FIVE years ago this week, a headteacher banned parents from wearing pyjamas and slippers when taking their children to and from a Darlington primary school.
Kate Chisholm, head of Skerne Park Academy, sent a letter to all parents of children at the school asking them to ensure they are appropriately dressed when dropping off and picking their children up from school.
She said, at the time, mums and dads wearing pyjamas were setting a bad example.
The school's clampdown won widespread support from other parents who take the time to get dressed before taking their youngsters to school.
Ms Chisholm told The Northern Echo a “small minority group” of around 50 parents – out of a school with 450 children – persisted in wearing their pyjamas on the school run.
She saida at the time: “We should be readying our children for the world out there. It may be acceptable for some parents round the school to wear their pyjamas outdoors, but I think it is a case that it isn’t commonly done in the rest of society.
“We are trying to prepare the children for the outside world and if parents think it is suitable to wear their pyjamas outside, then the children are likely to see it as normal too.
“Role models are a very important factor, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask parents to wash and put some clothes on before they come out.”
One parent posted the letter on social media where it received a positive response from other parents pleased that action was being taken.
Also that week, an Army mother made an emotional journey to see a picture of her son proudly displayed on the wall of a pub paying tribute to nation's fallen heroes.
Rose Gentle made the trip from Glasgow to the Don Bar, on Silver Street, Stockton, to see a picture of her late son Gordon, who was only 19 when he died whilst serving in Basra in Iraq in 2004.
Julie Cooper, who ran the Don Bar, had decked out the interior to turn it into a living war memorial.
The landlady made national headlines for turning the bar into a military pub with 70,000 Royal British Legion poppies on the walls and ceiling.
She asked Mrs Gentle if she could use Gordon’s picture alongside many other members of the Forces.
Mrs Gentle travelled down with her husband George and youngest daughter Maxine to see the picture of her son, who served in the Royal Highland Fusiliers.
She said a the time: "“I feel very emotional, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes
Later that week, gale force winds of more than 80mph left a trail of destruction across the North-East and North Yorkshire.
Overturned vehicles and uprooted trees caused chaos on the transport network, while thousands of homes and businesses were left without power as Storm Gertrude swept across the region.
At Durham Tees Valley, a light aircraft was blown on to its back by the wind, which was recorded as high as 80mph.
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