Shields Gazette (South Shields, England) back issues from June 2007:
They were my angels.
Jun 01, 2007 ... A GRIEVING father today spoke for the first time since he suffered horrific burns trying to save his daughters' lives. After spending weeks in hospital on a life-support machine, John Spence has finally been allowed home to help his wife Anita arrange the funerals of their ...
Takeover tycoon's hospital visit.
Jun 01, 2007 ... BILLIONAIRE Mike Ashley has visited Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd in hospital to talk takeovers. The sports tycoon, who owns a 41.6 per cent stake in the club, had earlier met board members at St James' Park for a discussion over United's future. The ...
Jobs are Kwik Safe.
Jun 01, 2007 ... KWIK Save workers in South Tyneside have been told their jobs are safe. The supermarket chain this week announced it is to close a third of its stores immediately, leading to the loss of up to 700 jobs. But South Shields branches in Harton and the Parkway Centre have ...
Scheme to help booze offenders.
Jun 01, 2007 ... CRIMINALS whose booze problems fuel their offending are to undergo treatment in a new scheme. Probation officers in South Tyneside will be involved in the programme, which aims to make offenders aware of the dangers of misusing alcohol has, as well as advice on lifestyle changes ...
Paul gets ball rolling for charity.
Jun 01, 2007 ... ENGLAND and Scotland will battle it out in memory of a football fan who lost his life to cancer. Sunderland AFC nut Paul Wallace has organised a football tournament to raise money for the British Lung Foundation. He has set himself a target of raising [pounds ...
Greta's a tower of strength.
Jun 01, 2007 ... A SELFLESS mother has been thanked with flowers by her daughter for being a tower of strength. Margaret Williamson, 51, of Austen Avenue, Biddick Hall, South Shields, is so grateful to her mother Greta Cant, 77, that she decided to do something special, so nominated her for our ...
Two of the best girls you could ever meet.
Jun 01, 2007 ... THE horrific burns are starting to show signs of healing, but the emotional scars will forever be etched on John Spence's heart. Since losing his two daughters in a tragic house blaze, the 37-year-old father has described life as "pure hell" for himself and wife Anita. ...
Looking forward to a Lotto relaxation.
Jun 01, 2007 ... LOTTERY winners Michael and Norma Eggleston haven't exactly been splashing the cash in the months since their windfall. The Jarrow couple - who scooped just over [pounds sterling]2.7m in March - are moving home and Mr Eggleston is re-living his youth after buying a Reliant ...
Travellers set up camp next to business park.
Jun 01, 2007 ... ANOTHER band of travellers has set up an illegal camp in South Tyneside, close to a business park. Ten caravans pulled up near PD Logistics and the former Fishwicks offices, just off Newcastle Road, South Shields, on Tuesday. Their arrival comes just a day after the ...
Raising cash to help baby Jake.
Jun 01, 2007 ... CHARITY fundraisers are aiming to raise about [pounds sterling]2,000 to help a baby battling one of the world's rarest medical conditions. Jake Roberts recently came through surgery at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital to repair his heart valves. Eight-month-old Jake was ...
Bridge raiders steal barriers.
Jun 01, 2007 ... METAL barriers with a scrap value of at least [pounds sterling]1,000 have been stolen in an overnight raid. The theft was discovered by a site manager during a routine check of an area of York Avenue, Jarrow, where contractors are working. Makers UK Ltd is carrying ...
Boy hurt after car accident.
Jun 01, 2007 ... A SEVEN-year-old boy suffered a broken wrist after being knocked over by a car. The youngster is said to have been struck by the Ford Fiesta after running into the road after his ball. The incident happened at about 4.20pm yesterday in Toner Avenue, Hebburn. ...
Hundreds expected at funeral.
Jun 01, 2007 ... HUNDREDS of friends and family are expected to turn out for the funeral of tragic sisters Tatum Leah and Demi Jade Spence on Thursday. They will be buried together at Harton Cemetery in South Shields after a joint service at St Lawrence The Martyr Church, Centenary Avenue, at ...
Lost vote dispute gains momentum.
Jun 01, 2007 ... A CANDIDATE'S legal challenge over a disputed election result is gaining momentum. Independent Ahmed Khan has had a petition lodged in London's High Court over the result of last month's local election in the Beacon and Bents ward in South Shields. Mr Khan hired a ...
Edwards to miss Gold Cup.
Jun 01, 2007 ... CARLOS EDWARDS looks set to miss Trinidad and Tobago's entire Concacaf Gold Cup bid in America this summer after yet another Carribbean wrangle over payments. Edwards - like Sunderland team-mates Dwight Yorke and Stern John - is one of several players who featured in last ...
Keane eyes major swoop.
Jun 01, 2007 ... ROY KEANE wants his first summer signing to be a big one - to signal the seriousness of Sunderland's Premiership intentions. The Black Cats boss has a list of targets he is working towards, and will also keep an eye on any talent which comes on the market as the close-season ...
D-day looms for Viduka deal.
Jun 01, 2007 ... IN-demand Mark Viduka will decide in the next 24 hours whether to join Newcastle United. The out-of-contract Middlesbrough striker, available on a free transfer, is mulling over offers from a number of clubs, including ...
United accept Parker offer.
Jun 01, 2007 ... NEWCASTLE United today accepted West Ham's bid for skipper Scott Parker. The midfielder - signed two years ago from Chelsea for [pounds sterling]6.5m - is on holiday in Portugal, and is waiting to discuss personal terms with the Hammers. The two clubs have agreed an ...
Sam: No mercenary signings for me.
Jun 02, 2007 ... SAM Allardyce has vowed not to bring any "mercenaries" to St James's Park. Newcastle United's new manager is closing in on his first piece of transfer business, having offered Middlesbrough's 31-year-old striker Mark Viduka a two-year contract. Allardyce made his ...
Roy's Pal backs his survival bid.
Jun 02, 2007 ... GARY Pallister reckons a fourth-bottom finish in the Premiership next season will represent success for newly-promoted Sunderland. But he says Roy Keane is the type of character who will be determined to achieve so much more than mere survival. "Roy doesn't want to ...
Missy the dog mothers two goslings.
Jun 02, 2007 ... YOU'D be forgiven for thinking Missy the dog was quackers. For the terrier has just become an unusual mother figure to goslings named Christmas Dinner and New Year's Eve. And the one-year-old border-cross Lakeland bitch has even started producing milk after having a ...
Town's retail future.
Jun 02, 2007 ... THE future of shopping in South Shields town centre is considered in a new report. The study makes recommendations for the future of retail across South Tyneside over the next 20 years. The report says: "The council has identified sufficient opportunities within and ...
Stadium terraces return bid 'unlikely'.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A COMEBACK for terraces at football grounds seems unlikely, despite calls for safe standing areas. A new report urging clubs to create safe standing areas has been launched by the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF). They claim theirs is a "well argued" case for a ...
Council's fab offers for health and fitness.
Jun 02, 2007 ... COUNCIL chiefs are on a mission to get South Tynesiders fit and healthy with a fantastic offer. Anyone who signs up for the free active card, free junior membership or the leisure card, star card and family memberships will get five free gym or swim sessions that can be used at ...
Chiefs decide fate of gas-blast flat.
Jun 02, 2007 ... HOUSING chiefs will decide next week whether to rebuild or demolish a property wrecked by a gas blast. The upstairs flat in Dean Road, South Shields, was blown apart last Sunday when the explosion destroyed the walls and roof. Now, insurers and structural engineers ...
School's return boosts business.
Jun 02, 2007 ... SIMONSIDE sisters Natalie Blackburn and Jade Wilson are homecoming dancing queens. They grew up and live on the estate and have been dancing and teaching dance for more than 20 years. Recently they re-established their dancing school Kings Dance Academy, at St ...
Celebrities rounding up golfers for tournament.
Jun 02, 2007 ... GOLF fans can enjoy a round with some of the north east's famous players - and help Jarrow Arrow Steve Cram win his latest sporting battle. The inaugural Prince's Trust Challenge Trophy celebrity amateur golf event will take place at Slaley Hall, Northumberland, on Thursday, ...
Rescued from rocks.
Jun 02, 2007 ... TWO teenagers had to be rescued from rocks after they were caught out by the rising tide. The youngsters were being cut off by water on rocks at the south end of Marsden Bay, South Shields. Tynemouth RNLI's inshore lifeboat was called out by the Humber Coastguard at ...
Charity's sew good.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A TOWN charity is hoping to have things all sewn up later this month. Mental Health in South Tyneside, based in Derby Terrace, South Shields, is celebrating Carer's Week from June 11 to 15. The group is holding a range of events and hopes to be able to ...
Sunshine hope for parade.
Jun 02, 2007 ... CIVIC leaders are hoping it doesn't rain on their parade this weekend. South Tyneside's new first lady, Coun Tracey Dixon, will head the annual Mayor's Sunday Parade which takes place in Whitburn tomorrow. And she's hoping for fine weather for the marchers heading ...
Santa's thanks for kind little helpers.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A SANTA has thanked passers-by who rushed to his aid to make sure his knee was safe for youngsters to sit on this Christmas. Darren Johnson, 36, from Harton Moor, South Shields, collapsed in the street earlier this month after a vein burst in his leg. A colleague ...
We'll spend nhs [pounds sterling]72m next year.
Jun 02, 2007 ... HEALTH chiefs in the region have defended a [pounds sterling]72m underspend - saying a surplus was always planned. North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA) said the money has not been lost to the NHS, having been carried forward to the current financial year. The ...
Carol hits out over claims on dyslexia.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A SOUTH Tyneside parent has hit back at an academic after he claimed dyslexia does not exist. Carol Thornton has a dyslexic son, Craig, 13, and says Durham University lecturer Professor Julian Elliott is talking "a load of rubbish". Prof Elliott hit the headlines ...
Little Kes is looking a for new owner.
Jun 02, 2007 ... KES isn't having much luck finding a new home - because she's too small. The five-year-old German Shepherd is overlooked by potential new owners because she's tiny in comparison to other dogs of her breed. She was handed in to West Hall Kennels in Cleadon five weeks ...
Riverside plan 'very exciting'.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A [pounds sterling]500m masterplan for the future of South Shields riverside has been enthusiastically adopted by senior councillors. The ambitious 20-year vision envisages the creation of 3,147 jobs. It portrays a working waterfront which incorporates a growing ...
Blaze at factory.
Jun 02, 2007 ... FIREFIGHTERS spent an hour tackling a blaze at a factory in Jarrow. Passers-by raised the alarm after spotting smoke pouring out of Kingston Engineering, at the Royal Industrial Estate, off Western ...
Stamping out thefts of bicycles.
Jun 02, 2007 ... CYCLISTS are invited to take part in a bike stamping event to secure their property. The free session has been organised by Jarrow's neighbourhood policing team as part of the town's annual festival. Free lights or locks will also be available for the first 30 ...
The ride way to see beautiful coastline.
Jun 02, 2007 ... VISITORS and residents in South Tyneside are being encouraged to get active on bike rides this summer. South Tyneside Council has launched its summer cycle hire scheme. Leisure chiefs say it is an ideal opportunity for all ages to experience the attractions of South ...
Home repairs halted as funding bid fails.
Jun 02, 2007 ... EXTERNAL repairs to homes in South Tyneside are being put on hold after housing chiefs failed to secure further investment. South Tyneside Homes received a one-star 'fair' rating following a recent inspection by the Audit Commission. A two-star rating would have ...
The race for life.
Jun 02, 2007 ... CANCER survivors from across South Tyneside will get on the tracks for an emotional all-night fundraising festival of hope and remembrance. The Cancer Research UK Relay For Life will take place at Monkton Stadium, Jarrow, on the weekend of July 14 and 15. The event ...
More time for firms to step up.
Jun 02, 2007 ... RISING demand for big cash prizes has seen the deadline for a major business awards scheme extended. The South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership (Step) 10th anniversary business awards will celebrate and reward the entreprenurual spirit in the local business community. ...
Students win praise for learning.
Jun 02, 2007 ... DOZENS of students have been honoured for excelling in everything from cookery to art and woodwork. Learning First presented 80 students with certificates during a ceremony at Jarrow Community Centre. Simon Bonnin, ...
Mutiny over ghost ships.
Jun 02, 2007 ... RESIDENTS today reacted with anger after a shipyard received the green light to scrap vessels just yards from their homes. A&P Tyne has been granted a certificate of lawfulness by South Tyneside Council to recycle ships at Hebburn riverside. But the decision has ...
Betty celebrates her centenary.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A JARROW woman is celebrating after hitting her first century. Betty Davey was born in Newcastle in 1907 and spent some of her childhood in rural Northumberland, before moving to Jarrow in 1933 with her late husband, John. The eldest of seven children, Mrs Davey went ...
You're looking mighty fine Sir Charles.
Jun 02, 2007 ... A MONUMENT to Jarrow's most famous industrial son has been restored to its former glory. The statue of shipbuilder Sir Charles Mark Palmer was removed from Jarrow Riverside Park, where it had been badly vandalised over the last 25 years, to make way for the [pounds sterling]185m ...
Where there's a will, there's a pill!
Jun 02, 2007 ... CHAMPIX, the brand name for varenicline, has been declared the most effective treatment yet to help smokers kick the habit. It has been given the thumbs up for use on the NHS after trials found almost half of those who took it managed to give up after a 12-week course. ...
Firm unveils plan to aid unemployed.
Jun 02, 2007 ... THE country's biggest employer of disabled people has unveiled plans to help those made jobless by the closure of its South Tyneside factory. The Remploy plant, at Bede Industrial Estate, Jarrow, which employs more than 30 disabled staff, is set to close and merge with another ...
Funeral for man knifed near home.
Jun 02, 2007 ... SILENTLY in the sunshine, hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final farewell to tragic Kevin Johnson. Just as the devoted dad would have wanted, friends, colleagues and family wore Sunderland AFC football shirts in tribute. Among the sea of red and white, the ...
Bid to help Macauley's Miracle Fund.
Jun 04, 2007 ... GENEROUS Gazette readers can help boost the Macauley Miracle Fund by taking part in our Internet auction. Signed football tops, mobile phones and spa days out - they're just a few of the lots going under a virtual Gazette hammer. Mum-of-three Helen Brown worked ...
Tragic teen saves five lives.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A TRAGIC teenager saved five lives when his grieving family agreed to his organs being donated after his death. Sean Martin, 14, from South Shields, died of a severe asthma attack just months after he was diagnosed with ...
Simon set for desert storm.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A FIREFIGHTER is exchanging blazes for a charity run in the scorching desert. Simon Johnson is getting ready for the ultimate race - the Gobi Desert Challenge - in Mongolia this month. The 30-year-old will trek across the barren, sun-baked landscape, crossing sand ...
Everyone has a book in them.
Jun 04, 2007 ... THEY say everyone has a book in them, and at the age of 52, Mike Atkinson has just seen his published. The science-fiction story, Combing Back Through Time: Paul Stapleton's Story, is set in Boldon and inspired by Mr Atkinson's interest in science and technology. He ...
Piece displays culture blend.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A SPECIAL piece of artwork representing the different cultures in South Tyneside has gone on display. It was created by a group of 13 men and women who attend English for Speakers of Other Languages classes in the borough. They have been working with Tyne & Wear ...
Parents giving tots 'best start'.
Jun 04, 2007 ... MORE children than ever before are benefiting from free early education, according to new figures. But South Tyneside is bucking the national trend, with the number of three and four-year-olds in nursery falling in recent years. This is due to the borough's falling ...
Give dogs chips to keep them safe.
Jun 04, 2007 ... VETS are warning animal owners to get their pets microchipped and make sure their details are up to date. This month is National Pet Microchipping month, and vets are reminding pet owners that the most effective way of identifying missing pets is using microchipping. ...
Staying healthy is all fun and games.
Jun 04, 2007 ... STAYING fit and healthy is top of the agenda at the moment. With computer games, DVDs and the Internet taking over children's lives, it's important to keep them outdoors and active. There was a whole host of free fun in South Marine Park last week to keep youngsters ...
Chemical plant manager set to retire.
Jun 04, 2007 ... THE boss of a Jarrow chemical plant will step down at the end of this month, it was announced today. Graham Cleland is retiring after more than a decade as site manager at Rohm and Haas. Since joining the company in 1996, Mr Cleland has overseen major changes at the ...
Safety by the sea.
Jun 04, 2007 ... PEOPLE are being urged to think safety as well as sand castles when taking a trip to the beach this summer. With the Summer Festival about to kick off, thousands of people will be heading for the coast to enjoy live music and entertainment. The warmer weather and ...
Jeff's special delivery for orphans.
Jun 04, 2007 ... WHEN Jeff Reid was asked to drive a van full of gifts to orphaned children in Lithuania, he didn't know how much it would change his life. Now the dad-of-two is preparing to set off on another 2,300 mile round trip to the city of Vilinus, armed with clothes, toys and treats. ...
Clearing space for new tunnel.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A FORMER nursing home in Jarrow has been flattened to make way for the [pounds sterling]185m second Tyne Tunnel. Demolition work was launched by Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) ahead of the start of the new Tyne crossing scheme next spring. ...
Appeal for new lollipop people.
Jun 04, 2007 ... COUNCIL chiefs are facing a crisis recruiting lollipop men and women. South Tyneside has the most school crossing patrol points in Tyne and Wear with 113, plus six mobile posts to cover for absences. But, like other local authorities, South Tyneside Council is having ...
Club could close after yob attack.
Jun 04, 2007 ... ONE of South Tyneside's oldest sports clubs could be forced to close after being targeted by vandals and drunken yobs. The committee of the Old Colliery Welfare sports ground in Boldon, used by local cricket and football teams, are reluctantly considering calling it a day. ...
Van-tastic day out.
Jun 04, 2007 ... OLD commercial vehicles of all shapes and sizes have been on show in South Shields. The Historic Commercial Vehicle Society (HCVS) celebrated its 25th annual Go Ahead Tyne-Tees Run, involving 190 vehicles more than 20 years old. The 50-mile run from Stockton ...
Pilot's lucky escape after crash-landing.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A PILOT had an incredible escape when his aircraft crashed into a field and flipped upside down. The 59-year-old, from East Boldon, walked free from the wreckage with just a few bruises after the accident, which happened near a stately home. Police say the pilot got ...
New lifeboat's first call.
Jun 04, 2007 ... A FISHING boat was towed back to shore by lifeboat crews after old nets got caught in its propeller. Sunderland RNLI's new Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Wolseley, was called into action for the first time to assist the 35ft vessel off Souter Point, Whitburn. The boat, with ...