Archive
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More than 100 homes without power
ENGINEERS were working into the night to restore power to 102 homes in the Darlington area. An underground cable fault led to the power shutting off in areas including Cockerton, High Coniscliffe and Merrybent shortly after 6pm. A spokeswoman for electricity
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Grasstrack event cancelled
The grasstrack on shale event scheduled for 2pm at the South Tees Motorsport Park on Saturday December 30th has been cancelled by promoter Glyn Taylor and therefore fans are advised not to travel to the venue. Stated Glyn: "I have cancelled the meeting
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Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Publisher: Activision Formats Reviewed: PS2, XBox Price: £29.99 Family friendly? 7+ WHEN I was a nipper, some of my most prized possessions were the super-hero action figures. These little plastic
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Star Trek: Encounters
Publisher: Ubisoft Formats: PS2 Price: £29.99 Family friendly? 12+ HOW often have you watched an episode of Star Trek and just wished Captain Kirk would forget all that Prime Directive nonsense
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Domaine Begude Chardonnay 2005 from France
The first recommended wine of the New Year is a crystal clear lemon-yellow colour with a refreshing apple and pear bouquet and a palate of honeyed fresh fruit. The alcohol at 13 per cent is balanced by fresh acidity and good depth of fruit with an
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December 27, 2006
Solutions ACROSS 1 Cowper. C+OWPER (power anag.) 5 Mothball. MOTH+BALL 9 Dependence. D+EP+END+EN+CE 10 Rand. RAN+D 11 Veronese. VER(O+N+E)SE 12 Toy boy. TOY+BOY 13 Aspen. (two meanings) 15 Falsified. (anag.) 18 Pastorale. PAST
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December 27, 2006
Cryptic Clues ACROSS 1 This poet is exposed in Catholic power struggle (6) 5 Postpone work on a light aircraft prior to delivery (8) 9 Trust foremost of directors to record odd piece in French church (10) 10 Managed Dutch money (4) 11 Poetry about
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Shortbus (18)
AFTER his sex change musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch, writer-director John Cameron Mitchell turns to relationships among a group of New York City characters in his new movie. Don't let that description fool you into thinking this is another
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Flags Of Our Fathers (15)
YOU'VE seen the photograph, now discover the story behind it. Director Clint Eastwood's movie takes an iconic image from the Pacific War - six men raising the American flag on a mountain during the battle of Iwo Jima - and uses it to tell of the
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Ten worth watching from 2006
STEVE PRATT looks at the best and worst movies of 2006 and picks out his favourite ten films seen on the silver screen in the past 12 months HIS was a good year for film piracy. Not the illegal copying of movies, although that's flourishing
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Take That... 2006!
WIL MARLOW looks back at the musical year that was 2006 with it's rock revival and quite a few comebacks. JANUARY The musical year began with raised eyebrows as little known indie star Preston from The Ordinary Boys wandered into the Big Brother
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Call for more composting
A COUNCIL has joined forces with a national group to encourage more people to recycle their kitchen and garden waste in the coming year. Durham County Council has linked with Recycle Now and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) to encourage
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Lunch club searching for a new cook
A CHARITY is urgently trying to recruit another cook after a reorganisation of its staff. The Open Arms Group, based in Leadgate, near Consett, Durham County, is a befriending charity which provides a lunch club and activities for the elderly, disabled
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Gifts that can help a whole community
A CHARITY is appealing for supporters to buy a belated Christmas present for local communities. The County Durham Foundation has come up with its own gift shop, allowing individuals and companies to buy gifts ranging from a £10 football kit for a village
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Prison for driver who almost hit policeman
A MAN has been jailed for driving offences after he tried to avoid being stopped by police. Mark Bunce, from Stockton, was sitting in a car on the forecourt of a petrol station in Durham Road, in the town, when he was spotted by an officer who knew he
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Midwives cope with uncertain future
MIDWIVES at a maternity unit threatened with closure say they are trying to remain positive. The Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust has outlined plans to plug a £13m deficit. One proposal is to close the maternity unit at Malton
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Joint task force examines care homes
THREE health forums have joined forces for the first time, to check the standard of services in care homes. The North Tees and Hartlepool Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forum has linked with PPI forum North Tees Primary Care and Hartlepool Primary
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Pair celebrate 50 years
A COUPLE have celebrated their golden wedding with a family gathering at Bedale, North Yorkshire. Brian and Margaret Hall were married in 1956 at Northallerton Methodist Church after meeting at a function at the local grammar school. Mr Hall came from
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'How much longer do we have to endure people spreading false information?'
A PENSIONER has contacted police after claiming villagers made false allegations to the local planning authority about him. David Saddington, of Faceby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was reported to the North York Moors National Park Authority for
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Reprimand for councillor in conflict over house plan
A PLANNING committee chairman whose casting vote approved a friend's application has been severely criticised. Councillor Nigel Simms, who represents Mashamshire on Harrogate Borough Council, was found guilty of maladministration causing injustice. Three
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Domestic abuse fears over cost of Christmas
DOMESTIC abuse services are bracing themselves for a New Year fallout as families crack under the pressure of post-Christmas blues. Victims of violence are more likely to contact refuges and outreach services in January than at any other time of the year
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Pupils prepare to take the plunge
A SCHOOL is holding a sponsored dip this weekend to raise money for specialist equipment. Pupils from the Evergreen Primary School, in Warwick Road, Bishop Auckland, will take part in the event at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, on Saturday. The school
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Grandfather and good family man
A GRANDFATHER who died in the Morecambe Bay helicopter tragedy was described as "a hell of a nice bloke and a good family man" by one of his closest friends. Alfred Neasham was returning to the family he loved, at the end of an eight-day stint
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More than 100 killed in oil rig copter accidents since 1969
The helicopter crash in the Irish Sea was the latest in a catalogue of incidents involving offshore workers in UK waters. Neil Hunter looks at the history of one of the world's most dangerous jobs. SINCE 1969 there have been more than 30 incidents involving
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‘Putting your life on the line’
A PIPEFITTER who worked off-shore for 12 years last night revealed how he shuddered when he heard the news of the Morecambe Bay tragedy. Steve Collinson, from Hartlepool, told of workers' fears every time they made a helicopter journey to the
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Killed on flight home for belated Christmas
THREE men from the North- East who were on board a helicopter that plunged into the Irish Sea were being flown home for a belated Christmas with their families, it was revealed last night. Two of the gas rig workers - Alfred Neasham, from Coxhoe
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Murder investigation launched
POLICE on Teesside have launched a murder hunt after a man was found stabbed to death in the street. Lee Hannan, 29, was found by police lying on his back in the road in Tennyson Avenue, Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, just after 1am on Friday morning
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That was the year, that was
MANY people ask me if I get bored working in the gardening profession as you have to follow routes and cycles year after year. Well, I can definitely tell you that this year has not been the same as the previous year: 2006 has definitely been
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Flat Stanley, Courtyard Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
When the bulletin board in his bedroom falls off the wall, young Stanley is crushed. Literally. A once-over with a tape measure and his parents discover that he's 4ft tall, about a foot wide and half-an-inch thick. Fine if you want to enter a room without
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December 29th, 2006
CONSULTATION: TONY Blair's latest idea to pass the buck borders on the ridiculous. He now proposes to involve the public in government decision making by appointing a group of so-called ordinary people who will be involved in what happens at government
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Christmas presents remain under the tree
CHRISTMAS presents bought for devoted father-of-two Les Ahmed remain unopened under the tree. Yesterday, his wife, Julie, should have been meeting her husband to celebrate a belated family Christmas - planned to take place today at their detached home
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September to December
SEPTEMBER A MONTH of farewells on the political front as Labour prepares for major changes at the top. Having come under intense pressure from party members, particularly supporters of Chancellor and would-be Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Tony Blair
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Are we over the Hill?
Dracula (BBC1); Is Benny Hill Still Funny? (C4): Someone should send Changing Rooms' Handy Andy round to Castle Dracula immediately. That place has a real problem with creaking doors. Not one of them opens quietly. All they need is a bit of oil, but
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The terrible cost of a job
THE North-East supplies many of the men who work off-shore, so it came as no surprise when it was announced yesterday that some of the victims of the Morecambe Bay helicopter crash came from our region. Rig workers are a special breed of men, used to
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Questions remain as inquiry drags on
THE investigation into how police officers seriously injured a man during a raid on his home has still not been completed nearly eight months after he was cleared of assaulting them.Stephen Whenary was so badly beaten by officers when they forced their
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The Lifeblood Appeal
As part of The Northern Echo lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region:TUESDAY* Recreation Centre, Cass House Road, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, 3pm-7pm* Synthonia Club
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Out with the old and in with the new - changes in politics, sport and news
A review of 2006, January to August JANUARY THE year starts with the Liberal-Democrats tearing themselves apart just as they are being viewed as a credible opposition party after successes in last year's General Election. Chaos is triggered when leader
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Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League
Rudds Arms 10 Bulls Head 1. DESPITE the games at Stokesley and St. Marys College being postponed, their were still plenty of goals in the games that did go ahead. Dameon McNeill led the way hitting four goals for the Rudds Arms against the Bulls Head
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'Peter survived, but our lives are changed forever'
As a senior nurse, the wife of brain injury sufferer Peter Bell had plenty of experience in caring for the sick, but even she could not cope alone with his changed personality and lack of memory, she tells Sarah French.IN THE chaos of the Christmas shops
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Grandfather and good family man
A GRANDFATHER who died in the Morecambe Bay helicopter tragedy was described as "a hell of a nice bloke and a good family man" by one of his closest friends.Alfred Neasham was returning to the family he loved, at the end of an eight-day stint working
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School makes a profit where education is the currency
WHEN staff at Firthmoor Primary School use the phrase "value-added", it's clear that the currency of education means more to them than most. The dedicated teachers recently landed an Excellence in Performance award from Darlington Borough Council after
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Garthwaite steps down as Pools drop out of league
Jack Hatfield Sports Teesside League: FOLLOWING Hartlepool Chester Hotels' failure to play their match at Whinney Banks on December 16, the club had a meeting the next day and following manager Paul Garthwaite's resignation, the club informed the league
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Domestic abuse fears over cost of Christmas
DOMESTIC abuse services are bracing themselves for a New Year fallout as families crack under the pressure of post-Christmas blues. Victims of violence are more likely to contact refuges and outreach services in January than at any other time of the year
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Jack Grigg Memorial Trophy
A LATE goal from Gary Johnson saw Lintz Celtic through to the second round after just edging out South Moor Ex in a five-goal thriller. Extra-time looked on the cards until Johnson pounced after Lintz had earlier netted through Wayne Murray and Aaron
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Cricketers won't be stumped by blaze
MANY of the great cricketing legends would have cut their teeth at the wicket of this former steelworking town's pitch. Trevor Bailey, Geoff Boycott, John Hampshire, Ken Taylor, Jimmy Binks and Tony Nicholson were just a few of the players who would have
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December 29th, 2006
AFTER a bad year for the open-top bus business, my crystal ball tells me the ticker tape parades will be up and running again in 2007. January: England, 4-0 down in the series, recall Geoff Boycott and Ian Botham for the final Test in Sydney. Boycott
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Ponting sounds whitewash warning for Flintoff's flops
RICKY PONTING warned England their worst nightmare was about to come true after Australia closed in on the first Ashes whitewash in over 80 years. The Aussies chalked up their fourth straight win of the series after skittling England twice inside three
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Homeless charity gets cash boost
A HOMELESSNESS charity has been given a timely boost to help it continue for another three years. First Stop Darlington has been handed £113,594 by the Northern Rock Foundation towards its work with homeless people in the town. The money will be used
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Animal cruelty cases are on the rise
THE North-East's appalling reputation for animal cruelty has worsened in the past year, figures show. Reports of abandoned animals in the region are up 15 per cent on last year, according to the RSPCA. The figures make depressing reading, but are perhaps
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Bishop Auckland R.U.F.C.
South Tyne College 14 : Bishop Auckland R.U.F.C. 19. BISHOP opened the second half of their Durham and Northumberland Division Three league programme with a visit to South Shields. Having defeated the students by over 50 points at West Mills
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It would be wrong to blame Fletcher
Richard Dawson, the former England and Yorkshire off-spinner writes exclusively for The Northern Echo. There's no hiding the fact that this Ashes series has gone badly wrong, but think long and hard before you point the finger at Duncan Fletcher. The
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Crook open gap at top with win
Men's County Super League. CROOK Coach and Horses will go into the New Year at the top of the tree with a six points lead over Ferryhill Club after both won their last match of 2006 by five points. These victories opened the gap further at the
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Roll Along to stay unbeaten
NEWBURY'S Grade 1 Challow Hurdle is an absolute peach of a race, in which Roll Along (2.40) just about gets the nod to maintain his unbeaten record. As it is almost certainly the strongest contest of its type so far this season, Roll Along will need to
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House could be replaced by 15 flats
DEVELOPERS have applied for permission to demolish a house to build 15 flats. The detached property, at 88 Cleveland Avenue, could be replaced by two apartment blocks after a housing company submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council
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Illegal biker hit police car, court told
AN unlicensed motorcyclist collided with police as he rode on a path trying to evade capture, a court heard. Andrew Hawthornthwaite was riding the 125cc scooter, with a pillion passenger, on September 19. "It was about 3am when the police officer heard
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Clean-up begins
A CLEAN-up operation was mounted yesterday at a fire-hit pub which has been forced to close ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year. A family cat raised the alarm at the Red Lion, in North Bitchburn, when the bar caught fire in the early hours
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Paising the aspirations of young people
MARY COYLE, incoming chief executive of the Aspire Campaign, reflects on 2006 and looks ahead to the role she takes up next month. "2006 has raised the bar in terms of the quality and variety of events designed to engage and inspire young people to uncover
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Plan for new community hall revived
A GYMNASTICS club and a church group have joined forces to draw up plans for a new community centre. St Mary's Church Hall, in Newton Road, Darlington, could be demolished and replaced with a two-storey, multi-purpose facility, with new halls, kitchens
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Wilson wants to keep loan men
DANNY Wilson has admitted his determination to keep his squad intact next month when the transfer window opens. While he has Andy Monkhouse and Darryl Duffy on loan, the pair are due to return to their parent clubs after the game at Mansfield on Monday
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Police force has a hole in its roof as well as its finances
A POLICE force trying to plug a £10m hole in its finances has had to call for back up after a roof at its headquarters began to leak. Durham Constabulary, which may have to lose 300 officers to avoid going into the red, is using buckets to catch water
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Tawny owl numbers soaring in forest
TAWNY owls are thriving in one of the region's forests. A Forestry Commission project, which began in 1980, saw a near-record number of owls laying eggs and chicks being hatched last summer in Kielder Forest, Northumberland. A total of 110 pairs of owls
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Keltie ready for action
DARLINGTON skipper Clark Keltie will this morning tell manager Dave Penney he is available to face Shrewsbury Town tomorrow, despite admitting he is still feeling the effects of the virus which has decimated the squad. Keltie is one of nine first-team
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Pupils prepare to take the plunge
A SCHOOL is holding a sponsored dip this weekend to raise money for specialist equipment. Pupils from the Evergreen Primary School, in Warwick Road, Bishop Auckland, will take part in the event at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, on Saturday.The school,
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Matthew goes from phobia of water to lifeguard in a year
A YEAR ago, Matthew Stanley was scared to get his face wet -now he is Britain's youngest lifeguard.The 16-year-old could not swim and had a phobia about having his head submerged in water.However, he set out to conquer his fears and signed up for swimming
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The bar-faced cheek of it
BARING all for a charity calendar was once the exclusive domain of women's institutes and sports teams. But now regulars at a North-East pub have shown their cheekier side too by peeling off for a good cause.And while the original Calendar Girls hid their
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Rockers battle it out at music competition
YOUNG rockers battled it out yesterday to see whose band was best.The Junior Battle of the Bands, in which 11 groups pitted their skills against each other, was won by Small Screen Light Show, of Seaham, east Durham, who won £250.Reptar and Pyromaniacs
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'Putting your life on the line'
A PIPEFITTER who worked off-shore for 12 years last night revealed how he shuddered when he heard the news of the Morecambe Bay tragedy. Steve Collinson, from Hartlepool, told of workers' fears every time they made a helicopter journey to the rigs, and
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Killed on flight home for belated Christmas
THREE men from the North-East who were on board a helicopter that plunged into the Irish Sea were being flown home for a belated Christmas with their families, it was revealed last night. Two of the gas rig workers - Alfred Neasham, from Coxhoe, and Les
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Newcastle eye Crouch as Reds move for Villa
PETER Crouch may well become a Newcastle United player next month if Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is successful in his bid for Valencia striker David Villa. Benitez insisted only last week that he had no intentions of selling Crouch. But should Villa
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UK Coal in new opencast mine bid
PEOPLE living in the shadow of a proposed opencast mine are being offered "sweeteners" to back the scheme. But The Northern Echo can reveal that as many as three-quarters of householders in surrounding villages are against the project. Plans to extract
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Rochemback staying, Southgate tells Lisbon
GARETH SOUTHGATE last night warned Sporting Lisbon to forget about signing Fabio Rochemback, despite the Brazilian's father claiming the player has had enough of life on Teesside. Rochemback's agent Horacio Gaggioli is understood to have met with Boro
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Yorke happy to fight for place at Sunderland
SUNDERLAND'S man for all seasons, Dwight Yorke, revealed he was relieved to get away from the intensity of the British game, but admitted: "It is good to be back." Yorke spent just over a year plying his trade in the Australian A-League for Sydney FC
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Departure of Lyme Bay left Wallsend yard high and dry
2006 in review (part two) by Kate Bowman. JULYTHE unfinished naval ship, the Lyme Bay, pictured below, was towed out of Swan Hunter's Wallsend, North Tyneside, shipyard, to be completed by a rival shipbuilder in Scotland. The Ministry of Defence (MoD
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A cook's tour
When North-East landlord Peter Crosby couldn't find a decent chef he deceided to go the extra mile to find one - all the way to Mauritius, in fact. Ken Snowdon finds out why workers are prepared to swap a tropical paradise for a former pit village to
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Saying it with flowers
It's the time of year to pay tribute to all the people who, week in and week out, put themselves out to help others. The don't always get a mention, so the Shoptalk column presents Bouquets of the Year to show that their good work is not taken for granted
