Teesdale Talk: Pipe band tunes in to new base

Let's hope all the neighbours enjoy the reels, marches and laments. Though this is a fresh line-up in just-bought Colquhoun tartan kilts, some faces will be familiar to spectators as they give stirring performances around the dale under Pipe Major Barry Waldron. Most of them were in Teesdale Pipes and Drums, an outfit popular all over the district, before switching its base over the county border and changing its name to Richmond Town Pipe Band. Barry, who lives in Staindrop, tells me they'll go on donning their Royal Stuart kilts to play under the Richmond tag but for gigs elsewhere in the region will use the new name and tartan. Why Rowan? Because the rowan tree is popular in Scotland, where highland crofters often planted one near their homes to drive away evil spirits. "We feel at times it will be better to have an individual name than one connected to a particular place," explained Barry. "Anyone wishing to learn will be welcome at the village hall." The band will make its debut at the Newgate Centre in Bishop Auckland tomorrow, encouraging shoppers to jig along merrily between 9am and 4pm.

After the note here last week about the drink called a twist (a mix of tea and coffee) Alan Davies rang from Ladyclose, Staindrop, to tell of a different version. He recalled that 50 years ago in engineering factories a twist was a spoonful of tea leaves and dob of condensed milk wrapped together in a piece of silver foil. Workers took one in each day in their sandwich boxes, and at bait time apprentices were given the task of brewing up for everyone. "They would open the twist, hold it above a mug or brew can and swill steaming hot water over it," said Mr Davies. "In those days men didn't seem to mind that bits of dirt or grease from the apprentices' fingers got into their tea, but I don't suppose the Health and Safety people would put up with it now." And I don't suppose modern apprentices would put up with having their fingers scalded either.

It looked as if a scruffy tramp had gatecrashed a lunch for senior citizens in Barnard Castle on Tuesday. But it turned out to be Anne Beckett-Wise, co-ordinator of the nine Day Clubs in the dale. She is usually shiny clean and immaculately clad but she turned up disguised as an old-style chimney sweep with soot-stained shirt, smudged face and flat cap. The clubs were staging a Victorian theme week, with many members sporting outfits from that era, so she joined in the fun. Elizabeth Steele, one of the judges, told me: "Many senior citizens made a wonderful effort. The results were superb."

The River Tees, which had been extremely low after the dry summer, rose rapidly at the start of this week after hours of heavy rain. The level dropped back after a day, but it was a reminder of tragic events that could follow downpours in the past, before Cow Green reservoir opened in 1971 and made it possible to impose some control over the flow. Before that the river was notorious for a flood roll which could gush down at murderous speed, washing away any man or beast unlucky enough to stand in its way. There were great floods which destroyed bridges in 1771 and 1829. Then in 1881 the Thorngate footbridge was sent crashing by a raging torrent as crowds watched from the banks, and two men standing on the structure were dashed to their deaths. One of the worst tragedies was during the Second World War when a squad of soldiers was drowned in a flood, but censorship meant few details could be published. Even in the 1960s there were cases of people standing on rocks in or close to the water and being swept away by a sudden roll. The Tees can still be volatile but Cow Green has certainly reduced the danger.

* I'll be glad to see anyone who calls with snippets of news at The Northern Echo office at 36 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, on Mondays and Tuesdays, telephone (01833) 638628.