, which regulates the running of charities, has been investigating the fund - set up
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Young envoys visit Holland
YOUNG people helped to draw up a blueprint for the regeneration of County Durham's town and village centres. A party of seven youngsters went on a fact-finding mission to Holland to identify ways to improve urban and rural centres. Durham County Council
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Drugs advice day for all
A MAJOR conference highlighting the perils of drug and alcohol misuse among young people is to be staged in Darlington tomorrow. Health chiefs and youth workers have joined forces to stage the event at the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace. The Darlington
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School says it is forced to cut staff
A GOVERNOR says a successful primary school in Darlington is having to cut back on teachers because of a funding crisis. Colin Telfer, governor at Reid Street Primary School, and a campaigner for the Liberal Democrats, said the school had been advised
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Flower baby
THE birth of a baby is a happy time in the real world. But in Soapland, such occasions are the maternity ward equivalent of the St Valentine's Day massacre. The panting and groaning of the mother in labour is nothing compared to the gnashing of teeth
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Enthusiasts mark railway anniversary
FIFTY years ago the last scheduled passenger service through Weardale steamed into history. The closure of the valley's line on Wednesday, June 27, 1953, was the first to be sanctioned by the new Queen Elizabeth II and was, as the Beeching experience
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Pay rise for councillors
DURHAM County councillors have awarded themselves an inflation-busting 13 per cent pay rise costing taxpayers £120,000 a year. Basic allowances go up by £1,000 to almost £8,500 a year, while members with special responsibilities, such as cabinet members
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Councillors vote in 13pc pay rise
COUNCILLORS have swept in an inflation-busting 13 per cent pay rise which their leader described as 'not a fortune.' Only five members of Durham County Council's 61 members voted against the rise, which will see their basic allowance boosted from just
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Crowds flock to enjoy carnival capers
THE carnival season was in full swing at the weekend as the sun shone on Darlington's 21st community carnival. The events were launched by a colourful parade with floats depicting a European theme, including a 12ft long wedge of cheese pulled by a team
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Teamwork restores banner
A GROUP of women are facing a race against time to restore an old pit banner in time for the Durham Miners' Gala. The banner for Thrislington Colliery, West Cornforth, has been paraded at the Big Meeting for years, although it was originally produced
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Pupils perform for sports awards
HUNDREDS of children took part in the Darlington Primary Schools' Athletics Championships. Pupils competed at Eastbourne Sports Complex and Abbey Junior School. The events were split into competitions for pupils from the larger and smaller schools in
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Loyal greenkeeper earns thanks
BISHOP Auckland Golf Club captain Allan Milne, above, left, showed his gratitude to long-serving greenkeeper John Laws by making him a surprise presentation. As club members and their friends celebrated one of the biggest weekends of their year, Mr Laws
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New blow as company cuts 99 jobs
THE region has suffered another devastating blow with the announcement last week that a further 99 jobs are to go. Workers at glass processing and installation company Solaglas have been left reeling by the news that it will close its domestic appliance
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Garden created in memory of former villagers
WORSHIPPERS have given their church a grand entrance by creating a garden in memory of former villagers. The entrance to Auckland Park Methodist Church has been transformed by eight members of its congregation who wanted to do something special to remember
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Councillors vote for a pay rise
COUNCILLORS agreed to award themselves a 13 per cent pay rise. Five of Durham County Council's 61 members voted against the rise, which will see the basic allowance rise from just under £7,500 to almost £8,500. There will also be rises in the special
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Stars take to stage in major show
AMATEUR thespians are performing Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida this week. St Augustine's Repertory Society - known as Stars - is staging the lavish production, a musical about the early days of feminism, until Saturday in the parish centre, Larchfield
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Youth games success
YOUNG athletes showed off their talents at a major sport event at the weekend. Hundreds of competitors, aged nine to 16, from County Durham and Darlington took part in the 2003 Durham Sport Youth Games at Durham University's Graham Sports Centre. Teams
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Care jobs move unfair, says union
A UNION is threatening to take legal action against Darlington Borough Council over the way it says it has treated care home staff in the run-up to the closure of the last-two public sector retirement homes in the town. Workers met with officials from
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Classic cars on display
AN exhibition of classic and vintage cars which drew spectators from around the region has been hailed a 'phenomenal success.' Hundreds of vintage cars, vans and motorbikes drove through the grounds of Raby Castle at Staindrop, to take part in a massive
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You Write: Car park myth
SIR - Re the Sands car park controversy, the City Council is continuing to perpetuate the myth that attempting to construct a car park on designated Common Land can preserve the 'air and exercise' section of the legislation that covers the use and abuse
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Summer music festival makes comeback
A FOUR day festival of summer music is back in Bishop Auckland this week after a two year gap. New grants have given Wear Valley District Council funding to stage the event in Bishop Auckland Town Hall from today, Thursday. It opens with the Voice of
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Book of reflections
A BOOK showcasing the talents of people with mental health problems has been launched. Professor Antony Sheehan, chief executive of the National Institute for Mental Health in England and the Department of Health's head of mental health, launched Reflections
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Shopping centre looks to better future
BRIGHTER times were predicted last week for one of the region's traditional market towns were predicted when a newly revamped shopping centre was officially unveiled. Supermarket chain Asda have spent £2.5m giving the Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland
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Girls take to the pitch for football festival
THE third annual Durham Police and Durham FA girls' seven-a-side tournament is this weekend. The event will be held at police headquarters at Aykley Heads on Saturday and Sunday. Thirty-two teams of girls aged ten to 14 are taking part. Joint organiser
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Super school is first of its kind
DETAILED plans for a £34m education village in Darlington are being drawn up. Darlington Borough Council said developers have begun drafting their vision for the 14-hectare development, on the site of Haughton Comprehensive School in Rockwell Avenue.
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Station goes on air
A TRIAL radio station took to the air waves last weekend in the latest stage of its bid to win the licence to broadcast to the Durham area. Durham FM went on air on Saturday on 107FM with a mix of music, what's on, plus local and national news. It is
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Bill builds model school
ALMOST 60 years after he left his village school, an amateur historian has preserved the building for posterity by creating a miniature model in wood and card. Pensioner Bill Colley, of Byers Green, near Spennymoor, has been making replicas of landmark
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Schools urged to forge more
SCHOOLS in County Durham have been urged to be more outward-looking and forge greater links across the globe. The message emerged in an unlikely meeting between five head teachers from the Gambia in west Africa, and a former Durham pitman, who is now
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03/07/03
TAXATION: IN reply to Geoffrey Bulmer (HAS, June 30) and Peter Hain, higher taxation would solve nothing. We already pay far too much in tax as it is and where does the bulk of it go? Into recruiting more and better doctors, nurses, teachers, cleaners
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Big Meeting 'snubbed' by Prime Minister
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has been accused of snubbing organisers of the Durham Miners' Gala. Less than a fortnight before this year's Big Meeting the North-East National Union of Mineworkers' leadership said they had not received a reply from the Prime
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Writing competition draws record entry
BUDDING writers turned out in force to show off their talents in a short story competition. More than 400 people entered the annual Sid Chaplin Short Story competition making it the biggest turn out in its 16-year history. Ed Turley of Wolsingham was
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Farting chimps and psycho squirrels
Death By Pets (BBC1): AT times this oddball programme came dangerously close to resembling a Monty Python sketch. There was no talk of dead parrots, but plenty about killer rabbits, mad dogs, farting chimps and psycho squirrels. Hearing about them was
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Vandals spoil village flowers
EFFORTS to brighten up Sedgefield village green for the Northumbria in Bloom competition next month have been hampered. Vandals have taken flowers, trampled flower beds and damaged tubs. The incidents have prompted Sedgefield Town Council to ask residents
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Course set for all-year racing
A MULTI-MILLION pound plan to create the region's first all-weather horse racing track have been approved. Northern Racing, which took over Sedgefield Racecourse almost three years ago, has been given permission to lay an artificial surface to allow year-round
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Store set to open in town
A NEW nationwide clothes shop looks set to open in the heart of Bishop Auckland. Clothing retailer Peacocks Stores Ltd could move into the town's main shopping area, Newgate Street, as soon as September this year. The Yorkshire Trading Company will make
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Towns' youngsters get off to Sure Start
YOUNGSTERS and their parents enjoyed a day of partying with magicians and face painting at the launch of a new Sure Start Scheme. Children from both Shildon and Newton Aycliffe were entertained by party games at Shildon's Civic Centre, as Bishop Auckland
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Sports showcase motivates young talent
YOUNG sportsmen and women showcased their talents in a major mass participation event at the weekend. Hundreds of competitors, aged nine to 16, from all parts of County Durham and Darlington came together to take part in a day of sporting activity. The
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Third time unlucky
FIRST night theatregoers were turned away from Tuesday's performance of My Cousin Rachel at Darlington Civic Theatre after star of the show Beatie Edney was involved in a road accident. Ms Edney, who appeared in ITV1's A Touch Of Frost, was involved in
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College earns award for its equality commitment
A COLLEGE where most of the staff and students are female has won national recognition for its commitment to gender equality. Bishop Auckland College, led by principal and chief executive Joanna Tait, beat national companies such as BT and Northern Rock
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Leading way to fitness
HEALTH workers are toeing the line in an initiative to get people walking their way to a fitter future. A hundred staff and board members from the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust are backing The Northern Echo and Advertiser's Chance to Live campaign by
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Cabbie wins colour fight with council
A COUNCIL has agreed to review its policy on the colour of taxis after doing a U-turn over a cabbie's red car. George Jenkinson threatened to sue Darlington Borough Council for a second time in April after it refused him a licence for his hackney carriage
