Out & About Magazine (North East) October 2020 Edition 55

Your FREE local interest & advertising magazine • October 2020 • Edition 55 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas

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Inside this month’s edition: Years gone by • Spotlight on A68 Private Paranormal

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Welcome to the October edition of Out & About, your friendly local interest & advertising magazine.

This month we welcome Trevor Burn Fencing to Out & About, If you are looking to have your garden re-fenced then take a look at their advert on page 6. On page 7 we have Her’s & Sir’s Hair & Beauty who offer a range of treatments & services from their Tow Law salon.

If you are looking out for childcare options for your little ones check out page 10, where we have Crook based Emerald Little Gems, who offer flexible childcare for 0 to 8 years olds. Also on page 10 we have The Blue Stone Tea Shop in Crook who offer a fantastic menu including Sunday Lunches, Afternoon Tea, Scone or Cake Boxes plus much more.

The Wear Valley Community Action Group are advertising their latest coach shopping trip to Middlesbrough on page 15. Get your tickets quickly as these popular trips always sell out fast. Lastly on page 16 we have JM Wedding Cars, Graham & Linda offer a choice of 2 beautiful original wedding cars that you will struggle to match, both on quality & price.

Don’t forget to quote Out & About when replying to adverts & lastly we hope you enjoy this month’s edition.

BOOK YOUR ADVERTISING SPACE TODAY THE DEADLINE FOR THE NOVEMBER EDITION IS FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER AT 4PM. No design fees if you don’t have your own artwork • Discounts on 3 month bookings • No VAT • Debit & credit cards can be taken in person at Ritchie Coatsworth Photography or over the telephone.

Please note: Payment is due at the time of booking.

Call us on 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 or email us at studio@rcphoto.co.uk DISCLAIMER - Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All adverts are accepted in good faith as to their accuracy. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers consent.

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GROUNDS GARDENING SERVICES For all your gardening needs GARDEN FENCING Countryside • Farms • Houses • Gardens Knee Rails • Tree Guards WOOD GATES METAL GATES METAL FENCING Railings • Bow Top • Mesh • Wire Estate Security

DEBBIE GROUNDS

Telephone: 07900 911 704 Email: grounds.gardening@yahoo.com No job too small

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm Saturday: 8am to 11am Sunday: Closed Tees View, Ramshaw Lane, Ramshaw, Bishop Auckland , County Durham DL14 0AP Tel/Fax: 01388 834765 Mobile: 07774 756484 Email: tburnfencing@aol.com www.trevorburnfencing.co.uk

SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS WARD TIMBER LTD, ROGERLEY SAWMILL, FROSTERLEY, COUNTY DURHAM DL13 2QE Call us on 01388 528 362 or email sales@wardtimber.co.uk

Collection only 6

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PAINTING & DECORATING SERVICES Experienced Decorator

Free Quotes • OAP Rates • Insured

Call Alan on 0191 386 8534

Aabat

Wheelchair Taxis

Tel: 01388 768 768 Call or Text 07976 588 472 4/8 Seater Minibus Taxis Card Payments Accepted Open Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day

ROOFING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

ALL ASPECTS OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE NEW FLAT ROOFS IN RUBBER BOND, ROOF REPAIRS, RIDGES & CHIMNEYS POINTED, FASCIAS & GUTTERING SUPPLIED & FITTED, GUTTERS CLEANED OUT, PAINTING & DECORATING, EXTERIOR PAINTING 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

0744 304 2814 / 01388 329 932 MOBILE (anytime)

AFTER 5pm

Tuesday

Crook Masonic Hall AM and PM sessions by prior booking only.

Tel: Christine 07494 253 429

Thursday

Wolsingham AM and PM sessions by prior booking only.

Tel: Barbara 07931 790 758

Saturday

Willington Working Men’s Club AM sessions by prior booking only.

Tel: Barbara 07931 790 758

Family ran business for over 30 years

Monday 5pm - 7pm Gents Night (walk in haircuts) Tuesday 10am - 2pm • Wednesday & Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - Late and Saturday 9am - 3pm 19 Wolsingham Road, Tow Law | Telephone: 01388 730 930 Email: hersandsirshairdressing@gmail.com

K.B. DECORATING SERVICES Quality decorating at affordable prices with over 20 years experience. All trade materials supplied and all work guaranteed.

No job too big or small • Free estimates Call Keith on 01388 607 258 or 07973 284 999 or email kbdec1@gmail.com

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Years gone by...

Programme supplied by Jill Lowe.

Back in the days when every town had their own line in postcards.

Looking across Billy Row Green. Image supplied by Jean Hemingway.

Stanley Social Centre Ladies Concert Party in the 1950s. Image supplied by George Davies.

We URGENTLY need your old photos!!

We are running low on old photos of places & people from years gone by and would love to keep the feature going. Can you help? Due to the current social distancing measures we are unable to accept these in person for the time being.

Please email any old photos to: studio@rcphoto.co.uk 8

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We can replace your old kitchen sink.

We also replace old oil tanks.

We can replace your old bath with a shower.

We also install all types of oil boilers.

We can replace your bathroom.

We can add a radiator to any cold room.

We specialise in new bathroom & wetroom installations • Power flushing • Vented & unvented cylinders • Replacement of taps, cold water tanks, showers & ball valves.

Call us on 01388 762 291 or 07583 124 830 Email: stevennorrisplumbing@gmail.com

We are observing the 2 metre social distancing inside the tea shop. There is a covered terrace outside with seating. If you have any concerns regarding distance & Covid 19 please discuss these with us. Masks should be worn when entering, leaving & taking away.

All of our food is homemade

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9am - 4pm (Booking a table is recommended) Sunday 10am - 3pm (Sunday lunch is served between 12:30pm & 2:30pm & is available to take away or sit in, pre-booking is required.

(Please note we do not serve breakfast on Sundays. We are open EVERY Sunday in October and not closed on Sunday 27th as previously shown in the last issue in error.)

Our take away menu includes Afternoon Tea, Scone or Cake Box, Child’s Treat Box or Savoury Box and is available everyday when pre-ordered.

Please be aware that we adhere to social contact restrictions & the rule of 6.

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We sell RISE ARTISAN BAKEHOUSE BREAD (Order for collection on Saturday)

DISABLED ACCESS • FREE WIFI • DOG FRIENDLY Restaurant GURU “Best Café in Crook 2019”

Telephone: 01388 768 754 Email: bluestoneteashop@gmail.com thebluestoneteashop BTeashop

M

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Fully professional work at the cheapest prices.

07854 892 054 • Strimming • Hedge cutting • Garden rotavating • Drive & patio jet washing • Garden waste removal • Weed spraying • Chainsaw work • Planting • Gutters & fascias cleaned • Grinding & pointing

FULLY LICENSED WASTE REMOVAL

80 Hope Street, Crook, County Durham DL15 9HT

Tel: 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 | Email: studio@rcphoto.co.uk www.ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk | Find us on Facebook Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

Getting Married?

Get in touch today to secure photography for your special day.

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Spotlight on A68 Private Paranormal This month with it almost being Halloween we shine the spotlight on A68 Private Paranormal. A member of their team answers our questions.

Hi, I’ll be honest I didn’t realise that there was anything like this in the North East, never mind Tow Law! How did you get into this?

We are a small group of mates that love a good horror movie, ghost story, scary console game or anything spooky.

We saw a locally advertised ghost hunting company that run ticketed events so we decided to go along for a laugh. We didn’t believe in anything ghostly to be honest and we were expecting it to be fake and just a fun scare.

How wrong were we!... Nothing was faked and we had an amazing experience. We became regulars with other paranormal teams over a few years. We gathered lots of experience and learned hunting techniques from the UK’s top paranormal investigators.

We wanted to visit and explore the most extreme haunted places on our own, but for us to get into some larger locations like castles, museums and famous buildings we needed to become a company... A68 Private Paranormal was born.

Tell us what happens on a typical ghost hunt, what sort of equipment do you use?

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white lady in a castle walks in the same place, at the same time, and does the same movement.

We can see them, but they can’t see us, and they won’t respond to us.

A spirit is an intelligent energy source.

They give us messages, answer our questions, do things on command like whistling, knocking, moving objects etc...

Our team are sceptical believers, and it takes a lot to convince us of paranormal activity. We have devices that can detect electrical magnetic fields, sudden temperature changes, proximity sensors, motion detection, EVP electronic voice phenomenon recorders, spirit boxes, laser grids, REM pods, SLS laser scanner, video cameras, good old fashioned ouija boards and trigger objects.

Although any paranormal electronic device is questionable if they really work in the field, we have had some amazing responses. You can’t beat the old school style, using our own eyes and ears. The devices are good for back up for any evidence we capture.

On a typical paranormal investigation we seek out spirits, not so much ghosts.

The technique of using electronic devices on an investigation is where we can ask a spirit to come towards a device and trigger it. Ask them why they are here, who they are etc...

What’s the difference between a ghost and a spirit? The theory behind this is that a ghost is something that can be similar to a video recording (stone tape theory). For example, the

Often we can investigate all night and nothing happens at all. Then the next location can seem really active, and impossible to debunk the activity. Then we can claim it is genuine

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paranormal activity.

Have you ever seen a ghost and where was the most haunted place you’ve ever visited?

The most important part of the night is trying to debunk anything that happens. Most of the time it’s just a creaky floorboard making that sound, pipes in the walls moving, reflections, a draft blowing, eyes playing tricks in the dark (pareidolia), all kinds of things can happen in an old building in the night. The debunking is an art in itself.

We spend most of our time debunking things and concluding it’s actually not paranormal activity.

Keilder Castle Lodge, where we witnessed our first shadow figure walk towards us!

But when we can’t debunk it and the devices are triggering, and we get intelligent responses, or objects thrown at us from nowhere, it can get really intense!

Some responses are friendly and some can be really nasty and try to chase us away!

You travel all over the country, where’s the furthest you’ve been and have you visited any famous places?

Our team have travelled far and wide in search for paranormal evidence. We hired The Ancient Ram Inn for a 2 night investigation. A 5 hour drive down to Gloucestershire. An awesomely gruesome place with a demonic history of witchcraft, many murders and deaths, reported sightings of an incubus, succubus and other ghostly entities reside there. That was an experience we’ll never forget. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

In some locations we’ve been scratched, pushed, had objects thrown at us, told to get out etc. It can get really scary and intense when the spirits get angry!

How can you help people with their haunted house and how do they get in touch with you?

If you think your house is haunted we could help you get some answers.

A68 Private Paranormal Do you need help with your Haunted House?

Contact us on Instagram “A68 Private Paranormal”

The first step could be to leave a video camera running and see what is really going on, with some devices in view, and see how they react.

Then we could do a full paranormal investigation to find out who it is, why they are there, and what do they want.

Contact us via Instagram A68 Private Paranormal.

Lancaster Castle with connections to the Pendle witches was a brilliant experience with great paranormal activity.

The infamous 30 East Drive, one of the claimed most haunted houses in the world, in Pontefract. We’ve had good nights and quiet nights there.

We are looking for groups or charities in the area that have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic and would like to feature in the Spotlight for some free publicity. Email us at studio@rcphoto.co.uk Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

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Years gone by...

Willington Modern School.

Hannah & Jonathan Stephenson.

Jonathan was Crook Police Sergeant around the early 1900s. Image supplied

by Christine Bell nee Harper.

A group of children standing outside of the now demolished St. Andrew’s Chapel in Crook. Image supplied by Kevin Heslop.

Crook Town Commitee Members in 1964. Coral Woodward, Jean Hudspeth, Nelly Alison, Peter Garbutt, Betty Slack & Mrs Gail. Image supplied by Coral Humes.

We URGENTLY need your old photos!!

We are running low on old photos of places & people from years gone by and would love to keep the feature going. Can you help? Due to the current social distancing measures we are unable to accept these in person for the time being.

Please email any old photos to: studio@rcphoto.co.uk 14

Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

30% OFF ALL CANVASES: WHEN USING YOUR OWN PHOTO.

Design & Print

Packages for Business @Ritchie Coatsworth Photography Event Package £199 10 x A3 Posters, 20 x A4 Posters, 2 x A1 Poster and 5000 x A5 Flyers.

Vehicle Signage Small Van £125 • Transit Van £180 Large Iveco Type Van £220

New Business Package £249 500 x Business Cards, 5000 x A5 Flyers, Logo design or a vector redraw and one month advertising in Out & About Magazine.

Shop Header & Window Signage Prices start from £80 Mug Printing £8 T-Shirt Printing from £6.50 We can also print large format Canvases, Posters & Popup Banners.

Studio: 01388 417 337 • Mobile: 07963 635 568 Email: studio@rcphoto.co.uk

WEAR VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP MIDDLESBROUGH SHOPPING TRIP £5 PER PERSON

Saturday 5th December 2020 NON REFUNDABLE UNLESS COVID 19 STOPS IT GOING AHEAD Payment to be made at time of booking to secure seat.

Pick up points: St. Helens, West Auckland, Cockton Hill, Howden-le-Wear, Crook, Billy Row, Stanley Crook, Willington.

Times to be confirmed nearer the date.

Please book early to avoid disappointment there is only 1 coach Call Lesley on 07891 082 168 Monday - Thursday 10am - 2pm Facebook: Wear Valley Community Action Group Monday - Thursday 5pm - 7pm Email: wearvalleycommunityactiongroup@gmail.com anytime.

Closing date for booking seats Monday 23rd November 2020 COVID 19 RULES APPLY FACE MASKS TO BE WORN, HAND SANITISER WILL BE SUPPLIED BY WEAR VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

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We are currently open 7 days a week due to social distancing guidelines Tel: 07854 224 967 • 12 Church Street, Crook, County Durham DL15 9BG

PLANS DRAWN FOR PLANNING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS

Income Tax & Accountancy Professional 20+ Years Experience All aspects of Accounting Services including: • Bookkeeping Services • Payroll Services • Personal & Business Tax Returns • VAT (MTD Compliant Software) • Year End Accounts for: Sole Traders, Partnerships & Limited Companies Call into our new premises on New Road, Crook to see how much we can save your business.

TEL: 07840 256 420

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CIS & Entertainment Industry Specialist

01388 762 662 or 07920 764 699

Email: info@svarleyaccountancyservices.co.uk

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Please quote OUT & ABOUT when making an enquiry

Vintage wedding car hire for your special day.

Graham McGuffie 07887 641 296 • Linda McGuffie 07841 683 540 Email: grahammcguffie@me.com • www.jm-weddings.co.uk

How has Covid 19 affected local business?

Each month we will speak to some business owners to see how they have been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.

“The lock down massively affected our business.

We were closed for 15 weeks but since we have reopened we have had lots of changes in the salon and the support of all our clients has been overwhelming and I can’t thank them all enough for standing by us through these awful times.”

Joy Stoker, Her’s & Sir’s Hair & Beauty “I had loads of weddings and parties booked in for 2020 I’ve not done a Disco since March. Nothing to chuckle about.”

Shaun Hope, Shaun’s Karaoke Disco “Covid 19 imposed many restrictions and financial drawbacks over the lockdown, but we survived and have gone from strength to strength since, and the

Good living for later living

future is looking good with bookings excelling previous years. Many thanks to all customers for bearing with us and for coming back, without whom we wouldn’t be in such a good position.”

Ron Beadle, R&S Fireplaces “Although 2020 started off positive with our first fair in Westgate, Covid 19 struck and stopped our planned fairs. Many of our members took to advertising online, however in August we held the first of our monthly fairs which was a great success - thanks to local support. We look forward to all our future fairs, all Covid 19 safe and adhering to all Government guidelines.”

Sarah Foot, Craft Fairs in Weardale

1 bedroom apartments available now

Tow Law, County Durham Stunning views

To find out more about our older people’s support service, call 0300 131 7985 or 07423 074 408 | www.homegroup.org.uk 18

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Funerals & Covid 19 We would like to assure our clients that in these challenging times we at Hardy’s Funeral Service are working extremely hard to deliver dignified and professional funeral services for all of our clients, whilst still observing current regulations.

Clearly a lot of things have changed due to the Coronavirus Arranging the funeral may if you so desire be done over the telephone or for those who can by video link, alternatively a limited number of family can attend one of our offices.

Registering a death is now done by telephone and not at the Register Office as before.

Public gatherings for funeral services at church, crematoria and cemeteries are restricted to numbers specified by their governing body.

Receptions are also restricted as to the size and capacity of the venue.

Face coverings should be worn when travelling in a limousine and throughout the funeral service.

We would like to thank all the families whom we have conducted funerals for.

For their dignified patients and understanding in these unprecedented times.

Please help us follow the government guidelines And Stay Safe

Crook 01388 765 069 www.hardysfunerals.co.uk Willington 01388 747 747