Durham Magazine - March / April 2017 by Durham Magazine

March / April 2017 - Issue 9

DURHAM Magazine

DURHAM

WEB | MARKETING | SOCIAL | PPC ADVERTISING

NEW WEBSITE PACKAGES FROM CONSETT’S DURHAM’s NO. 1 WEB COMPANY

Website Design From: £349 E-commerce Solutions From £799 Bespoke + Custom Solutions From £1299 Call today, Didus you know? our friendly stafffor are There is funding available website and marketing? always on hand to answer any questions you may up to £2800 have about your website. Call us today for more info.

×¾ ÛNewMedia

Ask About

Ask About Our FREE Website Design Service* And Our Pay Weekly Deals Website Design Service From Only £12.50

Our FREE Powerful Tools Instant Updates for your Website Contact Forms Payment Solutions Client Relationship Management Track Visitors and Live Analytics Training and Support Available Custom Graphics Online Advertising Solutions

www.fireflynewmedia.com

0191 394 1266 / 0800 955 1266 01207 438292

* For the “free website design service” offer there is no upfront charge for the building of the website, after which ongoing website maintenance, hosting, advertising and other service fees shall apply. Other terms and conditions also apply.

Editorial - March / April 2017

Welcome

Dear Durham Readers,

We’re delighted to bring you another free Durham Magazine full of locally produced content. Durham University student Suditi Jundal submitted an article with a new perspective on Durham’s beautiful Wharton Park with the piece entitled “Haven of Solitude” see it on page four. Attention cycling fanatics, David Sunderland covers the big cycling event coming up in May when “The Tour Series” comes to Durham City read all about it on page five. Brian Harrison is a well known and respected local historian who has been writing for Durham Magazine’s sister publication, Consett Magazine for 5 years now. It’s a real pleasure to welcome Brian to the Durham Magazine team with his first printed piece, “Wailing Ghosts”. Please do let us know if there’s a piece of Durham history you’d like to read about in future editions.

on local actor Sam Lupton and the Escape Rooms on page seven.

As always we’re always on the lookout for fresh ideas for the Durham Magazine, so if you’re interested in writing a story, reviewing a local restaurant, or submitting an awesome photograph for the front cover then please just email us on editor@durhammagazine.co.uk From the Durham Magazine team we hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your March-April edition of Durham Magazine. Warmest 2017 regards, Barry Kirkham, Marco Elsy, Firefly New Media UK & the entire Durham Magazine Team

Are you looking for something new to do on a weekend in Durham? Look no further than the Escape Rooms on Saddler Street. We’ve got more information Disclaimer: Durham Magazine and durhammagazine.co.uk make sure to only use reliable sources and we try to verify all content as much as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. All details are believed to be correct at the time of printing. We recommend that readers check information with any venue about times and dates of events in advance. Readers are welcome to send photographs, letters and other content to Durham Magazine and Firefly New Media UK but we cannot guarantee they will be featured in the publication. Firefly New Media UK reserves the right to neither use submitted material in print and online publications nor return it. The views and opinions expressed in advertisements and content do not reflect that of Durham Magazine and Firefly New Media UK. No part of this publication/website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from Firefly New Media UK. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.

Contributors Brian Harrison George Ford Neil Collins Jordan Laidler Sam Lupton David Sunderland Alex Nelson Chris Hutchinson Valerie Winter Suditi Jindal

Content and advertising team Barry Kirkham Marco Elsy Firefly New Media UK

Advertising Info sales@durhammagazine.co.uk

0191 394 1266 Published by:

×¾ ÛNewMedia

C M

facebook.com/ durhammagazineuk twitter.com/ durham_magazine

Haven of Solitude

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

As I casually strolled up the gates of what looked like a park, during my initial days of exploring Durham, I was pleasantly surprised to be presented with a veritable showcase of nature. I had walked into the newly renovated and reopened Wharton Park. The eloquent silence of the place immediately enamoured me and I was drawn in by its spell. The park is a haven for those looking to steal quite moments of reflection during a busy day. The picturesque landscape of the park with serpentine pathways, rows of trees, ancient stairs, mysterious headless statue, imposing castle-like structure, some old and some new benches and the quaint amphitheater, are a feast for tired souls and bodies.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

I chanced upon this jewel of nature on an autumn evening, when a silent smouldering fall was rustling through it. Every tree was lit up in fiery magnificence, even the paths were strewn with golden specks of fallen leaves. I found an archaic looking bench tucked away in a quiet corner to sit and absorb the nature around me. I could hear the cooing of many a bird, squirrels were busy in their circuitous trips up and around the trees and a fading sunlight played hide and seek within the leaves. A wordless moment or two into my repose conjoined me with the elements, and I was instantaneously refreshed. I decided to explore the park further and discovered its many wonders. After the renovation, it has been equipped with modern facilities like a decent cafĂŠ, a playground for children, an activity area boasting of a

small arena for battery-operated cars and other activities for children again and an installation of abstract sculpture. The park also welcomes canine visitors on a leash, with parking spots and water bowls for them within the compound. Wharton Park is a happy blend of nature, history and modernity, and for this very reason I have always returned reinvigorated after every visit to this resplendent oasis.

Photo By: Suditi Jindal

Send us your pictures!

editor@durhammagazine.co.uk

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

Durham to Host Top Cyclists as The Tour Series Returns Cycling competition The Tour Series is due to return to the narrow cobbled streets of Durham. On the night of Saturday May 27th, top cyclists will be whizzing around our historic city centre as they compete in the penultimate round of the contest. The Tour Series – a televised series of city centre races organised by Sweetspot, the team behind the Tour of Britain – is now in its ninth season. The Durham leg of the competition is being put on by Sweetspot and Durham County Council.

“With the race this year moving to a Saturday Night, I hope to see many more families taking the opportunity to discover how the hard cobbled climbs, narrow streets and tight corners of our medieval surroundings make for some superb sporting action.” “And I hope by welcoming some of the top riders in Britain to compete on what has traditionally been one of the Tour’s toughest courses, it will also help to inspire more people in County Durham to saddle up and improve their own health and wellbeing.” Riders from seven professional men’s teams will compete in what will be The Tour Series’ ninth, and second

to last, race just two days before the end of the season. When The Tour Series visited Durham last year, thousands of people lined the route to witness riders reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. The route includes South Street, Cross Street, Grove Street and Margery Lane. Last year’s race was won by the Welsh cyclist Jon Mould, from the JLT Condor team. Harry Tanfield, a young rider from the north east, finished second. Race Director Mike Bennet, of Sweetspot, said, “Fans can look forward to some amazing racing from these top class athletes, as The Tour Series continues to provide an unparalleled platform of action, entertainment and engagement.” For more information, please go to www.tourseries.uk. By David Sunderland

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

The council’s cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, Cllr Maria Plews, said, “The Tour Series is a fantastic event that in previous years has brought thousands of people out onto the city’s streets, contributed hundreds of thousands of

pounds to the city’s economy, and helped raise our profile regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

Wailing Ghosts By Brian Harrison

I have been researching family history for some time and do a lot of research via the local newspapers. It is a treasure trove of information as well as interesting and unusual stories. The following are a few ghostly tales reported in the local papers from mining villages around the area. In 1890 a Mr Jackson of Durham died leaving a healthy sum of £60,000. However, the poor man's written will was challenged sending the two parties to trial. It was stated that the poor man's spirit had appeared to the sexton of his church and promised £2000 to aid the failing church building. This Ghost Story took on great local appeal, so much so that the defendant of the will took the case to the Durham assizes and had the venue of the trial moved to Middlesex, where the will was eventually upheld.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

A few years later in1892 in the mining town of Birtley, the villagers had become very excited after strange noises began to emanate from the house of a Mr Wild, a miner at the nearby Birtley Colliery. The house was possibly 27 1st Brick Row, which was the abode of a Thomas Wild, a miner and his family on the 1891 Census. The investigation into the noises included structural checking of both the walls and the roof which revealed nothing. Nightly vigils took place and although “far away tremulous

wailing sounds” and distant crying could be heard spasmodically, no movement or apparition ever appeared. The local Spiritualists asked to visit the house so that they could interview the “shade” but Mr Wild declined their offer. During the haunting crowds would gather outside to hear the wailing and speculate. Many stories bandied about some more fantastical than others. As for Thomas Wild and family by 1901 they had moved on and were living only a short distance away in Pelton Fell. I haven't been able to find any further information on the events or if the disturbances continued. Jumping forward another 10 years, in the early spring of 1902 George Lamb moved into one of the newly renovated cottages in Chapel Row, Shotton. The cottage having been abandoned for some 20-30 years. The town had sprung back to life after the re-opening of the Colliery back in 1900. At first George was over the moon with his new home but it wasn't long before strange occurrences started to happen. About a month after moving in George and his family began to be woken by loud rattling and banging at the front door. Night after night around twelve o'clock the noises persisted. He alerted his neighbours and friends to what was happening and

people began to look out for the culprit believing it to be a practical joker. However, no one was ever seen and no foot steps running or walking away were ever heard. The disturbances continued throughout the spring and right into autumn. George and his family were now feeling the affects of this continuous nuisance. As winter came so did the snow and finally a chance to catch the joker red handed. As the snow fell and filled the street the rattling came again. This was the chance George had been waiting for, he ran to the door ready to follow the culprits footsteps and finally put an end to this whole drama. He swung open the door and to his horror no footprints were to be seen. The only person to ever see anything was George's son, a young miner who also worked at the colliery. Coming home late one night around 11 o'clock he was said to have spotted a “grey shadow slipping around the side”. He gave chase but the shadow just toyed with him. At one point it turned toward him with “burning eyes, like living coal, glaring at him” stopping the horrified lad in his tracks, before disappearing into the night. The terrified lad ran home to retell the whole event.

The cottages of Chapel Row, like the colliery itself, are now long gone. However, no reasonable explanation either on material or supernatural grounds were ever found for the events which took place.

the city needed something that gets the blood pumping. I can't wait to bring the exciting and thrilling fun of escape rooms to the streets of Durham' An actor from Durham who has appeared in a series of west end musicals, plays and radio dramas has returned to Durham to open a new tourist attraction. Sam Lupton, 26, has just taken over the management of Escape Rooms Durham, Durham's first and only live escape game. Lupton, who is currently playing the lead role of Seymour in the UK theatre tour of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors, said 'I'm passionate about Durham and the continued success of our city. Although the city is beautiful and has a great history, I felt

Escape games, now popular worldwide, involve your team being locked in a themed room with one objective, Escape! Using teamwork and mental and physical skill your team must solve a series of puzzles and clues to escape the room before the timer runs out. The current rooms, based on Saddler Street in Durham City, involve being locked in 'Mr Borrowdales Study' and trying to 'Escape The Lab'. To book your game at Escape Rooms Durham and for more information visit escapedurham.co.uk , call 07492428835 or visit every weekend on Saddler Street.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

The tale of the Durham Ghost at Shotton became widespread news even reaching the London newspapers and further afield. The secretary of the Experimental Committee of the Psychical Research Society, Mr E. Weslake put the entire episode down to rumbling pit workings shaking the door and hi jinx of the local people. The apparition seen by the son he put down to pure juvenile hallucinations. The statements were not well received by George, his family and friends. George was stated as saying that the ghost had turned his life into “a living hell”.

BUILDER

Dean Wilkinson Builder is a Checked and Vetted approved company based in Houghton Le Spring and covering the surrounding areas. We are a fully qualified and time served building company undertaking all house extensions, conversions and new build refurbishments. We take care of everything, from planning your extension through to build completion. We will work with you to ensure all your requirements are met, as well as providing helpful advice along the way to deliver the perfect house extension. All of our home improvements are designed to maximise your home’s potential, providing the living space you desire. For honest, reliable advice and a free no obligation quote, give us a call today.

OFFICE: 0191 584 3764 or MOBILE 07836 535 277 7 VINE PLACE, HOUGHTON LE SPRING

Queens Head, Gilesgate Durham Sunday Lunch Review: - By Jordan Laidler

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

Recently I decided to go for a Sunday Lunch at place not too far from where I live called the Queens Head. I pre-booked my tables as I had heard the restaurant does get busy since being took over, located in a very accessible location not far from the City Centre, it has a small carpark to the side of the pub and maybe some more parking further up the little side road. The pub does alternate it’s menu’s so you can see the one I had located on the right of this paragraph, as you can the prices are very reasonable and certainly matching most other local eateries around.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

First Impressions one of the most important things to me is first impressions I tend to either feel comfortable while dining or slightly uneased dependant on how we are greeted. I was running late to my 1pm table booking and phoned the pub and was told not to worry and they’ll see us when we get their which was polite of them. Upon entering the pub two staff

members were at the bar, and we were told where our seats were and greeted nicely. We went over to our table and there was a baby seat awaiting our arrival for little Holly as Lucy was away that day, having the baby seat already at the table was extremely thoughtful idea by the staff. The spacing between tables was great they’ve not tried to over capacitated the restaurant and have designed it so you have plenty of room perfect considering we brought the pushchair as Holly was asleep. We were asked if we wanted drinks, I opted for a pint of Coke and Nicky Diet Coke, one thing I do wish was at the table was a drinks menu, there was wine menu but none for soft drinks, beers etc. We also ordered our meal, for starters we had soup of the day which was Tomato and Basil served with crusty bread, for mains I went for the Roast top side of beef served pink and for dessert the mouth-watering Chocolate Brownie Sundae. Nicky went for the same starter

however, for the main she opted for Pan Seared breast of chicken served with sausage meat stuffing and for dessert Belgium waffles and Ice Cream. We waited a short while till our soup arrived, the dish was very well presented which sometimes I feel pubs tend to lack presentation of their food. The soup itself was okay not brilliant sadly I did not like the texture of the soup at all but the flavour was lovely especially with the bread. The one thing I did look for was some pepper to add to my soup however condiments were not at the table something I thought was a little bit of a let-down. Our main courses, they came out and again the presentation was good you can tell the Chef takes pride in his/her dishes. The thing I loved about the main course is that you veg came on a separate dish to the meat, mash, roast potatoes and Yorkshire. With them doing this it does make the meal look a lot better again going back to presentation as

Dessert time and now we all know Desserts are the most important meal of the day (ignore those who say breakfast, they’re totally wrong). I opted for the mouth-watering Chocolate Brownie Sundae and Nicky went for the Belgium waffles. My thoughts on the Brownie Sundae was it looked good and was really tasty, I only had one issue and that was some of the brownies were a little hard but apart from that it was delicious. Nicky said hers was lovely but she much rather a little more which would have made it perfect for her. Overall my experience at the Queens Head, Gilesgate was good, below are my ratings of each area. Food Quality – 7/10 let down by the soup sadly could have made it 10/10. Food presentations – 10/10 the presentation was fantastic and could now fault it. Customer Service – 9/10 A little improvement to some staff would have made it a 10/10 however overall I was extremely happy with the service I received. Locations and Accessibility – 10/10 Easy accessible by public transport, car and even on foot. Small carpark but does the job.

95% of Durham Kids Get First Choice Secondary Schools More than 5,000 County Durham pupils have secured a place at one of their chosen secondary schools for the 2017/18 academic year. On 1st March, the parents of 5,088 soon-to-be Year 7 children received an offer of a secondary school place. And 98.3% of them were allocated one of their top three choices. Durham County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, Cllr Ossie Johnson, said, “We know that for parents the decision of where to send their children is a big one and so we are delighted to be able to offer so many of them their first-choice schools.”

So overall I did enjoy my experience and would certainly recommend to visitor or even locals to go try it out.

5,088 applications for secondary school places were made in County Durham in total. Of those, 4,849 children (95.3%) were given their first choice of school.

Just 84 pupils have not been allocated one of their top three choices of school, but Durham County Council said that these children have received places at other schools as close as possible to where they live. Durham County Council recently stated that no major changes to its system for allocating school places were planned. The council said this was because the present system seems to be working effectively. In comparison to parents in other parts of Britain, County Durham’s parents appear to have been successful in getting their kids into their preferred schools. Kevin Courtney, the general secretary of the teacher’s union the NUT, said, “We hope that parents and children get their secondary school place of choice.” “However, for many this will not be the case, resulting in children being separated from siblings or primary school friends, and for some this will result in travelling longer distances.” “The government has consistently refused to address the school places crisis effectively while the free schools programme has seen many schools opened in areas where there is no need.”

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

Price – 10/10 Well priced and affordable food just what you would expect from the type of establishment.

“In our county, we benefit from many schools with superb facilities and dedicated, talented staff, and we hope that wherever pupils study they will be happy and successful.”

129 children (2.5%) will be attending their second-choice school. 26 pupils (0.5%) were granted their third choice.

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

sometimes when it’s all on one plate it can look packed and over the top. My meat was pink like I asked and tasted splendid, the mash was lovely and creamy and roast potatoes had a nice crunchy shell and a fluffy inside. Overall I must admit the main was a complete winner and Nicky really enjoyed hers too.

Durham City in the Great War

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

PRESS RELEASE Pen & Sword Books Ltd

47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS Tel: +44 (0)1226 734267 Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk Email: enquiries@pen-and-sword.co.uk

Durham City in the Great War Author: Stephen Wynn. Highlights An account of the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, which was made up of men predominantly from Durham. The murder of Annie Lancaster and her nine-year-old son, Robert. Military Service Tribunals in Durham city. The story of Michael Wilson Heariside, winner of the Victoria Cross, who was born in Durham. Arthur James Dingle, England rugby player, who was a pupil at Durham School. Durham was, and still is, one of the country's oldest and best-loved cites. The very name was synonymous with dedication, dependability and determination.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

normality, no matter what They knew that no matter An account of the 8th Men from the city answered the call to arms with an eerie normality, no matter what their NEW BOOK RELEASE their age or social class. Many how hard things were for Battalion Durham Light age or social class. Many had been miners before the war and had spent their working life RRP: £12.99 downmade a pit, but up just as many had beenbeen teachers. Others were studentsthe at the Durham them, it was much had miners before more Infantry, which was School, one of the most prestigious in the land, going on to further greatness at Durham ISBN: £9781783030323 warofand had spent trying for their sons, brothers, of men predominantly University.from When the announcement war was made, they alltheir enlisted to do their duty for PAGES · PAPERBACK King and country. They asked nothing in return, knowing the inherent working lifedespite down a pit, but dangers ofhusbands,144 uncles and other Durham. what they were about to do. They carried on regardless, sel�ess in their readiness to give PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 2017 just as many had been loved ones who were fighting to a greater cause. PEN & SWORD MILITARY The murder of Annie teachers. Others were on the Western Front. There was a similar determination amongst the city's people. For some that meant working for the local Voluntary students Aid Detachment the Durham Volunteer Training Corps, atorthe Durham Lancaster and her Author photographs can be whilst still going about their day job. They knew that no matter how hard things were for one of the most went off toupon fight in nine-year-old son, Robert. available request. them, it was much more trying School, for their sons, brothers, husbands, uncles and other lovedHundredsmade ones who were �ghting on the Western Front. prestigious in the land, going the war: men who had been Hundreds wentin off to �ght in the who had greatness been born in theat city, who lived and born in the city, who lived and onwar:tomen further Military Service Tribunals were educated in the city, and men who had worked in the city. Some 360 of them never Durham University. When the were educated in the city, and Durham city. made it home. They are gone, but never forgotten. announcement of war was men who had worked in the About the Author made, they all enlisted to do city. Some 360 of them never The story of Michael Wilson Stephen Wynn is a retired police of�cer having served with Essex Police for thirty years. their for King and made it home. They are gone, Heariside, winnerHisof�rstthe book, Two Sons in a War Zone:duty Afghanistan: The True Story of a Fathers Con�ict, was published in 2010. It is his personal account of his sons' �rst tours in Afghanistan. Victoria Cross, who was born country. They asked nothing but never forgotten. Both of his grandparents served in and survived the First World War. in return, despite knowing the in Durham. inherent dangers of what they About the Author were about to do. They carried Arthur James Dingle, England rugby player, who was a pupil on regardless, selfless in their Stephen Wynn is a retired readiness to give to a greater police officer having served at Durham School. cause. with Essex Police for thirty years. His first book, Two Sons Durham was, and still is, one of the country's oldest and There was a similar in a War Zone: Afghanistan: determination amongst the The True Story of a Fathers best-loved cites. The very city's people. For some that Conflict, was published in name was synonymous with dedication, dependability and meant working for the local 2010. It is his personal Voluntary Aid Detachment or account of his sons' first tours determination. the Durham Volunteer in Afghanistan. Both of his Men from the city answered Training Corps, whilst still grandparents served in and the call to arms with an eerie going about their day job. survived the First World War.

6ft x 2ft Includes Eyelets High Grade Outdoor Vinyl

Advertise Here Features: access to our Social media and print audience, Free design, use your own copy, logo or images, and your own marketing advisor who will get to know your account.

Reach

20,000

Call: 0191 394 1266 Email: sales@durhammagazine.co.uk

Roller Banners £50

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

Vinyl Banners £50

2000mm x 800mm Carry Case & Stand Full Colour

Custom Stickers £50 1300mm x 700mm Sheets Clear or White Vinyl

Die Cut to Shape

FiNErWeFly

sig

MED

IA n print - web

100% 6 John St Sq, Consett , Co. fireflynewm edia.com Durham, DH8 5AR - 01207 438292

Cleaning Solutions

07806821232

Exterior Cleaning

Your Friendly Local Print & Design Company CAll: 0191 394 1266 5 Email: sales@fireflynewmedia.com

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

×¾ ÛNewMedia

Places to Go: Kingston upon Hull

Places to Go: Letchworth Garden City Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

A recent episode of “Call the Midwife”, the popular East End of London gynaecological drama had one of the characters going out for the day to Letchworth in Hertfordshire, to the Spirella corset factory. Letchworth is a Garden City, indeed the first one, dating from 1903, and the Spirella Company began building a large factory in 1912, close to the middle of town. Completed in 1920, it blends in through being disguised as a large country house, complete with towers and a ballroom. During the Second World War, the factory was also involved in producing parachutes and decoding machinery. Because corsets fell out of fashion, the factory closed in the 1980s, and was eventually refurbished and converted into offices. Other industries included early computers, dustcarts and fire engines.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

Letchworth has 33,600 inhabitants, up from just 96 in 1901. From the North East it is reached by Virgin train to Stevenage, doubling back on the line to Cambridge via Hitchin, but such is the importance of the town that in the morning peak there are direct trains to King’s Cross from Letchworth, which do not stop at Hitchin or Stevenage at all.

The town was laid out by Raymond Unwin as a demonstration of the principles established by Ebenezer Howard. It is also home to the United Kingdom's first roundabout, Sollershott Circus, which was built in 1909, probably inspired by the traffic arrangements around the Arc de Triomphe which Unwin would have known well. Letchworth influenced not only Welwyn Garden City and the whole new town movement, but also abroad such as Canberra, the capital territory of Australia. Even Lenin visited Letchworth. Howard's depicted a choice of town design as a contest between three magnets: town, country and the fusion of the two as town-country. The Wetherspoons pub in the town is the Three Magnets, which would have horrified Howard who insisted that there would initially be no pubs in the town, although several pre-existing pubs beyond the boundary did well! The first licensed premises in the town was the Broadway Hotel, close to the station, and an ideal place to stay. It opened in 1961, the year of my birth, and the double and twins on the front are attractive rooms, some of the singles at the back less so, but it’s still a great place to

stay with the opportunity of a day trip to London and a side trip to Cambridge too if you have time. Leave time, though, to explore Letchworth itself. There’s a lovely art deco cinema within walking distance of the Broadway Hotel, and the town centre has plenty of interest, even though some parts of the town have an unfinished feel with spaces for buildings that never came. The term "Garden City" derived from the image of a city being situated within a belt of open countryside, and not, as is commonly cited, to a principle that every house in the city should have a garden. Only one tree was felled during the entire initial construction phase of the town, and an area devoted to agriculture surrounding the town was included in the plan – the first "Green Belt". It’s instructive to wander around enjoying the architecture of the original Garden City, and see the “cheap cottages” that the people from the crowded cities were delighted to move into. I enjoyed the museum dedicated to the Garden Cities movement in house containing Unwin’s studio. It’s a great place in its own right, and as a cheaper alternative to London hotels for a trip to the capital. By Alex Nelson

Where am I? Each month weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be bringing you to a specific location in County Durham. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asking you to guess where that location is and submit your guess on our website.

( %

t 8IFFMDIBJST CBUI MJGUT BOE TUBJS MJGUT t /P PCMJHBUJPO GSFF IPNF % % t 4FSWJDF 3FQBJS BU ZPVS IPNF

Can you guess where the this location is?

www.durhammagazine.co.uk/where-am-i/

.0#*-& 4)08300.

Part

) &' & )&' # ) " !'

We sell tickets from ANY station to 2,700 destinations For train bookings from Durham all over the country, contact Chester-le-Track for real people on real platforms!

Go by train...

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environmenta friendly! lly

Chester-le-Track Ltd The Railway Station Station Road, Chester-le-Street Co. Durham DH3 3EE

Open Mon 0610-1800, Tue-Fri 0710-1800, Sat/Holidays 0730-1415 No booking fee, no credit card fee and free postage to your address when booking by phone on

0191 387 1387

Or book tickets at our website

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

I, Daniel Blake Star to Perform at Bishop Auckland Food Fest Dave Johns, the actor who played the lead role in the recent Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake, has been confirmed as the headline act at Bishop Auckland’s Big Comedy Feast. Wallsend-born Dave, who is a comedian and writer as well as an actor, will be performing his popular stand-up routine on April Fool’s Day in Bishop Auckland Town Hall. The Big Comedy Feast is a part of the Bishop Auckland Food Festival. In addition to his starring role in I, Daniel Blake, Dave Johns has appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Harry Hill, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Alan Davies’s As Yet Untitled. Dave also appeared in a West End version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which starred Christian Slater.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

Irish comedian Chris Kent will also be performing at the Big Comedy Feast. As well as performing sell-out shows at the Edinburgh and Perth Fringe Festivals, Chris has appeared on The Stand Ups, as well as on Russel Howard’s Stand Up Central.

Matt Reed, from Sunderland, will be the evening’s MC.

Channel Four’s Fabulous Baker Brothers.

The Bishop Auckland Food Festival (Saturday April 1st and Sunday April 2nd) will this year boast an expanded food and artisan drinks quarter. Visitors will be able to sample cuisines from countries as diverse as Greece, Mexico, Thailand and the United States.

The Big Comedy Feast will take place on Saturday April 1st at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. The show begins at 7.30 pm, with the doors opening at 7.00 pm.

Foodies can also enjoy some great food from the north east as the festival will feature stalls from some of our region’s top producers. There will be lots of family fun, with children’s cookery classes and chocolate-making sessions on offer. Kids can have a go at hand-piping a chocolate lollipop, designing their own pizzas and even making caterpillars from marsh mallows. Kids will also have the chance to try baking their own bread and concocting fizzy mocktails. The festival will feature famous chefs and TV stars, such as Tom and Henry from

Tickets are priced at £12.50, though a limited number of early-bird tickets are available for £10. The tickets can be bought from Durham’s Gala Theatre on 03000 266 600 or from Bishop Auckland Town Hall on 03000 269 524 or in person. You can also purchase tickets at www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk. I, Daniel Blake is about a Newcastle craftsman who, after having to leave his job due to a heart attack, finds himself struggling with the bureaucracy of the benefits system. The film has won a Bafta Award as well as the Palme d’Or in Cannes.

Phoenix Dance Theatre - Interview

Is it important that Phoenix Dance Theatre is based in the north? Absolutely. The company has been home-grown from Leeds. Three guys in the community started the company and we’ve resisted the temptation to move elsewhere because of Phoenix’s significance to the community and the region. So much of the arts is concentrated down in London. It’s good to have something in the north as well. It is. What’s really nice is that when we do go to London there’s a bit of a buzz around what’s going on outside of London. Also, we don’t get sucked into what is really a tremendous rat race in London. We don’t get saturated with what’s going on down there and we have some breathing space. And I think we’re actually a bit of a crown jewel for the north of England because we manage to step into places that other companies don’t.

It’s absolutely significant. It’s intrinsic to who we are as people. Phoenix started out as three black guys from the community, and I think our

You do lots of work in the community, going into schools, colleges, universities. Is it part of your vision to spread dance among ordinary people? We don’t consider ourselves an elitist organisation; we try to make ourselves as accessible as possible. And that’s across the board – it’s not just about ticket sales, it’s about connecting with our audiences in the community. The projects outside of our performance work are important because we know that not everybody accesses the arts in the same way so we try to refine and diversify the ways in which people can become engaged as either deliverers or as spectators. We respect the value of the arts in everyone’s life. The arts shouldn’t just be for those who can afford to pay for it.

I think that’s quite sacred. A dance organisation goes into a community and asks them to give their time and space and to share their ideas. You have to build trust and once that community starts to trust you they will begin to share and put forward some very challenging ideas, so it’s quite a unique position to be in. Sometimes it’s about not having to use words. Because if a situation can’t be explained otherwise, just being able to be physical about it will enable those young people to build confidence and to find peer relationships that perhaps wouldn’t be there otherwise, because the words can sometimes be the things that get in the way. So just being able to find a way of doing that through the physicality of the work builds trust. It changes the mindset of the young people and encourages them to do things differently. Sometimes they just want to express themselves and if they don’t have other outlets then dance tends to be the place they can do that. Dance is a universal language that requires no words. It’s about creativity and it’s about the opportunity for people to tell their stories in different ways.

www.durhammagazine.co.uk

And the company’s multi-cultural identity is also important.

ethos started with valuing people and understanding how people, how diversity is part of who we are. We’ve continued that mission over the years and the company is absolutely multi-cultural now. I was recently listing the places from where we’ve recruited dancers and we have France, Spain, the UK; we have Finnish, American, Chinese, Cuban, an absolute mix, so people can identify themselves with who Phoenix are. It’s our mission to be multi-cultural and representative.

Your Free March / April 2017 Durham Magazine

Durham Magazine recently had a chat with the artistic director of Phoenix Dance Theatre, Sharon Watson:

You use dance to connect with hard-to-reach people. What do you think dance can bring to, for instance, troubled young people?

2017 WEBSITE

SPRING OFFERS

1000 x A4

SOCIAL

MEDIA

TRIFOLDS Double Sided, 135GSM

DESIGN

GRAPHIC

FROM ONLY

349

DESIGN

£129

Grants up to 35% towards website and marketing projects costing between £3,000 and £8,000 (maximum grant value of £2800

GRAPHIC

DESIGN

FROM ONLY

LOGO

5000 x A5

PACKAGE

Double Sided, 135GSM

DESIGN

FLYERS

×¾ ÛNewMedia

0191 394 1266 - fireflynewmedia.com sales@fireflynewmedia.com