Archive

Date

MARRIED OR NOT?

After hearing evidence and watching the DVD of the wedding of Gillian Hudson and Robert Leigh in South Africa, Mr Justice Bodey sitting in the High Court commented that it was a splendid and romantic ceremony. Apparently it took place on a rooftop complete

Date

Mistake-n Identity…

Got a bit of stick in the pub on Sunday, especially off my old mate Peter Barnes. Mickey taking in Cockfield is one of the more popular village pastimes, and it was my turn to be on the receiving end! “Hello Mr Dawson” people kept saying

Date

Lions maul Sharks

THE British and Irish Lions have defeated the Sharks 39-3 in Durban this evening. The Lions continued their unbeaten start to the tour of South Africa with a five-try win over the Sharks. The tourists dominated the first half but only had a

Date

£400m development to breathe life into Stockton eyesore

A £400M development to breathe new life into a town eyesore has been given the go-ahead. The scheme will see a major transformation in the north shore along the River Tees, in Stockton. It will create 4,745 new jobs for the area once the development

Date

Headline Game update

Tomorrow morning's story for the Headline Game on TFM radio is about an Israeli woman who mistakenly threw away a mattress in which she'd hidden a million dollars. The woman's carelessness has sparked frantic searches through tons of rubbish on waste

Date

Community centre re-opens

THE first of four community centre makeovers has been completed. Cestria Community Housing has spent £60,000 refurbishing the Holyoake Community Centre, South Pelaw, Chester-le-Street. Last year, the housing body took over the entire housing stock

Date

Play group for twins

A SPECIAL support group for families with twins has been set up by a north Durham children's centre. The Double Trouble Twins Group meets every Tuesday afternoon at Moorside Sure Start Children's Centre, near Consett. The group was set up to give parents

Date

School leads the way

STAFF at a special school are leading the way on sex education. The group from Elemore Hall School, in Pittington, have become the first in County Durham to gain a qualification in talking to children and young people about sex and relationships. Their

Date

Awesome firepower protecting base

It is our multiples turn to guard the front and rear gates and watch towers at night. On the gates we check passes, search vehicles and the occupants as well as manning the watch sangers. They have machine guns positioned in them so if we were to get

Date

Schoolboy Max on the fast track

SCHOOLBOY Max Coates is scorching ahead of the rest of the pack as he pursues a career in the world of motor racing. The teenage schoolboy from Scorton, near Richmond, already races karts nationally - and now he’s landed a role that’s the envy

Date

Helping fight drugs misuse

A TEAM which works work with people affected by drug misuse are raising awareness of their services as part of national Tackling Drugs Week. The Hambleton and Richmondshire Substance Misuse Service comprises specialist doctors, nurses, a social worker

Date

Being cruel to be kind

Today is my first patrol after recovering from my injury; we are to conduct it around a very busy part of the city. We leave at approximately 08:00 and head out of the main gate. My position is at the rear of the patrol, turning to face backwards

Date

Running repairs

Today is our training day and we have permission to have a lie in until 09:00, believe me when I say we are glad of it. Me and my colleague head down to the Motor Transport department where we are to give our Snatch Land rover a full yearly service

Date

Night patrol in Kabul

After our orders it was about 21:00 and Kabul was in darkness. Our orders were to conduct a vehicle patrol through the city and up to a village on a hillside, where we were to conduct a vehicle check point. We loaded up and boarded the two

Date

Ready to react

It was my multiple’s turn for Quick Reaction Force (QRF) duty, this entails us being on a 24 hour standby to react to anything that may happen within our area of operations. For example, if an explosion happens or one of our call signs is attacked we

Date

New man at Locomotion

A RESTORATION expert whose interest in steam began more than 30 years ago has taken charge of conservation at a North-East railway museum. Richard Pearson is the new workshop manager at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon where he will

Date

Make a new start despite the recession

A VILLAGE community association is helping residents take up new challenges that can help them through the recession. Tow Law Community Association has teamed up with voluntary, community, education and business organisations to run two information days

Date

Free taster sessions in Spennymoor

FREE taster sessions are being offered at Spennymoor School. A jewellery making workshop takes place this Monday, followed by Salsa dancing on Tuesday. A family history session takes place on July 14, and nail art on July 21. All sessions run from

Date

New memorial garden opens

A LONG running scheme to honour fallen servicemen and women from West Auckland came to fruition on Sunday. Villagers turned out in droves to see the West Auckland Pant Memorial Garden officially opened by members of West Auckland Parish Council. An

Date

Austin swops Quakers for Pools

Darlington defender Neil Austin has signed for Hartlepool United. The right-back becomes Chris Turner's fourth summer recruit and is the first player to move from Quakers to Victoria Park since Turner signed Neil Aspin on a short-term deal in 2001.

Date

Ripon Cathedral appeal to raise £350,000 to save 131-year-old organ

AN urgent appeal has been launched to raise £350,000 to help carry out repairs to a cathedral’s 131-year-old organ. Ripon Cathedral is running a year-long campaign to help to raise the funds needed to do the work to the organ. The instrument

Date

Compensation package for Northern Rock shareholders slammed as "unlawful and unfair"

THE Government's defence of its zero-return compensation scheme for former shareholders in the nationalised bank Northern Rock was attacked in court today as "unlawful, unfair and manifestly disproportionate". Individual shareholders - including

Date

Hearts agree to Sunderland date

SUNDERLAND will travel to Tynecastle on August 8 for a pre-season friendly with Hearts, just seven days before the Premier League season starts. And if £9m goalkeeper Craig Gordon can recover from injury time he will face his former club. Hearts finished

Date

Vaulkard raring to go on his return home

HARRY Vaulkhard heads home for the fifth round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship which takes place this weekend at Croft Circuit near Darlington on June 13-14. Tempus Sport driver Vaulkhard, 23, is Newcastle born and bred so Croft is his

Date

Help for older drivers

ROADSHOWS to help keep older drivers on the road safely for as long as possible are to be held in Thirsk and Stokesley. This Saturday, June 13. the roadshow is at the Golden Fleece Hotel, Market Place, Thirsk and on June 19 it is at the Town Hall, Market

Date

Emigration diary inspires exhibitions a world apart

IN 2003, Echo Memories published a series of extracts from a diary written by Jonathan Moscrop as he emigrated from Darlington to Dunedin. He left for a new life in New Zealand in January 1879, as the Albert Hill area where he lived was in the

Date

Orphan who aspired to be an architect of renown

A VICAR in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has written a book about “an obscure provincial architect”. This architect, John Middleton, has come to fascinate the vicar, the Reverend Brian Torode, as for nearly 40 years he has been associated with

Date

Why dad really feels put out

SO, new fathers get post natal depression, do they? Apparently, while many new fathers fall instantly and rapturously in love with their babies and the whole fatherhood experience, others don’t. Far from it. More men are admitting that instead

Date

An audience with the King

Ian Nelson became a bit of a legend as the sole journalist to interview Elvis the only time he set foot on British soil. THE king is dead; now so is the man who got the great Elvis exclusive. Ian Nelson, one of the best and most dedicated journalists

Date

Litter pickers competition in North Yorkshire

LITTER picker nominations are wanted for a national competition to mark the work of local groups who tidy up their area. Entries are needed for the Keep Britain Tidy awards which are held to honour those who look to make improvements locally. Hambleton

Date

Wind farm developments

THANKS to reporter Will Roberts for his excellent, balanced piece on wind farms (Echo, June 5). The supposed benefits of wind farms are much trumpeted. However, experience is now demonstrating a downside to wind farms near homes: some people

Date

Potholes

CYCLISTS like Aled Jones (HAS, May 27) have a better appreciation of the state of our Third World roads than most as we don’t have fat tyres and sophisticated suspension to absorb the shocks. However, there is a possibility of redress for injury

Date

Polling stations

BOTH football and cricket have a closed season. I think Hear All Sides should have a closed season on Labour-bashing and Gordon Brown-baiting and only allow letters that have a positive nature to them. I would like to see some humour, too. I would

Date

Civic hall refurbishment nears completion

THE refurbishment of Shildon’s Civic Hall has reached the final stages. The roof covering the main hall, and the frame for all the lower level roofing have been completed, and roof tiles are being fitted this week. Asbestos has been removed from the

Date

Electoral reform

THE MPs’ expenses debacle merely confirms what we have known for some time. Despite the efforts of some MPs, there is a culture at Westminster which is wholly unrepresentative of what is expected of politicians. Those elected usually aspire to

Date

Time for change

THIRD homes, barbecues, trips all over the world, adult films, oven gloves, bath plugs, even a box of matches – just a part of what MPs spend our money on. There is a website run by a registered charity which tracks MPs’ activities called theyworkforyou.com

Date

Holocaust

I DO not know precisely the number of extermination camp deaths under Hitler, but I think the point made by CT Riley (HAS, June 6) is worth making. It does not reduce the terrible losses of life suffered by Jewish people to acknowledge there were

Date

Northern Eco

CAN I congratulate The Northern Echo on its Northern Eco supplement (Echo, June 5) which gives a vivid picture of what private companies, voluntary bodies and state agencies are doing to make our part of the UK a cleaner and greener place in which

Date

In search for popularity

FROM the beginning of his troubled time at Number 10, Gordon Brown has talked of his ambition to build “a Government of all talents”, bringing in a succession of expert outsiders as key advisors. And his latest decision to use Sir Alan Sugar as

Date

Chamber of Commerce has new president

A KEY figure at one of the North-East’s companies has been sworn in as president of the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC). Martyn Pellew, development director of PD Ports, brings a wealth of experience to the role of president of NECC, the

Date

Obama got it wrong over D-Day

NOT much given to foreign travel, I can nevertheless claim one visit of rare distinction – though I didn’t properly appreciate it at the time. Back in 1951, when I was just 13, I was among what must have been the first visitors to the D-Day beaches

Date

No place, like home

Date

North-East businessman's laptop found in wreckage of downed Air France flight

THE laptop and boarding pass of a British oil executive have been found in the wreckage of the Air France that vanished over the Atlantic. But Arthur Coakley's wife Patricia said she will not be flying out to Brazil, even if her husband’s body

Date

Go-Ahead has its rail franchise renewed

TRANSPORT group Go-Ahead has had its franchise renewed to run the Southern rail service. The Newcastle company holds a majority stake in Govia, which it operates with French transport firm Keolis, and was yesterday told it had kept the right to

Date

Sir Alan calls on firms to employ apprentices

EMPLOYERS need to be taking on apprentices for the good of their own business, Sir Alan Sugar said yesterday. The leading businessman, famous for television’s The Apprentice where he picks a young person to employ and train, was in Gateshead

Date

VX Racing trio aim to be hot if the weather is cool at Croft

VX Racing will be looking for cooler temperatures this weekend as the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)heads to Croft Circuit near Darlington for the fifth round of the series. The team and its trio of drivers, reigning champion Fabrizio

Date

Kitchen outfit Magnet announces 17 job losses

KITCHENS manufacturer Magnet has become the latest company to be forced into redundancies by the recession, it was revealed last night. The company, whose manufacturing and distribution site in Darlington was involved in one of the longest

Date

Former Rock shareholders in fresh protest

FORMER Northern Rock shareholders turned the clock back two years yesterday by forming a queue to highlight their battle for “fair” compensation. In a reminder of the queues seen outside branches following the bank’s collapse in September 2007,

Date

Airport chief wants taxes scrapped

THE head of the region’s largest airport has urged the Government to follow the lead of the Netherlands by scrapping airport taxes. David Laws, chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, said the taxes were the single greatest threat

Date

North-East film-maker shows his talent on international screens

AN award-winning filmmaker from the region is enjoying silver screen success on the international film festival circuit. Mark Chapman, who was born in Bishop Auckland and whose family live in Spennymoor, County Durham, wrote and directed a short

Date

Victims’ dismay as attacker walks free

THE victim of a savage attack has slammed the justice system after meeting one of his assailants in the street after he was released only two months into a nine-month prison term. Mark Bates, of Saltburn, east Cleveland, and his elderly father

Date

The eggs factor

To be honest, I've never been a big fan of eggs - until that one landed on BNP leader Nick Griffin yesterday...

Date

Burke looks set to add to fine early season tally

KARL Burke could hardly have his string in better nick at present and he looks set to add to his fine early season tally courtesy of Jeanie Johnston at Haydock. The Middleham handler has enjoyed a week to remember over the last seven days, with

Date

Redcar joy for Dods

MICHAEL Dods sent out three runners for the Wedding Receptions At Redcar Racecourse Handicap but despite fielding the favourite, it was 20-1 shot Jimwil who hit the target. Stablemate Dean Iarracht was the 4-1 favourite for the Redcar heat, with

Date

health team wins award

NHS County Durham and NHS Darlington are pleased to announced that its Integrated Intermediate Care service in partnership with Durham County Council has been recognised for their excellent work in developing creative and effective ways of working at

Date

June Project to 'give something back'

MORE than 120 students and young people will take part in four days of voluntary work in their community. The group, from King’s Church, in Durham, will do gardening for the elderly, face painting for children and put on entertainment in the city centre

Date

Warner lands at Durham

TWENTY20 specialist David Warner arrived in Durham ahead of schedule yesterday following Australia’s early exit from the T20 World Championship. As he has played in only one first-class match for New South Wales, the 22-year-old left-hander is

Date

Injury leaves Vaughan a doubt for Somerset visit

MICHAEL Vaughan is a major doubt for Yorkshire’s next County Championship game after a recurrence of a knee injury – but his team are also licking their wounds after falling short against Sussex and a fourth successive draw. The former England

Date

Fearless cricket key for England

STUART BROAD is intent on continuing England’s fearless brand of cricket after shrugging off his final over drama against Holland to play a pivotal role in their progress to the second stage of the World Twenty20 tournament. Nottinghamshire seamer

Date

Suspected ‘big dealers’ arrested in drug raids

POLICE yesterday arrested seven people suspected of being some of the biggest street drug dealers in a North-East town. In a series of breakfast-time raids in the Bishop Auckland area, officers swooped on five homes of people allegedly involved

Date

Jones called up by Lions

WALES captain Ryan Jones was last night called up to join the British and Irish Lions Tour in South Africa. Jones will replace stricken Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris, who will miss the rest of the ten-match trip. Grand Slam winner Ferris, a

Date

Tuncay to leave Boro

TUNCAY SANLI insists he will be playing football in England next season but for the first time has publicly admitted it will not be in a Middlesbrough shirt. Blackburn, Everton and Liverpool have all shown an interest in the versatile 27- year-old

Date

White points finger after Luton switch

ALAN WHITE has aimed a parting shot at Darlington’s administrators who he blames for forcing him to quit his hometown club. The defender signed for Luton Town this week – the fifth player to leave Quakers this summer with more likely to follow

Date

Llambias denies interest in Newcastle from Singapore

AS senior officials denied claims that a Far East company were in talks to buy Newcastle United, Alan Shearer faces a long wait to hear if he will be the club’s next manager. Owner Mike Ashley is reluctant to make an appointment during his attempts

Date

Bruce keen to make no rush judgement

STEVE BRUCE will not make any quick decisions on the players he has inherited and chairman Niall Quinn has challenged every member of the Sunderland squad to prove they deserve to stay. When Bruce returns from a holiday he will put plans in place

Date

Capello won’t take it easy against Andorra

FABIO Capello has declared that now is not the time for England to experiment. The Italian’s team look to be facing the simplest task imaginable against Andorra as they look to complete a magnificent seven straight World Cup qualifying victories

Date

Tory MP defends gardening expenses

A TORY MP has defended expense claims she made for £5,000 for gardening work at her home in North Yorkshire. Anne McIntosh, the Vale of York MP, made the claims between 2004-8 for hedge trimming, lawn mowing and border work at her constituency

Date

Barriers erected to stop trespassing by travellers

POLICE have taken action to prevent a gateway into a historic town being used by travellers returning from Appleby Horse Fair. A mobile police base, a CCTV van and water-filled barriers have been deployed in Bridgegate, Barnard Castle, to prevent

Date

£1m proposal to restore a city’s historic bridge

ONE of the region’s most striking bridges needs repairs which could cost up to £1m, it has been revealed. Prebends Bridge, which stretches across the River Wear in the shadow of Durham Cathedral, Durham City, is more than 230 years old and is

Date

‘Rape victims face a postcode lottery’

RAPE victims face a “postcode lottery” over whether their attackers are brought to justice, it has been claimed. Figures show that Cleveland and North Yorkshire police areas have the best conviction rates in the country. In Cleveland, nearly one

Date

Teacher accused of stroking his pupils

A MALE teacher caressed the back and shoulders of a young girl during a school hall talk, a court heard yesterday. Neil Francis, 33, denies eight counts of sexual assault against three girls under 13 at a North Yorkshire primary school. It is

Date

Football coach dies in stairs fall

A POPULAR amateur footballer who died in an accident at his home was last night described as a brilliant player and a loving family man. Father-of-two Lance Weller, 36, was found dead in his house in Telford Drive, Darlington, on May 31. It is

Date

Fears for tourist missing in Spain

HOPES were fading last night for a North-East tourist who disappeared more than a week ago after going hiking in Spain. Michael Leslie Egglestone went missing on Sunday, May 31, after leaving his hotel to go walking in mountains near Alicante

Date

Accident causes traffic headache in Durham

TWO accidents on a busy roundabout on a city's main through road caused rush hour chaos today. The first collision involved a motorcycle and a taxi on the Leazes Bowl roundabout, on the A690 in Durham city centre, shortly before 9am. An ambulance attended

Date

Northern Rock shareholders head to court in compensation row

FORMER shareholders in Northern Rock return to court today in a renewed bid to overturn a Government compensation scheme which they say will result in their shares being valued at zero in the wake of nationalisation. Their lawyers will urge the Court

Date

Education, education, education

The Headline Game is played between The Northern Echo and TFM radio on air every morning at around 8.15. I have always argued that it is not only entertainment but educational - and now I have confirmation. A teacher has told me how

Date

Swine flu cases double at school

THE number of confirmed swine flu cases at a North-East school has doubled in 24 hours. Yesterday, it was reported that three pupils at Teesside High School, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, have swine flu. Last night, NHS officials said

Date

Pie-maker steps in to save engineering jobs

THE owner of a pork piemaker has bought a group of engineering businesses out of administration, saving 117 jobs. John Gatenby, owner of pork pie manufacturer Vale of Mowbray, has bought the business and assets of the Allerton Group and its