The Northern Echo back issues from January 2009:
Family left in cold over boiler blunder
Jan 01, 2009; ... A FAMILY were forced to spend their Christmas huddled togetherfor warmth after a housing association blunder left their boiler outof action. Lindsey Price and her three children, Josh, nine, Ebony, seven,and Kasey, tenmonths, are still without central heating and hotwater, 12 ...
Home is where the heart is . . .
Jan 01, 2009 ... OCTOGENARIAN sweethearts Jim Allman and Ethel Pearson found theperfect way to celebrate the New Year by announcing theirengagement. The couple had lived in the same North-East village all theirlives - but did not meet until becoming residents at the same carehome in Pelton, ...
It was love at first sight . . .
Jan 01, 2009; ... A PAIR of sweethearts who met in a care home have proved thatbeing in their 80s is no obstacle to finding love. Jim Allman, 85, and Ethel Pearson, 83, will be starting the newyear by planning their wedding after announcing yesterday they areto tie the knot. The couple said ...
Museum to close for entrance revamp
Jan 01, 2009 ... A MUSEUM will have limited access for nearly a month asrenovation work takes place. A large part of Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, will be closedfrom Monday, January 19, to Friday, February 13, while work iscompleted on a redesigned entrance hall, cafe and shop. During this ...
'I treasure time stem cell trial gave Tracey'
Jan 01, 2009; ... THE widower of a stem cell trial patient who died last New Year'sEve paid tribute to his wife on the first anniversary of her death. Father-of-two Gary Collinson, from Bishop Auckland, lost hiswife, Tracey, aged 45, on December 31, 2007, after a battle withcancer that began more ...
Young star is shining brightly
Jan 01, 2009; ... A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl from the region is taking a starring role inone of the West End's biggest musicals. Annabelle Crosby-Stewart returned to the North-East for aChristmas break after one month into a six-month stint as Debbie, inthe musical version Billy Elliot. In her ...
Racers urged to hand in the cash
Jan 01, 2009; ... A CANCER survivor is urging women who took part in a summer funrun in aid of Cancer Research to send in their sponsorship money. Although the Darlington Race for Life has raised more than[pounds]1m for Cancer Research during the past seven years, it hasfailed to reach this year's ...
Band is a family affair
Jan 01, 2009 ... THE music business is proving to be a family affair for a Northband hoping to hit the big time this year. Alternative rock hopefuls Cavalier, from Yafforth, NorthYorkshire, include two brothers in their five-piece line-up, whiletwo more siblings from the same family manage the ...
Age proves no barrier for sisters with an urge to continue learning
Jan 01, 2009 ... SISTERS June Thomas and Sheila Smith have proved that age is nobarrier to learning. The grandmothers, from Middlesbrough, are forging ahead in theircareers after returning to education. Mrs Thomas, 53, graduated with a higher national diploma incomputer studies from the ...
Man of Steel?
Jan 01, 2009; ... As the world steps into an uncertain new year, Chris Lloyd looksat the superhuman tasks that confront the new President of Americaand our superhero expectations of him IT is with trepidation that we step into 2009. This is a dawndarkened by foreboding. No one knows quite how tough ...
COMMENT
Jan 01, 2009 ... IF Barack Obama is clearly the man for 2009 on the internationalstage, who are the key North-East figures for the coming year? George Garlick, chief executive of the new unitary Durham CountyCouncil, is certainly among them. As the man charged withestablishing the region's largest ...
Hear all sides
Jan 01, 2009 ... HAS CONTRIBUTORS I FEEL that I am in a unique position here, inthat I am a firsttime contributor to Hear All Sides. This brings meto the point I wish to make. I thought the idea of HAS was for your many readers to express adiversity of views on a wide variety of subject ...
Dad at large - Role reversal
Jan 01, 2009; ... SOMETIMES, it's hard to distinguish between the kids and theadults in our house. . . It was approachingmidnight on Christmas Eve and I really justwanted to go to bed. My wife had other ideas. She insisted we had towait until the kids were asleep before we put their stockings ...
Residents of home keep fit in their gym
Jan 01, 2009; ... ELDERLY people are keeping fit in a residential home thanks tospecialised gym equipment. Residents at Eden Cottage Residential Home, in Darlington, areregularly using the equipment to exercise. It was originally brought into the home by owners Maureen andRalph Horton, who ...
Experts praise breastfeeding group
Jan 01, 2009 ... HEALTH experts have hailed a peer support group a success becausebreastfeeding rates have continued to rise in Darlington. Eleven years ago, the town's Breastfeeding Support Group was setup by Darlington Primary Care Trust, Darlington Memorial Hospitaland the National Childbirth ...
Burglary campaign nets four suspects
Jan 01, 2009 ... POLICE say a campaign to combat burglaries is paying dividends. Four men were arrested in Darlington in the run-up to Christmasin relation to a number of offences. A male was arrested for a number of sneak-in burglaries in theQueen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and the Memorial ...
NORTH DURHAM NEWS ROUND-UP
Jan 01, 2009 ... Association hosts free talk PROFESSORDavid Saunders, a NewcastleUniversity expert on Russian and Ukrainian history, is to give atalk about Russia and the North-East on Tuesday, February 17. Thefree talk has been organised by the Durham branch of the HistoricalAssociation and takes place ...
Youth shelter marks end of [pounds]1m project
Jan 01, 2009; ... WORK has been completed on a youth shelter and goal posts in avillage - the culmination of an ambitious regeneration programme forthe community. The shelter, between Stone Row and Queen Street in Grange Villa,near Chester-leStreet, will provide young people with safe placetomeet ...
Pride cash will help transform wasteland
Jan 01, 2009 ... VOLUNTEERS have been awarded nearly [pounds]2,000 to helptransform a community centre's wasteland into a garden. Horden Youth and Community Centre received the cash fromEasington Council as part of its Pride in Easington scheme. Volunteers will now be able to remove peeling ...
Stepping back in time to the war
Jan 01, 2009 ... CHILDREN travelled back in time to relive the days of the SecondWorld War. The children at Castleside Primary School, near Consett, held anevent to give pupils a taste of life during the war. Cooks preparedauthentic school ...
Gift appeal by charity
Jan 01, 2009 ... A CHARITY is hoping for a late Christmas present of unwantedgifts to help raise cash. Disability charity Scope is asking people to take unwantedpresents, and other items whichmay be gathering dust in a wardrobe,to its charity shop in North Road, Durham City. Good quality ...
Residents urged to vote on funding for facelift project
Jan 01, 2009; ... RESIDENTS are being urged to back one of five community projectsin the running for a free makeover. Building contractor Mears' Sedgefield branch, which maintainssocial housing across the borough, will carry out improvements atone of the shortlisted schemes. Mirroring ...
Tonight's TV - Up the Creek
Jan 01, 2009 ... The Krypton Factor (ITV1, 7.30pm) Jonathan Creek (BBC1, 9pm)Agatha Christie's Marple (ITV1, 9pm) A FACE-OFF of the supersleuths pits Jonathan Creek against MissMarple tonight in a brain box special. Add the return of The KryptonFactor, or "Britain's toughest quiz" as it's ...
TEES VALLEY NEWS ROUND-UP
Jan 01, 2009 ... Coroner appeals for relatives RELATIVES of Peter Seeney, 46, ofCatherine Grove, Hartlepool, are being urged to get in touch withthe coroner. Mr Seeney died on Monday in the University Hospital ofHartlepool. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Heis ...
Partners bring a warm glow to residents
Jan 01, 2009 ... WINTER warmer packs are being handed out to vulnerable people. The Safer Stockton Partnership - the borough's crime and disordergroup - is handing out the packs to people who need most protectionfrom the cold. The partnership, which includes representatives from the ...
Thieves steal new fencing
Jan 01, 2009 ... POLICE are appealing for information after thieves stole a newly-installed fence. The fence, close to Lazenby Reservoir on the A174, near Redcar,east Cleveland, belongs to NorthumbrianWater. Thieves are believed to have stolen 25 galvanised steel panelsmeasuring 3.4 metres by ...
Lottery cash brings new year delight
Jan 01, 2009; ... A DEAF charity and a community choir have received a Lotteryboost this new year. The Deaf Autistic Disabled Advocacy (Dada) has received[pounds]9,450 from the Big Lottery Fund to set up a resource centrefor people with disabilities in the Hartlepool area. The centre will help ...
Book time to turn over a new leaf
Jan 01, 2009 ... YOUNGSTERS are snapping up free books as part of a nationalscheme to promote the joy of reading. Under the Booktime scheme, children in Middlesbrough will begiven a book pack shortly after they first start school. Reception-aged children across the UK will be given ...
Teenagers securemoney for youth group
Jan 01, 2009 ... FOUR teenagers have secured cash for their youth group afterwinning a police-run community safety competition. Julie Bennett, 16, Demi Williams, 14, Danielle Hamilton, 16, andJessica Campion, 14, won high street vouchers and were presentedwith certificates for their efforts in the ...
DARLINGTON NEWS ROUND-UP
Jan 01, 2009 ... Russian ballet taking to stage TICKETS are now on sale for aproduction of Coppelia, by The Russian State Ballet of Siberia andThe Russian State Ballet Orchestra. The show will run at DarlingtonCivic Theatre on Thursday, January 22, and Friday, January 23, at7.30pm. Tickets cost ...
Hear all sides
Jan 01, 2009 ... PO QUEUES IS Darlington borough councillor Mike Barker (Liberal Democrat)stupid, or just so desperate he would use his own son to makepolitical gain? According to a December 16 blog, he did not stand in a postoffice queue for more than 40 minutes - he sent a member of ...
Fairytale inspires catering trainees
Jan 01, 2009 ... CATERING students took their inspiration from a fairytale tocreate a festive treat for children in hospital. The gingerbread Hansel and Gretel house, complete with sugarcrystal path and gum drop windows, was created by Darlington Collegelevel two food and processing students Amy ...
Awards celebrate best of student successes
Jan 01, 2009; ... MORE than 400 students, parents and guests attended a school'sannual presentation evening. The guest of honour at Darlington's Carmel RC College's ceremonywas Sir James Hill, chairman of the Specialist Schools and AcademiesTrust (Ssat). The event is the college's annual ...
NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS ROUND-UP
Jan 01, 2009 ... Group to hold wave of prayer THE Brompton Mothers' Union (MU)will take part in the movement'sWave of Prayer next Thursday, in ameeting in support of its linked dioceses in Africa. They will meet in St Thomas' Church hall, near Northallerton, forprayers at 2pm. Afternoon tea will ...
Specialist police unit records 500th hit
Jan 01, 2009 ... A SPECIALIST police team targeting travelling criminals acrossNorth Yorkshire nabbed its 500th violator as the year was coming toa close. North Yorkshire Police's automatic number plate recognition(ANPR) team stopped the vehicle yesterday. The group's actions led to 272 ...
Hear all sides
Jan 01, 2009 ... EARL'S ORCHARD IREAD with interest your story about dog-walkingin Earl's Orchard, Richmond, the home of Richmond Town FC, and wasparticularly interested that there had been a meeting to discussthematter, which no local residents attended (Echo, Dec 24). Ilive 100 yards from ...
Headteacher retires from 'wonderful job'
Jan 01, 2009; ... A DEDICATED and respected headteacher has retired from his postafter 22 years. Chris Lewis took his last class as a headteacher and historyteacher at Thirsk School and Sixth Form towards the end of the lastterm. He said: "This has been a wonderful job and it will feel like ...
Research leads to traditional feast
Jan 01, 2009 ... CATERING students served a traditional feast to raise funds forcharity. Youngsters studying hospitality and catering at NorthallertonCollege hosted the three-course meal for members of the town'sRotary Club. They researched, planned and prepared the meal, which had ...
Holiday park praises long-serving employees
Jan 01, 2009 ... TWO employees with more than 50 years of service at a holidaypark have been praised. Va l Shepherd and Dennis Shepherd have worked at Yo rk HouseHoliday Park and Abbots Green Park, near Thirsk, for a total of 55years. The pair, who are not related, were thanked for their work ...
Forties theme for party night
Jan 01, 2009 ... A ROTARY club went back in time to celebrate Christmas at itsannual party. Barnard Castle Rotary Club met in Romaldkirk Reading Room, CountyDurham, for the party, which had a Forties theme. Clubmember David Yeadon said: "We went to a great deal of troubleto locate clothes and ...
New home is signed, sealed and delivered
Jan 01, 2009 ... A BLIND dog which captured the hearts of people across the regionhas been found a new home. Stevie Wonder, a twoyear-old lurcher, was being cared for atDeerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, near Durham City, after beingfound by dog wardens wandering the streets. An appeal was ...
NEWS IN BRIEF
Jan 01, 2009 ... Museums join the art trail OLD and new craft will be on displayat museums across the region as part of an art trail. A contemporarycraft exhibition at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, willfeature items from The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, contrasting theold and new. Single pieces ...
Honour recognises minority project
Jan 01, 2009 ... A MENTAL health project to support black and minority ethniccommunities has won a regional award for its work. For the past 19 months, NHS Darlington and NHS County Durham havebeen working with the charity Mental Health Matters raisingawareness with members of black and minority ...
Accreditation for charity
Jan 01, 2009 ... A HOMELESS charity has achieved accreditation which will help itimprove its service. The 700 Club, which offers 100 beds each night for homelesspeople in Darlington, has been given three sets of hardto-attaincertificates. It has achieved an international ISO certificate for ...
Saved from a homeless start to 2009
Jan 01, 2009 ... BABY hedgehogs have been given a new home for the new year afterbeing found abandoned in lifethreatening conditions. Jean Thorpe, from Malton, North Yorkshire, has homed the sixfoundlings at her wildlife sanctuary - Ryedale Rehab -where shecares for sick and injured ...
New hope for cash freeze credit union
Jan 01, 2009; ... A CREDIT union which had its assets frozen leaving hundreds ofsavers out of pocket for Christmas is hoping for a positive new yearresolution. South West Durham Credit Union (SWDCU) was restricted toreceiving loan repayments by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)last ...
Charity's donors shrug off crunch
Jan 01, 2009; ... NEW figures show the credit crunch and looming recession havefailed to stop wealthy donors giving North-East communities a multi-million pound boost. A report released by County Durham Foundation shows that in 2007-8 the charity handed out nearly [pounds]2m. Although the ...
Dribble effect to boost sport
Jan 01, 2009 ... A NORTH-EAST man is to embark on a massive challenge covering 80miles and taking 30 hours to raise awareness of a new sport. Keith Adams, of Thornaby, near Stockton, wants to promote rock-itball with the aim of setting up an international governing body inJapan and eventually ...
Monastery hoping that prayers will be answered
Jan 01, 2009; ... BUSINESS people and celebrities will be joining forces withchurch leaders this year in a final push to have a NorthEastmonastery declared a World Heritage Site. The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth Jarrow will benominated by the Government for World Heritage Status next ...
Passengers hurt after bus crashes into bridge
Jan 01, 2009 ... FOUR passengers were injured when a double-decker bus hit abridge, ripping off its roof. The driver of a Stagecoach bus took the wrong turn on a route inWallsend, North Tyneside, and went under a low bridge. Ambulance and police were called at about 3.50pm on Tuesday tothe ...
Colleges to act as sponsors
Jan 01, 2009 ... FOUR colleges are providing support in the search for someonefrom the region who has made an exceptional contribution to theworld of learning. Bishop Auckland College, Derwentside College, East Durham Collegeand New College Durham have signed up as joint sponsors of theLifetime ...
Football fans raise [pounds]2,600 for Sir Bobby
Jan 01, 2009 ... FOOTBALL fans raised more than [pounds]2,600 for charity with aweekend of celebrations in honour of a sporting legend. The Toon Army collected the money during the Newcastle United's 5-1 defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday. A carnival atmosphere was created by Geordies and ...
Casebook study of school pneumonia
Jan 01, 2009 ... AN outbreak of pneumonia at a primary school was made the subjectof a study published yesterday. Experts from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have publishedthe work on the British Medical Journal's website - looking into theoutbreak at Priory Primary School, in Tynemouth, in ...
Fears over repeat of Sats fiasco delay
Jan 01, 2009; ... EDUCATION officials in the North-East last night forecast arepeat of the fiasco that surrounded last year's Sats tests forschoolchildren. Results should have been received by schools in July, but aseries of blundersmeant some pupils were still waiting for markedpapers in ...
Nominations sought for learner awards
Jan 01, 2009 ... NOMINATIONS have opened for an awards ceremony recognising theachievements of learners. Entries for the third annual learndirect Achievement Awards,which recognise the success of individual learners, businesses andthe people and learndirect centres across the country, close ...
Special knight for inspiring foundation
Jan 01, 2009 ... FORMER cricketer Michael Roseberry never dreamed how successfulhe would be when he went in to bat for the Sir Bobby RobsonFoundation. Teaming up with journalist Bob Cass, the one-time England Aplayer and Durham County Cricket Club captain had offered to stage afundraising event ...
Tougher penalties for dog owners
Jan 01, 2009 ... DOG owners may soon face stiffer fines if they fail to clean upwhen their pets foul in public places. Members of Durham County Council's cabinet will vote on Thursdayon a new system of regulations and fines to cover dog fouling in thecounty. At present, enforcement is carried ...
Liam is going for glory with cabinets
Jan 01, 2009 ... A CABINET maker is going for global glory after collecting thehighest accolade at his former college's annual awards. Liam Gardner, 19, from Richmond, North Yo rkshire, was presentedwith the governors' award from Leeds College of Building. Mr Gardner, who is now an apprentice ...
Teacher's fears about school post over holidays
Jan 01, 2009; ... SCHOOLS in the region could return from their Christmas break tofind their post has been destroyed, a teacher fears. In the past, school mail would be kept for free at the localsorting office when staff were not present to receive it duringholidays. It would then be delivered ...
One dead after New Year's Evemotorway crash
Jan 01, 2009 ... FATAL CRASH: One person was killed in a car crash on the A1(M) inthe region last night. The accident, which happened at ...
Marketing award is icing on cake
Jan 01, 2009 ... A COLLEGE marketing team has been presented with a national awardfor its success in promoting a multi-millionpound development. Staff at Bishop Auckland College won the public relationscategory in the College Marketing Network's FE First Awards. They promoted the [pounds]17.3m ...
Council's festive recycling
Jan 01, 2009 ... PEOPLE in the region can do their bit for the environment bytaking their Christmas tree to be recycled. Darlington Borough Council is collecting real Christmas trees forrecycling in the new year. Residents are asked to take undecorated, real trees to thefollowing sites ...
WILSON'S BETS
Jan 01, 2009; ... FINANCIALLY, the last 12 months have been tough for everyone. Butif you're an avid reader of this column, you're probably sufferingmore than most. At the start of 2008, I came up with eight bets that weresupposed to land a cool one million pounds. Like the fate of sub-prime ...
Naughton is prime target for Kinnear
Jan 01, 2009; ... WITH the transfer window having opened this morning, Newcastleboss Joe Kinnear is ready to kick offhis spending by making an earlyswoop for Kyle Naughton. The Sheffield United fullback, who turned 20 last November, isone of the most highly-rated defenders outside the Premier ...
Southgate offered former Reds star
Jan 01, 2009; ... MIDDLESBROUGH have been offered the opportunity to sign formerLiverpool forward Luis Garcia this month. Boro are one of four English clubs who have been approachedregarding Garcia, and boss Gareth Southgate is currently ponderingwhether to offer the Spaniard a return to English ...