Out & About Magazine (North East) December 2017 Edition 24

Your local interest & advertising magazine | December 2017 | Edition 24 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas

OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast

Years gone by pages 6 & 16

Spotlight on Jack Drum Arts - page 10

Witton Castle

with local amateur historian Aaron Cowen - page 14

Local musician Ron White releases Charity Christmas CD - page 18

Check out Wolsingham’s new look salon coming soon on page 19

New Year, New You Sign up to an annual membership in January and save £25 Terms & conditions apply

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Terms & Conditions Annual membership to be paid in full saving £25 on usual annual membership price.

OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast

Advertising Prices

Looking to give your carpet life before Christmas? Take a look at page 4, Sharp Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning are offering 10% off all of their services. On page 5 Willington based Oakworld are offering a fantastic 50% off many items in their Brompton Collection.

Monthly advert price 1/8 Page £25 Quarter £45

New to Out & About on page 7 we have The Dairy Barn who are running festive afternoon teas with Santa throughout December, please note that these events must be booked. On page 8 we have Absolute Aerials if you are needing a new aerial or dish ready for the Christmas television period, a new aerial is only £45 fitted.

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Also on page 8 we have Crook’s Blue Stone Tea Shop who are offering festive lunches and festive afternoon tea, ideal for your Christmas Party. You can also bring your own wine with free corkage.

Back Page £200 Reduced price on 3 month block bookings 1/8 Page £66 (£22 per advert) Quarter £126 (£42 per advert) Half Page £246 (£82 per advert) Full Page £405 (£135 per advert) Double Page £640 (£220 per advert)

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

Don’t forget to quote Out & About when replying to adverts and lastly we hope you enjoy this month’s edition, have a fabulous Christmas & New Year, see you in January 2018. Thanks for your continued support!

BOOK YOUR ADVERTISING SPACE TODAY THE DEADLINE FOR THE JANUARY 2018 EDITION IS FRIDAY 15TH DECEMBER 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 7963 635 568 or email us at ads@outandaboutmagazinenortheast.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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Years gone by... in 1910-11 featuring ll team from back .

A Howden footba in the middle row second from right a young Ned Haley Kevin Brown.

Image sent in by

We want your old pictures!!

Send us your old photos of places & people from years gone by and we will publish them.

Email them to: ads@outandaboutmagazinenortheast.co.uk

hn Coatsworth My Granda Big Jo during WWII. in the Black Watch

y e the 1952 Stanle Children celebrat pitch. d’s ite Un y nle Sta Carnival on

council in Crook former home of the Highfield House, the 1980s. in ilt bu re we offices before the current 6

Denis & Har ry Nicholson of Railway Terrace, Sta playing at the back nle Crook in 1951.

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Afternoon Tea with Santa at The Dairy Barn ber th Decem Sunday 10m - 6pm 2p

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Spotlight on Jack Drum Arts.

This month we shine the spotlight on Crook based Jack Drum Arts.

Jack Drum Arts seems to have been around forever, how long have you been around and what got you started in the first place?

Jack Drum Arts is actually the longestestablished community arts organisation in the County! We’ve been around for 31 years in various shapes and guises. From the beginning we’ve always had an eye on the history, heritage, and the rich stories of the area, bringing affordable and professional participatory arts and culture into the rural areas of the Wear Valley and the wider county.

It all began in 1986 when the original founders moved to Sunniside and named the fledgling company after the things they loved most - their baby son Jack, and their extensive collection of drums! For the record - Jack (now fully grown) sits on the Board of Directors and those drums are at the heart and soul of the company.

Initially focussed on the creation of theatre and music activities for all, Jack Drum has gone from strength to strength over the

years, expanding and incorporating other art forms, including filmmaking, visual arts, dance and carnival arts to name a few.

Tell us a little about what Jack Drum does?

It might be easier to say what Jack Drum doesn’t do, as we’ll have a go at anything!

We currently have a thriving youth programme - Jackass Youth Theatre has been going strong for 19 years and is currently working on a new production as part of a National Theatre programme. We’re in our 5th year delivering our British Film Institute Network Academy that sees young people work alongside professional filmmakers to develop and screen their own short film. We have 2 Youth Cafés based at Crook’s Blue Stone Tea Shop - the Cree-ate Café offers a range of quality arts and crafts activities, while HotSpot (run in partnership with the 3 Towns AAP) provides a drop-in space where young people can play games, chat, and take advantage of information, advice, and guidance. We also have a Rock Band session where young musicians come together to write songs and are supported to record, gig, and prepare themselves for a career in music. Every year we deliver a week-long summer-school that sees over 30 youngsters come together to develop an outdoor play in a week.

We are the home of ‘Runaway Samba’ and ‘Baque de Ogum’, two Brazilian percussion bands, open to all ages, that perform all over the region and, indeed, the world - members travelled to Brazil in February to study and

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perform in the city of Recife’s world famous Carnival! We also run participatory music masterclasses at our base in Crook, and work with our young musicians to develop not only their musicianship, but their leadership and skills as professional artists.

Our adult programme is just as varied We deliver a unique programme of creative courses for Durham County Council’s Community Learning provision. Often these take place in day centres for vulnerable adults, ensuring everyone has access to high quality creative activities.

Our sessions co-ordinated for the Social Prescribing Colour Your Life Programme puts an emphasis on arts for wellbeing, helping people who may be struggling or isolated join a creative and supportive community. Currently we have Swing

Maracatu Porto Rico, and the Crook Community Christmas light parades which we hope to bring back next year.

We are passionate about inspiring people to grow and achieve through the discovery of the arts, and committed to nurturing talent and knowledge. No matter age, ability, gender, disability, the arts can capture the imagination of everyone and we’re dedicated to sharing these opportunities with as many people as possible.

How can people get involved with Jack Drum?

Call us on 01388 765002 or email info@jackdrum.co.uk Visit www.jackdrum.co.uk or like us on facebook @jackdrumarts Lastly, where do you see Jack Drum going over the next 18 months?

Dance, Pottery and a Crafts group running.

We deliver sessions that encourage people to become ‘Active Citizens’ as part of an international British Council project. We also offer employability support as part of partnership projects with Durham County Council’s DurhamWorks Programme and Groundwork North East and Cumbria’s ROAD Programme which has enabled us to employ a health trainer.

Every so often we push the boat out, flex our creative muscles, and deliver a large-scale arts event! Recent projects include our fantastic Viking-themed Halloween Happening event in Hamsterley Forest, our summer residency with Brazilian musicians from Nação do

On Saturday 9th December we are hosting the ‘Jingle Hop’ a swing dance party hosted by Joo-Lee Stock with live music from Gavin Lee. Then on Thursday 22nd March we have the fantastic Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra coming to play thanks to our membership of Highlights Rural touring.

We’ve also got big plans for some outdoor Carnival Events in the area, the launch of a cinema club for children and young people and the production of a new play to commemorate the end of the Great War in November 2018.

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Local Football Fixtures

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eNL2 = Ebac Northern League Division 2 LC = League Cup AC = E Armstrong Memorial Cup

Tow Law Town AFC

Crook Town AFC

Willington AFC

The Addison Chartered Surveyors Stadium, Ironworks Road, Tow Law, County Durham, DL13 4EQ Tel: 01388 731 433

The Sir Tom Cowie Millfield Ground, West Road, Crook, County Durham, DL15 9PW Tel: 01388 762 959

Hall Lane, Willington, County Durham, DL15 0QG Tel: 01388 745 912

Saturday 2nd December (eNL2) (A) Hebburn Town

Saturday 2nd December (eNL2) (H) Easington Colliery

Saturday 2nd December (eNL2) (H) Blyth AFC

Tuesday 5th December (LC) (A) Consett

Saturday 9th December (eNL2) (A) Darlington RA

Saturday 9th December (eNL2) (H) Chester-Le-Street

Saturday 9th December (eNL2) (A) West Allotment Celtic

Saturday 16th December (eNL2) (H) Brandon United

Saturday 16th December (eNL2) (A) Ryton & Crawcrook Albion

Saturday 16th December (eNL2) (H) Heaton Stannington

Saturday 16th December (eNL2) (H) Heaton Stannington

Tuesday 26th December (eNL2) (H) Tow Law Town

Saturday 23rd December (eNL2) (A) Easington Colliery

Saturday 23rd December (eNL2) (A) Alnwick Town

Saturday 30th December (eNL2) (H) Thornaby

Tuesday 26th December (eNL2) (A) Willington

Saturday 30th December (eNL2) (A) Bedlington Terriers

Saturday 6th January (eNL2) (A) Bedlington Terriers

Saturday 30th December (eNL2) (A) Chester-Le-Street

Saturday 6th January (eNL2) (H) Billingham Town

Friday 12th January (eNL2) (H) Crook Town

Saturday 6th January (eNL2) (H) Darlington RA

Friday 12th January (eNL2) (A) Willington

Saturday 20th January (eNL2) (A) Whickham

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The History of Witton Castle Story by Aaron Cowen

This month I’m continuing looking at castles in our area, this time we take a look at the much overlooked Witton Castle.

Sir Ralph de Eure built a three storey tower house with a curtain wall shortly before 1410 (when he paid a fee for retrospective permission to fortify the building). It was built on the site of Barmpton Hall, home of the Barmpton or Bermeton family who held Witton Manor in the early 14th century.

Their lands were acquired by Sir John de Eure sometime between 1350 and 1380.

Sir John de Eure was born in 1303 at Kirkley, Northumberland. He was a ward of the Crown following his father’s death in 1322.

Sir Ralph de Eure was the son of the aforementioned Sir John and Margaret de Grey. He was born around 1350. He

(1389-1397), Constable of York (1391), M.P. for Yorkshire (1393, 1397 and 1399)and Governor of the castle of Newcastle. He impressed King Henry IV in “dramatic fashion”, when he helped put down Archbishop Scrope’s rebellion. It also should be noted that Sir Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland of Raby and Brancepeth Castle was staying at Witton Castle in 1405 when Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, marched by night with 400 armed men in the hope of surprising Westmoreland. Westmoreland had heard of his approach and left before he arrived.

Some historians claim this would have been Witton Hall as Witton Castle would not have been able at that time to withstand any sort of attack from 400 men.

In 1638 the castle passed from the Eures to the Darcy family. During the Civil War, the castle was in the hands of Sir William Darcy, a royalist. It was therefore besieged and taken by parliamentarians, under Sir Arthur Hazekrigg, governor of Auckland Castle. Sir William Darcy paid a fine of £1000 to retain his estates.

followed a military career abroad in the retinue of Richard, Earl of Warwick in 1378, in Scotland under the Duke of Lancaster in 1383 and under King Richard II in 1385.

He was the Palatine Steward for Durham for some years under Walter Skirlaw, Bishop of Durham (1388-1406), and then under Bishop Langley until his death in 1422. He was M.P. for Northumberland (1380-1381), Sheriff of Northumberland 14

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In 1689 the original castle was gutted by Lord James Darcy for its roofing lead, timber and chimneys but was soon rebuilt in the early 1700s.

In 1743 Witton Castle was then sold by the Darcy’s to a William Cuthbert (died 1747), a barrister and Recorder of Newcastle. The castle then passed to John Cuthbert (died 1782) and his sister Philiadelphia and then to John’s nephew John Thomas Hendry Hopper.

In 1796 while the castle was undergoing repair by Hopper, the interior was largely destroyed by a fire. Hopper restored the castle, maintaining its outside appearance but providing it with a more modern interior.

Thomas Hopper fell down the stairs of the castle and died on 30th October 1812.

In 1816 William Chaytor, (later a Baronet) of Croft Hall, Yorkshire, purchased the castle for £78000 restoring the castle further.

Today the Castle is home to a Caravan Park.

In 1839 Donald Maclean Esq. bought the Castle, primarily interested in the coal nearby, however he became bankrupt in 1846 so the Chaytors bought it back again, this time it was Henry Chaytor Esq. J.P. in 1851. The Chaytors remained the owners until 1963, when they sold it to the Lambton Trustees.

Oh and of course this castle comes with its own ghost as well. John de Eure mentioned above was beheaded at Bishop Auckland in March 1322 following the Battle of Boroughbridge. It is said that his headless figure haunts the castle grounds on a horse.

Aaron is a keen amateur historian and one of the admins of the Crook Town and District History Group Facebook group, he is also Chairman of the Empire Electric Palace group.

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Years gone by...

We want your old pictures!!

Send us your old photos of places & people from years gone by and we will publish them.

Email them to: ads@outandaboutmagazinenortheast.co.uk

well. vided by Harry Se racers. Photo pro Willington pigeon

The wedding of Billy Ayre and Flory Birbeck.

Some old printed items from Paxton’s Printers in Will ington, were you a guest at either of these events?

One of the many teams that played from Stanley back in the day. Can anyone identify which one it is?

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“We could not have asked for a better photographer to capture our wedding day than Ritchie!

Our photos are amazing and you caught every special moment throughout the day! The guests made several comments as to how friendly and easy going you were! Our day was perfect and you had a massive contribution to that! We will absolutely recommend you to anyone we know who may need a photographer in the future! Thanks so much Ritchie!”

Ruth and Marc Liddle, Willington Tel: 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 | Email: prints@ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk www.ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk | Find us on Facebook Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

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Community news Christmas Charity Single

Tag Rugby Festival Stanley Crook Primary School Year 3 and Year 4 enjoyed participating in the local cluster Tag Rugby festival at Parkside Secondary School in Willington. They worked incredibly hard as a team to develop their skills and were rewarded with first place! A fantastic day for team Stanley Crook.

Ronald White has recorded a Xmas disk to raise funds for the charity MIND. His sister Beryl Smith also sings on the four songs which include Xmas Eve in Durham Town, Scrooge he is a Meanie, Sing and be Happy and Merry Xmas a varied selection.

The CDs are for sale in local outlets in Tow Law including Cathy’s, The Chemists, Anne’s the hairdressers, Hers and Sir’s and Ritchie Coatsworth Photography in Crook. You can also contact Ron to order a CD on 01388 730424 The CDs cost £2 each.

Ronald and Beryl’s music goes as far back as 1968 when they made a demo disk at the famous Impulse Studio in Wallsend and more recently performed with family members Melvyn, Gabriella and Kian at the Tow Law Family Festival.

Tow Law Millennium Primary “on the path to outstanding” Tow Law Millennium Primary school has been informed that it is well on the way to becoming an outstanding school. The recent Ofsted inspection confirmed the school has retained its “good” rating, with inspectors reporting that: • The school has accomplished a “sharp increase in pupil achievement” 18

Christmas Charity Extravaganza On Friday 8th December St. Catherine’s Church and The Blue Stone Tea shop will be hosting their Christmas Charity Extravaganza in St. Catherine’s Church, Crook. The event starts at 7:30pm and features The Blue Stone Tea Shop’s very own Paul Smith and David Williams plus special guests Richard Lewis and Radio Newcastle’s Anna Foster. Come and enjoy an evening of Christmas songs, stories, a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine. Tickets are £10 each and can be purchased from The Blue Stone Tea Shop or St. Catherine’s Church. All proceeds go to local charities.

• “Highly effective teaching” has “enabled pupils to make very rapid progress”.

• “This is a happy community where students feel safe and nurtured” • “Pupils demonstrate excellent attitudes to learning. They are polite, considerate of others and behave very well” • “Most pupils make strong progress across the school and a higher proportion than average leave the school well prepared for their secondary school education”

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Treasured Ashes Jewellery Hardy’s Funeral Service are pleased to announce that they are now stockists of beautiful Sterling Silver keepsakes which can discreetly hold a token amount of your loved ones’ ashes and provide a great source of comfort to you and your family.

The range consists of pendants, cufflinks, bracelets and charms.

Each pendant comes with its own presentation box and both a silk cord and silver chain.

For pricing and other items in the range please contact us.

HARDY’S FUNERAL SERVICE

Willington 01388 747 747

Crook 01388 765 069

Funeral Directors & suppliers of monumental masonry