VILLAGES around Darlington cannot have wheelie bins to stop animals from picking at their rubbish, a meeting was told. Members of parish councils met at the town hall to discuss matters of concern to people living in the borough’s villages. Brian
THE sweet smell of success may well be among the tempting aromas at the Bay Horse, in Hurworth, which has just received a third accolade in four weeks. The Grade II coaching house, which dates back to the 1400s, is listed in The Morning Advertiser
A SCOUT leader who has been involved with the movement for more than 50 years has been appointed Teesdale district commissioner. It is not the first time Colin Clarke, 71, has been given the position – he first accepted the job 22 years ago, before
PLANS for a controversial new supermarket in Guisborough town centre are set to be given the go-ahead. Lidl has submitted the scheme to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and planning officers have recommended it for approval following a lengthy
A MARKET stallholder is hanging up his apron after more than 60 years of trading. Norman Hudson began working on Stockton’s market in 1948. He was 11 when he began helping his uncle, the well-known market trader Harry Marsh. Mr Hudson
DREDGING work at a nature reserve in Darlington is to stop following complaints about noise from householders prompted a council banning order. The use of industrial diggers at Drinkfield Marsh sparked a legal battle with Darlington Borough Council
YOUNG artists are getting ready for Christmas as their college opens it doors for a festive craft fair. Their work will go on sale at Cleveland College of Art and Design from 10am to 2pm tomorrow. Lyndsey Schorah, photography lecturer, said: “There
SALTBURN parish church is seeking the support of the town for revamping its 40-year-old hall, which is used by about 50 community groups. Vicar the Rev Guy Donegan- Cross told a launch meeting in the hall last week that the building had cracks
ST MARY’S Church, in Thirsk, celebrates Christmas early this year with a special exhibition in the 15th century church. Cribs, Crackers and Christmas Trees, the sixth annual community Christmas tree exhibition, will be held from tomorrow until
MOTORISTS on the A66 are in for a festive surprise this Christmas. Staff at Mainsgill Farm Shop and Tearooms, at East Layton, near Richmond, have created an 8ft-high shepherd, a 6ft collie and 30 sheep – all out of bales of hay – which can be seen
Hambleton League THE big news from the league this week was off the pitch, as Scorton FC resigned from Division One after struggling to attract players all season. Having risen up through the divisions in recent years it is a sad end for a club
YOUNG rugby players are mauling their way to the top of the game as they train using the scientific methods of the professionals. Year 10 and 11 players at Northallerton College have been selected to play at district and county levels as their
AFTER a comfortable 29-5 home win against Darlington in the Durham Cup, Mowden Park will discover tomorrow whether they really have turned the corner. They entertain National Three North leaders Morley, and, after struggling against teams above
Wensleydale League AFTER defending champions and current league leaders Bowes had their home match against Reeth postponed due to a waterlogged pitch last Saturday, Colburn Town had the chance to move level on points with them at the top of the
Harrogate League KIRKBY Malzeard reached the semi-finals of the Whitworth Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out success at Boroughbridge in their quarter-final tie last Saturday. Kirkby, who reached the final of this competition last season,
LESS than a week after the gruelling four-day marathon of the Roger Albert Clark Rally, Morton on Swale rally driver Charlie Taylor was back behind the wheel of his venerable Ford Escort Mk II when he and Pickering co-driver Steve Bielby contested
THE NORTH-EAST escaped most of the bad weather last week but the stream was still in full flow at Butsfield Quarry in County Durham on Sunday, when the Consett Club put on a trial for a massive 125 starters, with just enough time to fit three
AN ANIMATION company from Teesside is celebrating its work being aired on NickToons, the UK animation channel. The Nickelodeon team was so impressed with a taster animation they found online that they commissioned husband and wife team Talib and
BUSINESSES responsible for causing damage to the environment can now be forced to foot the bill for their actions. New rules governing who should pay up in cases of pollution are now in force – and they make the position of companies’ liability
THE weather wasn’t great at Haydock last Saturday but the racing certainly made up for it, with the star attraction Kauto Star winning the feature race, the Betfair Chase. The dual Gold Cup winner had to dig deep to hold off the gallant runner-up Imperial
Barnard Castle & Teesdale Riding Club. December 6: Christmas hack, Hamsterley, off the usual tracks, tinsel mandatory, contact Viv 07500967539. Dec 21: Christmas Gymkhana @ Seagold Centurion, contact Viv 07500967539. Dec 21: winter league show
A LEADING drug development and manufacturing company is staying on Teesside after finding new laboratory space. Staff working for the biocatalysis division of Piramal Healthcare had feared that, after 20 years, they may have had to leave the area
A NORTH Yorkshire business owner has been named North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Rebecca Howard runs Cynergy, a specialist health communications and events agency based in Stokesley. The company was named best small business at the annual
A NORTH Yorkshire deer farm has become the first in the country to invest in a Roundhouse livestock building. The revolutionary design was invented and developed by Geoff Simpson and John Allinson of S & A Fabrications of Barnard Castle
FARMERS and landowners in the North Pennines have the opportunity to find out about Natural England’s Uplands Entry Level Stewardship next week. A meeting will be held at Mickleton Village Hall on Thursday between 7pm and 9pm. Joining the voluntary
THE National Sheep Association has urged members to ensure EID tags they buy are competitively priced – and suited to the sheep and conditions they are managed under. The vast majority of farmers do not now need electronic tag readers or computer
PETER Kendall, president of the National Farmers’ Union, will address the organisation’s fourth annual Northern Dairy Conference on Tuesday. Other speakers include John Giles from Promar International and Ian Potter, dairy quota trader. The
A FARM that boasts some of the finest hay meadows in England has opened a new education and training centre. Carrs Farm, which overlooks Wolsingham, in Weardale, hopes to attract naturalists, ecotourists and schoolchildren from all over the country
IF YOU’RE looking for colourful potted plants that will last a bit longer than a few short-lived pansies this winter, it’s worth shopping around for evergreen and berried shrubs and grasses. Garden centres are now awash with winter cherries
A dream based on solid foundations. ON a grey, grey day, low clouds were scudding the tops of North York Moors and Great Ayton was shrouded in a misty drizzle. On High Green, the statue of Captain Cook appeared lost at sea. But across the road
FORMER Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi, one-time pin-up boy of tennis and winner of eight Grand Slams, has courted controversy for much of his life, but never more so than now. The publication of his autobiography, Open, in which he admits snorting
FOR a swell start to the Christmas season, book to see this fabulous production. Christmas with the Rat Pack, featuring the legendary songs of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin, is a wonderful step back into the glamorous 1960s’ days
AN EXHIBITION inspired by Rosedale Abbey on the North York Moors will be on show in the remote location of Updale Reading Room at Rosedale next weekend. Andrew Cheetham spent a year exploring the area, documenting the remains of the iron ore
THE role of Abanazar in Aladdin at Darlington Civic Theatre will be performed by magician Max Somerset – who will give the character a fresh twist through his own sleight-of-hand trickery. Magicians regularly appear in pantomime, and often play
THE North Yorkshire Chorus will celebrate 40 years of concert-giving in the county with a performance of Mendelssohn’s much-loved oratorio Elijah. “We wanted a really special choral work to celebrate this anniversary” said Tony May, chairman
A CHANCE to undertake an archaeological excavation is not one which is often presented but, during September, we searched for clues at Boltby Scar Iron Age hillfort, built where a high point of the escarpment edge juts out to the west, two miles
SOME of the days around this time of year have – or used to have – rather peculiar names. For example, last Monday was Clementing Day, when the local blacksmith would tour his village while accompanied by lots of children. Sometimes the children
Mike Bridgen reports on 40 years of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group. ONE of the most respected independent advisory bodies for farmers is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) was originally
SUNDAY afternoon found Spectator in Durham Cathedral for a very special occasion. The service of Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors featured two noteworthy occurrences. One was Lord Putnam’s “we’re all doomed if we don’t do something about
Sir, – I am writing to correct some of the misinformation in your newspaper regarding the present problems with Barforth Bridge (D&S Nov 13 and 20). John Graham, the owner of Piercebridge quarry, bought Barforth Hall in 1951 and quickly realised
Sir, – I disagree that Hambleton Council’s development committee arrived at the correct decision when they voted to defer a decision on the Bullamoor wind farm (D&S letters, Nov 20). The Ministry of Defence air safety objections were explained
Sir, – The recent survey into family break-up and the impact of divorce on children highlights a serious issue. Divorce and separation is a period of huge change for all the family, and children can get caught in the middle when things go wrong
Sir, – County Coun John Blackie may have emerged from court “with his reputation intact” but your leading article (D&S Nov 20) was wise in not attempting to define just what this reputation might be. Nor does Spectator cover himself in glory by
Sir, – Perhaps it’s because the cafe is tucked away in the centre of Ropner Park, or that the weather has been encouraging people to shelter in the comfort of their homes, but there seems to be a misconception that we are closed for the winter.
Sir, – I read with interest Joe Willis’ article (D&S, Nov 13) regarding wind turbines. As somebody who has promoted wind farms in your paper, it might come as a surprise that I have sympathy with the view that wind farm developments in areas of
Sir, – In 1999, my wife had a Siamese cat which produced three kittens. We decided to name them after places of interest in Hurworth and consequently Colonel Greenwell, Princess Rockliffe and Pilmore joined our home. Sadly, Pilmore died, but we
Sir, – Lately, I have been speaking to some of the residents who left their homes in Lyle Close, Richmond. Almost all of them have told me that they would like to return, as soon as possible to their former homes. This is the reason I am opposed
Sir, – Spectator makes a timely comment (D&S, Nov 20) on the Richmondshire District Council propaganda sheet, The Curlew, as the latest edition comes slithering through our letter boxes. Here are a few of the facts that Couns Butler and Steckles
Sir, – I am delighted at the judgment on Friday, November 13 at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court in favour of Coun John Blackie. I have known Coun Blackie for some 15 years and I, too, have had my political disagreements with him. During this
Sir, – I write having attended the presentation by the Miller Group, consultants, who have been commissioned by Richmondshire District Council, paid-for by public money, to carry out a Lower Wensleydale Study. The study goes into great detail
From this newspaper 100 years ago. Ripon Guardians. A letter was read from the Mayor of Ripon (Mr Metcalfe) asking that he be allowed to give the annual treat to the inmates of the Workhouse on January 5th. It was resolved that the requisite leave
LORD Puttnam of Queensgate, delivering his sermon from the pulpit in Durham Cathedral on Sunday, could not have been plainer. The threat to mankind posed by climate change was the greatest the human race had ever faced, he said. His message was delivered
