Swinging into Whorlton with the Pat McCarthy Quartet

THE Pat McCarthy Quartet will be bringing an evening of jazz and swing to Whorlton Village Hall this weekend.

The four piece, who are touring the northern counties, will present a varied programme ranging from 1930s classics to the new generation of modern jazz hits. Their repertoire features interesting arrangements of well loved standards alongside a few of Pat’s original songs.
The band line up features Pat McCarthy on guitars, Shannon Reilly on vocals, bassist Warren Jolly and Thom Whitworth on trumpet and guitar.
Pat has completed several European tours, theatre work, a West End residency, television and radio appearances as well as writing and recording.
Shannon has developed a style very much her own, while since graduating from Newcastle College of Music in 1989, Warren has been in constant demand as a session player and side man with some of the best known names in jazz and pop.
Thom has won various accolades and is a rising star on the jazz club and festival circuit.
The show takes place at Whorlton Village Hall on Saturday, April 1. Tickets are £10 for adults (£20 families). Call 01833 627419 or 627253.
The Pat McCarthy Band is touring with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme and backing from Jazz North’s Northern Line Scheme which supports touring for jazz musicians in the north of the country.

A 3kg sweet treat to really get your teeth into

A GIANT chocolate “dinosaur” egg is being given away as part of an annual Easter raffle by a Teesdale business to help raise funds for two local charities.
Chocolate Fayre, on Barnard Castle’s Horsemarket, has been providing supersized chocolate prizes every spring for the past four years.
In that time customers have raised hundreds of pounds for local good causes.
Owner Kenny Walker said: “This year the prize is an enormous chocolate egg which is almost two feet long and weighs more than 6.5lb (3kg).
“It would certainly keep whoever wins it in chocolate for some time.”
With the success of previous charity raffles, Chocolate Fayre decided this year the proceeds from the giant egg will once again be split between two local causes – the Great North Air Ambulance Service, and Cotherstone Pre-School.
Mr Walker added: “The air ambulance potentially benefits everyone in the dale and beyond, yet receives no government funding whatsoever, depending entirely on donations to be able to operate and continue to provide life-saving emergency care to anyone who needs it, whenever they need it.”

Cash secure but lifeline charity Teesdale Day Clubs needs more leaders

A CLUB aimed at tackling social isolation among older people in Teesdale is financially secure for at least the next three years.

Teesdale Day Clubs, which has been providing weekly lunches in villages across the dale for the past 15 years, enjoyed another successful year earning County Durham’s highest honour for its work.
In giving his report during the annual meeting, chairman Dr Peter Wood, said it was a significant achievement to be awarded Durham County Council’s Chairman’s Medal for services to the community.
He added that an award was also received from Teesdale Action Partnership.
Dr Wood warned that the association relies heavily on a Lottery grant for its financial security but it is unlikely this will be renewed.
Dr Wood said: “Budgets show that we are financially viable until about mid-2020.
“While this may seem a long way in the future, the time will pass very quickly and it is reasonable to expect thatobtaining funding will become increasingly difficult over the next few years. It is highly unlikely that we will be eligible for a further extension to the Big Lottery grant which is currently our main source of income.”
A further worry was a lack of people willing to join the association’s board, he said.
To help this, the annual meeting confirmed a change to its constitution to allow office bearers to be re-elected to their post indefinitely. In the past people could only hold office for three consecutive years.
The change allowed Dr Wood and others to retain their positions.
He said: “Under the current constitution this year would be my last as chairman, at least for another year, but there are currently no others willing to take on this role.
“This does identify a problem of sustainability for the organisation in that our officer trustees are getting older and there are no younger people becoming involved and willing to take an active roll in the management of the association.”
He paid tribute to the current trustees for their work and described them as “stalwarts”.
Dr Wood praised office staff and many volunteers who help out with the lunches, saying: “Thanks to all of you for your continued support and commitment to delivering our services and for making our organisation a success.”

Agricultural courses offered by Teesdale School after deal with top farming college

TEESDALE School and East Durham College have announced an “exciting new partnership” to make land based-agricultural courses more accessible to students.

East Durham College’s Houghall Campus, in Durham, is offering post-
16 students improved transport options, as well as flexible timetables and developments to the curriculum to allow more young people to access their agricultural courses.
In return, Teesdale School plans to enable parts of the courses to be delivered at the school in Barnard Castle.
Plans are also being developed to offer pre-16 students agricultural teaching in school and on placements at the Houghall campus, which has recently undergone a £12.75 million redevelopment including a new small animal care centre, agricultural centre, equine centre, brand new science labs and IT suites.
Janice Gorlach, executive principal at Teesdale School and Sixth Form, said: “This unique agreement will mean that our post-16 students have easier to access this excellent facility.
“By offering flexibility, East Durham College are opening up a new avenue of learning opportunities in one of the finest agricultural learning facilities in the country.”
Suzanne Duncan, principal at East Durham College, added: “We believe it is vital to offer young people who live in the west of County Durham and the dales, the opportunity to study agriculture up to
level three right here in Durham.
“Houghall had a long tradition of training the sons and daughters of our hill farming community – and with the redevelopment of the Houghall, facilities and the introduction of our new level three advanced technical extended diploma in agriculture Houghall is once again able to meet the training needs of this community.”
Full time courses available to post-16 students at Houghall includes level one to three qualifications in
agriculture, animal care, arboriculture and forestry, countryside management, equine studies, floristry, horticulture and gardening and veterinary nursing.

The touching letter from a three year old after someone stole the flower she planted near a field – and the reply from the farmer

A LETTER a three-year-old left near a field and the reply from a farmer has touched people’s hearts in Teesdale and left them hoping for a happy ending.
The little girl called Annabelle made the note following the disappearance of a flower she had planted near a footpath on the back lane at Headlam.
She wrote: “To whom it may concern. Please could the person who has taken my plant bring it back! My granddad and I have planted it and have been watching it grow for nearly two years. We even planted it next to a public footpath so everyone could enjoy it and watch the bees and the butterfly feed from it. Thank you.”
Above it, the following reply was left by Richard Hodgson. He said: “Dear Annabelle and your granddad. I am the farmer who looks after the field where the path goes. I have admired that lovely plant over the last two years and especially when it flowered last spring. I cannot believe anyone in their right minds would remove it. I hope your note pricks their conscience and they do return it back to where it is at home. If this doesn’t happen, I do remember what type of plant it was and will replace it myself. Richard.”
Mr Hodgson told the Mercury he didn’t know who the little girl was despite asking around.
He said: “I spotted the note three days ago when I looked over the fence. I thought it was a strange thing to do – to pinch a flower.
“The little girl will probably feel let down, so it would be nice to track her down.”
Mr Hodgson said he and his wife believe the flower was a ceanothus.

“We have a couple in our garden and they have these lovely blue flowers. It looked lovely last year – it was just getting going.”
The notes were spotted by Gainford resident Michael King who posed these pictures on social media.

Do you know who Annabelle and her granddad are? Call the Teesdale Mercury on 01833 637140 or email editor@teesdalemercury.co.uk or contact us via our Facebook page.

April treat in store for garden lovers as Jonathan and Caroline open up Ravensford Farm

PEOPLE who visit a popular Hamsterley garden every year are in for a treat as it opens for the first time in the spring.

Jonathan and Caroline Peacock have been welcoming people to their garden, at Ravensford Farm, for about two decades as part of the National Open Gardens Scheme (NGS), but they
have never opened so early before.
Visitors can look forward to seeing a range of spring bulbs and many unusual shrubs and trees.
Mrs Peacock said: “The main reason we are opening early is to enable faithful visitors to see the garden at a completely different time of of year.”
The Peacock’s garden is usually open between July and September and attracts viewers from as far afield Hartlepool, Newcastle and the Lake District.
Their two-and-a-half acre garden has several interesting features such as statues and art and has been featured in the publication Garden News.
Ms Peacock said: “On NGS day we sell plants and jams from the garden.
“We serve home-baked cakes for tea and Northumbrian pipers provide the background music.”
People do not have to be NGS members to visit the garden and the entrance fee is £4. There is no cost for children. The garden is open on Saturday, April 1, from 2pm to 5pm.
Later, on April 23, The Old Vicarage, in Hutton Magna, will be open also from 2pm to 5pm.
The south facing garden features cut and topiary hedging, an old orchard, and rose and herbaceous borders featuring hellebores in profusion, with tulips and primulas.
NGS is now in its 90th year and raises cash for several charities.

Yob drivers damage Demesnes in Barnard Castle

IGNORANT motorists have made an unwelcome return to a popular beauty spot.
Tyre marks and gouged turf pot-marked the Lower Demesnes, in Barnard Castle, over the weekend. Grass near Parsons Lonnen also took a hit.
Father-of-one Matt Rymer lives near the Demesnes play park.
The 37-year-old said: “I know the police are stretched on an evening and have to come all the way from Bishop Auckland but to me there’s a simple solution – put another bollard in.”
Anti-social behaviour on the Demesnes has been a PACT (Police and Communities Together) priority.
But the priority was dropped earlier this year after Police carried out 40 patrols and found little to report.

Proposal for 162 homes in Startforth recommended for approval by county council

Tom Hustler and Gill Hay, from the Homes and
Communities Agency which is selling the site

Controversial plans to build 162 new houses in Startforth have been recommended for approval.
Durham County Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday, April 4, when councillors will be told any impact on school places, infrastructure and the road network is within “acceptable” limits.
Kier Living submitted the planning application to Durham County Council last December seeking permission to build family homes on land next to Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution.
The development would include 55 two-bedroom houses, 48 three-bedroom properties and 59 four-bedroom homes, including 24 affordable homes.
Barnard Castle Town Council objected to the plans on the grounds that there would be “significant harm to the character, quality and distinctiveness of the landscape.” Councillors were also concerned about traffic, parking and noise which they said would be “detrimental” to the character of the conservation area.
However, planning officials say that the visual impact would be “localised and minimised” and the site would have an “acceptable impact on the wider highway network.”
Six letters of objection were received from the public, including one from Teesdale Conservation Volunteers.
The community composting group, known as Rotters, believes the development would hamper their operations nearby.
Other issues raised by residents included the lack of demand for new housing, the lack of employment for potential occupiers and the impact it would have on local services such as the GP surgery and schools.
However, council officers say the closure of Startforth Morritt Primary School last year would not be an issue.
According to the council’s school places and admissions manager: “...there are sufficient primary and secondary school places to accommodate the additional pupils likely to be produced from this development.”
Planning officials also believe that affordable housing is needed in the area.
The report states that “the provision of affordable housing in an area where the supply of housing is lacking is a benefit of the scheme, along with the provision of 15 per cent affordable properties. This would contribute to the economic and social aspects of sustainability.”
Access to the development would be from Lartington Lane. A new access would be created on the A67 for the prison.
If given the go-ahead, the plans will also include a new prison car park for 232 vehicles.
There will also be 416 parking spaces within the development which will include a mix of on-street, drives, single and double garages with space to park at the front or to the side.

Prize-winning author inspires kids

CHILDREN at Woodland Primary School are coming up with novel ideas after being visited by a young people’s author. People’s Book Prize winner Billy Bob Buttons visited the school to lead writing workshops to key stage two pupils.

Mr Buttons said: “The workshop shows the children how to create a character that readers will care about.”
The author has produced 16 books for various ages, and his work has been translated into eight languages.
A number of children said they would like to become writers after the workshops.

Call to protect Richardson Hospital, Barnard Castle, by giving it community asset status

BARNARD Castle’s community hospital should be officially listed as a community asset as a way of protecting it for the future.

The idea was put forward at Barnard Castle Town Council's annual town meeting.
The future of the hospital, which was opened in 2007, has been a cause for concern among supporters since the closure of one of its two wards in 2015.
Although County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust said this would be a temporary measure, the ward remains closed.
At the town meeting, former councillor John Watson pointed to the success of campaigners at Shotley Bridge, near Consett.
Earlier this year, Shotley Bridge Hospital was made an asset of community value under Community Right to Bid legislation after more than 5,000 people signed a petition in support of the hospital.
Right to Bid allows communities and parish councils – such as Barnard Castle Town Council – to nominate buildings or land as assets.
If they are then put on the market, the community can pause the sale for six months while they try to come up with funding to buy the land or building instead.
“Please take a leaf out of the people of Shotley Bridge,” said Mr Watson.
“They have acted to have their hospital registered as an asset of community significance and it was accepted.
“It doesn’t give 100 per cent protection but it means no action can be taken to close it without going through full community consultation.”
Mr Watson said there had been nothing mentioned in the ongoing Better Health Programme – which outlines the future of NHS services in the region – about the Richardson Hospital.
“The future of the community hospital depends on
the clinical commissioning group,” he said.
“They have not determined anything about the future of the empty ward at the Richardson.
“Everyone in here [at the town meeting] knows there is great concern over the Richardson.”
Mr Watson also urged the town council to respond to the wider issues thrown up by the Better Health Programme, such as the future of A&E and maternity services in the
area.
He said it was important a response was made in the best interests of people in the town and was free from political party input.
“It should be a properly informed response keeping clear of the excitement over where A&E facilities may or may not be.”

Upper Teesdale will be last to get fast internet speeds, it is claimed

FOREST-in-Teesdale will be the only place in County Durham without a fibre broadband exchange by the end of 2018, it has been claimed.
Now farming charity Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (Utass) is looking at other ways of improving broadband speed in the area.
Broadband connections are important for farmers in the upper dale because Defra insists that basic payment scheme applications are made over the internet. These  subsidies help keep hard-pressed hill farmers afloat.
Speaking during the charity’s annual meeting this month, chairman Dr onathan Nainby-Luxmoore said discussions were being held with Digital Durham and BT about the issue.
He said: “Last year we were complaining about the dire speeds and they are not wildly better. The phase two roll out of the Digital Durham scheme comes to an end in December 2018. By that stage they will have got all the exchanges with a fibre cabinet in all of County Durham, except of course Forest-in-Teesdale.”
He added that about 75 per cent of the cost to upgrade the exchange was burying the fibre cables underground. He suggested farmers could get involved by helping to dig ditches.
Dr Nainby-Luxmoore said: “There is no doubt it is expensive to provide but we hope that in the next 18 months we will be able to come back to you with some more information. To this end there is going to be a public meeting on the June 6 when we hope to get a number of these people here to see what we can do to get it to work.
“This is the first public meeting we are proposing to have to try to see how much interest there is in getting high speed internet up the dale.”
Durham County Council says it too is looking at ways of improving broadband in the area.
Phil Jackman, head of ICT for the council, said: “We are committed to improving broadband speeds for residents and businesses across County Durham. We recently met representatives of Utass and partners to explore how this can potentially be achieved in Forest-in-Teesdale and surrounding area, and will be continuing these discussions.”

Why tortoises make perfect pets – by Teesdale breeder

Tortoises were relatively commonplace in childhood homes of the 1960s and 70s but many owners were ignorant of their needs.
Reporter Alex Metcalfe spoke to breeder Chris Jarwick to find out what it takes to keep an animal who can live to 60 and beyond

REPTILES and Teesdale aren’t common bedfellows but one corner of Startforth has been converted into a haven for one of their kind.
Retired children’s worker Chris Jarwick breeds leopard tortoises.
The 63-year-old and his wife, Jane, to tend to their small shelled army with an array of incubators, vivariums and lots of rocket leaves.
He says: “Jane and I met through a motorcycle club – it was her birthday and she told me she wanted something quite unusual.
“There was a girl I knew from work who was moving to the Midlands and she had a tortoise which needed rehoming.”
From that moment on, their Startforth Park home has gradually increased its tortoise population and more are on the way.
“We felt a bit like new parents,” says Mr Jarwick.
“As far as I know they are all doing fine – we’ve had people from Ashington, Hexham and Morpeth wanting them.”
Mr Jarwick says the “leopards” are where his interest lies – although one half of the space under the stairs is home to four Hermann tortoises looking for new owners.
He adds: “The leopard tortoises don’t hibernate at all – some people don’t want tortoises which hibernate and often think they’re dead, even though a lot of them have life expectancies of 60 years or more.
“We are certainly not experts but we know a bit about it. We have got four already hatched, six incubating and potentially another ten.
“We will not sell them to just anybody – we’ll find people genuinely interested in them.”
With 22 hatchlings to their names without alarm, the Jarwicks are well versed in the ways of the tortoise and can tell whether a would-be owner has the reptiles' best interests at heart.
“They are a bit like dogs – they get used to a routine,” says Mr Jarwick.
“We get up, clean them out and bathe them because they can easily dehydrate.
“They take in moisture from the back end of their shells – they can absorb the moisture they need if necessary.”
The slow moving animals can have a voracious appetite with winter spend on rocket leaves and kale often topping £30-a-week at the Jarwick household.
But once the summer rolls around, the tortoise diet comes into its own.
Mr Jarwick explains: “Food for them is dandelion leaves, rocket and weeds – a lot of food we can find for free.
“We can take the dogs out one morning and get food – it’s natural and it’s fresh.
“They will eat grass in summer which is really good for them and it means you don’t have to give it a summer cut – but if you let them out at this time of year the lawn wouldn’t last a couple of days.”
Mr Jarwick, like many of his age, grew up with a tortoise at his feet.
But many owners of the time were either ill-prepared or cruelly ignorant of their needs.
He says: “I’m of a generation where people bought tortoises for ten bob. People used to drill holes in them and put chains in them to stop them wandering of – it was ignorance more than anything else.”
Regulations on ownership were tightened up in the 1980s meaning their numbers in the UK have dipped in recent decades.
Mr Jarwick offers an advice sheet to new owners and keeps in touch with them for a fortnight to check their progress.
His care of his own band of tortoises is equally thorough.
The downstairs of his home is littered with tortoise paraphernalia with vivariums – special humidity controlled boxes – in the dining room and under the stairs while a temperature controlled incubator hums away in the kitchen.
“The vivarium allows humidity to be controlled and the special lights give off UV rays, whereas a table is open,” he adds.
“The humid atmosphere gives the little ones a better chance in later life as the youngsters are susceptible to any conditions.
“Other people tell me they wouldn’t be seen dead with a vivarium but that’s just our experience.”
Tortoises are known for their longevity and the couple’s first pet, Winnie, is barely reaching her middle age at 30.
Winnie arrived with the Jarwicks after a tough start in life.
Her shell is still affected by “pyramiding” – a condition where bones become weak and keratin builds up on the back due to lack of calcium.
But all Winnie’s offspring are a picture of health and when her housemate, Olive, gave birth the Jarwicks got a front-seat view.
Mr Jarwick says: “Olive was digging a hole at the far end of the garden in the early hours of the morning – when she stopped we put her eggs in the incubator as she would have just buried them.
“They can spend all day digging and giving birth – it’s just their instinct.
“Tortoises don’t have an allegiance to their young – you put the parents next to their hatchlings and the parents would stand on them.
“It’s the old adage of clank, clank I’m a tank.”
Mr Jarwick says it costs about £200 to £300 to cater for a tortoise in your home which is a steep ask for many.
But he adds that the longevity of a tortoise can pay off in the long term.
“You will pay more for a pedigree dog but with tortoises you’ll have a pet which you may have until you have grandchildren,” he adds.
“You can have a tortoise for three generations – as long as you provide them with the right environment, they can have a stress free life.”
For more information on Mr Jarwick’s hatchlings, call 07909 611928.

Harking back to bygone era with Startforth wood eco-project

ACCESS to a Teesdale beauty spot is being improved thanks to the work of a dales pony.
Renowned logger Charlie Parker and his dales pony Roandale Rock are helping to build a new footbridge to link footpaths in Deepdale Wood, Startforth.
The area is an ancient semi-natural woodland enjoyed by the community and a valuable resource for local wildlife.
In the recent past, Durham Wildlife Trust and volunteers have been working with the woodland’s owner, John Durkin Ecology, to improve access for residents  and to improve its habitat for wildlife.
This work has been made possible thanks to funding from Teesdale Action Partnership.
The volunteers installed a footbridge across Ray Gill to link footpaths and create an additional route for visitors.
Two six metre-long telegraph poles were brought across the woodland and onto the work site by Mr Parker and Roadale Rock, affectionately known as Rocky.
Dales ponies are one of the UK’s native breeds, recognised as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
Working with them is a traditional skill rarely seen these days, yet an important part of the Dales pony heritage – one Mr Parker strives to keep alive.
He said: “Dales ponies are very versatile, willing, surefooted and very strong for their size. They’re one of the best native breeds in the country.”
Once the telegraph poles were in situ, the project’s volunteers began the task of
constructing the footbridge, carefully measuring and checking as they carried out their work. Lengths of timber were nailed in place to make a strong and stable footbridge.
Craig Morgan, from Teesdale Action Partnership, said: “It’s great to see the volunteers so actively involved in the woodland management and very encouraging to see the level of support and commitment from the landowner.”
Mr  Durkin added: “The management objectives are to improve the wood for wildlife and to improve the wood for the enjoyment of people.
“We’re very grateful to Teesdale Action Partnership for funding the project and to Durham Wildlife Trust for their expertise and for co-ordinating the volunteers so well.”
Access to the wood is actively promoted and encouraged, the entrance to Deepdale Wood is on Lartington Lane, next to the bridge over Deepdale Beck.
Anyone interested in getting involved in conservation volunteering can contact  Durham Wildlife Trust by email volunteer@durhamwt.
co.uk or phone 0191 584 3112.

Caroline's passion for Swaledale sheep and farming in the uplands

A Teesdale hill farm is a beautiful place to visit, but managing sheep and cattle in this environment can be challenging. However, Caroline Colling is perfectly contented with her lot, as she explained to Wendy Short

Hield House, at Holwick, is a 2,000-acre (including the fell) Strathmore Estate holding which covers some of the most rugged terrain in our dale.
It is the family farm of Caroline’s parents, Richard and Madeleine Walton, and she has worked on the farm with her father on a day-to-day basis for the past several years. She is also employed on a casual basis on a farm near Brough, as well as being  secretary of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association ‘A’ District (SSBA).
Every morning, Caroline makes the short journey to the farm from her home in Lunedale, which she shares with her husband, Andrew, an electrician. He is an enthusiastic farm “helper”, along with his two daughters, Ellie, 16, and Lucy, ten, who visit at the weekends and also enjoy working with the ‘Blackrigg’ flock of 350 Swaledale ewes, despite not coming from a farming background. Caroline herself has farming roots which go a way back and some will remember her late great grandfather, Arthur Dowson, who was a cattle dealer based at Mickleton.
Over winter, hay is taken out to the older and fitter in-lamb ewes on the allotment and is also fed to ewes carrying twins, which are brought inside after Christmas. Hard feed is not offered until one month before lambing, which starts around April 10 and takes place on the 165 acres of in-bye land, with an average percentage rate of 140.
Post-lambing, the ewes are split into groups according to lamb numbers and those with singles return to the fell in early May, while ewes with twins are moved to the allotment. Regular checking is all that is required until July 10-12, when the flock is gathered for clipping. Outside help is brought in for this task.
The selling period for finished lambs, which go either to Kirkby Stephen or Middleton-in-Teesdale auction marts, starts in October and individuals which need additional finishing are brought inside in November. Concentrates are offered during this period, with the aim of getting all of the lambs away by Christmas, to free up the buildings for the pregnant ewes. The farm also carried 18 cross-bred suckler cows, whose progeny is sold as stores. Breeding gimmer lambs are sold in September.
The farmstead has breathtaking views and the surrounding land boasts one of the largest juniper forests in England, with about 100 trees. However, the stunning scenery attracts large numbers of ramblers on the footpaths and it is common to find that closed gates are left open, creating a lot of extra work for the family.
Caroline is keen to give credit to the late 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne whom she describes as a “very decent man”.
“Lord Strathmore had a great interest in the farm and he added me as a successor to the tenancy, which was a very kind gesture and certainly something that he didn’t have to do. As far as I’m aware, the estate had never done this before – it was extremely good of him and I will always appreciate his thoughtfulness,” she says.
“I am the only one of the siblings who has followed in my father’s footsteps. My sister, Helen, is a solicitor in Newcastle and her twin Rebecca is a special needs teaching assistant who still lives nearby in Middleton-in-Teesdale. It is quite fortunate, because the farm could not support all three of us and so taking on the farm naturally fell to me, which suits me very well.”

SHOW AND SALE PRICES
LIKE most other farmers, Caroline and her family are always short of time and they only attend the Eggleston, Bowes and High Force shows with sheep.
Their most significant achievement to date came in 2015, when they took the overall championship at Eggleston with a gimmer shearling. They were also delighted when one of their tups was knocked down at £4,000 at Middleton tup sale and have since had a couple at £2,500. Roughly half a dozen tups are selected each year for the sales.

‘A’ DISTRICT SECRETARY
THE role of secretary to the SSBA A District is an important one and Caroline has been in post for six years. 
It is a seasonal appointment, with the main task being the inspection of tups put forward for registration, she explains.
“I work as part of a team of three to view and crown all of the eligible tups for that year,” she says. “They are mainly shearlings, although we are occasionally asked to inspect a tup lamb or an aged tup.  The work starts in early September and it takes some time to arrange for the two ‘crowners’ and the farmer to all get together at the same time.
“It is unusual for an animal to be rejected for crowning, because our members have a clear idea of the type that is required.”
Caroline also handles the membership list for her district, attends committee meetings and assists with the organisation of the tup sale at Middleton-in-Teesdale auction mart. She also organises the district’s March AGM, which marks the end of her association work commitments until the autumn.
“The secretary position has been useful for acquiring more knowledge and it is interesting to visit other farms and see how the livestock are managed,” she comments. “In general, the association is looking for a correct tup, but opinion varies and some of the breeders prioritise black and white, while others are mostly occupied with size and power. It is a good job that we are all looking for something slightly different, as otherwise variation would be lacking and it would be impossible to fulfil our personal preferences when we go to the sales.
 “As an association, our membership and flock numbers are increasing and we have members who live as far away as Devon and Ireland and travel up to the area buy our Swaledales. It is often said that there are too few young people coming into farming, but we have plenty coming forward and they are all extremely keen, so I have no doubt that the future of the breed is secure.”

QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS
How many hours do you work in an average week?
I normally work seven days a week, so it’s probably about 60, although I hate to think what it adds up to at lambing time.
What aspect of the job do you like the most?
I enjoy lambing and never get tired of it. Lambs are the fruits of our labour all through the bad weather in the winter. It’s always exciting, to see how a new tup has performed.
And the least? The wind and the rain.
The career that you would have chosen as an alternative?  There isn’t anything I’d rather do than farm, although I would quite like to have been a vet.
The prized possession that you value the most? My seven-year-old sheepdog, Jess. I would find it hard to manage the sheep without her. But she has a quirky personality; she doesn’t like strangers and she won’t work alongside any other dog, as she gets jealous. As a team we struggle sometimes, especially when she’s convinced that she knows best.
The person who has had the most influence on you? Two people, my dad and also my late grandad, Jack, who taught me all sorts of useful things like how to drive and how to shoot rabbits.

Straight from the cow – farm sells raw milk from roadside vending machine

A family-run dairy farm has embarked on a new raw milk venture to help keep it afloat.
Scorton Road Farm, in South Cowton,  has been kept in the family for the past 95 years and is run today by third generation farmers David and Anne Alderson along with their son, William, 23. 
The farm, between Scotch Corner and Northallerton, is home to a herd of 60 pedigree Holstein and Ayrshire cows who produce about 2,000 litres of milk every day.
Like many of the country’s dairy farmers, the family became caught up in the milk crisis, which hit the industry hard in 2015. To help cut costs, they have now begun to sell raw milk from a self-service vending machine at the farm gates. It’s being billed as “straight from the cow” and is not pasteurised.
William said: “The crisis hit everyone’s cash flow.  We were selling a lot of milk to suppliers at 11p per litre. It costs us around 24p per litre so we were losing a lot. This is an extra income source.”
Having studied agriculture for four years at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, William became  more aware that changing times were ahead for his family’s livelihood. Following his return home, he decided to explore the idea of cutting out the middle man by selling some of their milk direct to the consumer, as well as continuing to sell some to suppliers.
Atley Hill Raw Milk was established on the farm, just outside Scorton, earlier this month.
He said: “It is completely self-service so it does not tie us down. It is pretty easy to use too. Fresh milk is put in the machine everyday and it is cleaned out and sterilised daily. The machine is also sterilised before it fills each bottle.
“The milk is filtered and chilled. It is not pasteurised and non-homogenised. It is straight from the cow basically. It is also free range. The herd is grass-fed predominantly which means the milk is higher in Omega 3.
“It is milk like no other. You can buy your milk from the supermarket but the taste will not compare. It is much creamier and thicker. We have had some really good feedback and some return custom too.”
The raw milk costs £1 per litre and can be purchased in one-litre or two-litre bottles which are provided. The vending machine is in one of the farm’s outbuildings at the side of the B1263 and is open seven days a week from 7am until 7pm.
Mrs Alderson said: “This is the new generation coming in to farm. The ethos of college has transported into William’s nature. It has impacted on us. We have to move with the times.
“One man has been for his milk every morning since we opened. People have tasted it and are now starting to come back again.”
The milk is tested weekly by Payne’s Dairies for bad bacteria.The Food Standards Agency also check and sample the milk quarterly as well as the dairy hygiene inspector who visits every six months.
Mrs Alderson said: “We do everything we can to make sure our milk is the best it can be. Cleanliness is paramount to our ethos and our tradition.”
Because the milk is not pasteurised, it contains a full range of B and C vitamins which would usually be killed off. Large amounts of vitamin A are also found in the milk due to the lack of processing. The calcium in the milk is also fully soluble and digestible.
Although drinking raw milk offers an array of vitamins, digestive enzymes and health benefits, consumers are warned that it could contain harmful organisms.
A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency said: “Unpasteurised or raw milk may contain harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning because it has not been heat treated.
“Long standing FSA advice has been that vulnerable people – that’s older people, infants, children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems – should not consume raw drinking milk.”
The Aldersons scooped silver for the best tasting milk at last year’s Great Yorkshire Show and are now hoping to spread the word about their new side business and build up a customer base.
Mrs Alderson said: “At the moment it is a learning curve but we love meeting people. The public want to support farmers but they might not know how to do it. This gives people that chance. The locals have supported us and we are very grateful for that.”

Delight for objectors as 40 homes proposal is rejected

PROPOSALS to build 40 houses next to the former Startforth Morritt Primary School have been knocked back by planners.
Startforth Barnard Castle Ltd submitted an outline planning application to Durham County Council to develop agricultural land to the north and east of the former school.
The council’s south and west area planning committee met last Thursday (March 23) to make a decision on the plans, which had attracted a host of objections.
Planning officials recommended the application for refusal due to the impact it would have on the character of the landscape and highways issues relating to the vehicular access.
Although the proposed site does not sit within the Barnard Castle conservation area – planners and residents say it must remain undeveloped. Senior planning officer Tim Burnham said: “The development would have a significant harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area. The open land does play a key role in the Barnard Castle conservation area.”
Planning applications to build houses on the land have previously been refused including three in 1984 and one for 35 houses in 1990.
Fears that High and Low Startforth would merge were also made apparent. The applicant suggested that some of the open views could be retained through the site and new landscaping within the site would offset any effects of the development on the landscape.
However it was noted that further landscaping to screen the proposal would reduce the open nature of the site and result in a merger between the two settlements which would be “significantly detrimental”.
Speaking on behalf of the residents of Startforth, Sheila Boaden reiterated their 26 letters of objection, explaining how the development would “ruin the character of the two settlements forever”.
She said: “Here we are in 2017 and another planning application for this site and nothing has changed. This time they are planning to build 40 houses – even more of an impact on the landscape.
“This field is not only an important part of this landscape but it also creates rural separation between High and Low Startforth.”
Cllr John Clare said: “It is not until you see a map that you see how important it is to have a buffer zone.”
With another 162 houses proposed for the area, Ms Boaden said that an extra 40 would mean a 62 per cent increase in Startforth’s housing stock. She added: “When does no mean no?”
Objections were also received from Startforth Parish Council, and the county council’s highway authority, the landscape section and the design and conservation team. Issues such as highway safety, sustainability, privacy, flooding and pollution were raised. Concerns surrounded the site’s two access points – one from Boldron Lane and another from the B6277. Planners warned that intensifying the use of a substandard carriageway and junction on the B6277 which would be “likely to increase the risk of accidents” resulting in “a significant adverse effect on highway safety.”
The applicant had suggested that this access point would not serve the whole development but planners said this could not be guaranteed.
A statement read out by Cllr Ted Henderson on behalf of Cllr Richard Bell said: “I regret to say that following the closure of the primary school there are no local services to support, no school, pub or shops.”
The councillors cast a unanimously refused the plans.

This week's Teesdale Mercury

This week’s news-packed Teesdale Mercury is out today – and here is a selection of some of the headlines:

Headteacher to quit in July so his ‘under-funded’ school can save on his salary.

Yobs damage beauty spot.

Council’s £2m expense bill queried.

Town firm kits out its factory from eBay.

Teaching assistants won’t suffer in new deal, council meeting told.

Recognition at last for Barney veterans.

162 houses for Startforth should be approved say county council planners…. but proposals to build 40 homes nearby have been turned down.

Free support group set up for people living with impact of cancer.

Call to protect Richardson Hospital by making it a ‘community asset’.

Photos from activities (Red Nose Day, mother’s day and more) at Woodland, Gainford, Forest, Kirklands, Staindrop schools.

Expert reveals the story of the deserted hamlet of Holgate.

Evenwood business supports Maia Mouse Foundation, set up after loss of a baby.

Spring gardens feature.

Upper dale will be last to get faster internet speeds, it has been claimed.

Teesdale School offers farming courses.

Plus letters, community news, Remember When, four pages of what’s on and three pages of sport including football and Teesdale CRC’s time trial.

Bakery branches out to help Teesdale tree planters

A TREE planting group have become far more mobile thanks to a bakery chain.
Trees for Teesdale was formed about a year ago to replace old trees and plant new ones in the area but volunteers have struggled to transport materials such as stock proof fencing and other kit.
Now thanks to a £1,000 grant from the Greggs Foundation, the group has been able to buy a new trailer.
Trees for Teesdale founding member Allan Rayner said: “About half the money is for the trailer, the rest we will use to stock fencing and tools.”
The group have many trees available for planting. Anyone who would like trees can visit the website treesforteesdale.org.uk.

Riders complain about loss of horse tracks in Hamsterley Forest

A RIDING group has made a call for more support to make sure it can keep Hamsterley Forest useable for horse lovers.
Hamsterley Riding Association has been hosting rides in the forest for many years.
But chairwoman Helen Kirby said this is getting harder.
She said: “The association’s main aim is to keep an equine presence in the forest as it is increasingly difficult to find off-road riding. Over the more recent years the club have seen more and more bike routes develop in the forest on what used to be horse friendly tracks.
“The very small committee need your help to keep the forest open and useable to horse riders.
“With an ever-declining number of club members they are struggling with this. Please support our club by coming along to our next organised ride, become a member, like our Facebook page and send us your comments and suggestions of how we can keep an equine presence.”
An Easter pleasure ride is being held on Saturday, April 22. It starts at the Oak Tree Car Park, in Hamsterley Forest, where there is a new horse rider friendly area with mounting block. Riders will set off between 11am and 12.30pm but are asked not to arrive before 9.30am.
There will be an Easter-themed fancy dress competition with judging at 10.45am.
The eight-mile ride costs £12 for members and £15 for non-members. A four-mile ride is £6 and £7.50 for non-members. Refreshments will be sold on the day in aid of The Brooke Charity.
Call Helen Kirby on 07929 397963 for more details.

Superheroes inspire Middleton-in-Teesdale pupils to pick up a book

Youngsters in the upper dale have been encouraged to pick up a book and read after delving into a world of superheroes.
Former TV soap director turned author, Jason Beresford, stopped by at Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School to share his amusing storylines from the Fabulous Four Fish Fingers – a gang of superhero kids who fight crime on the streets of Tumchester.  
During a school assembly, Mr Beresford brought to life a chapter from his first book during which he called on the help of pupils to take on the parts of characters Ruby, Bel, Gary and Morris.
Assistant headteacher Vicky Oliver said: “On the back of World Book Day, we just wanted to enthuse the children about reading, writing and literacy in general.
“We had some money from the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust and the Friends of Middleton School also donated towards the cost of the visit.
“Every hand was up saying they want to read the book. Hopefully, we will see this enthusiasm reflected in their work in school.”
Having worked for Tyne Tees TV, Mr Beresford went on to direct Coronation Street and Emmerdale before becoming a primary school teacher. However, he has now left his teaching days behind and has returned to TV as he continues to work on his writing career too.
So far, he has written three children’s books – The Fabulous Four Fish Fingers, Frozen Fish Fingers and Fish Fingers vs Nuggets, which is due out soon.
Mr Beresford said: “It is great to hear the children laugh. Sometimes there are hard to reach children but if you can unlock something that is lying dormant and if you can encourage them to read, that is what it is all about.
“I love encouraging them to read, whether it is my books or someone else’s books.”
Mr Beresford led a number of workshops in school which all followed the theme of superheroes.
He said: “The children will be creating their own superhero characters. They will base their character on an animal and think about the features of the animal and how they can turn them into super powers.
“We will do a bit of reading, a bit of thinking and them some drama.”
Mr Beresford added: “When they write their stories they will have a closer connection to their characters.”

Duo take centre stage to create one-off Teesdale musical

BROADCASTER and comedian Ian McMillan and composer Luke Carver Goss have joined forces to present night of words, music and improvisation at The Witham, Barnard Castle.
With their show, Words, Music, Glee and Delight, poet Ian and musician Luke plan to work with the audience to develop a one-off, improvised musical all about Barnard Castle and Teesdale.
Ian – the Bard of Barnsley – hosts weekly hit radio show The Verb.
He’s also poet-in-residence for Barnsley FC, The Academy of Urbanism and, until recently, English National Opera. He’s a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Countryfile, Pick of the Week, Pointless Celebrities and Last Word. He was featured on The South Bank Show and cast away on Desert Island Discs.
Musician Luke’ latest piece, Last Train to Elvet, was composed for the Durham Brass Festival and Tredegar Town Band. He also composed Pure Gold: a 4X4 relay for the Cultural Olympiad, Homing In for The Sage Gateshead as well as compositions for Black Dyke Brass Band, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
He has recorded and performed with his own group, the acclaimed Carver Trio, as well as The Ian McMillan Orchestra, the Balkan singer Tea Hodzic jazz singer Tina May and story-teller Daniel Morden in the group The Devil's Violin.
He and Ian are currently writing Tiger Tales for Holmfirth Arts Festival and a new carol for Chester Music Society.
The Witham’s Sarah Gent said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ian back with his joyful, energetic and exciting performances. Combine this with Luke’s music and we’re in for a wonderfully entertaining evening.”
The show takes place on Friday, April 7, at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information call the box office on 01833 631107 or go to www.thewith am.org.uk

Teesdale brewer moves to ease objectors' fears

A BREWERY owner has sought to quell fears of rowdy behaviour after his plan to get an entertainment licence triggered a raft of objections. 
Danny McColl, of McColl’s Brewery, in Evenwood, applied for a licence to play music and sell alcohol in the brewing warehouse on Randolph Industrial Estate earlier this month.
But several residents living near the site feared the brewery’s plans would open the door for a “pub” just yards from their homes.
Clerk Martin Clark revealed that Evenwood Parish Council had objected to the application, labelling it “entirely unsuitable”.
He added: “The council felt the licence application was an attempt to side step planning because these changes should have been contained in the planning application.
“The council felt they were misled by the original planning for a micro brewery – totally inappropriate and totally supportive of the local residents in objecting.”
Mr McColl, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, admitted he’d “accidently gone down the wrong avenue” and was pulling back on much of his application.
He said: “I’ve spoken to the council and I’ve retracted a lot of the licence. I just went overboard and went for a catch all licence when really I didn’t want 90 per cent of it.
“It’s just so we can sell some ales when we start brewery tours.”
Moves to open the dale’s first brewery in many years began last November when Mr McColl moved into the site with the help of a crowd-funding campaign.
An application for a refrigeration unit and brewing equipment was given the green light by Durham County Council after backing from the parish last month.
However, the licence proved a bridge too far for residents who attended last week’s parish council meeting in numbers.
Evenwood county councillor Heather Smith did not object to the brewery itself but had some misgivings about the licensing situation.
She said: “It is very close to residential properties in Manor Court and with alcohol sales risks anti-social behaviour.
“The licensing is an extremely strange decision in an exceedingly strange place.”
Mr McColl added that all those who objected would
be notified by the county council about his licence retractions.
He added: “I did not want to upset anybody.
“I have gone down completely and utterly wrong route and hopefully I can put all their minds at ease.”
The brewery hopes to produce its first beers in late April.

Concern at A&E transformation leader's 'conflict of interest'

A ROW has broken out about a potential conflict of interest of an NHS boss who is leading changes that could see Darlington Memorial Hospital lose some of its services, including its A&E ward.
Proposals through an NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), will see either Darlington or North Tees hospitals lose some units.
But the chairman of the STP group, Alan Foster, is also the chief executive of the trust in charge of North Tees Hospital.
The NHS denies Mr Foster will have any involvement in the final say about which hospitals will be affected.
Concern about the potential conflict of interest was raised during a public meeting in Middleton-in-Teesdale last week by a former paramedic. In response, county councillor Richard Bell said: “Yes the chief executive of Hartlepool and North Tees Trust is Alan Foster and he is leading the southern STP. And I have to say I do find it very strange indeed.
“I do find it very odd indeed that when you are faced with the choice of downgrading one of two hospitals, that the chief executive of one of them is leading the task group.”
North Yorkshire County Council member Jim Clark, who also gave input about the proposals, said the appointment was made centrally by the chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens.
He added: “It doesn’t fill you with confidence. This is the biggest change in the NHS for a long time – why are these people having to do it on a part time basis while they are still chief executives of other CCGs clinical commissioning groups, or trusts, or other organisations.”
Middleton resident Gordon Jones described the situation as possibly scandalous.
An NHS spokesperson said: “Any proposals about changes to hospital services would need to be subject to a formal process of public consultation.
“Following public consultation, final decisions would be made by a joint committee of all of the clinical commissioning groups in the area covered by the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.
“As the chief executive of an NHS Trust, Mr Foster is not a member of this committee.
“All decisions taken by the joint committee must be unanimous which means that the interests of one CCG cannot override the others.
“Members of this committee are working to the highest standards of governance and integrity to ensure that some very real challenges are addressed. This means working together to ensure the best possible long term plans are in place for clinically and financially sustainable healthcare services.”

Cuts kill off upper Teesdale youth club as cash goes to urban areas

A FARMING charity has ruled out trying to save a youth club that is due to close at the end of the month, saying it will put it at financial risk.
Funding cuts by Durham County Council has forced the closure of the popular youth group run at the offices of Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services), in Middleton-in-Teesdale. The club is seen as crucial in curbing social isolation among young people, but the withdrawal of county help by providing the youth support workers who run it has made it unviable.
The county council is reducing its youth service budget by £1million and is looking to shift its priorities to areas of deprivation such as Peterlee and places with problems like teen pregnancies and child poverty to “make every penny count”.
 However, young people in the upper dale had warned that cutting funding to their youth club could lead to depression and self-harming because of the isolated nature of the area.
County officials have acknowledged these issues and are now considering how to address them.
Announcing the closure during Utass’s annual meeting, chairman Dr Jonathan Nainby-Luxmoore said: “As of April 1 we are having the funding cut to our youth support workers and it is with great sadness that we are having to have to stop the provision for the young people, that is from the ages 13 to 18.”
He added that provision for children younger than 13 would continue because that group is not funded by the county council.
Dr Nainby-Luxmoore said: “But that older group, at the moment, we are not in a position to continue providing for.
“If we continued providing that service, as a charity, that would expose us to a huge risk. Although we have worked hard with Durham County Council for it, there is just no way that we can provide that service.”
Dr Nainby-Luxmoore said surveys would be carried out during the coming year to work out the needs of young people and what could be done to meet them.
However, Durham County Council says it is looking to tackle social isolation issues among young people next year.
Carole Payne, the head of children’s services at County Hall, said: “During the 12-week public consultation, officers met with a wide variety of groups and organisations including young people accessing Utass.
“During this consultation session, the impact of possible social isolation, particularly for those young people living in rural areas, was highlighted.
“It was therefore recommended that the Strategy for Youth Support in County Durham, and subsequent targeted model for youth support, be strengthened by acknowledging that young people who are at risk of social isolation will also receive targeted youth work support through the proposed targeted model.
“These recommendations were endorsed by the cabinet in September 2016 and will come into effect on the April 1, 2017.”

Work begins on bid to secure Utass funding

WORK has begun on securing funding to enable a charity to continue its vital work across upper Teesdale and Weardale.
Officials at Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (Utass) say the group’s work is needed just as much now as it was when officially launched in 2000.
Utass is about to enter the final 12 months of a five-year grant from the Big Lottery Fund, which covers about 60 per cent of the organisation’s running costs.
Project manager Diane Spark said: “It costs about £200,000 a year to run Utass before actually doing anything.
“We are currently working on a continuation Big Lottery application which we hope will be a seamless transition from one grant ending to one starting.”
Utass has received Lottery funding for the past eight years. However, Ms Spark said nothing was being taken for granted.
“We have got one person employed now who is solely engaged in funding. It is a hard world out there in terms of funding. We have got diminishing resources.”
While the Lottery grant covers a major part of Utass’ day-to-day running costs, the charity relies on almost 40 different funders to make up the balance.
Ms Spark explained that the breadth of work undertaken by Utass has expanded since its early days, although the perception is still that it exists purely to help the farming community.
“We have had feedback from people who are not from farming families who think that Utass is not for them,” she said. “We can appreciate why people would think that – just look at the name. But nothing could be further from the truth.”
She said Utass went to great lengths not to “step on the toes” of other organisations and replicate what others were doing, but was there to respond to gaps in what the community might need.
“We are particularly proud that whatever Utass has delivered has always been based on what the community needs, not on perceived needs. It is what people have asked us for – what they have told us they need,” added Ms Spark.
This has resulted in Utass’ involvement in more than 20 different areas of work, everything from providing a base for Citizens Advice and Durham County Carers to hosting social and community events, such as plays by the Highlights Rural Touring Scheme.
The charity provides two minibuses for community use as well as offering internet access, photocopying and laminating services.
The Teesdale Heritage Group and Wear and Tees Farm Watch groups operate under Utass’ umbrella, while pilates groups, a chiropodist, beauty therapist and community groups use the charity’s facilities in Chapel Row, Middleton-in-Teesdale.
This, and much more, is on top of the practical support offered to farmers with filling in complex forms and dealing with other paperwork, along with translating often bewildering briefing notes from government and EU departments into layman’s terms.
“We did not deliver that many services when we launched in 2000, we just did complex paperwork and dealt with agricultural issues in that first year, trying to keep people up to date. It was very small and very focussed,” said Ms Spark.
Nowadays, Utass employs a staff of 13 and relies on the help of a small army of volunteers.
Ms Spark said the volunteer time contributed was the equivalent to £126,536 in 2016, up 12 per cent on the previous year.
“Things have moved on. The biggest issue facing us now is Brexit. It’s a huge question mark.
“We are trying to put forward a plan of work for the next five years without fully knowing what the boundaries are and what Brexit is going to bring.
“We have always prided ourselves on being able to respond to crises and meet the needs of the community. I hope we are able to carry on doing that,” she said.

Lord Barnard: I want to shine a light on Raby Castle

As part of Durham County Council’s Place of Light scheme, which aims to showcase the best the area has to offer, Lord Barnard speaks about his love of the county and Teesdale – and his hopes for Raby Castle

WITH eyes firmly fixed on the spectacular vista from his office in Raby Castle, Lord Barnard talks about what makes County Durham a premier place to live and work and offers a tantalising glimpse at the future for the 900-year-old castle bought and sold just once in its long history.
The man known locally simply as Harry still remembers his first impressions of the castle that his father grew up in.
 Lord Barnard, who took over the estate last year after the death of his father, says: “As a very small child I recall having tea with my grandfather in the castle’s Great Hall. He seemed ancient and somewhat taciturn. There was a stuffed crocodile under the sofa that fascinated me. I loved the atmosphere here and I still do.”
Laughing, he adds: “I know that crocodile is still here somewhere and I rather look forward to finding it.”
Drawing inspiration from the waters and landscapes of Teesdale, Lord Barnard is clearly still wowed by the “enormous diversity” of the uplands.
He speaks about the “awesome natural phenomenon” that is High Force – one of the most visited attractions in the region –  and the rich mix of plant and birdlife in the upper dale.
“There is a sense of space in Durham and a feeling of freedom here and yet you are within easy reach of London and Edinburgh by rail. I am only 20 minutes from the East Coast Main Line in one direction and in the same 20 minutes I can be walking in the Durham Dales with its unique mix of botany and wildlife.
“For many small and medium sized businesses quality of life for employees is really important.
“You can operate anywhere today with huge leaps forward in connectivity and transport links, but it’s the people that make a place as much as the history and landscapes.
“The people of Durham have real integrity and reputation is crucial.
“Trust remains an essential part of doing business here.”
Turning his attention to the breathtaking castle he has inherited, Lord Barnard speaks with refreshing honesty: “I am getting to know Raby Castle better. It’s rather like Durham. It has so many different layers – historical layers.”
He continues: “I want to shine a light on something that is really special and perhaps not as well-known as it should be.”
This season promises a wide range of attractions to draw visitors to the castle, when from Saturday, April 15 until Sunday, October 1, Raby Castle will open its doors and grounds to the public.
Highlights include Easter crafts and trail for children in the castle gardens, the annual orchid show featuring lectures and demonstrations, which takes place from Saturday, April 29, to Monday, May 1, and the Flower Power Plant and Gift Fair on Sunday, May 28.
New this year is a specialist tour of the work of James Paine at Raby on Friday, May 12.
“This special event marks the 300th anniversary of the architect James Paine’s birth and the event is being celebrated in a number of houses where he worked, including Raby Castle. 
The curator will lead this special tour highlighting Paine’s work at Raby.
Guests will be given privileged access to see some of his work in areas of the castle not normally open to the public, as well as having an opportunity to see some of his original plans.
The heritage of Raby Castle is something that Lord Barnard holds dear.
He says: “I have huge respect for the unique history and heritage of the castle, its collections and the whole of Raby Estate. During medieval times, the castle was the great powerhouse of the Neville dynasty and was the birthplace of Cecily Neville, mother of Richard III and Edward IV. But it also played a prominent role during the Civil War period. Delightfully, the castle has ‘hidden but intact’ spectacular Georgian interiors, Victorian grandeur and a touch of early 20th century austerity.”
There is a natural elegance about the castle which last year featured in a variety of scenes for the ITV series Victoria.
It is one of the jewels in the crown of the Durham Dales, and while there are plans to make it one of the go-to visitor attractions in the north of England, building commercial relationships with local businesses is also close to Lord Barnard’s heart.
He says: “Investment and strengthening links with local business will most certainly be a priority for us going forward.”
Asked to hone in on a specific USP for the area, Lord Barnard’s thoughts return to the wild and rugged dales, the contrasting rivers and moorlands and the sense of pride among the people that live there.
He says: “Durham has a special quality. It’s hard to put your finger on a single characteristic. For me it’s the landscape, the people and the sense of space that combine to offer such a high quality of life.”
Raby Castle is opening on Saturdays for the first time and is open to the public Wednesdays to Sundays from April 15 until October.
It is also open bank holiday Mondays and every Tuesday in July and August.
Park and gardens open between 11am and 5pm, and the  castle is open between 12.30pm and 4.30pm. For more information, call 01833 660 202 or visit www.rabycastle.com

A run down memory lane for a Barnard Castle event with legs

Earlier this month, Lord Barnard attended a school running race established 125 years ago at which his great grandfather presented the first winner’s trophy

The houses and runners troop down to the start,
Ribbons in buttonholes looking so smart,
Classrooms decked with colours so gay,
And all to commemorate Foundation Day,
The runners line up, the rest hold their breath,
As if 'twere a matter of life or of death,
The timekeeper says 5-4-3-2-1,
And off we all go on the Barney Run.

THE memories of Alan Ford, “aged 14½, six years a Barney Boy”, in his poem A Dream of the Barney Run records one of the 124 stagings of the annual race.
Familiar to the inhabitants of Barnard Castle, the event sees dozens of mud-spattered young athletes take to the streets and fields around the town each spring.
First staged in 1892, the cross country run was established to mark Foundation Day at Barnard Castle School and the following summer Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard, belatedly presented a silver cup to the winning house.
The cup bears the school arms on one side and those of Lord Barnard on the other and remains a highly prized piece of silverware in the school sporting calendar.
This year, to mark the 125th anniversary, the 12th Baron Lord Barnard, Harry Vane,  attended the race, which saw 12 elite runners from each of the Senior School’s eight day and boarding houses compete at junior, intermediate and senior levels, 280 runners in total (see page ?)
For the first time this year, children from the Preparatory School took part in the celebrations, running a mile-long lap within the school grounds.
Barnard Castle School opened in 1883 and prior to 1892 held an annual paperchase through the neighbourhood where a lead runner would leave a trail of paper for the competitors to follow.
The school Games Committee decided to replace it with a run that initially was known as The Steeplechase. The rules stated that it be run on the morning of Foundation Day, an annual celebration marking the Bishop of Durham’s blessing of the laying of the foundation stone on November 6, 1883. The course was to be chosen by the headmaster and be not more than seven and not fewer than five miles, with points awarded to each runner as they came home, one point for first, two points for second and so on.
At the time the school was known as the North Eastern County School and 25 runners from each of the school houses of Durham, North and York took part, with Durham becoming the inaugural winners having the fewest number of points.
The steeplechase course started at the Tees viaduct and headed along the North Yorkshire side of the Tees, across Cotherstone suspension bridge and the railway line, through Flatts Wood and on to the school.
For the second running of the race the course was altered so the competitors avoided the town centre and the finishing line was in the school playing fields.
Subsequent course changes in no way diminished the competitive spirit of the runners, who have always fought fiercely for house honours. Other prizes are on offer, including the Wilford Cup for the first year seven pupil home, but the Barnard Cup for the victorious house remains the one to win.
Each runner is timed, with handicaps where appropriate, so the winner is not necessarily the first competitor over the line.
In the school magazine for 1910-1913, a writer noted: “During the six weeks of training the progress of the runners is watched with eager care, improvements in times are worked out and guarded most jealously, and an air of secrecy broods over the small knots of house partisans which gather to discuss chances.”
The run continued through both World Wars – in 1915 the Games Committee even found time to draw up a new set of rules. In 1916 the race was “run in great discomfort this year owing to the wet weather”.
In 1964 the date of the race changed when the Foundation Day – now known as Founders’ Day – celebrations moved to the spring term, although the run now takes place a short while after the day itself.
The run has provided some shock results too as noted in the school history of 1924: “Northumberland won the Barnard Cup by a good number of points, but to the general surprise R E Allison was the first boy home.”
It is believed the school’s famous rugby sons, Rob Andrew and Rory and Tony Underwood, would have qualified for the race. One of the most memorable years, however, was 2011 when the five Carter brothers, sons of a Middleton-in-Teesdale doctor, all qualified for the competition.
Girls first joined the school in 1981 but it wasn’t until three years later that female runners took part. Kim Hamilton was the first girl to run in 1984.
Despite it being the school’s oldest annual sporting event, it hasn’t been popular with everyone. In 1997, an athlete from the girls’ house, Longfield, wrote: “Top tree [the highest point on the course] has come to symbolise all that is unjust.”
Happily for her, top tree has had to be felled this year, but its timber will live on in a new base for the Barnard Cup, an honours board and commemorative coasters.
Training in the weeks prior to race day still takes place, including the sponsored fundraiser the Barney Bash, when runners’ recorded times are used to inform selection for the main event. Last year the Bash supported the Brain Tumour Charity after former pupil Kineta Kelsall underwent brain surgery following diagnosis of a cavanoma. This year the Barney Bash raised money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), the charity established in memory of Old Barnardian Alan Lumley who collapsed in the 2016 Wilmslow Half Marathon and died on his 31st birthday.
Last year the school welcomed back Old Barnardian Geoffrey Turnbull, who still holds the record for the senior race, which he set in 1979 with a time of 20.45 mins. Returning to race again last year, he recalled: “I loved the run as a child.”
Now 54, Mr Turnbull is a former England and GB athlete, a sub-four minute mile runner and former Gateshead Harrier. “I don’t know how I managed to set the record as it is an extremely quick time. I was really pleased with my latest time considering I’ve just started running again,” he said.

Fifty years of angling for Staindrop club

SCARTH Hall, Staindrop, saw a good sized gathering of local fishermen for the annual meeting of Scarth Hall Angling Club 2017. 
Chairman Thomas William (Bill) Scaife, started the angling club 50 years ago and has been chairman of the club for all of those years. The club secretary and treasurer wanted to mark this milestone 50th anniversary of both the club and of Bill’s chairmanship and organised a presentation.
A beautifully inscribed clock detailing the dates of Bill’s involvement with the club was presented immediately prior to the start of the annual meeting, which was held on March 7. 
A surprised and slightly bemused Bill thanked the club for the presentation as he looks forward to many more years as chairman.
Staindrop Angling Club was recently in the news as member John Brown successfully applied to DEFRA for a consignment of 2,000 young fish: 500 roach; 500 bream; 500 tench and 500 crucian carp which were delivered to Raby High Lake in November last year. 
The turnout for the annual meeting was high with more than 50 people present and several new members looking to join.
Anyone interested in joining should contact club secretary Trevor Pybus on 01388 718495 or Steve Sinclair, assistant secretary, on 01388 710576 or 07400 866231. 
Costs to join start at £10 for seniors and  £5 for juniors and concessions.
Basic membership entitles the member to fish more than 4,000m of Langley Beck which has trout and was recently stocked with Grayling. 
There are additional costs  to fish Raby Lakes. 
Lisa Johnstone

Residents urged to explore treasures on their doorstep as part of English Tourism Week

BOWLEES Visitor Centre in upper Teesdale is taking part in English Tourism Week in a bid to encourage people to discover and explore some of the delights on their doorstep.
This national annual celebration of English tourism takes place between Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, April 2, and the focus is on visiting attractions near to home.
To mark the occasion the centre is teaming up with the Teesdale Mercury to uncover some Teesdale Treasures.
The North Pennines AONB Partnership, which runs the centre that won Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2016 North East Tourism Awards, is putting on three days of special events called Behind the Scenes at Bowlees.
Nic Cullens, visitor services officer at Bowlees Visitor Centre, said: “When we think of being a tourist we normally think of travelling away from home to discover new places but often the best places to explore are right on your doorstep.
“Behind the Scenes at Bowlees is about showing people just what a wonderful place Teesdale and the wider North Pennines is.
“You don’t have to travel miles and miles to find somewhere new and three of our staff have prepared some special events, which are all free, to help you get to know the area better.
“And we want people to show us what they’ve seen over the week by posting photos on social media using the hashtag #teesdaletreasures and #ETW17.”
The stunning landscape of the North Pennines has inspired many artists and the AONB Partnership’s Simon Wilson, whose dramatic paintings of the local landscapes are exhibited throughout the North East, will be leading an outdoor art class by Low Force.”
Worth a Thousand Words is a three-hour workshop for all abilities and ages and you need to book a place via www.northpennines.org.uk.
Mr Wilson said: “There’s nothing more exhilarating than getting out into the open air and painting the beauty that’s right there before you, you can’t beat it because the work you produce doesn’t come just from what you can see, but it’s also from what you can hear and even smell.
“It’s a very sensory experience, painting outdoors.”
On Saturday, April 1, the AONB Partnership’s director, Chris Woodley-Stewart, will lead a circular walk from Bowlees south, along the Tees and back to the centre via Holwick Scar.
The Director’s Cut, which is a 2.5-mile walk (4km), starts at 10am and finishes about 12pm. Mr Woodley-Stewart said his aim was to give people an insight into the nature of the area and what makes it so special.
He said: “There’ll be some geology, a little archaeology and a look at some of the birds of the meadows, river and riverbank. There’s bound to be walk-on parts for participants too – no one’s just an extra in this Director’s Cut.”
The final event of the weekend on Sunday, April 2, will give people a chance to take part in a celebration of the season when the AONB Partnership’s biodiversity lead, Rebecca Barret, sets out in search of new life.
In Search of Signs of Spring is a short 1.5-mile walk around Bowlees quarry, taking place between 11am and 12.30pm and again between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Ms Barret said: “We will seek out plants, insects and birds but special attention will be given to springtime birdsong.
“We’ll be listening closely to identify just which bird is singing and also looking to see if we can spot them.”
Both the AONB Partnership and the Teesdale Mercury will be reposting images posted throughout the week and will be selecting some of the best to published in the paper in the coming weeks.
Editor Trevor Brookes said: “If you live and work here, it’s easy to take Teesdale for granted.
“But it isn’t just for tourists and that’s why we’re so pleased to be supporting this initiative.
“So get out and about exploring Teesdale, snapping away on your cameras or phones and join one of the events.”
To take advantage of the free scone offer please take the coupon below right. Anyone who wants to share their photo of Teesdale taken during English Tourism Week but doesn’t use social media can email them to editor@tees
dalemercury.co.uk or send them to the Mercury’s office in Barnard Castle.
For more information on the events, visit www.northpennines.org. uk                         

Pupils rally round to keep classmate mobile

YOUNG people from Teesdale School have raised more than £650 to help a disabled class mate become more mobile.
Hereditary spastic paraplegia sufferer Sam Angus has struggled to walk since birth but now, thanks to a new mobility scooter, he will be able to get out and about more easily.
The 13-year-old took delivery of the scooter last week.
It was made possible with the help of an £800 donation from the Teesdale-based Smile for a Child charity.
Last year pupils from the school raised £663 for the charity by hosting a Christmas-themed coffee morning, which went towards buying the scooter.
Student Jay Dean, who helped organise the event with a few friends, said the idea came about after they had arranged an earlier successful coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
He added that along with cakes and goodies, the pupils had also held a raffle with prizes such as a Kindle tablet.
The 16-year-old said: “We got local businesses involved as well.
“It was more than a coffee morning, it was a fun thing to do.”
Sam’s father Paul said the scooter can be folded up easily for transport and will be great for holidays in the family camper van.
The 46-year-old said: “It is just the freedom for him to get out and about and make friends. I think it is fantastic, really good. I can’t thank you [Sam’s fellow pupils] enough. It was a very kind gesture.”
Chris Read, who started the Smile for a Child charity with the aim of getting disabled young people into sport, said the efforts of the pupils proved that despite bad press, there are a lot of good young people about.