Oxbridge & Grangefield - TS18

Priest has community spirit

2009-11-09T11:48:15Z

A POPULAR priest who has worked tirelessly for the Muslim community in Stockton has been nominated as a Gazette Community Champion.

Hafiz Mohammed Siddique Naeem, Imam at the Hartington Road Mosque has been nominated as a champion volunteer/charity worker.

Mr Naeem, pictured, has been Imam at the mosque for 25 years after arriving in Britain in 1984.

Dr Muhammad Shafiq, chairman of the mosque, who nominated him, said in that time he has worked "very hard to build good relations between communities of different faiths."

Mr Naeem has also been central in fundraising for the new £2.2m mosque being built on Bowesfield Road to replace the Hartington Road building.

Dr Shafiq, pictured, said: "The money for the new mosque is being raised by voluntary contributions and so far we have raised more than £1.2m.

"Hafiz Siddique Naeem has played a key role in the fundraising for this project. He has worked tirelessly day and night to collect the money for our new mosque.

Last week £26,000 was raised for the mosque fund through the sale of gold jewellery, mostly donated by Muslim women in the community.

In his time as Imam, Mr Naeem has led a major fundraising drive in Stockton for the Asian Earthquake Appeal as well as helping with the election of the borough's first Asian councillor, Councillor Mohammed Javed.

After initially learning English at Middlesbrough College's Kirby campus and taking a foundation course, he completed a Health and Human Sciences degree at the University of Durham Queen's campus, Stockton. His hard work and determination gained him an Adult Learners' Award in 2003.

Mr Naeem told the Gazette he "felt great" being nominated as a Gazette Community Champion adding he would like to continue being Imam in Stockton for "as long as possible".

Sarah Millican's call to aspiring female comedians

2009-11-09T11:00:21Z

A FAST-RISING female comic is encouraging other women to have a go at stand-up at Stockton's Catch 22 Comedy Club at Arc on Friday.

The club is holding a Beat the Gong night for new acts, and has a couple of spots still up for grabs - with a prize of £100 on offer.

Up to 12 new acts will try and survive on stage for five minutes without being voted off by an X-Factor type panel chosen from audience members on the night.

Geordie comic Sarah Millican, pictured, voted Best Newcomer at Edinburgh last year and with top TV show spots on the likes of Mock the Week behind her, said the chance of playing at Arc should be "grabbed with both hands."

Email comedy@tenfeettall.co.uk before Wednesday including names of three of your favourite comics. Doors open 7.30pm and tickets are £6.50. Call 01642 525199.

Help to raise cash

2009-11-07T11:32:19Z

THERE will be a coffee morning and autumn fair on Saturday, November 21, at All Saints' Church, Hartburn Village, from 10am to noon. Stalls including cakes, tombola and bric-a-brac will be on offer as well as refreshments. All proceeds will go to St Peter's Church, Yarm Road, Stockton and All Saints' Church.

Girl's plea to Gazette readers over missing Teddy

2009-11-07T11:29:14Z

A HEARTBROKEN little girl is hoping a Gazette reader has spotted her missing teddy bear.

Six-year-old Rebecca Howard was out shopping with her mum, Miriam McCann, sister Phoebe, four, six- month-old brother Zack, and Teddy.

Except Teddy went missing in one of the shops on Stockton's Portrack Lane, and hasn't been seen since.

"Rebecca is distraught - her and Teddy go everywhere together and have done since she was 18 months old.

"He's been to weddings, gone on holiday, they're inseparable.

"When she realised he was missing, she was hysterical for about half an hour," said Miriam, 28, of Harsley Road, Hartburn, Stockton.

The family had been to B&Q, Screwfix and then Asda - it was on leaving the supermarket that Rebecca, a pupil at Yarm's Levendale Primary, realised Teddy was missing.

Miriam contacted the Gazette after she made a solemn vow to her daughter to find
Teddy, a gift from a family friend.

She even made a compilation of pictures and put it on the website youtube in the hope that someone's memory might be jogged.

Rebecca can't watch the video, set to the track "You're My Best Friend" by Queen, because it upsets her.

Single mum Miriam, a carer, said: "Rebecca misses Teddy. He rides in the car with her to school in the morning and is in there when she gets picked up at night.

"The other day, she wished Father Christmas would see him when he's flying round and drop him off."

Have you seen Teddy? Call our newsdesk on 01642 234255.

Help find my missing friend

He is a light sandy colour with a dark cloth nose and eyes

He has very little stuffing left in his upper body, but the legs are ok

Teddy had a dark scrunchie round his neck the day he went missing

And he's about 25/30cm tall

Arrests: 2 held over air bombs

2009-11-07T11:10:08Z

TWO men have been arrested in connection with the theft of potentially deadly fireworks.

The dangerous air bombs were due to be part of the spectacular Bonfire showcase on Stockton's Riverside.

Detectives have arrested two local men aged 27 and 25 years. Both have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

A large quantity of the stolen fireworks have now been recovered, but there are still a number which have yet to be located - described by police as blue and brown in colour.

Police are again making an appeal for information about the fireworks. Detective Inspector Jon Green of Stockton CID said: "Although we have recovered a significant amount of the stolen fireworks, there remains a number which we are very keen to trace.

"The potential risk of someone coming to harm when handling these fireworks cannot be over emphasised and I would appeal to anyone who may know of their location, or have any information in connection to them, to contact us immediately."

Anyone who finds the devices is urged not to handle them but to remain at a safe distance and call the police on 01642 326326.

Stockton round up

2009-11-06T14:39:15Z

STOCKTON Under-14s were bidding to make a winning start to their Hartlepool Hospital Cup programme when they took on Hartlepool at Northfield School this morning.

Stockton Under-13s were also in action as they took on Hartlepool's younger representative side for a challenge match at the same venue earlier today.

Stockton Under-15s have a blank date this weekend ahead of their ESFA Inter Association Trophy third round clash against Middlesbrough at Northfield School on Thursday, November 12, kick off 5.30pm.

Stockton began their quest for national honours with a narrow 3-2 first round win against York before overcoming Derwentside 2-0 in round two a fortnight ago.

Middlesbrough received a first-round bye then won 2-1 against South Northumberland in the second round.

Meanwhile, at county level, Cleveland Under-16s were bidding to make a winning start to their Northern Counties Cup campaign when they took on Cumbria at Sheep Mount this morning.

Poppy parade road closures

2009-11-06T10:55:44Z

DRIVERS are being warned of road closures and diversions in Stockton for Sunday's Remembrance Day Parade.

The parade, held by the Royal British Legion, will walk from Yarm Lane and turn left onto the High Street, coming to a stop outside the war memorial. The first part of the parade starts at around 10.30am and finishes at 10.50am. Following a service in the parish church, the parade will then re-form at around midday and return via Church Road and the High Street back to Yarm Lane.

Crowds flock to firework display in Stockton

2009-11-06T10:53:41Z

THE sky over Teesside was anything but Black or White as a fantastic Michael Jackson-inspired firework display lit up the night.

And the Bonfire Night spectacular didn't stop 'til the 100,000-strong Stockton crowd had got enough.

The town's Riverside was the scene of the massive display which turned the sky into an explosion of light.

A string of the King of Pop's hits such as Billie Jean, Thriller and Man In The Mirror were belted out as the fireworks were blasted skywards.

Around 32,000 individual explosions, reaching 1,800ft in the air with 500 different effects brought gasps from across the crowd of all ages.

Best friends Barbara Flounders and Bridget Docherty came from Hartlepool for the display with their children.

Bridget said: "I used to come when I was younger, when I was about eight so we wanted to bring the kids now they're about that age.

"It's the best one around, it really is great and the kids are loving it."

Having fun with a sparkler was six-year-old Jack Hannah from Fairfield. His dad Rob said: "We come every year. He has been getting more and more excited as the day gets closer. He thinks it's great."

Billingham dad Gary Stockdale, 28, brought his youngsters Natasha Quinn, seven, and Matthew Stockdale, five.

Gary said: "We were here about three years ago but the kids are a bit older so we thought we would come down. They're enjoying it."

Asked what she enjoyed Natasha replied: "The rockets!" And why? "Because they go 'bang!'"

Other attractions included the pop group Girls Can't Catch who entertained the thousands before the main event

Councillor Mary Womphrey, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture and Leisure, said: "Stockton's fireworks are renowned for being absolutely fantastic and that's why families return year after year to witness our superb display."

Get your teeth into new clinic

2009-11-06T10:35:25Z

A NEW dental practice will officially open in Stockton today november 6providing NHS places for up to 4,000 patients.

About 500 people have already registered with the Watch Dental Clinic in Skinner Street, Stockton.

Dentist Neil Kerruish, who has opened the practice with partners Samy Solaiman and Karl Nightingale, said they offer a full range of NHS treatment and evening appointments.

"We are open for emergency and registered patients in the NHS Stockton area," he said.

"It's a brilliant new dental surgery which can be accessed by anyone who would like quality NHS treatment."

To register at Watch Dental Clinic phone 01642 603799.

Warning over air bombs

2009-11-06T10:33:00Z

FIREWORKS stolen ahead of Stockton's major display could kill if in the wrong hands, it was warned today.

The air bombs were due to be part of the spectacular showcase on the town's Riverside last night.

Today Detective Chief Inspector Derek Carter, of Cleveland Police, said: "We cannot understate the risk to anyone tampering with or trying to ignite these air bombs. They are highly dangerous to anyone nearby.

"These are not the type of fireworks readily available in local shops. If not deployed by trained people in a controlled environment, these devices can, in some circumstances, kill.

"No attempt should be made to do this or throw them on a fire."

The fireworks contain an explosive charge and detonate between 100-200m (110-220 yards). Their short fuses are detonated electronically and remotely. Five crates of the fireworks were stolen yesterday. Two were later recovered from bushes in Princess Avenue, Stockton, but three remain missing.

Elsewhere the emergency services had a relatively quiet bonfire night.

A spokesperson from Cleveland Fire Brigade control said: "We were quiet compared with other years. We had 184 calls altogether across the Cleveland area."

Watch manager Mick Pennick said crews at Stockton fire station attended about 25 incidents, none of which had been serious.

He said: "There were no problems at all. All the bonfires that I attended, the attitude of the children and adults present was excellent. There was no carry-on and they also had a good attitude towards the firemen.

Crews attended several unorganised bonfires to check on their safety, only putting them out if they posed a hazard.

He added: "It's only one night and we're not going to spoil their fun."

Redcar fire station attended around 10 incidents. Crew manager Garrycorrect Walker said: "A lot of them were bonfires. I think it was slightly quieter than usual in our area."

Billingham crew manager David Kelly said: We attended 12 incidents in Billingham, which is average for bonfire night. All were normal bonfires and rubbish fires, nothing serious."

Crews across North Yorkshire were busy attending incidents including the early ignition of a bonfire in Whitby at 9.33pm on Wednesday.

Win tickets to two of the best events this Christmas

2009-11-05T16:36:33Z

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.

Blast off...this is it!

2009-11-05T11:24:30Z

THE musical talents of Michael Jackson will be ringing out at the annual fireworks extravaganza on Stockton Riverside tonight.

The free display, featuring 32,000 individual explosions reaching 1,800 feet into the air, will light up the skies from 7.30pm.

Girl band Girls Can't Catch take to the Riverside stage at 7pm. Real Radio presenters Beck and Kelly will be there from 6pm and there will be a range of refreshments.

Riverside Road and the North Shore gyratory system will be closed from 6pm-10pm. The Princess of Wales Bridge was to be closed all day until 10pm while the Infinity and Millennium footbridges will be shut at 7.20pm and re-opened as soon as possible after the fireworks finish. Bishop Street footbridge will be closed from 6pm.

Pop in for a coffee

2009-11-05T11:02:58Z

A COFFEE morning and autumn fair will take place on Saturday, November 21, at All Saints' Church, Hartburn Village, from 10am until midday.

Comedy set to go with a gong

2009-11-04T11:00:34Z

THE audience at a popular Teesside comedy venue is being urged to vote with their laughs at a hilarious X Factor-style show with a difference.

Beat the Gong at The Arc, Stockton, will see 12 wannabe comedians aiming to keep audience judges amused for a full five minutes on Friday, November 13, from 8.15pm. If you like them, roar your approval or the gong sounds. Think X Factor without the glam, but with added hilarity from Gongmeister and MC Matt Reed and a support act. If you fancy yourself as a gong-beating stand-up contact the Box Office on 01642 525199, where you can also book tickets, priced at £6.50.

First Class: Mill Lane Primary School, Stockton

2009-11-03T14:45:46Z

Mill Lane Primary School reception class in Stockton pictured with teaching assistant Rashida Hussain, teacher Jenny Scaife and teaching assistant Marie Challenger.

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