The Northern Echo back issues from March 2008:
Joy as 'feral' killers locked up for life
Mar 01, 2008; ... A JUDGE last night expressed his fears over the levels of teenageviolence as he sentenced three "feral" youths for the murder of adisabled man.Judge John Mitford urged the Government to look againat the minimum sentence for juvenile murder as he sentenced WilliamHughes, Marcus Miller and ...
Animal officers cull wrong bluetongue cow
Mar 01, 2008; ... A COW imported into the region with bluetongue virus was notculled for more than a month - after officials destroyed the wronganimal.The Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)has admitted that an administrative error led to a healthy cow beingculled on a farm in Great ...
Strengthening cultural relationships
Mar 01, 2008 ... CHILDREN who keep the tradition of clog dancing alive in one ofthe region's smallest schools have helped politicians strengthencultural links with South Africa.A delegation from the Eastern Cape,led by their prime minister Premier Balindlela, visited WearheadPrimary, in County Durham, to ...
It's everyone for tennis with Tony's tournament
Mar 01, 2008; ... TONY BLAIR arrived in Sunderland from Rwanda yesterday to launchhis inaugural tennis tournament.Hundreds of primary schoolchildrenfrom across the region will take part in this summer'scontest."Tennis is a game you can play when you are seven or eight,or 70 or 80, " said Mr Blair. "I only ...
Falling tree traps elderly woman
Mar 01, 2008; ... A PENSIONER was seriously injured and her friend needed hospitaltreatment after they were struck by a tree blown over in gale forcewinds.The winds battering the region yesterday were expected tocontinue today, with gusts of up to 65mph.The injured woman, aged68, was treated by a local ...
First stage of redevelopment completed
Mar 01, 2008 ... A FORMER neighbourhood of terrace streets is being given a multi-million pound new look.The long-awaited revamp of the West Lane Eastarea of Middlesbrough moved a step closer to reality with thecompletion of the first phase of more than 130 homes.Regenerationbosses are delighted with the ...
Campaigners celebrate reprieve for Red Cottage
Mar 01, 2008; ... CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after winning the latest battle tosave an Edwardian home from being transformed into flats.Developershave withdrawn their appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to overturna decision preventing them from demolishing Red Cottage, inNunthorpe, Middlesbrough, and ...
Hear all sides
Mar 01, 2008 ... TRAVEL PASSES TYNE and Wear residents holding Nexus concessionarypasses for local bus travel will be sent their new national passesautomatically.This applies to anyone aged 60 or over, or disabled,who holds a Tyne and Wear pass.I make this point because your reportabout the free travel ...
No rise in council tax for fourth year in a row
Mar 01, 2008; ... COUNCIL taxpayers have been told their district council will notincrease the amount it charges for its services - for the fourthyear running.Derwentside District Council leader Councillor AlexWatson said: "I am delighted that, once again, members have votednot to increase our part of the ...
Blind Stevie in need of a home
Mar 01, 2008 ... A CHARITY that cares for homeless pets is appealing to animallovers to take in a dog which has been blind since birth.Stevie, aone-year-old black Labrador cross, arrived at Stray Aid, in Coxhoe,two weeks ago, having been picked up by a dog warden inDerwentside.Helen Metcalfe, a volunteer ...
Simone has designs on shop success
Mar 01, 2008 ... A YOUNG woman with a passion for interior design has set up abusiness in her home town.Simone Ward, 23, from Northallerton, hasopened Simone's Curios, in Friarage Street, Northallerton.The shopsells new and second-hand furniture, a wide range of mirrors and avaried selection of clocks, ...
Chocolate eggs hid [pounds]2,700 heroin
Mar 01, 2008; ... A HEROIN addict who started dealing to pay off drug debts hasbeen jailed for three years.Kevin Lochrie, 36, of Church Street,Ferryhill, was caught with [pounds]2,700 worth of the drug hidden inchildren's chocolate eggs.He was stopped by police in Ferryhill towncentre on December 30, and ...
Concerns at plan for supported housing
Mar 01, 2008; ... CONCERNS have been raised regarding plans to build housing forvulnerable women and children close to a railway line.BroadacresHousing Association has applied for permission to build a supportedhousing scheme for women and children in Hambleton.The developmentaims to provide a place of ...
Matchmakers' perfect match
Mar 01, 2008 ... A COUPLE who met while matchmaking for friends have celebratedtheir diamond wedding anniversary.William and Sarah Thompson startedcourting in 1947 after meeting at a dance in Spennymoor Town Hallwhere they had each set up their friends on a date.It was their lovethat endured, and the ...
Hear all sides
Mar 01, 2008 ... DARLINGTON FC I'VE read many of the letters about Darlington FCover the past few weeks and I find it unbelievable that mostcomments are so negative.I moved to Darlington in 1968 and decidedthat, as I was staying in the town, I'd support the local team. ThisI've done for 40 years.I've ...
Man jailed for attack on partner in home
Mar 01, 2008; ... A MAN who beat up his young girlfriend a year after he attackedhis then wife was jailed after a judge heard of his attitude towardswomen.After he was arrested for the assault on Rachel Griffiths,Neil Wilkinson said: "I could really do with killing her, but I'vegot better control than ...
Friends set out looking for fight near school
Mar 01, 2008; ... THREE friends involved in a fight with pupils near a school willbe locked up if they get into any more trouble in the nextyear.Casper Scallen, Andrew Swindon and Ian Fawcett all receivedsuspended prison sentences yesterday after they admitted their partin the affray.A judge told them ...
Pub-goers raise [pounds]2,000 for air ambulance
Mar 01, 2008 ... THE Great North Air Ambulance has received a boost thanks to thegenerosity of pub-goers.Ann McGroarty, the manager of the TurnersMill, Redcar, handed over a cheque for [pounds]2,000 following ayear of fundraising events.The money was collected ...
Hard work adds up to success
Mar 01, 2008 ... A TEENAGER has taken the square root to success by coming top ofhis school in a national maths challenge.Jamie Currie, who is inyear ten at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, achievedthe school's best mark in the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge.With ascore of 100 out of 130, ...
Wedding memories lost in theft of laptop
Mar 01, 2008; ... A LAPTOP stolen during a house burglary contained weddingpictures taken by a professional photographer.The computer was soldand has never been recovered, meaning that some couples have lostcherished memories.Roofer Peter Moutter, 27, of Fairy Street,Hetton, earned [pounds]25 for his part ...
Teesdale Talk - Doomed bootmaker who sailed away to find his fortune
Mar 01, 2008; ... RICHARD GREENE has sent me fascinating details from Australiaabout two of his Teesdale ancestors, John and William Wholah, wholived in Middleton before emigrating more than 150 years ago.John,who was a bootmaker in the village, sailed off first in 1854 to seekhis fortune as a gold miner ...
For pupils, Fairtrade bakes the biscuit
Mar 01, 2008 ... CHILDREN cooked up a better deal for developing world farmers,during a Fairtrade baking day.Youngsters from St Hild's College CEAided Primary School, in Durham City, made cakes using Fairtradeingredients, to round off a week of learning about the ethicalshopping scheme.Yesterday, they ...
Alcohol control zone bid to tackle disorder in town
Mar 01, 2008; ... POLICE hope new measures giving them extra powers to crack downon drink-related disorder in and around Bedale will be in place inthe next few months.Bedale is one of the latest towns in Hambletondistrict to be nominated for alcohol control zones in response toproblems that have led to ...
Councillors' anger over police call for tax increase
Mar 01, 2008; ... COUNCILLORS who pegged their council tax at the same level aslast year have hit out at the 4.97 per cent rise demanded by DurhamPolice.All parties on Wear Valley District Council condemned thepolice authority's increase, which followed a much-criticised 34.65per cent jump last ...
Guides throw surprise party for retiring leader
Mar 01, 2008 ... A STALWART of Girl-Guiding in Darlington has reluctantly retiredfrom her troop after 43 years of service to theorganisation.Victoria Bagshaw stepped down as leader of HurworthGirl Guides on Thursday - her 65th birthday and 24 years after shebecame leader of the group.Former Guides and ...
Council tax rise criticised by opposition councillors
Mar 01, 2008; ... OPPOSITION groups have criticised an inflation-busting rise incouncil tax for residents in Darlington.As reported in yesterday'sNorthern Echo, Darlington Borough Council has approved a 4.9 percent rise in council tax from next month.Council leader JohnWilliams defended the rise at ...
Lost symbol turns up after 30 years
Mar 01, 2008 ... A LOST symbol of local government in two NorthEast towns hasturned up more than 30 years after it was last seen.Officers at WearValley District Council, in County Durham, searched safes in theCivic Centre at Crook to find a 60-year-old gold medallion from anold council chain.The 4in ...
Health secretary asked to look into 150 per cent rise
Mar 01, 2008; ... HEALTH Secretary Alan Johnson is being urged to investigate a 150per cent pay rise granted to the chairman of North Tees andHartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.Magistrate Russell Hart, a formerleader of Hartlepool Borough Council, has seen his annual wageincrease from [pounds]20,000 to ...
A centenarian? Me? But surely I'm only 25
Mar 01, 2008; ... GWEN DARWIN celebrated her 25th birthday yesterday - with a cardfrom the Queen congratulating her on 100 years on the planet.But itwas no administrative error - like one in 1,461 people who are oftencalled leaplings, she was born on February 29, a date that onlycomes around every four ...
Autistic artist nets record deal online
Mar 01, 2008; ... A YOUNG man with autism has been offered a record deal by a US DJafter posting his music on the internet.Rory Hoy, 20, fromKnaresborough, North Yorkshire, was contacted at the end of lastyear by prolific underground dance music star Freddy Fresh, who hadheard his work via his Myspace ...
Girl power
Mar 01, 2008; ... When Hollywood gets hold of English history, there's bound to becontroversy. Steve Pratt talks to the three stars of the latestTudor blockbuster - an Australian and two Americans - aboutetiquette, accents and the English weatherHENRY VIII is talking inan Australian accent. On one side of ...
A tax that got out of the bag
Mar 01, 2008 ... CONGRATULATIONS to Marks and Spencer for introducing its 5pcharge for plastic bags. It has forced the Government to withdrawthe 1.2 million bags it gives out a year, and we hope othersupermarkets and shops follow suit.Although super-convenient,plastic bags are an environmental menace.We ...
Hell hath more fury than this
Mar 01, 2008; ... IT wasn't much of an earthquake. My wife woke me at 12.59am onWednesday to complain that the room was rattling and her water glasswas tinkling beside the bed. Out of one eye, I assessed thesituation, realised that the world was shaking in a way that made mefeel so profoundly drunk that I ...
Hear all sides
Mar 01, 2008 ... COUNCIL TAX IT is surprising Councillor Mark Wilkes is attackingothers about council tax (HAS, Feb 20).Indeed, it was his ownLiberal Democrat-run Durham City Council which was the only localauthority in County Durham not to propose any kind of plan toimprove services and provide better ...
At your service - Closer encounter
Mar 01, 2008; ... A joint Anglican-Methodist operation, Woodhouse Close church, inBishop Auckland, celebrates its community festivalWOODHOUSE Close isa post-war housing estate on the edge of Bishop Auckland withproblems of drink and drugs, poverty, petty crime and what thephraseologists call social ...
Something for th eweekend
Mar 01, 2008; ... Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory (tomorrow, C4, 9pm)Love Soup(tonight, BBC1, 9pm)WILLIE Harcourt-Cooze is a chocoholic. He livesand breathes chocolate. He grows it, he cooks with it, he sells it,he talks about it constantly."This is my 100 per cent bar, " he saysproudly, displaying a ...
In the picture - Rock 'n' roles
Mar 01, 2008; ... FORMER EastEnders actress Michelle Collins is not one to let thelegacy of being a soap star get to her. But even she was put out byrumours last year that her character Cindy was set to return toAlbert Square.This would've been tricky, as she died in the series.But that didn't stop the ...
Bingo-lover Wheater hits Boro jackpot
Mar 01, 2008; ... MIDDLESBROUGH defender David Wheater may celebrate signing hisnew contract in his local bingo hall after committing his immediatefuture to the club.Wheater yesterday followed the example recentlyset by Stewart Downing and Andrew Taylor when he signed a new three-anda-half-year deal, ...
Keeper warns of Alves danger
Mar 01, 2008; ... HAVING already been on the receiving end of a number of AfonsoAlves pile-drivers on the training ground, Mark Schwarzer is warninghis fellow Premier League goalkeepers to expect fireworks fromMiddlesbrough's record signing in the final two months of theseason.Alves made his first Boro ...
Southgate seeks the positives from FA rap
Mar 01, 2008; ... MIDDLESBROUGH manager Gareth Southgate believes the FootballAssociation's decision to further punish Jeremie Aliadiere after theclub's appeal against his red card at Anfield last Saturday willhave a galvanising effect on the Teessiders.The Boro boss is stillannoyed at the FA's ruling to ...
Early struggle merely par for Keegan course
Mar 01, 2008; ... TO some, the first six games of Kevin Keegan's second spell incharge of Newcastle United have come as something of a surprise.Tothe Magpies manager himself, however, they are merely par for thecourse.For all that Keegan's first managerial reign brought a numberof spectacular successes, ...
Prica putting golf on hold as he eyes Premier safety
Mar 01, 2008; ... KEEN golfer Rade Prica has only one driving ambition at present -to help ensure Sunderland are playing Premier League football nextseason.The club's latest Swedish import may have one eye on thegreens at Wynyard Golf Club but he he is firmly focused on the jobin hand at the Stadium of ...
Nelson wants to see Pools discover their mean streak
Mar 01, 2008; ... AFTER being part of the meanest defence of them all last season,Micky Nelson is hoping for a return to those ways as soon aspossible.While Pools kept clean sheets galore last season as theywere promoted from League Two - 25 shut-outs was a new club record -this season, it's been a ...
Penney has no time for life outside promotion places
Mar 01, 2008; ... AFTER dropping out of the automatic promotion places on Tuesdaywhen Peterborough won at Wrexham, Darlington manager Dave Penney isdetermined to ensure their stay outside the top three is onlytemporary.Twenty-five of Darlington's 32 league games this seasonhave seen Penney's men occupy a ...
Whitehead only survivor from where it all began for Keane
Mar 01, 2008; ... EIGHTEEN months after heading to Pride Park for his first game inmanagement, Roy Keane returns to where it all started this afternoonwith an instant reminder of how things can change in football.Withmidfielder Liam Miller likely to be omitted after being put on thetransfer list, Dean ...
Saturday Spotlight - Injury-free Duff can strut his stuff
Mar 01, 2008; ... Damien Duff today faces Blackburn Rovers, the club where he firstmade his name as a winger of much promise.Scott Wilson caught upwith the Newcastle man ahead of the gameIF any Newcastle supportersthink Damien Duff's seemingly inseparable relationship with injurystarted when he joined the ...
Penney determined to see Quakers cement top-three place
Mar 01, 2008; ... AFTER dropping out of the automatic promotion places withPeterborough's win at Wrexham on Tuesday, Darlington manager DavePenney is determined to ensure their stay outside the top three isonly temporary.Twenty-five of Darlington's 32 league games thisseason have seen Penney's men occupy ...
Long rest won't take the Edge off Joe's run
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKING racehorses is a perilous business, but at leastsupporters of Doncaster-bound Joe's Edge (3.30) know he's capable ofwinning despite a long lay-off.Last year Joe's Edge proved hiseffectiveness when fresh by defying a four-month break to bagCheltenham's William Hill Handicap Chase ...
Fingers crossed for Kate
Mar 01, 2008; ... NEVERTIKA (3.15) bids to give Kate Walton the biggest trainingsuccess of her career by lifting Newbury's highly sought-afterConnaught Gold Cup.Giant killing is in Walton's nature and thediminutive Middleham handler is not afraid to take on the big gunsdown south given the right sort of ...
Brothers cause a family rift
Mar 01, 2008; ... FORMER Middlesbrough player Stuart Richardson will support thehome team and his wife Susan will shout for visitors Darlington intoday's North One relegation battle.That's what middle son Davidexpects as he prepares to lead out the Boro team against a side whoinclude his two brothers, Lee ...
Theatre - Anything nose
Mar 01, 2008; ... Singer Victoria Simmonds couldn't wait for her world premiere asa wooden boy in PinocchioI CAN'T tell you how my nose extends, it'sa trade secret, " admits singer Victoria Simmonds about her worldpremiere lead role in The Adventures of Pinocchio at NewcastleTheatre Royal next week."My ...
Name Game
Mar 01, 2008; ... HOT SHOT TUNEOne of several places of this name Like Le Hole Andeven Le Hill This one is not northern Sunbathe in the 'hot, hotunset' sun?WORK out the ...
A case of shop afront?
Mar 01, 2008; ... This week, The Northern Echo revealed that Waterstone's, on HighRow, in Darlington, was to close and be replaced by a Poundland. Thetown centre store is a landmark property and was once home to familybusiness Lucks and Dressers. The plan to replace it with thediscount store has met with ...
'I'll do everything I can to help'
Mar 01, 2008; ... CAMPAIGNERS who are trying to save a post office earmarked forclosure have enlisted the support of their MP.Phil Wilson, MP forSedgefield, has pledged to support his constituents in their bid tostop the closure of Croft Post Office, in Hurworth Place, nearDarlington.Mr Wilson was at the ...
MPdemands more freedom for post masters to expand
Mar 01, 2008; ... RICHMOND MP William Hague yesterday called for a moreconstructive national approach to the redevelopment of the PostOffice network.Mr Hague, who was speaking at a public meeting inNorthallerton, North Yorkshire, said post masters should be free toexpand their services to make their ...
Echo travel - Playing mansions
Mar 01, 2008; ... Peta King lives life in luxury at an exclusive country houseretreatFIONA Cook visibly flinches when I mention the H word."Wewere determined we didn't want to become an hotel, " she says. "Thisis our home and we just like to invite people to share it withus."And that's exactly what Fiona ...
TheTudor trail
Mar 01, 2008; ... Set-jetters, tourists who visit film locations, are poised todescend on Kent with the release this weekend of the film, The OtherBoleyn Girl.Here are some of the must-see destinations KENT takes astarring role in the film, The Other Boleyn Girl, which follows thestory of sisters Anne ...
Banish the blues
Mar 01, 2008; ... AS we slowly get through the winter months, summer feels like alifetime away, but the award-winning hotel, Middlethorpe Hall & Spain York, pictured, could have just what you need to banish the blueswith their Veuve Cliquot Champagne Spa Break.For one or moreconsecutive nights, you can ...
400 jobs for call centre company
Mar 01, 2008; ... CALL centre company Fusion has revealed it is planning to create400 jobs at a former Orange site by 2010.The company, which openedthe office in Peterlee, its second in the North-East, 12 months ago,predicts further growth.Its first centre was at Hylton Riverside, inSunderland, where it ...
Biker makes pitstop to broaden horizons
Mar 01, 2008 ... ONE half of The Hairy Bikers made a pitstop at a NorthEast schoolto inspire students to broaden their horizons.Simon King, who isfrom Northumberland and is one half of the TV cooking duo, talked tostudents from Wolsingham School and Community College about hisadventures travelling across ...
Colourful roles for children
Mar 01, 2008 ... MORE than 50 children from The Chorister School, in Durham, tookpart in a production of Joseph and the Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat, in Durham Cathedral's Chapter House.Fifty-four boys andgirls aged seven to 13 took to the stage for the show, which wasperformed on ...
Durham stars on form
Mar 01, 2008; ... NEW signing Neil McKenzie topped a great day for Durham playersaround the world yesterday when he shared an unbroken stand of 405on the first day of South Africa's second Test in Bangladesh.WhileSteve Harmison took five wickets against a New Zealand Select Xl,there was also a century for ...
Jailed for blinding friend in 'fun fight'
Mar 01, 2008; ... A BUSINESSMAN who blinded a friend during a brawl in a pub wasyesterday jailed for two-anda-half years.Paul Bratt lost the sightin one eye after horseplay with Andrew Dawes turned to violence lastsummer, a court heard.The friends began a pretend fight, but whenDawes suffered an ...
THE PIT and the paintbrush
Mar 01, 2008; ... Artist Norman Cornish was made an MBE in the New Year's HonoursList. CHRIS LLOYD meets the former miner who has chronicled the livesof pitmen in the region, a way of life now lost to us THE brushes are neatly planted in their unglazed jugs by thewindow, the white-haired tufts ...
PASSION for fashion
Mar 01, 2008; ... Clare Foster works for Newsquest North-East, and is the mediasales executive for Living magazine. The 32-year-old, from HurworthMoor, near Darlington, tells DEBORAH JOHNSON about her favouritelooks Describe your look It's quite classic and I don't like investing in things ...