Doris and Delilah welcome lonely Granville to the dale

A LONELY camel who lost his partner has found a new family at a dale farm.

Granville the Bactrian camel was left on his own at South Lakes Safari Zoo, in Cumbria, following the death of his partner.

Now Granville has new company in the form of Doris and Delilah, Mainsgill farm’s resident camels.

Granville arrived at the farm on Tuesday, December 19, but the shy camel was reluctant at first to emerge from the trailer that brought him to the farm.

Andrew Henshaw, of Mainsgill, said: “He arrived last night but he won’t come out.

“We are happy to have him, he is good company for Doris and Delilah.”

Mr Henshaw and his wife Maria have kept camels for many years, having got their first not long after opening the farm shop at Mainsgill.

He said: “We got a camel because everyone was opening farm shops with the usual llamas, alpacas and rhea. Maria said we needed something different.”

Their first camel was sourced from Austria.

The Bactrian camels, which originate from Russia, are ideal for Teesdale’s climate because they can endure extreme temperatures ranging from -25C to 30C and spend the year round outdoors.

Another tradition being continued at Mainsgill is the Christmas hay bale sculpture, which this year features two turkeys at the farm shop entrance.

Past Christmases have seen hay bail creations of penguins and igloos, camels and the three wise men.

Sculptures are also put up to mark special occasions such as Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, the coalition government and Strictly Come Dancing.

£350,000 bid for vital repairs to Barnard Castle Parish Church tower

A CHURCH is bidding for hundreds of thousands of pounds to do vital repairs on its tower.

Victorian builders are being blamed for the serious damage being caused to the west wall of St Mary’s Church, in Barnard Castle.

The huge cracks running down the wall are believed to be caused by pressure exerted by the church tower that was built in Victorian times.

A previous Lottery bid for a £250,000 grant fell flat, but now church officers are making an even more ambitious bid for cash.

Church treasurer Robert Stenlake said: “We need £350,000, of which the building works is about £250,000, and that leaves £100,000 for the other part of the project, which is engaging visitors and the community.”

Previously, the church had applied to a Lottery scheme for historic places of worship, but the scheme, which had an upper limit of £250,000, was over-subscribed and St Mary’s lost out.

Mr Stenlake said part of the new funding scheme, which the church is applying to, included a need to involve the community in some way. He added: “In some ways, for us, this is a better grant stream.”

Among the ideas are to get schools, local historians and interested groups such as English Heritage and The Bowes Museum involved in uncovering the church’s heritage.

Mr Stenlake said the church not only has strong connections to King Richard III, but was also heavily involved in a cholera outbreak in the town and the banners of many regiments, including the Durham Militia – a precursor to Durham Light Infantry – hang from its walls.

Mr Stenlake said: “If you walk in the door there is nothing to tell you that. There is a story to tell.”

Part of the plan is to use “photogrammetry” to create a three-dimensional image of the church and put it on the church’s website. This will allow people to see parts of the church they would not otherwise be able to access.

However, the most important part is the repairs.

Along with the gaping cracks on the west wall, many of the stained glass windows are at risk and some have cracked from the pressure being placed on them by the tower. The plan is to have conservation work done on the windows. Steel grids protecting the windows are rusting and this is staining the walls below.

All of the grids need to be replaced. Stonework that has corroded needs to removed.

Mr Stenlake added that steel rods need to be inserted into the west wall to pin it and prevent further damage.

The cracks in the wall are letting in damp which is damaging the interior of the walls and putting the church’s £100,000 organ at risk. A further problem is the pointing in the tower.

Mr Stenlake said: “The stones are just holding it together – everything above the clock needs re-pointing.”

Cockfield pupils' window display is a cut above

COCKFIELD Primary School pupils have been getting crafty to help a Bishop Auckland hair salon produce an advent window.

Some 24 businesses in the town were partnered with a school or community organisation to dress up their windows, with a new display being unveiled each day in the run up to Christmas.

The event began on December 1, with the Cockfield window at Trimmers hairdressers being unveiled on Monday, December 18.

The idea came from David and Pam Pott, who had done something similar in Stone, in the Midlands, before they moved to Bishop Auckland. The couple approached the Bishop Auckland Town Team to organise the event.

Mr Pott said: “It has been absolutely fantastic. Every window is special in its own way. It has been very pleasing to see how it has all gone. Cockfield Primary School have a great window, what they did was quite exceptional.”

The window featured a nativity scene which was produced by the children during art class.

The children also sang Away In A Manager for the small crowd during the unveiling. Afterwards each child received a gift from Santa Claus and a slice of cake specially baked for the occasion.

Eggleston bridge 'just not up to taking modern HGVs'

DAMAGE to a historic bridge has triggered renewed calls for more action to tackle diverted HGVs.

Eggleston Bridge, on Collingwood Bank, near Eggleston Gardens, was shut for four days last week after one of its walls was knocked over by a wagon at 5am one morning.

Emergency repairs were completed during the weekend but the incident sparked a call for signs to prevent heavy goods vehicles tackling the narrow bridge.

Phil Hunt has campaigned on issues relating to HGVs in the dale for years in an effort to save the area’s historic monuments and sites from damage.

He said: “I would have thought a width limit would be entirely appropriate.

“It is just not up to taking modern juggernauts.”

One Eggleston resident, who did not wish to be named, said she’d asked Durham County Council to put a sign at the top of the B6281 to limit HGVs.

She added: “It gets knocked quite a lot and you could see the river below.

“If anyone brushed against it again quite a lot of the wall would have fallen away.”

John Reed, Durham County Council’s head of technical services, said: “We were made aware that a vehicle crossing Eggleston Bridge last week (December 13) had hit the structure, causing damage to one of its parapets.

“Our inspector visited the bridge and concluded that the damage needed to be repaired as a matter of urgency in the interests of protecting the structure and road users’ safety.

“Due to the narrow nature of the bridge, the repairs could not be carried out without a full closure.”

A busman's holiday to Barnard Castle for visiting musicians

A VISIT to Barnard Castle for Indian musicians Rila Banerjee and Sumith Ramachandran has been something of a busman’s holiday.

Rila is the sister of Old Well Inn landlady Rima Chatterjee, so as well as catching up, she and husband Sumith have been giving customers a taste of their music.

They played a selection of seasonal standards on Christmas Eve which feature on an album released in their homeland.

The duo also planned to take part in this week’s open mic jam session before concluding their trip with a New Year’s Day performance, featuring some of their original work.

Ms Banerjee was born and bred in Calcutta, while Mr Ramachandran is from the south Indian state of Kerala.

Both professional musicians, they have been performing together since meeting 11 years ago.

Mr Ramachandran describes their style as jazz fusion.

“I have played all types of Indian music – Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi – I have done it all.

“As I have got older, my tastes have changed a lot, from hard rock to jazz fusion.”

Ms Banerjee added: “I was brought up on country and folk music. It is only since I met Sumith that jazz has emerged.”

Mr Ramachandran plays guitar and keyboards and is a programmer and arranger of music, while Ms Banerjee is a singer/songwriter.

They recorded their album of Christmas music while working on new original material, which they say is three or four songs short of a new album.

“The challenge was to do the Christmas songs differently and make it interesting,” said Mr Ramachandran

They first visited the Old Well, which has been run by Rima and husband Roy for the past three years, last year.

“We came over in October 2016 and people seemed to like what we did. This is like playing in someone’s living room,” added Ms Banerjee.

Rila and Sumith will be performing from 4pm on New Year’s Day.

How a cup of coffee led to a lifetime together

A LOVING couple who met following their time in the forces have marked a rare platinum wedding anniversary.

John and June Franks, from West Auckland, were introduced in 1947 through mutual friends in a coffee shop in Durham.

Seven decades after tying the knot that same year, the pair are still going strong at 96 and 93-years-old.

Mr Franks was a former prison officer and had returned from his wartime service with the RAF in South Africa when he met his wife-to-be, who also served in the air force.

Mrs Franks said: “I thought he was quite bold – I asked him afterwards how he’d got the courage to ask me out and he said it was now or never.”

The pair married at St Edmunds, in Bearpark, near Durham, and went on to have two children together.

Mrs Franks added: “I told him I wanted to have a big family – he just laughed but he never said no.”

Mr Franks was a policeman in Barnard Castle for two-and-a-half years after leaving the prison service. He then joined the CID side of the force.

Meanwhile, Mrs Franks became a drama teacher in Darlington at The Immaculate Conception Grammar School and Polam Hall.

Friends at the West Auckland Vineyard Church organised a surprise party for the couple last Wednesday after the Queen’s own platinum anniversary sparked the idea.

Mrs Franks added: “We met quite a lot of these people before we came here – we’ve always been committed Christians.”

Mr Franks trained as a teacher later in life but the loss of his hearing put paid to the career shift and led to him retraining as a technician at Durham University, where he worked for ten years.

The pair have been retired for more than 30 years and have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

When it came to the secret of a long marriage, Mrs Franks revealed it was getting along which truly counted.

“I can count on one hand the number of times John has lost his temper,” said Mrs Franks.

Mr Franks added: “You have got to have a certain amount of patience.”

Anna makes a splash to say thank you for Barnard Castle charity's help

AN ex-servicewoman who lost the use of her legs after a serious accident said “thank you” to a charity which has come to her aid by diving into the Tees on Boxing Day.

Barnard Castle-based The Clique has covered the cost of Anna Kelton's gym membership as she trains for next year's Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia.

Ms Kelton joined members of the charity for their third Boxing Day dip.

She was serving with the Royal Navy when she fell during a training exercise with the Royal Marines.

Subsequently diagnosed with conversion disorder, a condition where psychological symptoms manifest themselves as physical problems, she has lost the use of her legs and has to use a wheelchair.

Ms Kelton took part in the inaugural Invictus Games, in London, in 2014, winning two rowing gold medals.

She hopes to compete in the rowing events again when the games are held in Sydney in October next year.

To help with training, The Clique has paid for membership of the Glaxo Sports and Social Club gym.

“This has allowed me to do more training. Doing sport helps with my recovery,” she explained.

“I just wanted to give something back and to say thank you to The Clique. They are an amazing charity and do so much for the town.”

Ms Kelton joked that not having any feeling in her legs gave her an advantage over the others taking part – but admitted it had been chilly in the water and was well wrapped up for the rest of the day.

However, she said she'd be happy to take the plunge again next year.

Ms Kelton and her fiance James Croxford were among nine hardy dippers who dived into the Tees which had been swollen by rain the previous evening.

And while it had been a relatively warm few days, temperatures had plunged to near freezing by Boxing Day morning.

Numbers of dippers were down on last year due to several being laid low by cold and flu which has been affecting many people around Barney in recent weeks.

Headteacher Helen bids an emotional farewell to Evenwood primary

THE headteacher of a village primary school is stepping down after six years at the helm.

Emotions ran high during a special assembly at Evenwood Primary School when staff, pupils and parents said goodbye to Helen Sutherland last week.

Mrs Sutherland joined the school in September 2011 but feels the time is now right to embark on the next step in her career.

She said: “My time here has been amazing.

“It is the community feeling that you get at this school. So many people who visit the school comment on the warmth and friendliness. That is what makes this school so special.”

Reminiscing about the past six years in Evenwood, the 42-year-old said there would be lots of things she would miss dearly.

She said: “Seeing the children grow and develop has to be one of the highlights of my time here.

“People have also said that they feel the school is very much part of the community and that is a very big thing for me. Schools and children should be part of the community. It has also been about the children achieving more than they thought they could and their parents seeing that too. The staff here are fantastic.

“There are special times that I will never forget such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 when the children re-enacted the ceremony at St Paul’s Church. It was fabulous. We also did a Paralympic project in 2012 and Tanni-Grey Thompson visited the school.

“I feel very emotional about leaving. It is a big wrench to leave such a lovely community. It is just the right time to move on but I am leaving with very special memories. I am excited about my new chapter.”

Following the usual weekly celebration assembly in school, which is attended by parents on a Friday morning, staff and pupils also held a special gathering for Mrs Sutherland.

Pupils sang songs and read poems to thank Mrs Sutherland for everything she had done during her time at the school.

She said: “I love music. It just shows how well they know me.

“It could not have been more perfect for me.

“I am so grateful for the support of the whole school and the community and how I have been welcomed. It has been a real privilege. It is a stressful job but very rewarding because you are helping to shape children’s lives and their future.”

Mrs Sutherland will be taking up a new post in the new year as headteacher at Aycliffe Village Primary School.

Meanwhile at Evenwood, deputy headteacher Stacey Rand will step in as acting headteacher for the next two terms. Lindsey Vollans who is the headteacher at St Michael’s Primary School, in Bishop Middleham, will support her for two days each week. Governors will then consider a long-term arrangement.

Natalie calls time after seven years at Forest school

A TEACHER has called time on the “best seven years of her life” at Teesdale’s most remote school.

Farmer Natalie Dalton has seen dozens of children from far flung homes pass through Forest-of-Teesdale primary school since 2010.

But the 33-year-old has called time on her spell as deputy headteacher to spend more hours on the two family farms and move on in her career.

Mrs Dalton said: “I have three young children and I just feel the time is right.

“The past seven years at Forest-of-Teesdale have most certainly been the best of my life in terms of my teaching and leadership development.

“I feel I have achieved so much and have been very lucky to have been involved in the development of such a wonderful school.”

Born and bred in the dale, Mrs Dalton now lives in Weardale but grew up on Cronkley Farm and in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Her late father attended Forest-of-Teesdale’s school as well as her grandparents.

“Forest has always been a big part of me,” added Mrs Dalton.

“I don’t think I can remember any bad times – we all call ourselves the Forest family and being part of that family has to be the best thing in the world.

“I hope to be an honorary member for the rest of my days.”

The first of her seven years at the school saw her overcome a tough winter.

Forest was the only establishment in the county to remain open through the record breaking winter of 2010-11.

“I was nine months pregnant at the time and due on December 27,” said Mrs Dalton.

“We stayed at the family farm and my dad brought me across in a tractor.

“It’s recognising parents have jobs to do on the farm so we can’t just close.”

Mrs Dalton paid tribute to the governors and staff who’d helped her during her tenure.

“They have been a massive support,” she added.

“The school still provides an excellent education – hopefully we will continue to do that in future as there is an amazing team of staff here.”

A replacement has already been lined up for Mrs Dalton.

But headteacher Ian Carroll said she would leave big shoes to fill.

He added: “I don’t know what I’m going to do without her to be honest.

“She is the lynchpin of the school and she has been invaluable support to me over a long period of time.

“She is probably the most outstanding colleague I have ever worked with and I cannot speak more highly of her.”

Clothing bin con men target people's goodwill in Evenwood

SCAMMERS are preying on the goodwill of Teesdale people at Christmas by leaving “charity” collection boxes to hoodwink them into giving up their clothes which are then sold.

That’s the claim being made by Evenwood and Barony Parish Council, which is growing worried about the number of clothes collection boxes being left near shops.

People donate their clothing, thinking they are helping a good cause. But parish clerk Martin Clark claims the reality is different.

He said: “These clothes banks have been left outside the cafe, hairdressers and church in Evenwood. They always seem to be in a different place and they’re springing up all over the place – and then they’re gone. There’s money in it.”

Mr Clark said one clothes bin had the name “Make a Child Smile” emblazoned on it. However, when he called the number, he spoke to someone in a “foreign accent” who said he knew nothing about the charity.

Cllr Paul Townsend: “People are trying to get clothes for free and then sell them.”

There are several genuine appeals called Make A Child Smile, but there is no individual charity listed by the

charity commission by that name. Evenwood councillors were also told that a “bogus” collection box had been spotted in the car park at Tesco, St Helen Auckland.

Mr Clark said: “It was left next to the official one – it’s the new scam.”

BusinessWaste.co.uk, a UK company advising others on how to dispose of their waste, has reported how local and national charities were being cheated out of income by ambitious criminals who have started leaving fake clothes banks in towns and cities.

“The people are a blight on decent society,” said BusinessWaste.co.uk spokesperson Mark Hall. “They prey on people’s charitable instincts just for personal profit.”

“It’s certainly enterprising, but the bottom line is that they are taking money away from the needy,” said Mr Hall.

“And apart from trying to catch the crooks in the act of picking up their bin, there’s very little the authorities can do to apprehend them.”

He claimed the gangs sort through “donations” and sell the best on the internet.

Other items are driven to Eastern Europe, where there is a boom in British-style clothing to be said in local stores, he said. None of the profits are returned to UK charities.

Owen Cleugh, consumer protection manager at Durham County Council, said: “We are aware of bogus charity collections that have been investigated throughout the country and we will make further enquiries into this particular situation.

“Whilst we cannot at this stage confirm that there are any concerns, we would encourage residents wishing to make a charitable donation to carry out background checks on any organisation before making a contribution.”

Councillors ask other banks to open in Barnard Castle as NatWest faces closure

A CAMPAIGN to stop a bank branch from closing in Barnard Castle has got the backing of the town council. 

The appeal to stop NatWest from closing its branch in Market Place was launched by town’s county councillors two weeks ago.

The branch’s doors are due to close for the last time on May 1 next year. It is one of 197 that will be shut nationwide.

County councillors Richard Bell, Ted Henderson, George Richardson and James Rowlandson have started a petition against the move.

Clients will have to travel to Darlington or Bishop Auckland to do their banking after the closure.

In a special meeting on Monday last week, the town council decided not only to join the campaign but also to look at alternative services that can be attracted to the town.

However, Cllr Judy Sutherland was sceptical about whether the campaign would have any impact,

She said: “I think it is commendable but futile. We have to think what we might do to get similar services or second best in the town.”

Among the ideas she put forward was to ask Lloyds bank to bring its mobile service to the town or to try to attract the recently established Metro Bank to open a branch in the town.

She said: “I can see the biggest problem will be businesses who need to put cash in, or cheques in, and get floats out.”

Town mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse was adamant about supporting the campaign even if it was unsuccessful.

She said: “At least we have made our voice heard. We can but try.”

She added that a lot of people in rural areas do not have access to decent broadband and are unable to do mobile banking. A number of elderly people also did not know how to use internet banking, she said. Should the branch closure go ahead, only one bank, Barclays, will remain open in the town.

Cllr Roger Peat said: “We need to encourage people to use what banking facilities there are.”

The petition against the closure is available to sign in the Teesdale Mercury shop, at 24 Market Place.

£60,000 raised to help save Middleton-in-Teesdale church, but another £60,000 needed

WATER leaks at a historic Teesdale church will be a thing of the past thanks to the tireless fundraising of wellwishers.

Funds of £60,000 have been secured at St Mary’s Church, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, after the church bounced back from an unsuccessful £120,000 Heritage Lottery Fund bid. The five figure sum will mean the church’s double-tiered roof, its damaged pointing and peeling walls will be repaired as part of a two-phase project.

Money for the urgent work has come from county councillors Ted Henderson and Richard Bell, who chipped in £5,000 from their neighbourhood budgets. Other funds from the Diocese of Durham and the church’s own reserve account have pushed the total to the £60,000 mark.

Associate minister Revd Alison Wallbank was pleased to get the “phase one” work underway but admitted there was still a long way to go. She said: “People here are very generous – I’ve written to 15 local businesses asking them if they would like to support the church and every household has been posted to.”

St Mary’s was built in Victorian times but stonework in the church dates to the 12th century. But recent years have seen it besieged by damp and moss as its ancient guttering has fallen apart.

The church is used as a community venue for book shop meetings and coffee mornings and Mrs Wallbank paid tribute to villagers and users of the church who’d dug into their pockets in the wake of their appeal.

She added: “The many people of Middleton-in-Teesdale have held tombolas, raffles and cake stalls and have truly brought people together to raise money. I read somewhere that if a village loses its post office, pub and church it dies – if the church goes I think people will be heartbroken.”

The repair work will begin once the winter frosts have abated. It is anticipated there will then be a two-year wait while the building dries out for re-plastering and redecorating. Questions were raised over why the Church of England hadn’t offered more to support St Mary’s as more light was shed on its dilapidated state. But Mrs Wallbank revealed there was plenty on the church’s plate already.

“Although people think the Church of England is wealthy, its not the church itself but its commissioners who own swathes of land and property.

“Income from that pays all the clergy, pensions and training so if the church commissioners were to help every church falling down, the whole system would grind to a halt.” Meanwhile, another £60,000 is still needed to complete the second half of the repairs which include plans to replace the church’s power sapping 500 watt floodlights.

People are being asked to each donate a “fiver a foot” to help pay for the 310 feet of cast iron guttering which lines the roof. To donate, text 70070 with MINT00 £5 or £10, visit give.net/stmarymint.

Bowes says farewell to a stalwart of rural life

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known community stalwart who has died aged 83.
Betty Ettey was brought up on Low Park Wall Farm, in Barnard Castle, but moved to Bowes when she married her husband, David, in 1957. The pair farmed at Bar Gap Farm before moving into Bowes village. Mrs Ettey died peacefully at their home on December 9.

Mrs Ettey was a tireless fundraiser and supporter of the Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle.
 Iris Hillery, Honorary secretary and publicity officer for the the hospital’s friends group, said: “Everyone at the friends loved Betty. She remembered everyone’s name and was always available to support fundraising events and offer prizes for raffles and cakes for stalls. She will be very sadly missed by all who knew her.” As a member of Bowes Women’s Institute she first became involved with the hospital in the 1950s. She served as chairwoman of the Friends of Richardson Hospital for a number of years and she was appointed as the life president of the group in 2000. In 2009, she travelled to St James’s Palace in London with the late Rosamund Finlay for the Diamond Volunteer Award celebration.
Mrs Ettey also held the community of Bowes close to her heart. She was involved with St Giles Church for 45 years which included about 25 years as churchwarden.
She also served as social secretary of Bowes Agricultural Show for several years.
Her love of children helped her to develop prominent connections with Bowes Hutchinson’s Primary School. Mrs Ettey was a foundation governor for more than 30 years. Staff at the school described her as a “staunch supporter” and the chief liaison between church and the school. She used to read with the youngsters up until a few years ago and was handing out leavers’ gifts to pupils as recently as August.
Headteacher Chris Matthewman said: “As a new head she was immensely supportive and encouraging towards me and I feel proud to name her among my friends. We will all miss her greatly.”
Mrs Ettey was wife of David, mother to Jean and Keith and mother-in-law. She also had four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Daughter Jean said: “She  was really upset at the fact that the hospital was going to close after all the work that had been done.
“She would help out with anything. She was a good listener too. Everyone knew her. She was good with the children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She loved family life. Everyone’s birthdays or Christmas was always a big occasion. She was just the perfect mother in every way.” Granddaughter Rebecca added: “She was there for everyone and she was an amazing lady. She was the best nana in the world.”
Mrs Ettey’s funeral was due to be held on Wednesday, December 20 at St Giles Church in Bowes.

Shortlist for Teesdale Business Awards announced

FOLLOWING rigorous judging by the sponsors of the 12 categories, the shortlisted organisations and individuals for the Teesdale Business Awards 2017 can now be revealed. 

The award categories provide recognition to any Teesdale businesses, individuals or social enterprises. The event is run by Enterprise House in Barnard Castle.

After receiving more than 150 nominations, the judges for each award category have selected their three finalists.

One of the event organisers, Peter Dixon, said: “There are many exceptional achievements in Teesdale and we don’t want these hidden under a barrel.

“So, the Teesdale Business Awards were created to ensure that we celebrate these achievements each year. As with previous years, the standard of nominations was extremely high and the judges, after some careful consideration, had a difficult task in selecting their final shortlist.”

Event co-ordinator Jacquie Warner said: “In my first year of organising these awards, it is very clear to me the importance Teesdale commercial businesses, social enterprises and individuals and, of course, the sponsors of each award category, place on the Teesdale Business Awards. I am looking forward to the ceremony itself and urge as many people as possible to buy tickets as early as possible.”

The winners of each of the awards will be announced at a special ceremony on Thursday, February 15, at The Witham, in Barnard Castle.

Business advisor John Atkinson and Teesdale business woman and voiceover artist Emma Hignett will host the evening. Tickets for the award ceremony cost £12 and are available from the Witham Box Office or online at www.teesdalebusiness
awards.co.uk.



The shortlist

Best business, sponsored by Jane Ascroft Accountancy:

999 Fire and Safety, Equus Leather and Niche Living.

Best new business, sponsored by Teesdale Cheesemakers:

Ellipse Fabrications, McColls Brewery and Moorcock Inn.

Growth business of the year, sponsored by Business Durham:

Bell Access and Engineering, Francis Bookkeeping Solutions and Katie’s Traditional Fish and Chips.

Most innovative business, sponsored by Tilly Bailey and Irvine Law Firm:

Ellipse Fabrications, Equus Leather and Reboot Repairs and Design.

Best business trading outside Teesdale, sponsored by CA Group:

Bell Access and Engineering, Coghlans at Barningham, Equus Leather.

Best social enterprise, sponsored by Northstar Ventures:

Barnard Castle Farmers Market, Bright Woods Forest School and Music at the Heart of Teesdale.

Best community engagement project, sponsored by S&A Fabrications:

Barnard Castle Christmas Lights, TCR Hub, The Association of Teesdale Day Clubs.

Social responsibility, sponsored by The Greenfields:

Cross Lanes Organic Farm, Doe Park Caravan Site, East Briscoe Farm Cottages.

Best customer focus, sponsored by Teesdale Renewables:

999 Fire and Safety, Kendall’s Hair 78 and Lilyann

Digital impact sponsored by Durham County Council:

999 Fire and Safety, Chocolate Fayre, Equus Leather.

Entrepreneur of the year, sponsored by Claire International:

Andy Beck of Andy Beck Images, Jennifer Cartwright of Reboot Repairs and Design, Tommy Lowther of Sporting Force Ltd.

Apprentice of the year, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline:

Josh Barker of YMCA Teesdale,

Adam Holland of Sporting Force Ltd, Laura Lee of GlaxoSmithKline.

Pupils in Evenwood receive bravery award after bus crash

SEVENTEEN primary school children and two teachers have been awarded bravery certificates by the police and ambulance service who went to their aid after their school bus crashed. 

Pupils from Evenwood Primary School were travelling to their swimming lesson when the school bus was involved in a collision with another vehicle.

Clinical care manager at the North East Ambulance Service Ben Barber and student paramedic Hannah Doherty, along with Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) Natasha Bree and Michael Atkinson returned to the school to talk to the children and award them all with certificates.

Earlier this month police were quickly followed by paramedic Angela Clarke and Ms Doherty at the scene to find the front of the school bus heavily damaged with the door jammed shut.

PCSO Darren Miles climbed through the emergency door and helped the children off the bus where the paramedics assessed the children and teachers for injuries.

Ms Clarke, who was disappointed she was unable to attend the reunion, explained: “We arrived to find that many of the children were shaken up and one of the teachers was injured.

“Luckily, no one else was really hurt but the children were incredibly brave after what must have been a really traumatic experience for them.”

Ms Doherty is in her second year training to be a paramedic at Sunderland University.

She added: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to return to the school. It’s such a good opportunity to be able to give them recognition for how brave they were and to be able to personally give them the certificates and see the smiles back on their faces.”

Speaking at the assembly, headteacher Helen Sutherland said: “All of us at Evenwood Primary school are incredibly proud of how well the pupils handled the incident and they are all such a credit to the school and their parents.” Eight-year-old Millie was one of the pupils on the school bus at the time of the incident.

Millie’s mum, Tracey Townsend, contacted the ambulance service to pass on her thanks, saying: “I would like to thank everyone for looking after my daughter.”

“She was very upset but said they were all lovely.

“As a mum it is my worst nightmare to not be there when she needs me but she has talked non-stop about the paramedics and the care they gave so I know she was well looked after.”

PCSO Miles said: “This was a joint effort among emergency services and a shining example of the teamwork involved in incidents like this.

“The pupils remained extremely calm in a scary situation and were very brave given what had just happened.

“Their parents, teachers and fellow pupils should

be extremely proud of

them.”

Packing in the cash for charity - thanks to Brownies and Rotary Club

BROWNIES and a Rotary club have joined forces for the second time to complete a supermarket bag pack for charity. 

The two groups in Barnard Castle helped shoppers in Morrisons supermarket, in the town, pack their groceries into bags in exchange for a donation last Friday.

Rotary’s portion of the latest charity drive will go toward buying MRI scanners for Darlington and Bishop Auckland hospitals.

The hospitals need to raise £2.5million for the scanners while the government will provide £1.5million.

Debbie Brown, of Barnard Castle Brownies, said the cash they raise will go towards sending the girls on an international camp in Helmsley.

She said: “We want to get as many as possible to the camp”.

David Yeadon, from Barnard Castle Rotary, said: “In the space of 3.5 hours, we collected £368.33, one supermarket token, and part of a sim card. Thanks go to our Rotarian collecting team and thanks too to the Guides and Brownies.”

Barnard Castle Angling Club bids to lure more anglers to town waters

A CONCERTED effort to market Barnard Castle as an angling destination is to be made in the coming year.

Barnard Castle Angling Club (BCAC) saw an increase in revenue from day fishing tickets during 2017, taking in £206 compared to £170 the previous year.

Committee member Jenny Cartwright said she now had a list of all the caravan parks, hotels and other accommodation providers in the dale.

She added: “We can contact them and advertise our day tickets.”

She said the club also receives a lot of feedback and queries through its website and social media pages.

Day tickets are sold by Pauline Connelly at her toy shop on The Bank, in Barnard Castle, and she was thanked by club members for providing a good and helpful service.

Day tickets range in price from £6 from November 1 to March 31, to £13 in September and October, with anglers offered the chance to fish for brown trout between March 22 and September 30 and salmon and sea trout from February 1 until March 31, with catch and release operating until June 16.

While the number of day tickets sold is on the increase, membership of the angling club continues to decline, the meeting was told.

Membership for 2017 stood at 87, down from 100 in the previous year, although with an increase of £10 in senior subscription rates to £50 introduced for the current year, treasurer Maurice Eustace described the club’s financial position as “we are as we were, really”.

He added: “I am going to suggest that as long as there is no major expenditure, we leave subscriptions as they were.”

Club member Alastair Dinwiddie suggested adding another £5 to subscriptions for 2018. However, chairman Dennis Hinchcliffe said this would deter any prospective new members from joining.

It was also noted that there were now just ten junior members of the club – down from 13.

A tie-up with The Hub to fish for carp in its ponds has recently been agreed in the hope of attracting youngsters to the pastime.

The meeting was also told that not as many people were fishing in the club’s waters on the Tees.

Ms Cartwright said former members of the club had said they would come back once access improvements had been made for those with mobility problems.

The issue of the club’s 26 honorary members was also discussed. They do not pay subs but it was agreed that they would be contacted and asked to make a donation, with a suggested minimum of £10.

During the meeting, Lord Barnard, John Mayhew and Michael White were elected as patrons of the angling club, while all officials were returned – president Maurice Rodgers; chairman Dennis Hinchcliffe; secretary Frank Harrison; treasurer Maurice Eustace; head bailiff Gareth Hinchcliffe; website manager John Cartwright and auditor Ray Land.

The meeting was told the heaviest salmon landed this year was 12lb 8oz.

Karen steps down after ten years at the helm of dale girlguiding group

THE driving force behind girlguiding in the dale is preparing to take a back seat after ten years as a commissioner. 

Karen Thompson has served as division commissioner for the Barnard Castle division of the Guide Association for the past five years.

During this time she has overseen packs of Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in Middleton-in-Teesdale, Gainford, Barnard Castle, Staindrop and Cockfield. She was also the Raby district commissioner for the previous five years – a role which no longer exists due to the amalgamation of the units at Easter.

Mrs Thompson, 43, said: “My role is up at the end of December but I am not leaving Guides. I am just going back to my own little Guide unit at Staindrop which is great. I am just ending this role so someone else can take the reins. We are in a good place and numbers are growing. I can drive it from beneath a bit now.”

Mrs Thompson’s involvement with the Staindrop unit began when she joined the Brownies at the age of seven.

Having also been a Guide and a Ranger, when she was 16 she completed her young leader qualification.

At 18, she became an adult leader for Staindrop Rangers before moving back into guides as a unit leader.

Mrs Thompson became assistant leader of Staindrop guides leading alongside her sister, Lynn Wheldon, who became the unit leader in 2006. The duo have since been leading the pack in the village.

Mrs Thompson has racked up 27 years of service while Ms Wheldon has been with the group for 30 years. Their mother Margaret Wheldon also competed 30 years service with the village Guides having been assistant leader for about 20 years.

Mrs Thompson said: “I have been going out on a Tuesday night to the same place since I was seven. It is a different hut now but that is where we had Brownies. Lynn and I have both been involved since we were seven and now we are running it together.”

Following in their footsteps are Mrs Thompson’s two children. Her eldest daughter Hannah, 11, is a member of the Guides and Emily, 5, is in the Rainbows.

She said: “It felt right to finish now. A lot has happened over the years. In 2010, it was 100 years of Guiding. I organised a big celebration at The Bowes Museum. There were 250 people there.

“It was a massive event and it was phenomenal to be part of that. In 2014, the Brownies also had their centenary. I organised a big event at The Hub called Hubabaloo. It was a great day and has become an annual event which will continue. It is all about giving the girls opportunities that they would not necessarily get.”

Deborah Brown, from Barnard Castle, will be taking over as division commissioner in the new year.

Mrs Thompson said: “Debbie has been shadowing me for the last six months. I know she will be great at it.”

Although Mrs Thompson is stepping down, she doubts she will ever move from the Guides completely.

She added: “I get quite emotional about it. It is a big thing for me. You don’t realise what you are giving to people until you take a step back. I can’t imagine not being involved with the Guides. It is such a big part of my life.”

Town to pay £9,000 for warden to tackle dog fouling and littering

BARNARD Castle could have a dedicated neighbourhood warden next year to crack down on dog fouling and littering in the town.
Income from the town’s weekly market would partially cover the cost of the warden who would work two days a week if the plan goes ahead.
Last year the idea was rejected because of the impact the cost would have on residents’ council tax bills.
But now by giving the warden the additional responsibility of running the weekly market and maintaining children’s play parks, the
council’s services committee believes it is possible to cover the cost.
The committee decided during its meeting on Monday last week to recommend that the council include a cost of £9,035 in its budget for
next year to employ the warden.
The market makes a surplus of about £5,000 which the committee wants to use to subsidise the expense.
In a report to the committee, town clerk Michael King said the warden would be trained free of charge by Durham County Council which would allow them to issue fines for dog fouling and littering.
He said: “As has been previously considered, a suitable part-time warden’s duties may cover dog and litter enforcement, play area inspection and market day supervision and rent collection.”

Museum lights up with Christmas fair

THE inaugural Barnard Castle Christmas Festival, which was launched on Wednesday, December 13, has been hailed a success despite some technical issues caused by bad weather on the opening night. 

A traditional fair in The Bowes Museum grounds welcomed visitors with food, fairground amusements, rides, games and entertaining family activities. Santa welcomed children to his magical wonderland grotto, while an elves’ workshop, provided craft activities.

The museum’s Christmas market was extended this year, opening on the afternoon of December 15 and running all day on Saturday and Sunday. More than 100 stallholders offered an array of original locally-sourced Christmas produce and gifts, along with live music, seasonal entertainment, prize draws from Smooth Radio and the popular park and ride Santa buses.

About 5,000 people visited the Bowes Museum fair and market over the five days.

Light sculpture installations at The Bowes Museum and The Witham generated a trail between the two venues.

Around the Campfire by Morwenna Catt started-off the trail in the museum park. Over by Stuart Langley, was a bold incarnation of a typically fleeting natural phenomena – a rainbow.

Helena Doyle’s Pagoda was a stunning installation, changing colour in response to visitor interaction. Lassoo the Moon by the artist Lucy McDonnell was a striking visual spectacle and realistic high definition representation of the moon removed from its orbit and anchored to the ground. Steve Messam, the Teesdale installation artist, created a fitting finale to the trail with TreeBubble, a large-scale textile installation around an ancient oak tree. Meanwhile, Heart of Stars by the artist Stephen Newby was well received by visitors to The Witham over the five days of the festival. The large scale suspended heart with a surface made up of 11,000 mirror tiles reflected thousands of spots of light in fantastical, swirling and changing patterns

The Witham screened the family favourite classic film Miracle on 34th Street on December 14, and the comedian Chris Ramsey and two performances of A Christmas Carol by the Castle Players were sell-out shows.

‘Smelly pig farm’ in Hamsterley to be replaced by housing

PEOPLE in Hamsterley are celebrating after permission was granted to demolish a “nuisance” pig farm and replace it with new homes.

Some neighbours have long complained about the smells coming from Green View Lodge, which is close to the village hall and Hamsterley Primary School.

On the worst days, children at the school are kept inside.

Durham County Council’s south and west planning committee granted permission for its demolition on Thursday last week, despite planning officer Tim Burnham recommending the proposal be refused.

He said the development encroached into an area of high landscape value and

the removal of trees would be a loss of amenity for the village.

He added: “The effect of the new access on the site frontage and character of the village green would have a materially harmful impact on the character and appearance of the area.”

However, county councillor for the area Heather Smith dismissed the planner’s comments.

She said: “Most of it is tatty old farm buildings and scrub land.” Cllr Smith added that people in the village were largely in support of the demolition because of the stink the pig sties cause.

She said they welcomed the addition of new homes.

She said: “I have had people come to my surgery to complain.

“I now live in Hamsterley and I am several hundred yards away – on the worst days I can smell it.”

Children from the village school are kept indoors during play time when the stench is bad, she added.

Mr Burnham said: “The removal of the pig farm and its associated odours are significant environmental benefits, but this could still be achieved by a different scheme of development so it does not carry overriding weight.

“There may be scope for an acceptable scheme to be achieved, but issues of landscape impact and design of the access will need to be addressed.”

Despite this, the committee approved the application which will allow for 12 new homes.

Cllr Smith said: “The planning officer’s report recommended refusal but there was a great desire for the pig farm and its problems to disappear.”

Ofsted praises ‘high quality’ Green Lane school and its caring pupils

STAFF and pupils at Barnard Castle’s Green Lane Primary School have double reason to celebrate this Christmas. 

Firstly, the school has maintained standards and continues to be rated “good” by Osfted despite what inspectors said was “significant staffing turbulence” during the past year.

Secondly, a new headteacher has been appointed to succeed Paula Ford, who stepped down at the end of the school year in July.

Rob Goffee, currently deputy head at Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington, will move to Green Lane next Easter.

The school’s acting co-headteachers, Nic Linsley and Alison Hartley, thanked all staff, pupils, governors and parents for their support during recent months after Ofsted inspector Sylvia Humble praised the leadership

team for remaining focussed and maintaining the good quality of education at Green Lane.

In her inspection report, based on a visit to the school on October 31, Ms Humble stated: “As acting headteachers, you both promote a calm and purposeful atmosphere in school. You share a clear picture of the school’s strengths and understand where further improvements would be beneficial.

“You work together to analyse pupils’ progress carefully and address any of your concerns quickly.

“As a result, pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics and attain consistently high standards.”

Ms Humble also noted that the “overwhelming majority” of parents would recommend Green Lane to others.

“Parents were keen to tell me that staff and leaders are friendly, supportive and approachable,” she stated.

“Parents explain that staff provide a high quality of education for all pupils, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.”

She said pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare were as strong as in previous visits.

“Pupils feel very safe in school and know who to turn to if they ever need help. Older pupils helped younger children readily in the playground, without needing adults to guide them.

“Younger pupils welcomed the support and guidance from older pupils.”

Concluding her report, Ms Humble said the school should ensure recent improvements in maths were embedded so pupils in every class have enough time to apply their problem solving skills.

She also said geography and history teachers should monitor and track information so “outcomes are improved” for pupils.

Tears as Jacqui steps down from Staindrop Scouts

A GROUP Scout leader has decided to call it a day after four years at the helm of one of the North East’s fastest growing troops.  

Jacqui Nicholson became group Scout leader of the 1st Staindrop Scouts in September 2013.

New working commitments have meant she has stepped down from her role.

Ms Nicholson said: “The last four years have been a delight, seeing the leadership team grow from strength to strength and the number of young people participating increase year on year until we are at capacity and now operate a waiting list.

“If I do something I have to do it 100 per cent. I just felt that there were too many times when I was not there.

“You have to be fully committed which I was for four years. I am gutted. I still start to cry when I think about it now. It was a big decision.”

Having been a girlguide as a youngster, the mother-of-three, who now lives in Barnard Castle, got involved in Scouts while she was living in Suffolk 21 years ago.

Ms Nicholson started as a parent-helper in beavers when her son, Jordan, joined aged six.

After moving north in 2002, Ms Nicholson began helping with fundraising at Barnard Castle Scouts. She tentatively became the beaver leader in September 2003 and then the assistant district commissioner for beavers in 2010.

While working at Staindrop Primary School, she was approached about becoming involved with the Staindrop Scout troop.

She said: “Staindrop had quite a turbulent time with leaders coming and going. Their numbers were dropping and the hut was condemned.”

Ms Nicholson became the group Scout leader at Staindrop in September 2013. During her time in charge, she saw numbers almost triple from 47 to more than 100 who now attend the sessions.

One of the highlights of her time with the Scouts was the dream of a new hut becoming a reality.

She said: “The last couple of years were full on. It took two full years to raise money for the hut. A lot of that work was invisible. A lot of people did not even know it was going on. By piecing everything together and using the leaders and parents as labour we managed to do it.

“I think the major achievement was that when everything was going on we still ran the full programme. We kept a really strong programme going and that is what built the numbers up.

“Walking in for the first meeting in the new hut was brilliant but there have been so many highlights. The children are an absolute delight. It will be the little things that I will miss.”

Ms Nicholson’s stint also saw the group scoop the first National Scout Award earlier this year and team member Vince Sewell also win the Teesdale Mercury’s Volunteer of the Year award.

She said: “After a break since October it has become clear to me that now is the time to hand over to the next generation.

“Vinnie has been my rock as assistant group Scout leader and has stepped up in my absence as acting group scout leader. Vinnie is the embodiment of all that is fantastic about Staindrop Scouts.

“With the team at Staindrop Scouts, including our executive committee and our group chairman Bernard Poole supporting him, I know that the group will continue to thrive.”

Ms Nicholson is now working as operations and external funding manager at Sporting Force, a charity set up by Butterknowle’s Tommy Lowther to support ex-servicemen.

She added: “I would like to thank everyone for their support. You are what make the Scout group. We were always lucky for the support we got.

“My remit when I went in was to get a good team, build on the numbers and get a new hut.

“I did that so I have handed it over now.

“It does break my heart leaving but there comes a point when you have to make a decision and I felt like this was the right one.”

Pupils in Woodland are givers, not takers

CHILDREN from Woodland Primary School have been collecting for a foodbank through a reverse advent calendar. 

Teaching assistant Faye O' Brien said the idea came about when the children took part in a workshop about charity fundraising led by the WE group. Instead of taking something every day, they donate an item to a foodbank.

The school council and play leaders then co-ordinated the pupils to bring food items to school each day to fill up their reverse advent calendar.

Charlotte Allison, of Storehouse foodbank in Barnard Castle, collected the items on Thursday last week.

She said: “It’s amazing. I’ve had a quick look and there is such a lot. It’s is great that young people are involved like this.”

Barnard Castle charity The Clique to stage third Boxing Day dip – and volunteers are invited to take the plunge

CHARITY fundraisers are preparing to make a splash on Boxing Day – and are hoping other hardy souls will join them for a dip in the Tees. 

This year will be the third time members of Barnard Castle charity The Clique will dive in as the event continues to grow in popularity.

Last year, 17 fundraisers donned fancy dress to take the plunge – watched by dozens more supporters on the bank.

This year’s dip will take place at 11am, with everyone meeting up at the old bandstand, near the Silver Bridge.

Geoff Thwaites, a member of The Clique, said he hoped the dip would be well supported again.

“We would like as many people as possible to come along and join in,” he said.

“Come along in fancy dress if you want to.”

He added: “We are hoping there will be a few more than last year. A lot of people from the rugby club and other connections in the town have said they will come along.

“Of course a lot depends on what sort of day it is and what the weather is like.”

Last year was a crisp winter's morning with clear skies and cool temperatures.

“The water was Baltic last year – I ended up with pneumonia, but that hasn’t put me off doing it again this year,” joked Mr Thwaites.

“This time, I think I'll buy a wetsuit – or go as a deep sea diver.”

And he urged those who didn’t fancy a midwinter swim to come along and enjoy the event.

“The more the merrier – we’ll have the collection buckets out.”

The Boxing Day dip is one of a series of high profile fundraising activities undertaken by The Clique, a charity that was formed in 1975 at Barnard Castle Workingmen's Club with the collection of 2p pieces after a game of dominoes.

In addition to the dip, The Clique organises a charity bed push on Meet weekend, and this year staged an It’s A Knock-Out afternoon on the Demesnes. Last Sunday, members acted as marshals for Teesdale Athletics Club's Reindeer Chase runs around the grounds of The Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle School.

In the four decades since the group was formed, more than £100,000 has been raised and distributed to good causes around the town. Most recently, The Clique’s annual presentation night was held at the Black Horse, in Newgate, when about £8,000 was presented to a dozen groups.

Anyone who would like more information about the Boxing Day dip can contact Mr Thwaites on 07886 897652.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) held its second breakfast at Sam Turner and Sons, in Piercebridge, earlier this month

DOZENS of farmers from Teesdale and beyond made the most of a free breakfast for an agricultural charity. 

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) held its second breakfast at Sam Turner and Sons, in Piercebridge, earlier this month,

Almost £500 was raised for the farming charity at the first breakfast with a second needed to meet the high demand.

It is the fifth year that H&H Land and Property have put the event together with help from a range of sponsors.

Some 55 people attended the first event with 80 tickets sold for the second breakfast event.

Harry steps in so Castle Players show can go on

REVIEW 

THE Castle Players delivered a festive treat when they performed an entertaining and enjoyable take on A Christmas Carol.

And it came just a few days after the director feared the show was “heading into oblivion”.

It was more a case of bleak mid-winter than ding dong merrily when Jon Smith, who had thrown his heart and soul into playing Scrooge, was hit by a nasty virus.

It was a big disappointment for Mr Smith, a retired journalist with an astounding talent of turning his hand to almost anything.

“I was pretty sure our Christmas Carol was heading into oblivion,” director Mary Stastny said.

For two days, the play had no lead role – until Castle Player Harry French stuck his hand up with just five rehearsals remaining.

Anyone worried about there being a lack of time to do the iconic part justice need not have worried. Mr French was superb at The Witham on Saturday – as were the rest of the cast, especially the younger members who ensured that the retelling of Dickens’ most popular story was appreciated by all those present.

There was a healthy dose of audience interaction with children throwing fluffy “snowballs”, pulling crackers with the cast and a few being pulled to the stage to take part in dancing – including yours truly.

All the best heartwarming stories – A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life et al – take the audience down before bringing them back up again.

It’s not an easy task on stage but with help from Peter Cockerill, who played the booming ghost of Marley, this the Castle Players did.

Laura Shaw’s lovely performances, the best of which was Mrs Cratchit, were memorable, as were those of Cal Baker. He was brilliant as the young Scrooge.

Angus Wheeler, Susannah Handley, Esme Berend, Emma Kitson and Freddie Baker can all be justifiably proud of their efforts. Tiny Tim was played by Jack Nelson, who showed plenty of talent.

Special mention should be made of Ben French, whose performance of an urchin caught the audience’s attention early on.

It was a shorter production that normal for the Players but the brevity suited the interpretation and would have been an advantage with so many children involved.

Anyone who wants more can buy tickets for Oliver Twist, which the Castle Players is performing in January.

The beautiful sounds made by the Dalesiders complemented the play beautifully. Needless to say, none of this would have been possible without those behind the scenes creating the costumes, sorting the lights and props, and creating the set – just a few of the many tasks involved in a community theatre production.

But the last word should go to the stand-in Scrooge, as Mrs Stastny said in her show notes: “He has saved the show and did it with single-minded dedication, absurd modesty and lashings of energy and good humour. We are all supremely grateful.” Hear, hear.

A star is born – schoolgirl from Teesdale is the face of Christmas

A TEESDALE schoolgirl has been signed up by one of the UK’s leading children’s modelling agencies and has already landed work with high street and designer brands. 

Four-year-old Lola Morris-Rhoden was snapped up for Grace and Galor model management, in Kent, after her mum, Stacey Morris, sent off photographs of her little girl in July. Pictures of the youngster now feature prominently in Tesco stores nationwide, as well as in the supermarket’s Christmas brochure.

Miss Morris said: “When she was little people used to tell me to try to get her into it but I never did. I didn’t think she would have the confidence to do it.

“We were in London visiting her dad when I sent her photos off to an agency. They got back to us immediately and said they would be willing to take her on. Primark was her first one and then it just all went from there.” 

Following the session with Primark, Lola, who lives in West Auckland and goes to school in Teesdale, had her next appointment with Tesco in August for its Christmas wear. Miss Morris said: “It eventually got to the point where I could stand behind the photographer and watch and now she’s fine. She loves it. She just goes on and does it and she loves getting her hair done now.”

As well as working with Marks and Spencer, Lola has worked with The White Company and stars in their festive online video.

She has modelled for My 1st Years and its exclusive collection with TV personality Binky Felstead, the star of Made In Chelsea. This range is stocked in Harrods and Selfridges.

She has also taken part in a shoot for Morrisons supermarket and its Nutmeg clothing range as well as modelling designerwear for Childrensalon, a high-end online

retailer.

Miss Morris said: “It has been really good for her because it has brought on her confidence loads. She used to be so quiet and wouldn’t talk to anyone.

“Lola thinks it is great. It is fun for her and she has made lots of new friends. I think she will stick at it.

“She saw herself in Tesco and she said ‘mam that’s me’. Her friends have also seen her.”

As if the four-year-old isn’t busy enough juggling school and her modelling success, she has also just been accepted by two acting agencies – Brown and Mills in London and Mark Jermin Management in Wales.

Miss Morris added: “I am so proud of her. It is overwhelming when I see her photos.”

Evenwood care home hailed for major improvements

A CARE home in Evenwood, which was last year told it had “room for improvement”, has now been rated “good” by its regulating body. 

An unplanned inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November last year found that Bowes Court was good in categories regarding the safe, effective, caring and responsive operations of the home but was deemed to have room for improvement in how it was managed.

However, the CQC has now rated Bowes Court as “good” in safe, effective and well led and “outstanding” in caring.

The home provides specialist nursing and residential care. Bowes Court manager Katherine Swainston said: "We were very disappointed to get last year’s rating but we’ve worked hard to turn things around in a very short time.

“It’s very unusual for a care facility such as ours to get an outstanding rating but we’ve an excellent team and everyone has pulled together. We treat everyone staying with us as if they are our family and that includes their visitors too.

“Our level of care is high and we also like to add special little personal touches to make the quality of life as good as possible for our service users.”

The care home team have organised parties for birthdays and special occasions such as Mother’s Day or simply held an afternoon tea where families can spend quality time together. New systems have been put in place to increase supervision including a new appraisal system, staff training and internal promotions which have achieved amazing results for the service users who are cared for at Bowes Court.

“This hasn’t simply been a paper based exercise," said Ms Swainston."Everything we've done and implemented in the last 12 months has been done to improve the quality of care in Bowes Court.”

Bowes Court currently has 18 service users and a staff of about 40. It specialises in helping people with brain injuries, complex clinical issues and learning disabilities.

Top award for rail heritage project at Stainmore

STAINMORE Railway Company’s (SRC) rapid development as a heritage centre of excellence took a major leap forward earlier this month when it won the Contractors Restoration Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards. 

The award was presented by Mark Wild, managing director of London Underground Ltd, in a ceremony at Merchant Taylors Hall, in London.

Based at Kirkby Stephen East and entirely run by volunteers, SRC was entered for the awards to recognise their achievement in delivering their “World of Water” project to provide an authentic North Eastern Railway (NER) water tower, water crane and educationaarea explaining water’s essential role in the steam era.

The National Railway Heritage Awards are open to all sectors of the railway industry in the UK and Republic of Ireland, with a range of accolades recognising outstanding work to develop or restore railway structures with heritage interest and value.

The emphasis is on overall quality and thoroughness in approach, sympathetic treatment, awareness of conservation practice and regard for the local environment.

The Contractors Restoration Award is sponsored by major railway infrastructure contracting bodies including Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Amey. SRC director Mike Thompson said: “Our volunteers and contractors have delivered this important step forward in the rapid development of our Kirkby Stephen East station site.

“Since the Stainmore 150 event of 2011 we have seen a meteoric transformation of the station which shows no sign of slowing down.”

He added: “Winning this award against strong competition from exceptional projects at other railway sites is a great honour for SRC and thoroughly well-deserved recognition for all our volunteers, ably supported by our excellent contractors, both local and nationwide, who put so much into this and every other project we set out to deliver.”

The World of Water project provides a functioning water supply to the growing steam fleet at KSE which will includes the unique LNER J21 0-6-0, awarded £954,900 earlier this year from the Heritage Lottery Fund for full restoration to working order, as well as educational exhibits and activities that explain why engines need water and the technologies that delivered that water.

The project was initiated by the generous gift to SRC by the Birdsall Estate of the NER water tank at Wharram station on the defunct Malton to Driffield line. Similar generosity from the North Norfolk Railway saw the NER water crane arrive in Cumbria to complete the basis of this exciting development.

The NER water crane had suffered some significant damage in the past with the brazier at its base being largely broken.

The £5,000 cost to repair this has been largely met by a grant from the Ironmongers’ Company, one of the City of London Guilds.

The total project cost of some £93,000 was met by a generous and enthusiastic response by SRC supporters, a combination of funding streams and the value of volunteer labour.

Lottery officials were impressed by SRC’s proven record of delivering heritage conservation and interpretation, while the Ken Hoole Trust were particularly excited by the commitment of the railway to creating a Mecca of NER authenticity.

Noting the various awards, Mr Thompson added: “The generous gift of the water tank presented an opportunity that we just had to seize.

“We would like to extend a massive thank you to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Ken Hoole Trust for their continued support and to the Ironmongers’ Company for their generosity.”

He added: “Likewise, the £35,000 raised by our volunteers and shareholders is also very much appreciated and we are delighted that their faith in us has been rewarded by success at the National Railway Heritage Awards.”

Demand undiminished thanks to North of England Mule's attributes

The North of England Mule is an enduring crossbreed, with buyers converging on Teesdale to purchase breeding gimmer lambs at the autumn sales. Wendy Short went to visit the current North of England Mule Association (NEMSA) Teesdale Branch chairman, Malcolm Dent, at his farm in Lunedale.

MALCOLM Dent’s family has a long history of producing Mule gimmer lambs at Wythes Hill Farm.

“I vividly remember the good quality Mule lambs which my father was breeding when I was young and I suppose I have just followed on from him,” says Malcolm. “My parents, Clifford and June, took on the farm tenancy in 1970. Back then, Wythes Hill belonged to Strathmore Estates, although it has since changed ownership and is now owned by Wemmergill Estates.”

The farm is part of a ten-year Natural England project to reduce the hill sheep stocking rate over the winter, mainly to encourage heather regeneration. Therefore, some of the mature Swaledale ewes and all of the gimmer lambs are wintered away from home on grass keep. This practice increases their prolificacy and puts more pressure on the summer grazing, he comments. A number of females are winter-housed and this portion of the flock is kept away from the in-bye land from March, to provide fresh grazing following lambing.

“The project rewards us for taking sheep off the hills, but it has been difficult to find sufficient away-wintering, because other upland farms are in the same position and competition for places has been fierce,” he says. “The scheme will be coming to an end shortly and we have not been informed about what will happen next; we will just have to wait and see.”

The reduction in stocking rate means that the farm no longer produces replacement Swaledale ewes in adequate numbers and some are now purchased from Middleton-in-Teesdale and Kirkby Stephen auction marts. The best ewes, however, still go to pedigree Swaledale tups, which are bought locally.

Haylage is made in preference to silage, weather permitting, as Malcolm finds its drier consistency more pleasant to handle, compared with silage, with the big round bales fed to the in-lamb ewes. The straw bedding has been very expensive this year, he remarks, and the price rise has significantly increased input costs.

When it comes to the Blue-faced Leicester, Malcolm uses the “crossing type”. It was developed from bloodlines which are considered to have greater potential for bringing out superior Mule lamb qualities, when put to the Swaledale, compared to the more traditional examples of the breed. His latest buys include a Highberries tup from Neil Marston’s flock at Millstone Moor, in Cockermouth, and he has also bought genetics from John Lord’s Hewgill flock at North Stainmore, which have served him well in the past.

“I’m looking for a crossing tup with a decent carcase, a fine skin and correct feet and legs,” says Malcolm. “Sires also have to have good markings on their face and legs, as these will hopefully be repeated on the lambs. Buyers like to see good, hard colour on a Mule lamb and achieving this will make it stand out, although carcase traits and a high quality skin are the key points.

“Some breeders opt to sell their Mules on the fat market, to save on show and sale preparation. But although getting the lambs looking their very best takes a lot of time and effort, it is a task which I really enjoy. Sale prices were reasonable for 2017, which was very pleasing.”

Like other hill farms in the region, lambing takes place at the end of March or beginning of April and Malcolm’s Swaledale ewes usually average about 170 per cent. They are lambed inside and turned out with their progeny as soon as the weather permits. The lambs are creep-fed sparingly in later season and the Mule tups are generally away by the end of October, with any stragglers marketed as stores.

The highlights of the year for the Teesdale NEMSA branch are its two annual shows and sales and these take place at Middleton-in-Teesdale and Barnard Castle auction marts, alongside a host of other, similar events that are held across the region in September and October. The Teesdale branch has roughly 60 members and they make a significant contribution to the 200,000 total number of North of England Mule gimmer lambs in total that are sold each year in the UK.

Malcolm enjoyed some success this autumn, when he won the best pen of ten lambs at Barnard Castle.

“More important than winning prizes is that my lambs go on to perform well for their new owners,” he stresses. “Buyers come to our Mule sales from far and wide. A friend of ours drives up from Devon to attend the sales every year, and he usually takes 100 or more gimmer lambs from various sources home with him. He always remarks that they suit his requirements, and that is very nice to hear.”

As a great fan of the North of England Mule, Malcolm describes why he thinks that demand has remained undiminished, despite the plethora of breeds and crossbreeds that are available to put to a terminal sire.

“The Mule’s main attribute is its ease of care,” he stresses. “It is hardy, thrifty, and with excellent mothering ability. It is also prolific and its lambs will grow rapidly, producing a finished animal weighing 19-21kgs deadweight and reach grading specification, or one which do well in the live auction. In addition it has good longevity. Breeds do come with better carcase shape, but for all-round top performance, there is a good reason why the North of England Mule is still very popular.”




CATTLE

THE farm also supports a small suckler herd of Limousin cross British Blue cows, with their calves sold as stores.

Supporting farmers with a full English

ALMOST £500 was raised for a farming charity through an annual breakfast get-together.

Farmers gathered at Sam Turner and Sons, in Piercebridge, for a full English breakfast on Tuesday last week in Support of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

This is the fifth year H&H Land and Property has organised the event.

Tim Sedgewick, of H&H, said: “It was really good, everyone enjoyed it. Sam Turner puts on an excellent breakfast.

“It was nice to get together and have a chat with a full English breakfast before setting off for the day.”

He thanked the sponsors of the day who included S&A Builders Merchants Ltd, McGarry & Co Solicitors, Latimer Hinks Solicitors, NFU Mutual, Swinburne Maddison, Vickers & Barrass and Addisons Chartered Surveyors.

Previous years have been oversubscribed so this year H&H arranged two breakfasts.

Riding side saddle is growing in popularity

A whimsical thought can sometimes spark a lifelong hobby and such was the case for Sam Davies. She was admiring her beloved horse, Vidal, when it struck her that he would look extremely elegant wearing a side saddle. He took to the sport with ease and it is now Sam’s major equestrian pastime. She explained the intricacies of the technique to Wendy Short

SAM Davies’ first side saddle horse Vidal, a striking Welsh cross Trakehner formerly used for dressage, turned out to be so good at the new discipline that he went on to be crowned Side Saddle Horse of Great Britain on two occasions, as well as winning several other national titles.

Sadly, Vidal died aged 16 and Sam now has two new side saddle prospects. Price is a 14-year-old thoroughbred type which she has only owned for a couple of months. He has a showing history and needs further schooling, before he begins his side saddle career in earnest. Her other prospect is Toby, which she also hopes to compete in ROR (Retraining of Racehorses) classes. Both horses will be trained up to standard over the winter.

“Most horses take to side saddle without any problems,” says Ms Davies.

“However, they need to have a fairly quiet temperament. It is understandable for them to be slightly nervous when the rider gets on board for the first few times, because the sensation of the side strap is something new.

“I find that it is helpful to lunge them in side saddle, so that they become accustomed to its feel, especially when they are bending. When mounted, the horse also has to accept the rider’s nearside leg across its back, which is very different from the weight distribution when astride.”

Ms Davies, who has been riding side saddle for 15 years, lives with her husband, Tony, on the family’s mixed farm just outside Bolam. Having taken some time off from riding when her daughter was born, she plans to be ready for next year’s showing and dressage season. Meanwhile, the couple’s daughter, four-year-old Imogen, will be competing in side saddle lead rein classes.

There are no limitations on the possibilities for horses being ridden side saddle, stresses Ms Davies, who is the local area secretary of the Side Saddle Association, as well as being a qualified side saddle riding instructor.

“Any equestrian pursuit that can be achieved astride can be undertaken riding side saddle and some of our members hunt all day. The saddle’s top pommel is called the fixed head, while the second pommel, the leaping head, mainly comes into play when jumping. If the rider becomes unseated over a jump, the heel should be lifted, pushing the leg against the leaping head for security. It takes practice to get to the stage where this becomes a reflex action,” she says.

“The leg does not simply hang against the fixed head, because the idea is to use it to help push the calf against the horse’s shoulder. It is best to start off with the horse at walk, and move up through the gaits as you gain confidence. It is possible to do rising trot, but many competitors prefer to sit.

“The stick is more crucial in side saddle riding, as the rider does not have the same use of the right leg; it is essential when giving the aid for canter on the right rein, for example. It is also even more important to drive with the seat in side saddle. The horse must be responsive and that is why I prefer to delay starting horses until they are competent in their flatwork astride. With practice, it will feel as if you are floating along; it is a very pleasant experience and it shouldn’t require a lot of effort to stay balanced.”

Ms Davies, a former hairdresser, admits that the “dressing up” element of side saddle riding is one of its main appeals. Early habits included a full skirt, but the attire now comes with a split side and is fastened with buttons.

“Ladies had a lot of accidents as a result of falling and being dragged, because their skirts got caught on the saddle,” she explains.

“It is a lot safer with what we call the safety apron and the saddle also has a detachable stirrup on the near side, which will release in an emergency.”

It is rare to find a saddler with the skills to construct a side saddle and many competitors use vintage equipment; Ms Davies’ saddle is stuffed with wool and was made in 1886.

The same applies to the habit and many riders wear vintage outfits.

Due to the high level of insurance that is required, Sam herself does not offer side saddle riding lessons on her own horses, but she has several local contacts who can help with getting started and the habits and saddles are available to hire locally. She can, however, give instruction on clients’ own horses.

Side Saddle Showing

THE showing season for enthusiasts mainly takes place during the summer, with events organised by the Side Saddle Association. The organisation has about 1,000 members, including non-riding “foot followers”. Competitions vary, but most judges will ask for walk, trot and canter, plus extended paces.

“All aspects are judged in side saddle showing,” says Ms Davies.

“The rider’s position and the horse’s gaits are among the most important, as well as the fit of the equipment. As it is such a visual sport. The judge will look very closely at the turnout of horse and rider in general.

“At the higher level county shows, it is traditional to wear a top hat, stock and yellow gloves, but a bowler hat and shirt and tie are usually adequate for local events. Riders of mountain and moorland breeds will often wear tweeds, instead of the more formal black or navy blue.

“The equipment is expensive but it will last for a lifetime if it is looked after properly and habits are available on loan. Side saddle riding is growing in popularity. It is a lot of fun. I would encourage anyone who enjoys riding to try it,” she says.




Side Saddle History

IMAGES of women riding side saddle date back to medieval times and in Europe it used to be considered unbecoming for ladies to rise astride, although two notable astride riders were Catherine the Great and Marie Antoinette.

The earliest “functional” side saddle, which dates back to the mid-1300s, was based on a chair-like arrangement which had a footrest. A more practical version was developed in the 16th century, with the current, two-pommel design brought in during the 1830s.

There are records of farm workmen riding in a side position on wide-backed draft horses and some male riders with back injuries have also found it more comfortable. In addition, grooms taking a second horse to meet a lady huntswoman would usually ride her horse in its side saddle.

See also www.sidesaddle association.co.uk