True happiness... TV star Gyles Brandreth's show 'may change your life'

Following his sell-out show last summer, Gyles Brandreth is to return to Barnard Castle  with one of his classic one-man shows.
On Saturday, June 10, at 7.30pm, Brandreth will perform his five-star 2013 Edinburgh Festival set Looking For Happiness at The Witham, offering comedy fans one last chance to see the show live.
In Looking For Happiness the Just A Minute regular, One Show reporter and award-winning raconteur sets out to solve one of the life’s most pondered conundrums – how to be happy.
Brandreth began his search for the secret to happiness in Las Vegas – and ended it in the chair of psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare. What Dr Clare taught Brandreth about who gets to be happy and how provide the essence of this unique one-man show that is guaranteed to make you laugh and might even change your life.
Peppered with hilarious anecdotes and stories from his life in theatre and politics – and with a little help from Freud, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Howard and the Queen – join Brandreth in this joyous journey, and discover his Seven Secrets of Happiness. A former Oxford Scholar, MP, and Government Whip, Brandreth has also appeared on QI, Have I Got News For You, Room 101, The IT Crowd, Pointless and Countdown.
Not content with being one of Britain’s most sought-after award ceremony hosts and after-dinner speakers, Brandreth is also an accomplished writer, with his acclaimed detective series – The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries – being published in 21 countries.
Funny Way To Be promoter Peter Dixon said: “Gyles’ last show with us was a sell-out, and the entire audience left dazzled by his charm and wit.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring another of his tremendous shows to our audience, who I’m sure will love this one as much as the last.”
Tickets are priced £20 and are available now from funnywaytobe.com and The Witham Box Office. The show is suitable for ages ten-plus.
Founded by Peter Dixon in 2010, Funny Way To Be is the home of comedy in Barnard Castle. Previous acts include Russell Howard, Russell Kane, Mark Watson, Jason Cook and Chris Ramsey.

Kids thrilled by new Staindrop play park

THE second phase of Staindrop's new playground was opened on Saturday amid children’s squeals of joy.
The opening brought to an end five years of fundraising and organising by a small group of parents from the village, supported by Staindrop Parish Council.
More than 60 people attended the event, including county councillors George Richardson and James Rowlandson who contributed £15,000 of their neighbourhood budget to the development.
Seven-year-old Poppy Astrop and eight-year-old Tom Curran did the honours of cutting a ribbon to open the park, while parish council chairman David Reed paid tribute to their mothers Amanda Astrop and Emma Curran who spearheaded the fundraising activities.
He said: “As well as contributing towards the capital costs, the parish council will now take over responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and insurance of the playground, one of the services we provide for our local community which sometimes go unsung.”
For her part Ms Astrop said: “We wanted to create a park for children of all ages in the village and their families to enjoy and we are absolutely thrilled that we have been able to achieve that. It’s been wonderful in recent days to see the reactions of children as they see the new play equipment for the very first time. To hear the ‘wow’s’ and the ‘that’s so cool’ has been really fantastic and has made all of our hard work really worth it.”

Life-saving carers: 'We just did our jobs'

A HEROIC mother and daughter team have hit out at criticism of their care firm after saving the life of a dale pensioner.
Carers Gillian and Bethany Dodds were out on call for Castle Care on Friday, May 12, when a resident stopped breathing at Bowes Lyon House, in Barnard Castle.
The pair jumped into action to give the lady CPR and revive her before emergency crews arrived.
Gillian was sorting laundry for a client and her daughter was at the other end of the complex when they heard a cry for help.
“I ran the fastest I have in a long time,” said Gillian.
“I knelt down and tried to talk to her but there was nothing and I noticed she wasn't breathing.
“There was a gentleman in a mobility scooter who rang 999 and he was relaying what the ambulance people were saying.”
The mother-of-two’s 23-year-old daughter shifted heavy pine tables out of the way to ease access and got to work helping the stricken resident.
Bethany said: “They were big pine tables which I couldn’t have moved without adrenaline – I lifted her head up to start CPR and she started to breathe.
“We did chest compressions – she came around and started to move.”
Two fire crews were on hand to help from the nearby emergency Quad Hub, in Wilson Street, before two ambulance crews arrived.
The lady who collapsed was taken to hospital and was kept in for most of last week.
The Dodds, from Evenwood, work alongside one another at Castle Care.
A critical review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier this year saw the dale firm branded “inadequate”.
But, in the wake of their lifesaving actions, the pair hit back at the verdict.
Gillian said: “I cannot fault Castle Care – you phone them up to ask for district nurses and doctors appointments and they make them straight away.
“The CQC have jumped on a few little little things and made them seem massive.”
“They see paperwork we see clients,” added Bethany.
“We are the ones that help people when their family cannot be there. Our company could not do enough for us – they are on the end of the phone 24/7.
“Tracy Elliot [firm manager] has a heart as big as the ocean and she is a mother so she understands.”
Bethany trained as a carer for three years while her mum has spent a decade in the
role.
Both said the job was tough and Gillian thought carers deserved more recognition.
She said: “It’s a hard job and we don’t get paid enough.
“It can be 7am pouring with rain or snowing and you have to see your clients – you have to be there.”
The family team carried on their duties after helping the lady, making teas for neighbouring residents and continuing their work for other clients.
She added: “To me it was just normal.
“I have just done what I am trained to do and that’s down to working for Castle Care.”
Bethany added: “We are the ones who are there if other family members have died – I have had ladies crying in my arms because they’re frightened.
“We are just carers – nurses are better than us but we are good enough to take care of your mum or your dad each and every day.”

Event will celebrate work to save Wycliffe Church's ancient windows

AN ancient dale church’s congregation is holding an event to celebrate saving their medieval stained glass windows.
Wycliffe Church’s ancient windows underwent refurbishment this year after becoming severely pitted over the years and were in danger of being permanently damaged.
The refurbishment began last July.
Now a day of celebration is planned for Sunday, July 2, to mark the completion of the work.
Church warden Keith Miller said expert restorer Jonathan Cooke, who completed the work, will be give a talk on the day.
He said: “Jonathan will be speaking about the craft of making stained glass, as well as the work he has done at Wycliffe.
“As might be expected of someone who has been called upon to work on French cathedrals as well as cathedrals, historic churches and National Trust properties in this country, Jonathan has an infectious enthusiasm and I guarantee that you will find his talk totally absorbing.”
The talk will be followed by tea, sandwiches and cake.
The celebration rounds off with  a choral evensong, based on the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, conducted by the Rev Prof Jeff Astley.
Carillon will also be singing.
The event is free but donations are welcome. For more information contact Mr Miller on  01833 627540.

In this week's Teesdale Mercury...

We've a bumper eight-page pull-out packed with pictures from this year's Meet weekend

Villagers in south Teesdale communities have voiced their anger at a 'chaotic' diversion which sent HGVs along single track country roads

We took our seat at the final service to be held at historic Newbiggin Chapel

A county special school is thousands of pounds better off thanks to the efforts of fundraisers from Teesdale

Horses face a ban from a popular riverside route - find out why

A four-year wait for the power to be switched on at an outdoor performance area looks like continuing for some time to come

Meet our royals – we've pictures of the Bowes and Cotherstone carnival queens

It was a scorching hot day at the Tan Hill show – we've a report and pictures

In sport, it's been a successful time for golf pro Darren Pearce, while on the cricket field, Barnard castle CC have returned to winning way

We've also pictures from the Barnard Castle darts league finals night... and see who lined up in the annual Meet veterans' football match

Plus all your letters, community news, business and jobs, personal announcements and much more, only in this week's Teesdale Mercury, in the shops today

Hunt for Teesdale village left deserted after black death

ARCHAEOLOGICAL volunteers are surveying a medieval hamlet in the upper dale that could lead to an excavation of the site later this year.
A team from Altogether Archaeology last week took measurements and captured data from about eight medieval long-houses at Middle Farm, near the Strathmore Arms pub.
The team believes there may also be two roundhouses from the Anglo-Saxon and Roman period nearby.
Volunteer Martin Green, from Altogether Archaeology, explained that the buildings date as far back as the 1200s and 1300s.
He added: “It may well go back further in the past. A lot of the land would have been ploughed. A lot of oats, some barley and wheat, and patches of beans and vegetables. They would have had hay meadows by the river.
“It is difficult to know how many people there were. One estimate is 150 people or so, about as many as there are people in Holwick now. It was quite a bustling hamlet.”
He said the climate was a lot warmer during that period which allowed for crops to be planted but the arrival of Black Death and a colder climate led to a decline of the population.
Agriculture switched to sheep and cows because fewer people were need to manage the animals, he added.
Evidence has also been found of a path and the remains of shieling huts up to the higher ground of the fell.
Animals would have grazed on the fell in summer and be brought down into the valley during the winter, Mr Green said.
He added: “This might have been one of the biggest settlements in the area because it is in an ideal location next to a spring. It could date back further, possibly Anglo-Saxon, we don’t know.”
Altogether Archaeology was established initially by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (AONB) using to Heritage Lottery Funding to determine the archaeology of the North Pennines.
One of the first projects was to investigate the lowland areas of Teesdale to build on work done by Dennis Coggins and Ken Fairless to survey the uplands in the 1970s and 1980s. It was during this investigation, Mr Green said, that the Holwick hamlet was discovered.
Altogether Archaeology was transformed into a community archaeology group after the Lottery funding ran out, and it now funds itself through membership fees.
Current finances allow the group to carry out one or two excavations each year.
They were previously successful in discovering a mesolithic (middle stone age) hunting ground at Cow Green, and more recently uncovered a Roman road near Hexham.
Mr Green said that depending on the outcome of the survey at Holwick, which included taking GPS and theodolite measurements to exactly position the longhouses, an excavation of the site could take place later this year.
Altogether Archaeology volunteers extended their thanks to landowner Strathmore Estate and tenant farmer Andrew Robinson.

First beers brewed as Evenwood venture goes live

THE first commercially brewed beer in Teesdale for many years was due to be available in time for Whit weekend.
No beer has been produced commercially in the dale since the closure of Butterknowle Brewery more than a decade ago.
Now four varieties of real ale are being produced by McColl’s Brewery, in Evenwood. The micro-brewery was established earlier this year.
Owner Danny McColl started brewing earlier this month. The range includes a golden ale at four per cent, a best bitter at 4.4 per cent, a pale ale at 4.5 per cent and an IPA at five per cent
The first establishments in the dale to sell the real ales are Cafe 1618, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, and The Three Tuns pub, in Eggleston. Mr McColl, who lives in Middleton, hopes to extend the range to other pubs in the dale.
He said: “What we have been doing is meeting people and introducing ourselves, but we have been very well received. I visited ten pubs last Thursday and it was brilliant.”
Some 7,500 litres of beer – about 15,000 pints – are expected to be ready for the bank holiday weekend.
Initially only casks will be on sale, although the brewer hopes to have his beer available in bottles by the end of July.
For more information contact the brewery on 01388 417250 or visit the website mccollsbrewery.co.uk

Sandra takes Barnard Castle chains of office for second time

A FAMILIAR face will don the mayoral chains in Barnard Castle this year.
Cllr Sandra Moorhouse will take on the role in 2017/18 for the second time in two years.
Departing mayor Cllr John Blissett passed on the chains of office at last week’s first council meeting following local elections.
Meanwhile, this month’s election poll topper, Cllr Roger Peat, was unanimously ushered in as deputy mayor.
Cllr Moorhouse welcomed new councillors Rima Chatterjee, Mark Wilkes, Richard Child, Kelly Blissett and George Hallimond,
Cllr Moorhouse added: “I hope we will be able to work together for the benefit of the town.”
Just ten votes separated the highest losing councillor and successful candidates in a tight election campaign on May 4.
Cllr Child claimed 518 votes for the Conservative Party while Cllr Chatterjee and Cllr Blissett took 284 and 263 votes respectively.
One position is still to be filled on the town’s east ward and Cllr Judi Sutherland told members she wanted to see her Labour colleague, and highest polling losing candidate, Emma Rowell, co-opted.
She said: “I just feel someone who has actually put their name forward and stood deserves some precedence over those who would not be subject to a public vote.
“I would say it’s more democratic to approach candidates who have stood for office. These people were interested but not interested enough to put themselves up for election.”
But Cllr Moorhouse said there may have been other reasons why they hadn't come forward.
Cllr Hallimond added: “Four people have shown interest – it’s letting them down if we go a different route.”
Pleas to co-opt Ms Rowell fell on deaf ears and members voted down the proposal.
However, a recommendation to select candidates using a list of criteria, which included favouring those with A Levels, degrees and experience in financial control and budgeting, was waved through by councillors.
Four people – Gary Marshall, David Kinch, Ian Kirkbride and Ms Rowell – have put their names forward for the vacant east ward seat.
Following the meeting, Mr Kinch said the criteria
list would put people off joining.
He added: “Now that the council have done that, it’s fixed in stone. What on Earth are they playing at?”
The deadline for applications is June 12 and a decision on who will join the council will be taken on June 19.

Evenwood deep clean is welcomed but 'more enforcement needed'

GRASS verges and litter hotspots have been given a good going over as part of a county clean-up scheme.
Children from Evenwood Primary School teamed with Durham County Council’s Green and Clean Team to plant flowers and pick up litter around their village.
Bollards, railings and footpaths were given a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint while graffiti on bins was also scrubbed off.  New signs were also erected warning motorists of £80 fines for hurling detritus from their windows.
The trip to Evenwood will last until this week as part of the county council’s scheme to 14 areas.
Chris Hindmarch, from the county council, said certain issues such as flytipping were more marked in rural areas.
He added: “I think it’s important areas like this get covered – sometimes areas like this feel they are a bit more neglected.”
Litter louts and flytippers have proven problematic in Evenwood with two instances of rubbish being dumped in woodland near the doctor’s surgery the previous week.
Mr Hindmarch said catching and prosecuting flytippers could be difficult.
He added: “It's very difficult to tackle – you put cameras in but you have issues with private property.
“You’ve got areas that are hotspots where cameras have to be put in the right position so it’s an incredibly hard thing to do.”
Oliver Sherratt, the county council’s head of direct services, said education was the key to keeping the county tidy.
He added: “What we are really pleased about is that it often involves schools, Scouts and local businesses.
“It’s really helpful to use and to have that collective effort because not only does it mean you can get the place more spick and span but you can foster and engender that sense of pride.
“So we’re really pleased to come to Teesdale and give the place a spruce up.”
Mr Sherratt said the county council would be seeking to “revive” the programme at the end of the year.
Cllr Barbara Nicholson, chairwoman of Evenwood Parish Council, welcomed the deep clean. But she added: “Now the cynics among us will probably say that these are mandatory issues that Durham County Council should be doing anyway.
“However, some of the aesthetic issues are to be welcomed and are very positive.  I am sure we will all see an improvement. We deserve it.
“Getting the schools involved is a major part of their campaign, but what will happen when Tidy Ted goes home? Putting up fixed penalty notices will not work without some kind of enforcement. Who is going to report litter thrown from a vehicle? 
“Also the amount of litter we are experiencing daily will continue unless these fines are seen to work.
“The dog fouling will continue for much the same reason. The idiot who allows their dog to foul outside the church gates, or the local schools or even the village green where children play – are they going to take any notice of a notice?”

'Barney will have to outbid other towns for a bypass' says ex-minister

A POLITICAL heavyweight has pledged more money for bypasses and A-roads but offered no concrete promises on protection for Teesdale’s landmarks.
Chris Grayling, who was the Tory transport secretary before parliament was dissolved for the general election, visited Barnard Castle last Thursday as electioneering ramps up ahead of June 8. 
The front-bencher in Theresa May’s cabinet said small towns needed protection from traffic problems and pledged a Conservative government would be building a “good bulk of bypasses” if elected.
However, there were few specific references to the dale’s listed landmarks beleaguered by knocks from HGVs.
Mr Grayling said: “The key thing over the next parliament is we’re going to spend more money on bypasses.
“There are a lot of small towns like this one that are busy through routes – it causes all sorts of traffic problems.”
More work on the country’s A-road network was also listed as a priority by Mr Grayling. But any relief road bypass would be subject to a bidding process with Durham County Council.
The owner of Shirl’s Shakes, Neil Stokell, grilled Mr Grayling about HGVs hitting the Market Cross when turning around it near his shop.
Conservative county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson, along with the party’s candidate for the constituency seat, Christopher Adams, were also present.
Cllr Richard Bell said: “His announcement of special funding for bypasses was good news, although it will be by a bidding process which means the town will have to unite and make a good case if it is to be successful.”
But  Judi Sutherland, a Labour parish councillor and member of the Barnard Castle HGV Action Group, questioned how a bypass would be funded.
She said: “It’s all very well making lavish promises but if Durham County Council is extremely strapped for cash due to the way the Tories have not funded local councils, we would love to know where the money is going to come from.”
The County Bridge, the Abbey Bridge and the Market Cross have all suffered damage from HGVs in the last two years. County engineers spent three weeks in March widening paving and drawing new lines around the listed Market Cross to ensure wagons gave it a wider berth.
Meanwhile, debate over a relief road for Barnard Castle has been going on since the 1980s.
Before his arrival, Teesdale's Labour candidate Helen Goodman took to social media to brand Mr Grayling “failing Grayling” and accused the Tories of delaying the long-awaited widening of the A66.
However, Mr Grayling later said that the dualling of the A66 would be “going ahead” under the Conservatives.

First a garage... now a shipping container

A BARNARD CASTLE man has replaced a garage he was forced to demolish last year with a shipping container.
Trevor Stephenson, of Harmire Road, only tore down his detached garage, as well as a boundary wall, late last year after being ordered by Darlington magistrates to pay more than £800 for ignoring a previous enforcement notice ordering him to do so.
The garage and wall were built without planning permission from Durham County Council. Mr Stephenson applied for retrospective planning permission in September 2014 but it was turned down because the development was judged “highly prominent, intrusive and harmful of the character and appearance of the area”.
An appeal against the decision was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in June 2015. In July last year Mr Stephenson was fined £180 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £660 after being convicted of failing to comply with an enforcement notice. Durham County Council has confirmed it is investigating the shipping container that has been placed on the site of the demolished garage
Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning development manager, said: “We are aware of the issue in question and are currently investigating. Due to the ongoing nature of this matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.” Mr Stephenson was not available for comment.

'Maybe we are not meant to live here' says owner of county's last thatched house which went up in flames for a second time

THE last thatched house in County Durham has gone up in smoke for the second time in 12 years.
Levy Pool Farm House, near Bowes, caught fire last week.  Four fire crews spent two-and-a-half hours tackling the roof blaze and had to pull water from a nearby stream to put it out. It had been seriously damaged by a fire previously in 2005.
Owner Peter Coverdale said: “I think maybe we are not meant to live here.”
A neighbour alerted the emergency services just before 8.30pm last Thursday (May 18) and rang Mr Coverdale soon after.  But his wife, Sue, was still inside the house unaware of the fire raging above her. 
“She was cooking tea while the house was burning away – she was totally unaware,” said Mr Coverdale. “That was the only panic – my son had tried to ring her and I phoned my daughter.  She was concerned and we went to the house thinking ‘oh God’. She got out, but she left my tea on the side.”
It is the second time Mr Coverdale’s grade II-listed home has been struck by fire.
The couple spent 14 years restoring the 17th century farmhouse before the heather-thatched roof was completely destroyed in 2005.
However, the 60-year-old stonemason revealed the damage was nowhere near as bad as last time.
He said: “The whole house smells of smoke which is not very nice and there was quite a bit of water ingress but nothing like the last time.
“90 to 95 per cent of the house has been protected – it’s just the roof which has burned off.
“It looks a very sad and sorry state but last time it was disastrous.”
The Coverdales, who also run Cross Lanes Organic Farm, installed a concrete deck below the farmhouse attic after the 2005 fire which helped stop the flames from spreading.
Its design also ensured much of the water was kept out.  Mr Coverdale suspected a spark from the home’s Georgian range could have been the trigger for the blaze.
“The thatch was so dry – we’ve had no rain until today (Friday),” he said.
“It’s what happens when you live in a thatched house – that’s why most people changed years ago.”
Some firefighters from the first blaze returned to the same scene 12 years on to put the fire out.
Friends and neighbours of the family have rallied around in the meantime and Mr Coverdale thanked them for their support and kindness.
He added: “People have been great – everybody is full of sympathy which we don’t need really. There are people much worse off – losing a child is something to worry about. This is only property at the end of the day. It’s replaceable.”
The farmhouse was abandoned in the 1920s and taken on by the Army between the wars. It was restored to its original thatched state at the turn of this century.
Minor repairs to the roof had been booked in for the next couple of weeks but Mr Coverdale said the thatcher would have a bigger job on his hands than normal.
He added: “It’s one of the finest examples of its type.
“It’s a bit of a shock still – we could have done without it as we’re both getting on a bit and we’re both very busy – it’s just another thing to do.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has offered help for their kindness – people come together when things like this happen.”
Four appliances including two from Barnard Castle, one from Bishop Auckland and one from Middleton-in-Teesdale were joined by a water tanker from Spennymoor to fight the fire.
It was eventually put out at 11pm.

New service across Teesdale offers advice in the home

Residents from across the dale are tens of thousands of pounds better off each month thanks to a new service which offers advice in the comfort of your own home.
Citizens Advice launched an outreach service for those living in the Barnard Castle and Evenwood wards, thanks to funding from Teesdale Area Action Partnership.
Home visits were introduced to allow people to gain access to free, confidential and impartial advice who would otherwise be unable to get to one of the bureaux.
This could be due to ill health, disabilities, caring commitments or lack of transport.
Since the service was rolled out in December last year, initial estimates show that the outreach service has achieved more than £20,000 worth of benefits, as well as other financial outcomes each month since January. This figure is based on benefits clients are eligible for being obtained for one year. It includes benefits the service has informed clients about or helped them to access. Outreach worker Barbara Stott (pictured) said: “Lots of the problems people come to Citizens Advice about relate to accessing benefits. We also have a specialist debt service. I think it is very positive as far as money is concerned. We can also give advice about any other problems they face including family advice, relationships and housing problems as well as filling in forms for people. We can also make appropriate referrals.” Individuals are referred to Ms Stott for a home visit via the Citizens Advice Adviceline telephone service.
Home appointments are available Mondays and Thursdays between 9am and 2.30pm. Ms Stott said: “We do our best to provide telephone and email support but sometimes there are still people who we are missing.
“There are some people who we just can’t reach so we are trying to reach out to the villages where we need to be. Some people in outlying villages can’t get to us so we can go and see them. It is vital that it is easy for people to access the service.”
Appointments can last between 50 minutes and two hours. Ms Stott sees two people a week but believes the service has more capacity. Ms Stott said: “I am very relaxed about meeting people and they can have every confidence about talking to me. It is a really rewarding job especially when you help people who have no idea what they are entitled to.”  For more information call the Adviceline on 03444 111444 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk. Barnard Castle’s bureau is also open Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm.

Teesdale care firm joins the industry elite

A Teesdale homecare provider is “even more driven” a year after securing an outstanding rating by inspectors.
Middleton Care Limited was rated highly by the Care Quality Commission in April last year.
In recognition of the quality of their services, members of the team were invited to the first gathering of the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) members who had also been rated as outstanding.
The owner of Middleton Care Limited, Yvonne Metcalfe, along with office manager Denise Coll and registered manager Marie Scown travelled to London earlier this month for the gathering at the British Medical Association House in Tavistock Square.
Ms Metcalfe said: “It was a privilege to be invited and we were very proud to attend.
“It was a chance to have a round the table question-and answers-type discussion to try to find out more about other companies’ working practices and help other companies struggling to achieve an acceptable level of accreditation by CQC.
“It was beneficial to us to hear about how people do it differently in cities. We were chuffed because a lot of the things they talked about we had been doing before it was put in legislation such as person-centred care. We have been doing that for a long time.”
The event was led by UKHCA chief executive Bridget Warr. Chief executive of Skills For Care Sharon Allen also gave a talk.
Middleton Care Limited is registered to provide care to people living in their own homes in rural Teesdale and surrounding areas.
With a team of 26 carers and three members of management staff, the company currently offers care and support to more than 80 people.
Ms Metcalfe said: “Out of over 12,000 domiciliary care providers, less than one per cent were awarded an outstanding accreditation by CQC. We are not complacent though. It was a big surprise to us. We knew that we did a good job and we were thrilled to get it.
“It has made us even more driven.”
Due to a growth in client numbers, a new role has been created to help cope with the demand.
Ms Metcalfe added: “We are developing a HR department which will be a part time post to begin with. The role will benefit staff and clients.”

Low River Tees means tricky fishing conditions

RAIN at last – not much, but any is welcome after such a dry start to spring.
Nor was it a wet winter. As a nation of weather watchers – and moaners – we complain about the cold, and wind, and rain. We don’t complain about dry weather.
But after weeks of it, it becomes a problem. When as an angler, gardener, or farmer (some are all three), we are waiting for rain, it’s galling when the television weather forecasters appear on our screens, all smiles, because they are about to forecast yet more sunshine. They assume that we all permanently want blue skies and sunshine.
The Tees trout and grayling, like most freshwater fish, need rain from time to time, and rising rivers. Fresh water brings more food and a varied diet. Worms and grubs are washed from the banks as rivers rise, while bottom dwelling insects, nymphs and larvae are dislodged from under stones, and intercepted by the fish.
Bait fish, such as minnows and bullheads are washed from the safety of the bankside and into the path of hungry trout. And insect life increases when rain arrives.
And extra water increases the oxygen levels in the water, and gives the fish more scope to move around, seek out new lies, and find food items in what was dry land before the rain came and swelled the river. And the salmon and sea trout need fresh water to leave the sea and move up the rivers. At present there will be very few of them in the Tees.
A few anglers have had the salmon tackle out in the hope of a spring fish, but it is the trout that are the main quarry at this time of year.
Usually in the spring they feed in spells throughout the day, but this year their habits have been different.
Low, clear water with the sun beating down, have led to fish feeding mainly early and late in the day.
I’ve had a few sessions where fish have been forthcoming in the first hour or so, then little or nothing, until the sun dips. That often happens in mid-summer, but not usually in April and May.
Even when there has been a good hatch of olives, only a few fish have shown interest. Most years, in overcast conditions, there are spells where the river surface is alive with rising trout, taking olives that are struggling in the surface film.
I’ve known half hour spells where almost every cast results in a fish hooked, or missed. Not this year. Those prolific spells have been non existant. It’s been a case of fishing long and hard to pick up an occasional trout.
At times I’ve wondered if fish numbers have declined, then suddenly, towards the end of the day, the rings of rising fish have returned, and all’s well with the world.
It appears that it is the dry bright weather, and low water to blame. As the season progresses, if there is rain, perhaps we will see a return to normal sport.
Of course much of the appeal of angling is the uncertainty, and adapting to conditions. Fish caught on hard days are often more welcome and memorable, than the spells where fish are throwing themselves at the artificial fly.
 Another effect of the mild winter and early spring is that the fish are in very good condition, firm and muscular. In past years many early season trout have seemed to be all head and tail, with a thin undernourished body in between. They quickly pile on weight, but this year the feeding must have been reasonable over the winter, for even in early April the trout were in good condition.
We may be at the whim of the weather, but it is good to see that the Angling Trust and World Wildlife Fund UK have got together to push for the new government, after the June election, to take leadership on water and land management, to ensure our rivers and lakes are healthy.

MEANWHILE on the reservoirs rainbow trout action has been plentiful.
At Grassholme the rod average is 4.6, with trout to 8lb 4oz caught, that one falling to Alan Todd. More trout to a whopping 15lb have been stocked.
Worm has accounted for a lot of fish, while fly anglers have had success with Hawthorns, Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz and Cat’s Whisker.
At fly-only Hury, the rod average is 3.7, with trout to 3lb 12oz caught. Buzzers, Black Blobs and Cat’s Whisker have all been successful patterns.     

High Force spring title goes to Harwood gimmer hogg

THE first Teesdale sheep show of the season attracted top breeders to High Force at the weekend.
The Middleton-in-Teesdale Spring Show of Swaledale sheep was held at the High Force Hotel on Saturday, May 20.
Michael Watson’s gimmer hogg, from Stoney Hill, at Harwood, took the honours as supreme champion. Shown by his daughter Rachel, the gimmer hogg was also district champion and best female sheep in the show.
The runner up was an aged ram bred by S Bentley and DJ Mallon. The ram, which was shown by David Mallon, of Pallet Crag Farm, in Eggleston, also won reserve district champion and best male sheep in the show.
Show chairman Morris Scott said: “It has been a very good show. There has been a lot of good sheep about.
“Entries were up at little bit from last year and it was mainly locals showing which is a big thing. The judges did an exceptional job.
“I would like to thank Lord Barnard for coming and presenting the prizes and I would like to thank the show secretary Hannah Hunter for doing as much as she does.”

Results
Open classes
Aged ram: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Shearling ram: 1, J Nattrass; 2, C Alderson. Tup hogg (large breeders): 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, R Walton; 4, J Nattrass; 5, R Walton. Tup hogg (small breeders) 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, C Colling. Ewe shown in milk: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, JR Walton & Son. Gimmer shearling shown in milk: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, JR Walton & Son. Gimmer hogg (large breeder): 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, R Walton; 5, R Walton. Gimmer hogg (small breeder): 1, TW Hutchinson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, C Alderson. Tupp or gimmer lamb (2017 born): 1, J Nattrass; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, TW Hutchinson; 4, M Iceton; 5, M Iceton. Young handlers class (<16 on show day): 1, J Hutchinson; 2, M Iceton; 3, J Scott; 4, H Hutchinson; 5, J Mallon.
Special classes
Two tupp hogs owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, S Bentley and DJ Mallon; 3, M Watson. Ewe or gimmer shearling shown in milk (small breeder): 1, M Iceton; 2, M Iceton. Tupp hogg and gimmer hogg: 1, M Watson; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, J Nattrass. Aged tup or shearling tup and hogg: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, J Nattrass. Ewe gimmer shearling and gimmer hogg: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, JR Walton & Son. Tup hogg not in hands of breeder: 1, J Hutchinson; 2, T Nattrass. Tup hogg not previously shown: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, J Nattrass. Gimmer hogg not previously shown: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, J Nattrass; 4, M Iceton. Special prize for the best male and female (shown as a pair): 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, JR Walton & Son, 4, J Nattrass.
Two gimmer hogs owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, M Watson; 3, JR Walton & Son; 4, M Iceton. Three best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, F Allinson & Son; 2, M Watson; 3, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Special prize given by JN Pinkney for the best sheep shown by customers: 1, TW Hutchinson. Tup hogg owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 2, JR Walton & Son; 3, M Watson; 4, R Walton. Challenge cup for best sheep owned and bred in ‘A’ District: 1, M Watson; 2, F Allinson & Son; 3, S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Perpetual challenge cup for best sheep owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, M Watson; 2, S Bentley & DJ Mallon; 3, F Allinson & Son; 4, JR Walton & Son. Best sheep shown by a small breeder: 1, C Colling; 2, M Iceton; 3, C Alderson. Best sheep not to have won a prize: 1, M Iceton; 2, R Walton.
District classes:
Tupp hogg: 1, M Watson; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, JR Walton & Son. Ewe or gimmer shearling: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, TW Hutchinson. Gimmer hogg: 1, JR Walton & Son; 2, TW Hutchinson; 3, M Watson; 4, TW Hutchinson. Pair of females owned and bred by exhibitor: 1, TW Hutchinson. Best gimmer hogg in show: M Watson. Best tupp hogg in show: TW Hutchinson. District champion: M Watson. Reserve District Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Championship for best female sheep: Champion: M Watson. Reserve champion: F Allinson & Son. Championship for best male sheep: Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon. Reserve champion: TW Hutchinson. Supreme Champion: M Watson. Reserve Supreme Champion: S Bentley & DJ Mallon.

Teesdale students' 40-mile trek to help fund globetrotting adventures

A PAIR of A-level students from Teesdale have taken on a 40-mile march over the Yorkshire Moors to fund their global adventures.
Sam Kitson, from Startforth Park, and Tom Matthews, from Cotherstone, completed the Lyke Walk ahead of international tours they have planned for the summer.
Sam wants to spend five weeks in the Peruvian Amazon while Tom is heading for the Himalayas.
They each need to raise £4,500 to achieve their international dreams.
Tom, who is a volunteer at Wetherriggs Wildlife Sanctuary, off the A66 at Greta Bridge, said he would be taking part in geological studies during his tour to the Ladakh region of Northern India.
He added: “The British Explorers Society (BES) has been running annual trips to challenge and develop young people since 1932. The BES enables young people from all backgrounds to recognise, unlock and act on their individual potential through exploration – supported by teams of exceptional leaders acting as role models.”
Along with the  walk, Tom has been selling his artwork to raise the cash he needs for the trip.
Sam will be helping with biodiversity research during his tour to South America.
He said: “Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of exploring in the jungle and now, at 17, I am going to the Amazon. On this expedition I will be working on an investigation into biodiversity while helping a local community.
“The work experience in scientific fieldwork should help me in my job choice as I plan to go into scientific research for my further studies.”
The two started the Lyke Walk from Osmotherley to Ravenscar at 4.13am to give them enough time to finish.
They completed their journey in about 14 hours and although Sam admits the first stages, along the Cleveland Way, were easy, it was not long before he suffered from cramp. He said: “After the half way stop at Lion Inn we walked five miles through bogs. I’ve mentioned the pain in my legs but by this point I could not stop walking without getting cramp.
“I walked the next 8.5 miles trying to walk off the cramp in my legs but instead succeeded in numbing my leg.
“At the final checkpoint, I admit I was no longer enjoying myself and wanted it to be over, so we skipped a rest and started our last two miles. As we started Tom said we should run the rest of the way, joking or not, I took his suggestion seriously. By this point I could feel nothing below the waist and I just wanted it to be over so the last two miles we finished by running to the end.”
No doubt the walk will serve as good preparation for the lads’ international tours to two very different corners of the Earth.
To help fund the teenagers’ adventures visit samkitsonperu.weebly.com and just
giving.com/crowdfunding/tom-matthews

'Most improved' striker from Staindrop signs two-year deal with Darlington FC

A TEENAGE striker who almost gave up the game has signed a two year deal with Darlington FC.
Staindrop’s Harvey Saunders made his mark on the Quakers’ promotion push with two late goals at the back end of this season.
The pacy forward fought back from two injuries to force his way into the first team squad and was rewarded with a two year deal last week. The 19-year-old was “over the moon” with his new contract.
He added: “At the start of the season I was constantly injured – as soon as I got the call up, the lads looked after me.
“It’s a great start for me. Getting contracts at this time of year can be a bit nerve wracking but that was a great feeling.”
The Teesdale teenager came off the bench 11 times for the National League North outfit last season after spells at Dunston and Ryhope to recuperate from injury.
He scored an added time equaliser in the side’s 2-2 draw with Worcester City.
But his initial pathway into the top-end of non-league football wasn’t straightforward.
Mr Saunders almost drifted out of the game but came back through five-a-side tournaments while he was working at Spice Island, in Barnard Castle.
The former Staindrop Academy pupil went on to cut his teeth in the Northern League before being picked up by Darlington.
His persistence was rewarded last week when he was named the club’s Most Improved Player for 2016/17.
“My improvement is down to the coaching staff – I could not have done it without them,” he added.
“The players around at that level mean you cannot switch off or make mistakes.”
Mr Saunders also paid tribute to the senior heads in the squad who had offered him little nuggets of advice.
He said: “They really do help you – I ask the defenders what would be their worst nightmare to be up against.
“The step up from the Northern League to Conference North has been massive. To get game time and know I have improved has been incredible.”
With footballing eyes now turning to summer pre-season, Mr Saunders said he was looking forward to an injury free spell and fighting for a regular first team spot.
He added: “I don’t want to look too far ahead – I just want game time. I love the club and stepping out in front of all our fans is just incredible.”

Sam sprints to double gold at North East Athletics Championships

A FORMER Teesdale School student raced to the sprint double at the North East Athletics Championships.
The 19-year-old bagged golds in the 100m and 200m senior men’s events at Gateshead Stadium.
Sam competes for Middlesbrough AC and is now studying at Teesside University where he is part of their Elite Athlete Scheme.
Sam took gold in the 100m blue ribband race on day one of the competition, winning in a season’s best time of 10.95 seconds, despite running into a strong head wind.
He then returned on the Sunday to contest the senior 200 metres where he comfortably won his heat to qualify for the finals.
In the final, a close race was expected between Sam and Christian Carson (Newham and Essex Beagles) but it was Sam who came home first to add a second gold.
Again running into the wind, he took the title in 22.07 with Carson more than half a second behind in 22.62. Sam, who is coached by Rick Betts, is now preparing for the Northern Championships, in Manchester, where he won the 100m and 200m Gold in 2014, before moving on to the English Championships, in Bedford, at the end of June.

West Auckland Town FC's name in lights as 'new' Wembley celebrates ten years

SOUTH Shields FC and York City may have taken the honours on the pitch at Wembley last weekend, but West Auckland Town FC were also up in lights at the stadium.
It was ten years ago on Friday, may 19, that the “new” Wembley opened its doors, so officials decided to honour the 166 teams that had played at the stadium in the last decade. That included West Auckland Town FC, who made the FA Vase final, which this season went to South Shields.
The club’s name a colours were displayed on the famous Wembley arch and also outside the stadium, alongside the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United plus a host of international side.
West Auckland Town FC’s Dave Bussey said: “Although we ended up runners-up in the final it was a fantastic experience – and how many non league teams can say they have graced the hallowed turf.
“We’re sure you’ll agree that the stadium looks fantastic with our name and colours.  Thank you to Wembley for the gesture and happy birthday.”

Teesdale youngsters awarded Scouts highest award

FIVE Scouts from Barnard Castle have been awarded the organisation’s highest award for their age group.
The Chief Scout’s Gold Award went to Matthew Hodgkinson, William Backes, Oliver Welsby, Kieran Bleasby, Charlotte Singleton and Grace Tarpey.
It is the highest award they can get before moving on to Explorers. Three of the five were presented with the award last week. Oliver Welsby, 14, said he had been working towards the award since he began as a beaver several years ago. Like a number of others, he hopes  to become an Explorer.
He said: “We enjoy it – it’s about life skills but there is a good social side too.”
To get the award, they had to earn badges during activities, between the ages of ten and 14, including expeditions, teamwork and learning how to be team leaders.
Meanwhile, Cub Scouts who achieved the Chief Scout’s Silver Award were Abigail Clark, Robert Whiting, Conner McBride, Scott Kesterton, Finley Tunstall, Thomas Maughan, Joshua Leonard, Jake Porter, Madie Ainsley, Tabitha Anstey, Mia Dowson, Lilly-Beth Kelly, Joshua Andrews, Adele Dry and Tess Deere.
Other prizewinners were Beavers of the Year Oliver Hickey and Daniel Maughan.
Monday Cub of the year Joshua Andrews, second Aiden Marmount, third Madie Ainsley with best newcomer Alex Campbell.
Tuesday Cub of the Year Jake Porter, second Joshua Greenland, third Alice Whiting, and best newcomer Kaylie Shann. Wednesday Scout of the Year went to Jake Metcalfe, second William Backes, and joint third Matthew Hodgkinson and Matthew Hendry.
Sunday Scouts of the Year were Rhys Foster, second Lilly-Beth Kelly, and third Abigail Clark. Explorer Scout of the Year was Jonathan Hann.
The Group Scoutleader, Mark Fell, reported a successful year but said the pack was looking for an adult to lead a second Beaver Colony, ages six to eight. Contact Colin Clark on 07802 855604.

Cricket – Raby Castle and Barningham through to Darlington and District League A division knock-out cup semi-finals

TWO dale teams are through to the final four in the Darlington and District Cricket League A division knock-out cup after Thursday night's quarter finals were played.

Raby Castle secured their semi-final berth with a win against local rivals Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The upper dale side posted 125-6 in their 20 overs, which Raby reached, also for the loss of six wickets.

Barningham made it through with a thrilling and incident packed two-run win at East Cowton.

Veteran openers Colin Blackburn and Stuart Laundy put on a brisk half century stand before hard hitting Rob Stanwix helped Barningham post 145-8.

East Cowton were always up with the run rate, but a couple of tight overs meant they required 16 to win off the last over, which was bowled by Stanwix.

He held his nerve to see Barningham over the line.

Earlier, the umpires had insisted that for the last five overs of the Barningham innings and the first five of East Cowton's knock, the bowlers would only operate from one end, due to the low sun shining down the west-facing wicket, much to to the bemusement of both sets of players.

The officials cited “player safety” as the reason.

In the other quarter finals, Richmondshire continued on their winning ways, knocking off Aldbrough St John's 138-3 in just 15.2 overs.

Matt Brown batted through for 66no in ASJ's innings and shared an opening stand of 97 with Jack Stapleton, who made 39.

In reply, half centuries from Julius Glasgow and Edd Alexander saw Richmondshire home by eight wickets.

The individual performance of the night came from Barton's Jon Murray in his side's 26 run win against Haughton.

Defending 107, the Barton spinner took 8-18 in his five overs, including a hat-trick.

In the semi-finals, Barton will play Raby Castle, while Barningham welcome Richmondshire.

The games will be played on Thursday, June 8.

Police ask villagers in Evenwood for help in solving youth problems

POLICE have been questioned after saying Evenwood people must play a key role in finding a solution to youth problems after claims of yobs running amok, vandalising the village and even verbally abusing a man in his nineties.
It is claimed residents “fear reprisals” if they call the police. Village councillors also say they are worried about getting abuse if they approach the young people causing the problems.
Durham Police say they will not “purge” Evenwood's streets of young people, but they have pledged measures including extra patrols at hot-spot areas and summoning the help of a youth worker.
However, officers have drawn criticism after saying the community must play an important role in solving the problem.
Suggestions include creating a youth shelter but parish councillors say they have already spend tens of thousands of pounds on a play park and bike track.
The matter was discussed at the last parish meeting. Afterwards, Cllr Janet Sewell told fellow councillors: “Why do the police think it’s the parish council that has to sort it out? If the police can’t do anything, why should it be down to the parish council?” 
Two police officers attended the meeting to update councillors about village issues. Parish chairwoman Cllr Barbara Nicholson told Sgt Adam Howell: “I live in an area of Evenwood where there never used to be trouble. Over the past two years we have kids coming in their droves until late at night. We never see the police. It seems like they are doing nothing.”
The police were told about smashed alcohol bottles discarded by boozing teens who gather at Bank Top and Kayshall Farm.
Cllr Paul Townsend said the gang can number 30 or 40 kids. It was also reported that groups of youngsters were catching the bus from Cockfield to gather in Evenwood.
Sgt Howell replied: “They are entitled to do that. It’s not an issue of where they come from, it’s how they behave.”
He said claims made at the meeting were not reflected in official crime statistics, although he admitted that did not mean it wasn’t happening.
“If you are expecting us to purge the streets of all young people, we can’t do that. To gather is not an offence but anti-social behaviour is and we need to deal with that,” he said. Sgt Howell added that Evenwood did not have enough for young people to do. He said an outreach youth worker at Durham County Council had been tasked with engaging with young people to reduce the trouble by providing “diversionary” activities.
“But it is about the community – the parish councillors. What can we all do?” Sgt Howell added.
But Cllr Rachel Webb said: “People are getting verbal abuse from some of them. That happened to one man in his 90s and he wouldn't hurt a fly. We have had youth clubs, and we have got sporting facilities – running, cricket and football. We have given them opportunities.”
The meeting heard that the bike track and play area had been developed due to previous requests from young people.
Cllr Anne Lyons said: “Lots of people live on their own and they fear reprisals so will not call the police.”
The meeting heard that other people didn’t dial 101 or 999 because “nothing happened”.
But Sgt Howell said callers don’t have to provide names.
However, he said officers needed incidents to be logged so they could respond and build up a picture of the local issues.
He said creating a youth shelter could be a solution but admitted finding a suitable site could be a problem after hearing some residents may not want so many young people near their homes.
Cllr Mary Prince said youths meeting up wasn’t the problem, it was the “damage and destruction”.
Parish chairwoman Cllr Barbara Nicholson added: “Why have we got to sort it? There are qualified people to do that.”
But she was told by the police officer: “You are the community of Evenwood and you are the leaders of the community – why not?”
He denied police took a “softly softly” approach, adding that those alleged to be ringleaders had been identified and home visits were taking place.
The meeting heard that there were numerous police logs of “youth nuisance” but they were not taken any further due to a lack of CCTV coverage and other evidence.
Parish clerk Martin Clark said bringing in youth workers to Evenwood was nothing new and the previous attempt failed to engage the young people. But Sgt Howell said it was worth another try.
The meeting heard that patrols would be stepped up on Wednesday and Saturday evenings when there were more complaints. An anti-social behaviour co-ordinator was also carrying out home visits, councillors were told.
However, Sgt Howell said police resources were limited.
He explained: “Several years ago we used to have two PCSOs in the area but it’s now just one.
“That resource is displayed all over because its an important one. The pressure we are under with our resources means he is moved around so we won’t have him in Evenwood as much as I would like to.”
As reported previously, a meeting is being arranged between young people and the parish council in the hope of finding a solution. A possible youth shelter will be on the agenda.

Couple's lucky escape as trees stop car careering down vertical drop at High Force

A COUPLE had a “lucky” escape after being rescued from a crash which left their car lodged on a vertical drop.
A pensioner was trapped in the vehicle following the incident on Sunday afternoon (May 21) which happened near to the entrance to High Force waterfall in upper Teesdale.
Two adults were travelling in the VW Polo, which left the road and came to rest on the steep embankment opposite The High Force Hotel.
Emergency services were called to the scene on the B6277 at noon. The road was closed for a number of hours while emergency services attended.
A fire brigade spokesperson said: “A private vehicle had collided with a wall. The vehicle then hit a tree which stopped it rolling down the bank.” Emergency teams stabilised the vehicle and then freed the female passenger. The driver escaped uninjured.
Jan Butterfield, who runs The High Force Hotel, said: “A member of staff who was outside heard a big bang when it happened.
“The back end of the car was all you could see from the road. It was nose down on the embankment. Luckily the wall and the trees were there, if you can say lucky, because it is quite a drop down.”
The woman, who was in her 70s, was taken by air ambulance to James Cook
University Hospital, in Middlesbrough. She was treated for minor injuries and remains in hospital.
No other vehicles were involved.

Primary school pupils put their teachers in the spotlight

A NEW school topic is proving to be a hit with pupils in Barnard Castle as they get the chance to put their teachers on the spot.
Staff at Green Lane Primary School are being made to reveal aspects of their personal life to pupils as part of the new Under The Spotlight topic which will be running until the end of term.
Helen Walker was the latest teacher to be placed in the hot seat last week. Questions range from their favourite book, the person they most admired and their favourite film to what they would like to do if they could be invisible for the day.
Headteacher Paula Ford said: “We always do a whole school topic. We have decided to let each class choose their own topic. It is really driven by the children.
“They have built their own programme. I also thought they might like to know more about the staff so I devised a set of questions to put teachers under the spotlight in weekly assemblies.
“It seems we have a lot of Pride and Prejudice fans among the female staff as well as a secret Minion fan.”
Members of staff take a seat on the school stage and with the curtains drawn, the spotlight is cast on them.
Ms Ford said: “The children are finding out about the secret lives of teachers. They are glued. It is absolutely silent in the hall. It is good for building relationships and it is helping to build a closer bond between staff and pupils.
“I went first and it was quite tough. I felt under pressure. It is good for the children to see that the teachers feel the pressure but can overcome it. It is also about being brave.”

Ambitious plans for Rosie and her Hero

Rosie Bell is a 25-year-old event competitor with an exciting future ahead of her and an experienced horse which is heading for three-star level, plus several promising young horses coming on behind him. Wendy Short visited her at her yard in Barningham.

WHILE no horse owner likes to admit they have a favourite animal, Rosie Bell confesses to a special fondness for her current main event prospect, Glenomra Hero, despite the partnership only having been formed 12 months ago. 

AIMING HIGH: Eventer Rosie Bell
has ambitions to compete at four star level
Picture:  esphotography

The 16.1hh, 11-year-old bay gelding, which was bred in Ireland, had already demonstrated considerable talent at competition level.
“Hero took part in the 2014 Junior European Championships and he has an enormous amount of potential,” explains Ms Bell.
“We have competed up to two star international level and we are aiming for Bramham International Horse Trials in June, which will be a three-star event.
“Hero is very chilled out and he tries very hard for me; we have already achieved a couple of top 20 places at two-star. But like a lot of good jumpers, his weakness is dressage, so that is something we have to work on.”
Another notable horse is the home-bred Eastwood Springtime, which stands at 15.3hh.
The dark bay is by the renowned event stallion, Jumbo, which lived to the ripe old age of 31.
“Springtime was my main horse when I returned home from university after studying event management,” she says.
“I competed with her as a four-year old and took her up to intermediate level. As she has been such a good horse, I wanted to keep her line going so this summer she will go to Chilli Morning, a British Sport Horse which was the first stallion to win Badminton Horse Trials.
“Hopefully, Springtime will produce a nice foal which will be brought into work in the future.”
My Eastwood Brightside is another bay and is also from Ireland, having been purchased as a four-year-old in 2015.
Standing at 16.1hh, he arrived recently broken.
Ms Bell says: “I have only competed at unaffiliated competitions with Brightside so far.
“He is slightly quirky and has bucked me off a few times, but I like him. I don’t mind a horse being quirky, because it gives them a bit of a spark.
“He is a good jumper and he also has nice paces, so I’m crossing my fingers that he will do well in dressage. Event horses don’t hit their peak until they reach about ten years old, so we will see how he develops.”
The 16hh Watermill Flight is yet another bay from Ireland, this time purchased unbroken.
“I was looking for a four or five-year-old and nothing caught my eye, so I ended up coming back with Flight,” Ms Bell says.
“He was sent to Wolsingham for breaking in by James Jopling, who did a very good job.
“I’ve been riding him for about six months now and we have done a few unaffiliated and local competitions. He is showing a lot of promise and is a nice person with a very trainable attitude.”
Despite the preponderance of bays in Ms Bell’s stable, she will also be partnered with a dappled grey in competitions being held over the summer.
He is Finn, a 16.3hh horse belonging to Ms Bell’s father, Steve, who is master of fox hounds of the Zetland Hunt.
“Finn is only six and we have only entered a couple of unaffiliated events competitions,” says Ms Bell.
“He is brave and an outstanding jumper in the field, but he is frightened of the coloured show jumps at the moment. He is a great horse, though; very honest and genuine.”
Since childhood, Ms Bell has followed the eventing career of Pippa Funnell, who was the first person in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is given to a competitor who has consecutive wins at the Rolex Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley.
“Pippa is passionate about eventing and is a brilliant rider,” she says.
“I admire the relationship which she achieves with her horses; it’s not just a business that’s all about winning.
“She made an appearance at an equestrian centre where I used to keep my horses when I was about 14 and I have never forgotten meeting her. I would definitely describe her as inspirational.”
Rosie has regular lessons with Christopher Bartle, the British Eventing high performance coach who is based at the Yorkshire Riding Centre.
“Christopher has given me confidence and has helped me a lot, both on the flat and with my jumping,” she explains.
“He’s always on hand to give me advice and I like his calm and simple approach. He has a strategy for how things should be done and it’s no more complicated than that.
“When I’m looking for a new horse, a careful but bold jump is my main priority.
“I also look for a nice temperament and the right stamp and I take it from there. It is a pleasure to bring on a young horse and watch it develop,” she adds.
“Cross-country is the element which I enjoy most. I have hunted for a long time and that has given me a lot of experience, especially when it comes to jumping in bad weather when the ground is very soft.
“I do sometimes ride for other people, but at present there is plenty of work to do on my own yard. I may at some point use my university education and get involved with organising events, but they would have to have some connection with horses.”
Ms Bell is happy to admit that she has not yet won any major competitions and she has a pragmatic approach to her eventing career.
However, she grew up in a competitive environment – her two brothers are car racing drivers – and it seems likely that she will realise her ambitions.
“My brothers work with machines, but they don’t hold any interest for me,” she says.
“It’s the unpredictability of eventing that attracts me, as well as the relationships that you build up with your horses.
“Eventing is a lot of hard work, though, and you can’t just put a horse away in a garage and take it out the next time you need it. It is a lifestyle and requires a lot of commitment.
“My personal goal is to compete at four-star level. But moving up from three-star to four-star is a big step; it means tackling the courses at the highest level at events like Badminton and Burghley.
“I have yet to see how Hero will cope with three-star and we will take it slowly. But we have a great partnership and it would be nice to think that we can keep on moving up the ranks,” says Rosie.

Things lekking up for the majestic black grouse in Teesdale

Teesdale’s population of black grouse is back from the brink and on the march. Trevor Brookes went along to experience the lek – a colourful mating ritual now being seen in mid-Teesdale for the first time in years


WHEN Phil Warren started working for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, the black grouse was almost a goner in this country.

The iconic species was close to extinction during the mid-1990s when there were just 773 males left in England. The harsh winter of 2010 took its toll even further and the following spring conservationists could only find 500 on the fells and hillsides.
However, two years ago 1,437 males were counted at lekking sites in northern England. At these remote locations on the edges of moorland, the birds perform an early-morning elaborate courtship every spring. It’s often described as being like an operatic experience with the champion male holding his ground in the centre, puffing out his feathers and marching around in an effort to attract his hens. The lek has taken place at Langdon Beck for as long as anyone can remember but back in the mid-1990s, there were just a handful of birds to be seen each morning in April.
Not anymore. The distinctive burbling sound made by the males can be heard at a number of sites, even so far down the dale that Mickleton looms large in the zoom lenses of photographers sat by the roadside.
“These weren’t hear when I first started,” says Phil as he peers through his binoculars and marks down the numbers of black grouse on his sheet. Sitting in his 4x4 on the roadside between Eggleston and Middleton-in-Teesdale, he explains the vital importance of Teesdale in the black grouse story.
“150 years ago, they were present in every county in England. You could see them on people’s doorstep but now if you want to see them, you have to come to places like Teesdale,” says Phil, a research scientist. “If you went back in time in lowland Britain, you wouldn’t recognise the place, but in upper Teesdale things on whole haven’t changed that much. That’s the difference.”
Where Bournemouth town hall now stands there was once one of the best black grouse lek sites in the country.
It’s all down to the loss of their habitat, which fortunately for Teesdale locals is still present in traditional farming areas seen in the North Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, Cumbria and Scotland. The birds need heather, a small clump of trees here and there and rough grassland – the sort of environment seen frequently in the uplands.
However, much of the heather of lowland Britain has been lost. That’s in contrast to Teesdale where it survives because of the interest of shooting estates, Phil says. Predator control undertaken by gamekeepers also aids them.
“The low input, low output farming on the hills are perfect for black grouse,” he adds.
And what’s good for the grouse, is good for the gander, so to speak. The black grouse is seen as an indicator species, meaning that if it’s doing well, the chances are other rare wildlife will be in a healthy state.
“Curlew, snipe and redwing are all on the ‘red list’ but they’re doing well in Teesdale. The stability of black grouse in this area is very valuable in showing that things are pretty stable here,” Phil says.
“This place is very important nationally. The numbers in the upper dale are the highest since when we started in the 1990s.”
Work undertaken in recent years includes planting pockets of woodland, improving habitat and transferring males to other areas. It’s still not 7am and the lek is still in full swing as we head over to a rough pasture near Langdon Beck. The site acts as a natural amphitheatre, allowing the males’ calls to be heard for up to two kilometres away.
There are now so many birds that a splinter group has started a lek across the road in the hope of attracting stray hens. On this occasion, their luck was out – the female’s interest in the champion male was unwavering.
Each male defends a territory about the size of a large pick-up truck, Phil says.
He adds: “Their main aim in life is to occupy that central position on the lek. The females watch the lek and ignore the males on the outside.”
The males have such a strong attachment to their lek – they fly in at the cusp of dark and take their position.”
But today they were beaten by a lone photographer who, with permission from the farmer, set up his hide just yards away from the lek in the middle of the field when it was still dark.
The rest of us had to make do with a wound-down window about 300 yards away. And we weren’t alone because lek tourism is a growing attraction.
Tours arranged by Natural England are always sold out, says Phil, who is based at Eggleston Hall.
“Part of the reason we do it is for education but it’s also a way of telling people how to watch the lek,” he explains.
If those who turn up get out of the vehicle, the females will most likely fly away. The males will then soon give up and make their exit.
Unlike the red grouse, the black grouse isn’t shot for sport. The numbers are too few for that.
Phil has been up before dawn most mornings since the first week in April to check on population so he can report on their survival rate over the winter. He believes numbers will be a little down on 2016 but not by a huge amount.
“Black grouse is a species we should be proud off,” he says. Thanks to the work of him and his team’s work, there’s a good chance that the next generation will also be able to enjoy this bird’s odd but loveable ways for years to come.

Barnard Castle gears up for annual Meet weekend

THIS year's Barnard Castle Meet takes place over the bank holiday weekend and is predicted to be one of the best for years – provided the weather is kind.
There is a host of extra events including family activities, sports, a fun run, bands, as well as the usual favourites such as the unofficial boat race on the River Tees and, of course, the grand parade. Here is a run-down of what’s happening and where:

Thursday, May 25

Car treasure hunt from Barnard Castle Cricket Club, 6.15pm start.

Friday, May 26

Veterans' football match, Shaw Bank football pitch, 6.15pm.

Saturday, May 27

Craft Fair in the Methodist Church Hall, 10am onwards
Fun run, 10.30am for 11am start at Scar Top. Unofficial fun run around the woods.
Boat Race, starts 2pm, at the County Bridge.
Comedy night (see Witham box on the left of the page) at the Witham, 7pm.

Sunday, May 28

Pet show at Scar Top, 10.30am.
Family sports day at Scar Top, 12.30pm. Party time bouncy castle and a bull ride. Face painting and kids sports, such as egg and spoon and sack races, are among the other activities.
Live music in Barney pubs – Box of Frogs at the Commercial, 2pm; Toni Sidgewick at the Old Well, 2pm; Los Capitanes at the Three Horse Shoes, 4pm; The Banned at 12 Bar Blues, 6pm; The Rumoured at the Coach and Horses, 8pm.

Monday, May 29

Barnard Castle Meet’s grand parade, starts at 1pm at Glaxo Car Park. Arrive at noon for judging. Along with the regular floats and walking groups, the Meet committee has arranged for fire-eaters and stilt walkers to join the parade.
Free family fun day at Scar Top, 11am to 4pm. Bounce-a-Mania, Punch and Judy and other activities.
Live music in Barney pubs – The Norgaards at the Bluebell, 3pm; Gary Grainger at the Commercial, 5pm.

New exhibition in Barnard Castle 'aims to bring the outside in'

FIELDS and Hedgerows, an exhibition inspired by the discovery of the natural world, is at The Witham, from Thursday, May 25 to Saturday, June 17.
Open from 10am to 4pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, the exhibition aims to bring the outside in and is inspired by nature in Teesdale.
Artist Keith Alexander, from the Scargill area, said: “Living in Teesdale for the last 26 years has had a big impact on my subject matter.
“Working from my studio adjacent to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, my work is influenced by the special nature of this spectacular landscape – open moorland and beautiful dales, the habitat for a range of distinctive birds such as the curlew, red legged partridge and the greater spotted woodpecker, which co-exist with farming.’”
Sarah Gent, marketing manager of The Witham, said: “The Fields and Hedgerows exhibition will be a joyful show featuring images of animals and insects that might be found in Teesdale fields and hedgerows and has been curated with the intention of appealing to visitors of all ages.”
The Witham is also working with textile artist Dori Henderson, whose work features in Fields and Hedgerows, to hold a one-day rag rug workshop on Thursday, June 15.
With an early-bird rate of £68, the workshop includes tutorial to start off a rag rug as well as proving kit to take home after the day.
Other artists include Ann Mason’s striking prints, stunning textile works by Ann Lee, painter and printer Emerson Mayes whose pieces are inspired by flora and fauna, and beautiful bird prints by Michael P Smith.
Admission to the exhibition is free.

Could the humble pignut become a gourmet sensation?

A LONG forgotten staple food from medieval times could be the next big thing, a dale botanist believes.

The humble pignut, which boasts small white flowers and edible tubers, can be found in abundance across most of Europe and grows prolifically in the hay-meadow on the upper Demesnes, in Barnard Castle.
The potential to cultivate it commercially was fist mooted by Dr Dick Warren, an orchid expert who lives in the town, in an article in 2004.
He believes the plants could be cultivated to produce larger tubers and become a luxury item, sought after by fine dining restaurants like the Nova, in Copenhagen.
While Dr Warren’s article focusses on the complex relationships between plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms, specifically the relationship between the pignut and the day-flying chimney sweep moth, it also hints at their viability as a crop plant.
Dr Warren said: “Don’t be surprised if, in a few years time, the plant engineers ‘discover’ pignuts and breed them up to a giant size and we may see a new exclusive luxury vegetable on the shelves of the delicatessen – Pignuts from Teesdale.
“In past times the small tubers from these plants were harvested.
“According to Richard Mabey, in Flora Britannica, in years gone by you could dig up enough in half an hour to feed a family of four.”
He added that the plant is mentioned in William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest which confirms the importance of the little tubers.
In the play, Caliban says to Stephano: “And I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts, show thee a jay’s nest, and instruct thee how to snare the nimble marmoset.”
The pignuts on the Demesnes are only just starting to show and in a few weeks they will be in full bloom, Dr Warren said.
He described the little tubers as being about the size of a hazelnut. They also taste similar to the hazelnut and are quite crunchy.
However, people are warned not to pick them as all of the plants in the hay meadow are protected.
The Upper Demesnes Hay Meadow project was started in 2009 and has grown substantially to include a wide variety of plants including meadow buttercup, common sorrel, ribwart plantain, red clover and yellow rattle.
The yellow rattle, Dr Warren said, is important to the meadow as the parasitic flower keeps the grass low and allows other flowers to come through.
He said: “It [the meadow] is coming along well. We are getting new species every year. We were up to 85 early on, I’’m not sure how many there are now.”