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STEPH SAVES THE DAY!
‘The Spennynews’ is pleased
to announce the new Editor
of the popular weekly paper
is local girl Stephanie Ellis.
Steph, who is 21 years and
attended King James I
Community College in
Bishop Auckland.
She later studied Law at the
University of Northumbria
in Newcastle, before joining
the team in October of last
year as Assistant Editor.
Originally, the plan was for
Steph to learn the ropes
from John Smith, the
Editor, and gradually take
more responsibility, making
his life easier and also to
enable him to have a proper
holiday, as John had not had
any real time off for 7 years
and was planning to go to
Eastbourne in May for a
week.
Unfortunately, John died on
April 1st of a sudden heart
attack, throwing Steph right
in at the deep end.
She was left with a
mammoth task on her hands
because, not only had we lost
our Editor, we also
experienced a major
breakdown in
communications, losing
access to the internet and
telephone lines all in the
same week.
“Considering Steph only had
six months’ experience in
the post, she exceeded all
expectations,” said Jeff
Ridley, Business Manager.
“I am really quite proud of
her, especially since not only
did we have to produce ‘The
Town Crier,’ but also the
Ferryhill Chapter’ and the
‘Spennynews,’ which,
incidentally, was a twenty
page edition, all within three
days.”
“A wonderful feat for
anyone, let alone someone
so young.”
Steph said of her new post:
"I have some big shoes to
fill in respect of John, but
he was a great mentor and
taught me so much in the
short time I was able to work
with him. I will try my best
to maintain the high
standards he always set for
himself."
Special thanks also go to
Keith Johnson, Tom
Stephenson and Mike Stott,
as well as James Burrage and
Terry Ferdinand from
BishopFm for their muchappreciated
help during this
very difficult time.
‘The Spennynews’ will be
carrying on just as before.
If there is anything you
would like us to report on,
please give us a call on 01388
775896 or 0790 999 2731
or you can email
spennynews@talk21.com.
View this article on its own (ID:2721)
NUMBER OF CANDIDATES HITS RECORD HIGH
A record number of
candidates have put
themselves forward for
election to the new Unitary
Authority for County
Durham.
Nominations have now
closed and it is understood
that more than 400
candidates are to contest
the election next month,
this number being more than
double the number that stood
three years ago in 2005.
Voters will go to the polls
on Thursday, May 1st, to
cast their votes after the
Government decided to
replace the Durham County
Council District Councils
with a single Authority.
The Labour Party, which
had an extremely large
majority on the existing
Durham County Council,
will be the only political
party to contest every seat,
whilst the Liberal
Democrats are fielding
more than twice the number
of candidates than in 2005.
It is understood that a
record 30 members of the
British National Party
(B.N.P.) are standing for
election, with candidates
being fielded in most of the
seats in the Sedgefield
Borough area.
The election is unique as
successful candidates will
serve a dual role as County
Councillors and members of
the new Unitary Council.
Candidates for Spennymoor
and Middlestone are: Agnes
Armstrong, (Labour) Paul
Carmedy, (Conservative)
James Macpherson, (BNP)
Ben Ord, (Lib Dem)
Christine Platts,
(Conservative) Kevin
Thompson, (Lib Dem)
Jackie Walker, (BNP) and
William Waters, (Labour).
Canditates for the Tudhoe
area are: Anthony Cross,
(Conservative) Amanda
Foster, (BNP) Neil Foster,
(Labour) Peter Gilbertson,
(Conservative) Barbara Graham
(Labour) Clive Maddison, (Lib
Dem) Liz Maddison (Lib Dem)
Adam Walker (BNP.)
View this article on its own (ID:2722)
LOCAL MAN IN ROYAL PARADE
A Royal Naval Trainee Air
Engineering Technician
from Middlestone Moor
recently took part in a
royal parade, only weeks
after joining the service.
18 year-old James Brown,
who joined the Royal Navy
in February, took part in a
'passing out' parade at the
Brittania Royal Naval
College in Dartmouth,
Devon.
The parade goes under the
official title of “Lord High
Admiral's Divisions”.
James, who was nearing the
end of a nine-week initial
training course at HMS
Raleigh, Cornwall, was
among a group of 43
trainee ratings who took
part in the ceremony.
The “Lord High Admiral's
Divisions” is the most
prestigious of the six
parades held at the Naval
College each year.
The former pupil of
S p e n n y m o o r ’ s
Comprehensive School said
“Training has been hard,
but there is now light at the
end of the tunnel”.
James is scheduled to
transfer to HMS Sultan in
Hampshire where he will
undergo specialist training.
View this article on its own (ID:2723)
FRENCH HONEYMOON FOLLOWED DURHAM WEDDING
'The Spennynews' is pleased
to include a brief report of
the wedding of a local
textile design artist which
took place at a local Hotel.
The Ramside Hall Hotel, on
the outskirts of Durham
City, was the venue for the
wedding of Jayne Louise
Parker, who runs the
Highview Country House
Bed and Breakfast
establishment in Kirk
Merrington, whilst
continuing her work as a
textile design artist.
Jayne's husband, Marcus
Johnson, was, at the time
of the wedding, training to
be a Paramedic.
The ceremony was attended
by some 150 guests at the
first class hotel.
Following the ceremony
and reception, the happy
couple honeymooned in the
French capital, Paris!
View this article on its own (ID:2724)
CLEAN UP FOR MIDDLESTONE MOOR
Sedgefield Community
Safety Partnership is
launching another Clean up
Operation, to take place in
Middlestone Moor.
The Streetsafe Operation
will see Police and Sedgefield Borough
Council’s Neighbourhood
Wardens, Street Cleansing
teams and other partner
agencies such as local Fire
and Rescue teams and
Residents Association
members, concentrate on
‘hot spot’ areas within
Middlestone Moor.
The focus of the operation
will be tackling anti-social
behaviour, criminality and
environmental issues within
targeted areas of
Middlestone Dean Bank.
A ‘Have your say day’ is
being held at the Community
Centre on Wednesday, April
30th from 2.00pm for
people to speak to leading
officers about issues in the
area.
View this article on its own (ID:2725)
DROP IN FOR A 'CUPPA'
The 'Jubilee' Independent
Methodist Church in
Clarence Street hosts a
drop in session and coffee
morning every Friday
from 10.00am until 12
noon. Members offer a
warm welcome (and a nice
hot cup of tea or coffee)
to would be visitors.
The coffee morning is held
in the school rooms below
the church, which can be
accessed from Clarence
Court.
View this article on its own (ID:2726)
CHARITY BEER FESTIVAL CANCELLED
Bishop Auckland and
Spennymoor Round table
have regretfully had to
cancel their Charity Beer
Festival, ‘Casks 3’
scheduled for the 8th to
10th May at Whitworth
Hall.
Following the success of
‘Casks at the Castle 2’ held
at Auckland Castle in
Bishop Auckland, the
festival would have been in
it’s third year.
The festival has been a
huge success on the two
previous occasions it was
held, selling every last drop
of the 4,000 pints available.
Organisers hoped to raise
£10,000 for local charities
at the new Spennymoor
venue, beating last years
total by £3,000, however
The Round Table have
unfortunately not been able
to raise enough sponsorship
to cover the costs of this
years’ event. Chairman
Chris Robinson said, “The
main factor against us is our
sheer lack of members. The
Table only has a core
membership of five people
which is tiny for the area
we represent. Without the
support of old members, the
organisation would have
struggled to have achieved
what it has over the last
couple of years.”
The Table would like to
thank all the businesses who
kindly pledged to support
this years’ event and the
public who have always
turned out to make the
festivals a success.
The Round Table will
always welcome
prospective members.
They meet at The Ship at
Middlestone Village on the
first Wednesday of the
month.
Alternatively you can call
Chris on 07971 143844.
View this article on its own (ID:2727)
AUCKLAND PARK WALK
Walkers are being given a
chance to explore new areas
and see the countryside with
the guidance of experts.
A guided walk of Auckland
Park and Bellburn Wood is
being held on Saturday, May
10th with David Spence, a
Voluntary Countryside
Ranger.
The walk starts at 10.30am
from the lay-by next to
Park Head Farm, near New
Coundon, off the A688, and
is expected to last 3 and a
half hours.
Organisers advise walkers
to bring waterproofs and
boots for this “medium”
grade walk. A family ticket
can be purchased for £7.50
(two adults, three children)
or £2.50 each. Under 5’s go
free, and tickets can be
purchased on the day. Call
0191 383 4144 for further
details.
View this article on its own (ID:2728)
FUNERAL SERVICE OF SPENNYNEWS POPULAR EDITOR CELEBRATED HIS LIFE
On a cold and sunny April
morning in Shildon, only a
matter of yards from his
home and the Office in which
he tirelessly produced three
local Community
Newspapers, the funeral
service of 'The Spennynews'
popular Editor, John
Mayfors Smith, took place.
Shildon appeared to come to
a halt as mourners made
their way, many of them
passing John's home, to the
Parish Church of St. John's
for the service which was
conducted by the Minister,
Father Rupert Kalus.
It was an indication of John's
boundlessly enthusiastic
involvement in both
political and community life
that, amongst the
congregation were
representatives from
Councils, local organisations
and members of the public
who had come to the Church
early last Saturday in order
to pay their respects to the
Leader of Shildon Town
Council who died suddenly
following a heart attack at
his home on the evening of
the Tuesday, the 1st of
April.
Amongst the mourners were
the Mayor of Shildon,
Councillor Brian Stoker,
Shildon Town and Sedgefield
Borough Councillors,
together with Officers of
three Councils, staff and
volunteers of the three
Community Newspapers –
'The Ferryhill Chapter', 'The
Shildon Town Crier' and
'The Spennynews', as well as
political friends and
opponents alike
At 9.00am, John's coffin, on
top of which was a single
floral tribute, was borne into
the Church by four
pallbearers and the Service
to celebrate John Smith's life
commenced with the
vociferous singing of the
hymn “Jerusalem”.
Father Kalus told the
assembled mourners of
John's propensity for
involving himself with work
on behalf of the local
communities, particularly as
both a Sedgefield Borough
Councillor for a number of
years, and a thirteen year
spell as an Independent
Councillor on the Shildon
Town Council, holding the
post of Leader of the Council
up until his untimely death.
John's daughter, 18 year-old
Charlotte, then told of her
love and admiration for her
father and briefly reminisced
about how, despite his
involvement in so many
community projects, he
would always make time to
spend 'quality time' with her,
going on picnics or even just
taking their dog, 'Baxter', to
the river.
This time for his family was
underlined by Father Kalus
who stated that John's sons
had also spoken about their
particular memories of times
spent with their father.
The Town Clerk of Shildon,
Mr. Mick Waterson, told of
John's 'no nonsense' approach
to local government and
suggested that, when John
arrived at the Pearly Gates
and was asked for his identity
by St. Peter, he would reply :
“Name and address withheld
upon request”!
Following readings from The
Bible and from the 23rd
Psalm - “The Lord is my
Shepherd”, the hymn “Lord
of the Dance” was sung and,
after prayers, including “The
Lord's Prayer”, were said,
John's coffin was taken from
the Parish Church for a
private family Cremation at
Durham Crematorium.
Following the Funeral
Service, many of the
mourners took the short
stroll to the Civic Hall where
its’ staff had provided a superb
range of refreshments which
everyone enjoyed.
It was not long before those
mourners who had gone to
the Civic Hall began to tell
each other of their own
recollections and anecdotes
about John and, it is a mark
of the man, that these
recollections, anecdotes and
remembrances were still
going on when John's family
returned to the Civic Hall
over an hour later.
REST IN PEACE, JOHN
MAYFORS SMITH.
View this article on its own (ID:2729)
LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY TO STAGE HISTORY EXHIBITION
A Local and Family History
Exhibition is to be staged
next month by a Local
History Society, with one
of the attractions being
“legendary bacon sarnies”!
The Exhibition, organised
by the Croxdale, Hett and
Sunderland Bridge Local
History Society, will be held
on Saturday, 10th May at
the Croxdale Community
Centre, which is situated to
the rear of Rogerson
Terrace.
The Society are certain
that the event will promise
to be a great day out for all
ages, allowing visitors to
discover what it was like to
live in times gone by and
how our way of living has
changed dramatically.
Many groups will be in
attendance at the
Exhibition, representing
local towns and villages
including Spennymoor,
Tudhoe and Croxdale, and
there will also be displays
from the Durham Record
Office and the Durham
Mining Museum, to name
but two.
Local Spennymoor
historian, Bob Abley will be
present, manning a stall
upon which there will be
local books and ephemera
for sale.
A great honour for the
Exhibition organisers will be
the presence at the event
of the Lodge Banners from
Tudhoe and Bowburn and
the refreshments which will
be available will include
“Greta and Sheila's
Legendary Bacon Sarnies”
and a Bar.
The organisers are
encouraging young and old
to attend the event,
admission to which is free.
View this article on its own (ID:2730)
JOBCENTRE STAFF SEEKING ORGANISATIONS TO SUPPORT
Local voluntary
organisations are in line for
some welcome support
following a pledge by the
Department of Work and
Pensions.
The DWP, including
Jobcentre plus, have already
committed to providing
5,000 hours of voluntary
work and, as a result, staff in
the North-East Region are
now on the look-out for
voluntary organisations that
would welcome support for a
day.
Any organisations in the
Spennymoor area that have
any current projects or
opportunities which may be
deemed suitable for this
support are urged to contact
the Volunteer Centre,
Sedgefield Borough at 20 High
Street, Spennymoor by
telephoning 01388 811115
or emailing
volunteercentre@cavos.org.uk
View this article on its own (ID:2731)
OPEN DAY FOR GYM BUDDY SCHEME
Spennymoor Leisure Centre
is to host an Inclusive Fitness
Initiative (IFI) Open Day on
Tuesday, April 29th from
1.00pm to 4.00pm.
The IFI aims to break down
the barriers that may prevent
disabled people from taking
part in gym-based activity.
The IFI Buddy Scheme is run
by the English Federation of
Disability Sport and in
October, 2003 the main
scheme was launched.
It targeted 150 facilities
across England to ensure that
disabled people, irrespective
of geography, have an IFI
facility within a reasonable
travelling distance of their
home
Spennymoor Leisure Centre
is part of the initiative and
has been successfully running
a gym buddy scheme for
nearly two years.
The programme for the
Spennymoor Leisure Centre
Open Day includes light
refreshments and an
introduction from 1.00pm to
1.30pm, New Age Kurling
and Badminton in the Main
Sports Hall from 1.30pm to
3.00pm and from 3.00pm to
4.00pm there will be free
taster sessions in the fitness
suite and free induction pass.
Staff at the Centre will be
available for informal chats
about activities on the day.
The event is free and caters
for individuals or groups with
any impairment.
Anyone interested should
contact Marie Ramsey on
(01388) 815827,
lena.ramsey@sunderland.ac.uk
View this article on its own (ID:2732)
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS KEY TO NEW FIRE STATION
Work will not commence
on the new Spennymoor
Community Fire Station
until improvements are
made to one of the main
access roads.
A survey carried out for the
Fire Authority identified
four pinch points along
York Hill Road, between
the Coppice Estate and the
A167, which need to be
removed before the road is
suitable for fire appliances
to use regularly.
The improvements will
include widening the road
and a footpath to provide
pedestrian access to the
Office Village, being built
near the junction with the
A167.
Outline proposals for the
new fire station were
presented at a recent
Tudhoe Residents
Association meeting.
Representatives from
County Durham and
Darlington Fire and Rescue
Service gave an update on
the proposed fire station,
which will be sited on Green
Lane Industrial Estate,
opposite the entrance to
The Coppice Estate.
John Adamson, Operations
Manager, gave an overview
of a typical week at a fire
station and assured local
residents that ‘hot fire’
training would not be
undertaken on site.
He stated that around two
call outs per 24-hour period
are to be expected from
the new fire station, based
on current figures.
Work is due to start on the
new fire station next
January, which will house
community facilities, with
completion expected by
Christmas 2009.
View this article on its own (ID:2733)
SPENNYMOOR MAN DENIES ASSAULT
Gavin Lee Robinson, of
Oxclose Crecent in
Spennymoor, denied a
charge of ‘assault
occasioning actual bodily
harm’ and will therefore
stand trial on August 22nd.
Robinson is alleged to have
assaulted Anthony Michael
Bowden in Spennymoor in
October last year.
Robinson also faces further
charges of inflicting
grievous bodily harm on
Ross Williams and assaulting
Emma Watson, both in
Spennymoor on March of
this year, and will return to
court on April 30th in
relation to these offences.
View this article on its own (ID:2734)
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON POLICING IN YOUR AREA?
Durham Constabulary will be
holding a Police Community
Consultative Group next
week.
Each year, Durham Police
Authority hosts a series of
PCCG’s around the county to
find out what is most
important to local people.
Residents of Spennymoor
and the surrounding areas are
encouraged to go along to
their local meeting, which will
be held at Ceddesfield Hall,
Rectory Row in Sedgefield, on
Monday, April 28th from
6.00pm.
Residents will be able to share
their views on policing in
their area, with members of
Durham Police Authority and
Durham Constabulary
View this article on its own (ID:2735)
LOCAL HISTORY TALK
Former County archivist,
David Butler, will be giving
a talk about the history of
Aykley Heads Estate in
Durham, at Tudhoe and
Spennymoor Local History
Society’s next meeting.
The meeting will take
place on Monday, April
28th at 7.30pm in St
David’s Church Hall.
Tudhoe.
There will also be a guided
visit to the estate next
month, Visitors and new
members are welcome.
View this article on its own (ID:2736)
COUNCILLORS BARRED FROM CABS FOLLOWING ROW ABOUT DRIVING TESTS
Local taxi drivers protesting
about a new advanced driving
test have decided to ban all
Labour Borough Councillors
from their cars.
T.A.S.D. - the Taxi
Association of Sedgefield
District – are up in arms
because new drivers in the
Sedgefield Borough are the
only new drivers throughout
the area who are forced to
sit the Driving Standards
Agency (D.S.A.) tests.
Members of the Association
maintain that the Sedgefield
Borough Council has placed
their operators at an
unnecessary disadvantage,
with Councillors ignoring an
opportunity to “level the
playing field”.
The Chairman of the
Association, Ricky
Matthews, stated that the
Council's Licensing
Committee had an
opportunity to revoke the
decision concerning the tests
at the beginning of this
month, however Labour's
majority on the Committee
served to push it through.
Mr. Matthews added that the
decision to uphold the tests
was a wrong one, stating:
“They cannot admit that
they have got it wrong.”
“The decision to keep the
D.S.A. Test leaves the taxi
proprietors of Sedgefield
Borough as the only ones in
the County of Durham who,
upon the entry of the new
Unitary Authority, will be
disadvantaged”, he said.
“It is because of this that we
ask all Labour Councillors not
to use the licensed vehicles
of Sedgefield Borough. We
feel the opportunity to do
business with our competitors
on a level playing field has
been lost”, stated Mr.
Matthews.
“This will only exacerbate the
problems the public are
having finding a taxi service
and proprietors are having in
recruiting new staff”, he said.
At the present time,
Sedgefield Borough has
approximately 300 licensed
taxis, with two-thirds of them
being members of the
Association.
Mr. Matthews stated that he
hoped all members would
uphold the decision, which
was taken at a meeting last
week.
Mr. Colin Nelson, a Labour
Councillor and the Chairman
of the Council's Licensing
Committee, said “At the end
of the day, the taxi drivers
are entitled to welcome
whoever they want into their
cars, it is their business and
their decision.”
“As for the vote, I cannot go
into the reasons how an
individual Councillor might
vote, but what I can say is it
is an entirely democratic
process.”
View this article on its own (ID:2737)
POETRY AND PLONK!
The Womens Institute will
be hosting another
afternoon of ‘Poetry and
Plonk’ on Wednesday, April
30th at 1.30pm in Barnfield
Road, Spennymoor.
“Come and listen to some
of your favourite poems,
and some new ones, or
bring your own efforts to
entertain us!” said a
spokesperson from the W.I.
There will be wine and
nibbles available, at a cost
of £3.00 per person,
payable on arrival.
View this article on its own (ID:2738)
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEFRIEND SOMEONE WITH AUTISM?
A Training Course for people
who would like to befriend a
person who suffers from the
disability of autism is set to
start in May.
The Volunteer Centre
Sedgefield Borough is inviting
'Spennynews' readers to 'do
something challenging,
worthwhile and fun' and to
'visit someone in their own
home or go out and about for
a couple of hours each week'.
Autism is a severe form of
mental illness in children
which prevents a proper
response to their
environment and inhibits
their social skills.
The next Training Course for
volunteers run by the
National Autistic Society, will
take place in Newcastle on
successive Saturdays, 10th and
17th May.
Further details can be
obtained by any interested
'Spennynews' readers by
calling the Volunteer Centre
Sedgefield Borough on 01388
811 115 or alternatively, by
calling into their Office in 20
High Street, Spennymoor.
View this article on its own (ID:2739)
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU ANNOUNCE CHANGES
Sedgefield and District
Citizens Advice Bureau would
like to inform its clients and
funders of a number of
changes from April, 2008.
Mrs Karen Stewart, Newton
Aycliffe Service Manager,
has left the service after 27
years as a manager.
The CAB Board of Trustees
have recently looked at the
long term needs of the
service across Sedgefield
Borough in the coming years
and have made positive
changes in the management
structure of the service.
Mrs Pauline Chambers,
previously the Spennymoor
Service Manager for 12
years, will, from the 1st April
2008, be Service Manager for
the service as a whole.
Mrs Donna Stewart, Adviser
for 8 years, has been
appointed as Business
Development Manager and
will be the point of contact
for all funders.
Donna, aged 34, said she was
looking forward to the
challenge her new position
would bring.
“With the forthcoming
changes to a Unitary Council,
this will bring challenges for
us to ensure the service
continues to be funded,” said
Donna.
“The figures speak for
themselves - the service we
provide is needed and wanted.
We will be celebrating our
50th anniversary next year,
our aim is that we will still be
here in 50 years from now,
still providing advice to those
that need it,” the new Service
Manager continued.
The service continues to rely
on its’ team of committed
volunteers who range from
the age of 20 to 80.
The CAB service provides
advice to everyone regardless
of age, sex, race or religion
and is completely impartial
and confidential.
Sedgefield and District CAB
holds advice sessions in 24
locations across the borough
and, over the past year, saw
around 20,000 clients, dealing
with 33,000 enquiries.
In the past 12 months, the
bureaux have handled over
£12 million worth of debt and
obtained additional benefits in
the region of £3million, as
well as dealing with consumer,
employment, legal and tax
issues.
Advice sessions are available
at the 10 High Street in
Spennymoor on Mondays
from 10.00am to 1.00pm,
Wednesdays from 10.00am -
1.00pm, Thursdays from
10.00am to 4.00pm and
Fridays from 10.00am to
1.00pm. There are also biweekly
sessions at Sedgefield
Advice and Info Centre on
Front Street, Sedgefield, every
other Wednesday, 10.00am to
1.00pm.
View this article on its own (ID:2740)
LIBRARY OFFERS FREE COMPUTER COURSE
Durham County Council is
offering a free Computing
Course at a local Library as
part of 'Adult Learners'
Week' during next month.
The 'Leap Skills for Life
Centre' is joining forces
with the Spennymoor
Library in Cheapside to
present the four-day Course
The Course, entitled “Basic
Computing and The
Internet”, will be held at the
Spennymoor Library on
four afternoons during the
week commencing May
19th, all from 2.00 p.m.
until 4.30 p.m.
On Monday 19th, the topic
will be 'An Introduction to
Basic Computing', whilst
Tuesday, the 20th will offer
an insight into 'Basic
Computing and The
Internet'.
'The Internet and E-Mail'
is the subject on Thursday,
the 22nd and the final
subject on Friday, the 23rd
is 'E-Mail and Sending
Attachments'.
No experience is needed to
attend the Course and those
interested can attend all
four sessions or just drop
in for one or two as
required.
Any 'Spennynews' readers
who would like further
details of this free Course,
or who would like to book
a place, are asked to
telephone the Library on
01388 814694.
View this article on its own (ID:2741)
PAGE BANK MAN FINALLY AGREES TO BE “BOUND OVER”
A Page Bank man who had
vehemently denied an
offence of drunkenness on
previous Court
appearances, recently
agreed to be “Bound Over
after it was suggested by the
Crown Prosecution Service.
When 37 year-old David
Hogg of Farm Buildings,
Page Bank, made his first
appearance before local
Magistrates on February
13th of this year in
connection with this
matter, he denied the charge
of 'drunk and disorderly' and
a Pre-Trial Review Hearing
was fixed for February
27th.
On that appearance, Hogg,
who was not represented in
Court by a Solicitor, told the
Court that he had only had
two pints to drink on his
way home from work and
that a Police Officer had
handcuffed him after
accusing him of harassing
two girls.
Following the Pre-Trial
Review Hearing, Hogg's
trial was ultimately fixed
for May 16th however, the
case returned to the South
Durham Magistrates' Court
at the end of March when
Mr. Ciaran Grogan, for the
Crown Prosecution Service,
suggested that Hogg, who
was not present in Court,
may be suitable to be
“Bound Over”.
Ultimately, the case
returned to the Newton
Aycliffe Court once again
and this time Mr. Hari
Jandoo, appearing for the
Crown Prosecution Service,
told the Court that the
C.P.S. had reviewed the case
and had decided to offer
Hogg the opportunity to be
“Bound Over” to keep the
peace.
Hogg, who was again not
represented in Court by a
Solicitor, eventually agreed
to be “Bound Over” after
the Court's Legal Adviser,
Mr. Bill Barron, patiently
explained in great detail
what exactly being “Bound
Over” entailed.
As a result, Hogg was
“Bound Over” to keep the
peace in the sum of £50 for
a period of 6 months.
View this article on its own (ID:2742)
SHOW HOMES GIVE TENANTS GLIMPSE OF HOW THE FUTURE COULD LOOK
Council tenants across
Sedgefield Borough have been
invited to visit the ‘Your Key
to Your Future’ show homes
to see for themselves the
standards that would be
available if their homes are
transferred to Sedgefield
Borough Homes.
The Council hopes to
transfer the ownership and
management of its homes to
the brand new not-for-profit
housing association, in order
to spend more money on
tenants’ homes and estates.
Sedgefield Borough Homes, as
the organisation would be
called, would be independent,
not being part of any existing
housing organisation.
The five show homes were
officially opened on Tuesday
April 22nd for the Borough’s
8,500 plus tenants to visit
over the next month.
Council tenants will be able
to see first hand examples of
the standards of
workmanship and materials
that homes would benefit
from, if transfer goes ahead.
Sedgefield Borough Council
Director of Housing, Colin
Steel, said: “Every show
home will help tenants
picture what would be possible
through transfer to Sedgefield
Borough Homes.”
“The show homes will truly
bring to life the modern
standard that Sedgefield
Borough Homes would bring
through the multi-million
pound investment
programme it would carry
out.”
“I would encourage tenants
to call in at the show homes
to see the modern standard
with their own eyes and to
feel the quality of kitchen
units and bathroom suites, for
example, that would be
possible through transfer.”
Council staff will be on hand
to answer tenants’ questions
and provide them with
information to take away.
The Spennymoor show home
is at 42 Tudhoe Moor.
There are also show homes
at 11 Hilsdon Drive, Shildon,
as well as 9 Hallgarth Road,
Trimdon Village, 17 Chestnut
Avenue, Ferryhill and 171
Brockett Close, Newton
Aycliffe.
The opening times are:
Tuesdays – 9.30am to 5pm,
Wednesdays – 9.30am to
12.30pm, Thursdays – 2pm
to 7pm, Fridays – 9.30am to
12.30pm and Saturdays –
9.30am to 12.30pm.
Council tenants who want to
visit the show homes but who
have mobility problems and
need transport can ring the
Council’s Freephone line on
0800 066 5697.
Tenants are currently being
consulted on the transfer
proposal and will be asked to
vote on the issue in a
confidential ballot later this
year.
If a majority of tenants who
vote in the ballot vote in
favour of the proposal, the
homes would transfer next
year.
View this article on its own (ID:2743)
MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION
The Weardale Locomotive
Preservation Group will be
holding a Railway
exhibition at Spennymoor
Town Hall next month.
There will be 14 working
layouts on display, as well
as many trade stands and
demonstrations.
The Group are aiming to
raise £126,000, needed to
renovate a Norwood Steam
Engine, and all proceeds
from the event will add to
this fund.
The 60-year-old engine is
currently homed in
Shildon, awaiting
renovation.
The exhibition will take
place on Saturday 10th
from 10.00am to 5.00pm,
and Sunday 11th May from
10.00am to 4.00pm.
Admission is £3.50 for
adults, £2.50 for seniors and
£2.00 for children, and
refreshments will be
available.
For more information on
the 2nd annual exhibition,
visit www.wrlpg.com, or
contact Dave Foxton on
01388 817 907.
View this article on its own (ID:2744)
STAGE AND SONG PRODUCER RETIRES AFTER 16 YEARS
Spennymoor Stage and
Song Producer, Eric
Hickson has finally decided
to retire from his post as
Producer after holding the
position for 16 years.
Eric first joined the Society
in 1975, and since that
time has performed a
variety of roles, from being
in the chorus to being the
leading man in many
productions.
Eric was appointed as
Producer in 1992, his first
production being the
pantomime 'Sleeping
Beauty'. He then produced
his next musical which was
'Fiddler on The Roof,' not
only handling the
production but also playing
the leading role of 'Tevye'.
No mean feat.
Since then Eric has
produced two shows a year,
a Pantomime and a Musical,
and has also played lead and
minor roles in these
productions.
Along with producing these
shows, Eric designed the
stage sets and painted the
backcloths, all done in his
garage, for which the
society was very grateful.
Spennymoor Stage and
Song does however hasten
to say that Eric will remain
a member of the Society
and Committee, so his
expertise in set design and
construction will still be
available.
View this article on its own (ID:2745)
NO PLEA TO 'THREATENING TO KILL' FORMER PARTNER
A man who, it is alleged,
produced a knife and
threatened to kill his
former partner, withheld
his plea to a charge when
he appeared before local
Magistrates last week.
52 year-old Ronald David
Le Poidevin, of
Spennymoor's Wood Vue,
denied a charge of 'making
threats to kill' when he
appeared before the South
Durham Magistrates sitting
at Newton Aycliffe last
week.
Mrs. Adrienne Harris,
appearing in Court on
behalf of the Crown
Prosecution Service, told
the Court that it was the
C.P.S.'s suggestion that this
was a case serious enough
to be dealt with at a Crown
Court.
Mrs. Harris went on to tell
the Court the Defendant,
Le Poidevin, had been in a
relationship with the
injured party which had
ended.
At the time of the alleged
offence, March 17th, the
injured party was at the
home of her daughter, also
in Spennymoor, when the
Defendant arrived.
After making a number of
threats to the injured party,
it is alleged that the
Defendant produced a knife
and placed the injured party
in a distinct fear that the
threats to kill her would be
carried out.
After a brief deliberation,
the sitting Magistrates
declined jurisdiction,
agreeing that this was a case
that should be dealt with at
a Crown Court, given that
they felt that Magistrates'
sentencing powers were
insufficient.
As a result, the Committal
Hearing was set for June
11th and Le Poidevin's
unconditional bail was
extended to that date.
The conditions of the
Defendant's bail are not to
communicate, either
directly or indirectly, with
Prosecution witnesses, and
not to enter within 50
metres of either Stratton
Street or St. Andrew's Road
in Spennymoor.
View this article on its own (ID:2746)
STORE CELEBRATED ST. GEORGE EARLY
Spennymoor's Asda Store
celebrated St. George's Day
four days early, with a party
in the foyer on Saturday
19th April. There were hot
beef sandwiches (or pork
and stuffing as an
alternative), plenty of
drinks available – and it was
all free!
The store was once more
using the day as a fundraiser
for The Royal British
Legion, and those who were
kind enough to make
donations were offered free
St. George's day souvenirs
to thank them.
The store's two events
organisers were hosting the
event, and both agreed that
not enough is done to
celebrate England's patron
Saint, who, they assured us,
would not be forgotten by
the store.
View this article on its own (ID:2747)
NEW LEADER AT NEW LIFE
The New Life Christian
Centre in Villiers Street,
Spennymoor, has
announced that their new
Pastor will be Phil Gibson,
son of the recently retired
Pastor, Richard Gibson.
The Spennynews was
present at Pastor Phil’s
Ordination, and the young
minister was only too happy
to share his heart with us.
Pastor Phil said, “Pastors
Richard and Moyra Gibson
have done such an incredible
job since they pioneered the
church here 30 years ago.
Thankfully, they are only
retiring from leading the
church, so we still get the
benefit of their wisdom and
hard work as we continue on
together.”
He continued, “I have
always loved Spennymoor;
I think it is a wonderful town.
I feel honoured to serve in
this community along with
my wife Lisa and the kids.”
His wife is originally from
Ohio in the USA, and is
delighted to stand alongside
her husband in the ministry.
Pastor Phil told us, “The
Ordination service was
special because both mine
and Lisa’s parents were here
to pray over us.”
Both sets of parents are
lifelong ministers and
Pastors whom the couple
have served under, both in
England and in America.
“We feel like we are a part
of great plans God has for
Spennymoor. Everyone at
‘New Life’ is excited to see
how we can maximize the
impact of our current
ministries, as well as running
with some new ideas for
developing our facilities and
better serving the
community here.”
View this article on its own (ID:2748)
SPENNYMOOR WOMAN AVOIDS BAN AFTER PARKING ON ZEBRA CROSSING
A Spennymoor mother-of
four avoided a driving ban
this week, after she
admitted parking her car on
a zebra crossing.
Patricia Mary Cooke of
Linden Court in the town
admitted parking her
Peugeot 206 half on the
pavement in Darlington
Road in Ferryhill on
February 2nd.
The Court also heard that
Cooke had nine penalty
points for driving without
a license or insurance.
Cooke told the court that
losing her license would
make life difficult for her,
as she has four children who
attend four different
schools.
She also said she would have
trouble taking her epileptic
son to hospital and keeping
her part-time job without
transport.
District Judge Michael
Wood exercised his
discretionary powers and
did not impose the usual
six-month ban, but warned
Cooke she could not use
the excuse again.
He ordered her to pay £45
costs and a £30 fine, as well
as placing three points on
her license.
View this article on its own (ID:2749)
DON’T FORGET YOUR THREE ‘Rs!’
Local schools are reminded
of the recycling
competition organised by
the ASDA store in
Spennymoor.
Schools need to show an idea
they have put into use to
demonstrate the 3 ‘Rs’ –
REDUCE, RECYCLE and
REUSE.
To take part, schools are
requested to submit their
ideas to ASDA Spennymoor,
for the attention of Ann
Allison or Jane Warren.
Please give as much detail
as possible in your entry.
A member of staff from the
store will then visit the
school to look at the project.
The winning school will
receive a £50 ASDA gift
card.
All entries must be submitted
by Saturday, May 17th.
View this article on its own (ID:2750)
CHURCH TO HOLD SPRING FAYRE
A 'Spring Fayre' is to be
held by the Tudhoe
Methodist Church on
Saturday, May 10th.
The event is scheduled to
take place at the
Community Centre in
Tudhoe Colliery from
10.00am until 12 noon that
morning.
An admission price of £1
will include refreshments,
however any children who
are accompanied by an
adult will have free entry
to the event.
View this article on its own (ID:2751)
NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR VOLUNTEER AWARDS
The highlight of
Volunteers' Week, which
runs from the 1st to the 7th
of June this year, will be the
Volunteer Awards and
'Thank You' Evening.
Organised by CAVOS and
the Volunteer Centre
Sedgefield Borough, which
is based in Spennymoor's
High Street, the event will
take place at Spennymoor
Town Hall on Thursday, the
5th of June from 7.30 p.m.
to 10.30 p.m.
The evening is held
annually in order to thank
volunteers for their
valuable work throughout
the year and, during the
evening, awards will be
presented to the 'Volunteer
of the Year', as well as the
'Volunteer Involving
Organisation of the Year'.
The organisers are
currently inviting
organisations to nominate
their volunteers for the
first award and volunteers
to nominate the
organisation which they
volunteer with for the
latter award.
If any of 'The Town Crier's'
readers know of any
volunteers or organisations
who deserve a special
accolade, they should
obtain Nomination Forms
from the Volunteer Centre
at 20 High Street
Spennymoor.
The Centre can be
contacted by telephone on
01388 811115 or by email
o n
volunteercentre@cavos.org.uk
View this article on its own (ID:2752)
CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH
A charity football match is
planned where members of
staff and sixth-form pupils
from Spennymoor School
will go head-to-head and
play each other.
This will be the third annual
event with all to play for,
as the students came out on
top in the first match, but
were beaten by their
teachers last year.
Football League Match
Officials will preside over
the game, which will take
place on Friday, May 16th
at the Brewery Field, kick
off at 7.30pm.
Admission is £2.00, with
all proceeds going to the
Great North Air
Ambulance.
View this article on its own (ID:2753)
SWIMMERS WANTED FOR CHARITY EVENT
In a couple of weeks' time,
a local Leisure Centre is
playing host to a charity
swimming event which is
being held to raise money
for a very needy cause.
Organised by Rotary Clubs
from Spennymoor, Bishop
Auckland, Newton Aycliffe
and Sedgefield, together
with the Rotoract and Lions
Clubs of Darlington, the
“Swimathon” will be held
at the Spennymoor Leisure
Centre's Pool from 8.00am
to 6.00pm on Sunday, May
11th.
The worthy cause for which
money is being raised is the
Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Teams are needed to swim
for a period of 30 minutes
each, and half the money
which each team raises can
go to the team's chosen
charity, with the other
50% to the Cystic Fibrosis
Trust.
Any 'Spennynews' readers
who are interested in
taking part in the event are
asked to call David
Robertson on 01388 602
961.
View this article on its own (ID:2754)
SPENNYMOOR MAN DENIES RACIALLY AGGRAVATED ATTACK
A Spennymoor man denied
committing a racially
aggravated attack on St.
Valentine's Day this year
when he appeared before
local Magistrates recently.
The 24 year-old was
appearing before the South
Durham Magistrates sitting
at Bishop Auckland where
a number of other matters
were also dealt with.
Gareth Laver, of Tudhoe
Moor in Spennymoor,
admitted the breach of a
Curfew Order which had
been imposed upon him for
an offence of making
threats of violence.
The Court heard that the
breach occurred when Laver
failed to comply with the
requirements of the Order
by being absent from the
address specified in the
Order on an occasion last
month.
At the same Hearing, Laver
also admitted an offence of
'dishonestly receiving
stolen goods', this being
committed in early March.
The stolen goods which
were the subject of this
offence were, in fact, two
puppies which were valued
at £700.
Laver also entered a 'Guilty'
plea to the charge of 'theft
of a crate of Stella Artois
Lager', this offence being
committed at
Spennymoor's Asda
Supermarket on the day
preceeding the alleged
racially aggravated attack.
As Laver had entered a plea
of 'Not Guilty' to the charge
of 'racially aggravated
assault', the sitting
Magistrates set a date for
the trial as July 15th this
year at the Darlington
Magistrates' Court.
With regard to the charges
to which Laver had
admitted his guilt, the
sitting Magistrates
adjourned the matters to
allow the Probation Service
to prepare a full Pre-
Sentence Report.
The case will now return to
the South Durham
Magistrates' Court, this
time at Newton Aycliffe, for
sentencing on April 30th.
View this article on its own (ID:2755)
CROWN COURT TO DEAL WITH AUCKLAND PARK MAN
Local Magistrates last week
told an Auckland Park man
that they deemed their
sentencing powers were
insufficient in his case and
therefore ordered that he be
dealt with by a Crown
Court.
The Defendant, 39 year-old
Mark Bassett, of St.
Phillip's Close in Auckland
Park, entered 'Not Guilty'
pleas to four charges when
he appeared before the
South Durham Magistrates
sitting at Newton Aycliffe.
The offences, which were
allegedly committed by
Bassett in Spennymoor in
mid-January of this year,
are 'possession of a
quantity of Cocaine – a
Class A drug', 'resisting a
Police Officer in the
execution of his duty',
'causing a fear of violence'
and 'intentionally exposing
his genitals'.
After they declined
jurisdiction in the case, the
Magistrates fixed the
Committal Hearing for June
11th at the Newton Aycliffe
Court, with Bassett's
unconditional bail being
extended until that date.
View this article on its own (ID:2756)
0 - 1 DEFEAT FOR THE ‘MOORS’
Spennymoor lost their last
home game of the season
against local rivals, Shildon
AFC on Wednesday night,
April 23rd.
The team lost to a second
half header from Shildon’s
John Hutton, leaving the
‘Moors’ at the wrong end
of a 0 - 1 result.
Spennymoor’s last game in
the league is away to
Dunston Federation On
Saturday, April 26th, Kick
Off at 3.00pm.
The Club’s Presentation
Evening will be held on
Saturday, May 10th at
Spennymoor Leisure
Centre. Tickets cost £5.00
and include a buffet, disco,
entertainment and the
awards presentation,
everyone welcome.
View this article on its own (ID:2757)
LOCAL HISTORY WEBSITE CELEBRATES ITS THIRD YEAR
Spennymoor's own local
history website “Picture
Spennymoor”, is
celebrating it's third
anniversary this week and
has just published its 250th
picture to mark the
occasion.
The website, which started
in April 2005, has a
comprehensive selection
of historical materials all
relating to the history of
the town.
As a community venture
all of the material has been
contributed by the general
public.
Paul Beel, the site creator
said “We get enquiries from
people all over the world
tracing their family history
and wanting to know how
the town looked in their
ancestor's time.” He puts
the success of the site down
to the variety of content,
“Visitors can spend time
looking at photographs,
search the old trade
directories or even view an
on-line exhibition created
by the History Society”.
A quick delve into the trade
directories reveals some
familiar names such as
Defty's and J. Snowball
printers - both still in
operation today. The
picture gallery holds a range
of interesting photographs
of buildings, schools and the
old railway among others.
Picture number 250 is of St
Mary's Orphanage an
imposing building, situated
next to St Charles Church in
Tudhoe village.
The home was demolished
in the1960s to make way
for houses.
Anyone wishing to
contribute pictures or other
material to the website can
contact Paul on 01388
811757 or email
paul@picturespennymoor.co.uk
The website address is
www.picturespennymoor.co.uk.
View this article on its own (ID:2758)
CALLING ALL GROUPS AND ASSOCIATIONS!
‘The Spennynews’ would like
to encourage all groups and
associations in Spennymoor
and the surrounding areas to
forward us anything that may
be of interest to the
community.
Events, competitions and
celebrations are great
examples of things we would
love to tell the community
about.
You can send your stories and
any accompanying photos
to spennynews@talk21.com
or leave them in
Spennymoor Library in an
envelope marked
‘Spennynews’
You can also call or fax us on
01388 775896.
Why not make sure that
everyone knows about the
work you do for your area
by having it appear in ‘The
Spennynews?’
View this article on its own (ID:2759)
