Looking Back

The craft's measurements were 22 feet long, five feet beam, and draws about 16 inches of water. The engine is of one horse power and the boiler tested up to 50lbs.

The trial run was of a very successful character, a speed of about six knots per hour being easily attained. On entering the River Tees, the steam yacht was christened Tugela.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - A 76-year-old Heighington man made the last of his 52 annual early-morning pilgrimages to Darlington police station and the Joseph Pease monument yesterday.

Ever since 1900, Mr Fred Sowerby has come into Darlington on May 2, at 4am, to speak to the policeman on duty and stand before the monument in memory of an occasion that changed his life.

As a 24-year-old apprentice to his father, he had disappeared from Heighington to tramp the country, spending what he could get on drink.

Early one morning, which happened to be May 2, he arrived in Darlington, cold, hungry and stranded. He had stolen a bicycle and went to the police station thinking it would be a good place to shelter.

But Insp W T Banks gave him a good talking to and ended by telling him to go and make a man of himself.

The young Fred walked away and, as he reached the Pease monument, which was incidentally unveiled on his birthday, he felt everything was becoming brighter and he would return home.

He went back to his father's business, and has since built it and taken a prominent part at Heighington church.

From this newspaper 25 years' ago. - The enthusiasm and foresight of those responsible for setting up Richmond Citizens' Advice Bureau was praised at the bureau's first annual general meeting.

Organiser Raymond Ralph said there had been 268 enquiries at the bureau since its opening at Frenchgate last October.

Queries covered all sorts of topics, including shopping, benefits and family problems. Many issues were particular to servicemen and their families.