Just back from speaking to the University of the Third Age in Cockerton, Darlington.

A lovely, receptive audience included two blasts from the past.

Bob Beevors, the personnel manager when I arrived at The Northern Echo in 1984, was there with his familiar smiling face.

And Sandy Hood, my landlady when I moved into Darlington to attend the journalism course at the technical college in 1980.

Sandy and husband Malcolm looked after me at their house in Southend Avenue and she made the best lemon meringue pie ever.

It was great to see them.