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Darlington’s oldest and widest-distributed community magazine

THU 26 MAY

SAT 16 JULY FRI 17 JUNE

COMING TO DARLINGTON HIPPODROME What’s Inside Issue 99 May 2022

Darlington Monthly is proudly sponsored by:

Local News

YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS

Sports News

FSC approved

Film review: Sonic 2

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These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in. The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains: ‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

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Hello! Welcome to May’s edition of Darlington Monthly. We’ve made it to the month of half terms and bank holidays, so if you’re hunting for something to do with your time, head to page 34 to find some fun things to do in the local area. Of course, you can get your usual fix of news from the local area - did you know Darlington could be the site of a large solar farm? Flick to page 6 to find out more! You can also catch up on the latest from Darlington FC on page 12 and get your movie fix on page 32 - this month we’re talking all thing Sonic 2!

We can’t believe how quickly this year has gone - we’re already in May! Join us next month for our 100th edition of Darlington Monthly!!

Yorkshire Loft Ladders are the proud sponsor of this month’s Darlington Monthly. Yorkshire Loft Ladders proudly sponsors this month’s Darlington Monthly. If you’re looking to make improvements to your loft this month, get in touch with Yorkshire Loft Ladders. With the renowned local firm’s areas of expertise including loft hatches, ladders, boarding, insulation and lighting, you can depend on them to provide the complete service. Call 0800 612 8359 now, or visit www.yorkshireloftladders. co.uk, for more details and to request a highly competitive quote.

YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS

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

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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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Darlington could be the site of a large solar farm Renewable energy could come to Darlington 10,900 tonnes of CO2 per year. Alongside the ten-fold, if plans for a 62 hectare solar farm at energy farm, the proposal contains several habitat enhancements such as new trees and Burtree Lane are approved by councillors. hedgerows, wetland areas, biodiverse grassland and wildflowers. What are the plans? Aura Power submitted a planning application for the solar farm, which would be located to the south-east of the A1(M), and would be roughly the size of 86 football pitches. The solar energy company says that the subsidy-free solar farm will have a capacity of up to 49.9MW. That’s enough renewable electricity to power around 14,900 homes, or 17,000 electric vehicles.

What about the community? Aura Power has assured local authorities that there would be “no long-term adverse effects on landscape fabric as no impor tant, mature or diverse landscape components would be lost”, after construction of the solar farm.

It will be connected to the electricity grid at Darlington North electricity substation. Members of the local community have been offered a Community Benefit Fund of £17,500 a year for the 40-year lifetime of the solar farm. This would be used to facilitate local school trips The solar energy farm would offset around and educational sessions to the solar farm. A proposed residential development would also benefit from the Bur tree Lane Solar Farm, though the nearest property would be over 600m away from the solar farm.

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An exceptional range of high quality stoves available in the heart of Darlington. Our new showroom boasts an array of traditional and contemporary stoves which can be fitted to inglenook designs or modern free standing versions and created to customers requirements. Visit our new stunning showroom to view our extensive range of Fires, Stoves and Fire Surrounds, and see our exciting new Media Walls which will be a fantastic feature to compliment any room. We will endeavour to create your vision into 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 Stoves and Heating 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 won’t be disappointed. Our showroom at Unit 3 The Old Railworks, Dumfries St, Darlington DL1 1LB, 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 Stoves and Heating Ltd. 8

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We have on display a range of traditional and contemporary wood, gas, electric and multi fuel stoves available. We also have gas & electric packages available. Free no obligation estimate. Fully qualified HETAS, Gas Safe, OFTEC engineers. Full Fitting service available. Highly experienced sales people that will tailor your every need. Come and visit our new exciting showroom to discuss your requirements Unit 3 The Old Railworks, Dumfries St, Darlington DL1 1LB T: 01325 389238 E: jtafiresandstoves@icloud.com

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Enjoy the tastes of India at this brand new Darlington restaurant! A brand new Indian restaurant has opened in Darlington! If you enjoy an excellent meal in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, you need to pay a visit to Tulip Restaurant. This brand new business offers authentic, classic and contemporary cuisine to suit everybody. Each dish is served with subtle aromas of the subcontinent and is delicately spiced to create the perfect taste. Everything on the menu is cooked with the same due diligence, from a specialty dish to a heady richly flavoured dish. No matter what you order, you will be delighted with the food presented to you, as well as our array of sundries and side orders.

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VINTAGEVEHICLERALLY

SUNDAY 22 MAY 2022 10AM - 4PM A variety of rare and unusual vintage vehicles from across the North East and Yorkshire gather again for this popular event. Activities include: mini-train ride, arts and crafts, childrens entertainer. £2 adults, £1 children and under 5 and family members go free North Road Station, Darlington DL3 6ST Tel: 01325 405060 Email: headofsteam@darlington.gov.uk

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Darlington FC’s generous donation The Darlington FC Foundation were presented with a £1000 cheque by DFC chairman David Johnston on behalf of the FA Community Shield at our home game against Curzon Ashton last week. The Foundation has got some exciting plans moving forward over the next few months, and they have appointed Barry Thompson as the Foundation Manager. Barry has been a Darlington fan for over 30 years, so he knows all about our ups and downs over that time – he’s shared them all. He’s now a season ticket holder and an owner of the club.

“I want the Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the football club, to get involved in all areas of the community, and to let them know that there’s a football club in Darlington that is wanting support,” he said. “I want to get involved in four areas. I was a Junior Quaker thirty years ago, and I want to get that going again.

David Johnston presents a cheque for £1000 from the FA Community Shield Fund to Steve Rose from the DFC Foundation.

“We also have our Matchday Experiences, which have been run by some great volunteers in the past, and I want to improve those if I can. “And I also want to help with mental health. There have been some real mental health issues during the pandemic, and we want to establish sessions in which people can have a kick about and then a chat afterwards.”

“When I was a Junior Quaker, I used to go along to the Football in the Community coaching courses that Iain Leckie used to run during the school holidays. I want to establish those again.

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Northallerton Glass - Working hard to stand out from the crowd! Glass is being used more and more in every aspect of our lives. Anytime we look through a window or check ourselves in a mirror it’s there. New innovative and decorative applications for glass are always being found. From kitchen splashbacks to bathroom enclosures. Furniture and staircases through to architectural walk on glass, the uses are endless and Northallerton Glass can supply them all. This month we are focusing on Mirrors. Whether required for bathrooms and dressing rooms or interior design purposes, we have a range of mirrors for every application. We keep a large stock of different mirrors able to be cut, polished, bevelled and drilled. Our tinted and antique effect finishes are highly effective when used in both traditional and contemporary designs and are especially popular as kitchen splashbacks. Benefit from the feeling of light and illusion of space created by adding a full mirrored wall. Make a statement with a column of mirrors on a staircase landing or simply introduce a mixture of textures and finishes to an interior design project.

We offer a full survey and installation service throughout the region or can simply deliver it to you. Trade and public enquiries are welcome. Why not add some decorative sandblasting to your mirror? We specialise in surface etching and multi layer glass carving. The creative options are endless. Speak to our design team today to find out more. If you need your glass dropping off, no problem. We deliver to the Darlington area once a week. Best Specialist Glass Processing Company & Customer Service Excellence Awards 2021

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Tees Valley Financial Services Mortgage Advice Bureau are delighted to welcome five new team members to join our busy offices in Tees Valley! We’ve recently enjoyed huge successes and have made the decision to expand to meet growing customer demand. Joining the team are Marie Dunnabie and Barbara Smith as mortgage advisers with an impressive 41 years of experience in the industry between them, as well as Lewis Hill as a trainee adviser. Supporting the team are administrators, Banisha Saimbhi and Sarah Elmer, who both have excellent experience in various customer service roles. As life starts to return to normal, Adam Swalwell, Business Principal, is confident about the future, commenting:

“I’m over the moon to be able to continue to grow our team of talented people, with the local housing market booming and the large number The new team members will bring the total staff of new jobs coming to our area. We hope this numbers up to eighteen and they’ll certainly be continues, and we’ll be able to expand the team valuable additions to an already thriving team. again in the near future.”

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Mary Queen of Scots, born 1542

Places to go...

Linlithgow T

here are four train operating companies running between Newcastle and Edinburgh: LNER, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Lumo. This means that fare are very competitive and on Thursday 7th April I went to Edinburgh for £7.35 each way with my railcard. Then onward to Linlithgow, the ending pronounced as in low rather than how. It’s a compact town and my list of places to visit was simple: Palace, Church, Loch, Museum and Canal Basin. All are close together, although the natural loch is quite large and if you want to walk round the perimeter it is a pleasant 2.3 mile stroll.

going to Oxfordshire, but with prices having gone up, I felt I was getting better value for money for my £6.95 sending it from Scotland.

including some haggis, before I walked up to St. Michael‘s church and found the adjacent Palace closed for high level renovations. The town motto is “St. Then time for a cup of coffee at the Cafe 1807 (named after the fountain completed Michael is kinde to straingers”. As an in that year outside the cafe), and a visit to ancient town, Linlithgow is not immune from controversy: not everyone likes the the welcoming and fascinating Museum aluminium super-structure built on the inside the 1939 Court House and church tower (although I did). The high Administration building of the County of street is an eclectic mix of different period Linlithgowshire, which provided a useful buildings with a large 1970s brutalist orientation to the town, It is now part of West Lothian managed from the new town concrete development, the Vennel, where of Livingston. The attractive building was the loch reaches closest to the town. Most recently, though, controversy has raged opened in 1939, and the museum comprises three rooms, admission free but about a pub named after the Black Bitch, Whilst I left Chester-le-Street on time, my donations welcome. It is now named after see the statue photographed, celebrated for swimming across the loch daily to bring train for the main leg of the journey, Tam Dalyell, the local MP who holds the sustenance to her master who was TransPennine’s 0919 train from Newcastle record for the most supensions in the marooned and chained on an island. to Edinburgh, had been cancelled. A quick House of Commons. Echoes of Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh visit to the ticket office had me reserved on The railway station at Linlithgow may be (where you can break your journey). The the 0947 non-stop LNER service to the earliest station to be photographed Black Bitch pub has been renamed this year Edinburgh, which arrived on platform 9 on anywhere in the world. There’s a picture as the Willow Tree. time where my connection to Linlithgow dating from 1845, and the railway line was fortuitously waiting on adjacent slices through the south of the town on its platform 8. Accordingly I arrived at my way from Glasgow to Edinburgh. In 1822 destination at the originally scheduled time the canal, further south and at a higher of 1133. The subway between platforms of level, also passed east west and was called this station is very low. I am not tall at 5ft the Union Canal with a canal basin 11ins but there was only an inch clearance alexnelson@dunelm.org.uk constructed to allow goods to be loaded above my head. First stop was the Post www.nationalrail.com and unloaded. Office to dispatch one of my railway maps Mylinlithgow.com (www.railmap.org.uk). It was actually Lunch was in the Star and Garter pub, To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 01325 776225

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27TH AUGUST 2022 | 3PM - 7PM Come and join us on our beatiful South Terrace for an afternoon of laid back Ibiza vibes with a live DJ and Saxophonist. If the weather isn’t perfect, we have you covered with our brand new patio heaters and parasols. Bring your friends to enjoy sharing coctails pitchers and sharing platters of delicious food and maybe get some glitter face art too to really get you in the mood!

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Getting to know:

Anthony, Director of Manfield Wealth Management Ltd

Have you considered where you savings are now, or could be in 5 years' time and is it time to make your money work harder for you? Are your existing investments currently on track to meet your future plans, or do they need a change of management? Will your family inherit your full estate after your death or could part of your savings be given to tax?

Anthony Sowerby | Director Manfield Wealth Management Ltd

Manfield Wealth Management Ltd is a friendly local firm offering independent financial advice on all aspects of new investment, managing existing portfolios and inheritance tax mitigation with over 24 years of experience. You can save regularly too if its more convenient and shelter your savings from unnecessary taxation. Why not send me an email at anthony@manfieldwealth.co.uk or give me a call on 01325 461269/07738 375 448 to arrange a meeting, either in person or virtually if you prefer. A face-to-face meeting can be at your home, place of work. Any initial consultation is free of charge and obligation. Get to know us better and we can help you and your savings on a successful journey together. Before considering any investment outside of cash, please read and bear in mind the following statements for you attention. Manfield Wealth Management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority offering independent financial advice FCA number 923347. Company number 12217582, company address Regus House, 4 Admiral Way, Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland SR3 3XW. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation and trust advice. Capital is at risk when investing and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, meaning you may get back less than you invest. Past financial performance of investments is not a guide or guarantee to future returns.

What is your favourite part of the job? Definitely meeting the clients, people are interesting and the time passes quickly. At meetings I’ll obtain an understanding of the person I’m helping. I listen to their ‘phrases’, their experiences and viewpoints and their aims become much clearer. Can you tell us the most important thing you’ve learned since starting the business? ‘Client is king’; follow up enquiries timely; deliver what you’ve promised (and consequently don’t promise anything you can’t achieve); ensure the client understands everything and work for their benefit as a priority. Why should people seek independent financial advice, over a different type of investment adviser? It’s about suitability. Greater choice creates a more suitable option, based on a client’s requirements. Some 22

clients are ‘cost-conscious’ others need a higher return, some need a lower risk and so on. An independent adviser can ‘tailor’ an investment and isn’t restricted. How did you decide to become a financial adviser? I can’t say I always wanted to do this job! I had an interest in shares from my late teens and bought a few myself - I was a bit ‘geeky’ I suppose. I’m more a ‘people person’ and combining the interest in investing with this, created a natural role in financial advice. How does working for yourself compare to working in the corporate world? It’s really a personal choice, freedom is greater but then so is responsibility. There are benefits to both of course and it can be more difficult to ‘switch off ’. You’re more accountable, so you take more care in my view. I feel ‘motivated’ to work compared to being ‘told to’.

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We Need You! 2022 is a very special year for In June we reach our

100th edition! This wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing advertisers and the support of you, our fabulous readers. Do you have a special memory that involves the magazine? If you’d like to share it, we’d love to hear it! Not only will it make our day, but we may even feature it in our June ‘100th Anniversary' bumper edition. Maybe you won a competition with us, or perhaps you were one of the people who we interviewed for our 'What’s in Your Trolley' feature that we used to run?

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Rhubarb & custard cake This recipe tastes even better with homegrown rhubarb

20 mins to prep

Ingredients 1quantity Barney's roasted rhubarb (see recipe, below method) 250g pack butter , softened, plus extra for greasing 150g pot ready-made custard (not the chilled kind; I used Ambrosia) 250g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder 4 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g golden caster sugar icing sugar , for dusting

1 hour to cook

Serves 16 people

Directions

Step one... Make the roasted rhubarb first, carefully draining off the juices before you let it cool. Butter and line a 23cm loose-bottomed or springform cake tin. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.

Step two... Reserve 3 tbsp of the custard in a bowl. Beat the rest of the custard together with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs, vanilla and sugar until creamy and smooth. Spoon one-third of the mix into the tin, add some of the rhubarb, then

dot with one-third more cake mix and spread it out as well as you can. Top with some more rhubarb, then spoon over the remaining cake mix, leaving it in rough mounds and dips rather than being too neat about it. Scatter the rest of the rhubarb over the batter, then dot the remaining custard over. Bake for 40 mins until risen and golden, then cover with foil and bake for 15-20 mins more. It’s ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin, then dredge with icing sugar when cool.

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Spring Your Way into Summer While the change of season might put a spring in some people’s step, for others the milder weather and the impending arrival of summer can create a host of conflicting feelings, especially if you’re facing yet another summer not at the weight you want to be. The reason that so many ‘ordinary’ diets fail is because they don’t tackle the reasons behind why people overeat in the first place. They suggest the answers are in the food and focus on calories and complex food-plans. LighterLife offers a weight management plan to suit your weight loss needs that doesn’t just include meal replacement products but access to our unique behaviour change programme. With LighterLife you can lose a stone a month, every month so if you start your LighterLife adventure today you could lose a stone in time for the Summer Holiday!

Lose a stone a month. #changeispossible

LighterLife combines a choice of plans for fast weight loss and groups to help you understand far more about your relationship with both you – and the food. We’ve a range of plans depending on how quickly you want to lose weight, all leading to personalised Management plans with will help you achieve a healthy and balanced way of eating for life with healthy recipes and ongoing group support. Spring into action for summer and a new, lighter you by contacting Chloe, your local Lighterlife Xpress Slimming Club Mentor.

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What plans do you have in place for when you reach the end of your life and ultimately pass away?

If the answer is none, it’s time to consider writing Considering a power of attorney a will and making a power of attorney. As we move through life, we can sometimes find that we either no longer want to make Is it time to make a Will? decisions regarding our proper ty, money, health and welfare, or we no longer have the mental Nobody wants to think about dying, but it’s a capacity to decide for ourselves. fact that it will happen to all of us. Have you thought about what will happen to your assets In this instance, we can appoint an attorney. There are two types of lasting power of attorney; when you’re gone? Health & Welfare and Proper ty & Affairs. You can choose anybody you like to take this role, as Unless you write a will, you will have no control long as they’re over 18 and do not lack mental over who will inherit your estate, meaning the capacity. people you care about do not benefit from any of your assets. Even if you’re married with While it is up to you what decisions you allow children, your spouse will not automatically your attorney to make, a Proper ty & Affairs inherit everything you own. Instead it will be attorney has the power to manage bills, collect divided between your par tner and your children, benefits, fill out forms and sell your proper ty and if you are unmarried and don’t have a will in or assets. A Health & Welfare attorney has the place, your partner may not see any of it. power to give or refuse life saving treatment, decide whether or not you live in your home That’s why it’s impor tant to seek help from with the suppor t of care workers, or whether an experienced professional, who can advise residential care would be more appropriate. and guide you through the process. Arrange an appointment with one of our experienced Set up your power of attorney today, with consultants, who will make sure you choose the some help from Future Estate Planning Service LTD! Call 0800 625 0512 to right will for you and your loved ones. arrange your appointment. 28

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Future Estate Planning Services Ltd Do you know what’s going to happen to your assets when you die? Contrary to a common misconception, your property and estate will not automatically be inherited by your spouse or children when you die. It’s time to make a will! Making a will has all of these benefits: • You know that your loved ones will benefit from your assets • It saves your loved ones a lot of unnecessary stress after your passing • You can choose your executors (the people responsible for distributing your assets) Book a consultation with Future Estate Planning Services Ltd today, to discuss appointing an attorney! As we get on in life, we don’t always want to make decisions about our health, wellbeing, property and finances. In fact, sometimes we lose the capacity to altogether. That’s why you should consider making an appointment with Future Estate Planning Services Ltd, to discuss appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney.

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FILM REVIEW

There was an undoubted novelty factor to the early-2020 amalgam of computer animation and live action known on cinema release schedules as Sonic the Hedgehog. For a start, it breathed new life into a franchise that had been largely shorn of mainstream attention since the ‘90s — a time when a TV set often wouldn’t look complete without a Sega Mega Drive gaming console wired up to it. It seems strangely apt, then, that the film’s standout performance was that of Jim Carrey, channelling much of the eccentric energy from his own ‘90s material into his role as the title character’s lead adversary Dr Robotnik. Fast-forward two years, and the sequel picks up where its predecessor left off, with the mad scientist still languishing on the ‘mushroom planet’ — but not for long. A red echidna warrior called Knuckles — voiced in intimidatingly growly fashion by Idris Elba — strikes a deal with Robotnik and frees him from his mushroomy imprisonment. Knuckles — whose childhood tribe was fiercely antagonistic toward Sonic’s — wants Robotnik’s help in tracing the immensely powerful Master Emerald and wielding it against the spiky speedster. “Papa’s got a brand new ‘stache!” Robotnik boasts once he’s back on Earth, with his new look more closely resembling his game incarnation. So far, so gritty. However, shortly after Sonic learns of the plan Robotnik and Knuckles have concocted, the wisecracking blue blur is joined by a sidekick of his own, the chirpy flying fox Tails. While Ben Schwartz returns after his debut as Sonic’s voice in the 2020 film, Tails’ voice is that of Colleen O’Shaughnessey — as in the Sonic games since 2014. It’s hardly the only ‘Easter egg’ for which long-time fans of the games can enjoy looking as the two-hour-plus runtime trundles on. Much of that runtime is admittedly swallowed up by a somewhat bonkers subplot in Hawaii, where Sonic’s adoptive parents Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) are preparing for the wedding of the latter’s older sister, Rachel. She’s played by brilliant sport Natasha Rothwell, hilarious as a petulant bride whose frantic attempts to get groom Randall

(Shemar Moore) to finally slip a wedding ring onto her finger are constantly foiled. While on the subject of humour, Carrey is still great value as the gurning Robotnik – not least as the Ontario-born actor is responsible for uttering many of Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s genuinely wittiest lines. Those are often at conveniently close hand for puncturing the ponderousness of some of the more intense moments — as when Robotnik, with a rolling boulder in hot pursuit, quips: “I don’t want to die like this! It’s derivative!” Fortunately, it’s not a charge that can be levelled at the film as a whole — which, for many families, should be well worth a Mega Drive (ahem) to the cinema.

Graig Lenaghan

Content Manager

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Darlington Monthly May 22