Tag: featured

Further Plans For Future Of DLI Museum Proposed

By on 16th December 2015in Local Biz

Councillors have received reassurance that plans for the future of the DLI collection will provide a fitting and lasting tribute to the regiment…

A special meeting of Durham County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Board heard details of how the authority plans to continue to honour the region’s military history at a time when it must find nearly another £140m of savings from its yearly budget.

In a near two hour session, the council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture Cllr Neil Foster, corporate director for neighbourhoods Terry Collins, head of culture and sport Steve Howell, and chair of the DLI Trustees James Ramsbotham, moved to allay many of the fears expressed since the move away from the collection’s current Aykley Heads home was announced in October.

Through both a comprehensive presentation and responses to questions, the meeting – which was open to the public – heard that:

  • The council is continuing to consult with campaigners, veterans and other interested parties about what can be done to honour the regiment going forward.
  • Durham County Council has received backing for its plans from the Army Museums Ogilvy Trust, which said the authority’s plans “demonstrate a clear commitment to the collection.”
  • The DLI collection will be kept together, not broken up, and be more publicly accessible than before.
  • This will include a free exhibition on the History of the DLI – compared to a £5.45 adult entry fee for the current museum – lasting for at least five years.
  • The proposals will also include a new, not currently available, “on demand” service for families who wish to see artefacts at Sevenhills.
  • Moving the collection will allow curators to spend more time focussing on their work, rather than having to deal with an ageing building, meaning they can concentrate on bringing the DLI story to the widest possible audience.
  • With the museum vacated, the building will be assessed and – if appropriate – declared surplus to the requirements of the council’s culture and sport department. At that stage, it would then be considered for other alternative uses – but there are no current plans for the site or the building. There is a strong aspiration to maintain the landscape.
  • The site of the DLI Museum will see memorial benches remain, and the council is open to exploring whether a new permanent memorial could be created at Aykley Heads.
  • Discussions have taken place over ashes which have been scattered near to the present museum, with a range of options for how to sensitively handle those remains being explored.
  • As part of the proposals, the council has made a commitment to the DLI collection to invest £70,000 a year in funding for at least five years, at a time when it must find nearly £140m more in annual savings. That would include education officers being kept on to take the DLI story into classrooms.
  • An extensive programme of events, including plays, musical performances and an interactive theatrical experience, have been commissioned alongside the already announced ‘History of the DLI’ and ‘Somme 1916’ exhibitions in the next 12 months.
  • The art gallery currently housed alongside the collection will see exhibitions taken on a county wide tour in 2016, while a permanent home is found for it.

James Ramsbotham, the chair of the DLI Trustees, said he felt a “very heavy responsibility” to do the best for a collection that “means so much to so many people,” but that the plans offered a “sustainable and exciting future.”

“There is a much wider story to tell,” he said. “And if we want to continue to engage people, we have got to do something more dynamic to bring people back again and again.

“We need to refresh and be forward looking, much like the DLI was.

“We need to move away from a building that is in the wrong place and look to do things better; to do something that will ensure the DLI lives long in the hearts of the county.”

 

Cllr Neil Foster said: “Necessity is the mother of invention, and you’ve only got to look at the challenges we have now and the continued financial pressures in the years to come to see we have to go out and be innovative.”

The DLI collection includes over 4,000 medals, 1,100 uniform related items, 2,600 examples of weapons and ammunition, more than 400 pieces of equipment, and over 400 relics, as well as extensive records and documents.

Steve Howell, the council’s head of culture and sport, said: “We are keeping the DLI collection together. I’ve had a lot of letters about it and heard the rumours that we are looking to split the collection up, but that is absolutely not true.

“We’ll be retaining and maintaining it as a single collection, regardless of where it is on display. That is how many national collections work – items go out, they are used to tell their stories, and then they come back.

“It’s not just going to be put in a box in Spennymoor, it is going to be maintained with proper curatorial skills so the story can continue to be told and live on.”

The meeting also heard further details of plans for events linked to the DLI and the current World War One centenary.

Steve said: “These are things we would never be able to do in the museum, and are not something we could do while we have to spend so much on the current building.”

Discussions will also continue, with public input, as to what is included in the free, five year History of the DLI exhibition on Palace Green, around future exhibitions, and about what happens after the initial five years.

The plans have been backed by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT), an organisation that supports and promotes 139 regimental collections, including that of the DLI, which said it would work with all the interested parties and help where it can to create a secure future for the collection.

In a statement AMOT said: “We believe Durham’s proposals demonstrate a clear commitment to the collection.

“Durham has been generous over many years and we know there is the will to make sure the DLI has a secure future.

“Durham is unusual in the length and depth of support it gives, and this will remain the case with future arrangements.

“Durham’s proposals are quantifiably better than those for other collections at risk.”

Updates on how work is progressing will be presented back to Overview and Scrutiny in both three and six months’ time.

To hear from those campaigning to save the DLI Museum, read their stories here:

Atlantean: The Weather Is Snow Joke

By on 15th December 2015in Have Your Say

Long time In & Around contributor Atlantean takes a moment to reflect on what happens following the recent Paris conference…

 

January is a time for New Year’s resolutions.

Following the climate change conference in Paris, the world has one very big resolution to uphold, and it’s signed up to by 195 countries. In mid-December, environmental campaigners Greenpeace asked its supporters which of the following issues were most important to them:

  • Health of the Oceans
  • War and Conflict
  • Corporate Excess
  • Melting of the Arctic
  • Political Corruption
  • Unemployment
  • Global Poverty
  • Deforestation
  • Fracking

If you think about the importance of all these issues for a moment, it’ll make your head spin. When I was a lad, we worried about cold war annihilation, world population growth (then only at 4 billion), and whether the next ice age was on the way.

This year, when winter hit on the afternoon of 12th December, many motorists and householders were caught out. A few years ago, snow rarely came before early January, and it seems many people were completely unprepared to drive in snowy conditions, crawling around at 15mph when conditions demanded faster – but careful – driving… particularly when going up hills. Who had a shovel and de-icer in their cars? Or were prepared with gloves and scarves?

Sat-Navs were overloaded with red and yellow congestion warnings around the region, but why is it that whenever snow falls, so many drivers abandon all use of indicators and signals?

By the next day, a general thaw had helped to ease the situation, and perhaps some of those people who had resolved to buy snow tyres for their vehicles actually then did so. They make a big difference to Mrs. Atlantean’s car (my own vehicle being parked in disgrace after the emissions scandal of last month).

With climate change comes the expectation of much more extreme weather on its way. More snowfall, more heavy rain, and more flooding. We’re seeing evidence of it all the time, yet the naysayers can still be heard. It’s highly convenient to be a climate change denier, since you don’t actually have to do anything, but for how long can we ignore what is happening right in front of us?

Ask yourself… where is the harm in turning down the heating and wearing a thicker jumper? Where is the harm in parking the car and trying public transport?

If we accept that it is happening, and that it is the fault of mankind, then we can move on to the more important questions… like are we past the tipping point already? Can global warming be prevented, or is our only option now to limit the damage we’re causing?

I have sad news for those poor people who have been flooded out twice in places like Cumbria over the last few years. Get used to the idea that it will probably happen again very soon.

Ramside Spa Celebrates 12 Days Of Christmas With Festive Prizes

By on 15th December 2015in Lifestyle

There may not be any maids a-milking or geese a-laying, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty on offer at one of the North East’s leading spas this Christmas…

The Spa at Ramside, Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham – which opened earlier this year – will be running a special prize draw from December 12th until December 24th.

The 12 Days of Christmas, which started at the weekend, gives anyone who books a visit to the venue’s state-of-the-art spa the chance to enter the prize draw and win some special upgrades and added extras.

One name will be drawn each day, with the winner then selecting one of the 12 baubles behind the spa reception, each of which contains a unique prize.

“The festive season is all about giving a little bit extra, and that is what the 12 Days of Christmas prize draw is all about,” said Jill Russell, the spa director at Ramside Hall Hotel.

“The prizes that are up for grabs will make a great early Christmas present for some of our guests.

“There’s so much on offer at the spa this Christmas, and hopefully this will help to make our winners’ visits extra special.”

Throughout the festive season, the Spa at Ramside will also be running a selection of Christmas spa packages, designed to help visitors unwind during the festive season.

The Sleep and Beauty package and The Lady and The Vamp package includes use of the spa facilities until 5pm, a choice of treatments and a two course lunch in the Fusion Spa Restaurant.

Guests looking to use the spa facilities in the afternoon can opt for The Beauty and the Feast package, which includes use of the spa facilities for three hours, a choice of either a 45 minute personalised facial or a back, neck and shoulder massage and a spa afternoon tea.

There is also a number of packages available between Christmas and New Year, including the Twixmas Treat, the Winter Warmer, the Winter Wonderland and Rock that Resolution.

All the packages include a welcome smoothie on arrival, a choice of treatments, and complimentary use of robes and spa flip flops.

Prices start from £75 per person, and packages are subject to availability.

For more information about the festive packages available at The Spa at Ramside, visit www.ramsidespa.co.uk or contact the spa reception on 0191 375 3088.

Have Your Say: Household Poll On Devolution Agreed

By on 14th December 2015in Have Your Say

Residents eligible to vote in County Durham will be asked for their views on the North East’s devolution agreement via a postal vote in January…

 

A pack, including information on the agreement from Government to the North East Combined Authority, and questions prepared by Durham University, together with details on how to take part, will be sent to all people registered to vote in the county.

The approach was agreed by Durham County Council members at a meeting of Full Council on December 9th, and will be funded from the council’s revenue contingency budget.

The proposed devolution agreement was negotiated with Government by the North East Combined Authority, which is made up of the seven councils covering Gateshead, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham.

It would see decisions about transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning being made in the North East instead of in London.

It would also bring an additional £30m a year over the next 30 years, which would be pumped into the regional economy through investment, job creation, transport improvement and more targeted skills training.

The proposed devolution agreement which has been signed is conditional on further public consultation, the Government’s spending review, legislation passing through Parliament, and agreement by each of the seven councils in the Combined Authority.

The results of the poll in County Durham will not be binding, but they will help to inform the county council’s decision.

Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “Consultation with residents is really important to us. It’s vital we understand how decisions affect people, and the devolution agreement contains some really big changes for the region.

“It includes decisions about transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning being made here in the region.

“However, the Government has since made it clear that any devolution agreements will also involve the creation of a regional elected mayor to oversee and be accountable for those decisions.

“I would therefore encourage everyone who is eligible to vote in the county to let us know what they think via this poll once they’ve received the information pack from mid-January.

“Responses can be made via post or online, with feedback brought to our Full Council meeting at the end of February.”

The questions devised by experts at Durham University are:

  1. The Devolution Deal would mean that more decisions about spending on public services would be made in the North East, rather than by the Government in London. Do you think that devolving some power and resources to the North East would:
  • Be a step in the right direction?
  • Make little or no difference?
  • Be the wrong thing to do?
  • I don’t know.
  1. If we agree the Devolution Deal we would have to have a North East Elected Mayor. The Mayor would be directly elected by voters across the North East area and would chair the Combined Authority, made up of Council Leaders. It’s not yet clear how powerful the Mayor would be. If the Deal goes ahead, how powerful should the Mayor be? Do you think the Mayor should be someone who:
  • Has quite a lot of power and influence – perhaps coming to be seen as someone who represents the voice of the North East area?
  • Has limited power and influence – someone who chairs the Combined Authority but does not have a major role representing the area?
  • I don’t know.
  1. The Devolution Deal would only cover some issues – some aspects of business support, post-16 education and training, transport, and housing. If the Deal does go ahead, do you think we should then try to get additional powers and resources devolved to the North East?
  • No, I wouldn’t want to see more devolution
  • I’m not sure. It depends, let’s wait and see.
  • Yes, I would like to see more devolution.
  • I don’t know.
  1. The Devolution Deal is intended to improve our economy and create more and better jobs. But do you think it will make much difference? If the Deal does go ahead, do you think it will:
  • Help to bring more prosperity and more jobs to County Durham?
  • Have little or no impact on prosperity and jobs in County Durham?
  • Lead to less prosperity and fewer jobs in County Durham?
  • I don’t know.

The paper agreed by county council members can be viewed here.

North East Artist Uses Powerful Designs To Help SSI Families

By on 14th December 2015in In & Around

A North East artist wants to help families affected by the closure of SSI by donating 10% of profits he makes from the sale of his artwork…

Graphic designer Graeme Hall has created a series of 150 powerful, limited edition designs depicting the closure of Consett Steelworks, which saw 4,500 people lose their jobs in September 1980.

Having grown up around Consett, the father-of-two witnessed first-hand the devastating impact that such a closure has on a community, which is one of the reasons he has decided to donate to the Teesside Steel Appeal.

Graeme, 43, has also been inspired by the actions of 10-year-old Ben Hebden, from Marske, who started a fund to give a Christmas party and other treats to steelworkers’ children.

He said: “When I saw in the news that this young lad was doing an extremely generous thing to help those affected by the closure of SSI, I thought why can’t I raise some money to show my support for them?

“When the Consett Steelworks shut down, the impact it had on the community was huge, and it took years for the town to recover.

“I knew people who were personally hit by the closure back then, but I couldn’t really help the way I wanted to.

“This time, I can do something to help, even if it makes Christmas better for just one family.”

Each of Graeme’s designs has been created to capture the significant moment in the region’s history, while emphasizing the scale of the steelworks and showing how it dominated Consett.

Taking anything between eight hours and a couple of days to produce, Graeme has used an abundance of reds to portray the processes which were used when the steelworks was running and often left a red glow over Consett.

Having worked as a graphic designer for the last 20 years, Graeme – who is a director of award winning branding and graphic design studio Designs Unique – always knew he wanted to pursue a career in art from a young age.

Although he has never sold any of his work in the past, Graeme currently has designs displayed in Consett’s The Glass and Art Gallery, and now hopes his work will find its place in houses across the North East, while helping SSI families enjoy their Christmas.

To order or enquire about a design, email www.uniquely-yours.co.uk.

There are four different designs available, which come in A3 and cost £45 (double mounted) and £98 (framed).

Ramside Spa Offers Relaxing Alternative To Boxing Day Dip

By on 13th December 2015in Lifestyle

North East people who don’t want to brave the cold of the sea on Boxing Day are being offered a warmer alternative by the region’s top spa…

The award-winning Spa at Ramside, at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham, has unveiled a special Boxing Day package which includes doing a very different kind of dipping.

Guests can book in for a special spa day which includes a welcome drink on arrival, full use of the spa facilities, and a choice of either a two course brunch or a spa Asian-inspired afternoon tea.

The package costs £65 per person, with an additional attraction for groups of between four and eight people – exclusive use of the balcony infinity pool for an hour.

A number of extras can also be added to the package at £30 each, including a 30 minute back or foot massage, a 30 min salt and oil scrub, or an express facial.

“Boxing Day is a time when people often just want to chill out after the excesses of Christmas Day,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“And not everyone is brave enough to go into the sea, so our Boxing Day is a much warmer alternative!”

Bookings for the Boxing Day package can be made by contacting the spa on 0191 375 3088, or by emailing enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk.

Xmas Recipe: Gingerbread Christmas Trees

By on 12th December 2015in Food & Drink, Lifestyle

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like gingerbread…

 

Ingredients:

  • 120g Greenvale Unsalted Butter
  • 150g The Pantry Demerara Sugar
  • 150g Grandessa Honey
  • 350g The Pantry Plain Flour
  • 1 tsp The Pantry Bicarbonate of Soda
  • 3 tsp Stonemill Ground Ginger
  • 1 tsp Stonemill Ground Cinnamon

To Decorate:

  • 100g Icing Sugar, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tbsp Water
  • Silver Ball Decorations

Method:

To begin with, slowly melt the butter, sugar and honey in a pan, then sieve together all of the remaining ingredients. When the sugar, butter and honey have completely melted, they can be added to the dry ingredients and mixed until well combined.

When the dough is cool enough to handle, knead and form a ball, and then leave it in the fridge (wrapped in cling film) for half an hour to become more manageable.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas mark 6.

When the dough has cooled, roll it out between two pieces of greaseproof paper to about half a centimetre thick, and – using 3 different sized star cutters – cut out 4 large stars, 4 medium stars and 8 small stars.

Place the stars on a baking tray and press the dough back together. Roll it out again and cut out the same amount of stars.

Bake them for 4-8 minutes (you may have to remove the smaller stars earlier as the larger ones will take longer to cook).

While the biscuits cool, make the icing by mixing the icing sugar and water.

To complete the gingerbread Christmas trees, place a small amount of icing on a big star, and then stack the stars on top of each other in size order, using the icing to bind them together.

Decorate with a dusting of icing sugar and the silver balls.

Makes:

  • 4 large or 8 small trees

Ready:

  • 20 minutes

Prep Time:

  • 10 minutes

Cook Time:

  • 8 minutes

Have you followed this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!

Rent A Cop Episode Seven: Twitter Turns On Francis

By on 11th December 2015in Entertainment, Film & TV

Episode seven of ‘Rent A Cop’ just aired. What do we think?

Well… we enjoyed it.

Francis has been up to his usual shenanigans in this week’s episode, taking charge of event security at Middlesbrough’s balloon festival, and on the hunt for a mischievous fish burglar. It’s a fine display of professionalism and dedication, especially considering he spends the latter half of the show with his arm in a sling.

Meanwhile, and despite having lost his job last week, Pembow is still out on the hunt for new business, doing his best to give away free promotional Sparta Security stickers. Admittedly, his efforts were largely unsuccessful, but fair play to the lad for his determination. A phone conversation between him and Francis reveals that he finally moves on and finds himself new emplyment in industrial cleaning.

Best of luck to him! But will we see him again?

Following Pembow’s dismissal, Francis is forced to pull together a band of local security experts to run operations. A selection of Darlington’s finest attend Sparta interviews, but sadly none quite make the cut.

 

As usual, the episode is packed full of laughs and – of course – Francis’ now famous one-liners, but the tides of opinion seem to be changing over on social media.

On Twitter, comments have been less-than encouraging…

Still, it can’t be all bad, as Francis is now such a huge TV star that he even has his own parody account. You can follow it here: @FrancisJonesNOT.

There’s just one episode left in the series, but with news of a Christmas special on the way, there should be plenty of Francis left to go around. The question is… will he catch the nuisance bikers before the series is out? We really, really hope so…

If you missed episode seven, it’s now available on BBC iPlayer.

To read our write-ups on previous episodes, click here.

What do you think of Rent A Cop and Sparta Security? Well-intentioned and genius, or ridiculous and embarrassing? Leave your comments below!

#ThrowbackThursday: North East Police Vehicles From Yesteryear

By on 10th December 2015in Lifestyle

They just don’t make them like they used to…

North East Flickr user ‘Caesarion 1’ has over 200 photographs on his page, and many of them are a window into the region’s past.

Most of the photographs highlight the transport services of the time, giving us a glimpse of yesteryear’s buses and trains, making the rounds in Teesside and Northumbria. For locals who spent their formative years here, it’s one hell of a nostalgia trip.

Particularly notable, and featured in the slideshow gallery below, is an album containing 26 photographs of the North East’s old police vehicles, a lot of which would now be considered classics.

The album features police vehicles from the Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham forces, dating from the latter half of the 20th century.

View the gallery here:

 

Gems include a Durham Constabulary Rover SD1 from the 1980s, a Vauxhall Chevette serving at Teesside Airport, and a Cleveland Police Ford Transit.

See more of Caesarion 1’s classic photographs here.

Do you remember any of these classic police vehicles? Do you have photographs of your own to share? Leave a comment below, or email online@inandaroundmag.co.uk!

Gala Theatre Reveals Extensive Spring Events Lineup

By on 10th December 2015in Entertainment, Events

A pop icon, top comedians, and new work by The Gruffalo’s creators will take to the stage as part of the Gala Theatre’s jam-packed spring season…

Lulu, Chris Ramsey, Rob Delaney, and Mark Steel will all tread the boards alongside the likes of Stig of the Dump, Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch, and the Northern Ballet in a star-studded line up from January to April.

Robin Byers, Durham County Council’s service manager for place and experience, said: “We always aspire to bring the people of Durham the finest in theatre, comedy, music and film. Our spring programme is no exception, with highlights including performances from the internationally-renowned Lulu and Northern Stage’s adaptation of Get Carter.

“As well as live performance, we’re also continuing to showcase the best in British theatre courtesy of the National Theatre, and are delighted to bring world-class art exhibitions to our screens for the first time with the new Exhibition on Screen series.

“There’s plenty to keep our loyal customers entertained, whilst welcoming new audiences to Gala too.”

The season kicks off on Saturday 9th January with The Rat Pack Spectacular, before the Northern Ballet look to follow up its sell-out Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker shows with the Tortoise & The Hare on Wednesday 3rd February.

Nashville-based singer song-writer Gretchen Peters brings her 20th anniversary tour to Gala on Thursday 4th February, then playwright John Godber’s new comedy Shafted! will trace what happened to a couple from Yorkshire thirty years after the miner’s strike on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.

After the phenomenal success of last year’s The Phantom Of The Opera, the Gala Theatre Stage School return with an evening of song and dance in GTSS Goes To The Movies on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th February.

 

And Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch completes a stellar week with his performance of stripped down versions of the Merseyside band’s classic tracks, as well as his own solo songs, on Saturday 20th February.

March brings laughter in the shape of US comedian Rob Delaney, the star and co-creator of hit Channel 4 show Catastrophe, on Thursday 10th March.

And there’ll be plenty to shout about as Lulu stops by the Gala as part of her latest tour on Tuesday 15th March.

 

The comedy returns on Friday March 25th as North East stand up and former Hebburn star Chris Ramsey takes to the stage, closely followed by Have I Got News For You regular Mark Steel on Thursday 31st March.

In between the funny men, Gala has Easter weekend covered with a stage adaptation of the classic children’s novel Stig Of The Dump on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March.

The family fun continues on Thursday 31st March, with the latest show from The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales.

Meanwhile, a gritty crime drama, bringing to life the hard and uncompromising world of 1960s Newcastle, a city rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence, will see Northern Stage following in the footsteps of Michael Caine for an adaptation of Get Carter.

Rounding out the season, the Gala welcomes another heart-warming play packed with humour and great sixties songs in Tom Kelly’s Baby Love from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April, and an evening of folk music courtesy of local lads The Young’uns on Saturday 30th April.

As well as the performers on stage, the theatre will also have a number of special events on its cinema screen.

 

NT Live returns with broadcasts of the National Theatre’s productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Thursday 28th January and Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Monday 29th February.

Then, coming to the venue for the first time, Exhibition On Screen will bring films of art from The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and beyond to the heart of Durham.

Exhibitions on show will include the works of Goya, on Monday 22nd February; Renoir, on Monday 14th March; and Monet and Matisse, on Monday 18th April.

Tickets for all of these events and more can be bought by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, visiting the venue in person, or online at www.galadurham.co.uk.

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