Review of the year: January-March

January

THE Bowes Museum’s silver swan left the dale for the first time ever and headed for London’s Science Museum.

Expert Matthew Reed was tasked with dismantling the 1773 swan and its 700 parts in just three days. The north east icon was the prime exhibition at the London museum’s Robots show where thousands watched the swan’s 40-second performance.

It was a royal affair for S & A director Geoff Simpson at the official reopening of East Durham College’s Houghall Campus.

As part of a £12.75million redevelopment, the Teesdale firm constructed the new equine centre, dog barn, cattle shed and pig unit which were opened by Princess Anne.

Mr Simpson said the contract was at the “bigger end” of projects that S&A has been involved with.

Tributes were also paid to Evenwood community stalwart Raymond Gibson who passed away on January 5, aged 91.

Mr Gibson was a hands-on member of the Randolph Community Centre.

Before his death, he donated a substantial amount of money to the centre. The hall was named the Raymond Gibson Hall as a lasting legacy to him.




February

PLANS for a multi-million pound site expansion at Glaxo in Barnard Castle were given the green light. The major development was given the go-ahead by Durham County Council’s county planning committee.

A GSK spokesperson said: “The plans approved today pave the way for GSK’s £92million investment at the site which will fund the construction of an aseptic sterile facility supporting the manufacture of existing and new biopharmaceutical assets in our pipeline.”

Barnard Castle was put on the national walking map as it became the first town in County Durham to be accredited as a Walkers Are Welcome town. Secretary of the steering group Peter Singer said: “We are a small group of volunteers and it has taken a year of hard work to have our application accepted so it’s a real red-letter day for us. We have such wonderful walking in Teesdale and we want to encourage everyone to enjoy it.”

Meanwhile dozens of notes from staff, pupils and workmen were stashed away in Butterknowle Primary School’s roof. Renovation work had been ongoing on the 105-year-old roof which inspired the pupils to put together a time capsule. Headteacher Tessa Fenoughty said: “Every child has put in a little note for a child of the future – there are some quite funny ones in there as well.”

The family of four-year-old Ryan Chidzey (right), from Gainford, launched a £50,000 fundraising campaign to help find a cure for muscular dystrophy. Cieran and Claire Chidzey received the devastating news that their little boy had Duchenne muscular dystrophy and vowed to help find a cure for the fatal muscle-wasting disease. A series of events were organised by friends and family and £7,000 was raised in the first ten days.




March

POOCHES from across the dale were recognised as some of the best in the world at this year’s Crufts.

Mac Percival from Barningham took to the ring with her two prizewinning Wynfaul Labradors and won two first places.

Three-year-old Noah, a Chinese crested powderpuff from Gainford, was picked as one of the best in his breed as he was handled by his 17-year-old owner Lynden Watson. Mickleton’s Graham and Sandra Lockey also showed Staffordshire bull terrier Ava who won first place in the junior bitch class.

Staindrop Scouts used their new £110,000 hut for the first time. Praise was heaped on the leaders who managed to get all of the funds together and sacrifice their time and energy on building work. Group scout leader Jacqui Nicholson said: “It is a relief. There was a time when we thought it was never going to happen.”

A youth club, which welcomed hundreds of young people for almost 50 years, closed its doors for the final time.

Having opened in 1968, West Auckland’s Millbank Youth Club held a party for the youngsters’ last session on March 30.

The club’s management committee was forced to call it a day after Durham County Council reduced its youth service budget by £1million.

The withdrawal of county help also resulted in the closure of a popular youth group in Middleton-in-Teesdale. The UTASS based group was no longer viable.

The winners of the Teesdale Mercury’s £10,000 Win A Wedding competition, which was run in conjunction with Lartington Hall, set the date and announced the plans for their big day. Lisa Clement and James Layton scooped the wedding of their dreams following a public vote. The couple tied the knot in September.

Villagers in Toft Hill were in uproar when plans for 100 new homes in the village were announced. Residents packed Toft Hill Community Centre’s foyer to voice their concerns to parish councillors about the proposed development at Holme Farm adjacent to the A68. Traffic safety was one of the biggest concerns. The plans were knocked back by planners in September.

Gainford Primary School’s former headteacher, Howard Blindt, announced he was leaving so the school could save on his salary amid fears about a lack of funding. Mr Blindt, who had been at the school for 15 years, wrote an emotional letter to parents explaining his decision.

He said: “My leaving will provide an opportunity for some financial savings that will enable our school to be sustainable into the future and therefore benefit your children and the whole community.”