Out & About Magazine (North East) March 2018 Edition 27

Your local interest & advertising magazine | March 2018 | Edition 27 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas

OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast

FREE

Years gone by - page 8 • Ye goode olde English pub! - page 10 • Valley Drone - page 16

20 - 22 Church Street, Crook Telephone: 01388 765259 Call in and view the full range of flooring available and enquire about our free measuring and estimating service.

Laminate, solid wood, engineered wood, vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, artificial grass, carpet and rugs.

Latest Spring/Summer 2018 ranges in stock now.

FRANK’S PRICE PROMISE If we can’t offer you a better like for like deal we’ll give you the flooring free.

OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast

Advertising Prices

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

Monthly advert price

A special thanks to Valley Drone Aerial Imagery who supplied the cover image and the image above of Wolsingham.

1/8 Page £25

If you are looking to get out and see a bit more of what the UK has to offer then check out Weardale Bus Trips on page 6, they have some fantastic day trips and holidays coming up. If you’re a fan of cask ales and live music then take a look at page 12 where The Green Billy Row are advertising their ale and music festival that’s on over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Quarter £45 Half Page £85 Full Page £150

Looking to shed a few pounds ready for your Summer holiday? We have Pilates Sessions with Russ Turner on page 14.

Double Page £250 Front Page £150 Inner Front Page £180 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)

4

On page 18 we welcome Grounds Gardening Services who offer a range of gardening services, ideal if you are wanting to get your garden ready for the Summer. Also on page 18 we have Thermal Energy North East who can take care of all of your small plumbing jobs as well as specialising in brand new bathroom installations.

Don’t forget to quote Out & About when replying to adverts & lastly we hope you enjoy this month’s edition, thanks for your support!

BOOK YOUR ADVERTISING SPACE TODAY THE DEADLINE FOR THE APRIL EDITION IS TUESDAY 21ST MARCH 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 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.

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

new menu coming march 8th plus new offers like...

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

kids eat for £1

steak night £8.95

curry night £8.95

Thursday

Friday

mixed grill fish & chips

night £8.95

2 dine

for £9

night £8.95

from

5pm

Includes selected drink

-From a set menu MONDAY TO FRIDAY 12NOON-5PM

TO BOOK CALL 01388 664 303 Addison Road, Toronto, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7RJ

OPENING TIMES: Monday to Thursday 12noon - 11pm, Friday & Saturday 12noon - Midnight, Sunday 12noon - 10.30pm

/torontolodge

@torontolodge

@torontolodge

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

Beautiful Wedding Cakes • Cake Consultation & Tasting • Gourmet Cake Flavours • Individually Tailored Designs

0744 304 2814 / 01388 329 932 MOBILE (anytime)

p

AFTER 5pm

JB CLEANING SERVICE YOUR LOCAL FRIENDLY RELIABLE SERVICE CALL JACKIE ON

07703 289 436

Wedding Cakes As Unique As You

TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS or EMAIL jburdis29@gmail.com

a`]^

@CakesandMore

4B The Market Place, Stanhope, Co. Durham, DL13 2UL 01388 527 268 • fondantandapronstrings@gmail.com wwwfondantandapronstrings.com F.B. Profile

F.B. Header

G RO O M ED TO PERFECTION

LLANDUDNO 60’s BREAK £285

The St. Kilda Hotel, situated on Llandudno Promenade Monday 1st - Friday 5th October Dinner, B&B, evening entertainment & excursions in North Wales & Chester. Enjoy the 60’s as a theme for this holiday.

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS £156

The Lindum Hotel, St. Annes Friday 26th - Sunday 28th October Includes Dinner, B&B & a tour of the famous illuminations plus an excursion to Liverpool.

DRAMS & DANCES £239

The Royal Hotel, Oban - Monday 5th - Friday 9th November Dinner, B&B & evening entertainment. See enchanting lochs & towering mountains, watch the ferries making their way to the Hebrides Islands. Enjoy touring in beautiful Argyll, part of the West Coast of Scotland plus enjoy the captivating theme of “Drams & Dances”.

DIAMOND DOGS G ROO M ED TO PERFEC TIO N

ARE you a dog owner looking for a dog groomer? Look no further!

Tag to go on dog after grooming / business card

The salon is located in Wolsingham, the gateway to Weardale. In a quiet location with off road parking.

To book call Stacy on

07725 6 1 6 424 veterinary nurse, with over Stacy is a registered 30 years experience. Other services available including nail clipping & teeth brushing.

Front Back

The salon is open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Earlier or later times are available by arrangement. client: Stacy Burleigh project: Diamond Dogs stage: 03 date: 25/02/17

All work © Brand Initiative 2017

EASTER DAY TOURS

Saturday 31st March - Bury Market £15.50 Sunday 1st April - Mystery Tour £12 Monday 2nd April - Whitby £12.50

TO BOOK CALL 01388 528 235 6

To book call Stacy on 07725 616 424

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

Graphic Design

An Outstanding School

Parkside’s

World Class Status!

Students and staff at Parkside Academy are delighted to join an elite group of schools who have been awarded the World Class Schools Quality Mark (WCSQM). Parkside is the first school in County Durham to receive this prestigious award and we are proud to be one of only sixty world class schools in the country!

Our Student Senior Leadership Team led the school’s application. As part of the rigorous application process students produced a detailed audit covering all aspects of the school’s provision and produced a video

Parkside Academy Hall Lane, Willington, Crook Co. Durham, DL15 0QF Tel: 01388 746 396

entitled ‘A Week in the Life of our World Class School’ which showcased Parkside’s teaching and learning and extra-curricular provision.

Students also attended an assessment centre in Leeds where they worked with teams from other schools to complete a challenging project based on re-modelling the Learning and Resource centre at Morley Academy in Leeds. Miranda Perry, the Director of the WCSQM, said that she was “extraordinarily impressed” by the way that our students represented Parkside Academy.

Everyone at Parkside Academy is proud that we have achieved the accolade of becoming a World Class School. Our Student Senior Leadership Team thoroughly enjoyed attending the presentation evening, which took place at Cambridge University. Kelvin Simpson, Headteacher, said: “The achievement of this prestigious award is testament to the skills and dedication of the staff who have created an aspirational culture where our students believe in their abilities and are proud to strive towards the highest of academic outcomes.”

www.parkside.org.uk @parksideacad

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

Wolsingham.

Leazes Hospital,

olic as’ Cath St. Thom Willington, in h Churc nown. year unk ’s with St. Cuthbert Mill Street, Crook . nd rou Church in the backg

A booklet fro m the recent ly demolishe Wooley Terra d ce Methodi st Church in Stanley cele brating thei r Diamond Jubilee. Prov ided by Har ry Sewell.

Roy Irvine. age provided by k Market Place. Im View across Croo 8

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

Ye goode olde English pub!

Story by Aaron Cowen

Almost every town and village in Great Britain has or has at one time had a pub.

The Great British Pub dates back almost 2000 years and has its origins as an Italian Wine Bar. It was the invading Roman army who brought with them Roman pubs known as tabernae in 43AD. Such establishments which sold wine were quickly built alongside Roman Roads and in towns to help quench the thirst of the Roman legion.

Ale however (at that time not made with Hops until their introduction in the 14th and 15th century) seemed to be the main local drink and of course it was not long before this was added to the drinks menu.

Around 970AD the Anglo Saxon King Edgar the Peaceful (b. 943AD - d. 975AD) tried to limit the number of alehouses in any one village. He also introduced a drinking measure known as “the Peg” as a means of controlling the amount of alcohol an individual drank.

Hence the expression “to take someone down a peg”.

Tabernae in the Middle Ages became “Tavern” and they provided food and drink to their guests while “Inns” tended to provide accommodation. During the reign of King Henry VII, alehouses, taverns and inns became better known as public houses and by 1552 an act was passed that required

Innkeepers to have a licence in order to run a pub.

It may be surprising to know that Crook itself in the early 1900s boasted around 42 named drinking establishments. Some at that time were known simply as beer houses. The Horse Shoe Inn is thought to be the oldest building in Crook. Today it is part of the Wetherspoon pub chain. It is a Grade II listed building with parts of the building thought to be of late 18th century construction if not earlier. Above the main entrance door is “G 1822 L” with “EL” above which was the initials of the proprietors at the time George and Eleanor Linton. George was described as a Licensed Victualler and Farrier, and according to his grave stone at St. Brandon’s Church in Brancepeth he was also a Veterinary Surgeon.

George Linton died in 1846 and his wife continued until her death in 1858. When Joseph Coates took over he stated that Mrs Linton had ran the business for upwards of 60 years. This suggests that they took on the premises in 1794 at the time of their marriage.

Margaret Parker Hewitson recalls when her parents Edna and Tom Cuthbertson had the pub which was owned by Newcastle Breweries between 1956 and 1961 that it had a long bar and a snug room at the end with a hall separating the bar from the larger room.

Entertainment then was playing 45 records on a cassette record player but it still went down well. The old stables still remained at that time at the back of the yard and they still had outside toilets. They could only serve crisps until 9pm!

In the 1990s and early naughties it was a Continued on the next page.

10

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

ke ma l ke l i a w m t l at wil th a y ?? a t e i h d t n i u an dea comm nity i e u v n a a m have om UR c OU O h Y Y R U o U Do YO e tto YO c o n D e rence iffffe r e ad i d a

AND live in the *3 Towns AAP area ?

AND live in the *3 Towns AAP area ?

YOU can apply for ÂŁ200 YOU can apply for ÂŁ200 to turn your idea into a reality ! to turn your idea into a reality !

For further information 01388 742040 / info@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk For further information 01388 742040 / info@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk Connecting Communities Connecting Communities * The 3 Towns AAP area covers Crook, * The 3 Towns AAP covers Crook, Willington, Tow Lawarea & surrounding villages.

Willington, Tow Law & surrounding villages.

@3townscommunity @3townscommunity

popular venue for rock bands, however the Wetherspoon pub chain took over in 2013 and don’t provide live entertainment. There was a butchers shop next door which was part of the original building. The Butchers had belonged to John Forster and Billy Barnett before that, and previously it had been a sweet shop known as Snaith’s. Former landlord Dave Leighton reincorporated this building into the pub in the early 2000s.

Graeme Sewell recalls serving a customer at his father’s shop on Bridge Street - Sewells the Tailors. “One Saturday a guy came in for a shirt and tie at about 12:15pm (he had just come from the Horse Shoe and was a bit the worse for wear). He then said “you’d better give me a suit to go with them, I’m going to a wedding at St. Catherine’s at 1pm”. When I asked him who was getting married, it turned out he was the groom!

Special thanks to Paul Armstrong and Margaret Parker Hewitson for their help with this research.

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.

CASK ALE & MUSIC FESTIVAL EASTER BANK HOLIDAY 30TH AND 31ST MARCH Live Music

RICK JACKSON Friday 30th from 9pm

A selection of various ales & ciders from around the country ALL WELCOME • FREE ENTRY

Live Band

Saturday 31st from 9pm

Open every day except Monday • Tel: 01388 764 511

The Green Billy Row, Billy Row Green, Billy Row, Crook, County Durham DL15 9TA 12

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

CRESCENT HOMECARE

Outstanding Care Provider in County Durham Due to high demand for our services we are now recruiting full time & part time homecare support workers in the following and surrounding areas.

Crook • Willington • Sunniside • Billy Row • Brandon • New Brancepeth • Sacriston • Bearpark • Langley Park • Witton Gilbert • Lanchester • Ushaw Moor & surrounding areas We can offer you excellent terms & conditions which include the following: • Competitive rates of pay & a generous mileage allowance • Guaranteed hours • Minimised travel • Company pension • Family friendly working environment • Flexible working & combination of shift patterns • Career progression available within the company

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

0191 373 1538

Town and Country Cleans

PILATES SESSIONS B-INSPIRED B-ACTIVE

Professional Residential & Commercial Cleaners Call us on 07903 730 955 or email townandcountrycleaning@hotmail.com

Monday: St. Cuthberts Centre, Church Hill, Crook: (BEGINNERS) 12 noon - 1pm & 6.15pm - 7pm 7pm - 8pm Wednesday: Crook Cricket Club, Dawson Street: (BEGINNERS) 12pm - 1pm Thursday: Tow Law Community Centre, Ironworks Road: 10:30am - 11.15am Toft Hill Community Centre: 6.30pm - 7.30pm Friday: Hamsterley Village Hall: 6.15pm - 7.15pm

Domestic - Commercial - Industrial Fully qualified time served electrician with over 25 years experience, Part P registered with NAPIT.

Call 01388 304160 or 07977 575134 E: kevin@test-electrical.co.uk www.test-electrical.co.uk

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 747 234 or 07973 284 999 or email kbdec1@gmail.com

sarahs mystical tarot Psychic Tarot Readings

Find out more by contacting Russ on

07951 782 657 or email

russturner40@gmail.com

Free trial session available please ask for details.

Bespokepilatesuk

FREE COMMUNITY EVENT Howden-le-Wear Village Hall Monday 19th March, 10am - 1pm Darren Miles - The Dangers of Cyber Crime Kevin Tuck - Neighbourhood Police Natalie Barker - Illegal Money Lending

PLEASE JOIN US. EVERYONE WELCOME. This event is organised by The Wear Valley Community Action Group

We now offer a delivery service Fresh Bread • Fresh Pies • Cakes Sandwiches • Outside Catering Everything is freshly homemade on site.

Personal 1 to 1 Readings Telephone & Group Readings Tarot Cards • Oracle Cards Crystal Ball • Spiritual Readings For more information call Sarah

Tel: 07491116957 118 Dans Castle, Tow Law, DL13 4AZ www.sarahsmysticaltarot.co.uk 14

Readings are for entertainment purposes only

BREAKFAST TRAY £3.50 • BREAKFAST BUN £2.80 57 High Street, Tow Law, DL13 4DP Tel: 07584 411 195

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

Spotlight on Valley Drone.

This month we shine the spotlight on Martin Townsend of Valley Drone Aerial Imagery. Martin is one of the few people in the area that has a drone license for commercial work meaning that he is your go to guy if require any aerial photography or video work.

Tell is a little about how you go into aerial photography/video?

I have always had a general interest in photography but I first flew a drone when my wife bought me one for Christmas in 2014 which I fitted with a GoPro action camera.

Since then I have become more and more passionate about the medium as each flight brings new discoveries from the bird’s eye view. Gradually I broadened my collection of images and videos and upgraded my equipment, with a steep learning curve to expand my photography and videography knowledge whilst combining with the drone handling and flying skills, until I eventually took professional operator qualifications.

What sort of work aerial are work do you enjoy the most?

Applications for drone technology are growing at an incredible pace and they are

being used for all kinds of surveys and inspections, agriculture and search and rescue, but my favourite areas of work are more traditional imagery, particularly promotional photography and video. Being based in a rural location I have obviously worked on rural and landscape themes.

Private property images are popular, and I have worked for property agents selling farms and large properties. An aerial picture or video really helps show a property in its wider context, especially in the beautiful area in which we live.

My work is featured in advertisements for holiday properties, and I even captured the record attendance at this year’s Wolsingham Show, on behalf of the Show Committee. I have carried out video surveys of a large factory flying indoors to record the workflow of the complex production line. Several of my videos have featured on the website of Darlington Farmers Auction Mart when they have asked me to capture various farming equipment auctions and show the wide range of items for sale and the sizeable crowds attending.

During an exercise at the Ironworks Road ground of Tow Law Town AFC, I captured a 360 degree interactive image of the ground and its surroundings which now features directly on the Google Earth program.

Property photographs are popular, not just

16

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

for estate agency work, but also as mementos for proud owners who like to see a wider and different perspective, or to show their surrounding views. Businesses might like an aerial view for promotional literature or videos, or just for an attractive photograph for reception.

I am starting to do more work on aerial photographs and video at weddings and I find it especially rewarding to help capture the happy couple’s special memories. I can work independently or alongside regular wedding photographers or videographers. Aerial shots really establish the context and surroundings of a special occasion.

I still like to work on general aerial imagery and capture appealing images which I like to share in local photography groups and share on my web site, and sell the occasional image from my own collection.

There seems to be a lot of grey areas about who can fly drones and who can’t, what are the facts?

Drones are becoming more and more popular for leisure use and can easily be purchased on the high street, with varying features and technology. They are somewhat controversial with reports of near misses with aircraft, invasions of privacy, or dangerous crashes into buildings or even people. There are calls for greater legislation but in fact there is already significant legislation, which applies to hobby and toy flyers as well as professionals. Drone regulations are embodied in criminal law so are a matter for the police. So if you buy yourself a drone or receive one as a gift, check out the simplified guidance in the CAA ‘drone code’ which lists minimum proximities to people and properties, maximum altitudes and ranges etc. You cannot fly over people or built up areas or outside your own line of sight.

It is a requirement that any ‘commercial’ drone activities can only be carried out by operators fully qualified and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, carrying full public liability insurance. I have undertaken the classroom and flight training, exams and flight tests required to obtain a CAA ‘Permission for Commercial Operations’ (PfCO).

I am required to work to procedures set out in an approved Operations Manual and carry out detailed risk assessments and check airspace restrictions before all flights.

Where do you hope your drone adventure takes you?

What started as a ‘serious hobby’ has grown quickly through word of mouth and reputation into a satisfying small business and my hope is to expand at a similar pace and focus on some of the favourite areas of activity that I have described.

Property work, promotional work and weddings are favourite activities and I hope to develop in these areas in particular but I am always coming across new types of work. For example I have recently been asked to photograph archaeological sites to illustrate a book.

Contact Details You can find examples of my work on my website at www.valleydrone.co.uk and you can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ valleydrone) and Instagram (www.instagram. com/valleydrone) and LinkedIn.

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

17

Jack Clegram Horticultural Engineer Unit 3A, Tow Law Industrial Estate, Dans Castle, Tow Law, Co. Durham DL13 4BB

Tel: 01388 730 577 Mob: 07714 169 191

All aspects of plumbing & heating, fully insured, free quotations.

• Wet rooms • Power flushing • Radiators replaced • Showers fitted • Oil boiler installations & servicing • New bathrooms installed • Outside taps fitted

Call us on 01388 762 291 or 07583 124 830

Email: thenortheastslawnmowerman@hotmail.com

Sales, service, repairs and spares for all makes of lawnmowers.

Agents for Briggs and Stratton, Champion, Sovereign, Atco, Lawn King, Stiga, Hayter, Mountfield, Qualcast, Bosch, Grillo, Rally and Tecumseh

RIDE ON LAWNMOWERS & CHAINSAWS REPAIRED

Ritchie Coatsworth Photography

Email: thermalenergy@mail.com

Tel: 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 www.ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk

The Pantry

43 High Street, Tow Law, DL13 4DH Telephone: 01388 730 033

- Tow Law -

Freshly made food & traditional favourites. Weekly specials from £1, Pensioners meal £3.50.

Eat in or take away.

Opening times: Monday - Friday 8am - 3pm

GROUNDS GARDENING SERVICES

EASTER BONANZA St. Anne’s Centre, Wolsingham Saturday March 17th, 11am - 2pm EASTER EGG HUNT, RAFFLE, TOMBOLA, FANCY DRESS COMPETITION, REFRESHMENTS

For all your gardening needs

DEBBIE GROUNDS

Telephone: 07900 911 704 Email: grounds.gardening@yahoo.com No job too small 18

FREE EASTER EGG FOR CHILDREN This event is organised by The Wear Valley Community Action Group

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

LIVE BANDS AT THE CROOK HOTEL EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT FROM 9PM & EVERY SUNDAY FROM 4PM

FRIDAYS

SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS

9th March Gav Coulson Band

10th March Diamond Dogs

11th March Russ Tippins Band

16th March Alex Fawcett Band

17th March Tony Liddell Band

18th March Soul Addiction

23rd March Blade UK

24th March Overdrive

25th March Hellraiser

30th March Time Check

31st March Share The Darkness

1st April Twister

Breakfast served from 9am Large Breakfast with tea or coffee £4

Homecooked Sunday Lunches Large £6.50 Small £4.50

Tuesday & Thursday Nights Pie & a pint £5.95

Daily Specials

Monday & Wednesday Nights Curry & a pint £5.95

Homemade Desserts 2 main meals for £8 Parties & Funerals catered for in our private function room

NEW CHEF | NEW MENU COMING SOON Tel: 01388 764 669 | www.crookhotel.co.uk

Keepsake Jewellery Celebrate and treasure an everlasting bond with your loved one.

Beautiful Sterling Silver keepsakes which can either hold a token amount of your loved one’s ashes or a handcrafted engraving of your loved one’s fingerprint.

Please contact us for more information.

HARDY’S FUNERAL SERVICE Willington 01388 747 747 Crook 01388 765 069

Funeral Directors & suppliers of monumental masonry