Gadfly

Barclay Simpson: Collector of Richmond's worldwide

Town crier

The shell of the old control tower at RAF Skipton-on-Swale

The shell of the old control tower at RAF Skipton-on-Swale

The fate of Nielsen’s Nuthouse

ALE AND FAREWELL: The handsome pump clip

ALE AND FAREWELL: The handsome pump clip

Penultimate ambition

SANDY LANDING: A plane on the seaside runway on Barra, which opened at the same time as Gatwick.

SANDY LANDING: A plane on the seaside runway on Barra, which opened at the same time as Gatwick.

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Small wonder

LADDER GANG: The Beatles clowning around at Sunderland Empire

LADDER GANG: The Beatles clowning around at Sunderland Empire

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Screaming pitch

GUILD WARDEN: Chairman of the Durham City Freemen, John Heslop, at Durham Town Hall.

GUILD WARDEN: Chairman of the Durham City Freemen, John Heslop, at Durham Town Hall.

Freeman fighters

SPOT PRIZE: Dominoes players at Hogan's Bar, Victoria Road, Darlington. From left, Peter Hammond, Dave Briggs, Iain Bright and Barry Smith.

SPOT PRIZE: Dominoes players at Hogan's Bar, Victoria Road, Darlington. From left, Peter Hammond, Dave Briggs, Iain Bright and Barry Smith.

Dom and blast

ALL IN THE NAME: a Bishop Auckland landmark has gained a little rejuvenation thanks to Durham County Council.

ALL IN THE NAME: a Bishop Auckland landmark has gained a little rejuvenation thanks to Durham County Council.

A lot of bottle

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL: Great man, great snorer.

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL: Great man, great snorer.

Great snoring

Firefighters attend the scene of a fire at the old Bishop Auckland Grammar School, in March 2007.

Firefighters attend the scene of a fire at the old Bishop Auckland Grammar School, in March 2007.

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Skinny dipping

OLD BOYS: Osama bin Laden and Dom Joly attended the same school.

OLD BOYS: Osama bin Laden and Dom Joly attended the same school.

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Bin Laden: the Darlington connection

THE RAT RACE: Hartlepool’s little gem is the smallest pub in Britain.

THE RAT RACE: Hartlepool’s little gem is the smallest pub in Britain.

Small beer

COURAGE UNDER FIRE: How Dennis Donnini's bravery and ultimate sacrifice were reported in The Northern Echo.

COURAGE UNDER FIRE: How Dennis Donnini's bravery and ultimate sacrifice were reported in The Northern Echo.

For valour

SIR HECTOR MACDONALD: Could he possibly be the model for the Camp Coffee colonial soldier?

SIR HECTOR MACDONALD: Could he possibly be the model for the Camp Coffee colonial soldier?

Cornish pastiche

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Whatever happened to the fourth finger on the cafe signpost?

SIGN OF THE TIMES: Whatever happened to the fourth finger on the cafe signpost?

Germany calling

GLORY DAYS: Kelly McLoughlin pours 'monkey's blood' on a knickerbocker glory at her parents cafe, the Cafe Bungalow, Roker.

GLORY DAYS: Kelly McLoughlin pours 'monkey's blood' on a knickerbocker glory at her parents cafe, the Cafe Bungalow, Roker.

Monkeys’ business

ALL-DANCING: 'Lady Gaggia' demonstrates the coffee machine at Rossi's, in Bishop Auckland

ALL-DANCING: 'Lady Gaggia' demonstrates the coffee machine at Rossi's, in Bishop Auckland

The Anglo-Italian job

VIDEO STAR: David Walsh as Henry VIII in the mystery YouTube clip.

VIDEO STAR: David Walsh as Henry VIII in the mystery YouTube clip.

Loving Shepherd?

Even the Guardian had noticed that the grey pot had matched the colour of her outfit and thought it quite chic. - Ffion and William Hague pictured at the Royal Wedding.

Even the Guardian had noticed that the grey pot had matched the colour of her outfit and thought it quite chic. - Ffion and William Hague pictured at the Royal Wedding.

Foreign bodies

The Reverend David Grieve in the Shrine of St Bruno.

The Reverend David Grieve in the Shrine of St Bruno.

Pipe dreams

Silverlink Retail Park, Wallsend.

Silverlink Retail Park, Wallsend.

Silver threads

SUNNY INTERVAL: Seathwaite dries out.

SUNNY INTERVAL: Seathwaite dries out.

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Ad lib, ad fib

BIRTHDAY BOY: Leonard Nimoy has just reached 80

BIRTHDAY BOY: Leonard Nimoy has just reached 80

Spock the difference

THE GOOD BOOK? Congregation member Margaret Kidd looking at the Bible exhibition in St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.

THE GOOD BOOK? Congregation member Margaret Kidd looking at the Bible exhibition in St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.

Wicked ways

THE REDCAR SPECIAL: The excursion platform would be teeming with passengers during the summer months

THE REDCAR SPECIAL: The excursion platform would be teeming with passengers during the summer months

Dim views

INTO THE SHADOWS? The Toc H lamp, held up by Canon Neville Vine, no longer burns so brightly.

INTO THE SHADOWS? The Toc H lamp, held up by Canon Neville Vine, no longer burns so brightly.

Tubby’s army

FATHER KEITH NEWTON: Leader of the Anglican church’s seceding groups – and owner of a huge hat

FATHER KEITH NEWTON: Leader of the Anglican church’s seceding groups – and owner of a huge hat

Catholic tasters

BLOGGING ON: Hairdresser Nigel Dowson, pictured with daughter Leanne Jones, believes home cutting is a false economy

BLOGGING ON: Hairdresser Nigel Dowson, pictured with daughter Leanne Jones, believes home cutting is a false economy

Hair raising

COMEDY CAPERS: Comedian Joe Lamb – better known as Joe King

COMEDY CAPERS: Comedian Joe Lamb – better known as Joe King

Just joking...

Gareth Watchman, the region’s own Milky Bar Kid

Gareth Watchman, the region’s own Milky Bar Kid

Chocs away

DIY DAYS: Dave Burdon outside the greenhouse his father built from scrap bits and pieces

DIY DAYS: Dave Burdon outside the greenhouse his father built from scrap bits and pieces

Poker games

OVER AND OUT: Michael Clarke is bowled out at the Gabba in Brisbane

OVER AND OUT: Michael Clarke is bowled out at the Gabba in Brisbane

Fell guy

CATCHING THE FLYER: It’s full steam ahead for the nostalgic with a version of The Railway Children featuring a real steam train

CATCHING THE FLYER: It’s full steam ahead for the nostalgic with a version of The Railway Children featuring a real steam train

Just the ticket

SOMETHING MISSING: Success has eluded the Magpies at St James’ Park

SOMETHING MISSING: Success has eluded the Magpies at St James’ Park

The S-factor

POOR IMAGE? The Sorrel String Quartet, which played at Richmond’s Georgian Theatre

POOR IMAGE? The Sorrel String Quartet, which played at Richmond’s Georgian Theatre

Why Sorrel is still the hardest word

SWANNING ABOUT: The wintry scene at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street

SWANNING ABOUT: The wintry scene at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street

Stiff competition

NO LAUGHING MATTER: The fire-damaged shell of the former King James I Grammar School

NO LAUGHING MATTER: The fire-damaged shell of the former King James I Grammar School

Old school

John Giles’ picture of Shildon war memorial, taken in 2004

John Giles’ picture of Shildon war memorial, taken in 2004

Glowing tributes

INTREPID: Gertrude Leather, who travelled the length of the country by bus

INTREPID: Gertrude Leather, who travelled the length of the country by bus

End-to-enders

Pat Woodward with the engraving showing washing hanging outside Durham Cathedral

Pat Woodward with the engraving showing washing hanging outside Durham Cathedral

Cleanliness next to godliness

VEST IN PEACE: The washing line in the churchyard at St Mary’s, Arkengarthdale

VEST IN PEACE: The washing line in the churchyard at St Mary’s, Arkengarthdale

A direct line to heaven?

GARSDALE STATION: Perfect stop-off on a romantic journey

GARSDALE STATION: Perfect stop-off on a romantic journey

Love me ten-der

TO DIE FOR: Linger and Die, the birthplace of reader MJ Murray, has long since faded away. His home, No 8, is on the left of the row, pictured in 1936

TO DIE FOR: Linger and Die, the birthplace of reader MJ Murray, has long since faded away. His home, No 8, is on the left of the row, pictured in 1936

Dull, but never boring

IS IT A SIGN?: Packhorse bridge at World’s End, Sowerby

IS IT A SIGN?: Packhorse bridge at World’s End, Sowerby

In the name of cod

SMALL TALK: Jack Black as Gulliver in Lilliput, after which a place in Dorset is named

SMALL TALK: Jack Black as Gulliver in Lilliput, after which a place in Dorset is named

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Barking, but Brill?

Buffet Bar at StalyBridge Station

Buffet Bar at StalyBridge Station

North-west passage

Milestone Monday

HIGH POINTS: Mickle Fell is 2,585ft and the highest point in 'old' Yorkshire.

HIGH POINTS: Mickle Fell is 2,585ft and the highest point in 'old' Yorkshire.

A-Huntingdonshire we will go

IN DEMAND: Jellyatrics at the Mind charity shop in Yarm

IN DEMAND: Jellyatrics at the Mind charity shop in Yarm

Sweet talk

MOVEABLE FEAST: The label tells of a far-off location

MOVEABLE FEAST: The label tells of a far-off location

What sauce

MEMORABLE: Denis Weatherley is remembered for his wit and humour

MEMORABLE: Denis Weatherley is remembered for his wit and humour

Chaos rising

FARMERS’ FIESTA: A ‘radiant’ Queen Mother at the 1962 Royal Show

FARMERS’ FIESTA: A ‘radiant’ Queen Mother at the 1962 Royal Show

Herd instincts

BANNER BOY: Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson

BANNER BOY: Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson

Peer review

HOME, SWEET HOME: Stanley Crook main street

HOME, SWEET HOME: Stanley Crook main street

Coal mine to ermine