FROM humble beginnings around a table at Mrs Johnson’s Eating House in 1856, one Darlington organisation has come a long way.

It was smiles all round as Darlington Building Society celebrated its 160th anniversary by hosting loyal members, North-East charities, and an inspirational young athlete during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Darlington College on Thursday night (April 28).

The college campus was a fitting host for the building society’s evening of celebrations as directors detailed ongoing and future projects designed to get younger generations involved in banking.

Darlington’s own Rio 2016 Paralympic hopeful, Kieran Maxwell, shared a smile onstage with the Building Society’s chief executive, Colin Fyfe, as the pair discussed how the society could boost Mr Maxwell’s hopes of running in Rio.

The Darlington College student, from Heighington, told society members about losing his leg to Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at the age of 12.

But rather than slowing him down, a £20,000 blade has put Mr Maxwell in the running to compete as part of the athletics portion of the Brazilian Paralympic Games in September.

During the AGM, that was opened by the Durham Music Service, Mr Fyfe announced that the society would match the funds raised by Mr Maxwell’s supporters as part of three pledges made to celebrate the organisation’s 160th anniversary.

Throughout 2016, Darlington Building Society will donate 160 hours of staff volunteering as well as raising £160,000 for local causes and it will also support 160 organisations by providing company resources, such as building space and staff.

Mr Fyfe said: “160 years ago, in Mrs Johnson’s Eating House – which is where Crombies is on Tubwell Row – a group of local people got together and decided to form a building society.

“It’s a very important year for Darlington Building Society.”

Chairman James Ramsbotham, added: “I would like to thank all of the members of staff who deliver all the services that you deserve, day in and day out.

“And thank you to all of our members because it’s for you that we exist.”

Before a celebratory cake was cut to mark the society’s anniversary, board director Paul Richardson revealed that £1,783.30 had been raised by members to boost the organisation’s chosen charities - the Great North Air Ambulance, Macmillan, and Darlington Age UK.

The 160th anniversary celebrations were boosted by the launch of The Northern Echo’s Winning Smile photography competition, which will see Darlington Building Society judge monthly submissions by The Northern Echo's readers.

The competition will be split into adult and junior categories, with adults winning £50 of Marks and Spencer vouchers and £25 of iTunes vouchers for entrants who are 17 and under.

The competition runs until October 31 and a gallery of photogenic smiles will build up on The Northern Echo’s website over the coming months.

An overall winner will be chosen in a vote by Echo readers in November, with a star prize of a fantastic digital SLR camera.

For more information about the Winning Smile competition, and to download an entry form, visit northernecho.co.uk/winningsmile