Durham Magazine - February / March 2018 by Durham Magazine

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DURHAM

Photo By - Barrington William Kirkham III

February / March 2018 - Issue 20

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Editorial - February / March 2018

Welcome

Hello Durham,

Welcome to another free edition of the Durham Magazine this February.

story - We’ll give you full credit and you’ll share your work with a whole new audience. Warmest regards,

We’ve got numerous stories and news to share with you in this edition.

Best wishes from everyone here at Durham Magazine and the entire Firefly New Media team

A number of family activities are planned in Durham Parks this half term on page 5. Local historian Brian Harrison visits the historical Blackhill Park in Consett on page 6. We have a photography showcase from local sutdent Rebecca Gibson on page 8. This and much more in this packed February / March issue.

Got a business located in County Durham? Looking to expand your reach locally? Durham Magazine is published each month by Firefly New Media UK based right here in County Durham.

We’d like to thank Barrington William Kirkham III for contributing this month’s front Cover photograph of Medomsley in the Snow, keep them coming. If you’d like to see your photograph or story published on the front cover of next month’s magazine, simply email editor@durhammagazine.com with a high quality image and/or your

We’re able to help you market your products and/or services to people in your area (we now publish 6 online & print magazines throughout the North East, provide web and design services, and much more.) Simply call Marco on 0800 955 122 on how to increase your sales and boost your business in 2018.

Contributors Brian Harrison Audrey Rogan Neil Collins David Sunderland Alex Nelson Glenn Maltman Roger Langley Andy Potts Rebecca Gibson

Content and advertising team Barry Kirkham Marco Elsy Firefly New Media UK

Advertising Info sales@durhammagazine.co.uk

How do I submit news, stories, events, or photographs?

How do I advertise my business in Durham?

Email us at:

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Call us on 0191 394 1266

Disclaimer: Durham Magazine and durhammagazine.co.uk make sure to only use reliable sources and we try to verify all content as much as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. All details are believed to be correct at the time of printing. We recommend that readers check information with any venue about times and dates of events in advance. Readers are welcome to send photographs, letters and other content to Durham Magazine and Firefly New Media UK but we cannot guarantee they will be featured in the publication. Firefly New Media UK reserves the right to neither use submitted material in print and online publications nor return it. The views and opinions expressed in advertisements and content do not reflect that of Durham Magazine and Firefly New Media UK. No part of this publication/website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from Firefly New Media UK. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.

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Families are in for a treat this February half term with events and activities for both children and adults in County Durham parks. Artist Kay Henderson will be visiting Wharton Park to deliver a children’s ceramic workshop on Thursday 15 February and an adult’s ceramic workshop on Saturday 17 February. Attendees will be provided with a brick of clay, donated by Ibstock Brick in Birtley, and will learn the techniques of working with the material to mould it into a masterpiece.

Both workshops take place from 11am to 3pm and booking is essential. Tickets for the children’s workshop

are priced at £8.50 per child (5-16 years) and children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets for the adult’s workshop are priced at £12 per person and bookings for both workshops can be made by contacting Wharton Park on 03000 262 655. As part of National Nest Box Week 2018 Hardwick Park is inviting families to a bird-box making event on Saturday 17 February. All materials will be provided and children will work with the park rangers to build a wooden bird box to leave in the park or take home. Timeslots are available between 10am and 2.30pm and booking is essential. Places can be booked by contacting Hardwick Park on 03000 262 899.

The event is priced at £5 per box and children must be accompanied by an adult. Both parks also have Valentine-themed art and craft family sessions during half term. Lovebirds crafts will be on at Hardwick Park on Wednesday 14 February and Queen of Hearts crafts will take place at Wharton Park on Friday 16 February. Both events are drop-in between 11.00am and 3.00pm and are open to all ages. The sessions are priced at £3 per child. For more information and to find out about other events at Wharton Park and Hardwick Park visit www.durham.gov.uk/whartonpark or www.durham.gov.uk/hardwickpark

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The artwork will be taken away to be fired and then returned to the park for collection.

Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Family fun at parks this half term

6 Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Little Edwards Little Edwards- By Brian Harrison

Blackhill & Consett Park was opened on 17th July 1891 and gifted to the people of the area by the Directors of the Consett Iron Company. The park consisted of 30 acres of reclaimed land of which the design and overseeing of works was entrusted to one of the companies main engineering draughtsman at the time, George J Edwards.

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From information given by his daughter Miss Peggy Edwards, and from old letters sent to the Consett Guardian in 1941, George spent a full 9 months pegging out roads, drains and organising the landscape projects and builds. At the same time Mr Smith, a Highlander, was kept busy planting some 42 thousand trees and shrubs. It was an epic undertaking but one which evidently has stood the test of time.

In his letter to the Consett Guardian he talked about 2 of the trees which had been planted in 1894 either side of the Bandstand, one by Mrs Dale wife of Mr Dale the CIC Director and the other by Mr T Siddell both trees being majestic Siberian Elms. There was also initial plans for expansion of the existing park by means of a fish pond toward the far end, in the field next to Mr Askew 's Farm (near Blackfyne House). However due to a rough element in the District and the way the park had been treated by them the Directors of the Works changed their minds. George was a Welshman based at the Dowlais Iron Works and had been head hunted by Mr Jenkins, then manager of the Works, and who was also a former employee of Dowlais. George revelled in his new home taking up residence in

Blackhill were he remained till his death in 1946 aged 85 years.

A small fountain in the park of a young boy was actually known locally as “Little Edwards” in dedication to the man. Lost during the war years and initially thought scrapped it was tracked down by a friend of George's daughter in the 1990's in storage at a Stanley depot. So she began to try and save the fountain. A quest which became very successful having “Little Edward” reinstalled back into the Park as part of the redevelopment. Unfortunately due to another rough element some 120 years later “Little Edward” has been removed once again leaving only the bowled plinth and a plaque to commemorate its existence.

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Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Community choirs in fine voice for Durham Vocal Festival Community choirs from across the North of England got ready to take part in a unique concert at Durham Cathedral earlier this month.

Home is where your cat is By Rebecca Gibson Hi, my name is Rebecca. I am a student at New College Durham, studying Visual Arts. My photography is showcased here in collaboration with a pop up series exhibition project. The pop up series exhibition, named “birth of the unknown” is a group project in Durham City done over a week where we have to plan our own work to be shown on a day during the week 19th-23th FEBRUARY.

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This photograph I took was taken in Leeds, West Yorkshire when visiting family. Me and my family were walking along a river at which point I happened to be carrying my camera. There was an old looking house to the left of us, it did look abandoned so I was very interested in going to investigate. I didn’t get very far, as we walked further along

the river there was a window. In the window was a sleeping cat. It looked so comfy and peaceful. At that moment I knew it was not an abandoned building but it was someone’s home. I took the shot of the sleeping cat. The moment I got the shot the blinds came down indicating it defiantly was someone’s home. Looking at the image on my camera, I instantly fell in love with this photograph. Along side the memories that I have when taking this photograph and the final outcome could possibly make it one of my favourite personal photographs. Having cats my self at home, I know that home is where my cats are therefore I titled my photograph “Home is where your cat is”.

The twelve choirs performed with acapella ensemble Apollo 5 as part of this year’s Durham Vocal Festival, the first time so many community choirs have performed together at the iconic cathedral. The celebration of grass roots choral music involved around 400 singers, with each choir performing individually as well as three joint performances with Apollo 5. Duncan Brown, conductor of the concert, said: “This concert is a joyful celebration of the diversity and high standards of the region’s community choirs whose music includes folk, music, light classics, pop music and newly commissioned works. “We wanted to show just how passionate and committed these choirs are to singing and what a stunning musical resource they are for the region.” Choral singing in Durham has a fantastically long and rich history with choristers, and before them monks, singing daily in Durham Cathedral for over 600 years.

Business Spotlight Firefly New Media was started in mid 2010 in Consett, County Durham. The company was established to provide website and graphic design service, but quickly diversified into print, advertising, and magazine publishing. Barry Kirkham, Firefly’s founder wanted to create a magazine in Consett to publish local interest stories and connect the community with a media outlet. Consett Magazine Issue 1 was published in August 2012 - 10,000 magazines were printed and distributed throughout the town. The magazine quickly became an integral part of the community and a place readers could learn about what’s happening in Consett and the DH8 area.

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Talk to focus on photos of First World War trench raid The story behind rare photographs of a First World War trench raid in progress will be revealed during a talk next week. Taken by a Royal Flying Corps warplane, the images show a September 1917 raid by soldiers on a German trench at Chérisy, in northern France. Copies of the photos, which are the only known images of a trench raid taking place, are already on display at Durham County Record Office as part of the exhibition ‘All of a sudden, hell let loose – the trench raid at Chérisy, 15 September 1917’.

Steve, who also curated the exhibition, will talk specifically about the photos and a selection of maps.

“The raid also had an important outcome as it is believed that Lt Col Roland Bradford, from Witton Park, received a promotion to become the youngest general in the British Army, as a result of his involvement.” Tickets for the talk, which runs from 12.30pm to 1.15pm, are priced at £2 per person. To book, call 03000 267 626. The exhibition also includes copies of original maps, documents and photographs from the DLI’s archive, which is cared for by Durham County Record Office on behalf of the Trustees of the DLI Collection. The free exhibition is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm until mid-2018.

The city is no stranger to success in the competition having scooped triple golds in 2014, 2015 and 2016 – competing in the ‘Champion of Champions’ category in the latter. The ‘Durham in Bloom’ campaign is a joint project between Durham County Council and community groups such as local businesses, residents, volunteers and schools. Together the partners lovingly cultivate floral displays and run environmental projects. This year’s campaign, which launches in spring, will see hundreds of volunteer hours dedicated to sustainable improvement schemes aimed at fostering community spirit and civic pride. It will see the return of Durham’s popular 3D floral sculptures – a Bishop’s Mitre and St Cuthbert’s Cross installation. A new poppy feature at Leazes Bowl roundabout will also mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

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To coincide with the exhibition, military historian Steve Shannon will give an illustrated talk about the raid by Durham Light Infantry soldiers, at the record office on Thursday, 15 February.

“The raid is largely forgotten today, submerged beneath the horrors of the Somme and Passchendale but it is unique, not only because of the number of soldiers involved but because the photographs showing it in progress are so rare,” he said.

Durham is going for gold in the final of the 2018 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition, where it is shortlisted in the Small City category.

Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Durham City is in the running for a prestigious national title in recognition of its bloomin’ marvellous gardens.

Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Places to Go: A Journey coming to an End This series has been running in some publications since 2002, encouraging people to take to the rails from their local station, and visit places of interest throughout the United Kingdom, sometimes even to Eire and continental Europe. Some articles have led to groups travelling by train as a result, perhaps away just for the day, or for nights away to enjoy an area in more depth. The series started with Saltburn by the Sea, always a favourite, and led to a large group taking the train, changing at Darlington where my daughter, then quite small, wanted to go to the toilet. The connecting train left on time minus said daughter who arrived at Saltburn half an hour later with Pauline, now my wife.

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I have always researched places personally and have only once had to admit defeat in finding interesting things to do. This was at Northallerton where the town has plenty of coffee shops and retailers, but that alone does not make a day out. Thirsk was much more interesting. Years later two of my apprentices (Henry and Ali from Eaglescliffe station) had a great day out on the Wensleydale Railway from Northallerton West, with a walk over the fields to visit Castle Bolton. Tickets to most of my recommended destinations can be purchased from

Chester-le-Track, which runs two stations at Chester-le-Street (since 1999) and Eaglescliffe (since 2011). We currently have five staff at CLS and three at EAG, five men and three women, six of whom were recruited as apprentices, some direct from school, who have learned how to plan journeys and issue tickets throughout the UK. We book to 2,563 stations in Great Britain, more in Northern Ireland, more PlusBus destinations, airport coaches, Metro stations and other light rail services, and pioneered the sale of Oyster cards outside London in 2006. At first, though, Transport for London were not keen on us reselling Oysters and summoned me to their 55, Broadway HQ for a dressing down. We won in the longer term: anybody in the travel trade can now place an order at 13% commission. Time has moved on. Contactless cards valid on buses, trains and tubes are now a better deal than Oyster pay-as-you-go. They are even now accepted on buses and Metro in the north east, as well as at CLS and EAG. A combination of higher internet sales with special internet-only offers, forthcoming introduction of on-platform electronic ticket machines, stalling demand for rail travel, falling or insufficient revenues, new smart cards appearing soon (a north-east

version of Oyster), withdrawal of support for our current office ticket machines, and minimum wage leapfrogging our rates of pay prompted the decision to close. The is little prospect of improvement in any of the above situations.

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Work to maintain a busy road and to preserve cobbles on a popular city centre route are to take place in the coming weeks. The schemes at Neville’s Cross and Owengate in Durham City are among those being carried out around the county in February, which also include resurfacing work at Shotton Colliery and Sedgefield. The projects, all part of Durham County Council’s capital maintenance programme, begin at Neville’s Cross where expansion joints on the A167 road bridge over the East Coast Main Line are being replaced.

Work will be phased to prevent the need for a road closure and will be carried out between 7am and 7pm daily. Access will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the scheme, with any work affecting footpaths

The scheme at Sedgefield is preparatory work on the A689 Beacon Lane ahead of resurfacing. The work will run from Monday 12 to Friday 23 February and will see lane closures throughout. Motorists are advised to allow extra time if travelling the route. The resurfacing will take place in March. The resurfacing at Shotton Colliery takes place at Station Road between Monday 12 and Thursday 15 February. Work will take place between 7am and 7pm with phased road closures and diversions in place.

Owengate will be closed to traffic Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm while the work is taking place. The Cathedral Bus will follow an alternative route to the rear of the attraction. The work is the second of three phases of a scheme to refurbish Owengate, the first of which saw its footpaths widened to improve disabled access. Further information is available at durham.gov.uk/owengate Brian Buckley, the council’s strategic highways manager, said: “Neville’s Cross Bridge carries thousands of vehicles each day and its joints accommodate every movement, expansion and shrinkage caused by the vibrations of the traffic and changes in temperature.

The scheme at Owengate begins on Monday 26 February and will see the road’s cobbles taken up and taken away for cleaning.

“It’s therefore really important that we replace these joints, while the work at Owengate will ensure the cobbles are in the best possible condition for everyone who uses this popular route.

The work will run until late March and will see a temporary surface put down until the cobbles are relaid in the summer.

“We have planned all these schemes to keep disruption to a minimum and ask that people bear with us while we deliver them.”

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The work will take place from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 February, with these dates chosen to coincide with school half term holidays when roads are quieter to minimise disruption. Motorists are warned however there may be some delays at peak times.

to take place on one side of the road only at any one time, as it will be for emergency vehicles. Further work to the bridge’s barriers is scheduled for the school Easter holidays. More information about the scheme can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/nevillesc rossbridge

Your Free February / March 2018 Durham Magazine

Maintaining County Durham’s highways network

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