Ingleby Barwick & Thornaby - TS17

School plans given the go-ahead

2009-11-09T11:17:00Z

THE green light has been given for the closure of three Stockton schools to be replaced with new academies.

Stockton's £180m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme proposes Blakeston School, pictured below, Norton School and Thornaby Community School should be replaced with two new academies, one in North Stockton and one in Thornaby.

Last week, Stockton Council's Cabinet agreed to issue statutory public notices proposing the closures.

As reported, the lead sponsor of the academy in North Stockton would be NHS Stockton-on-Tees. This academy would specialise in science, with a strong health and wellbeing theme.

The lead sponsor of the academy in Thornaby would be Teesside University and would specialise in business and enterprise with a strong digital creativity theme.

Both academies would also be co-sponsored by a consortium of Stockton Riverside College, Stockton Sixth Form College and Stockton Council.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, the council's Cabinet member for children and young people, pictured, said:

"The academies, if given final approval by the Secretary of State, will make a real positive difference to the lives of our young people, raising their aspirations and improving their employability."

The decision to issue the statutory public notices follows a two-month consultation where pupils, parents, staff, governors and the public were invited to express their views about the idea of closing the three schools.

There will now be a further six weeks in which the public has a second opportunity to submit written representations.

The final decision about whether to establish the academies will be made by the Secretary of State and the lead sponsors in January 2010.

If the proposals are progressed the Academy in Thornaby would open in the existing Thornaby Community School, pictured above, building in September 2010 until a new building is built on the same site.

The academy in North Stockton would open in the existing Blakeston School, pictured below, and Norton School buildings in January 2011 before moving to a new building created through BSF on a site off Norton Road. The new buildings for both academies are likely to be ready be September 2013.

The statutory public notices relating to the closures will be published on November 14 and copies will be available to download at www.stockton.gov.uk/bsf.

Warning on drugs

2009-11-07T11:46:45Z

A RESPECTABLE woman who supplied cannabis "to friends and not for gain" has been given a prison sentence.

Judge Peter Bowers suspended Ann Colfer's six-month jail term for 18 months in view of the "limited supply".

But he warned her that even smoking cannabis - as she has for about 16 years - could put her behind bars.

"If you need an incentive to stop this, this is your incentive," he told her.

Police found £562 of the drug - 79.6g cannabis resin, 32.9g cannabis bush - at various places at Colfer's home.

Officers also found £1,180 cash and a grinder at the home on Holbeck Walk, Thornaby, on February 20, said prosecutor Jolyon Perks.

Colfer, 32, said she bought the drugs and hid them around the house the day before. She said the cash was savings.

She admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply. She had no previous convictions.

Peter Wishlade, defending, said Colfer always worked since obtaining 10 GCSEs.

He told Teesside Crown Court: "She's an entirely responsible member of society except in so much as she does smoke cannabis. She uses it to wind down after a day's work, something a lot of people do.

"She's not blasé about it. She's making efforts to rid herself of the need to smoke cannabis. It's now perhaps two or three times a week."

She was also ordered to pay £400 costs.

The judge added: "It's an expensive lesson, but it's an expensive habit.

"You're going to have to have to learn, in spite of what you think, dealing in cannabis is a matter that we will take seriously."

Help to raise funds

2009-11-07T11:28:03Z

ST PAUL'S Church, Cambridge Road, Thornaby, will hold a coffee morning on Thursday at 10.15am. There will be refreshments and a variety of stalls. All proceeds will go to church funds.

Special guest speaker to talk

2009-11-07T11:26:47Z

SOROPTIMIST International of Stockton has invited as guest speaker, Soroptimist Kate Moore MBE, to talk about her work for the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC).

The CMC is an international network committed to protecting civilians from the deadly effects of cluster munitions. The free talk, on November 26, at Durham University, Queens Campus, Ebsworth Building, in room D004, will be held from 7pm-9pm. Refreshments will be served for which donations are welcomed.

8-year fugitive spared prison

2009-11-07T11:14:05Z

A FORMER fugitive locked up after setting himself up as a £1m businessman during his eight years on the run has been given back his freedom.

Darren Martin Smith was brought to justice eight years after he failed to turn up to court for sentence.

Drugs were found at the home of Billingham-born "fall guy". He admitted conspiring to supply drugs between March and May 2000.

He said men who held him responsible for the loss of the drugs kidnapped him for a night and demanded money.

Smith, formerly of Roseberry View, Thornaby, said he fled to Stockton and Norton before leaving Teesside altogether.

He settled elsewhere in the UK with his partner and two children and became the managing director of a successful business with a turnover of about £1m per annum.

Police tracked him down after Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Peter Fox QC asked about progress of the warrant out for Smith's arrest.

Now 30, he admitted breaching his bail and was remanded in custody. This week at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Peter Armstrong gave Smith an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

First Class: Harewood Primary School, Thornaby

2009-11-06T13:41:19Z

Harewood Primary School's reception pupils are pictured with staff members Michelle Laing, Ros Woodruff and Francesca Wallace.

To purchase your childs school photograph call 01642 234224 or you can log on to Evening Gazette Photosales

First Class: St Francis of Assisi Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School, Ingleby Barwick

2009-11-06T13:38:20Z

St Francis of Assisi's youngest pupils look great in their new uniforms beside staff members Angela Henderson and Marie Watson.

To purchase your childs school photograph call 01642 234224 or you can log on to Evening Gazette Photosales

Win tickets to two of the best events this Christmas

2009-11-05T16:33:20Z

VisitTeesvalley is offering you the chance to win tickets to the Living North Christmas Fair and this year's must see pantomime, Aladdin at the Darlington Civic.

The Living Christmas Fair takes place at Wynyard Hall from the 13th to 15th November and visitTeesvalley has ten pairs of tickets up for grabs.

Alternatively, if you're a fan of the pantomime season then visitTeesvalley is giving you the chance to win a family ticket to the enchanting adventure of Aladdin at the Darlington Civic Theatre, which is running from the 5th December to 17th January.

For more on how to enter either competition then visit www.visitteesvalley.co.uk

Bag a bargain

2009-11-05T11:32:00Z

A BAZAAR will be held at St Luke's Church, Acklam Road, Thornaby, on Saturday from 11am. Bric-a-brac, clothes, Christmas presents will be on sale on stalls. There will also be a tombola.

Daring to bare

2009-11-05T11:31:11Z

FOUR hospital workers are set to bare all in a Full Monty fundraiser at Thornaby Ex-Servicemen's Club tomorrow from 7pm. Cash raised will go to the breast cancer unit at the University Hospital of North Tees through a fund set up by Thornaby councillor Allison Trainer and Zoe's Place hospice. Tickets are sold out but anyone who want to donate should call Debbie Rudd on 01642 641087.

Crafty kids make most of holiday

2009-11-05T11:19:06Z

A HOST of fun activities kept half-term youngsters entertained at a Thornaby Sure Start centre.

Activities at the Riverbank Children's Centre, on Gilmour Street, ranged from making Halloween masks and bird boxes to a dance workshop, followed by a 'chill-out' sing-along nursery rhyme time.

Julie Place, customer care coordinator at the centre, said: "We also had a very noisy but enjoyable music workshop for the youngsters!

"Every day we had between 30 and 40 children taking part and they had a great time."

Julie said the idea behind the half-term activity week was to raise the profile of the centre.

"We wanted to spread the word an as well as providing a bit of fun for the people who already come here," she said.

Thornaby care home residents take a peek into their past

2009-11-05T10:49:38Z

RESIDENTS at a Teesside care home got all nostalgic by sharing their memories and prized possessions from days gone by.

Poplars Care Home in Thornaby could have been mistaken for a museum as elderly residents showed off their photos, clothing, handbags, hats, and kitchenware spanning the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

Most impressive of all was a 100-year-old Christening gown once worn by 88-year-old resident John Johnson which had been passed down through the generations and kept in pristine condition.

Tony Holmes, 76, brought in the beautiful handmade wedding dress that his 75-year-old wife Laura, a resident at the home, wore on their big day at St Peter's church, Stockton in February 1960.

Tony who lives on Harlow Crescent in Thornaby visits Poplars every day to see Laura who has been in the home for eight years.

He said: "I think it's marvellous. We've had a lovely afternoon and it's been something different."

The couple have three grandchildren including 17-year-old Emma, pictured, who came along to enjoy the day and learn more about her grandparents' lives.

Some of the items on show were on loan from the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough and the reminiscence area of Thornaby Library.

Music also plays a big part in the home with residents raising the roof with a rousing reminiscent sing along.

Organiser Brenda Smith, activities co-ordinator at the home, said: "It's all about bringing the residents together to reawaken their memories and help them remember happy days. It's amazing what people have found."

Drug dealer in car chase is put back behind bars

2009-11-05T10:45:59Z

A CONVICTED drug dealer who led police on a car chase days after his release from custody is behind bars again.

Craig Roddam was driving a Vauxhall Cavalier seen by police on Thornaby Road, Thornaby at 1.50am on July 11.

"There had been incidents with this vehicle the previous day," said prosecutor Gale Gilchrist.

Roddam, 20, made off at speeds up to 80mph in a 40mph zone when officers tried to stop the car, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

He went through a red light at the junction with the A174, mounted a kerb on Vulcan Way and all five occupants jumped out of the moving vehicle. The Cavalier then smashed into a concrete bollard, and stopped against a kerb.

Roddam, 20, was chased on foot and was soon found hiding. He said he bought the car for £200 the day before and when asked why he drove the way he did, he replied: "Well, there's a traffic car behind me with blue lights on and I'm banned. Why do you think?"

The previous day he was caught driving while disqualified, and 12 days earlier he was released from a young offenders' institution. He had been locked up for 30 months in May last year.

He was arrested in a series of drug raids in October 2007. He admitted conspiring to supply Class A drugs after making at least £300 a week street-dealing crack cocaine.

This time Roddam, of Western Close, Stockton, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Sean Grainger, defending, said Roddam was candid to police after a foolish crime committed out of boredom lasting just 45 seconds.

Judge Peter Armstrong locked Roddam up for eight months and banned him from driving for one year.

Bus link launched to retail complex

2009-11-05T10:27:12Z

A NEW bus service linking Middlesbrough to the Teesside Park shopping complex is being launched.

Tees Valley Stagecarriage will run a half-hourly service from Middlesbrough Bus Station to the retail and leisure park starting on Saturday, November 14.

Bus company operations manager Wayne Brown said: "This service, supported by the council, will provide a vital link between Middlesbrough and Teesside Park.

For details call 01642 781150.

Learn a lesson from the past

2009-11-03T10:49:49Z

PREHISTORIC pottery and recent archaeological finds are topics for discussion at a day school in Thornaby on Saturday.

'Lost and Found - Finds and the Stories They Tell' by Tees Archaeology will be held in the Conference Centre in the Ebsworth Building at the University of Durham's Teesdale campus from 10am to 5pm. Tickets are £10 and £7 and must be booked in advance. Call Ian Jones on 01429 523455 or email ian.jones@hartlepool.gov.uk