NE Online Magazine Issue 49

Hi Chris and welcome to NE Magazine, for the few readers who must be living in a cave somewhere and don’t know who you are how about giving th em a quick l ow- down o n yourself?

- Hello! Can’t help but think I’m writing your interview introduction for you here, oh well… I’m a stand-up comedian from South Shields and I’m also a bit of an actor now and then… but mainly a comedian… that might not come across as well as it should in print form, but I am.

So there.

At the moment it’s hard not seeing you on the TV when we switch it on as you’re everywhere, but what has been the highlight for you so far?

- Not everywhere though am I? If you turn on QVC and I’m selling a frying pan, just assume you’ll find me floating face down in a river very soon. The highlight for me so far was probably being in Hebburn. Since starting comedy I always wanted to try my hand at being in a sitcom too so I was over the moon to do one with my mate and so close to my heart, and I got to work with Vic Reeves.

I know you had a bit of a crazy time with fans wanting pics and autographs when you were having a few drinks in a South Shields bar recently, how are you finding this, does it put you off going out?

- Not at all. Any person in that position who has been on TV or whatever and people want photos (I’m trying my best not to say celebrity here!) who pretends they hate the attention is a liar. You don’t go for a career on TV because you don’t want anyone to notice you. As long as I’m not eating or having a shit when you want a photo then it’s no problem at all… I meant, like on the toilet, not just in the middle of the dancefloor.

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Have you had any weird fan requests or incidents?

- Not really. The odd person will show up to a gig with my face on a T-Shirt, or bake me a cake, or send me a dead animal in the post but other than that it’s just photos and autographs. A little kid in Hebburn when we were filming asked me to sign his micro scooter… that was a bit weird.

As well as being a bit of a regular on Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 Cats you are now starring in the North East based sitcom Hebburn, how did that come about?

- My mate and fellow comedian Jason Cook decided to write a sitcom about the town he was from, Hebburn, and he actually wrote me a little side part which he named after me. But when it came to being made the BBC asked me to read for the main character, and when I got it, Jason took the part that he’d written for me! It came about so gradually that I didn’t really realise the enormity of being lead role in a BBC2 sitcom until I saw the advert on TV. I nearly passed out.

How has the response for Hebburn been so far?

- Overwhelmingly positive.

And we just won Best Drama at the RTS North awards too. And we’ve got a second series!

You are now embarking on your biggest tour to date, how do you feel about this?

- Yeah incredible! It’s an extension of my last tour, Feeling Lucky. I did 60+ dates in 2012 but the demand for tickets was so high and people enjoyed the show so much that I’m doing another 40 odd dates this year in much bigger venues. I can’t wait to get back out on the road.

Are there any venues on the tour that you are looking forward to playing or any you’re quite nervous about?

- The Theatre Royal in Newcastle. I absolutely can’t wait. I used to watch panto there when I was a kid. I’m

We l c o m e N o t e .

No one has a clue what is happening d a y t o d a y, b u t a s a l w a y s w e j u s t h a v e t o t r y a n d m a ke t h e m o s t o f t h i n g s i n w h a t r e a l l y i s t h e s t ra n g e s t year I have ever lived through.

So please try and support your local businesses and help them to g e t t h r o u g h t h i s . We a r e a l l i n i t together!

As always, if you have something you want to see in a future issue then d o n ’ t fo r g e t t o d r o p u s a n e m a i l t o wayne. groves@neonlinemagazine. com P l u s r e m e m b e r t o fo l l o w u s o n Fa c e b o o k , Tw i t t e r & I n s t a g ra m fo r our regular updates on events and competitions.

Till next time Ta ke c a r e Wa y n e

EDITOR & DESIGNER Wayne Groves wayne.groves@neonlinemagazine.com

O2 Academy Newcastle/City Hall www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk Sage Gateshead www.sagegateshead.com Ocean Beach Pleasure Park www.oceanbeach.co.uk Quasar Elite South Shields www.quasarsouthshields.co.uk For all queries or if you would like to feature or advertise in NE Magazine email wayne.groves@neonlinemagazine.com Unless stated otherwise all competition entries should be sent to win@ neonlinemagazine.com Plus you can catch up with us online for news, events, blogs, competitions and more at www.neonlinemagazine.com Follow us on Facebook - www.facebook. com/pages/N-E-Online-Magazine Join us on Twitter @NEOnlineMag1 And Instagram @neonlinemagazine

CONTRIBUTORS Peter Mann BSc Inside Mann Media & PR insidemannmedia.wordpress.com petermann78@hotmail.com Madhouse Media www.madhousemedia.co.uk SPONSORS Playhouse Whitley Bay www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk Cineworld Boldon www.cineworld.co.uk The Theatre Royal Newcastle www.theatreroyal.co.uk/

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{THIS} {ISSUE} P6 Tizziebagwash P14 The JADeS P20 Moving On Tyne & Wear P24 David McGovern P32 John William Storey AKA Jack Horner P38 NE AOTY Zoe Gilby & Andy Champion Living in Shadows P50 BST Fabrics P59 Free Trees In Middlesbrough P64 Playhouse Whitley Bay P68 Viking Hypnotherapy P76 Northern Threads P80 Save The High Street P87 Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra P90 Richie Paxton 5

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Tizziebagwash

Tizziebagwash takes us on an artistic journey through her blissful, northern soul “My dream has always been to be a writer and illustrator and it’s taken me all this time to go for my dreams.”

It’s easy to believe that there is some sort of artistic streak in all of us; a talent hidden away, sometimes screaming from the

depths of ones’ heart and soul to be let out into the sunlight, to blossom, and for some of us that answer the call, the results can be amazing.

Just ask the fair maiden of the north, Emma Ornsby, or Tizziebagwash as she’s often known to her nearest and dearest, and a name that is the character of one her adventurous children’s stories for, like Emma, Tizziebagwash is a tinker of a

character.

And, quite often, the characters within children’s tales bare some sort of resemblance to their creators, bringing forth what has happened to them in an enlightening manner, a one which will, throughout, engage the children delightfully.

Inside the mind of Emma, there’s a lot whirring around, there has been for some time in all honesty, and it craves the release into the

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realms of the real world for, not only does Tizziebagwash and her trusty canine companion, Binnie (you’ll love them, honestly), long for a release from Whimsey Wood, there’s a whole series of stories for you to delight over.

And there’s more as well, Emma did not stop at bringing ‘Tizziebagwash’ to light, there’s also the stunning, yet heartwarming tale of ‘Rockie,’ an abandoned yet beautiful pony for all you equine lovers, as well as the ‘Little Green Monster,’ and the tale of the ‘Jingling Geordie’ – it’s been a mindful explosion.

But how did all of this come into being, well we can lay blame, if ever blame was to be layed, at the lips of Emma’s dearly departed mum, Patricia Anne, who passed a little over two decades ago, in late August 2000.

“Yes, my mum used to entertain me with delightful names when I was younger, and that’s how Tizziebagwash came to be,” smiled Emma, reminiscing of a bygone era.

“She was in a wheelchair herself so was unable to take me out but, the name Tizziebagwash stuck between us and I decided to write stories about her, in memory of my mum.

“She has no age herself, so children of all ages can relate to her and the stories in which she lives herself, they are all based

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on true happenings as well.

“I’ve also penned a few other stories, another picture book entitled ‘Little Green Monster,’ that’s about a little boy who is

afraid to look under his bed,” we all love this story, and probably most have experienced it as well, why, “because his big brother told him tales of the monster

beneath.

“It’s a happy, funny tale which will sit nicely alongside Tizziebagwash and her escapades.

“Also, I’ve written the tale of Rockie, an abandoned pony who is seen to save the life of a sad and lonely, 10-year-old child through the connection they create, the bond they form, their love for each other.

“And there’s more, well just one other, as I’m also writing a book about a local character entitled ‘Jingling Geordie.’”

Emma’s artistic talent lies not only in the written form, talented though she is there, you see, the illustrations in her books are self-created, the title of illustrator can easily be added into her burgeoning repertoire, and then there is that of art itself, and what beautiful pieces she has been seen to create.

All intertwined in one form or another, Emma brings things to life in wondrous ways. Her books, her illustrations, her artwork, creating further formations as she proceeds, they also help with

poetic verse, and are channelled through her ever-eclectic taste in music.

“I love music, and you could easily say I’m a rock chick at heart, but I’ve a very eclectic taste in music,” giggles Emma.

“There’s a love of rock, who doesn’t, but also classical music and I can often be found creating something to music, it brings out an inner strength in me.

“The same can be said of my poetic offerings; that’s a massive part of my work and I’ll often think of verse when I’m painting.”

A very therapeutic path through life are the differing forms of art, and for Emma, painting is something she not only enjoys doing, but is seen to enjoy as well, and often with stunning effect.

She has her go to pieces, those which she can produce blindfolded as the brush lightly glides over its canvas, and there’s the pieces which you’d not expect but can often create the same feelings of awe and wonder.

For Emma though, her painting, that nearly didn’t come about and one should never take onboard the words, ‘You Can’t Do It,’ just go out there and do it, and if it’s to the best of your abilities, then you’ve succeeded.

“Art, it can be very frustrating at times and there can be days that I don’t get things right,” explains Emma.

“I was told in high school, by my then-art teacher, Mr Gilespie, that I should never pick up a pencil or brush again after painting a disaster, so I didn’t take art, and that, honestly, it broke my heart.

“It’s because of Tizziebagwash that I began creating art again as I couldn’t find anyone who could capture her the way she was in my mind.

“I sat and cried over my mum one night and I could hear her, clear as day, say to me, ‘There’s no such word as can’t’ – that was something in which she’d often say to me, so I just tried, and tried, and tried.

“I’ve a passion and love for

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the animal kingdom, the great outdoors, and forests, and I feel that animals all have their own personalities, even the wild ones, and the soul of the animal comes to me through their eyes.

“So, when you see my art, my creations often have larger eyes, it’s their soul, whilst the outdoors, and particularly forests, they are very much a huge enjoyment for me.”

The difficulty which any author and artist has is being recognised across the wider world and Emma is under no illusions having been knocked back and disappointed so many times before.

However, she uses those ‘disappointments’ and the memory of her mum, Patricia, to spur her on as she continues to forage along her own little path through Whimsey Wood with hope to bring them into our world, for us all to enjoy.

“I’d love to bring to life my books through art going forward,” Emma continues to smile, “the hope is to create more and more as its addictive.

“I see the beauty and souls in things that most people don’t.”

Keep up-to-date with an artistic journey via Facebook ‘Emma Louise Ornsby Art’ https://www. facebook.com/tizziebagwash

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www.bstfabrics.co.uk

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The ladies are letting their collective voices be heard; it’s The JADeS!!

“We’re proud to be a part of the music scene here in the northeast,” The JADeS

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The past year was supposed to be so very different for everybody, and for these four key-workers, who double up as musicians in their spare time, there was not only supposed to be gigs galore, and a third album, but there was also the prospect of a debut single in the offing.

All of that has been shelved for 2021 though, so get ready for lift-off with these four, absolute beauties....

Jayne Brown, Andrea Anderson, Dawn Gowland Armes, Sue Kitching, collectively known as Hartlepool’s female vocalists, ‘The JADeS’ are a quartet of fresh, contemporary ladies providing their own take on glamour and harmony.

Canapes and Chardonnay, Glitz and Glamour, this stunning quar-

tet with two albums to their name over the past four years, sees them cover everything from the 1940’s to the present day, be it the blues and jazz, classical or pop, even a little rock – yes, they have a rock chick in their ranks as well!

But what is ‘The JADeS’ Experience, a one which only sprung into existence just six, short years ago having all known each other for best part of a decade via local choirs, and Mums the Word.

Speaking of their beginnings, rockette, Jayne said: “We only set

out to do a few charity gigs back in 2014 which yes, it was very nervewracking.

“It was terrifying, but secretly, deep down, I think we really enjoyed it.”

“Yes, a friend of ours was doing seven marathons in seven days so the first charity gig was done to honour that occasion,” added Andrea.

“That first wedding performance we gave, that was a special occasion as it was for a friend of ours whom we’d known for some time, since then though we’ve performed at the likes of the Wintertide Festival in Hartlepool a few times among others.”

Now, with a quartet of ladies who have established themselves somewhat within the regions highly

esteemed and regarded music industry, this past year was supposed to be oh so very different, for everyone.

But who are these four ladies with style, character, sassiness and class, well here’s a bit about them, by them.

(J) Jayne - “I’ve always been interested in singing and dancing, I have been since early childhood.

However, after leaving school, and becoming all adult, I didn’t start back again until I joined a choir a decade ago (2010), then I met these gorgeous girls, and joined Hartlepool Ladies; I’ve even sung in Durham Cathedral and the Liverpool Philharmonic.”

(A) Andrea - “I’ve had lead roles in plays when I was in primary school but slowly drifted away as I got older; I was really into gothic and indie music growing up but then got into jazz and swing, as

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well as some grunge, but I like nothing better than belting out a good tune. My family are all musical, brothers and sister are in bands and my dad writes his own music.”

(D) Dawn - “I’ve grown up around music, very family-oriented with my father having been in The Heartbeat (a Stockton-based band), and can probably sing pretty much every track from the fifties and sixties because of my parents – I can play the trombone, done the rock school, and musical theatre before joining these ladies through Mums the Word.”

(S) Sue - “I played a few instruments and sang in the choir at school, then re-joined a choir when my children were young and had singing lessons with Mums the Word; I’m also classically trained.”

In having released two albums already, The JADeS put out a seven-track album, Under the

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Cover, in 2016, then, two years later followed up with the eighttrack, Gotcha Covered, plans were to be not only for a third release in 2020, but also their debut single.

A beautifully harmonised, electro-

jazz piece entitled ‘Let Your Voice Be Heard,’ was scheduled for release this past summer, not long after that expected third album, however, the occurrence of an ongoing pandemic very much put paid to all that.

Instead, Jayne and Andrea, Dawn and Sue, will have to wait until later on next year to take the world by storm, just expect a little dash of craziness along the way.

“Our last show was back on New Years’ Eve, and, although we usually step back a bit in January, February time, we’re ready to go again from the March onwards,” explained Sue. “We did have plans for a third album (after releases in 2016 and 2018), as well as our debut single; the recording process was set for April and everything is pretty much ready now, we’ve just had to put it back a year.”

“Yes, we worked really hard on what will be our debut single, alongside the Hartlepool duo, Khalysis (Olivia Crawford and Georgia Fletcher), “continued Jayne.

“They penned the backing track to the single and It’s a shame it hasn’t been released yet but it’s recorded and very much ready to go – it was supposed to be out during the summer gone.”

Now though, they’re looking forward, especially after what has been, and still is, a tough year for all. They’ve done their part, hats off to them for that, and they’ll continue to do so. But they’re also very much ready for the next stage in their musical journey as well, whenever that may be.

“We’ve got some really good harmonies going on and we tune into each other rather well; it’s just been a shame that we’ve had to shelve everything that we had planned for this year,” adds Dawn.

“Yes, it’s difficult to plan ahead

right now and we know people are wanting to book us as we’ve had plenty of events planned for this past year; we do know that there’ll be others to come and we can’t wait to get back out there,” smiled Sue. And getting back out there is very much what they plan on doing, be it at weddings, corporate events and functions, festivals, or even their own gigs as The JADeS, performing, heaven forbid, their own music as well – after all, they’ve most certainly got all bases covered.

made some really good friends whilst getting some amazing feedback wherever we’ve been,” concluded Jayne.

If we’ve whetted your appetite with The JADeS, and you’d like to know more, and want to keep upto-date, then follow their socials via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheJADeS4 and Twitter https://twitter.com/TheJADeS4, whilst also being able to find out more via their website http://thejades.co.uk/

Haven’t they?

“It’s been an absolutely incredible, rewarding journey; performing at weddings is amazing and we’ve

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The Beautiful South Founder Member Dave Hemingway announces October Release For ‘SUNBIRDS’ Debut Album.

The Beautiful South founder member Dave Hemingway has announced that his new band Sunbirds will release their debut album ‘Cool To Be Kind’ on 30th October 2020 on the independent label Nectar Records.

Having retired from the live scene at the back end of 2016, Dave has been keeping busy with guitarist, songwriter and collaborator Phil Barton, with Cool To Be Kind signalling the arrival of the new band, new songs and a new sound.

The music Sunbirds make takes on board all of the bands and artists Dave and Phil have loved over the years. It chiefly blends the musical instruments of rural America with an occasional twist of grungy guitars and sets them against lyrics that remain very much at home in the towns and cities of England.

“Although a lot of the songs have a Country feel.” says Dave. “They’re down honky-tonks when you live still about life in England. You’re in Yorkshire.” going to feel a bit daft singing about pick-up trucks and low Produced by cult producer Teo

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Miller, who was responsible for Daisy Chainsaw’s breakthrough single ‘Love Your Money’ and subsequently worked with The Pretenders, Placebo and Robert Plant, the album captures truthful, open-hearted, funny and sometimes painfully honest songs, turning the page to a new chapter for Dave Hemingway and The Beautiful South story.

The formation of Sunbirds also sees the introduction of new discovery Laura Wilcockson on vocals and violin. Laura comes from a classical/orchestral, as well as folk background. If you’re lucky, you might spot her busking around Mansfield. Completing the four-piece line-up is session drummer to the stars, Marc Parnell. His CV has way too many names to go into here.

Cool To Be Kind is the result of a few transitional years in Dave and Phil’s individual personal worlds.

It tells tales that cover contemporary themes as well as age-old matters of the heart and soul - all viewed through the bottom of a recently drained pint glass.

“There’s no exact science here,”

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Is your mental or physical health stopping you from moving forward?

Moving On Tyne & Wear are here to help you address these issues and find employment, training or volunteering that’s right for you.

For FREE one-to-one support call 0191 217 3206 visit www.motw.org.uk email enquiries@motw.org.uk

This project is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund

Hi Colin, welcome to NE, can

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GAINING INDEPENDENCE Ry joined Moving On Tyne & Wear in March 2019, he had been unemployed for some time and suffered from psychosis, autism, anxiety and depression. At the start of his time with us, he had a very low opinion of himself and his confidence was at rock bottom. He knew he wanted to work… he just wasn’t sure how to start the process or what he wanted to do.

As with any participant who joins MOTW, Ry was assigned his own personal Navigator.

Thomas, a Health Pathways Officer, specialises in working with people who suffer from autism.

He arranged a series of one-toone sessions in which he worked with Ry to identify key obstacles that were hindering him in his search for employment and then they tackled each issue together, one by one.

Thomas provided expert guidance and support, helping Ry with job applications, mock interviews and interview prep, CV writing and training courses in order to improve his employability.

However, something equally as important was the belief Thomas showed in

Ry, the positive encouragement and the quality of time they spent together which dramatically improved Ry’s confidence and self-belief. They worked together on Ry’s communication skills, addressed his personal barriers and Thomas helped Ry to see the value in himself, recognise his personal qualities and believe in his abilities.

Throughout his time at MOTW, Ry grew in confidence and after over a year of support, guidance and friendship Ry applied for, and was offered, a full-time job as a support worker for Paramount Care.

“Moving On Tyne & Wear utilised a holistic approach when supporting me in the attainment of not only employment, but my independence as well.”

Everyone’s journey with MOTW is different.

Everything is done at a pace that suits the participant and Navigators have a clear idea and understanding of the health barriers that are preventing people from finding employment. So, they focus on working together, as a team, and help their participants to take realistic and manageable steps towards their goals.

If you would like to learn more about MOTW and how we could help you, or someone you know, move forward then get in touch with us today. You can call us on 0191 217 3206, email enquiries@ motw.org.uk or complete our online referral form. The service is free and won’t affect any benefits currently being received.

Moving On Tyne & Wear is a local employability programme who have been helping people aged 18 or over in Tyne & Wear that are unemployed and have a health barrier, disability, additional learning need or autism get into employment, training or volunteering since 2017. It is joint funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund and is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme. This nationwide initiative invests in local projects that tackle the root causes of poverty and promote social inclusion. Moving On Tyne & Wear is led by Mental Health Concern and works closely with a number of charity partners from across the North East to ensure participants receive the best possible care and support.

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Synth sci-fi Sapien Trace

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oozing

through

In supporting the Musicians Against Homelessness cause, Newcastle trio, Sapien Trace, and electro synth-rock band, are continuing their upward surge in sound, beginning with the release later this month of their new single, More Than I Can Give.

Fronted by Mark Dickinson the trio also features that of Alex Brand (guitar, bass) and Dan Baldwin (drums) they came about somewhat accidentally between late 2016 and early 2017, performing a couple of gigs a month ever since, that’s alongside Mark and his solo sessions, just for added awesomeness.

“Yeah, myself and Alex met at a Halloween party a few years back,” explained Mark.

“Then, in the February the following year, Dan joined in the fun and we’ve been performing a couple of gigs a month ever since.

“At the beginning we were more a heavier metal sound though due to the musical influences on Alex. We were more into your likes of Korn etc so that was pretty much at the forefront of what we did.

“Fortunately we’ve calmed the sound down a bit since then.”

Quietly moving along behindthe-scenes over the past three years, releases gaining mixed reviews they have seen The Crack labelling them as being ’Sci-fi rock at its finest,’ whilst NE Volume went a little crazy when

inviting music lovers to ‘Imagine Rammstein and The Prodigy meet at a party in space with Pendulum driving,’ “The last gig we performed (with Moodbay in mid-January) was one of the best we’ve done,” Mark continued.

“It was a great experience with some new people. I will admit though, it has been a little difficult at times, doing all this, although we’ve also managed to ascertain some pretty decent reviews.”

Now, with their impending new single, More Than I Can Give, set for mid-February release, the lads jumped in and recorded their new offering at Blast Studios, Newcastle, ready for the launch party at Beyond Vinyl in town.

“The track itself is about your unrequited love,” added Mark.

“It kind of shows how you rebuff that in a nicer way and is an idea that evolved from a few people that I know have experienced these types of situation and Twitter n over the years.

“Going into Blast Studios, it was such an easy day as well. One which went quite quickly.

“We all had a good laugh and had some rather bizarre conversations, something which we all wanted – we even found out that our drummer, Dan, is something of a pool shark!

“We’ve gone through a lot though, but that’s good and we’re already working on some new material.”

Along with the single launch party on February 21, Sapien

Trace enter the Battle of the Bands competition over Ashington way on March 5, then a week later head to The Globe in Newcastle to perform the Musicians Against Homelessness gig alongside AXLS, The Floral Detectives, and Holy Braille – an eclectic mix of musicianship.

Expected to be “a mashup of deep house and synthwave pop” Sapien Trace have their single launch party at Beyond Vinyl, Westgate Road, Newcastle, on February 21, check the event page via https://www.facebook.com/ events/1886579848152288/ More Than I Can Give will be available on all platforms and you can keep up-to-date with all their usual happenings via their website https://www. sapientrace.com/ and social media platforms Facebook htt p s : / / w w w.fa c e b o o k . co m / sapientracers/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/SapienTrace (Image credits to Kai Eden, David Wala, and Paul Murray)

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MadeWithLoveBySarahElizabethWade 23

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Hi David and welcome back to NE, can you introduce yourself to the readers who may not know you, as it’s been a while?

Hi Wayne. I’m David McGovern and I am the owner of Beyond Vinyl a record shop/music hangout in Newcastle City Centre.

So you run Beyond Vinyl in Newcastle, which we know is a music shop, but you have now decided to swap roles and actually make the music yourself with your new Christmas Charity Single “Stay

Another Day”, tell us more about that and how it came about?

I had always wanted to record and release music but I always talked myself out of it and didn’t have the confidence to just do it. About 2 years ago I decided to start recording a Christmas song to release for charity and got pretty far with the recording but abandoned the idea before I had played it anyone.

During the 1st national Covid lock down I was out on the bike delivering records to local customers and I had a lot of time to think

about things I can do and that’s dangerous. When I have time to think I come up with all sorts of crazy plans and ideas, most never see the light of day as I talk myself out of them.

Releasing the single was one of those crazy ideas..

I decided I wanted to record a Christmas single and raise some much needed money for charity.

I spoke to a couple of friends about my idea and they were really up for getting involved and things progressed from there.

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Paul Fairbairn got to work on the arrangement of the track and did most of the programming and arrangement in less than a day and Joey Campbell added some additional arrangements.

The vocals were recorded in two 3hr sessions with Paul singing some of the backing vocals to add some harmonies.

Then Brian Emerson mixed and mastered the track for me and I’m really pleased with the finished track.

You are doing the single to raise much needed funds for “Batten Disease Family Association” & Mental Help Charity “Mind”, why did you choose these charities?

People have been through a lot since the start of the year and these lockdowns and the uncertainty has really impacted on peoples mental health and if I can help raise awareness then that can only be a good thing.

Everybody has been affected or

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knows someone who is or who have struggled with mental health problems and we need to break the stigma that is associated with people’s mental health so “Mind” was the perfect charity to support.

It’s was my friend Ben that got me involved with Battens Disease Family Association after helping him at a fundraising stall he

had set up at The Stand Comedy Club last year. After hearing from Ben what Batten Disease was and how awful it was for the children who have it and their families, I couldn’t not get more involved.

Children with the disease often appear healthy and develop normally before they begin to show symptoms. Children usually show symptoms earlier than age 1 year.

Common symptoms for most of the forms include vision loss, seizures, delay and eventual loss of skills previously acquired, dementia, and abnormal movements.

What made you choose to cover an East 17 classic?

I was originally looking at a traditional Christmas song to cover but at the last minute changed my mind as I wanted to do something that would be a challenge and not what people would have expected.

Stay Another Day is a classic and I still play the single every year at Christmas.

Also the song has a darker story and was written about Tony’s brother who committed suicide and I thought that would be a fitting song to cover.

Selling music is totally different to making music, is this your first foray into that side of things?

Believe it or not I started a Rap group with a school friend back in 1990, we recorded a couple of tracks and even managed to play a gig at the old Mayfair rock club in Newcastle.

After that I didn’t have the confidence to go it alone and pretty much gave up on making my own music but I did train as a sound engineer after I left school.

What has been the hardest part of making the single for you?

For me it had to be the vocals. I’m not a natural when it comes to singing and have no experience so trying to have enough breath to continue long notes was a challenge.

How has the response been so far?

It’s been really good so far and you have to remember this is for charity and its my 1st attempt at recording a song of my own.

Is this the start to a new career; is there more music to come?

Not sure about a new career though I do plan to keep releasing music and I’m planning on starting work on a new single in the new year and maybe another Christmas Charity single next year if this one goes down well.

writer and his lyrics were a little dark and I Loved his voice.

As for BB King, he was a great show man. Musically he wasted as polished as some other blues musicians but I liked that and he was a show man which a big voice and worked really hard all his life and never took it for granted.

If you could record a song with anyone who would it be and why?

That’s a hard one. I would have loved to have worked on a track with Lou Reed or maybe BB King.

Lou Reed was an amazing song

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get into making music themselves?

Go for it and I know its rich for me to say this but try and not worry about what others will

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think and just do it.

Don’t take it too seriously and have fun I think that is the most important and useful bit of advice I can give.

You already champion new music by having up and coming bands perform in your shop, but you have just launched the new Beyond Record Club, tell us more about that and how people can get on board?

This is a new project which is going to take time to build and I’m sure there will be some bumps in the road with it. Basically the idea is to get more people to invest in and listen to new bands, up and coming national and local bands.

The idea is people subscribe to our record club and monthly or quarterly we will send them a new album on vinyl from a new band or artist. This would be a limited exclusive coloured vinyl only available via our record club with signed prints and much more.

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Without stating the obvious about this year being a nightmare for

everyone in so many ways, give us your thoughts on 2020, your personal highs and lows?

It has been a tough year and far too many lows to go into but for highs I can honestly say the support everyone has given to not just my business but to all local independent businesses has been amazing.

Seeing people help others and offering support to people that need it not just financial but emotional support too.

A big low is not having access to live music and seeing how that is affecting people and also how awful that is for the artists, venues and everyone else that works in that industry.

What have you got planned for 2021?

Well 2021 will be all about trying to get back to normal and getting back on with some of the projects I had been working on before lock down.

How can people follow you and your various projects as well as the

shop? https://www.facebook.com/davidmcgovernmusic https://twitter.com/davidmcgovmusic https://www.instagram.com/davidmcgovernmusic/ https://beyondvinyl.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/beyondvinyl https://twitter.com/beyond_vinyl https://www.instagram.com/beyondvinyl/ Is there anything you’d like to add?

There will now be a limited release of the single on CD due the 1st week of December and will be available at Beyond vinyl and some other music stores.

The single is available from iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify and all good digital stores.

To pre order Stay Another Day on limited CD single CLICK HERE Photos by Neil Ferry and Cal Halbert.

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NERG is the biggest retro gaming event in the North East, held at Gateshead Stadium over the course of 2 days, this event is as big as it gets for retro gamers or just the big kids re-living their youth playing the games they used to play, after all, they don’t make them like they used to. 2017 will be the fifth year of NERG and it will be a big one. With 100 video arcade machines, 35 pinball machines and 60 consoles and computers this really is an event you do not want to miss!.

The event is held over the weekend of 1st & 2nd of July.

Entrance is £15 per day or £25 for the full weekend. Children aged 5-13 years can also get in for only £10 on the Sunday.

All the machines are set to free play so once you pay the admission fee, it’s free gaming all day., so no need for those pockets full of change.

CLICK HERE TO TICKETS ONLINE.

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PURCHASE

or you can pay on the day if the event hasn’t sold out.

More details can be found at w w w.northeastretrogaming. com Machines are announced on a regular basis through the social feeds so make sure you keep checking to see what games will

be there, though with so many we are sure your favourites will be there.

CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK For Twitter - @NERGOfficial

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John William Storey Aka aka Jack jack Horner horner

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John William Storey Aka Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner has one heck of a Storey In early November the resident journalist for NE Online Magazine, Peter Mann, and Crook’s Independent Councillor, Anne Reed, opened communications with regards her Great Grandfather, John William Storey (Jack Horner). Of the number of things Mrs Reed had in both her mind, and her heart, was the research and publicity of the story of her Great Grandfather – more a challenge when you consider the current climate in which the world finds itself presently in.

tleman who was born in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in the late 1860’s, 1869 to be precise, and lived until he was 67-years-old.

Very early in his life, when he was just a mere one-year-old child, his mother Ellen, and stepfather Joseph Horner, moved to the north-east, and Willington, a former mining village approximately seven miles south-west of Durham City.

Peter however is not usually one for shirking challenges, and something like this is, most certainly, right up his street and, over the next six months or so, this is something that will be of interest to many both in the North-East, and in Yorkshire.

Now, two years after JW Storey was born, a May Ann Dodds would also see the light of day, the pair would meet, and eventually marry, on 9 August 1890, at the Parish Church, Willington, A coincidence at the time is where they resided, they were in fact neighbours, on Tyne Street, Willington. At the time the pair wed, JW Storey was 21-years-old, and Mary Ann Dodds a year his junior at 20-years-old.

John William Storey was a gen-

It was around the time the pair

wed, the year before, that JW Storey, using the name Jack Horner, Jack being a diminutive of John, and Storey being his stepfathers’ surname, was instrumental in the formation of Crook Town Football Club.

Like those before him of this age, JW Storey would also be a miner by day, it was the way of the world for many a year, but in the founding of Crook Town Football Club, JW Storey was also a rather instrumental player, and trainer for the club, several of those under his tutorial going on to greater things, including a certain Jack Greenwell.

Mr Greenwell became one of the founding fathers of that European football giant, Barcelona, and went on to become their greatest ever coach, ahead of legends like the Dutchman, Johann Cruyff, and a fellow County Durham lad, Sir Bobby Robson.

It is said that Mr. Storey was: “a

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mentor to many future stars, and instrumental in the other Jack’s, Greenwell and Alderson, being such good coaches.”

Under the stewardship of JW Storey, Crook Town travelled to Spain to challenge for the Barcelona Cup for the time in April 1913, twelve years after they’d tasted national success for the first time (Crook defeated Kings Lynn in a replay for the English Amateur Cup in 1901).

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A year after the first trip to Spain, the First World War begun, Crook winning the Northern League championship for the first time in 1915, and would return to Spain in 1921 and 1922; there are also

other key moments in the early history of the County Durham football club, JW Storey’s involvement will be worked out as research progresses.

On the main, this is not about Crook Town, Messers Greenwell and Alderson, or even Barcelona, but they weave a thread throughout the story of Mr. John William Storey.

This is however, at the request of his Great Granddaughter, the Independent Councillor for Crook, Anne Reed, about her Great Grandfather, JW Storey himself.

In speaking to Mrs. Reed, she told me that, in regards to Crook

Town’s participation in the Barcelona Cup either side of the First World War, that her Great Grandfather: “Was a trainer for Crook at the time, and would sell furniture from the family home to help fund the trip to Spain.

“At present, the cup is on loan to the family courtesy of Vince Kirkup, the Crook Town Chairman, so that family can see what is part of our history, as we have relations not only in Yorkshire, but down South as well.”

Mr JW. Storey passed away on 30 May 1937, at the age of 67 years, his wife May Ann, survived him, as well as the two World Wars, by some sixteen years, eventually

joining JW Storey at the pearly gates on 17 March 1953, she was 82 years-old.

Crook Town’s history is a one welldocumented, as to some point is that of the Barcelona Cup and the tours of 1913, 1921, and 1922, however, it’s time to bring forth the story of Mr. JW Storey, best known as Jack Horner.

Anyone with images, information on Mr. John Storey (Jack Horner), or a look at what North Yorkshire, Willington and Crook was like in the late 1800s, early 1900s, maybe even you have knowledge of his Yorkshire heritage then please, email direct via petermann78@ hotmail.com. *Images provided courtesy of Cllr Anne Reed, Crook Division, and Crook Town Football Club

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NERG is the biggest retro gaming event in the North East, held at Gateshead Stadium over the course of 2 days, this event is as big as it gets for retro gamers or just the big kids re-living their youth playing the games they used to play, after all, they don’t make them like they used to. 2017 will be the fifth year of NERG and it will be a big one. With 100 video arcade machines, 35 pinball machines and 60 consoles and computers this really is an event you do not want to miss!.

The event is held over the weekend of 1st & 2nd of July.

Entrance is £15 per day or £25 for the full weekend. Children aged 5-13 years can also get in for only £10 on the Sunday.

event hasn’t sold out.

More details can be found at www.northeastretrogaming.com

All the machines are set to free play so once you pay the admission fee, it’s free gaming all day., so no need for those pockets full of change.

CLICK HERE TO TICKETS ONLINE.

PURCHASE

or you can pay on the day if the

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[ne 2020 artist of the Year]

[Zoe Gilby]

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Living in Shadows - The album; it’s here....

It’s coming!!

In a matter of days the eponymously titled album, Living In Shadows, composed by the awardwinning Zoe Gilby (2019 All Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year; 2020 NE Online Magazine Artist of the Year) and the esteemed multi-instrumentalist Andy Champion, will be available for one and all.

An eight-track masterpiece, containing three tracks already having

had exclusive, first time airplay on BBC Newcastle’s BBC Introducing in the North-East with the esteemed Nick Roberts (For The Day, Sending Electricity, Try To Take It Twice), the album takes musical connoisseurs on a journey, a journey of movement and transition.

Of those three singles to receive the Nick Roberts treatment, the latter, Try To Take It Twice, is yet to be released as a standalone single (maybe early next year, maybe), but all three have been regarded in equal measure, on both sides of the Atlantic.

And yet it is some four years in the making as well.

“This album, it’s been some our years in the making and what a journey it has been,” began Zoe. “Writing, recording and producing this body of work has had its challenges but it has also opened up the doors to so much more for us.

“Overall, we just wanted to make the music that is in our hearts, without concerning ourselves with what pigeon hole it needs to fit into.

“This is an exciting new twist in our creative development and

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we have always collaborated well together, so, with all of these elements added in the mix, it made sense, and it feels right to explore and encourage this natural progression.”

In looking at the concepts surrounding that of movement and transition, it has, in some way, been based on their own lives as well, experiences they’ve felt themselves, and not just at home, but also abroad.

Examples of this on the album are the tracks Sending Electricity (featured in the last issue), Try To Take It Twice, the most recent to receive airplay but also the first to be written, The Tunnel, of which the scenic photographs included relate to, and the last track on the album, and the longest, Smoke and Mirrors.

In highlighting those specific tracks, Zoe, and her husband/musical partner/guru, Andy Champion, went into a little detail, Try To Take It Twice being as real as it comes, in so many ways.

“It was the game changer,” Zoe explained of the tracks’ origins.

“I was travelling to work and this

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spiky melody came into my mind so I quickly recorded it into my iPhone voice memo.

“During that day at work I encountered an extremely vulnerable individual who had suffered as a victim of domestic abuse but had survived.

“Although still high risk, she was building her life back but the trauma will live with her forever.

“I engaged with her a few times and each time I saw her, she was stronger and more resilient; I

won’t forget her saying ‘He’ll never get another, second chance,’ highlighting the times she did take him back.

“It struck me so intensely.

“Although the piece is written as though the female is the victim, it is essential that society is aware that this song encapsulates all forms of domestic abuse where the perpetrators could be anyone anywhere in any relationship dynamic; not gender specific, not just in an adult relationship, but

could also be within a family, or anywhere.

“I don’t want the victims and the individuals who are affected by this to be pitied or vilified, but to be given support and understanding. If someone hears or sees something that they feel is wrong, do something about it! Ask the person who you are worried about. Don’t turn a blind eye.”

The Tunnel meanwhile finds its’ own origins from when the duo were at a festival in Romania, the photographs shown afford a little insight as to what the track beings forth.

“The melodic idea for this piece came whilst we were performing at a jazz festival in Romania,” continued Andy.

“We had performed our voice and double bass duo and we were part of a jam session which was held on the railway tracks of an out of action train line under an atmospheric tunnel.

“The acoustics and the atmosphere were fantastic so Zoe started improvising and this melody came together.

“Once we returned home she quickly starting writing lyrics about some magical railway line that hasn’t been in use in years but the ghost of a train still passes through and that’s where The Tunnel steamed into life.”

As for Smoke and Mirrors, that is a track that is probably as close to home as any can be – commissioned by Jazz North East for their 50th Anniversary in 2016, it pays homage to a Newcastle, a Tyneside, traversing the sixties and seventies, and is inspired by one of the regions’ most iconic films.

Released in early-March, 1971, and starring the legendary Michael Caine, ‘Get Carter,’ directed

by Mike Hodges, was adapted

from the 1970 novel, Jack’s Return Home by Ted Lewis, and is the story of Jack Carter, a London gangster, who returns to his native north-east following the death/ murder of his brother.

Speaking of the album finale, Zoe adds: “Yes, Smoke and Mirrors was originally commissioned by Jazz North East for their 50th anniversary.

“Andy and I were assigned to compose a piece reflecting 1970’s in Newcastle, and inspired by the film soundtrack ‘Get Carter’ written by Roy Budd.

“T. Dan Smith dominated the north east headlines during this era and sought to clear Newcastle of slum housing and put a great deal of effort into regeneration plans.

“His legacy became associated with the destruction of historic buildings in favour of unpopular concrete structures; this led to his

trial for accepting bribes to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

“This wasn’t the only hardship and disappointment the people of the north-east had to face as there was a hard, three-day, working week, the winter of discontent and the oppressed ignored the gritty lives of the working classes.

“On the surface it was promising and becoming cosmopolitan in the north-east but if you looked beyond the sparkling disco mirror balls and bright lights, the smoke would eventually clear and a dark sinister undertone of lies lay underneath.”

With both being well-established musicians, Zoe having had over a decade in the industry herself, and husband Andy Champion, he’s got a fairly decent track record as well you know.

Having performed with artists such as Smoove & Turrell, David

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McAlmont et al, a passion of his has been to create music of a rock/ progressive rock ilk, and with the current, Living in Shadows project, he, and Zoe, have been able to do just that.

He added: “As a jazz musician and composer I have produced and been part of a lot of new, exciting, improvised music, the majority being instrumental.

“It has always been a bit of a dream of mine though to actually be part of a ‘progressive’ band with a vocalist.

“When Zoe came with these different melody ideas, those that didn’t exactly fit the usual jazz mould, there was the opportunity to write that kind of music; progressive rock and jazz all in the same mix.

“The vocal melodies on the first two singles, and the rest of the album, are pretty straight forward and catchy, with a strong identity and a definite sound that hooks the listener in.

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“This therefore was the perfect starting point for me to compose an interesting, more in-depth, arrangement, one that would support both the melody, and the lyrics, and in doing so giving a progressive and alternative harmonic and rhythmic structure that would enhance the sound of the project as a whole.”

Enhance it has done and, just four years after embarking on the project, life was so much different for us all back in 2016, the eponymously-titled Living in Shadows album from Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion, is all but ready to be witnessed by the masses.

You will not be disappointed either, far from it.

The debut, Living in Shadows album, scheduled for release on compact disc and digital download on Friday 4 December (limited edition vinyl to follow shortly afterwards), physical copies of which are also available with

signed dedications, upon request.

The eight-track album features Zoe Gilby and Andy Champion alongside guitarist Mark Williams and pianist Paul Edis, special guest appearances come from Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophone), George Milburn (mandolin) and Emma Fisk (violin).

Keep up-to-date with all things Living in Shadows via their social media platforms, on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/LivingInShadows and Twitter https:// twitter.com/L_I_SMusic or via www.livinginshadows.com Images shown are as follows, promotional courtesy of Photography

by Adam Kennedy, extra images from artists’ personal collection, and are from the trip to Romania for a jazz festival (subject of the track, The Tunnel).

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We can confirm that all Cineworld cinemas across the UK and Ireland were temporarily closed on Friday (October 9), until further notice.

This is not a decision we made lightly. We did everything in our power to support safe and sustainable re-openings of our cinemas and we are so very grateful for our employees who implemented the new protocols, which resulted in lots of positive feedback from customers who visited our cinemas and felt safe. We were very proud of the fact that cinemas were open for 2 months and there was not one COVID case resulting from visiting the cinema. We cannot underscore enough how difficult this decision was.

As we have done to date, we will do everything we can to save livelihoods and the company – this is an extremely delicate and tricky balance.

We continue to work with the Cinema Association, to ensure

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we are lobbying government to support our employees and the industry which has so much cultural significance.

If you have any questions, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions below.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate our future plans to resume operations once film studios are able to bring their pipeline of major movie releases back to the big screen. We can assure you that once a line-up of movie releases is confirmed, we will be ready to re-open our cinemas, as we did in July, with the same safety levels you have already seen while at the same time keeping the great experience that you are used to getting from us.

You will be able to get updates on the status of our cinemas via email, if you are a My Cineworld or Unlimited member, the Cineworld mobile app and online at cineworld.com.

A big thank you goes to you, our movie-loving customers; your health and wellbeing has always been our priority during this difficult time and we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as possible to enjoy a full slate of films.

We sincerely wish good health for you and your families during these uncertain times. The Cineworld Team

hydrologycraftbeer.co.uk

Online Bottle Shop Delivering craft beer from Tyne to Wear

Delivering the best beer from the North East and beyond twice a week to…

NE10, NE31, NE32, NE33, NE34, NE35, NE36, NE37, NE38, SR5 and SR6 Courier service across the North East available soon…

@hopsathome @hopsathome @hopsathome @hydrologyhops @hydrologyho ps @hydrologyho ps

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We are here for you

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HELP is at hand for cancer patients across Teesside and North Yorkshire who need advice and support.

The Macmillan Cancer Support & Information Service at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is reassuring patients that its doors are open with stringent COVID-19 precautions in place to keep everyone safe.

Anyone affected by cancer is encouraged to get in touch if they need support and while there is currently no drop in service, patients can request a face to face appointment if needed.

The service offers information, support and practical advice to cancer patients, their families or anyone affected by cancer.

Lauren Farrow, Macmillan information and support centre’s business manager, said: “As the world is dealing with coronavirus those affected by cancer might be feeling especially anxious and unsupported.

“We’d like to reassure them that we are here for you. We are still open for business, the staff are there to help you and it is safe to come.

“We are available by telephone,

email or in person by appointment.”

The service operates from two centres which are located in The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and in The Sir Robert Ogden Centre at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, and includes outreach work in the wider South Tees area.

Lauren said: “We can help with travel information and costs, Macmillan grant applications; as well as supporting cancer patients to get free prescriptions.

“We have an in-house benefits service at James Cook and have just launched an exciting new service at the Friarage, in partnership with Citizens Advice, offering appointments for patients.

“We can also advise on the complementary therapies and the counselling service provided by our colleagues at the Trinity Holistic Centre. This includes massage, acupuncture, reiki, our heads up (hair loss) service, a wig fitting service; a pamper “Look good feel better” service, and mindfulness sessions.

“We are also continuing our Kindness Calls telephone service. This

was set up as a response to coronavirus to offer regular 30 minute phone calls from an experienced team of therapists to provide a listening ear, practical advice and information on local services.

“There are also a number of Macmillan cancer care coordinators in the trust who offer focussed support for patients with suspected or diagnosed cancer. Working with different teams and specialties, the coordinators help patients navigate their way through clinical pathways.”

For more details call The Macmillan Information & Support Centre on 01642 854270 or The Trinity Holistic Centre on 01642 854839 or email stees.macmillaninfocentre@nhs.net or visit southtees.nhs. uk/services/cancer/macmillaninformation-centre/ The Trinity Holistic Centre is a charitable organisation supporting patients, carers and staff at James Cook and at the Friarage. The service is dependent on the generosity of its volunteers, supporters and fundraisers. To make a donation, visit https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/trinity-holistic

reclaimedradio.com

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NE has teamed up with BST Fabrics in South Shields to showcase talent of another kind. We set a little challenge to all of BST’s customers asking them to send in their creations made from the things they have bought from BST, so that we can show the people

of the North East that crafting is very much alive and well. In fact we have been blown away by the response from everyone with so many people submitting loads of great crafty items, so many that we couldn’t show every photo sent in, but we have at least shown one or

two from each person just to keep it fair. So over the next few pages be prepared to see some unusual, some imaginative and some outright magical creations from the customers of BST Fabrics. www.bstfabrics.co.uk

Sent in by Chloe Harris. LEFT: Grand Duchess Anastasia, from the 1997 Don Bluth film. Made with your Faux Silk Polyester in the colour Gold Sand and Duchess Satin in the colour Ivory.

ABOVE: Sally, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, made with Poly Cotton in the colours: Rose Pink, Teal, Beige and Marigold

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Anne Spiller

Carol Brown This is a shirt I made for my partner with your fab ladybird fabric. He always gets loads of comments every time he wears it.

Ceri Morgan

Lyndsey Golightly

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Deniz Greener

Eileen Dunn

Kayleigh McCann Erins Halloween costume an Ursula belt with tentacles & her Dance Costume.

Suzanne Farley

Pam Evans - Buy her X-Mas Trees at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FlounceandFluff

Just a few of the items sent in by Sue

Michelle Purse

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Kellyann Horsburgh

Clare Bowes

Emma Jayne Gallantree

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Here are a few photos of one of my family’s remote control model hot air balloons that we built using the ripstop you sell. Despite it being called a “model” balloon, it’s about 12ft tall - I’ve included a photo of my dad and myself standing next to it for a size comparison.

Matt Cleaves - Amarelo Balloon Team

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Ali Boxing & Fitness Gym. Local gym based in Darlington. Boxing classes for all abilities, box for fitness, mixed & ladies only classes. 1-2-1’s, small groups, fight prep & much more.

Ali Boxing & Fitness Gym , Clayton’s Yard, Tannery Lane, DL1 1SH Darlington Follow On FACEBOOK htt p s : / / w w w.fa c e b o o k . co m / AliBoxingUK/

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EVER EVER WANTED WANTED TO TO LEARN LEARN TO TO PLAY PLAY THE THE DRUMS? DRUMS?

www.rossgardnerdrums.com

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TREE PLANTING CALL IN GREENER MIDDLESBROUGH DRIVE

FREE trees are up for grabs as part of a pioneering drive to make Middlesbrough a greener town.

plans to tackle climate change.

Green-fingered residents can pick up free trees to plant in their gardens and local community as part of a Council strategy to help tackle carbon emissions.

Earlier this month council teams planted fruit trees at Pennyman Primary School in Middlesbrough in conjunction with Thirteen Housing Group, to teach budding environmentalists about the importance of being sustainable.

The young ‘whips’ - trees in the first stages of growth - are being handed out for free by the Council in partnership with Middlesbrough Environment City.

Trees can provide shade and absorb and store CO2 from pollution which could help to make a big difference to Middlesbrough’s carbon output.

They’re available to any Middlesbrough resident or group to plant in gardens, community spaces or other land agreed by the Council.

The Council’s strategy aims to reduce carbon emissions for the town to zero by 2039.

A maximum of six trees are available per resident, with community groups able to request up to 20 per group.

Middlesbrough Council planted more 700 trees last year as part of its wide-ranging Green Strategy that is in line with the government’s national and international

Councillor Dennis McCabe, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for Environment, said: “We’re really excited to invite people to come forward to pick up the tree whips and get planting.

“It’s not only great for the environment, but it’s a low-cost way to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

“We’re doing some incredible work as a council to be greener for current and future generations, and we’d love people of all ages to get involved with tree planting in their area, please spread the word far and wide in your community.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston added: “As the lungs of our environment trees couldn’t be more important, and that’s why we can never have enough of them.

“I set a target of planting 10,000 trees across Middlesbrough, and initiatives like this are a great way to meet and then far exceed that number.”

The trees will be available to pick up for one week from Thursday, December 3 to Thursday, December 10, coinciding with National Tree Week which starts on Saturday, November 28.

To arrange collection of free tree whips, call the council’s Environment Services team on 01642 300508.

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COMING TO

Lockdown live performances, home school activities, competitions, giveaways, helping local food banks, working together with local businesses, lighting up a our beloved theatre and St Mary’s lighthouse....

These past few months have been extraordinary and we really want to thank you all for your continued support. We will get through this and we will see you all again.

Just a quick reminder to our customers that original tickets purchased for Playhouse Whitley Bay shows remain valid for all rescheduled events. www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/

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Hi Chris and welcome to NE, can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello, I am Chris Morton, I live in Newcastle upon Tyne. I am the founder of Viking Hypnotherapy and I am a qualified professional Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Performance Coach.

You are the man behind Viking Hypnotherapy, but what is Viking Hynotherapy?

Viking Hypnotherapys’ business motto is having “The Strength to Conquer Anything”. Wherever

you are today this is just a situation you’re in now, this is not your life, we all have the power to change our lives and I am basically your guide for this. Utilising the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to your thoughts feelings and behaviours. NLP is an approach to communication, personal development, psychotherapy and also Life Coaching.

ferent?

A hypnotherapist is completely different to a hypnotist. A hypnotist is using the tool of hypnosis to induce a trance state to an audience or part of a magical stage show but they are not licensed to practice hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist is a certified insured professional who uses hypnosis to help a client overcome mental or physical conditions.

How different is Hypnotherapy compared to a hypnotist, is it the same thing or is it completely dif-

Have these comedy hypnotist shows, where they put you under and then get you to do silly things

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approaches. I have found it gets to the root cause of the issue and I have seen truly remarkable results with my clients over the years with as little as one session. I have seen clients stop self-harming, children returning to school after dealing with bullying, seen clients lose 3 stone in as little as 12 weeks and helped countless people in dire crisis on the brink of suicide to moving on happy and in control of their lives. I’m immensely proud of the work I have done and there is no better feeling than being able to help someone and I feel that’s why we are all here, to be of service

like pretend you are a chicken, made it harder for people to take what you do seriously?

I think the stigma of hypnosis has dramatically changed in the last decade especially in the medical world, showing more and more research of the benefits of hypnotherapy for medical purposes and I feel people are more open now to try alternative therapies. As for the comedy hypnotist shows, I think these are polar opposites.

They are using the tool of rapid hypnosis induction in their comedy shows and I am working in therapy where a client consultation takes place discussing the treatment before their appointment. I do like the way the entertainment industry has moved forward with the likes of Derren Brown using hypnosis and psychological manipulation in his stage shows.

What are the benefits of hypnotherapy compared to other meth-

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ods?

Hypnotherapy can be more effective, faster and can cost less than other traditional therapy

What kinds of treatments do you offer?

The most common forms of treatment are hypnotherapy for anxiety and stress, habits and disorders, weight loss, confidence and self-esteem, pain relief and addiction but hypnotherapy can help with the majority of things covering a wide area of concerns.

I also provide coaching services to help people making career and life changes and to help people achieve their goals.

This year has been a nightmare for so many people, is there some way your therapy can help them?

This year has seen a major rise in mental health issues due to the pandemic. If you have an overactive mind, negative thoughts or emotions and are struggling to cope then it’s time to take back control. The NHS, Mind, The Samaritans and many other charities are at breaking point. My therapy can help. I felt an obligation to do something at the start of the year and I have released a free MP3 powerful download on my website to help manage COVID-19 anxiety, providing you with support that can make life feel more bearable throughout this pandemic. If you feel you need further support for a specific issue, then you will find my affordable programmes

in the change your words change your life series also on my website.

How has the Covid situation affected you?

Working in mental health has given me all the tools I need to manage my own mental state. I tend to take each day as it comes and I believe conquering the day is the best practice, not living in the past or living in the future which is out of our control and can lead to anxiety. I just follow the steps to success in my Secret To a Healthy Mind programme and I write a journal daily. The pandemic has affected the closing of my office at Sound Mind and Body in Benton, the office has been closed all year so I decided to move the business online, giving people the option to buy a complete programme until the office can re-open again in 2021. The “Change Your Words Change Your Life” series has been released so you can follow it safely in the comfort of your own home getting real positive results. Each programme consists of a powerful MP3 and eBook with the steps to

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success.

When you are not working what do you get up to in your free time?

I like to go hiking. You can’t beat the scenery of Northumberland and our coastline is stunning. I went on a few hiking holidays last year to Glen Coe in Scotland and the Lake District. A good mindfulness technique is to switch off your phone for the day and head out, only focussing on where you are, on the here and now, which gives you a clear calm mind. I love to go to gigs, the movies, spending time socialising with family and friends and travelling. I also love to read and I am currently reading High Magick by Damien Echols and Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin, I like to mix it up a bit.

Tell us 3 random facts about yourself?

I am proud to be a Geordie, I have never come across anywhere like our city and the people. We are passionate, great fun, proud and upbeat and the friendliest people on the planet. If you have been away from home there is no greater feeling than crossing our

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bridges or seeing the Angel of the North in the distance, this is a magical sight to behold.

I enjoyed spending a lot of time at my grandparents when I was younger, my granddad used to play the bagpipes in his bathroom, he had stuck egg cartons to the walls to drown out the sound.

This was considered normal behaviour in my family growing up.

I’ll be dedicating 2021 to writing my first fantasy novel and releasing it. I spend a lot of time in meditation, this is where most of the book ideas have come from. I believe everyone has at least one good book in them, you just need to put pen to paper. Look out for

my worldwide best-selling book The Seal of the Universe in the future. (See what I did there? This has already come to fruition in my mind, this is one of the secrets of the universe re-enforced with NLP) Where can people follow you and keep up to date with Viking Hypnotherapy?

You can find me on my website www.vikinghypnotherapy.co.uk.

This is where you will find the free COVID-19 download on the landing page as well as the other programmes. You can also follow me and Viking Hypnotherapy on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you.

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Coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8 the region’s Lucinda Grange (formerly of Hartlepool, now New York City) saw some of her finest work, from the project ‘Backwards and in High Heels,’ included in the Donna Karan – Urban Zen exhibition in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.

Beginning on March 8 and running through until April 7, Ms. Grange’s most prized project, entitled as ‘Dancing with the Stars’ included in the exhibition ran by the ArtLead Her platform, a vision founded by Mashinda Tirfere.

Supporting and promoting only female artists, ArtLead Her aims to help level the field in the art world, where the gender bias is very strong and, being part of what is Women’s History Month will help envelope that consensus.

Speaking of her prized project, ‘Backwards and in High Heels,’ Lucinda said: “It is a quote in reference to Ginger Rodgers.

“Fred Astaire, her male dance partner, would get more fame, fortune and attention than she did, yet she did everything he did, backwards and in high heels.

“This project started with two selfportraits on the Chrysler Building (Midtown Manhattan, New York) and gradually grew as I photographed women I know and admire in places you wouldn’t expect

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to see anyone - let alone a woman, looking strong and extravagant in a dress!

“The aim of this project was to question stereotypes women are often subjected to, and instead highlight the strength and power

of these women.”

To be included within the exhibition, for Lucinda, is something she is excited about and follows immediately after her solo exhibition, ‘City Cross-Section’ which was held at the Lyle O. Reitzel Contemporary Art Gallery and finished late-February.

In the new exhibition at the Urban Zen Lucinda exhibited an image, ‘King Woman,’ which depicts Ingrid Silva, lead dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

“In this picture, Ingrid is on point on the ladder of a water tower on a NYC rooftop.

“Ingrid grew up in Brazil, a very humble beginning, and now she’s the dance company’s top dancer, traveling the world, following her passion.

“She is now performing to crowds of thousands despite the many obstacles that have been in her way.

“Not only is she Brazilian, she is also black and petite, very far from those who one might expect to see as the lead dancer.

“Her sheer willpower, dedication and determination got her all the way from living in Brazil, to being one of the top dancers in this city.

“My aim was to capture the feeling of this inspiring person and her story in this one single image.”

Women’s History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the U.S. the U.K. and Australia, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8.

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Save The High Street Ltd is now a national gateway for the UK Government’s Kickstart Scheme and we’re encouraging small businesses to get involved and help support young people with job placements in England, Scotland and Wales.

We have worked with government to develop the new Kickstart Scheme, and help small employers to be part of the solution, even if they are only able to offer one or two roles.

We’re are an official intermediary for the Government’s £2bn Kickstart Scheme which will play a key role in rebuilding the UK’s economy and supporting young people into sustainable employment.

APPLY NOW: https://savethehighstreetltd.co.uk/kickstart-

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scheme/

SAVE THE HIGH STREET - IN THE SPOTLIGHT: HALL HILL FARM being on a farm. We have 25 hand washing stations on site, however we have also added extra hand gel facilities”

Hall Hill Farm have been operating since 1925 and are a family run business. The award winning, 700 acre farm is fun for all the family. Based in Lanchester, Durham, there are a multitude of activities to partake in and many animals to see. Although the farm temporarily closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now reopened as of July 18th and is welcoming visitors back on a pre-book basis with a limited capacity. When speaking to owner Richard Darlington, he told us that, “we have limited numbers in two sessions per day from 10-1 and then 2-5. We take 200 people per session so 400 per day.” Hall Hill farm usually take approximately 1,000 visitors on a usual Summer’s day but of course have had to reduce this in order to accommodate social distancing.

Richard said that he feels fortunate that his business is predominately outdoors, “hand washing is bread and butter to us anyways due to

In 2001, Hall Hill Farm were effected by the Hand, Foot and Mouth outbreak, “we lost everything. We couldn’t see anyone, we were closed for a year and it felt like there was no end in sight” After going through this and coming out the other side, Richard and his farm were able to remain positive during the COVID-19 closure, “We’re always prepared for something like this after dealing with the Hand Foot and Mouth Outbreak, you just never know what’s round the corner. We’ve been comfortable, everything we make goes back into our business,

we don’t live lavish lifestyles” During the four month closure, Richard told us that he was able to get a lot of jobs done that they would not normally have the chance to do, “I now have a 1.5 million reach on social media which I would never have been able to do without the lockdown and the extra time. We also had great family time but I’m so glad that we’re back up and running.

I’ve remained positive throughout” Unfortunatley, the indoor soft play area of the farm is unable to open as of yet due to government guidance still restricting these facilities, however Richard said that due to it being the Summer, it hasn’t made too much of an impact, “We’ve also kept the cafe closed for now as we didn’t feel adequate social distancing could take place. We want to protect our visitors and our staff, our staff are like family as many of them have been with us for over twenty five years” Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/Hall-HillFarm-140369639314877 Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/hallhillfarm/ Book Tickets: https://hallhillfarm. digitickets.co.uk/tickets

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ALL ROUND TO THE HAIRY BIKERS’ FOR A NIGHT OF COOKING CONVERSATION WITH SI KING AND DAVE MYERS TICKETS ONSALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 National Treasures Si King and Dave Myers, aka The Hairy Bikers have announced a huge nationwide tour. With their irresistible enthusiasm, An Evening With The Hairy Bikers will be an epic night of cooking and conversation.

Big hearted, down-to-earth cooks with a love of good food, Si and Dave have been cooking

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together for more than twenty years. They have created haute cuisine dishes with Michelinstarred chefs and travelled the world in the pursuit of great food. They’ve also explored the length and breadth of the British Isles to discover brand new recipes and create their own fresh takes on cooking classics.

The stars of several hit television shows, they are the UK’s most popular cookery duo with series including The Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean Adventure, The Hairy Bikers’ Cook Book; Best of British; The Hairy Bikers’ Mississippi Adventure; Everyday Gourmets; The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour of and two major

prime time series of Mums Know Best all drawing millions of audiences.

No strangers to the live arena, The Hairy Bikers performed their sell-out Big Night Out show in theatres across the UK in 2010 and completed another ambitious nationwide theatre tour in April 2013.

Tickets for The Hairy Bikers are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and can be purchased online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge).

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Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, will bring a brand new Ibiza Classics show to Newcastle Racecourse - Saturday 26th June 2021.

The hottest ticket of the summer returns to the North East, after previous sell-out tours and outdoor gigs - with a brand new show for 2021 with re-workings of more iconic dance anthems.

The show is a must see for ravers, party animals and everyone who ever saw Ibiza as their Mecca, an irresistible combination of the UK’s most influential DJ with a 65 piece orchestra, a spectacular visual show with lasers and the biggest party anthems.

album Classic House, which sold over 200,000 copies and reached number one in the UK, and the follow-up, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics, which has so far amassed over 120,000 sales.

Pete Tong has been a massively influential figure in dance music over the past 20 years, predomi-

nantly as the voice of Radio 1’s prestigious dance programming.

The Essential Mix continues to be the standard bearer of mix shows, and his Essential Selection is still the influential place to premiere new records. All Gone Pete Tong is a residency brand and cult classic film, as well, of course, as being widely used in rhyming slang.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW General sale - https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/pete-tong-theheritage-newcastle-racecoursetickets/10780615 FOR MORE INFORMATION PeteTong-IbizaClassics.com

The concept first came to fruition after a lot of hard work and careful curation at the massively successful BBC Proms show at the Royal Albert Hall three years ago. Pete’s collaboration with the Heritage Orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley went on to play arenas around the world, including the Hollywood Bowl and two sold out nights at the O2, and spawning the

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ROMESH RANGANATHAN COMES TO THE CITY HALL FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019 WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW TICKETS ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 Romesh Ranganathan is back with a brand-new show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, and it’s his most brutally honest show yet.

Fresh from The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League Of Their Own and Judge Romesh, he’s putting showbiz aside to deliver a carefully-curated

selection of all the things he has found unacceptable since his last tour, including why trying to save the environment is a scam, why none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him.

Romesh’s cynicism has become his trademark, but since being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards this deadpan humour has become one of Britain’s most respected and popular comics.

Now, though, it’s time for the

Asian Provocateur to return to his stand-up roots for a while – there’s things he needs to point out, discuss and have a good moan about. Care to join him?

Show drops 2019, don’t miss it.

Tickets for Romesh Ranganathan are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and are £26.50.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)

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Former non-league footballer prepares to launch Counselling and Coaching business “Be the person you want to be” Having seen life on both sides as a footballer, that which you do see, on a match-day, and the darker side that occurs behind the scenes when your personal life hits a downward spiral, Richie Paxton has been there, and come out the other side a better, stronger person.

In beginning his footballing career at the turn of the millennium, with then Football League Division Three side, Darlington (during which he also had a loan spell with Spennymoor United), ‘Paco,’ as he’s affectionately, was preparing himself for life in the pros, then it went downhill.

Rejection, and already embarking on an addictive life, was secretly spiralling; a drop down the leagues, and starting off in the amateur game in the backwaters of the Deerness Valley, at Esh Winning, ensued – as did a three-fold addiction of drink, drugs and gambling.

“Football was, in all honesty, my first addiction, then gambling, then using drugs, and so on” began Richie, now 36-years-old and planning for a much better future, helping others who’ve had the misfortune of hitting the same path he has.

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“I just found myself cycling between the three from when I was 16 really; then, when I lost my first son, Dylan, at 18, I used gambling as a way of blocking out all of the pain and emotions.

“I just hit the self-destruct button and it spiralled downhill from there really.”

Once in the Northern League, and with the social lifestyle a big part of the match-day experience, Richie, or ‘Paco’ as he’s known to pretty much all, would use that as an excuse to cover up his habits. It was an ever-increasing addiction

that was fast becoming somewhat all-consuming.

“Once the weekend came around I just wanted to get off my face,” explained Richie.

“For some fourteen years of my life there was something every day, it even spilled over into my work life; then the gambling returned (in my early thirties) until one day my mother came in and just left the numbers of support groups on the table and just said, ‘maybe you want to use one of those.’

“And one of those was Sporting Chance.”

With the assistance of Sporting Chance, who he’ll be working with moving forward, Richie would get his life back on track with incredible effects.

Having appeared for thirteen clubs in nineteen years as a footballer, between 2000 and 2019, his last club being that of Whickham, Richie enjoyed three spells at Jarrow Roofing and Washington, as well as two apiece at Sunderland RCA and South Shields, that first outing in the Northern League, with Esh Winning, would be his longest, between 2002 and 2005.

Now an exercise specialist, Richie runs ‘The LIFE Programme CIC’ and is due to finish a counselling degree at Sunderland University early next year whilst also launching ‘Richie Paxton Counselling and Coaching.’

Because of this, it’s become time, the right time, for him to tell what is his story, that of a life of addiction in sport, and how he’s come out of the other side.

“I feel that I can spot a mile off people who are going through similar,” added Richie.

“Everybody that I’ve played football with, also close friends and family, know my story, but you have to be brutally honest with yourself as well in order to move forward.”

In launching his new Counselling and Coaching business there’ll be social media platforms, a website, a free e-book download, and ongoing assistance from Richie and a closed circuit team of qualified individuals.

Keep up-to-date with proceedings via the ‘Richie Paxton Counselling and Coaching’ Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ richiepaxtoncounselling/ whilst all media requests are to be directed to Inside Mann Media & PR.

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ROMESH RANGANATHAN COMES TO THE CITY HALL FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019 WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW TICKETS ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 Romesh Ranganathan is back with a brand-new show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, and it’s his most brutally honest show yet.

Fresh from The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League Of Their Own and Judge Romesh, he’s putting showbiz aside to deliver a carefully-curated

selection of all the things he has found unacceptable since his last tour, including why trying to save the environment is a scam, why none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him.

Romesh’s cynicism has become his trademark, but since being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards this deadpan humour has become one of Britain’s most respected and popular comics.

Now, though, it’s time for the

Asian Provocateur to return to his stand-up roots for a while – there’s things he needs to point out, discuss and have a good moan about. Care to join him?

Show drops 2019, don’t miss it.

Tickets for Romesh Ranganathan are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and are £26.50.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)

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