Darlington Monthly October 19

Issue 75 - October 2019

What’s Inside

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

Feat ured Ar t i cles

Q&A –

Darlington Market to 20 Esmé Lauren be graced with new exhibition space

Film review – 36 Downton Abbey

42 What’s on this month

Darlington eyes Purple Flag status for its safe and enjoyable nights out

LOCAL BUSINESSES

LOCAL EVENTS COMPETITIONS

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Welcome to the October edition of Darlington Monthly!

October’s essentially just about Halloween, isn’t it? Nah – we definitely can’t agree with that. And neither will you, when you check out our ‘What’s on’ section on page 42, detailing some of the most interesting things going on in Darlington over the coming weeks.

But we’ve got so much more for you in this month’s issue of our free magazine than mere events listings! That’s because we’ve also served up such features as our reviewer Craig Lenaghan’s verdict on the eagerly anticipated Downton Abbey film adaptation on page 36, as well as – on page 14 – regular contributor Alex Nelson’s ‘Places to go...’ column, which this month covers Dundee.

Places to go...

Or perhaps you’re in the market for fashion-forward clothing for your little ones? In that case, you’ll definitely want to flick through to pages 20-21 for our exclusive Q&A with the Esmé Lauren brand, which – despite having only been established this year – is already commanding quite the reputation.

DUNDEE

10 14

A

highly enjoyable visit to Dundee galleries and an exhibition could be had without straying about designing prosthetic Before we say farewell now, from please make the most more than for 100 metres the do hands.

I particularly valued the spaces In the 1850s Dundee was growing newly rebuilt railway station. There is in which you are invited to it down and of our advertisers’ services, letting them know you found fast but had its share of poverty and the Royal Research Ship Discovery and browse through books and magazines. squalor and Bishop Alexander Forbes them throughthethe pages Darlington AsDiscovery for if you adjacent newof Victoria and AlbertMonthly!

The RRS was originally had a vision of a building which would museum, and visiting both would take moored in London and moved to would like to showcase your own business or organisation provide a refuge and inspiration for up much of a day trip. its port of construction in 1986 after Dundonians who lived in the city’s in our magazine, you can learn everything you need torotting know years gradually on the Thames. crowded tenements. Inside is the There are three direct trains a day from Dundee was where she was built in about the process by calling 07500 8281901, 396 or emailing memorial to James Chalmers, a local the north east to Dundee, operated and she is now in a purposestationery shop owner who invented

by LNER, which are trains running up built dry dock where the story is told of sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk. the adhesive postage stamp. The the coast to Aberdeen. Additional the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration organ installed in 1865, is maintained journey opportunities are available featuring such names as Robert Falcon

by Harrison and Harrison of Durham. changing to Scotrail at Scott and Shackleton and Please enjoy bythis month’s issue services and everything that Ernest October Edinburgh Waverley. The line crosses zoologist Edward Wilson. brings; we’ll be back in November, with even more of our usual This was not Sir George Gilbert Scott’s the silvery River Tay on a bridge only work in the city as he designed afterreading the first pleasure. one collapsed The twin attraction to the Discovery great articles rebuilt for your the museum and art gallery on the in a storm in 1879, having been built is the Verdant Works, which tells the north side of the city centre known as substandard. A train was crossing story of jute manufacture and has a The McManus, which opened in 1869. when the bridge gave way, leading fully operational 1801 Boulton and Admission is free, and there is a regular to 75 fatalities. A further 14 men Watt beam engine. At its height programme of talks and tours, as well were killed in constructing the much around 1900 there were 50,000 as the regular art gallery. If you’re sturdier replacement. No risks were people working in 100 mills. Look out interested in science, the Dundee taken with the replacement bridge, for cartoon strip Oor Wullie statues Science Festival is on 6-21 October, which has stood and been maintained around the city. based at the Dundee Science Centre, since July 1887, but it had a major located in a city packed with scientific overhaul in 2003.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral (the and cultural interest.

Scottish Episcopal church is allied to The V&A, an offshoot of the London the Church of England), is a grand Alex Nelson Disclaimer... gallery, is recently opened in Dundee, Gothic church opened in 1855. alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this a city of jam, jute and journalism, Designed by the eminent Victorian www.nationalrail.com we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for Visit darlingtonmonthly.co.uk although the jute industry which architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, magazine, it any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted gave the city its wealth, has died out is an oasis of peace in the city centre in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible completely. The new V&A has a special and on the day of my visit was to host @DarlingtonMonthly /DarlingtonMonthly for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The exhibition on video games (charged an American choir from Minneapolis copying of any material within this publication is strictly for) but the rest of it is free and singing in the evening at a free concert.

Competitions there are impressive Scottish Design forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been competitions you agree to receive email communications notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the from the competition sponsor/prize provider. details of winning entries in order to fulfil completion of the prize.

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Northallerton set for Drive-Thru Starbucks as plans approved by council

H

Some concerns were raised, particularly over the resulting lower number of car parking spaces available to guests at Allerton Court Hotel and staff from North Yorkshire County Council, who often use the site as a venue.

Land currently used by the Allerton Court However, these concerns were alleviated when Hotel as a car park is to be transformed into a the committee was reassured that the impact handy coffee shop and stop for residents and on car parking would be minimal. visitors to the town.

Councillor Kevin Hardisty confirmed that the This will be a highly transformative use of the new proposal certainly “ticked all of the right land, which had a restricted usage covenant boxes” placed on it in 1988, when Hambleton District Council first sold the land. This meant that the “When I heard about the application, I use of the land would be restricted to light thought it’s going to take an awful lot of industrial wholesale purposes or the retail of car park. I thought it’s going to make a big goods, or as a hotel with car parking and office difference, but when I looked at the plan again, I thought the application ticks all the facilities. boxes – I am happy for this to be granted.”

Consequently, in May, the council had to submit the application for the new Drive-Thru So, it seems that the plans have now certainly through an official application process. The been welcomed, and the development can Planning Committee heard how the proposed begin. Meanwhile, residents of Northallerton site was now “overtly industrial”, but that the and visitors to the area can look forward to new Starbucks would suit the other industrial pulling in and grabbing a great cup of coffee and retail units in the local vicinity. as they make their way to and from the town. ambleton District Council has approved an application to build a new Starbucks Drive-Thru on the outskirts of Northallerton town centre.

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Places to go...

DUNDEE

A

highly enjoyable visit to Dundee could be had without straying more than 100 metres from the newly rebuilt railway station. There is the Royal Research Ship Discovery and the adjacent new Victoria and Albert museum, and visiting both would take up much of a day trip.

There are three direct trains a day from the north east to Dundee, operated

by LNER, which are trains running up the coast to Aberdeen. Additional journey opportunities are available by changing to Scotrail services at Edinburgh Waverley. The line crosses the silvery River Tay on a bridge rebuilt after the first one collapsed in a storm in 1879, having been built substandard. A train was crossing when the bridge gave way, leading to 75 fatalities. A further 14 men were killed in constructing the much sturdier replacement. No risks were taken with the replacement bridge, which has stood and been maintained since July 1887, but it had a major overhaul in 2003.

The V&A, an offshoot of the London gallery, is recently opened in Dundee, a city of jam, jute and journalism, although the jute industry which gave the city its wealth, has died out completely. The new V&A has a special exhibition on video games (charged for) but the rest of it is free and there are impressive Scottish Design

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galleries and an exhibition about designing prosthetic hands. I particularly valued the spaces in which you are invited to it down and browse through books and magazines.

The RRS Discovery was originally moored in London and moved to its port of construction in 1986 after years gradually rotting on the Thames.

Dundee was where she was built in 1901, and she is now in a purposebuilt dry dock where the story is told of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration featuring such names as Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton and zoologist Edward Wilson.

The twin attraction to the Discovery is the Verdant Works, which tells the story of jute manufacture and has a fully operational 1801 Boulton and Watt beam engine. At its height around 1900 there were 50,000 people working in 100 mills. Look out for cartoon strip Oor Wullie statues around the city.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral (the Scottish Episcopal church is allied to the Church of England), is a grand Gothic church opened in 1855.

Designed by the eminent Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, it is an oasis of peace in the city centre and on the day of my visit was to host an American choir from Minneapolis singing in the evening at a free concert.

In the 1850s Dundee was growing fast but had its share of poverty and squalor and Bishop Alexander Forbes had a vision of a building which would provide a refuge and inspiration for Dundonians who lived in the city’s crowded tenements. Inside is the memorial to James Chalmers, a local stationery shop owner who invented the adhesive postage stamp. The organ installed in 1865, is maintained

by Harrison and Harrison of Durham.

This was not Sir George Gilbert Scott’s only work in the city as he designed the museum and art gallery on the north side of the city centre known as The McManus, which opened in 1869.

Admission is free, and there is a regular programme of talks and tours, as well as the regular art gallery. If you’re interested in science, the Dundee Science Festival is on 6-21 October, based at the Dundee Science Centre, located in a city packed with scientific and cultural interest.

Alex Nelson

alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk

www.nationalrail.com

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recipe by

H O T E L

Sausage ragu Feed the family this comforting, budget-friendly sausage ragu with pasta. You can freeze the leftovers for another time and it tastes just as good

Ingredients.

3 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 onion, finely chopped

6 pork sausages

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

150ml whole milk

Method.

¼ tsp chilli flakes

350g rigatoni pasta

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 7 mins. Add the garlic, chilli and rosemary, and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the tomatoes and sugar, and simmer for 20 mins.

2 rosemary sprigs, leaves finely chopped

grated parmesan and ½ small bunch parsley, leaves roughly chopped, to serve

Heat the remaining oil in a medium frying pan over a medium heat.

Squeeze the sausagemeat from the skins and fry, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for 5-7 mins until golden. Add to the sauce with the milk and lemon zest, then simmer for a further 5 mins. To freeze, leave to cool completely and transfer to large freezerproof bags.

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

1 lemon, zested

Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and toss with the sauce. Scatter over the parmesan and parsley leaves to serve.

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A Conversation with...

esme-lauren How would you sum up Esmé Lauren in a sentence or two?

Is there a ‘typical’ Esmé Lauren customer?

Established in Feb 2019 Esmé Lauren is an online children’s clothing retail store that aims to bring our customers the latest, luxury trends at affordable prices. We offer simplistic, yet bold, capsule collections and wardrobe must-haves.

Families. In the widest sense. From Parents and Guardians, Godparents to Aunties and Uncles or Brothers and Sisters. Our customer base is broad but with one commonality… children.

How would you describe your journey with the business so far?

An exciting and extremely rewarding challenge. We have grown so much in such a short space of time and as small family run business we are incredibly proud of this achievement.

We’ve hit expected bumps along the way as all new business’ do but we’ve managed to over-come these together, learn and grow.

How would you say your backgrounds and previous experiences have helped you in running the business so far?

Our two young children are the inspiration for Esmé Lauren, therefore our experiences as parents have been the driving force behind the business. Our goal is to continuously bring the latest fashion trends into an age appropriate children’s collection.

This requires extensive research and planning. Our experiences in our professional careers to date combined with our work ethic have enabled us to bring this all together to form a family and customer focused brand.

Why should parents purchase their children’s clothing from Esmé Lauren rather than competitors?

As an ecommerce store we aim to offer the highest standard of customer service to allow our customers to feel safe and secure when making purchases online. In addition, we offer unique but versatile pieces that compliment every wardrobe and budget. A large proportion of our stock is neutral in style and colour making it the perfect unisex collection. This was important to us as we wanted to offer staple pieces that were able to follow the family ‘hand-me down’ tradition, irrespective of gender. Each item in our collection is hand-picked and designed to offer something for everyone.

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What concerns do customers of Esmé Lauren particularly often have, and how would you say your business is answering these concerns?

We’ve received a lot of feedback requesting a broader range of sizing.

We currently offer 0 to 6 years and our customers would like to purchase our items not just for their younger children but for their older children too. As our business grows, we are constantly updating our catalogue with the hope of offering a broader age range in the near future, however in direct response to this feedback we have exclusively designed and will be launching a very special Christmas collection which will be available for Children aged 0 – 10.

What do you think the key issues are for fashion-forward children’s clothing, that might not apply to adults’ clothing? Or would you say the main concerns across the two are broadly the same?

The key issues we’ve identified and also experienced ourselves as parents, are value for money and durability.

Children grow out of clothes so quickly, therefore it was important to us to offer luxury, high quality pieces but at an affordable price. Also, by offering gender neutral options we extend the clothes longevity by allowing them to be shared amongst family members.

In addition, there’s often hesitation as parents to buy children luxury items,

due to the fact they’re likely to get dirty or ruined. At Esmé Lauren we aim to offer durable pieces without the hefty price tag.

Are there any specific Esmé Lauren products or ranges that you would say you are especially proud of?

It has to be our new Christmas range launching this October. A lot of time, effort and thought has gone into this capsule collection to ensure we bring our customers Christmas favourites with a trendy twist. The range will include traditional Christmas PJs and Jumpers but like you’ve never seen before.

What is your favourite feedback that you have received in your time running the business so far?

We have been overwhelmed with the amount of positive feedback we have received in such a short time and humbled our customers have taken time to support our brand with their reviews. A few of our favourites to date include:

“#Trendsetters” “Children should be empowered at an early age to experiment with their style, Esmé Lauren enables this” “I wouldn’t see that attention to detail in the big high street chains let alone a small business” What are your ambitions for Esmé Lauren in the months and years immediately ahead?

To continue to grow a customer focussed business that mirrors our family values and that we continue to be passionate about. Our longterm goal is to eventually support the local economy by expanding and employing staff.

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Falkirk Wheel & The Kelpies Sunday 20th Tuesday 22nd October

Chester or Cheshire Oaks Saturday 26th October £25 per person

£255 per person (Single Supplement £48) - includes 2 nights DBB at 4* Double Tree by Hilton Westerwood Spa & Golf Course, guided tour at Drumlanrig Castle, plus canal boat lift ride at Falkirk Wheel.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular Heighley Gate & Boundary Mill Tuesday 5th November £13 per person

Sunday 10th - Tuesday 12th November Sunday 17th - Tuesday 19th November £310 per person (Single Supplement £50) includes 2 nights DBB at 4* The Pheasant plus ticket to the show

CORONATION STREET - THE TOUR Sunday 24th November £57 per person including Tour Ticket

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Newcastle Shopping Trip Wednesday 27th November £13 per person

Manchester Christmas Markets

Sunday 1st December £25 per person

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Castle Howard at Christmas

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£65 per person

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Houghton Hall & Carlisle £18 per person Tuesday 11th February

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(on some occasions these pickups will be provided via a free feeder bus to Scotch Corner) All trips include attraction admission (plus hotels and meals where applicable).

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Darlington to apply for official Purple Flag status this month This month, Darlington is set to apply for Purple Flag status, a standard awarded to towns and cities across the UK that offer safe and enjoyable nights out.

Darlington Borough Council (DBC) along with the police, other agencies and businesses from across the town centre are working together to submit the application in the next few weeks.

The Purple Flag standard is an accreditation process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches. It allows people to quickly identify town & city centres that offer an entertaining, varied, safe and enjoyable night out.

Once submitted, Darlington’s application for Purple Flag status will be assessed by an expert panel who will then decide if our town meets all of the necessary criteria to be awarded the Purple Flag status – everyone keep their fingers crossed this month!!

#LoveDarlo events in October – including spooky Halloween Highlights!

October events October events 3rd Pease Pudding Market 4-9pm Market Square 6th Farmers Market 10-3pm West Row

As part of the application process DBC, the police and other partners were out and about in the town centre a few weeks ago, during a routine Friday evening/ Saturday morning on, to carry out a self-assessment of what’s on offer.

They were specifically looking at how safe and welcoming the town feels, how easy it is to move around the area and get home safely, how good the range of leisure and entertainment venues are in terms of choice – and how the town generally looks and feels.

The group received a warm welcome from Darlington Hippodrome, The Forum Music Centre, Cloud Collaborative, Gamers_Lounge, Tapas Bar, The Dolphin Centre, Avalon Bar and Terrace, Vue Cinema Darlington, InsideOut, and Cluedini Live Escape Rooms to name just a few of the town centre venues visited during assessment.

19th Vegan Festival 10-4pm Indoor Market 24th– 26th A Bunch of Amateurs starring Ian Hislop & Nick Newman St Augustine’s Parish Centre 28th William Stead Halloween Quiz 7:30-10:30pm

Halloween 31st October Safe Trick-or-treating 11-3pm Cornmill Halloween crafts, Spooky Science & more at Queen St 11-4pm Kids Crafts all day Indoor Market Halloween Lantern Trail 5pm West Row Scary costumes encouraged!

More information call be found at: www.facebook.com/LoveDarloUK/ twitter.com/lovedarlouk www.instagram.com/lovedarlo/ www.enjoydarlington.co.uk/

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SWIM BUDDIES MAKES A SPLASH ON ITS FIFTH BIRTHDAY Darlington-based Swim Buddies are set to celebrate the milestone on the 26th September, after first opening in 2014.

The academy has significantly grown since they started - now running lessons in two schools for children aged between 3-11 years, at Education Village and Hummersknott academy in Darlington.

Created by husband and wife team, Chris and Erica Cook, Swim Buddies aims to help their swimmers to develop necessary swimming skills.

Chris, a former Olympic swimmer, and Erica, a professional swimmer, feel both proud and lucky to reach their fifth year.

Describing their key aims and values, Chris said, ‘One thing we never want to compromise on is the fact we want to give children the skills and the passion to connect with the water for life.’

‘The academy has amassed an admirable, appreciative and loyal cliental throughout the years and we are thrilled to reach this key five year milestone!’

30

Acknowledging the marvellous work of their staff and its impact on the business, Chris explained, ‘We get to work with a fantastic group of teachers. Poppy does an outstanding job not only in the water but also of coordinating the programme and the team in the water.’

‘Tracey, Dee, Sarah, Angela, Matt, Serena and Emily are just brilliant people doing an amazing job of teaching the children to swim and Erica has a fantastic head for business and takes care of the things that aren’t always visible.’

Swim Buddies currently teaches over 900 pupils, has taught an estimated 2,500 children since 2014 and In a few months it will actively teach 1,000 pupils.

The academy also attributes some of its growing success to their local business connections and plans for the academy’s future includes increasing the number of children it teaches and expanding in to other locations.

The majority of the company’s staff have stayed with them long-term – with half of their employees having been there since the start and all teachers are qualified to a minimum of level 2 standard.

Swim Buddies is currently open 7 days a week between the two locations in Education Village and Hummersknott academy and for more information please call 01740 622305 or visit www.swimbuddies.co.uk.

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225

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The Glasshouse Restaurant at Darlington College Our current special offer is : an individually priced menu with starter courses from £2.00 and main courses from £4.00.

Come and try our ‘real life’ restaurant experience here in the Glasshouse Restaurant. Daily changing menu prepared, cooked, and served by our very talented hospitality students here at Darlington College.

Some of our past diners have made some of the following comments regarding the Glasshouse Restaurant: “ A Secret that not many Darlington folk know about ” “ A standard of food and service that is comparable with a ‘ top class ’ restaurant ‘ ” “ When you are sat in the Glasshouse Restaurant you just wouldnt think you are eating in a training restaurant as it is just so realistic ” “ We try to eat here as often as we can as it is tremendous value for money ” If you would like to make a table reservation then please phone (01325) 503050 and ask to make a reservation at the Glasshouse Restaurant

Lunch Menu Tuesday – Friday 12pm-2.30pm (Last Orders for Food at 1.00pm)

restaurant

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Funding opportunities available for community projects in the town

T

he Bank Top and Lascelles area of Darlington is set to benefit from a bumper pot of funding – and the innovative minds of its own community all at once.

TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) has secured a substantial £35,000 in funding for community projects and written an open invitation to local people, organisations, groups and clubs to use it to help deliver improvements to the local area.

Individual people and groups can bid for up to £7,500 in funding each, for original projects created to enrich the lives of those either living or working in the area – with ideas focused on helping socially isolated people particularly welcome.

Bringing communities and public services together The progressive initiative has already involved the local police working closely with Darlington councillors and local action groups, with the overall aim of helping to rejuvenate the area and stimulate social change for the local people.

Darlington Neighbourhood Police Inspector Chris Knox said of the positive project: “This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the Bank Top and Lascelles to showcase their projects, groups and get some investment to enhance the lives of the community. I would urge the community to get involved and make this a fantastic event.”

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for community safety, added: “We’ve been working together with Police, Lascelles Community Partnership and local residents to enhance the Bank Top and Lascelles area and are keen to hear what ideas local people and groups have.”

32

An opportunity to initiate positive change People and groups are invited to pitch their ideas to an audience as part of a Dragon’s Den-style event, which will be held at Cleveland Bridge Social Club on Saturday, November 16. Then, a vote will be held to choose the winning projects, and the overall funding will be distributed between the most popular ideas.

On the ‘pitch’, Councillor Dulston explained: “The best of the ideas will be chosen to take part in the event in November, where [local people and groups will] have the chance to outline their plans to the audience, which will then vote for the ones they like best.”

He added that “we’ll be looking to support several projects and can’t wait to see what people come up with.”

If you’re interested in taking part, entry forms are available at several locations, including Firthmoor Police Station and The Community Hub at Eastbourne Park. Online, you’re also able to contact ‘TEAM – Working Together for Bank Top and Lascelles’ via their Facebook page or by sending an email to jeffrey.summerhill@durham.pnn.police.uk or wendy.newall@darlington.gov.uk.

Good luck!

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225

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Make or update your will for free this October This October is Mind Free Wills Month, which means if you’re 55 or over, you can make or update your will for free.

Simply contact one of the participating solicitors to book your appointment, mentioning ‘Mind Free Wills Month’. Appointments are limited, so book early to avoid missing out.

There’s no obligation to make a charitable gift, but by choosing to support our work, you can create a better future for everyone with a mental health problem.

Give nationally or to a local Mind Redcar & Cleveland, Darlington and Middlesbrough and Stockton local Minds are taking part in Mind Free Wills Month. They provide on the ground support, turning around and saving lives, as well as campaigning, providing advice and improving local attitudes towards mental health.

Nationally, Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

For more information and to book your appointment today:

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Visit freewillsmonth.org.uk Call 0345 686 4309

If making or updating your will with a partner, only one person must be 55 or over.

Simple Wills only. If your will proves more complex, you may be charged the difference.

Mind: Registered charity number 219830.

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FILM REVIEW:

Downton Abbey There are certain TV series that, however successful and acclaimed they become, never quite feel like they belong on the big screen. Still, that doesn’t always stop filmmakers from trying to put them there – and it’s to Downton Abbey creator and writer Julian Fellowes’ credit that, in adapting the globally popular period drama for cinema, he largely manages to paper over the inevitable cracks as though he’s meticulously applying tastefully-designed wallpaper in a stately home.

Much of what you remember and probably loved from the TV version, which bowed out in 2015, is present and correct here: sumptuously elaborate scenery and costumes, a dash of Mills & Boon-y romance and even much of the original cast. Taking place in autumn 1927, less than two years after the events of the series finale, we see Downton’s occupants hurriedly preparing for a visit by King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James). However, resentments simmer as the servants realise that they will be temporarily replaced by the royals’ own entourage.

Not wanting to so easily surrender the privilege of serving royalty, the Downton servants soon hatch a plan to nudge these upstarts out of the picture. Yes, “nudge” – not “push”. It all plays out rather like a single episode of the show stretched to about two hours – but, while this treatment ends up slightly diffusing even some of the tenser moments, there’s something reassuring about seeing so much of what made the original show endearing faithfully brought back.

So, we still get the main ensemble of the aristocratic Crawley family, including Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham (played by Hugh

Bonneville), his wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) and their daughters Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael).

There’s also Robert’s mother Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (the legendary Dame Maggie Smith), as ready as ever to rapidly deliver a humorously stinging put-down in response to any rebuke.

If you’re completely new to the whole world of the fictional Yorkshire country estate from which the franchise takes its name, just reading that previous paragraph might have left you feeling a little disorientated.

Fortunately, there is a ten-minute YouTube video that sums up the whole backstory…

Definitely in the “great to see you back” category is sweet-natured maid Anna Bates (the wonderful Joanne Froggatt), who marshals the other servants with a calm efficiency. Meanwhile, new-to-Downton actors David Haig (as the King’s snooty butler) and Tuppence Middleton (as the young heiress Lucy Smith, who finds herself at the centre of an inheritance tussle) slot into the established cast so effortlessly that they already feel like regulars.

With County Durham’s Beamish Museum a welcomingly recognisable backdrop in several scenes as well, you’ve got yourself a big-screen experience that feels historically authentic. For better or worse, this is Downton Abbey very much as you remember it, making for the cinematic equivalent of Werther’s Originals: charmingly traditional, if at risk of feeling a little too safe.

Craig Lenaghan | Copywriter

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What’s on

October

Robbie Williams Tribute

5 October – 20:00 – Cockerton Club Live music from a tribute to the “Angels” star.

Tees Cottage Open Days

5 – 6 October – 11:00 – Tees Cottage Pumping Station Discover the history of the water supply in Darlington at this open weekend at Broken Scar on Coniscliffe Road.

It is expected that all of the old steam machinery will be running, including the Victorian beam engine, boiler and gas engine, while the electric pumps installed in 1926 will also be on static display. No booking is required, and children enter for free. Otherwise, admission charges are £5 per adult and £4 concessions.

Frank Skinner: Showbiz

6 October – 20:00 – Darlington Hippodrome The Room 101 host embarks on his first stand-up tour in four years, presenting an hour of work-in-progress material.Tickets are priced at £30; call 01325 486555.

Madagascar the Musical

Hilarity Bitesize feat. Mike Milligan & support

14 October – 19:30 – Hole in the Wall Hilarity Bites Comedy Club brings the best of the comedy circuit to the North East. Join Mike Milligan,Andy Fury and support at 14-15 Horse Market; admission is £4.

Dave Thomas Signing

19 October – 11:00 – Waterstones Local author and former footballer Dave Thomas will be signing copies of his new book at the Darlington Waterstones at 1-3 Cornmill Centre. Once described

by Don Revie as “the most exciting prospect in English soccer”, Dave lost a good deal of his confidence and independence when he was registered blind in his 50s. His book tells the uplifting and emotional story of how he regained control of his life when paired with his faithful guide dog, Hannah.

Definitely Oasis

19 October – 19:30 – The Forum Music Centre With the real band currently not together, the closest you can get to experiencing the “Wonderwall” songsmiths perform as one might well be this tribute act, regarded by many promoters and Oasis fans alike as the best there is. Definitely Oasis are renowned for setting the bar high, faithfully recreating the look, sound and feel of an Oasis gig.

9-13 October – Various times – Darlington Hippodrome Experience the magic of this musical adaptation of DreamWorks’ hit animated film Madagascar, featuring Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo.With its outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar will leave you with no choice but to ‘Move It, Move It!’ Tickets cost from £18; Mars Live: a Tribute to Bruno Mars 26 October – 20:00 – Middleton St George Cricket & call 01325 486555.

Social Club A tribute to the R&B, funk and pop star of “24K Magic” fame. Admission is £6.

Soul Train Show 12 October – 19:30 – Majestic Theatre You’ll no longer have to yearn for the days of Don Cornelius and co when his fabulous show rolls into Got an event coming up? Let us know and we’ll help town, featuring a group of live vocalists performing all spread the news. Email details of your event to: of your favourite ‘60s and ‘70s soul classics. Hit songs by Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, The Supremes, Donna sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Summer, Candi Staton and more will light up the dance floor, keeping you singing and dancing through the decades.

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To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225

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