Your local interest & advertising magazine | October 2018 | Edition 34 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas
OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast
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Years gone by - pages 8 & 16 • Community news - page 12 • Roddymoor air disaster - page 18
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.
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OUT&ABOUT Magazine outandaboutmagazinenortheast
Advertising Prices
On page 7 we have Thomas Wright House of Byers Green, they offer accommodation and also have a wonderful restaurant which offers a contemporary menu as well as afternoon tea, check out their Christmas menu. New to Out & About on page 11 we have The Horse Shoe Inn (Wetherspoon’s) who are offering a huge 20% discount off your total bill on production of their voucher.
Monthly advert price 1/8 Page £25 Quarter £45 Half Page £85
For all the sweet lovers out there Blue Star Sweets of Willington are advertising their new shop on page 14, they stock all of the old classics plus a range of American candy.
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)
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Welcome to the October edition of Out & About Magazine, your friendly local interest & advertising magazine.
On page 15 we have the newly refurbished Billy Row Green who are back under old management with Craig & Stacey back behind the bar, watch out for their new menu. If you are planning your wedding then take a look at Crook Golf Club’s Wedding Fayre on page 23, there will be lots of local wedding suppliers displaying on the day. Lastly on page 23 we have Top Choice Roofing who will make sure your roof is in tip top condition ready for the Winter. 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 NOVEMBER EDITION IS TUESDAY 30TH OCTOBER AT 4PM. No design fees if you don’t have your own artwork • Discounts on 3 month bookings • No VAT • Debit & credit cards can be taken in person at Ritchie Coatsworth Photography or over the telephone. Please note: Payment is due at the time of booking. Call us on 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 or email us at 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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Maggy & Graham offer you a warm welcome at
The Travellers Rest Saturday Evening Entertainment ay with Dance the night aw lists fantastic local voca
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7:30pm Every Sunday at
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In the bar
FREE Poo l Every Tue sday
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Tarot Rea dings with Mysti c Mag Every Frida s y 7pm until 9 pm
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For enquir ies & book ing please ca ll in or pho s ne 01388 762 474 Lounge av ailable FREE for functions Th
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Mindfulness Meditation Group Starting Tuesday 1:30pm - 2:30pm & Saturday 3:30pm - 4:30pm. OCTOBER SPECIAL OFFER GET YOUR 1ST SESSION FREE Relaxation & Meditation is scientifically proven to improve sleep, mental health & wellbeing. Also helps weight problems. Learn techniques to help manage pain, low mood & change habits, tap into feel-good endorphins without leaving your chair. Learn to relax & manage your life, in a more peaceful way.
PUB OPEN EVERY NIGHT
Weekdays from 7pm (Wednesday 6pm), Saturday & Sunday from 12 noon.
The place to relax, unwind & enjoy
The Travellers Rest, 97 Wheatbottom, Crook DL15 9HB • Tel: 01388 762474
sarahs mystical tarot EDINBURGH WEEKEND £79
The Park Hotel, Falkirk - Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd December Includes Dinner and B&B. This popular tour gives us a chance to be in Edinburgh with European market stalls & many fabulous attractions.
CHRISTMAS SPARKLE £437
(without panto tickets £416) The Cairn Hotel, Harrogate Sunday 23rd - Thursday 27th December Includes Lunch, Dinner and B&B. Also includes an excursion and a visit to Ripon Cathedral for Christmas Eucharist and a trip to the Pantomime.
Psychic Tarot Readings 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
Readings are for entertainment purposes only
DAY TOURS Saturday 13th October Saturday 10th November Doncaster Market/Shopper £14.50 Carlisle Christmas Shopper £14.00 Thursday 25th October Heighleygate & Boundry Mill £13.00
Sunday 11th November Classic Car Show Birmingham £25.00 (Entry not included)
Saturday 27th October Leeds Shopper £14.00
Saturday 17th November Leeds Shopper £14.00
Saturday 3rd November York Christmas Shopper £13.50
Saturday 24th November Doncaster Market/Shopper £14.50
TO BOOK CALL 01388 528 235
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No.2 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7PE Telephone: 01388 601 926 facebook.com/theforthbarbering Appointments & Walk in available
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THOMAS WRIGHT HOUSE ACCOM MODAT ION & R ESTAU R A N T
Join us over Christmas
Monday 26th November to Saturday 5th January 2019* (Excluding Sundays)
Two Courses £21.95 • Three Courses £24.95 Served from 12pm–8:30pm • Function room available for private dining Stay overnight from £32.50 per person including a traditional cooked breakfast (subject to availability) SEE THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO *Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Years Day
Restaurant with Guest Accommodation (Visit England 4 Star & Silver Award) in quiet rural setting close to Durham and Bishop Auckland. We serve food daily from noon: Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner with a la carte options, and Sunday Lunches in the ground floor restaurant. Families enjoy eating in the Garden room with patio, lawn and climbing frame; and popular as an afternoon tea venue is our first floor bar with its panoramic views. Stay over with a choice of eight individually designed ensuite rooms, like luxury Aquila with private patio, outdoor hot tub and ‘in room’ dining or Phoenix, a ground floor suite with walk in shower. Ample car parking and free wifi.
Find Us On Facebook: @ThomasWrightHouse High Street, Byers Green, County Durham, DL16 7PF | 01388 664716 www.thomaswrighthouse.com | enquiries@thomaswrighthouse.com
Years gone by...
Crook Modern School Football Team 1954-55. Image supplied by Brenda Flynn.
Edward Jones with members of his family. Can you spot the same 2 ladies in the image below? Image provided by Trevor Winter.
Tommy William Nixon on the arctic convoys during World War 2. Image supplied by Ann Rutter.
We URGENTLY need your old photos!! We are running low on old photos of places & people from years gone by and would love to keep the feature going. Can you help? Email any old photos to: ads@outandaboutmagazinenortheast.co.uk or drop into Ritchie Coatsworth Photography, 80 Hope Street Crook. 8
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
ROOFING & HANDYMAN SERVICES
ALL ASPECTS OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE NEW FLAT ROOFS IN RUBBER BOND, ROOF REPAIRS, RIDGES & CHIMNEYS POINTED, FASCIAS & GUTTERING SUPPLIED & FITTED, GUTTERS CLEANED OUT, PAINTING & DECORATING, EXTERIOR PAINTING 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE
0744 304 2814 / 01388 329 932 MOBILE (anytime)
AFTER 5pm
Thanks
THE WEAR VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS SUPPORTED THEM OVER THE LAST YEAR, I.E. OUTINGS, ATTENDING EVENTS, MEETINGS, ADVERTISING & MORE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.
Thank you from Wear Valley Community Action Group.
M.R. LOGS FIREWOOD SUPPLIER www.aucklandiron.co.uk Telephone: 07799 167 286 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 10
All our logs are dry hardwood ready to burn. Delivery is available 7 days a week at a time that suits you.
Tel: 07946 090 979
GROUNDS GARDENING SERVICES For all your gardening needs
DEBBIE GROUNDS
Telephone: 07900 911 704 Email: grounds.gardening@yahoo.com No job too small
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Great club deals including Steak club from £7.10 Chicken club from £6.60 Curry club from £6.60 Fish Friday from £6.25 And the recent introduction of our pizza menu. From just £5.49
All club meals include a drink.
Food served daily from 8am to 11pm Takeaway available upon request
The horse shoe inn Crook 01388 744980 Monthly events advertised in our newsletter Including one real ale event per month
andslip returnto this slip to Horse Shoe Inn Detach and returnDetach this The The Horse Shoe Inn This will giveThis you 20% off upto 4 meals and drinks will give you 20% off upto 4 meals and drinks
Community news Social Media Appeal Success Back in June this year Crook Police were successful with an online appeal they made after a local boy had his bike stolen for the 2nd time! Early this year in May JJ had his bike stolen from near his home address in Helmington Row and unfortunately no suspects were ever traced nor was the bike recovered. However a neighbour kindly donated a bike to JJ - free of change. Fast forward to June and Crook Police received a report of a theft of a bike, where JJ’s new bike had been taken from near his home in the Helmington Row area again. As part of the enquiries a witness appeal was posted on the Crook NPT Facebook page encouraging people to get in touch if they saw or heard anything about this bike. As a result of this awareness, a member of the public rang in to say they had found the bike in the nearby Crook Golf Club (thinking that maybe because of the appeal it made the bike too hot to handle).
Tow Law Remembrance Events On Remembrance Sunday this year Tow Law will be holding a number of events to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One. On top of the regular march to the cenotaph at 11am there will be a piper playing there from 6am who will then be heading to play by the war graves at the Dans Castle Cemetary. Later on that day, a special becon will be lit on the Millennium Green. The ceremony begins at 12
The bike was returned to JJ and he was a very happy lad. PCSO’s Nathan Moore and Rosie Findlay then security marked JJ’s bike as part of the “OPERATION SPOKE” initiative. This was done at his home address and the bike (as well as his brother’s) were security marked, as well as being provided with lights and bike locks as part of the initiative.
PCSO’s Rosie Findlay and Nathan Moore with JJ and his bike.
JJ’s Mam commented, “We were really happy that the bike was returned but think it’s appalling it was taken in the first place. I was very happy with the response from the Crook Police team. I don’t think we would have got it back without their support. The service that has been provided way exceeded my expectations. I wish I had got in touch when the first bike went missing!” 5pm and finishes at 7:15pm, there will be a band playing before the lights are lit at 6pm when there will be an address from the local vicar. This is a unique event and everyone is welcome. Let’s not forget all those hero’s that lost their lives during this terrible war.
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Weardale motor services is a family run business established in 1926 and are proud to operate a fleet of luxury coaches
After being restored to the
highest standard, our 1949 Leyland Double Decker seats 65 and is affectionately known as:
The London route master is a 1960 model fully restored, seats 64 and is known as: Both buses are stunning and make a wonderful addition to a very special day.
Our buses are decorated with cream flowers & ribbons, a colour accent can be added to match the theme of your wedding at no extra cost and the destination board can also be personalised with bride and grooms names
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PILATES SESSIONS B-INSPIRED B-ACTIVE
Monday: St. Cuthberts Centre, Church Hill, Crook: (BEGINNERS) 12 noon - 1pm & 6.15pm - 7.15pm Wednesday: Crook Cricket Club, Dawson Street: (BEGINNERS) 12pm - 1pm
SWEET SHOP 79 High Street, Willington
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. Find out more by contacting Russ on
07951or 782 657 email
russturner40@gmail.com
12pm - 1pm classes are ideal for mature clients & beginners. Bespokepilatesuk
All the classics from midget gems & wine gums to American Candy. Stock changes daily with 100’s of different sweets, so call in and find a treat. Having a party or get together, talk to us about party bags & favours all at great prices.
Halloween Special FREE lolly for any child in fancy dress on October 31st. (Strictly 1 lolly per customer)
Tel: 01388 249 834 www.bluestartreats.com M Blue Star Treats
OFSTED REGISTERED CHILDMINDER
Annmarie’s Childminding GARDEN FENCING Countryside • Farms • Houses • Gardens Knee Rails • Tree Guards WOOD GATES METAL GATES METAL FENCING Railings • Bow Top • Mesh • Wire Estate Security
Did you know that for working parents 30 hours funding can be split between a nursery setting and private childminder? 2 year old funded places available.
07445 289 457
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 14
15% OFF ANY COLOUR WITH THIS ADVERT Family ran business for over 30 years Monday gent’s night 5pm - 7pm all cuts £7 Late night Friday’s 19 Wolsingham Road, Tow Law | Telephone: 01388 730 930
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Early Bird Menu 2 FOR £13
Newly refurbished with a new menu coming soon Home cooked food & Sunday lunches Parties & Funerals catered for Live Music & Quiz Nights Warm fire & a warm welcome Open every day except Monday
WE STOCK A VARIETY OF
Cask Ales
NOW TAKING CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS FROM OUR NEW CHRISTMAS MENU
TO BOOK CALL 01388 764 511 The Green Billy Row, Billy Row Green, Billy Row, Crook, County Durham DL15 9TA
SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS
Fondant & Apron Strings Classic, Eclectic and Quirky!
WARD TIMBER LTD ROGERLEY SAWMILL FROSTERLEY COUNTY DURHAM DL13 2QE Call us on 01388 528362 or email sales@wardtimber.co.uk Collection only Market Place, Stanhope • Tel: 01388 527 268 Email: fondantandapronstrings@gmail.com
c Fondant-Apron-Strings d @CakesandMore wwwfondantandapronstrings.com Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
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Years gone by...
Looking across to St. Catherine’s Church, Crook from the bottom of Hope Street.
The banner for Crook Hole in the Wall Colliery on display at Durham Big Meeting. Image supplied by Brenda Flynn.
Looking up Hope Street, Crook.
David Bellamy, Gary Puckering and Jack Jobson enjoying a pin t in Billy Row Club. Sent in by David Be llamy.
Bankfoot Coke Works in Crook.
We URGENTLY need your old photos!! We are running low on old photos of places & people from years gone by and would love to keep the feature going. Can you help? Email any old photos to: ads@outandaboutmagazinenortheast.co.uk or drop into Ritchie Coatsworth Photography, 80 Hope Street Crook. 16
Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
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
Roddymoor air disaster Story by Aaron Cowen
On the 21st May 1942 at 17:55hrs, a Wellington Bomber came in low over St. Thomas Church, Stanley Crook. Eyewitnesses at Peases West saw the plane fly over Billy Row with smoke trailing behind it with one of its engines ablaze. It gradually lost height as it skimmed over Roddymoor before finally crashing in a ploughed field close to Emma Pit Pond. The pilot, Sergeant David Roberts appeared to have struggled with the plane as it passed over houses in Roddymoor. John Burn of Roddymoor Farm was ploughing in a field next to where it crashed and had been narrowly missed. (Contradictory reports from the Royal Observatory Corp, likely in Sunniside stated that it was flying at around 8000 feet with apparently nothing wrong, and the plane only had smoke trailing. The plane went down suddenly). Other eye witnesses suggest that the pilot had tried to avoid Crook and was attempting to land the plane when its aerial got caught on overhead power cables linked to Roddymoor Pit. This caused the plane to dip down more rapidly and suddenly than the pilot had intended. The port wing first hit the ground and the
fuselage cleaned out the fence before the aircraft finally came to rest, tilted on its starboard side. The farmer ran to the aircraft, where he saw one airman inside and another lying on the ground nearby. As he attempted to pull the airman out from the aircraft, there was an explosion and a fire resulting in bullets exploding all around as people were running towards the aircraft. The landing wheels and the gun turret, still with the gunner inside were thrown about 200 yards by the explosion. All the various services eventually arrived but the aircraft was burnt out, due to its difficult position. An hour later the geodetic construction was still smouldering and there was a strong smell of burning perspex in the air. The army then took over from the Home Guard until the site was cleared. The bodies of the airmen were laid out in the Farmer’s cow byre. Remnants of the crash were ploughed up for years afterwards including machine gun bullets. 13 year old (at the time) Lance Henderson peddled to the scene and never forgot what he saw. He said, “It affected me deeply”, A few years later, I was in the RAF myself”. Attempts to erect a memorial at the crash site failed, but instead the now defunct Wear Valley District Council commissioned a brass plaque that now hangs in the North East Aircraft Museum near the Nissan Factory in Washington. The aircraft
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was a Wellington Bomber Mk 1C DV841 of No. 25 Operations Training Unit, Group 92 at RAF Finningley and was on a day cross country exercise to the Isle of Man. They were returning to Finningley via York. The crew were: Flight Sergeant Rambler David Roberts 407833 of the Royal Australian Air Force. (Pilot) born in on 4th April 1921 in Mitcham, South Australia. He was son of William David and Agnes Lucy Roberts.
Rambler David Roberts
Sergeant Rae Groom 408144, of the Royal Australian Air Force, born on 13th July 1915 in Sulphur Creek, Tasmania, Australia. He was the son of Francis Arthur Groom and Mabel Ockerby. Flight Sergeant Angus “Gus” Frederick Roberts R/74926, of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born on 16th March 1919 in South Shields, son of Walter John Roberts and Jessie Anne McIntyre. The family had moved to Vancouver. He had a varied military career as he also served in the Sea Cadets as a Leading Seaman and Petty Officer in British Columbia between 1932 and 1936. He had joined the Air Force in the August 1940. Flight Sergeant Robert Melbourne Boates, R/76229 of the Royal Canadian Air Force an Air Gunner. He was the son of Isaac and Amy A. Boates of Kentville, Nova Scotia. Flight Sergeant William Neil Reeves, of the Royal Canadian Air Force. An Air Observer
born on 18th April 1915 in Winnipeg, Montoba, Canada. He was the son of Alfred Reeves and Ada Neil. He had previously served with the Queens Own Camerons. All of the crew were buried next to each other in the war graves section in West Cemetery, Darlington on 26th May 1942. There was some confusion over pilot Rambler David Roberts name. Frequently written as Ambler. This confusion caused his family to not hear of his death until the day after his funeral had taken place. The Mk IC Bomber was produced between 1940 and 1942 at Blackpool, Weybridge and Chester. 2685 of this type were produced and were one of the most popularly used bombers at the time until the Avro Lancaster took over in 1943. It is not known what caused the crash. However, this seems to have been a particularly new bomber with less than 15 hours run time. The engines had only been installed on 20th April 1942, a month prior to the crash. An investigation was recommended, however I have yet to see if this was carried out. I find it strange however that these men were all pupils, flying a plane that was so new and perhaps not even fully tested. Only 2 Wellington Bombers survive today. One is at the Brooklands Museum and the other is undergoing restoration at RAF Cosford. Neither unfortunately are in good condition.
William Neil Reeves
It is our intention to have a memorial erected in place (hopefully near the crash site) and a crowd-funding page will be set up in due course. More details will be given at a later date.
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. Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
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Weddings With distinction By Ritchie Coatsworth Photography
2019 & 2020 wedding dates are going fast, so get in touch today.
Call us on 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 or visit www.weddingswithdistinction.co.uk for up-to-date pricing. 80 Hope Street, Crook, County Durham DL15 9HT
CCCCC 5 star rated documentary style wedding photography “A big big thank you Ritchie for everything you did for us on our wedding day. You were so professional from start to finish and made us feel so relaxed. Our photographs are just fantastic, we are totally overwhelmed. You have captured our day perfectly and told the perfect love story. We would highly recommend you to all our family and friends.� Liam and Samantha Anderson
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
Come and see a fine selection of local Wedding venders including... Ritchie Coatsworth Photography, Weardale Vintage Buses, Lanchester Cars, Skytographer Video Productions, Flowers by Kirsty, Image Bridal, Photo Booth it Party & Play, Luke Palmer Music, Be Beautiful Makeup, Fondant & Apron Strings, Temple Spa Products, Darlington Chair Cover Hire plus Starlit Dancefloors & Magic Selfie Mirror.
Plumbing • Heating • Gas Service Engineers
Installation • Breakdown • Service • Annual Gas Boiler Service £40.00 • Powerflushing to let your heating system operate more efficiently from £200.00 • Installation of boilers with 10 years manufacturers warranty • Gas boiler and heating system diagnostics • Fast response on boiler breakdowns
t: 07706 817 589
e: heating.mac@gmail.com
75 Front Street, Sunniside, Crook, Co. Durham DL13 4LW
Good living for later living Tow Law, County Durham
The Travellers Rest Buskers Friday
Starting 19th October then every 3rd Friday of the month. The place to relax, unwind & enjoy
97 Wheatbottom, Crook DL15 9HB • Tel: 01388 762474
1 bedroom apartments available now
Stunning views
To find out more about our older people’s support service, call 0300 131 7985 or 07834 656 575 | www.homegroup.org.uk 22
Don’t forget 180816.Towlaw advert134x95mm.indd 1 to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.
17/08/2018 09:09
Newspapers, social media and television are all highlighting...
Funeral Price War At Hardy’s Funeral Service we can say that the cost of our ‘Traditional Funeral Service’ is approximately £250 less than that of our nearest competitor’s ‘Simple Funeral’ without compromising quality and our compassionate level of care. Willington 01388 747 747
Crook 01388 765 069
www.hardysfunerals.co.uk