Issuu

Issue 68 - March 2019

What’s Inside

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

to “think local” Feat Reasons ured Ar t i cles and shop in Darlington

Darlington Cares celebrates yet another Darlington Market to 14 triumphant and be graced with new productive year

exhibition space

Retailers set to 18 receive business Film Review - The rate discount House with the Clocks in its Walls FILM REVIEW:

Lego Movie 2

LOCAL BUSINESSES

Darlington’s community radio station moves into town centre

LOCAL EVENTS COMPETITIONS

COMMUNITY NEWS WHAT’S ON

Darlington’s oldest and widest-distributed community magazine

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NEW SHOWROOM

NOW OPEN

Visit us at 65 YARM LANE, STOCKTON, TS18 3DU 37 years of experience in the blinds industry Manufacturing & supply of made to measure blinds Huge range of blinds including vertical, roller, roman venetian, shutters and we offer soft furnishing!

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

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Welcome to the March edition of Darlington Monthly! March is one of those awkward times of year when it can seem like there’s not a huge amount going on – until Mother’s Day on the 31st, of course. But as ‘The Beast from the East’ last year showed us, March can throw up a few surprises despite the emerging spring. It’s just as well, then, that whatever the weather throws at you this month, you’ll always have your copy of Darlington Monthly to peruse. Flick to our What’s On section on page 46, for instance, and you’ll see that there’s plenty to see and do in our area during March, whatever your tastes. On the subject of getting out and about, why not also head to your local Vue Cinema to catch The Lego Movie 2? If you’re bricking it at the thought that it might not be as good as the first film, our reviewer Craig Lenaghan will put your mind at rest when you head to page 42. Meanwhile, our designer Tony is the subject of our latest exclusive Q&A feature. On pages 30-31, he gives an insight into what his role involves, as well as his hopes for the future. The rest of this month’s Darlington Monthly brings you yet more of the local news updates and advertisers that we know you all appreciate as our loyal readers. Finally, don’t forget that you can showcase your own local firm through our pages when you invest in one of our advertiser plans. Simply call us on 01325 776225 or email sales@darlingtonmonthly. co.uk to learn more about our latest packages.

14 24 30

Bye for now – we’ll see you again in April!

Available to read online Visit darlingtonmonthly.co.uk /DarlingtonMonthly

Competitions

@DarlingtonMonthly

Disclaimer... Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our competitions you agree to receive email communications from the competition sponsor/prize provider.

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the winning entries inContact order to fulfil completion of the prize. Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225 Advertise Darlington Monthly 4 details ofTo

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What's On At The Majestic Theatre 78-80 Bondgate,Darlington, DL3 7JT.

March 2019

An Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Tony Stockwell 5th March – 7:30PM. Tickets starting from £19.50 The popular star of TV’s Street Psychic, Psychic Private Eyes and Psychic Academy, Tony Stockwell has a long established credibility as one of the top Intuitive Mediums and has shared the stage all round the world with international mediums such as Colin Fry, James van Praagh and Lisa Williams. Tony demonstrates his belief that those who have passed can communicate with their loved ones with detailed messages frequently including names, dates and locations and all delivered with emotion, sensitivity and empathy.

All Shook Up 16th March – 7:30PM All tickets £10.00. C.P. King Productions proudly presents ‘All Shook Up’. A live musical experience featuring songs from the golden era of Rock 'n' Roll, and paying tribute to the King himself, Elvis Presley!

Viva Neil Diamond 8th March – 7:30PM All tickets are £16.00. Prepare to be blown away by his vocal likeness which has been delighting audiences around the world. "an uncanny resemblance to Neil Diamond's voice. That sent tingles down my spine Bob!" Debbie McGee, BBC Radio Berkshire.

Coldplace

History of Rock

22nd March – 7:30PM

9th March – 7:30PM Adult £23.50 - Concession £19.50. THE HISTORY OF ROCK is a celebration of ROCK music through the decades. A jaw dropping night transporting you through the golden ages of ROCK!

Adult £20.00 – Concession £18.00 – Group of 10 £180.00 As the world's leading tribute to Coldplay they have played over 650 shows in 24 different countries. They pride themselves on attention to detail both musically and visually.

The George Michael Story 15th March – 7:30PM All tickets are £20. The only touring show to perform George Michael’s hits in chronological order. The George Michael Story tells in detail, the career of George and his 100 million record selling history. The show starts with George in the Wham! days and then into the Grammy Award winning ‘Faith’ album. After the interval we have George’s more mature hits, and touch on some of his emotional and heartfelt songs. To Purchase tickets please use the following options: Go to www.thegeorgemichaelstory.com or https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/569815 Box Office: 0843 886 9046

Purchase tickets at www.majestictheatre-lee.com Box Office: 01325 633296 Email: Office@majestictheatre.org.uk Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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iraj Indian restaurant & takeaway is embarking the exquisite authenticity of South Asian cuisine accompanied by the pinnacle of ďŹ ne dining located in the heart of Darlington. We believe our guests only deserve the ďŹ nest in service, thus our family establishment brings a new luxury art of dining; our journey with decades of experience in putting the taste of Indian and Bangladeshi heritage to create a taste of opulence.

Open 7 Days a week from 5.30pm till 10.30pm 9 Kendrew Street, Darlington, DL3 6JR mail: Info@virajrestaurant.co.uk Call: 01325 639963 Order and Book Online: www.virajrestaurant.co.uk ***INDIAN AFTERNOON TEA NOW AVAILABLE FROM 2PM TILL 4PM (24HR BOOKING REQUIRED) 6

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Trusted plumbing & heating engineers • Boiler installations • 10 years guarantee • Worcester Bosch platinum accredited • 0% finance • Bathroom installations • Boiler service and repair 9.89/10 • Small plumbing works

from over 438 reviews

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JTA Fires and Stoves have recently opened a brand new showroom in Darlington. Owner Stephen Airey and showroom manager Neil Fawcett have over 30 yearsâ€™ experience between them in the heating and fireplace industry. The showroom boasts an array of traditional and contemporary woodburning and multi fuel stoves from leading manufacturers. From bespoke inglenook designs to modern freestanding versions, JTA Fires and Stoves will endeavour to make your dream a reality. We have a fully qualified installation team that cover HETAS approval for solid fuel applications, Gas Safe for gas fires and central heating systems, and also OFTEC for oil boiler installations. JTA Fires and Stoves also supply and install inset hole in the wall gas and solid fuel appliances for a minimalist look. Alternatively, we can cater for those wanting a traditional focal point fireplace in either solid wood, marble or stone. Many of these fireplace designs can be tailor made to your own specifications. We offer a free site survey with absolutely no obligation to purchase. We pride ourselves on our vast knowledge and experience, and welcome you to call in to see what we have on offer - you wonâ€™t be disappointed. Our showroom at 9 Duke Street, Darlington is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-5.00pm. Sunday opening is by appointment only. If you would like to arrange a free site survey either call into the showroom, or get in touch on 01325 389238 or email jtafiresandstoves@ icloud.com. A warm welcome awaits at JTA Fires and Stoves.

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A warm welcome awaits you... Suppliers of all Leading Brands of Stoves, Fires and Fireplaces

We have on display a range of traditional and contemporary wood and multi fuel stoves. Free no obligation estimate. Fully qualified Hetas, Gas Safe and Oftec engineers. Full Fitting service available. Highly experienced sales people that will tailor your every need.

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Council donates thousands of pounds’ worth of counterfeit clothing to national charity Darlington Borough Council has announced that it is donating counterfeit clothing and other goods worth thousands of pounds to a national charity. The Trading Standards officers that make up part of the authority’s Community Safety Team seized more than 300 items of clothing, about 30 dinner and tea sets and 50 sets of knives over a 12-month period, as it has sought to clamp down on fakes. The goods have now been donated to the His Church Charity, which specialises in the rebranding and redistribution of counterfeit clothing. Benefits for consumers – and Darlington’s most vulnerable citizens Councillor Helen Crumbie, cabinet member for community safety at the council, commented: “Our Trading Standards officers work hard to ensure shoppers in Darlington are not being misled and can be confident about the quality of goods they are buying, and to make sure traders in Darlington can operate on a level playing field.

“Put simply, it is illegal to sell or have counterfeit items in your possession for sale. If you are caught, you will have the counterfeit goods confiscated and you could face a jail sentence. “These items are the latest to have been seized by our Trading Standards officers. Rather than simply having them destroyed, we’re delighted to be working with His Church to enable them to rebranded and put to good use for the benefit of others.” “Most certainly not a victimless crime” His Church senior coordinator Richard Humphrey added: “We are delighted to partner with Darlington Borough Council’s Trading Standards officers. “We thoroughly appreciate their work fighting counterfeiting, which is most certainly not a victimless crime. “It would, however, almost be more of a crime to allow these new clothes to be destroyed when we have a complete and legitimate solution for them. “It’s wonderful that, in partnership with Darlington’s Trading Standards officers, we can support the excellent work of First Stop and it’s hugely rewarding that a criminal’s loss is a worthy recipient’s gain.” Getting clothing to those who most desperately need it First Stop’s Tracy Freeman said: “We are delighted to be able to share this clothing amongst those that need it most, especially in the winter time when layers of clothing are important yet we see so many who are poorly dressed for the weather. “We will be contacting other charities that we work alongside to share the donations and ensure that the work of Trading Standards and His Church are distributed across the town.” The council has urged those who suspect that an online or offline trader is selling fake or counterfeit goods to report it to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. More information can also be found about the work of Darlington Borough Council’s Trading Standards team at www.darlington.gov.uk/tradingstandards.

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advertorial

Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the

whole window including the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solutionâ€Ś Just replace the glass!! If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it.

With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee. Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors. Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Peter Askew and he services Darlington and the surrounding areas. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Peter a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.

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Eat, Drink, Relax

at The Station Hotel

ere at The Station Hotel, a pub located in Bishop Auckland, we have a great range of beers, ciders & ales, along with delicious food on offer. After going through a major refurbishment costing £400,000 back in May 2018, we have regenerated the pub and our premises to tailor it to a new audience; serving customers from a much wider area. We have customers coming from around County Durham including Durham City, Darlington and Bishop Auckland itself. If you fancy somewhere for a quiet drink, The Station Hotel have a wide range of cocktails, Moretti on tap, Heineken on draft, plenty of wines and spirits to choose from and other alcoholic beverages. If you

fancy somewhere for a catch up with friends or family, we are also offering coffee and a selection of cakes to customers too. Not every pub would be a pub without some homecooked food.Throughout the week, we have all Main Meals 2 for £13. Our traditional Sunday lunch is served 12-3pm and is offered with three choices of freshly roasted meat, fresh vegetables, homemade Yorkshire puddings and delicious gravy. We do have vegetarian choices available too. Come and join us on the lastThursday of every month for our open MIC night and show us your talent. We look forward to welcoming you into the recently refurbished Station Hotel very soon!

The Station Hotel Food Served Daily ALL MAIN MEALS

2 for £13

Mon & Tues 11am-2.30pm Wed-Fri 12pm-8pm Sat 12pm-6pm

Sunday Lunch 12pm-3pm Call us on

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201 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7EJ

Email: info@thestationbishopauckland.co.uk

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PUZZLE PAGE Simply complete one of the competitions below, fill in the entry form and send to the postal address provided.

You have the chance to win...

aExcluding Sunday Lunch for Two!* drinks *

Courtesy of... H O T E L

Name The Ad HOW TO PLAY: Match the five segments of images below with an Advert in this magazine, place either the company name or the page number in the space below each box.

Sudoku easy 2 8 3 7 1 5 2 9 1 7 8 4

9 1 4 3 3 8 5 5 7 1 4 5 4 3 5 9 5 3 4 6 3 1 6 5

Wordsearch S B P W L Z C P E W I C

L U E I F I E I O B J R

V Y I S O B E Y I R C J L E S C E A Q J G K C P

E K E E O S B E T C K O

R N A H R J R S I C Q M

T I U F M A A R I E S K

G R B L W A T F E P L U

G D J F O A I I R J E R

R F Z E P X O I O X N W

G D N A I Y V L A I S G N H I T U C N G X Y B R

Aries Patrick Drinks Celebration Joyous Daylight Saving War Liberation Spring Pisces Beers

The Winner will be notified by Darlington Monthly within 14 days of the competition closing date. Name: Address:

Postcode: Email:

Please send all entries to: Competition Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY. Competition End Date: 15th March 2019

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Reflecting on a triumphant and productive year for Darlington Cares A Darlington voluntary organisation is celebrating a fruitful year that has seen it rack up double its target number of volunteering hours, in addition to completing a string of successful community projects. Darlington Cares shattered its target of 5,500 donated hours for 2018, with the sterling work of local businesses and their staff instead ensuring that an astounding 11,000 hours were volunteered. The last 12 months have seen more than 2,500 local people participate in 180 programmes. Memorable projects included the new Big Community Challenge and Great Park Auction campaigns, in addition to Darlington’s Big Sister, which was launched with the aim of addressing period poverty and supplying free sanitary products to all of the town’s secondary schools. The number of people attending one of the five Pick, Pie and a Pint events also broke the previous record. Over 400 volunteers collected 342 bags of rubbish, while various local businesses – including Harvey & Hugo, The Northern Echo and Northumbrian Water – lent their support in the form of sponsoring an event.

“It’s going to be another exciting year for Darlington Cares and I would like to encourage anyone who is interested in volunteering, or any businesses that would like to find out more about the benefits of becoming a member of the organisation, to get in touch.” What is Darlington Cares? Darlington Cares is a not-for-profit organisation that establishes and delivers programmes across the three focus areas of education, environment and social justice.

The organisation was set up in October 2012, after a number of local businesses met earlier that year to discuss how they could maximise the impact of their Darlington Cares even hosted a child-friendly litter- corporate social responsibility (CSR) in accordance picking challenge for the first time to inspire young with the needs of Darlington’s communities. people to protect the environment. Darlington Cares has gone from strength to strength since then, with its membership numbers growing “A huge thank you to all” drastically, enabling it to draw upon a broad range Director of Darlington Cares, Seth Pearson, of skills, expertise, knowledge and volunteering commented: “”What a year it has been for Darlington resources from across the local area’s businesses and Cares! We would like to say a huge thank you to all their workforces. of the companies and volunteers whom we have worked with over the last year; without their support, The organisation continues to work closely with Darlington Partnership, the local authority, public we wouldn’t have been able to exceed our goals. “28 members pledged their support to Darlington services and the third sector in its efforts to identify, Cares and we’re incredibly grateful for all of their help understand and address the key areas of need within the borough. over the last year. “After several brilliant campaigns, such as our Christmas Appeal, we are looking forward to launching our 2019 projects, including DIY SOS, which will involve volunteers giving a nature reserve a facelift.

You can learn more about the latest activities, projects and volunteering opportunities at Darlington Cares by visiting www.darlingtoncares.co.uk or following the Twitter handle, @darlingtoncares.

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Not just your average Pizza and Kebab takeaway!

That’s right, not your average Pizza and Kebab takeaway. Pizza N Grill Darlington was established in 2017 as a takeaway premises and is situated on 15 Belvedere Road, Darlington, DL1 5EP. Thankfully, we aren’t your average pizza shop as we offer a variety of boxed specials, mouth-watering desserts and thirst quenching milkshakes. For our customers in Darlington, we are known as a one-stop shop where you can get all your convenience goods; whether you are fancying a nice takeaway, craving something sweet or just feeling that you don’t want to spend hours cooking on the weekend. Pizza N Grill is here for you!

of our many delicious treats. We also like to reward customers for using Pizza N Grill for their takeaway needs which is why we have a loyalty program in place. You can start earning by points by signing up and for every 10p you spend with us, you can earn one point which you can then trade for online purchases.

We are open Monday to Saturday 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm and Sunday 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm so what are you waiting for?

If you are thinking about a takeaway, we do in fact have an app which you can download from Play Store (Android) and Apple Store (I-Phone) We also have our website which is monitored where you can place an order www.pizzangrill.co.uk or you can call one of our friendly team on 01325 244 466 and place an order through there.

We are also on Facebook where we hold regular competitions where you simply have to like and share the page to be in with a chance of winning one

Pizza N Grill is serving the area of Darlington and has done for nearly 2 years. If you live within a 2.5-mile radius of our store, we can deliver your order FREE of charge. Please note, you must spend at least £8.00 to be eligible for the FREE delivery.

Snuggle up to a dessert tonight, we don’t only do Pizzas and Grills!

Try our great selection from Chocolate cakes to Waffles with a great variety of flavours and sauces from £2.00!

: 01325 244466

www.pizzangrill.co.uk www.facebook.com/pizzangrill2/ 15 Belvedere Road, Darlington, DL1 5EP

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Retailers in Darlington set to receive business rate discounts of up to a third A new scheme is being introduced to significantly Borough Council to take advantage of these reliefs; cut many Darlington retailers’ business rates – by as instead, the discounts will automatically show up on much as a third in some cases. their bills in March. Darlington Borough Council leader Stephen Harker The changes come into effect this month, and put described the development as “good news for some local retail businesses in line for a share of a business in Darlington”, adding that according to the £740,000 discount on their business rates for the authority’s estimates, £440,000 of the relief would coming financial year. benefit town-centre businesses. This means that a retail business with a rateable value However, he also urged more action to be taken on of less than £51,000, for example, could see up to a business rates, commenting: “This latest support by third of its business rate liability vanish. Government for local retail is welcomed but, as I have said before, there needs to be a full review of the Much-needed help at a difficult time for the high business rates system to make it fairer and to help street retailers who invest in our towns to compete on an equal footing with online businesses. While Darlington has fared better than many towns in recent times in terms of keeping its retail offer healthy, “We are working hard on many levels with local and there’s no question that in these trying times for UK national businesses, and particularly with town centre retailers in general, every little extra bit of assistance businesses, to help them thrive in what are difficult times. can be invaluable. This is precisely what the new scheme provides, “In addition to our town centre partnership and helping to ensure that businesses don’t feel quite as events team, our Business Support team is on hand to offer advice and help where needed.” pinched in the 12 months ahead. In fact, many of the borough’s businesses already don’t have to pay any business rates at all. That is thanks to the small business rate relief scheme, which eliminates business rates altogether for firms with a rateable value of less than £12,000.

Where can you seek support as a current or prospective business in Darlington?

Darlington Borough Council is continuing its drive to not only provide businesses already based in the borough with the help and advice that they need, Welcome support by the Government – but more but also attract companies that are considering could be done to ensure fairness establishing a presence in the town. The Government provides the entirety of the funding Interested parties can contact the Business Support for the new and existing relief schemes. Businesses team now by calling 01325 406305 or emailing do not therefore even need to contact Darlington business.support@darlington.gov.uk.

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MAKE YOUR DREAMS BECOME A REALITY WITH WESTBROOK Welcome to Westbrook Home Improvements Ltd where dreams become reality. We offer a friendly and professional design service where we can offer a wealth of experience in the home improvement market.

to offer free advice and guidance. Our management team have over 40 years experience in the building and home improvement industry; therefore you are never far away from great advice.

Come and visit our new state of the art indoor showroom based at 13-15 High Northgate, Darlington, DL1 1UQ. Visit our showroom and view our wide range of products that we offer which include Composite doors, Aluminium Bi-Folding doors, PVCu/ Aluminium Windows and Doors and so much more. We also specialise in SupaLite Warm Roof systems, Orangeries and Conservatories.

Working to GGF guidelines in conjunction with current building regulations, we can transform your property with our stylish, secure energy efficient products. All our products are also covered and endorsed by HomePro insurance backed guarantees. The team at Westbrook are also a FENSA certified member where we endorse the standards we maintain.

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Societies, WI’s and Church groups to provide day trips and holidays catered for their members." The company produces an annual glossy brochure every year which features the day trips and tours they have planned for the year ahead. Their trips are noted for being indulgent, often including 4* hotels, afternoon teas and three course dining. Although several departure points are offered, including Staindrop, Gainford and Darlington, they organise them carefully to keep journey times down to a minimum. Wayne & Rose Taylor took over Barnard Castle Coaches from the Burrell family in 2016 with the aim of carrying on the business in the same family tradition. They employed their son and daughter, Ben and Joanna, to help them and have not looked back since. Based near Smallways just off the A66, meaning they are ideally placed to serve Richmondshire and County Durham, including Teesdale and Darlington. Rose said their aim was to offer a personalised service which larger coach companies couldn't provide. She added: "Since 2016 we have invested in a new luxury 16-seat minibus, and are acquiring another two coaches by August 2019. Our fleet now includes 16, 49, 50, 53 & 57 seat luxury coaches, all of which can be hired privately for day trips or tours. We work with several local groups including U3a’s, Civic

An added luxury of travelling with Barnard Castle Coaches is that all of their own trips have a courier service providing hot drinks to make the journey more comfortable, which private groups can also request. Barnard Castle Coaches also likes to do its bit for charity, and has raised thousands for Cancer Research UK – Teesdale Branch through donating a proportion of their proﬁts from trips and conducting raﬄes on the coaches.

Find us on Facebook: Barnard Castle Coaches Ltd www.barnardcastlecoaches.co.uk To get a copy of the 2019 brochure, call 01833 621302 or 01833 627779.

Departing from Staindrop, Gainford, Darlington & Scotch Corner.

(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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Friday 16th - Sunday 18th August £345 per person (Single Supplement £50)

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Kynren

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£45 per person - inc. Silver Ticket

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£319 per person (Single supplement £135) includes 2 nights dinner, bed & breakfast at the Pheasant Hotel, Kelling and entrance to Holkham Hall and Sandringham House.

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Sunday 9th June - £50 per person (including RHS show ticket)

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Rejuvenation plan for site of former St Peter’s School in Gainford wins council approval The green light has finally been given to proposals to redevelop the site of what was once St Peter’s School in Gainford, into 57 homes – 11 of which will be classed as affordable. The former school site, including its surviving Victorian redbrick building, has lied vacant for more than two decades that have seen it beset by vandalism and fly-tipping. In 2016, a suspicious fire led to the partdemolition of the site. Following years of proposals that came to nothing, councillors have now at last approved a major plan that will see the existing Victorian school building converted into nine flats, alongside the construction of 48 homes and public open space. A welcome breakthrough Durham County Council’s South and West Area Planning Committee gave the thumbs up on Thursday 24th January to plans put forward by Kebbell Homes. The proposals came after a consultation period in early 2018 that gave Gainford residents the opportunity to voice their thoughts on the scheme. Some respondents suggested that the remnant Victorian school buildings should be demolished, but planners and developers have instead included them in the final plans. “Talked about for 30 years” ELG Planning director Ian Lyle, speaking on the applicant’s behalf, said the decision was made to retain the structure that once housed the school on account of its “important and prominent location at the entrance of the conservation area”. He added, in front of councillors at Durham County Council’s Spennymoor offices: “This is considered to be a sustainable development in a sustainable location on

the edge of the village with a good range of community and local services. “It will address the amenity issues that have blighted this site for many years and significantly improve the overall perceptions of the village and the conservation area.” Planning officers also concluded that any impacts on the wider locality would be more than compensated for by economic and social benefits. George Richardson, councillor for Barnard Castle East, declared the scheme to be long overdue. He said: “Finally, it’s the first word I think of. This is my ward and it has been talked about for 30 years that I know about. “I was one who would have favoured the demolition as a whole, but we are where we are. “I would be grateful to see this developed and see no hesitation in moving approval.” Meanwhile, acting chairman, Councillor John Clare, described the fact that the Victorian school building would be incorporated into the redevelopment as “an advantage”, describing it as “a very distinctive and beautiful building.” A celebrated past, and now a bright future St Peter’s School was built in 1899, but was initially an orphanage prior to becoming a residential school for about 100 pupils. It closed in 1983, but the building then served as a nursing home from 1986 until 1998. With the final redevelopment set to comprise a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and fourbedroom homes, the erstwhile school site looks set to finally gain the new lease of life that Gainford residents have hoped to see for over 20 years.

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Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Treat your Mum this Mother’s Day

Come and join us for a delicious Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at The Croft Hotel on 31st March from 1 - 5pm Enjoy a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate and a family photo by a professional photographer for only £18.95 per prson To book please contact our events coordinator on events@crofthotel.net or call 01325 720319 One bottle of Prosecco per 2 people and 1 family photo printed per family. Extra’s can be purchased from the photographer direct. H O T E L

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Tony is our newest member of the design team for our Darlington Monthly publication. Here we asked Tony about his thoughts on the magazine and his role! In a few sentences, how would you describe your role at Darlington Monthly?

What have been your favourite moments so far as the designer of Darlington Monthly?

I’ve only recently joined the team, so consider myself fairly new. However, my role as magazine designer consists of designing adverts to help clients and local businesses build brand awareness. I amend advertising artwork, design editorial pages for stories we cover in the community, and support the design team with other ongoing projects.

Receiving the magazines fresh from the printers is incredible. It’s so rewarding, seeing all your hard work, physically printed – creating something people can see and touch. Oh, and don’t forget that irresistible scent of fresh ink, like you get when opening your favourite monthly subscription.

What do you enjoy most about designing Darlington Monthly? I love working for Darlington Monthly! I graduated in graphic design at college, so getting to do what I enjoy for a living is a dream for me, and a far cry from other positions I previously held. It’s certainly a great reason to get out of bed every day!

What are your favourite parts of the Darlington Monthly magazine? I enjoy the editorial side of the magazine. As I used to read a lot of car and lifestyle magazines, I’m fascinated with how the designers would integrate stunning photography with the text in a creative, visually enticing way that draws the reader right in from the beginning. That’s something I’d like to integrate more into the magazine.

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Tony Yip.

A Conversation with...

What do you believe are the essential qualities of good visual communication?

Are there any ‘tips of the trade’ that you can share when it comes to designing magazines like this one?

I’m no expert, but I believe you need to understand the product, and the clients’ needs, in order to deliver the right message. Crucially, it always needs to be clear and concise.

Organisation is key. Working on multiple projects can sometimes be hard to keep track of, especially when managing so many files. You also need to be aware that you’re in control of the reader, and how the person engages with the information being delivered. So you need a strong sense of clashing colours and content, conflicting adverts, and the placement of every piece of artwork. You also need to consider page bleed areas, so it’s not just about making the pages look pretty!

Can you share the best advice you’ve ever been given? I’m a fairly organised person anyway, but here at Darlington Monthly you really need to be on top of your game. You can easily be working on multiple projects simultaneously, whilst catching up on your emails and amending previous artwork, and trying to get them signed off by clients. It can be quite stressful at times, so having a hobby or some sort of outlet is healthy. Are there any aspects of your role that you think people would be surprised to hear about? We also run our sister magazine, In&Around. This covers the County Durham area - operating under the Jak HQ creative agency, so I don’t just work on the magazines. There is a lot of creative work involved, whether it’s logos for clients’, business cards, websites, or posters - they keep me busy!

If there is something you think we can help with, get in touch at: Darlington Monthly: 01325 776225 sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Jak HQ: 0191 3882 698 hello@jakhq.com

What are your hopes for the magazine in the coming year? I hope to see the magazine grow and engage more people around the region - hopefully beyond County Durham and Darlington. From a design point of view, I’d like to work on a larger magazine so I can be more creative; generating appealing, eye-catching work that attracts people to read our magazine. What hobbies and interests do you most like to pursue away from the office? I consider myself a very active person. I like to cycle and work out, but the things I’m most passionate about are photography and basketball. I’ve been playing in organised games, every week, for years. I’m quite competitive so I do try and sneak in extra training sessions whenever I get the chance to stay in good form. And whether I’m travelling, or at a social event, you’ll always catch me with my camera in my hand (yes - I’m that guy!). I love capturing incredible moments; whether from an artistic point, or semimetal point of view. I love looking back on memories, recalling moments, thoughts, and capturing them, forever.

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Places to go...

KENDAL

he Auld Grey Town of Kendal is the third largest in Cumbria, behind Carlisle and Barrow in Furness. The town lies in the valley or “dale” of the River Kent from which it derives its name, and has a total resident population of around 29,000. But Cumbria is a modern construct, and traditionally Kendal was in Westmorland, and at the time of the Domesday book was compiled it was part of Yorkshire with the name Cherchebi.

home of Kendal Mint Cake, and as a producer of pipe tobacco and tobacco snuff. I was surprised to learn that anyone still takes snuff in these days of vaping. Samuel Gawith and Company uses equipment dating back to the 1750s.

The impressive Castle on top of the hill east of the town is now a ruin, but when I walked up one autumn evening the scale of the building was still apparent, and the views wonderful. “Kendal Green” was a hard-wearing wool-based fabric specific to the local manufacturing It’s a town for walking around, the centre being quite compact, process. It was supposedly sported by the Kendalian archers who and the railway station where you will arrive is on the north were instrumental in the English victory over the French at the Battle side of town and close to the town museum. I enjoyed poking of Agincourt. around to find extraordinary signs like the one shown about the 1745 rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie. I had lunch in Early travellers to Kendal complained of eight miles of “nothing but an excellent Thai restaurant at 101 Highgate called Jintana. a confused mixture of Rockes and Boggs.” Riding horseback was Although a major centre of the Lake District, there are no lakes the fastest form of travelling for the road was “no better than the roughest fell tracks on high ground and spongy, miry tracks in the nearby, the closest being Windermere. vallies.” Things improved a tad with the arrival of the railway in Fares have increased since I went to Kendal last August, but you 1846. The Lancaster Canal was built as far as Kendal in 1819, but can negate the 2019 fares increase by splitting your ticket. You the northern section was rendered unnavigable by the construction change trains anyway at Carlisle and Oxenholme for the Lake of the M6. Part of this section was also drained and filled in to District, and the normal day or period return fare is £55.30 prevent leakage, and the course of the canal through Kendal has now from Chester-le-Street, which seems rather steep to me. By been developed. The canal towpath, however, remains as a footpath requesting split tickets at nationalrail.com the fare fell to £29.28 through Kendal. for a return journey on 6th March, for example. Similar savings will be available from other stations, and railcard discounts will One of the most interesting and surprising parts of my visit was finding the Quaker Meeting House near the Bus Station which houses reduce that fare further. a fascinating display of tapestries, including one on the history of Kendal today is known largely as a centre for tourism, as the railways in which Quaker families feature prominently. Unable to join the law, or the military, and hardly likely to join the clergy of the established church, many Quaker families excelled at business, including the promoters of the 1825 Stockton to Darlington Railway. Quaker Tapestry © This image is one of the 77 illustrations known as the Quaker Tapestry which is a modern community textile of embroidered panels made by 4,000 people from 15 countries. The exhibition of life, revolutions and remarkable people can be seen at the Quaker Tapestry Museum in the Quaker Meeting House in Kendal, Cumbria UK Further information

www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk Alex Nelson

nationalrail.com 32

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MORTON OPTICIANS established in 1937 by John Durkin Morton , the first practice was in Thornaby, Stockton on Tees . The second practise was opened in 1953 in Norton Stockton on Tees . Both practises were taken over by Mr Durkin-Morton’s son Terence Morton in 1976 and since 2002 Terence Morton ’s son David Morton current owner , third generation ,continues to care for the businesses. David Morton graduated in Bradford University 1996 and took his initial training at the Sunderland Eye Infirmary dealing with low vision , children's eyecare, and hospital contact lens fitting. David also worked in London at David Clulow practise for three years before

settling down in Darlington and taking over the family business in Stockton on Tees. Morton Opticians is a very family orientated opticians with a focus on high quality service. David ’s grandfather was one of the first opticians to offer home visits to the local community which David has carried on, offering house visit for patients who have difficulty in travelling. The great news is that service is expanded to Darlington area as well . David Morton and his team extend a warm welcome to both existing and new customers , keen to supply the very best options for everybody.

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Darlington’s community radio station moves into town centre

A volunteer-run community radio station serving Darlington has moved into a new broadcasting base in the town’s centre.

all profits will be reinvested back into the station to help it develop and carry on giving back to the community.

Darlo Radio, established in 2017, has joined Darlington’s Business Central to facilitate its business growth and bring the community together by giving people a voice to discuss local issues.

Mr Osborne continued: “We aim to offer something completely different. We are the only station actually based in Darlington and we will be making sure the local community has a voice.”

The online station, which is run on a not-for-profit basis, is the brainchild of Programme Director Phil Osborne who has over ten years of experience in the radio broadcasting industry.

“As the station develops, we want to make it part of the area’s fabric. The way we can do that is to ensure we offer programming of interest to the area and all those who live in it.”

After previously operating the business from a home-based studio, Mr Osborne believes the move to the business centre is highly significant for the station’s growth. He said: “The station has been growing at such a rate that we had to move into a professional set up and Business Central works perfectly for us. “There’s a friendly atmosphere in the building and nothing is a problem for their staff, which is very important as I’ll be bringing notable guests into the building and I need them to feel at ease before going on air. “It’s also an impressive building to look at so I’m looking forward to inviting guests here.” As part of its social responsibility, Darlo Radio will allow charities and community groups to advertise on the station for free but limited companies must pay to advertise. However,

Going forward, Mr Osborne is aiming to recruit volunteer presenters of all experience levels – but is also looking for those with programme ideas to get in touch via email at studio@darloradio.com. Full training will be given to all presenters on a one-toone basis, opening up the opportunity for people to move into radio broadcasting with little or no experience and be mentored by radio professionals. To listen to Darlo Radio, please visit their website at https://darloradio.com or for mobile users: download the TuneIn app for either Android or Apple devices to listen. To find out more about Darlo Radio, contact the studio on 01325 734856, email Mr Osborne: studio@darloradio.com or follow the station on Facebook @darloradio and Twitter @darlo_radio.

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Mother’s Day Carvery Treat your Mum this Mother’s Day

Come and join us for our Special Mother’s Day Carvery meal at The Croft Hotel on 31st March from 12 - 4pm Course starting from £12.95 with children half price under the age of 12 Includes stunning family photo printed by a professional photographer To book please contact our events coordinator on events@crofthotel.net or call 01325 720319 One family photo printed is included, extra can be purchased directly from the photographer. H O T E L

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FILM REVIEW: LEGO MOVIE 2

DM Rating:

We’re living in dark times, and even Lego minifigures know it. Well, almost all of them. One persistent holdout has been Emmet Brickowski, the “everyman” star of 2014’s block-buster (geddit? Oh, suit yourself) animated film The Lego Movie. Despite his previously vibrant home of Bricksburg having been reduced to a ravaged wasteland appropriately rebranded Apocalypseburg, he’s still clinging to the mantra of “everything is awesome” like… well, many Lego fans for the last five years. That particular song doesn’t quite feature in this gritty sequel, which picks up straight from the first film’s cliffhanger ending of Lego Duplo toys beaming down into Bricksburg and threatening devastation. We do, however, get plenty of electronic numbers in what often veers close to an intergalactic musical. It’s an apt soundtrack, as Emmet’s plastic pals are snatched by the spacesuitclad General Mayhem, whose ominously distorted-sounding voice is courtesy of Stephanie Beatriz. As Emmet is now left stranded in Apocalypseburg with only sceptical strangers for company, he’s basically back in the position he was in for much of the first film: a nobody who has to help his friends against seemingly hopeless odds. It shows how Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who directed that earlier movie but this time stick to writing and producing while Trolls helmer Mike Mitchell directs, have crowbarred a clean slate from the first Lego Movie’s near-perfect ending. One real test of a sequel, though, is whether it can integrate new characters just as riveting as the established cast. It doesn’t take long for The Lego Movie 2 to pass that test, as Emmet enlists the

help of Rex Dangervest, a raptor-training daredevil and an obvious nod to one of the best-known roles of Chris Pratt, who voices both Emmet and Rex. Then there’s Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi, the exuberantly shape-shifting leader of the Systar System to which Emmet’s captured friends are taken. Like the Tiffany Haddish-voiced Queen, the plot regularly changes form, throwing in more than a few red herrings and keeping us guessing as to exactly where it’s going. There’s a lovably bonkers spirit running through The Lego Movie 2, including Richard Ayoade as the Queen’s neurotic assistant Ice Cream Cone, and Alison Brie’s growling vocalisation of Unikitty’s aggressive new alter ego Ultrakatty. Imagine a red, female cat version of the Incredible Hulk, and you’d be about there… That’s not to say that absolutely everything quite clicks.The last third of the film is arguably a little bewildering, with shocking revelations coming thick and fast in a way that could leave many viewers slightly struggling to process it all. However, without wanting to spoil the lovely pay-off, let’s just say that it all boils down to furthering the first film’s message that there’s no “right” way to enjoy Lego. The Lego Movie 2 doesn’t communicate this with quite the same panache and emotional resonance as its predecessor. Still, overall, this energetic sequel remains a highly confident package, with plenty of cute, funny and thoughtful touches making for a touching love letter to Lego-filled childhoods. Craig Lenaghan - Copywriter

We are offering a family ticket for any film at Vue Darlington at Feethams

(valid for 2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children). All you have to do is complete the form below!

Name:

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Email: Post Code: Please send all entries to: Competitions Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-St, Co. Durham, DH3 3DY *NEW* Or enter free by commenting on this advert on our Facebook Page @DarlingtonMonthly

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What’s on March Darlington Football Club 2 Mar - 15:00 Darlington vs Chorley 9 Mar - 15:00 Hereford vs Darlington 16 Mar - 15:00 Darlington vs Chester 23 Mar - 15:00 Nuneaton Borough vs Darlington 30 Mar - 15:00 - Stockport County vs Darlington Home games are played at Blackwell Meadows, Grange Road, Darlington, DL1 5NR. For tickets visit: darlingtonfc.co.uk Dreamland 1 - 23 March - 10:00 – Theatre Hullabaloo Dreamland is a new creative play installation designed for children from 0 – 4 years and their grown-ups, part of the free programme of specially commissioned play spaces at The Hullabaloo. Children’s Train Rides 3 March – 10.00 to 12.30 – Hurworth Grange Come and join the South Durham Model Engineers for plenty of rides for children (and of course Mums and Dads) on our miniature steam and electric trains. Rides will be 50p per ride. Battle Bus 4 & 18 March - 15:30 - ALDI West Park The Battle Bus is a gaming bus for children. Let the kids battle away in the designated squad rooms, where they can challenge each other on FIFA, Rocket League, Overwatch and more. Walworth Castle Wedding Showcase Evening 5 March - 17:00 - Walworth Castle Come along to Walworth Castle with your fiance, family or friends and explore this beautiful wedding venue.The venue’s experienced team and a number of wedding experts will be on hand to discuss your special day. The Forum Music Centre Open Mic Night 6 March – 19:30 – The Forum Music Centre Turn up, plug in and play at The Forum Music Centre’s monthly open mic night on our main stage, hosted by Dave Brittle. St Teresa’s Hospice Fundraising Evening 7 March - 18:00 - Darlington College St Teresa’s Hospice Fundraising Evening at The Glasshouse Restaurant. Price: £22.95 per person. To reserve a table, call 01325 503030. Children with Cancer Comedy Night 8 March - 19:30 - Dolphin Centre A night of comedians to entertain and raise money for Children With Cancer, featuring Markus Birdman, Jack Carroll and Matt Reed.

Got an event coming up? Let us know and we’ll help spread the news. Email details of your event to: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

Celebrating Mardi Gras 14 March – 18:00 – Darlington College Celebrating Mardi Gras at The Glasshouse Restaurant. Food and live Blues music from Somethin’ Blue. Price: £24.95 per person.To reserve a table, call 01325 503030. The Dreamboys 14 March - 19:30 - Darlington Hippodrome The Dreamboys, the UK’s most famous girl’s night out, are back and hotter than ever with a brand-new show and UK tour for 2019. The Dreamboys are without a shadow of a doubt the UK’s most famous and successful show of its kind in history. Their breath-taking show spectacular has been perfectly created for hen nights, birthday parties and girl’s nights out with all your friends. The Rat Pack 16 March – 18:30 – St Mary’s Community Centre Come and hear the classic songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr from The Rat Pack (Darlington’s own tribute act). Tickets cost £10pp which includes a meal and there is also a bar available. Tickets can be purchased from Mandy Petch on 07968 105878 or Tony Leftwich on 07495 239417 That’ll Be The Day 18 & 19 March - 19:30 - Darlington Hippdrome Back by ever-growing popular demand, get ready to party as the UK’s favourite rock & roll variety production returns with another brand new show! Featuring incredible live music performances, this hugely entertaining rock & roll spectacular blends classic gold hits from the 50s, 60s & 70s, with bags of hilarious comedy! Dinosaur World Live 22 & 24 March - 11:00, 14:00 & 16:30 - Darlington Hippodrome Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family. Murder Mystery 22 March - 19:00 - Walworth Castle Enjoy an evening of murder mystery entertainment including a delicious 3 course meal. An engaging and sociable evening working as part of a team to establish ‘who done it’ by interviewing the actors. Mother’s Day Lunch at Walworth Castle 31 March - 12:00 - Walworth Castle Walworth Castle is holding a Mother’s Day lunch featuring a two course carvery for £19.95 per person (inclusive of a special gift for mum).

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The

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Robson Granite Worksurfaces Limited Darlington's Premier Granite, Silestone and Quartz Specialist.

years experience

An established & independent local business

Robson Granite Worksurfaces Ltd, Darlingtonâ€™s Premier Granite, Quartz and Corian Specialists. We have the most experienced and skilled team of template and installation experts in the Darlington area, and while we oďŹ€er the most competitive worktop prices, knowledge, skill and experience is priceless.

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email: enquiries@graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk Website: www.graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk

Darlington Monthly March 19