Tag: darlington

What’s On In Chester-Le-Street And Durham

By on 1st December 2016in What's On?

Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival

If you’re set to be anywhere near Durham City over the weekend of Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th December – and why wouldn’t you be? – you really need to get to down to the Traditional Christmas Festival, which will take place across various venues in the historic centre.

Based principally around the Cathedral and Castle, the event will provide excellent opportunities for Christmas shopping, alongside festive entertainment.

So, where to head first? Here at IN&AROUND, we are certainly looking forward to the Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green, where more than 190 stalls are planned, although there will also be plenty of activity in the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral, where more than 30 regional food and drink producers will be present.

All of this is without us even mentioning the outdoor markets in Durham Market Place and Millennium Place, or the more than 50 additional traders in the Market Hall.

Oh, and there’s also set to be a wide range of family entertainment and activities, including live music performances and bands, live reindeer, Cathedral carol services and the Saturday afternoon Children’s Christmas Lantern Procession, which will see children leading a procession to the Cathedral for the St Nicholas service.

Please note that these details are not final and could change.

Christmas Market, the Bowes Museum

For a modest cover charge of £2.50, visitors to one of the region’s most esteemed museums can enjoy not only free admission to the museum itself, but also a feast of festive food and creative craft stalls, together with use of the Santa bus ‘park and ride’ facility.

Taking place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th December, the event presents the perfect opportunity for visitors to sample quality produce – including breads, cakes, cheeses, gourmet scotch eggs, speciality hot chocolates, local beers and more – from some of the region’s finest suppliers.

Alternatively, you might look to pick up a quirky gift from an assortment of fascinating locally made jewellery, wreaths, ceramic and glass art, leather goods, toys and upcycled furniture. There will even be stalls for your dog!

Nor will there be a shortage of entertainment, with seasonal singing provided by the popular group No Added Sugar, and Barnard Castle Band and the Andreas Ensemble also on hand with a festive repertoire. Even Smooth Radio will be on site right through the weekend, playing festive music and offering gift wrapping master classes.

Throw in Christmas craft activities and the opportunity for your child to visit Santa in his grotto and even receive a gift from him (all for £5), and it becomes even more obvious that if you visit just one Christmas market this year, it should be this one.

Seann Walsh: One for the Road

Given how he stormed his last gig at Stockton’s Arc a few years back, it’s unsurprising that this dishevelled comic with the eye for the absurd is primed for a triumphant return to the same venue on 9th December.

For someone known as ‘the Lie-in King’ with a penchant for staying in watching Sky Sports News, the Lewisham-born stand-up has shown remarkable stamina in building up his career to date, being nominated for the Foster’s Comedy Award and appearing on the likes of 8 Out of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, Alan Carr Chatty Man and Tonight at the London Palladium.

Walsh is also quite the sight to watch live, pacing the stage and working the room as he makes good use of his well-attuned observational mind to drive his audience to hysterics. Described as “Unquestionably the best observational comic of his generation” by The Guardian and “This generation’s Dylan Moran” by Time Out, Walsh is a man you won’t want to miss when he brings his brand new, perfectly delivered show to the North East.

10 Things Not To Forget This Christmas

By on 1st December 2016in Lifestyle

The festive season may be a time of fun and plenty (in theory, anyway), but there’s a huge amount of preparation that goes into a truly successful Christmas. Here are 10 of the things that you really shouldn’t allow to slip your mind if you are to avoid those last minute ’emergencies’.

  1. Planning

This is the single most important thing not to forget. After all, with everything from the office Christmas party to your children’s nativity play to think about, you’ll be overcome with anxiety if you fail to follow such basic steps as putting together a ‘to-do’ list and spreading out those essential duties over the coming weeks in your diary.

  1. Christmas cards

This is the time of year when you suddenly seem to remember all of those family members you never actually meet, and you won’t want to be the only one in the family not to have sent them a Christmas card. So, make sure you make a list of all conceivable recipients to avoid repeat trips to the card shop when someone else pops to mind.

  1. Postal costs

Sending off presents to your far-flung relatives can get pretty expensive. To alleviate this, look for gifts that are light, non-breakable and easy to wrap, and include your Christmas card to the recipient in the same package to save you having to buy another stamp.

  1. Budget

It seems that we all plan to be frugal over the festive period, but so often find ourselves plunging into our overdrafts due to that costly present that we hadn’t initially expected to buy, or that party where we overspent on the sherries. So, by all means, agree a budget with your family – not too strict, and not too costly – but then stick to it.

  1. Tidying up

Those weeks of calm before the Christmas celebrations are the perfect period in which to declutter your home – not least to make space for everyone set to descend on your humble abode. Put last year’s unwanted gifts on eBay to raise present-buying funds, find a cupboard for all of that wrapping and make a flattering space for the Christmas tree – accounting for height and not just width!

  1. Food and drink

This aspect of your Yuletide shopping threatens to be such a headache with all of the queues – unless you take steps to avoid this, such as ordering online for home delivery or purchasing all non-perishable products well in advance. The turkey’s a natural essential, so order yours well ahead of time for collection on the 23rd.

  1. Stress management

With so much to plan, buy and organise, it’s easy to become overwhelmed – but don’t shirk your duties. Instead, practice effective stress management techniques such as breaking down everything that you have to do into smaller, less daunting chunks, or delegating tasks to other people where you can. Are the kids helping out enough with the washing up, for instance?

  1. Fashion

You won’t want to lag behind anyone in the style stakes at your Christmas party. Get an instantly glamorous look by pairing a statement necklace with a lightweight knit, and for your footwear, opt for a medium heel or a block heel with a platform to ensure the utmost comfort on the festive dance floor. Nor will a tasteful handbag go amiss for completing your look.

  1. Everything you need for wrapping

Sellotape, scissors, wrapping paper that isn’t embarrassingly out-of-date… they’re all the kind of things that you might expect to already be in your cupboard due to all of that shopping you did last year. However, you should always double check far in advance. Don’t forget those labels either, and make sure everything’s wrapped up ahead of the last Christmas posting dates.

  1. A smile

If you’re the host of the Christmas party, you’ll need to remember to provide the best possible hospitality, including that all-important festive cheer. Try to avoid those heated debates about politics or who should have brought the food course – unless all of that’s your “thing”, of course.

North East Lettings Agency Lobbying For Change

By on 26th May 2016in Have Your Say

A North East-based lettings agency has launched a national pledge to help challenge the unethical practices that go on in parts of the industry…

lettingsbody

The Ethical Lettings Pledge is the creation of Carla Keegans, who supports the Government’s proposals to tackle rogue criminal agents, but believes much more needs to be done in the wider industry.

With more than two million private landlords currently operating and over 12 million tenants living in the private rented sector, many people turn to lettings agents for help, but are increasingly let down or excluded.

Carla, who in July 2015 set up The Ethical Lettings Agency in Redcar, has been working on the pledge since December, seeking advice and feedback from trusted individuals around her.

She said: “It’s only right landlords expect agents to be properly qualified and experienced to help navigate round the increasingly complex legislation and issues that are now common in the sector.

“Unfortunately, many agents are not and there are numerous examples, backed up by national research, which indicate many landlords feel ripped off by agents.

“This pledge will show landlords and tenants that agents operate to some clear ethical standards, and if agents signed-up to the pledge fail to deliver, then landlords and tenants can challenge them on this.”

Landlords, tenants, and members of the public can also sign a formal petition to lobby for national legislative change, which will shortly be accessible via The Ethical Lettings website.

As a community interest company (CIC), The Ethical Lettings Agency fully understands the impact letting agents can have on local communities too, which will benefit as much from the pledge as tenants and landlords.

The Agency has already created two new jobs in Redcar, a town which has suffered from 1000s of recent job losses; perhaps a reason why the Agency was recently invited to meet Prince Charles.

Political figures have already shown support for the pledge, including Cabinet Member for Housing at RCBC, Cllr Lynn Pallister.

She said: “This social enterprise delivers ethical services and investment into our community and we are proud to support it for the benefit of our residents.”

Saltburn-born Carla, spent several years working in a senior housing role within the City of London Corporation, before returning home to start The Ethical Lettings Agency. Her time spent in the capital inspired her to create the pledge, which she hopes will attract as many signatures as possible, to help create national change.

Carla, a long-standing Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, added: “My experience working for various housing and public sector organisations had already convinced me there was a need in the market for an agency that provides a better service to landlords and tenants, which is why I set up The Ethical Lettings Agency.

“The Ethical Lettings Pledge is simply an extension of my vision and the company’s ethos, which is to shake up an industry which is letting people down time and time again, by making the system fairer.”

The Ethical Lettings Agency is open to all landlords and tenants in the Redcar and Teesside private rented sector. In particular, the Agency works with landlords to help manage their rental properties as a business, to reduce rental risks and save money.

To show your support for the pledge, visit http://theethicallettingspledge.co.uk/ or for more information about The Ethical Lettings Agency, visit http://www.ethicallettingsagency.co.uk/.

Twitter: @EthicalLets

Darlington Building Society Helps Local Florist Put Down Roots

By on 11th March 2016in Local Biz

Recent visitors to the Darlington Building Society in Northallerton might have noticed a new addition to the High Street branch in the form of an in-branch florist…

The Wallflower Floral Artist, which is owned and run by 32 year-old Lisa Sopekan, held a special pop-up shop at the branch from which she sold her signature bouquets and single flowers customers.

As part of its 160th anniversary celebrations Darlington Building Society has pledged to use its resources to help local business and organisations. One of the ways it is doing this is by sharing spaces in its 10 branches that can be used for a limited amount of time for businesses and customers to reach new people.

The Wallflower Floral Artist, which specialises in floristry for weddings and other events, is the first local business to take advantage of the opportunity to reach new customers in Northallerton.

Lisa Sopekan, owner of The Wallflower Floral Artist, said: “When I saw that Darlington Building Society was offering space in its branches for local businesses I jumped at the opportunity to reach new customers and spread the word about my business.

“I’m new to the world of business, but I have always loved flowers and floristry. I think my passion comes across when I get to speak to customers face-to-face.

“The company is only a few months old, so it’s really important that I get out there, to allow people to see examples of my work. In this line of work a lot of the customer base comes from word of mouth.”

Kayleigh Turner, Branch Manager at the Northallerton branch of Darlington Building Society, said: “It’s fantastic to have The Wallflower Floral Artist using the free space we have in the branch. A big part of the ethos of the Society is supporting local people so it’s great to be able to help a new business get off the ground in this way.

“Although this is the first time we have had a pop-up shop from a local business at the branch we hope to have many more throughout 2016 as we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the formation of the Society.

“We’re always looking to support local people, businesses and organisations in any way possible, from opening up spaces in our branches, to helping move equipment around and even financial support.”

If any local organisations or businesses would like the opportunity to share some space of one of Darlington Building Society please contact them direct on contact-us@darlington.co.uk or pop into your nearest branch.

Festival Of Thrift Relocates To Redcar For 2016

By on 24th February 2016in Lifestyle

Plans are afoot to take the fourth annual Festival of Thrift to the stunning location of Kirkleatham in Redcar on 24th and 25th September 2016…

The award-winning, free family festival shows people how to save money – and the planet – by being creative.

Heading out of its birthplace in Darlington for the first time since the inaugural Festival in 2013, the team wants to show how the event can inspire and support the economic future of communities throughout the Tees Valley.

The festival will return regularly to Darlington in future years.

A ten year plan is currently being drawn together for future festival locations, working towards 2025, the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger steam railway (which journeyed between Darlington and Stockton), and the year for which Tees Valley is bidding to be UK Region of Culture.

A proposal detailing the festival’s aims, values and programme will be presented at the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Cabinet Meeting at the Leisure and Community Heart on 1st March, where councillors will give the final decision as to the 2016 Festival taking place at Kirkleatham. HRH The Prince of Wales visited the estate last week as part of a wider visit to the borough, as The Prince’s Foundation is working with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to develop plans for its regeneration.

The proposal also follows the recent visit to Tees Valley by Lord Heseltine to discuss plans to drive forward investment opportunities to the region. Lord Heseltine has been appointed chair of the Tees Valley Inward Investment Initiative, with a specific remit to boost the region’s international profile.

The Festival of Thrift is the UK’s National Celebration of sustainable living. It brings together international and emerging artists, superscrimpers, makers and designers, as well as stallholders selling all manner of homemade, home-grown, upcycled, recycled and thrifty produce. The festival brings people together to share skills through workshops, talks, films and a whole lot of hands-on joining-in and making.

This year, the festival will concentrate on sustainable business development. If the move to Kirkleatham is agreed, the programme will also include locally grown produce, food and drink inspired by the kitchen gardens and traditions at Kirkleatham.

Stella Hall, festival director, said: “I’d be delighted to head out to Redcar this year. Redcar received such a huge blow in 2015 with the demise of the steel works, which coincided with last year’s festival.

“We hope to show how each of us has skills and creativity we can contribute to create a sustainable community. The Festival of Thrift is dedicated to shining a light on the Tees Valley, celebrating the area’s individuality and the strength of its people.

“We will be heading back to Darlington for 2017, but the opportunity of holding the festival at Kirkleatham this year was too good an opportunity to miss.

“The site is the epitome of great regeneration. Kirkleatham has a fascinating museum collection, a stunning church and mausoleum, almshouses, railway cottages, park and woodland within walking distance.

“Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will be sensitively developing the stables on site, with an eye to business startups. Together with the new adventure playground, it’s a complete gem of a festival location.”

Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Sue Jeffrey said: “The festival organisers and Darlington Borough Council have worked extremely hard to make the festival a huge success, and we would work closely with them to replicate that in Redcar.

“We would be delighted to welcome the festival in 2016, particularly to such a special site which perfectly suits the festival’s values. It would be a real boost to our communities to host such a fantastic event.”

Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Darlington’s ingenuity gave birth to the festival, and we are delighted to see those ideas developed and explored in other settings and places, but look forward to welcoming the festival back home.”

The festival has continued to grow in size as well as reputation. In 2015 the festival welcomed 45,000 visitors throughout the weekend at its first home at Lingfield Point, Darlington, and scooped the Observer Ethical Award for Arts and Culture – a national coup for a home grown festival. In the same year, it won the North East Tourism Event of the Year.

This year’s festival will invite the UK’s thriftiest and most sustainable stallholders to build on some of the great programmes from previous years, including Alternative Village Fete with its mix of wandering performance and music stages, Oxglam recycled fashion shows, Bistros du Vin with local and amateur chefs, and Fix It Café, helping to save waste by fixing everything from a child’s music box to a broken computer. Workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, The Big Talks and Peoples’ Encyclopaedia will all be about sharing skills, and showing how each of us has something special to offer. The most exciting elements will emerge from the history and heritage of the site itself, and will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, visit festivalofthrift.co.uk and sign up to receive email newsletters, keeping you up to date as the festival programme develops over the next few months.

Claire Hickey: One More For The Road?

By on 19th February 2016in Have Your Say

Claire Hickey struggled with alcoholism, smoking, loss and depression. This is her story…

Once upon a time, I would use this phrase all the time: “One more glass of wine wouldn’t hurt… would it?”

But then I’d find myself waking up on the sofa in the middle of the night, freezing cold, unsure where I was. It just became the norm.

I would get up in the morning, drop my two young girls at breakfast club and childminders, then work a full day as a teaching assistant. Later, I’d pick them up at teatime, get them home, fed and quickly to bed, and then it – once again – it was wine o’clock.

After the breakdown of my marriage in 2013, I thought I was doing alright. I was holding down a full time job, I had childcare for my two younger children, and my two older children had stayed with their dad, a 40 minute drive away. I would see them as often as I could, but I found myself coasting through the day until… wine o’clock.

This was okay though, wasn’t it? Everyone enjoys a glass of wine at the end of a hard day, don’t they? I didn’t have a problem…

In January 2015, my Great Aunty Norah – the matriarch of our family – was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and after a short battle she passed away in late February. My drinking accelerated, and now thing were beginning to spiral.

I was signed off work, and my doctor diagnosed depression. Along with anti-depressants, my wine became my way of coping. It made me feel better.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months, and time became one long, drunken haze. But I was still okay, wasn’t I?

One day, I found myself hiding wine in the cupboard. Another day, I asked a friend if she could bring me some more, because I had none in. I was drinking a bottle before 7.30, and topping it off with 20+ cigarettes a day. What on Earth was I doing?

I began to pile on weight. I had no energy, and I became snappy with my two young girls. I hardly saw my boys at all. I was staying up late, waking up early, taking hungover naps between school runs… I was a mess.

I had to change.

I had been sent leaflets for giving up smoking, which was something I had done sine I was 15 years old. I had stopped during my four pregnancies, but had always started again. This time I wanted to stop for good, so I made an appointment at my doctor’s surgery and began a 12 week programme.

Then, I thought if I’m quitting the fags… why not the booze too?

I ditched the wine and the takeaways, swapping it for healthy food. I joined a gym, and the wight began to slip away. In June, my brother signed me up for the Darlington Park Run, a free 5km timed event that took place every Saturday morning. I stepped up my treadmill training, and began to enjoy working up a sweat. I felt like I was doing something really good.

 

On the 20th June 2015, at 9 o’clock, I arrived at South Park. Lo and behold, I completed three laps of the park in a respectable 33 minutes. What a feeling when I crossed that finish line!

Running became a passion. I continued with my Stop Smoking programme, I stayed off the wine, and I lost 3 stone in weight, dropping from a size 18 to a size 10. Nothing happened overnight, but I enjoyed the journey. My running went from strength to strength, and in August I completed the Darlington 10km. Somehow, I even completed the Great north Run in September!

I had found a new addiction.

Today, it’s nearly a year since we lost Aunty Norah, but what a year it’s been. Who would have thought that after her death, I would be able to turn my life around. I often think that it was her way of helping me. It was the push I needed to sort myself out.

I was determined not to slip back to my old ways. For the sake of my own mental health, and for my children, I decided that I would have to give up the job that I loved. It would give me the opportunity to focus on keeping fit and healthy. It was a big decision, but I now continue to run, and I’ve since completed my first half marathon in just over 2 hours. My aim is to complete four half marathons and even more 10km runs before I turn 40.

I love encouraging other people to go down to the park on a Saturday morning and have a go at the run. Sometimes it’s just the first step they might need.

And when I feel like I need a ciggie and a class of wine? I think about how far I’ve come, and how great I feel now. The craving soon passes.

I still have bad days when I feel down, but I’ve surrounded myself with beautiful friends and family, and I’ve ditched all of the negativity that was in my life. I love life again, and my confidence is at an all time high. Throughout my journey, I’ve met some truly remarkable people, and I’m proud to have started my very own running group for ladies. #TheseGirlsCanRun.

Who knows? Maybe running can change their lives too.

These days – whether it’s a mile or ten miles – my motto is #ThisGirlCan. If I can, any girl can.

So one more for the road? No thanks. I’d rather go for a run.

Claire Hickey

Letting Agency Introduce Unique Property Matchmaking Service

By on 16th February 2016in Local Biz

North East based letting agency, My Property Box, has launched its new property matchmaking services for landlords and tenants…

The company’s unique new service aims to help landlords and tenants find their perfect match through its exclusive search criteria and the properties’ lonely heart descriptions.

To celebrate the launch of this exclusive idea, the forward thinking company has pledged to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

It is the agency’s managing director and property manager, Ben Quaintrell, who came up with the innovative idea, and he is thrilled to be announcing the new, one-of-a-kind concept.

He said: “We want to bring a bit of fun into the industry, because we know how stressful searching for both properties and tenants can be, so we came up with this idea of being property matchmakers.

“Our new matchmaking services effectively make us appear like a dating agency for properties, and whether you are a landlord or a tenant, we want to help you find your perfect match.

“To add to the excitement of the launch, we’ve also decided to donate £10 for every property let in the month of February to the British Heart Foundation, because not only is it a great charity, but the heart theme matches our new services.”

The nation’s heart charity, British Heart Foundation, is the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research.

Assistant manager of the British Heart Foundation’s Darlington branch, Pat Horton, said: “We really appreciate any donations we receive. From money to clothes to furniture, it can all be used to help the British Heart Foundation in some way. Every little helps.

“We are very thankful for the donation My Property Box has pledged to us, because without help from the local community and businesses, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”

To add to the launch of the company’s new dating services, the agency has also invested in a new website.

Ben said: “We are a modern agency, and we needed our website to represent this and portray our new services in the best way possible.

“We are the only agency in the region to offer this type of service, and it feels amazing to see the company expanding, and the team and I are excited to see where these new services will take us.”

My Property Box prides itself on being an online agency, and Ben is always looking to the future, thinking about the next steps to take for the business.

He continued: “We currently cater for the whole of the North East, but I want to see us grow into a national company, and our new, unique services will help us achieve this.”

To find out more about the ingenious letting agency or its new services, visit www.mypropertybox.co.uk or follow @MyPropBox on Twitter.

QE College Hold Rugby Academy Open Evening

By on 15th February 2016in In & Around

Rugby fever has swept through Darlington…

Following the launch of the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College Rugby Academy, in association with Darlington Mowden Park RFC, in January 2016, an open evening is taking place for all interested students and parents at the Northern Echo Arena on Tuesday 23rd February at 6pm.

The open evening will provide more information about Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and the Rugby Academy, along with the opportunity to see the world class facilities at Mowden Park where the Rugby Academy will be located.

Staff involved in the Academy from both QE and Mowden Park will be on hand to answer any questions.

For further information regarding the open evening or the Rugby Academy, call into Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Vane Terrace, Darlington, or ring 01325 461315. You can also email enquiry@qeliz.ac.uk.

Alternatively, email Academy Manager, Michael Garmston at michael.garmston@mowdenpark.com.

Darlington Building Society Offer Safety Blanket To Project Linus

By on 14th February 2016in Local Biz

The Stockton branch of Darlington Building Society is helping to bring comfort to the babies of North Tees Hospital’s neonatal unit and their children’s ward…

The High Street branch has made a £250 donation to the local branch of Project Linus, a national volunteer organisation that creates quilts for babies, children and teenagers who are ill or traumatised.

The total was a combination of money raised from a member raffle, and also a further donation from the Society’s community fund. The money will be used to purchase the fabric used by the Stockton-On-Tees arm of the charity to create the bespoke quilts.

The branch decided to support the charity after regular customer and local coordinator for Project Linus, Marjorie Cook, made them aware of its work.

Marjorie Cook, Stockton area coordinator of Project Linus, said: “We’re very grateful to Darlington Building Society and its customers for the very kind donation.

“The money will be used to purchase the fabric that our network of volunteers use to sew quilts destined for North Tees Hospital’s neonatal Unit and Children’s wards.

“The quilts are used to brighten the cots and beds whilst they are in hospital, and are given to the parents to take home once a baby or child is well enough to be discharged.

“We want to provide comfort to as many poorly babies and children as possible, but because each quilt is gifted individually, there is always a demand for us to provide more.

“We say that a quilt is a hug you can keep, and I think the physical reassurance that comes from being snuggled up is something everyone can relate to.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers. You don’t need to be an expert sewer to help. As long as you have your own machine and a little spare time, you can become part of Project Linus.”

Dawn Moore, Branch Manager at Darlington Building Society, said: “We made the decision to support Project Linus after Marjorie and I got talking over the counter. She talked so passionately about Project Linus that it touched all of our hearts.

“Darlington Building Society is committed to making a positive impact in our local communities, and the fact that the quilts go to a local hospital meant we were only too happy to help.

“We hope that we can continue to support Project Linus throughout 2016 as Darlington Building Society celebrates 160 years supporting local people.”

Alex Nelson’s Places To Go: Bishop Auckland

By on 10th February 2016in Have Your Say

Stationmaster Alex Nelson has been suggesting places to go by train every month for ten years. This month, he’s headed to Bishop Auckland…

Great things are afoot in Bishop Auckland!

Last year I spent an hour with Jonathan Ruffer, the visionary wealth manager and barrister who bought the 13 paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons in Auckland Castle from the Church Commissioners, and then bought the Castle to keep them in. The Castle and tearooms have been closed for winter maintenance during January, but are now back open. Throughout the year, they are open every day except Tuesdays, and the admission is £6 for adults, free for under 16s.

Auckland Castle offers guided tours at 11.30 and 14.30 every day (no extra charge), excluding Tuesdays, where you can see the splendid rooms and vistas, as well as the paintings by Francisco de Zurburan (1598-1664). There are other events throughout the year (details on the website), including the popular Bishop Auckland Food Festival, which this year is on 23rd/24th April. A walk in the park costs nothing, although you might get your shoes rather muddy, so take boots. The Deer Shelter is in the care of English Heritage, but there is no charge to walk round it.

Ten trains a day run to Bishop Auckland, which is a branch from the main line at Darlington. So to get there, head for Darlington first. A visit to Bishop Auckland can easily be combined with a free visit to Locomotion, the branch of the National Railway Museum. On arrival at Bishop Auckland, walk up Newgate Street, which is the straight shopping street heading north to the Market Place, and turn right for Auckland Castle where the Bishop of Durham still has an office (although he lives elsewhere in the town).

It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the Castle, which is the focal point of a one-man effort to regenerate a whole town. Even the mediocre old Postchaise and Queen’s Head hotels are being remodelled to create one single mid-market boutique hotel. Already there are 30,000 visitors a year now, compared to 800 when the Bishops were in residence.

Jonathan Ruffer said to me: “I don’t want it to be interesting. I want it to be astonishing.”

This summer, there’s something really astonishing: an epic production on the land to the north of the Castle called KYNREN, the epic story of England, covering 2,000 years on a 7.5 acre stage including a large lake, and 1,000 performers and crew. The scale is truly breathtaking. I saw progress on the site even during my hour with Mr. Ruffer. KYNREN will be performed on 14 occasions over the summer of 2016, starting from Saturday 2nd July until Saturday 17th September. It’s on various Fridays, Saturdays and one Sunday (28th August), and tickets are available now. This is a live action night show that starts as late as 21.30 and finishes 90 minutes later. If you think ‘2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony’, you’ll be thinking along the right lines.

In other news…

Keep the date: Sunday 13th March!

I’m organising a mass visit by train to Teesside Airport station, to ensure it is not the least used station on the National Rail network in 2015/16. The only train of the week leaves Darlington station at 11.05, and you can spend just over an hour at the airport before joining the only train back at 12.35. For one of the weirdest excursions of the year, suitable for children, led by an experienced team… full details soon!

Alex Nelson
Stationmaster

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