The Northern Echo back issues from May 2009:
'Former Gurkhas would be of benefit to Britain'
May 01, 2009; ... FORMER Gurkhas would benefit Britain if they were allowed tosettle in the country, supporters in the region said last night. Gurkhas and their supporters spoke of their delight after theGovernment was defeated over guidelines that would have preventedmost retired Nepalese soldiers ...
Decision not to draw on reserves was 'sensible'
May 01, 2009; ... THE council was "sensible" not to draw on reserves to fund taxcuts, according to a local government expert. Liberal Democrats urged Labour-led Durham County Council to usereserves to keep what they said was a promise to reduce council taxto that of the lowest district ...
Airport loses court fight with bmibaby
May 01, 2009; ... ANORTH-EAST airport is to appeal after losing a court actionseeking [pounds]12m damages against budget airline bmibaby after itwithdrew its services. In the High Court yesterday, Durham Tees Va lley Airport (DTVA)blamed bmibaby for shattering losses it suffered after the ...
Free meals trial for primary children
May 01, 2009; ... EVERY primary school pupil in part of the region will receive afree school meal in a radical trial designed to improve theirlearning, the Government will announce today. County Durham has been picked to pilot a [pounds]16m experiment,following increasing evidence that a guaranteed ...
Disappointment as tax bill increases with new council
May 01, 2009 ... LIKE many people, retired teacher Janet Gill had hoped the newunitary authority would save money and leave her with a lowercouncil tax bill. The reality was that her first bill was [pounds]87.75 higher thanlast year - an overall increase of 4.23 per cent. The 73-year-old ...
Two views on the first budget
May 01, 2009; ... IN the first of a monthly series analysing whether the newunitary council is delivering for Durham, Mark Tallentire examinescouncil tax IN the run-up to reorganisation, Durham County Council predictedthat a new unitary authority would be able to reduce council tax formost of its ...
Hear all sides
May 01, 2009 ... SCHOOL RESULTS THE governors of Hummersknott School, Darlington, wish to expressour full support for headteacher Pat Howarth in his rebuttal (Echo,April 29) of Councillor Tony Richmond's comments (Echo, April 28)regarding exam results. In choosing to focus on outdated ...
Hospital support
May 01, 2009 ... FUNDRAISERS at a high street store will take part in ananniversary event today for a local hospital. Marks and Spencers is celebrating its 125th anniversary by ...
DARLINGTON NEWS ROUND-UP IN BRIEF
May 01, 2009 ... Invitation to join 11-mile walk DARLINGTON Ramblers have organised an 11-mile walk inWensleydale. The walk, which takes place on Sunday, May 17, will gofrom Bainbridge Village Green to Semerwater and Burtersett. Meet leader Bryan Spark at 8.45am at the car park ...
Two years of art pupils'work goes on show
May 01, 2009; ... AN exhibition of works of art by pupils at a local school went ondisplay last night. The GCSE art pupils at Hurworth Maths and Computing College, nearDarlington, have been working on the project for two years. The exhibition is a longstanding tradition at the school, ...
Fresh changes aim to improve bus service
May 01, 2009; ... CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed changes to bus routes in Darlington,but claim some residents are still being left isolated. From Sunday, changes will be made to some of the town's routes ina scheme Arriva says will improve the speed and reliability of itsservices. Arriva revamped ...
Residents are against 's tudent saturation'
May 01, 2009; ... RESIDENTS fighting to save their area from becoming overpopulated with students are gearing up for their next confrontation,just days after suffering a major defeat. People living in Whinney Hill, Durham, are preparing to fight adeveloper's plans to extend 33 Whinney Hill - plans ...
Gallery to feature old and new art
May 01, 2009 ... THE country's largest and longest-running annual exhibition ofdrawing comes to a North-East museum next weekend. The Jerwood Drawing Prize, which features a range of drawings bymore than 50 artists, will be at the Durham Light Infantry Museumand Durham Art Gallery, in Durham City, ...
Vigilmarks anniversary
May 01, 2009 ... AN hour-long vigil has been held to mark the anniversary of themassacre of 100 civilians. Supporters of Durham Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) held thevigil in Millennium Place, in Durham City, on Saturday, tocommemorate the anniversary of themassacre which happened at ...
Police want to trace woman
May 01, 2009 ... POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a woman who took clothesfrom two high street stores. The woman went into Fat Face, in High Street, Durham, at about4pm on Saturday, February 28. She picked out two items of clothing and went into a changingroom. She left the shop ...
Mary celebrates with two parties
May 01, 2009 ... A VISIT from a council chairman was one of the treats on the daya centenarian celebrated her landmark birthday. Mary Bewick, who lives in the council-run Mendip House home inWest Lane, Chester-le-Street, had two parties on Wednesday. One for family and friends and the other was ...
NORTH DURHAM NEWS ROUND-UP IN BRIEF
May 01, 2009 ... Safety expert is appointed DURHAM County Council's road safety manager Alan Kennedy has beenappointed chairman of Road Safety GB, the body which representscouncil road safety officers across the country. Mr Kennedy said theorganisation believed that if the number of road deaths and ...
TEES VALLEY NEWS ROUND-UP INBRIEF
May 01, 2009 ... Police appeal fo rwitnesses POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a motorcycle collidedwith a car. The collision happened in Coast Road, near to thejunction with Park Avenue, in Redcar, at about 8.15pm, on April 29. A Yamaha motorcycle and a gold Peugeot 106 collided, ...
School celebrates its new look
May 01, 2009 ... IT was a joyful return for Errington Primary School's retireddeputy headteacher Linda Staples when she came back to officiallyopen the school's [pounds]1.5m refurbishment. She was delighted to be chosen to cut the ceremonial ribbon on aday of celebration at the school in ...
Visiting old school days
May 01, 2009 ... THERE will be an opportunity to relive old school days thanks toan exhibition. Over the next threemonths, the Headland Library, in Hartlepool,is hosting a display of 100 photographs of pupils and staffaHeadland schools between the Thirties and the Seventies. Jan Palmer, ...
Drug-using dad of six takes pensioner's cash
May 01, 2009; ... A SNEAK burglar who snatched the savings of a disabled pensionerafter tricking his way into his home was yesterday jailed for nearlythree years. Kevin Smart rushed into the living room of the 75-yearold'sbungalow, shoved him back into his chair and grabbed his wallet fromthe ...
Hear all sides
May 01, 2009 ... HELPING HAND ON June 6, 1944, the Allies landed more than 150,000 troops onthe beaches of Normandy, northern France. Thousands of young men were lost that day, but it was asignificant turning point in the Second World War and we owe allthose who risked their lives a great ...
School opens library to neighbours
May 01, 2009 ... A SCHOOL has opened its doors so the community can benefit fromits newlyextended library. Barton CofE Primary School is offering free book rentals topeople living nearby who sign up for the scheme. The school, in Barton, near Darlington, is offering books for allages, from ...
'We need better parking - not fines'
May 01, 2009 ... COUNCIL plans to take on powers for fining illegal parkers havebeen criticised by a leading councillor. Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Freitag said the policy wouldpenalise motorists, whereas the authority's focus should be onproviding better parking facilities to attract more ...
Traveller lied about his wealth to get loan
May 01, 2009; ... A TRAVELLER faces jail after admitting he lied to get a mortgagefor his [pounds]270,000 house - which he then shared with nine otherfamilies. Alfred James Welch moved into the house in Burtree Lane,Darlington, in 2007 after securing the mortgage from Yorkshire Bank. Police ...
Friends aid charity
May 01, 2009 ... SEVEN friends have raised more than [pounds]500 for a charitywhich helps homeless young people. The former pupils of The Immaculate Conception School, formed agroup called The Darlington Ladies to raise money for Depaul UK. Angela Stephenson, Jan Scott, Lynn Robinson, Elspeth ...
It's time to go, George
May 01, 2009 ... IF the future for Darlington Football Club looked bleak at thestart of the week, it looks even bleaker at the end of it. The departure of Dave Penney leaves the club completelyrudderless. No one can blame Penney for moving to Oldham. Indeed he deservesgreat credit for holding ...
What will be our Iraq legacy?
May 01, 2009; ... The Iraq war sharply divided opinion over whether ousting SaddamHussein's brutal regime justified the enormous human and financialcost. Nigel Burton asks if British soldiers leave behind a bettercountry or a failed state ABOUT 100miles south-east of Baghdad, on the wind-blown banks ...
Hear all sides
May 01, 2009 ... SPEEDING RE Ralph Musgrave's letter about speeding (HAS, April 27). It appears he has points on his driving licence for speeding andhad "just been flashed by a speed camera in Newcastle". His letter seems aimed at the unfairness of disqualification ontotting up of ...
'MS is not a death sentence'
May 01, 2009; ... A recent poll showed that people in the North-East have thepoorest understanding of multiple sclerosis in the country. HealthEditor Barry Nelson talks to one family who've been struck twice bythe disease LIGHTNING isn't supposed to strike twice, but you can't blameMike Carr for ...
Pub may lose licence for serving under 18s
May 01, 2009; ... A PUB could be stripped of its licence because of fears it hasbecome an underage drinking and anti-social behaviour hot spot. Police have repeatedly been called to deal with incidents at TheGolden Lion, in East End, Sedgefield, since last summer. Now Durham Police has called on ...
SOUTH DURHAM NEWS ROUND-UP IN BRIEF
May 01, 2009 ... Exam success for music THE following pupils of Terence Lawson, School Aycliffe, havebeen successful in the recent Associated Board of the Royal Schoolsof Music Examinations: Theory, Michael Bedwell, grade five withmerit; Nichola Jelly, grade six; Piano, Robyn Teasdale, grade ...
Team score is one of highest
May 01, 2009 ... FOUR students proved that they were word perfect to win throughto the North-East final of a national Spelling Bee competition. The team, from Wo lsingham School and Community College, weresuccessful in the first heat of a competition which has beenorganised by The Times newspaper ...
Nursery enjoys lots of sun
May 01, 2009 ... TEDDIES took over a nursery in Teesdale at the weekend aschildren, families and teachers attended an open day. The teddy bears' picnic, at the Small World Nursery, inStaindrop, near Barnard Castle, was attended by more than 40families, all armed with their favourite furry ...
Picnic area reopens soon
May 01, 2009 ... RESIDENTS were delighted to see hundreds of square yards of turfbeing laid yesterday to restore a town's biggest picnic area afterit was used as a works compound. Demesnes, in Barnard Castle, was fenced offt store equipment andlorries during a Northumbrian Water Board scheme to ...
Crook Grassroots
May 01, 2009 ... ByJohn Phelan -01388-768551 WOMEN MEET: The annual meeting of the south west Durham group ofthe WI took place in Howden-le-Wear Community Centre, on Tuesday,April 21. Laura Goldun, president of Howden-le-Wear made the openingremarks and commented on how sad it was that many WIs ...
Inspirational youngsters win national award
May 01, 2009 ... FIVE teenagers who once faced homelessness have won a nationalaward for their work to highlight the issue. The youngsters, from Harrogate, collected their Kids CountInspiration Award from Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell at a ceremonyin the House of Commons. Anthony Dacre, Emily ...
Rail exhibitions are held
May 01, 2009 ... A SERIES of exhibitions has been held to tell visitors about aheritage railway. The events have taken place in supermarkets in Ripon,Boroughbridge, Bedale and Richmond. From tomorrow until Monday, all trains on Wensleydale Railwaywill be diesel ...
Police to hear concerns
May 01, 2009 ... PEOPLE can speak to police about their concerns at a meeting inNorthallerton. The sessions allow the public twominutes to put forward issuesthat affect them. Vo tes will then decide which issues are the mostimportant. Several schemes are being looked at, including ...
Walk's [pounds]700 for charities
May 01, 2009 ... A SPONSORED walk around Bedale raised [pounds]700 for twocharities, it has been announced. The walkers came from the Bedale Minibus, Aiskew WI, AlvertonSingers and friends. They raised money for the Bedale Vo lunteer Minibus Project andthe Northallerton MS ...
Wedding anniversary celebrated
May 01, 2009 ... A COUPLE who were married in an age of post-war austerity havecelebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Eric and Betty Shaw, of Kirkby Fleetham, were married in StWilfred's Church, Great Langton, in 1949. The couple went to live in Low Fields Farm, Kirkby Fleetham,working ...
Bike track opponents fear moorland damage
May 01, 2009; ... SPORTS enthusiasts could lose a downhill bike track in a nationalpark if a planning application is turned down. Critics of the track at Carlton-in-Cleveland, in the North YorkMoors National Park, feel users will erode the landscape. The track, at Underhill Farm, near Stokesley, ...
NORTH YORKSHIRE NEWS ROUND-UP IN BRIEF
May 01, 2009 ... Norwegian day of celebration RICHMOND'S Norwegian Twinning Association will hold a nationalday of celebration in Richmond Town Hall from 7.30pm to 9.30pm onSaturday, May 16. Tickets are [pounds]7.50, to include a glass of wine, fingerbuffet and entertainment. Family tickets ...
Revving up for radio charity day
May 01, 2009 ... A RADIO station has chosen a North-East children's hospice forits annual fundraising event. Real Radio's Bring a Pound to Work Day is to raise cash for Zoe'sPlace, in Middlesbrough, which looks after seriously-ill youngchildren. Several companies are taking part on the day ...
Wife walks free after stabbing husband
May 01, 2009; ... A CARE worker walked free from court yesterday after she admittedstabbing her "unfaithful" husband through the lung with a steakknife. Gordon Hume was left with two stab wounds and a punctured lungafter his wife, Patricia, discovered a note he had sent to one ofher ...
White blues
May 01, 2009; ... Blues Britannia: Can Blue Men Play The Whites? (BBC4, 9pm) Boy Meets Girl (ITV1, 9pm) BBC4 has carved an entertaining and informative niche with itsmusic documentaries and the latest, Blues Britannia, keeps up thegood work with a mix of archive footage and talking ...
Scooby-Doo And The Pirate Ghost, Billingham Forum
May 01, 2009; ... CHAOTIC, crazy and good fun, the second stage instalment ofScooby-Doo packed out Billingham Forum with excitable youngstersand, to be honest, fairly baffled adults as the cowardly, ghost-chasing dog went through his paces. Best of all, Gateshead's Jamie Brown made his big ...
Cyclists invited to town park bikeathon
May 01, 2009 ... HUNDREDS of cyclists are being invited to a family fun day tohelp raise money for a leukaemia charity. A Big Bikeathon will take place in South Park, Darlington, onSunday. The bike event will run from 10.30am to 11.30am to raisemoney for Leukaemia Research. It will be ...
Region reels under new job loss shock
May 01, 2009; ... THE region was rocked yesterday by the revelation that another110 jobs are to be lost in its manufacturing sector. World-leading aircraft components company CAV Aerospace said itis to make 60 redundancies as the global economic downturn continuesto affect demand. The ...
Nissan cuts jobs without compulsory redundancy
May 01, 2009; ... NISSAN yesterday revealed it has made all of the 1,200 plannedredundancies at its North-East plant without any compulsory joblosses. The Japanese car giant said in January it would be making thecuts at its Sunderland plant - which involved 800 full-time and 400temporary workers, ...
County crime figures show significant drop
May 01, 2009; ... POLICE chiefs have welcomed a significant fall in violent crimeacross County Durham and Darlington. Area commander for the north, Chief Superintendent TrevorWatsonhas attributed the drop mainly to the targeting of problems arisingfrom night-time economies. Violent crime ...
Learn in the great outdoors
May 01, 2009 ... A FOREST school has opened to children for the first time. Outdoor learning facility Water Howe Woodland, has been createdclose to Esh Winning Primary School, in Esh Winning, near Durham. Forest schools aim to take the curriculum out of the classroom. They were developed ...
Food for thought on bank holiday
May 01, 2009; ... THE Dales Festival of Food and Drink will bring together the bestof local produce this bank holiday weekend. The festival, which is in its eighth year, will have a range ofattractions, from beekeeping demonstrations, bread-making sessionsand sheep-shearing to real ales, organic ...
Fight club members in national final
May 01, 2009 ... A TEAM of wargamers hope to win the battle and the spoils of war. The teenagers, from Redcar Community College, have fought theirway through to the national finals after beating all-comers fromacross the region. For the past three years, the club has won several categories ...
Burglar filmed chip and pin numbers at petrol station
May 01, 2009; ... A BURGLAR who installed a camera to monitor a chip and pinmachine at a petrol station slipped up when he forgot to retrievethe footage. Owners of the BP Garage, in Norton Road, Stockton, discovered therecording device, containing a month's worth of footage of customersusing the ...
Hospital changes become imminent
May 01, 2009; ... CONTROVERSIAL changes to a North-East hospital which include theclosure of an accident and emergency department will get under waythis summer. The changes also mean that increasing numbers of patients fromDarlington and Durham City who are due to have planned surgery willbe asked ...
Mother takes work safety message to top
May 01, 2009; ... A NORTH-EAST mother whose son died in a chimney blast has made aplea in Westminster for new safety laws. Linda Whelan, from Willington, County Durham, marched to theHouses of Parliament onWorkers'Memorial Day to fight for justice forher 23-yearold steeplejack son, Craig, who was ...
Birds of prey stolen from aviary
May 01, 2009 ... A MAN whose passion for birds of prey gives him a purpose in lifehas been devastated by the theft of several of his prized birds. Leslie Copeland woke on Wednesday morning to discover theaviaries in his garden had been raided and birds worth thousands ofpounds taken. Thieves ...
Durham have hard work ahead to beat Somerset
May 01, 2009; ... JUBILATION turned to frustration for Durham yesterday and for thesecond successive match they will have to bowl out their opponentson the final day of a game they have dominated. After Yorkshire held out last Saturday it will be a grossinjustice if Somerset do likewise today, but ...
Burton targets a title lift to boost his profile
May 01, 2009; ... DARLINGTON heavyweight Chris Burton will fight for the vacantInternational Masters title tonight, believing that victory willprovide a "massive boost" to his boxing career. The fight with Londonbased Nigerian Franklin Egobi was originallyscheduled to go ahead at the Dolphin Centre ...
Jeffries backed to succeed
May 01, 2009; ... AHEAD of Tony Jeffries' homecoming bout, the Sunderland lightheavyweight has been backed to avoid becoming the new AudleyHarrison. It's almost nine years that Harrison successfully claimed thegold medal at the Sydney Olympics and caught the eye of the boxingworld in the ...
Jonny ready for exit
May 01, 2009; ... JONNY Wilkinson will only complete his proposed move to Frenchclub Toulon if he passes a stringent set of medical tests next week. The Newcastle Falcons flyhalf is understood to have agreed athree-year deal at Toulon worth between 800,000-1m Euros-a-year,depending on how many ...
Pools vow to go for it
May 01, 2009; ... CHRIS Turner insists Hartlepool United won't be going to BristolRovers tomorrow in the aim of shutting up shop to try and securetheir League One status. Pools must avoid defeat tomorrow to make sure they stay in thesame division for next season. Even in defeat, they are still ...
Turnbull hopes for pleasant reading
May 01, 2009; ... Ross Turnbull has been Middlesbrough's forgotten man since he wasdropped three months ago. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson met thegoalkeeper at the town's library and discussed the story of hisseason. WHEN Ross Turnbull spent halfan-hour extolling the virtues of agood book at a ...
Bassong has no fear
May 01, 2009; ... SEBASTIEN BASSONG has admitted he faces a huge challenge to shutout Liverpool hit man Fernando Torres, but urged any doubters amongthe Newcastle faithful to stay behind their team. Neither the Magpies' French centre-half nor Liverpool's Spanishstriker played when a Steven Gerrard ...