From the great and the good, to the bad and the downright notorious, LINDSAY JENNINGS looks back at some of the memorable sayings of the year

JANUARY

"We hope the whale which visited the UK Houses of Parliament can act as ambassador for all whales, and that its death won't be in vain." - A spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare on the 18ft bottle-nosed whale which died after a failed rescue attempt in the Thames.

''What you learn after you are 40 is that it is just about plugging up holes in the boat. You just hope you have enough corks to plug enough of the holes.'' - Actor George Clooney on ageing.

"Do not give the police service any more money. The police service absorbs money like a sponge absorbs water. - Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon on Tory plans to reform the police service.

FEBRUARY

"If I asked 'why did you hurt mummy?' he would say 'what goes on in the family stays in the family'." - Bianca Gascoigne describing how step-father, England and Newcastle football legend Paul Gascoigne, was violent towards her mother, Sheryl, during her childhood.

"I think the vote today and this Bill will be seen as historic legislation on public health, equivalent to the legislation on seat belts some decades ago." - Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt after the Bill to ban smoking.

"People in my diocese have told me they are now frightened to express their opinions down at the pub on matters of considerable public interest for fear of being reported, investigated and perhaps even charged. I did not think that I would see such a thing in this country in my lifetime. - The Bishop of Durham, The Rt Rev Tom Wright, above, attacking Tony Blair's suppression of free speech.

"I think we need to keep it in perspective." - David Hirst, the RSPB's North-East information officer, on the media circus surrounding a possible bird flu epidemic.

MARCH

"I still have not found out why my son died. He did not commit suicide, he was shot once above each eyebrow from above. Nobody has convinced me that my son was not murdered." - The father of Private Geoff Gray speaking after a report into the death of his son at the Deepcut Army barracks.

"I am glad I clouted him. I am not that brave normally, but he had no business to be taking my purse." - Norah McGuckin, 73, after fighting off a would-be mugger in Chester-le-Street.

APRIL

"At the moment, there isn't a vacancy. I think personally it is highly unlikely, but that is a bridge that I think we all need to cross.'' - Darlington MP Alan Milburn, right, responding to Andrew Marr's question if he would run for leadership when Tony Blair steps down.

''She stood wearing nuffink except her high heels with her raspberry ripples out.'' - Stallholder on Victoria Beckham, when she arrived at London's Portobello Market.

"I don't have the life I wanted ahead of me and if he's guilty I want him to have no life now either." - Stephen Stables, the Spennymoor fiancee of Turkish bomb victim Helyn Bennett after the arrest of the suspected bomber.

MAY

"I am results-orientated and I am here to do a job. That is to win matches and make sure England win a major trophy over the next four years." - Tough talk from new England football boss Steve McClaren

"I have been called sick, but I don't think what I do is bad, I don't hurt anyone or cause any damage. I'm a very spiritual person, I think if you do good, you get good. Lot's of girls want to come and try and find out about it." - Sex slave master, Lee Thompson, above, of Darlington.

"It is not a very nice welcome to England, especially with it being in the first few hours, but I somehow have to blame myself because I take these risks, it's a fact of life." - German cyclist Heinz Stucke who had his bike stolen in Portsmouth after travelling around the world.

JUNE

"This was not about being ungallant or unpatriotic - these men were frightened and leaderless." - Stockton South MP Dari Taylor on the campaign to pardon soldiers shot for cowardice during the First World War.

''The trouble with the Labour Party is that power has made them complacent. Look at me, I am still a member and I can't be bothered to leave.'' - Writer Ben Elton.

"Erm... yes, I'm sure you could be - with a bit of practice." - Strictly Dance Fever winner Darrien Wright, of Darlington, lets reporter Lindsay Jennings down gently on her bid to become his new dancing partner.

JULY

''I am an awful sailor, but I don't vomit any more.'' - Actress Keira Knightley, on filming the Pirates Of The Caribbean series.

''There is nobody in the world like me. I think every decade has an iconic blonde, like Marilyn Monroe or Princess Diana, and right now I am that icon.'' - US socialite Paris Hilton, right.

"I was doing society a favour, but now I have stopped because it is not worth the hassle. I don't put dogs down any more, I did my last ones about a week ago." - David Smith of Seaham after causing a furore over his slaughtering of at least 10,000 ex race dogs.

AUGUST

''Sex, lies and videotape, the ultimate name for the Labour Party.'' - 007 favourite Sir Sean Connery, a supporter of the Scottish National Party.

"We use the rucksack as animals seem to find them more comforting. They get jumpy in the harness." - Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team member after rescuing a black Labrador from down a mine shaft.

''Jade Goody is part woman and part scientific blunder.'' - TV's Jeremy Clarkson on the former Big Brother contestant.

SEPTEMBER

''At Sandringham, I asked Prince Charles what he thought was the function of monarchy, and he replied in a world-weary way, 'I think we are a soap opera'.'' - News presenter Jeremy Paxman.

''As a small boy I asked why milk bottles were put outside the front door each night and was told it was to keep the elephants away. As an adult I have assiduously followed this principle and for 40 years have had no problems with elephants in my front garden.'' - Alan Wells, of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, in a letter to The Times.

OCTOBER

''Do you have double glazing?'' - Actor Nigel Havers recalls what the late Queen Mother asked him when he was presented to her after a Royal Command Film performance.

''Can you give me an example that I'm thick? Because I ain't.'' - Big Brother contestant Jade Goody.

NOVEMBER

"It was really frightening. I was going back to have a bust reduction but now I've cancelled it." - 'Carol', 43, of Middlesbrough, speaking after she nearly died following cut-price cosmetic surgery in the Czech Republic.

"I don't think anybody who knows me thinks I'm all that arrogant. . . well I am a bit. I don't make it easy for them." - Darlington-based entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, right, on the contestants who appear on Dragon's Den.

DECEMBER

"Bugger off - I work too hard for this." - Catherine Metcalfe, 62, who refused to hand her bag over to a pair of knife-wielding muggers in South Sheilds.

"There is no one or nothing - other than the grim reaper - who will stop me now." - Former Darlington FC chairman George Reynolds after being released from prison.

"I don't want to say too much, but I will say our marriage wasn't great. It wasn't good and I was glad when it ended." - Diane Cole of Hartlepool on her marriage to murder suspect Stephen Wright.

"We think Robbie has been a very bad boy." - Queensland Cancer Fund spokeswoman Sarah Greenback on Robbie Williams smoking on stage during a tour to Australia.