Archive
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Too many BFL fleeces contaminated
HILL farmers have been warned to take care with wool from Blue-faced Leicesters. The British Wool Marketing Board this week said a number of complaints have been received from buyers. It believes that international manufacturers are losing confidence
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Charity volunteer wins national award
A CHESTER-LE-STREET charity worker has won a national award. Audrey Lines has been picked from hundreds of volunteers as Branch Member of the Year for 2002 by Epilepsy Action. The award was made in recognition of her commitment to the work of the Durham
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Choir in strong voice
The 35th annual concert of the Lanchester Male Voice Choir will be held in the village Methodist Church at 7.15pm on Friday next week. A varied programme from the award winning choir will be supported by the New Zealand soprano Meera Bell Thomson, who
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Free school fruit could be boon to farmers too
PLANS to improve the health of schoolchildren by feeding them a piece of fruit each day could spell new opportunities for the county's farmers and nurserymen. This was the message given to Durham county councillors as the authority announced that each
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Ice-cream firm's herd eats its way to top 20
A SPECIALLY-formulated feed has sent milk production soaring in the herd which supplies a Dales ice- cream. The 120 Guernsey cows which supply Brymor Ice- Cream are each producing an extra 1,500 litres of milk a year, which means ice-cream production
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Store given go-ahead
A MAJOR retailer has been given permission to build a DIY store and garden centre in Guisborough. Councillors agreed to give Focus permission to build the store and a 113-space car park on land off Springwood Road, near the Belmont House offices. The
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Infant dancers spread their wings
THESE children made a theatrical debut this week with a dance show they have helped to devise. The pupils at South Pelaw Infants' School, near Chester-le-Street, have spent weeks rehearsing their own show, based on the story, We're Going on a Bear Hunt
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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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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 702 sheep. Std lambs to 121.6p av 116.6p; med to 123.2p av 118.2p; heavy to 123.3p av 118.8p. Cast sheep: Cont to £52; Mule to £40.50; Suff to £35.50; Swale to £30.50. DARLINGTON. - Thurs of last week. Fwd: 259 cattle, 1,215
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Cinema gets top film for preview
SMALL town cinemas are celebrating after managing to secure The Hulk movie on its general release date. The Lamplight Arts Centre in Stanley and Empire Theatre in Consett normally have to wait weeks before films finally reach their screens. But The Hulk
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Pony dates
Bedale & West of Yore PC. - July 24: Senior one-day event, contact Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Pony club area J: Enquiries for Helen Crockett novice one-day event on Aug 5 to Mrs F A Blaine, 01845 526185. Bedale Hunt. - July 11: Farmers party from
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Schools join together in federation
TWO Darlington schools are to join forces in a ground-breaking £2m education project. Under the Department for Education's proposals, Hurworth Comprehensive and Eastbourne Comprehensive will form the country's first schools' federation. The aim is to
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Police withhold cash over call system problems
A SENIOR councillor has told of a seven-minute wait for a telephone call to police to be answered - only to be told the number was unavailable and he should call back later. Coun Michael Heseltine told of the "gremlins in the system" at a meeting of the
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An answer to misguided and frazzled squirrels?
SPECTATOR, who wrote about hedgehogs last week, today turns his attention to squirrels and electricity poles. A two-paragraph item in a regional daily newspaper records quite correctly how squirrels have been leaping on to wooden pylons, mistaking them
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Private collector lends important works to the Bowes
ONE of the country's most celebrated lyricists is allowing his private art collection to be exhibited at the Bowes Museum from tomorrow. Sir Tim Rice, who has written songs for shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Lion King and Joseph and
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Pupils have first aid wrapped up
FOUR schoolboys are in training for a national first aid competition. The boys, from Rye Hills School in Redcar, have been practising their bandaging techniques on their drama teacher, Julie Saxton, who sparked the boys' interest with an after-school
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Seeds of success
PRIMARY school pupils who transformed a muddy wasteland into a blooming garden have won their way through to the regional finals of a national competition. Edmondsley Primary School reception class teacher Chris Baker said the entry to the Greenfingers
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Earl makes himself at home at Aske Hall
IRISH Draught stallion Earl of Montrose, owned by Patricia Lithgo of Greatham, near Billingham, won the pre novice section at last Sunday's Aske Hall horse trials. The nine-year-old 17hh chestnut, ridden by Victoria Wood, was making only his second appearance
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Seeing through blind ambition
I'VE been thinking about ambition this week. Not my own, which at the moment stretches no further than finishing this column and getting back to council business, but the driving force which motivates the men and women who shape our lives. Once described
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Grain report
Thursday's prices Kenneth Wilson, Thorpe Arch. - Wheat: July £73; Aug £67; Sept £68. Barley: July £70; Aug £62. GrainCo, Tyne Dock. - Wheat: July £74; Aug £74 (old crop), £70 (new crop); Sept £73. Barley: July £62; Aug £62; Sept £62. Oilseed rape: Aug
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Action group on warpath over missing petition
A MISSING petition and misleading public notice has led to Darlington Borough Council being accused of maladministration. It is being called to account over its handling of an application to extend the hours of a public entertainment licence for the function
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Hollie wins dream place at HOYS
AN elated Yarm teenager has fulfilled her ambition to get to the 2003 Horse of the Year Show. Hollie Davies, 16, and her six-year-old Connemara gelding Western Andy qualified in the Blue Chip Newcomers at the BSJ show at Allerton Park, near Wetherby,
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Rumours despite Chaplin's denials
In part four of his look at the development of entertainment in Durham, David Simpson remembers the transition from theatre to cinema in the early part of the 20th Century. MOVING pictures made their first appearance in Durham City in the 1890s, when
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Tomorrow will be different
THE Board of Tees Valley Tomorrow has announced that it is to concentrate solely on the business community from now on. It will provide a new forum for businesses across the five unitary authority areas of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar
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Opportunity for Barney juniors to learn ropes
YOUNG players at Barnard Castle Junior Cricket Club are looking forward to the visit of top female cricket coach Pauline Peel on Wednesday. The club has also been asked to run one of the Durham Cricket Board's summer H J Banks and Sportsmatch cricket
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No cause for complacency as farm deaths are cut
FOUR people died in the North-East and North Yorkshire as a result of agricultural accidents last year. National figures released this week also revealed a growing trend towards deaths among the self-employed. Linda Williams, the Health and Safety Executive's
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Spate of road crashes brings call to cut speed limit
A PARISH council has stepped up its fight to reduce the speed limit on a village road after three traffic accidents happened in one week. Residents have been concerned for some time over the speeds driven along the B1264 at Low and High Worsall where
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Letters: My discretion
Sir, - Your report on the proceedings of Egglescliffe Parish Council (D&S, June 27) states that, with respect to a planning application, "Councillor Rigg and other members felt that the close boarded fence was out of keeping ..." At the beginning
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Singing and games, a stern voice and a rod - it all adds up to a Victorian celebration
TEACHERS, staff and children at Marwood CE Infants' School at Great Ayton turned back the clock last Friday to commemorate 150 years since the present premises became a school - very different to today's schools and in different social circumstances.
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Major development for estate unveiled
MILLIONS of pounds may soon be spent on knocking down and rebuilding part of a Redcar housing estate. The redevelopment plans will include the building of 400 homes next to the Sixties Courts Estate. The Roseberry Square shopping complex will be demolished
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Sports centre put on hold
COUNCIL leaders have shelved a £1.5m sports centre at Skelton. Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet took the decision on the planned Hollybush Activity Centre after being presented with a report highlighting spiralling costs, delays
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Cash raised
RETIRED chairman of Chester-le-Street District Council, Bill Laverick raised £2,900 during his term of office. The cash will go to Supporting People in Community Experiences, Durham Area Disability Group and Chester-le-Street Riverside Brass Band. Mr
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Funding boost for saddle-maker
A REVOLUTIONARY racing saddle has been developed by a Richmond shoemaker. Classic Racing Products has been given a European grant worth more than £2,000 to help with production. The company developed a saddle for Flat and national hunt jockeys which is
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Plenty to cheer about in eight hours of sport
YOUNG people competing in a marathon sports day in Thirsk this weekend will get the full backing of American-style cheerleaders. A group with pom-poms and an endless supply of enthusiasm will urge on competitors in the sponsored event tomorrow. And team
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Dream show was a sell-out
YOUNGSTERS overcame all obstacles to stage a sell-out production of Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat last week. Year five and six pupils at Greenland Junior School, South Moor, Stanley, had planned to stage the show at the Stanley School of Technology
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Appeal to get on board to help railway
AUTHORITIES with the power to help have been urged not to sit on the fence as local rail campaigners develop their plans to restore passenger trains to Wensleydale. Today marked the start of a ground-breaking new era as Wensleydale Railway began running
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Meeting on school car park plan
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a bus and car park at Richmond School will be the subject of an open meeting at the school on July 15. Residents will have the chance to put their views to planning officers from North Yorkshire County Council on the plans
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Police arrest 18 in drugs crackdown
DRUGS raids have taken place across East Cleveland as police vowed to target a dealer a day in a new clampdown. Police launched the campaign on Tuesday, and by Thursday morning had arrested 18 people and raided 13 properties. Langbaurgh's district commander
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Work can start on 12 homes
A DECISION on a controversial development of a library, sheltered housing, flats and offices at the old county depot at North Road, Stokesley, is taking so long to determine that the developer of part of the site was seeking permission to go ahead now
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Falconry centre expansion dubbed
A FALCONRY centre in North Yorkshire has turned woodland into a barren wilderness. This was the claim of a councillor calling for the refusal of plans for a flying area at the Great Broughton site. Coun Margaret Skilbeck told members of Hambleton development
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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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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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Inaugural June sale
A CHAROLAIS bull from North Yorkshire made the top price of 3,000gns at Carlisle on Wednesday of last week at the breed society's inaugural June fixture of pedigree bulls. The sale leader was Mowbraypark Tanner, a 14-month-old by Mowbraypark Napolean
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Big names line up to do battle at Great Yorkshire
SOME of the top names in the world of show jumping feature in the competition lists for next week's Great Yorkshire Show. There are 187 entries across the six classes, culminating in the prestigious CD Bramall Cock o'the North Championship. Among them
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Looking Back
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Early on Monday morning the attention of a passing policeman was drawn to a pig-stye in Parliament Road in Middlesbrough. On close inspection PS Blakeborough found the stye to be occupied not only by pigs, but by a
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Vital help for disabled shoppers
A NEW Shopmobility service was launched from a seafront office in Redcar on Tuesday. The scheme, which has a range of three- and four-wheeled scooters, motorised and manual wheelchairs and walking aids on offer, will be run from the office at 2 Pybus
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Taking the bull by the horns in a rare show of 'braining up'
BULLFIGHTING is great fun - and before you all reach for the green ink or telephone the editor, no animals are hurt in this sport. No animals even take part in it; it's a battle of words. It's also the only example I can find of "braining up" - the opposite
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Back to the future
WHEN it was first rolled out 12 years ago, the campaign to bring passenger trains back to Wensleydale was seen by many as a Titfield Thunderbolt: a zany dream, achievable only on celluloid. A series of apparently unsurmountable problems made it look more
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Hunting Bill 'terminally damaged' say campaigners
THE Countryside Alliance says the Government has wrecked its hunting with dogs bill by voting overwhelmingly for a complete ban. In a free vote on Monday night, the House of Commons rejected a bill which would have allowed some fox-hunting under licence
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Pay us? There's no need ...
PARISH councillors have wholeheartedly rejected a new scheme that would have seen them entitled to claim allowances for carrying out their duties. The Government regulations, which came into force on May 1, were outlined by Mike Dennis, Teesdale District
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Currying favour for title
THE East Cleveland curry chef of the year has been announced. Louise Forrest of the Baan Thai Restaurant on Station Road, Redcar, beat off fierce competition from two other curry chefs to be awarded the title. The chef will now represent East Cleveland
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Pub golfers bring good cheer
A TEAM of Consett golfers have returned home with their heads held high, after coming third in a national tournament in Portugal. The quartet, from the Miners' Arms, Benfieldside Road, Blackhill, took third place in the national finals of the Bass Ale
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Urgent update on flood defence work demanded
HAMBLETON District Council's cabinet is calling for an urgent report on flood defence work. Council leader Arthur Barker has asked that, as a result of a report on solutions to Northallerton's flooding issues presented to the Hambleton Flood Forum last
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Falconry centre woodcarving design takes flight
THE remains of a 122-year-old ash tree are being transformed into a striking sculpture at the Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale. Last August, the D&S Times issued a challenge on behalf of the owner, Sir John Ropner, who hoped the stump could be turned
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Triple success for Guisborough veteran
SUPER-FIT track cycling specialist Peter Smith pedalled his way to three wins in four races at the National Masters Championships in Herne Hills. The 62-year-old Guisborough fitness fanatic got himself into top shape to tackle the prestige event and was
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Abi gets a taste of Wimbledon magic
A TALENTED young tennis player's dreams became reality when she sampled the special atmosphere of Wimbledon's Centre Court last weekend. Abi Curry, 11, from Carlton, near Stockton, stepped on to the hallowed turf as one of just eight British youngsters
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Let's hope it's a dry Bullion's Day
PRIOR to the calender changes of 1752, today was Midsummer Eve and in the North of England it was marked with bonfires and other celebrations. Even today, relics of this date appear in some calendars and almanacs where it is shown as Old Midsummer Eve
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Robinson powers to fine victory at Croft
STOCKTON racing driver Brian Robinson showed the opposition a clean pair of heels as he romped to a superb victory at the British Racing and Sports Car Club meeting at Croft last weekend. Driving his powerful 3300cc Porsche 930, Robinson blasted from
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Shoot 'em up worth putting up a fight for
BRUTE FORCE. Publisher: Format:Xbox. Price: £44.95: THIS game has been a long time coming. I remember seeing screen shots not long after the Xbox hit shop shelves. Then Brute Force looked like Halo, the game that established the Box's reputation among
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Protest over loss of schools grant
A COUNTY Durham schools body has written to a Government minister demanding to know where more than £3m worth of funding for its schools has gone. Durham County Council Schools Forum, an independent body made up of headteachers, school governors and trade
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Two awards within reach for farm wildlife haven
AN UPPER Teesdale farm is on the shortlist for two major environmental awards. Maurice and Kath Toward, who have farmed Herdship Farm, at Harwood in Teesdale, since 1964, are already through to the finals of the David Arnold-Forster Trust Hill Farming
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Rural crime rate on the increase for first time in four years
THE first rise in rural crime rates for years was notched up in 2002. Expensive tools, such as welders, chain-saws and power drills, topped the thieves' lists. But raiders are increasingly targeting horse owners, with big rises in thefts of riding tack
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Edwardian day is re-created
THE opening of a Darlington park with a ceremonial key is being re-created tomorrow by its biggest fans. Saturday, July 5, is exactly 100 years to the day since Coun Seymour Benson, chairman of the parks committee, performed the opening ceremony using
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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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Riddle of wheelbarrow and crinolined lady is solved
A MINIATURE wheelbarrow pictured in a 140-year-old "mystery" photograph has been discovered in a local railway museum, bringing an end to the riddle of when and where the picture was taken. Just before Christmas the D&S Times featured the photo as
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Letters: The real issue
Sir, - The real issue for our Worsall community today is the dangerous speeding traffic past our village, not the spelling of a street sign. Road safety was brought to the attention of the Worsall Parish Council some weeks ago by a group of parishioners
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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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Sale sees end of 60 years of growing potatoes
THE North-East's largest ever sale of potato and arable machinery takes place near Scotch Corner next weekend. The dispersal sale is a result of a change in farming policy by Nick Johnson whose family has grown potatoes at Sandwath House, Forcett, near
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Farmers' market to move at last
PLANS to move Northallerton's monthly farmers' market to the High Street finally got the green light this week. The farmers' stalls will join regular traders for the first time on July 23. Agreement on the move was reached between Hambleton District Council
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Edwards drops in for Northallerton chat show
REIGNING world Superbike champion Colin Edwards makes his annual visit to the region to take part in a chat show organised by the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club on Tuesday evening at Club Amadeus in Northallerton. Edwards, known to his legions
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CAP reform date worries UK industry
THE mid-term CAP review agreement continued to receive a mixed reaction this week. The general idea of getting away from production-based payments was welcomed, but there was widespread concern about Britain introducing the system in 2005, ahead of others
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Rural events at Lanchester Show
PREPARATIONS are well under way for this year's Lanchester Show. The village event on Saturday and Sunday includes horse and pony classes for most breeds, a wide range of trade stands, a new craft tent, various types of food vans, a beer tent and both
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Pupils given lessons in drumming
GUM boot dancing and African drumming were introduced to children at a primary school this week. Two African artists from the Isiziba arts group visited Bullion Lane Primary School in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday to introduce children to 'gum boot dancing
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Cautious welcome for Corus commitment to area
A PARLIAMENTARY report into the steel-making crisis at Corus has led the company to make a commitment to thousands of job-threatened Teesside workers. The investigation by the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee began after the company announced
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Joseph rocks on at school
A CAST of more than 50 school children has been entertaining the crowds with a show of biblical proportions this week. Students at Park View Comprehensive School in Chester-le-Street, staged a version of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the
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04/07/03
MARKETING: DOES anyone else despair at the increasing and abusive cheek of the marketing world, which, not content that we have purchased goods and being grateful for our custom, has created products that act as an ongoing means of creating fat profits
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Still waiting for the first cuckoo of spring in the middle of summer
SO, that's just about it. Here we are in July and I haven't heard a cuckoo. How does that old rhyme go? The cuckoo comes in April. He sings his song in May. In the middle of June He changes tune, And in July he flies away. Very little time left, then,
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Why Rod was desperate to escape the bird brain tag
Rod Hull: A Bird In The Hand (C4); No 57: The History Of A House (C4) Sticking your hand up an emu always seemed an odd way to earn a living. But it gave Rod Hull a good career over 25 years and enough money to make him a multi-millionaire. The downside
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Delsarte looks the pick of Johnston's Sandown hopefuls
T'NORTH versus South competition seems to have taken on a new edge since Royal Ascot fell Mark Johnston's way, as local racecourses have been raided by those from away, while "our" trainers have taken valuable races as far afield as Goodwood and Germany
