THIS week five years ago, a Michael Jackson superfan combined her passion for the King of Pop with her love of baking to create a confectionary masterpiece of her then hero – almost entirely with Rice Krispies.
The Northern Echo’s report on the confectionary king of pop
Sonya Todd, then from Sowerby, near Thirsk, said as an amateur baker she fancied exhibiting at Cake International, the UK’s biggest cake and decorating show in Birmingham held in March and November.
And she had no trouble in deciding what the subject of her creation would be – a tribute to Michael Jackson.
But her ideas grew from just his hat and shoes to a life-size replica of the Man in the Mirror, complete with size nine shoes.
She said at the time: “He was almost the Man in Madeira because my first attempt was using sponge cake, but I found it went off too quickly when trying to build all five feet and nine inches of him.
Mrs Todd, whose 12-year-old daughter Evie was also a budding baker, set herself the task of modelling MJ after her friends at Two Bees bakery in Thirsk suggested she enter an exhibit for Cake International when she expressed an interest in attending.
Also that week, a passionate little girl had joined forces with then world-famous author Philippa Gregory in the fight to save Darlington's Crown Street Library.
Bestseller Philippa Gregory with Lucy Miller at the time
The Northern Echo’s report on the author and young girl
Then Eight-year-old Lucy Miller called on youngsters across the town to join her in opposing its potential closure due to swingeing budget cuts.
The Reid Street Primary School pupil penned a moving letter to Darlington Borough Council after hearing of the proposals to shut the library she loves.
Headed by a colourful drawing of the Victorian building, the letter spoke of Lucy’s love of books, the kindness of librarians and the importance of libraries for older people.
Lucy showed the letter to bestselling author and historian Philippa Gregory, who visited Darlington to sign The Northern Echo’s Save Crown Street Library petition.
Ms Gregory said the support of youngsters in the battle was vital and encouraged others to follow in Lucy’s footsteps.
Also that week, a collection of rare Viking artefacts had gone missing from an historic North-East church.
A fragment of a Medieval cross slab carved with a small sword
The Northern Echo’s report on the Viking artefacts
A trio of sculptured stones dating back to early Medieval times were reported stolen from All Saints Church, in Sockburn, near Darlington, after church members discovered the pieces had vanished.
Police began investigating the possible theft, but the valuable Viking remains could have gone missing at any point since September 2015.
The collection of nationally-important stones are rare surviving examples of 9th and 10th Century Viking artefacts and police believe thieves could have removed the carved blocks for a number of reasons.
PC Simon Hopper, an officer investigating the case, said at the time: “These items have significant historical value and might have been taken by someone with a genuine passion in this field."
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