Vera author Ann Cleeves to give a talk at Crime Story event

Vera author Ann Cleeves has written a short story scenario as part of a two-day crime writing festival in Newcastle this weekend.

New Writing North and Northumbria University will launch the new Crime Story festival this weekend at the university.

Ann’s crime scenario will be based around a young man found dead in a locked room, a grieving foster mother, a landlord who keeps himself to himself and the picture of a girl.

The writer will also give a talk with Vera screenwriter Gaby Chiappe.

A full list of speakers and workshops is available online: www.crimestory.co.uk/speakers .
 

Brass band festival returns

Music lovers can look forward to the sounds of trumpets and trombones at South Shields seafront this summer as the brass band series gets under way this weekend.

Brass bands will be returning to the stage at the amphitheatre at Sandhaven, on Sunday afternoons throughout June, July and August.

Young volunteers give back to society

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) participants across the North East have been giving back to their communities through voluntary work.

In a research sample of over 2,000 DofE participants in the North East aged 14 – 24, popular activities included assisting at after-school clubs, volunteering in charity shops, sports leadership, and helping people in need such as the elderly or homeless.

The North East also has the largest percentage of young people volunteering for the environment compared to the rest of the UK, with 3% committing to activities such as litter picking, campaigning on environmental issues and helping out at a nature reserve.

Charity chief on Wall trek

A charity chief is asking people on Tyneside to follow in his footsteps and join him in a two-day trek along Hadrian’s Wall

Paul Farthing, who is fundraising director at the NSPCC, hopes to complete the gruelling walk to raise vital funds for the children’s charity.

Paul, 47, will take on the Hadrian’s Wall Challenge in September, walking 84 miles and wants others to sign up to complete 26 miles of the walk with him.

He said: “This is a tough but rewarding event with those taking part able to complete the challenge whilst taking in the history and beauty surrounding Hadrian’s Wall.

“This will be my first fundraising event I have taken part in for the NSPCC. I decided to take it on as I know how important the charity’s work is and I’m looking forward to the sense of achievement on finishing.”

Six hurt in cop car crash

Four people were taken to hospital after a police car collided with the car they were in.

It happened at just before 6.25pm on Wednesday, on the A1 near Stannington, Northumberland. The Northumbria Police vehicle collided with a Nissan Qashqai.

Four people, who had been in the Qashqai were taken to hospital with minor injuries while the driver and passenger of the police car also suffered minor injuries.

One lane of the A1 was closed for around an hour to allow for the vehicles to be recovered. The cause is being investigated.

Hospital aims to help the elderly

The QE hospital in Gateshead is investing more than £35,000 in a new pilot scheme that will create a more friendly environment for people with dementia in hospital wards.

The new scheme will include a wide range of new measures including adapted lighting, new furniture, better signage and coloured cutlery to make a real difference for patients.

The changes are being trialled on Ward 23 and are part of a wider agenda that the hospital is currently looking at for dementia patients.

Gillian MacArthur, director of nursing, midwifery and quality, said: “Our patients tell us that what they need from us is kindness, compassion, a smile, understanding and most importantly to be their voice when they are unable to speak. At QE Gateshead we’re tackling this in a number of ways.”

Volunteering day at library

Opportunities for volunteers in Washington will be outlined at an open day next week.

Washington Library is hosting the event between 11am and 4pm on Wednesday.

The event is part of National Volunteers Month and opportunities in Washington include work with Sunderland Libraries, AgeUK, Sunderland Volunteer Centre, Gentoo, Rainbow Family Centre. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Washington Riding Centre and Washington MIND.

It is also helping celebrate the 30th anniversary of National Volunteer month and promote events and activities planned across the city throughout June.

Coun Cecilia Gofton, from Sunderland Council, said: “There is huge range of community based groups and organisations across Sunderland that people of all ages can get involved with.”

Donation helps cathedral

A generous donation has helped Durham Cathedral secure one of the few remaining fragments of the Venerable Bede’s work.

A pristine copy of Summa de Casibus Conscientiae (Cases of Conscience) printed in Strasbourg in 1474, has been purchased by the cathedral.

The confessional work by Franciscan canon lawyer and theologian Astesanus of Asti was one of the earliest printed books in Europe and happens to contain two 9th Century fragments of a German copy of the Venerable Bede’s In librum Genesim.

The precious fragments are part of Bede’s commentary on Genesis – the first book of the Bible - and will now return to the famous scholar’s native North East thanks to an anonymous donation which helped to buy the book for £35,000 at a Sotheby’s in London.

Gabriel Sewell, head of collections at the cathedral, said the book is an important addition to the cathedral library and will be available to researchers. He said: “We look forward to making the book available to researchers and visitors in the future.”

The 40cm-long book itself remains in its 15th Century binding.

Happy Mondays playing at North East music festival

Nineties favourites Happy Mondays have been added to the bill at a North East music festival.

The band will play at the Split Festival, which takes place in Sunderland on August 9 and 10. Dizzee Rascal and Maximo Park have already been announced as headliners at the festival.

Resurfaced road to be dug up

A road in the heart of a Northumberland village is to be dug up for gas works, less than two months after being resurfaced.

The road in the middle of Rothbury is to be uplifted by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) to connect a customer.

News of the work comes less than two months after the road was resurfaced by Northumberland County Council as part of a £250,000 programme in the village.

The work is set to result in a road closure in the centre of Rothbury at the height of summer.

A councillor at Rothbury last night voiced anger over the fact the road is to be dug up again so soon after being resurfaced at taxpayers’ expense. He also hit out over the planned road closure falling during the busiest months of the year for the village.

Blyth shop staff run for charity

Shop staff have jogged their way to raising thousands for charity.

Workers at the Wilko store on Bowes Street in Blyth have collected £2,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support, by running a half marathon every day since May 1.

Team members will be jogging on an in-store treadmill everyday and are aiming to cover 406 miles and raise £3,000 before the end of the month.

The store is asking local customers to cheer staff on and make a small donation.

Manager Rob Donachie said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has donated at the store, they’ve been super supportive and we’re lucky to have such loyal customers. I’m really proud of the team here for putting in the effort to run each day, this is a fantastic activity to kick off our year with Macmillan Cancer Support and I’m certain we can hit that £3,000 target/”

A family owned firm after more than 80 years of trading, JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilko store on Charnwood Street, Leicester, in 1930. It now has 374 stores across the UK.

Wilko bosses say the company is committed to Britain’s high streets and prides itself on being a community focused retailer, actively supporting local charities and community groups.
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