Your local interest & advertising magazine | July 2018 | Edition 31 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas
OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast
FREE
Years gone by - page 8 & 14 • Spotlight - page 10 & 11 • School Trips - page 16 & 17
LIVE BANDS AT THE CROOK HOTEL EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT FROM 9PM & EVERY SUNDAY FROM 4PM
FRIDAYS
6th July Uncle Gilbert 13th July Sole Addiction 20th July King Size Voodoo Travellers 27th July The Force 3rd August Trip Hazard 10th August Grumpies
SATURDAYS
SUNDAYS
14th July Midnite Blue
15th July Giroscope
21st July Nucleus
22nd July Born Villains
28th July Whole Hogs
29th July Swamp Hoppers
4th August Rising
5th August Blade UK
11th August American Girl
12th August Tubesnake
7th July The Whodulms
8th July The Panthers
Breakfast served from 9am Large Breakfast with tea or coffee £4.50
Homecooked Sunday Lunches Large £6.50 Small £4.50
Tuesday & Thursday Nights Pie & a pint £5.95
Daily Specials 2 main meals for £9
Monday & Wednesday Nights Curry & a pint £5.95
Parties & Funerals catered for in our private function room
Homemade Desserts
ALL WORLD CUP GAMES BEING SHOWN Tel: 01388 764 669 | www.crookhotel.co.uk
OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast
Advertising Prices
If you are looking for practically anything for your car, from headlight bulbs and oil to wing mirrors, then check out Speedo on page 6 who stock all of these and much more. Also on page 6 we have Auckland Iron who create beautiful bespoke iron gates and railings. On page 9 we have Town & Country Cleaning who offer both residential and commercial cleaning, either as a one off or a regular service.
Monthly advert price 1/8 Page £25 Quarter £45 Half Page £85
On page 12 we have Sandy Carr Farm who can deliver beautiful afternoon tea to your door, they also offer a range of spa and beauty days at their lovely country cottage complete with hot tub.
Full Page £150 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
Welcome to the July edition of Out & About Magazine, your friendly local interest & advertising magazine.
Tow Law Community Centre are advertising their latest free Summer Family Festival on page 13, this years action packed event is being held at Tow Law Football Club. Lastly on page 15 we have another free family fun day in the form of The Billy Row Big Bash, which is being held on Billy Row Green. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for good weather for both of these free events. 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 AUGUST EDITION IS THURSDAY 19TH JULY 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 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.
20 - 22 Church Street, Crook Telephone: 01388 765259
Call in & view the full range of flooring available & enquire about our free measuring & estimating service. Laminate, solid wood, engineered wood, vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, artificial grass, carpet & rugs.
Transform your decking or yard with our large range of artificial grass.
FRANK’S PRICE PROMISE If we can’t offer you a better like for like deal we’ll give you the flooring free.
ROOFING & HANDYMAN SERVICES
PILATES SESSIONS
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
Monday: St. Cuthberts Centre, Church Hill, Crook: (BEGINNERS) 12 noon - 1pm & 6.15pm - 7.15pm
ALL ASPECTS OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
0744 304 2814 / 01388 329 932 MOBILE (anytime)
AFTER 5pm
GROUNDS GARDENING SERVICES
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
Ideal for back pain, pre & post natal. Some classes may not run during the school holidays. Find out more by contacting Russ on
For all your gardening needs
DEBBIE GROUNDS
B-INSPIRED B-ACTIVE
Telephone: 07900 911 704 Email: grounds.gardening@yahoo.com No job too small
07951or 782 657 email
russturner40@gmail.com
12pm - 1pm classes are ideal for mature clients & beginners. Bespokepilatesuk
find your potential How can ROAD help? One-to-one support from a range of healthand finance specialists Access to a range of training and vocational courses to help you improve your life Guidance, support and advice on any area you feel will help you to make positive changes ROAD is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund
Call us today!
01207 524 833 road@groundwork.org.uk www.reachingoutacrossdurham.co.uk
@reachingoutacrossdurham @roaddurham
6
European Union European Social Fund
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
Hosted by Groundwork NE & Cumbria
SPEEDO CAR PARTS LTD The Empire Building, 12 South Street, Crook, DL15 8NE Telephone: 01388 763 600 Email: sales@speedocarparts.co.uk Brake discs & pads, shoes, wheel cylinders, brake hoses, hand brake cables & brake callipers, timing belt kits & auxiliary belt tensioners, clutch kit etc... Coil springs & shock absorbers, track rod ends, ball joints, wishbones, stabilizer links, wheel bearings & strut top mounts.
Car batteries, starter motors & alternators, Ignition coils, engine management, spark plugs, glow plugs, ring auto bulbs etc...
Air, oil & fuel filters, cabin filters, a vast range of engine oils fuel additives, Adblue, turbo & EGR cleaner.
Towing accessories including roof bars, leisure batteries, body filler, mig welding products, Bosch wiper blades, Autoglym cleaning products & traffic film remover.
We are a family run Business with over 35 Years experience supplying quality Car Parts and Accessories. Please call or email us Today for a Competitive Quote. Free Local Delivery to your Home or Place of Work
GARDEN FENCING Countryside • Farms • Houses • Gardens Knee Rails • Tree Guards WOOD GATES METAL GATES METAL FENCING Railings • Bow Top • Mesh • Wire Estate Security Opening Hours: Monday - Friday: 8am to 5pm Saturday: 8am to 11am Sunday: Closed Low House Farm, Etherley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 0LZ Tel/Fax: 01388 833358 Mobile: 07774 756484 Email: tburnfencing@aol.com www.trevorburnfencing.co.uk
www.aucklandiron.co.uk Telephone: 07799 167 286
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
7
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
A benefit social ticket from 1919 sent in by Elsie Craggs. My season ticket from Stanley United’s last season in the Wearside League before they folded.
Tow Law Carnival (year unknown). Image sent in by Michael Manual.
An original poster from the now demolished Presbyterian Church in Crook. Sent in by Harry Sewell.
ar unknown). Billy Row Green (ye ie Craggs. Els by in t sen Image 8
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
K atrina Love MAAT AATQB
T: 01388 528 791 M: 07977 422 316 E: info@klovebookkeeping.co.uk www.klovebookkeeping.co.uk Sandy Carr Farm, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL13 4PJ Katrina Love is licensed & regulated by ATT under license number 1002467
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
Town and Country Cleans
Professional Residential & Commercial Cleaners Call us on 07903 730 955 or email townandcountrycleaning@hotmail.com Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
9
Spotlight on Shaun Hope. This month we shine the spotlight onto Stanley lad Shaun Hope who is not only a school caretaker by day and DJ by night but is also the Chuckle Brothers biggest fan. Everyone of a certain age remembers the Chuckle Brother’s comedy capers in “Chuckle Vision” which ran in various formats from 1987 - 1998. So Shaun, when did you first become a fan of the Chuckle Brothers and why?
badges, old scripts, t-shirts, pens and rulers. I even own Paul and Barry’s trousers. It’s been valued at £25,000. Oh dear oh dear. I’m still adding to it when I find something new.
I’ve been a fan for nearly 20 years now. It all started when I went with Stanley School and got on stage at the end of the show. They put a custard pie in my face and gave me a few things for getting on stage and the rest is history. You’ve got the biggest collection of Chuckle Brother Memorabilia that I’ve ever seen, what exactly do you have and are you still adding to it? My collection comprises of posters, video tapes, DVDs,
I’ve seen and heard of your Chuckle Brothers collection on various TV shows and newspapers. Can you name a few of the shows you’ve appeared on and what you did on them? I’ve appeared on quite a few TV shows over the years. Me and Sonia were on ITV1’s “The Marriage Ref” with Dermot O’Leary. Sonia wanted me to take the room down but I wanted to leave it up. The panel was Jack Dee, Sarah Millican and singer Will Young. They voted who was in the right or wrong. They voted for me of course. I’ve also been on “Russell Howard’s Good News”. That’s repeated on TV all the time. Also “Have I Got News For You” and “Look North”. “Come
10
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
Dine with Me” wanted me to go on last month but I did not have to time to do a full weeks filming. Coach trip on Channel 4 wanted me and Sonia on it too but I would have to be off work for up to 50 days to film it. Saying that I’m always on the look out for new shows to go on. You can’t beat a bit chuckle on TV. I’ve also appeared in The Sun, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Northern Echo and twice in Real People Magazine. I also run the Official Chuckle Brothers Facebook page.
Yes I’m off to Hull at Christmas with my Grandson Harrison. He’s 5 and loves Paul and Barry. He watches them all the time. I bought him series 1, 2 and 3 for Christmas. He met them with me 2 years ago and was over the moon to see them. I normally travel to see them if they are doing night club appearances. They do meet and greets so it’s nice to see them for a few hours. I’ve even took Paul Chuckle home in my car. They’re back on TV on Channel 5 on Saturdays. Doing a “You’ve Been Framed” type show with a bit chuckle humour thrown in for good measure. So looking forward to seeing them again soon. So if anyone has any chuckle memorabilia gathering dust. I’ll have it to add to the Chuckle Museum. Thanks Shaun from me to you. If you’d like to book the biggest Chuckle Brothers fan to do your disco for your party or wedding then you can contact Shaun on 07971 759 588.
Do you still have the famous “Chuckle Room”? Yes I still have the famous room. All of the walls and ceiling are covered. A lot of people like their photo taken in it. I’ve had people from radio shows come and do interviews just to have a photo taken in it. Chris Dakers brought the family down once to see the Chuckle Museum. Lastly are you planning any trips to see the Chuckle Brothers this year? Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
11
SUMMER COACH TRIPS
TRADITIONAL MOLE TRAPPER
SUNDERLAND TALL SHIPS Saturday 14th July 2018 Adult £6.50 Child £4.50
Covering the County Durham area.
REDCAR: Saturday 11th August 2018 £3 per person WHITBY: Saturday 25th August 2018 £5 per person SUNDERLAND ILLUMINATIONS Saturday 13th October 2018 £3 per person LEEDS: Saturday 27th October 2018 £5 per person Pick up points: St. Helens, Bish Auck, Howden, Crook, Stanley, Billy Row & Willington. Times to be arranged. Contact us via facebook: wearvalleycommunityactiongroup or call Lesley 07891 082 168
We are an established barber & sunbed business specialising in traditional & modern cuts. NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED
• OPEN LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS •
Tel: 01388 529 058
Afternoon Tea Deliveries • Spa Days & Nights • Luxury Hot Tub • Beauty Treatments
Fully insured & qualified, 15+yrs experience for domestic, equine, local authorities & commercial customers throughout County Durham.
Call Martin on 07900 412 905 or email greengrassmolecontrol@gmail.com
STEVEN NORRIS Plumbing & Heating We specialise in new bathroom installations • Wet rooms • Power flushing • Radiators replaced • Showers fitted • Gas & oil boiler installations & servicing • Outside taps fitted
Call us on 01388 762 291 or 07583 124 830 Email: thermalenergy@mail.com
Afternoon Tea delivered to your door. Call us on 01388 528 791 or 07977 422 316. www.sandycarrfarmcottage.co.uk
The Pantry
43 High Street, Tow Law, DL13 4DH Telephone: 01388 730 033
- Tow Law -
Domestic - Commercial - Industrial Fully qualified time served electrician with over 25 years experience, Part P registered with NAPIT.
Call 01388 763 140 or 07977 575 134 E: kevin@test-electrical.co.uk www.test-electrical.co.uk
Freshly made food & traditional favourites. Weekly specials from £1, Pensioners meal £3.50. Eat in or take away. Opening times: Monday - Friday 8am - 3pm
12
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
c Facebook: Tow Law Community Centre Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
13
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
early in Tow Law in the The Station Hotel nual. Ma l ae ch Mi by 60s. Image sent in
Tow Law Prince Rovers
Football Team.
Surtees pub in A horse and cart passing The Michael Manual. Tow Law. Image sent in by ert for local ng a special conc A poster advertisi rld War II at Wo m fro me ho soldiers returning nley’s old Could this be Sta the Social Centre. green hut?
lace in the 1980s A view across Crook Marketp g built to the right of with the council offices bein ael Manual. Boots. Image sent in by Mich
14
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
Stanley United Supporters Club. Sent in by Ev Johnson.
ociation Presents ss A y it n u m m o C ict Billy Row & Distr
W O R Y L BIL H S A B G BI FUN CHILDREN’S DOG SHOW
TOTAL WIPEOUT DJ SHAUN HOPE A LIVE MUSIC MEGA SLIDE A BOUNCY CASTLE CRAFT STALLS A MEDIEVAL STOCKS
FIRE ENGINE A POLICE A CAKES
RAFFLE A BOTTLE TOMBOLA
SATURDAY 28TH JULY 12PM - 4PM ON BILLY ROW GREEN
School Trips Story by Ritchie Coatsworth
A few issues ago I wrote about my experiences as a pupil at Stanley school in the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s. I really enjoyed my time at Stanley school, at a time when pupil numbers were around the 50 mark at it’s highest. During these years the highlight was always school trips, we seemed to go on more school trips in those days compared to schools now. We would have trips to the seaside to places such as South Shields, Redcar and Whitby, which were always exciting occasions for a young boy. I always remember visiting the joke shops for various comedy items; the bus would be full of whoopee cushions and plastic poos on the way home, which always ensured that the bus was filled with laughter. Out of all of the school trips I ever went on the greatest of all time was a residential trip to Richmond in early 1990. This meant 4 nights away from home which was pretty nerve racking for a 9 year old shy boy like I was. Firstly Richmond felt like it was actually a million miles away, perhaps a different country altogether at times. On this particular trip it was only the older children that went, years 6, 5 and 4 along with a handful of teachers. If my memory serves me correctly the teachers were led by the ever reliable Mr Holliday who taught years 6 & 5 and Mrs Jewell who split her time between Stanley and Witton Le Wear school and taught year 4.
I think I was already home sick by the time the bus pulled into the hostel that would be home to us for most of the week. It was a big old sand stone building with large bay windows and a grey slate roof. It reminded me of an army base as we were met by the gentleman that ran the place, I cannot recall his name (possibly Mr Burn) but I remember him as being a stern sort of fella who explained that while we were there we would do chores such as washing up and cleaning up after ourselves, some of which were quite alien to us. I also remember that the thought of going into a classroom after tea seemed quite like how I would imagine national service to be, our lives were no longer our own. I’m pretty sure that most of this was just a 9 year olds worried mind working overtime. The hostel was high up on the hill overlooking the river Swale and facing the ruined Richmond Castle that stood high on the opposite side of the river. Once we had been set the ground rules we were put into groups, 2 groups of boys and 2 groups of girls, this was as there were 2 boys dormitories and 2 girls dormitories. Each dormitory had 3 sets of bunk beds. Our room
Richmond Castle
16
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
Easby Abbey
washing up duty) we were able to spend an hour relaxing in the main hall where we joked around and wrote letters home as if we had been away for months, when in reality it had been one night.
The Georgian Theatre
consisted of myself, Andrew McKimm, David Boughey, Lee Pedelty, Paul Moore and Steven Greenbank. I remember having a bottom bunk with Andrew McKimm taking the top one. I have no idea what time we were sent to bed each night but I think it was around 9pm, but we certainly didn’t go to sleep then. Nights consisted of singing daft songs, telling ghost stories and Steven making Paul swap bunks every 5 minutes. I remember one night someone who had fallen asleep early getting wrapped up in toilet roll like a mummy and then another windy night someone opening the fire escape door and it felt like our beds would be sucked out of the door as if someone had opened an air lock on a space station. Every once in a while Mr Holliday would come and see what the commotion was and tell us to go to sleep. We always imagined that as soon as we were asleep the teachers would all be off to the pub for a few pints, which I’m pretty sure didn’t happen even in the more care free days of 1990. The trip was an action packed week from start to finish, we started with a day in Billy Bank Woods looking for insects and drawing what we found. The next day sticks in my mind as being the coldest I have ever been. I recall it being a cold wet and rainy day as we went on a short bus ride to walk the moors or fells somewhere in Swaledale looking for examples of lead mining and old mines. I remember returning to the hostel covered in mud, wet and freezing. In my young mind this was hell on earth, I was missing home and had spent the day marching around the moors in the freezing cold. Once we had done our chores (I seem to recall being on
Other highlights included trips to the ruined Easby Abbey, the Green Howards Museum, the Georgian Theatre and my favourite, Richmond Castle, I’m still a sucker for a ruined castle now and love taking my kids to explore them. The thing that sticks in my mind from this trip is that we seemed to do a lot of walking in mud and rain, mostly up hills when I think of it. We did have some nice days though and I remember doing a charcoal drawing of Richmond Bridge that my Auntie Joan had in her cabinet in her sitting room until she left her Roddymoor home. It’s in my attic somewhere now. The highlight of the week was when we were given some free time on the last day and let relatively free in Richmond town centre to spend any money that we had brought with us. I recall rushing into Woolworth’s to try and cash all of my spends in on small sets of Pirate Lego. Like I said earlier Richmond seemed like a million miles away to a small boy and as an adult I was surprised how close it actually is. The return journey seemed to take forever; I was desperate to get home. I seem to remember arriving back at Stanley school close to home time. I can’t remember if our parents picked us up from school that afternoon slightly earlier or if we got the school bus as normal, it is a blur, maybe as I was so happy to be back in Stanley.
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
The Date e v a S
Wedding Fayre p
Sunday 28th October Crook Golf Club, Low Jobs Hill, Crook, 11:30am - 2.30pm
p FREE Entry
All exhibitor enquiries to: hello@weddingswithdistinction.co.uk
Portrait, wedding & christening photography • passport photos • graphic design • signage & vehicle graphics • t-shirt printing • canvases • personalised wall art • event photography with instant prints 80 Hope Street, Crook, County Durham DL15 9HT
Studio Opening Hours: Monday: 9:30am - 2:30pm, Tuesday: 9:30am - 3:30pm, Wednesday: Closed, Thursday: 9:30am - 3:30pm, Friday: 9:30am - 3:30pm and Saturday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Creative wedding storytelling packages starting from only £349. “Wow what can I say about the amazing photographs of our wedding from Ritchie. He has been professional throughout the experience, from the initial contact, to meeting at our venue before the big day to then being there on the day itself. On the day we hardly realised Ritchie was taking the photos and wow what an amazing story of our big day he has delivered. The quality of the photographs, the presentation in its own little wooden memory box, along with the memory stick with so many quality photos on. A huge thank you from us both.” Michael and Joanne Moore
Tel: 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 | Email: prints@ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk www.ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk | Find us on Facebook
Bereavement Support Group Hardy’s Funeral Service would like to offer the recently bereaved an opportunity to meet others that are going through the same emotions. When you’re newly bereaved, suddenly you find yourself on an emotional roller-coaster where you have no idea what to expect next. This is a chance for new friends to come into your life who understand some of your grief because they’ve going through it themselves. Meetings: First Thursday of every month 5th July - Crook 5.30pm – 6.30pm 2nd August - Willington 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Our recent fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society raised £192. Thank you to everyone for your support. 1 Belle Vue, Crook, Co. Durham, DL15 9BP Tel: 01388 765 069
116 Commercial Street, Willington, Co. Durham, DL15 0AA Tel: 01388 747 747 helen@hardysfunerals.co.uk