Pupils Make Their Own Banner for Gala : Silver Tree Primary School – Ushaw Moor

The artwork combines modern images from Silver Tree Primary School in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, with pictures of the village’s past as a mining community – a miners’ lamp, a pick axe and a coal wagon.

Since 1871 scores of banners new and old – each one representing a colliery community – have been paraded through the streets of Durham as part of the city’s gala celebrations. This year’s event – on Saturday – will be no different.

In recent years, the number of banners has increased as schools and community groups have embarked on restoring them or making new ones.

Ushaw Moor’s pit closed in 1960 but there is still a fascination with the area’s mining past – a clue to why the gala remains one of the largest union organised gatherings in the country.

“We have been learning a lot about mining – it’s really interesting,” Millie told me, adding that she never misses the gala.

via Durham Miners’ Gala: Continuing success of the city’s celebration – BBC News.

Ushaw College buildings and grounds open to public from Saturday (From The Northern Echo)

A FORMER training college for priests for the Roman Catholic church is openings its doors to the public over coming months.

Ushaw College, a Roman Catholic seminary from inception in 1808 until the last trainees were consecrated in 2011, is considered a hidden gem, set in a large expanse countryside four miles west of Durham.

It has been linked with Durham University from 1968 and, since the last trainee priests left, its residential block has been used as overflow accommodation by both the university’s business school and more recently by Josephine Butler College.

Surrounded by 400-acres of picturesque grounds, between the villages of Ushaw Moor, Bearpark and Langley Park, the site includes Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings, including St Margaret’s Chapel and St Cuthbert’s Chapel, as well as an ornate exhibition hall and refectory.

All were built by English architect Augustus Pugin in the classic Gothic Renaissance style.

The charitable trust now running the former seminary was awarded a £3,000 grant towards the enhancement of its herbaceous borders in the formal gardens in front of the college.

Work also began restoring the 19th Century gardens last autumn with initially a 20-strong band of volunteers, swelled on occasions after a call for extra helping hands.

Roger Kelly, chair of the college’s concert and events group, which promotes use of the grounds and buildings, said it was the beginning of a bid to restore the site to its former glory.

“Already, since last September, a transformation has taken place.

“The overgrown borders have been weeded, saplings and briars cleared away, and the gift of 3,000 tulips has resulted in the central borders becoming a blaze of spring colour.”

Both the buildings and gardens are open to the public on Saturdays, from 12-noon to 5pm, with a gift shop and cafe running during those hours.

It includes entry to the chapels, refectory and exhibition hall, with admission free.

Over the next four weeks visitors will also have the chance to view the medieval chasuble, a vestment worn by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, during the recent funeral ceremonies for King Richard III in Leicester.

Tickets are available for a concert featuring the Durham-founded singing ensemble Renaissance in St Cuthbert’s College, at Ushaw, on Saturday, at 7.30pm.

They are available for £10 each from the box office at Durham’s Gala Theatre, but can also be bought on the door on the night.

via College buildings and grounds open to public from Saturday (From The Northern Echo).

Community garden arson strengthens Ushaw Moor volunteers’ resolve From The Northern Echo

 

VILLAGERS have pledged to continue their efforts to improve their community, despite an arson attack setback.

A shed at Ushaw Moor community garden was burnt to the ground in broad daylight on Sunday lunchtime (October 20).

The garden, off Durham Road, opened last summer – part of an effort by Ushaw Moor Action Group (Umag) to spruce up the village and boost community spirit which has also seen the development of The Hive, a community venue on Station Road, and The Hut, a space for group activities.

The garden features displays, paths, vegetable plots, a large potting shed and a “classroom”, which is soon to become a “Men’s Cree” – a space for men to meet in an alcohol-free environment, having won funding from the East Durham Trust.

It has enjoyed support from Groundwork North East and hosted Durham Agency Against Crime’s highly successful Haggrid project, aimed at inspiring young people to stay away from crime and give them a stake in their community.

Both neighbouring schools, Silver Tree Primary and St Joseph’s RCVA Primary, have been involved.

Umag leaders were devastated to learn the shed had been set alight, but said they had suffered vandalism previously, were thankful the fire had not spread to other buildings and were determined to continue their good work.

Secretary John Arthurs said: “It reinforces to us that we’ve got work to do.

“We’re not going to be knocked back by it.

“You do get annoyed and think these people must face the criminal justice system. Perhaps they could be given some community payback and come and work in the garden.”

Volunteer David Drape-Comym said: “It feels like one step forward, two steps back.

“But we’re trying to build the garden up, bit by bit.”

Umag is now considering whether to replace the shed.

The incident has been reported to Durham Police, which is treating it as arson.

A spokesman appealed for anyone who could help the police investigation to call the non-emergency number 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

via Community garden arson strengthens Ushaw Moor volunteers’ resolve From The Northern Echo.

Ushaw Moor pupils tackle school parking problem

CHILDREN in the North-East have issued their own tickets to prevent parents parking their cars outside their school.

Pupils from Silver Tree Primary school in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, have been working with police on the project to tackle the problem.

People are leaving their vehicles, blocking the road and making it unsafe for youngsters trying to cross.

PC Jeff Barksby said: “I arranged for the Year Four children to design their own ‘parking ticket’ in order to help with educating drivers, rather than prosecution.

“The idea is that myself and a small number of the school children will then issue the tickets as appropriate to motorists outside of the school to try and ensure a safer environment for children attending and leaving the school.”

Rhiannon Henry, eight, from Ushaw Moor, who designed the winning entry, was presented with £25 toy voucher at a special assembly at the school on Wednesday.

via Ushaw Moor pupils tackle school parking problem From The Northern Echo.

Outstanding Achievement Award – John Booth, of Ushaw Moor Action Group

 

A COMMUNITY stalwart has won a national crimefighting award.

 

John Booth, of Ushaw Moor Action Group (Umag), near Durham, won the Outstanding Achievement Award at a House of Commons ceremony organised by the Queen’s Diamond Volunteering Awards.

 

The accolade means Umag is officially recognised as the best Neighbourhood Watch scheme in England and Wales.

 

Umag is a combined Neighbourhood Watch and residents’ association, which runs The Hive community hub on Station Road.

 

Earlier this year, Mr Booth was given Durham County Council’s Chairman’s Medal.

 

Also at the ceremony, Jim Allen, chair of Darlington Neighbourhood Watch, accepted the runner-up award for best Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator.

 

Mr Allen has helped increase the percentage of homes in Darlington covered by Neighbourhood Watch from eight to 21.

via National honour for crimefighting John From The Northern Echo.

Man released after woman’s body found From The Northern Echo

Man released by police after woman’s body found in Ushaw Moor

 

2:19pm Friday 21st June 2013 in News

 

A MAN arrested following the discovery of a woman’s body has been released without charge.

 

Police have confirmed they are not treating the death of the woman in Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, as suspicious.

 

Officers were called to Skippers Meadow at around 11.30pm last night (Thursday, June 20) after reports that a woman’s body had been found.

 

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene where a 49-year-old woman, whose identity has not been released, was confirmed dead.

 

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “A 63-year-old man was arrested and has since been helping police with their enquires.

 

“He has now been released with no further action.

 

“Details have been passed to the coroner and an inquest will open in due course”.

via Man released after woman’s body found From The Northern Echo.

It’s one small step for Lindsay… From Ushaw Moor

 

IT’S one small step for Lindsay; one giant leap towards space flight.

North-East woman Lindsay Parkin has moved one step closer to being blasted into space.

The legal advisor. from Ushaw Moor, near Durham, is trying to win a place on the Lynx Space Mission, a private flight to the edge of space.

Miss Parkin has won through the first stage, beating off tens of thousands of rivals to finish in the top 200 in a public vote.

She must now tackle a National Challenge space camp in London, from which four people will be chosen to join a Global Space Camp in Florida, USA.

The top 22 from that will fly 103km above the earth with space tourism company Space XC, in a flight which could take place as early as next year.

via It’s one small step for Lindsay… From The Northern Echo.

Family of fatal crash call for law change (From Durham Times)

A FAMILY is calling for the law to be changed after the man who killed a much-loved grandfather walked free from court.

Brian Pattinson, 72, from Durham, died after a collision with 36-year-old Michael Bristow, of South View, Ushaw Moor, in County Durham.

Last month, he escaped jail after being given an 18-month community order with supervision and a 12-month driving ban at Consett Magistrates Court.

He had previously pleaded guilty to careless driving after telling police he was blinded by sunlight and suffered a “momentary lapse in concentration”.

Now Mr Pattinson’s relatives are campaigning for mandatory custodial punishments for motorists who cause fatal accidents on the roads.

Mr Pattinson’s daughter, Kelly, 41, a finance assistant at Durham University, said: “Families like ours are seeking a review of the law, to bring about tougher sentences for drivers who kill. My dad deserved so much better.

“If like us you are disgusted by the lack of justice in this case then can I urge you to sign the online petition.”

Mr Pattinson was travelling west in a Peugeot 205 on the B6302 in Broom Lane, Ushaw Moor, shortly before 9.15am on July 17 last year.

The driver of a Seat Leon, travelling east, had indicated to turn right and had stopped.

via Family of fatal crash call for law change (From Durham Times).

Police probe two Ushaw Moor arson attacks (From The Northern Echo)

POLICE say it is lucky no-one was hurt in two house fires.

Durham Police believes the fires, which both broke out in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, in the early hours of Monday, April 1, were both started deliberately.

The first was in the garden of an empty house on Aldridge Court. The outside of the house and its back door was damaged.

The second happened in a shed on Bay Court. Again, the outside of the house was damaged. Three children, including a four-month-old girl, were in the house at the time.

Detective Constable Malcolm Bell, of Durham CID, said: “I am appealing for witnesses in what could have been tragic circumstances.

“The fires appear to have been set for no reason.”

via Police probe two Ushaw Moor arson attacks (From The Northern Echo).

Anger after speed limit raised outside Ushaw Moor school (From The Northern Echo)

COUNCILLORS are fuming after a committee voted to increase the speed limit on approach to a busy secondary school.

Durham County Council’s highways committee today (Friday, March 8) voted to raise the limit on part of Whitehouse Lane, in Ushaw Moor, from 30mph to 40mph – despite the area being used by vehicles accessing Durham Community Business College (DCBC).

During the County Hall meeting, Councillor John Turnbull pleaded with his colleagues to preserve the current 30mph limit, saying the increase would be very dangerous and totally wrong.

But his calls for further discussions were refused.

Afterwards, Coun John Wilkinson, who also supported the 30mph limit, said: “I’m very disappointed that this committee has taken no notice of what people in Ushaw Moor want.”

The 30mph limit will come into force further down Whitehouse Lane into Ushaw Moor; but Coun Wilkinson said this was “the wrong place.”

The committee agreed the new regime should be reviewed in 12 months’ time; but Coun Wilkinson said this “won’t mean anything”.

Whitehouse Court, which links Whitehouse Lane to DCBC, will retain its 30mph limit.

The change was part of a wider shake-up which will see 40mph ‘buffer zones’ introduced at both ends of the main road through Bearpark to slow traffic in that village.

Bearpark’s 30mph zone will be shrunk as part of this change.

A spokesman for Durham University, which recently temporarily moved its Durham Business School to nearby Ushaw College, protested the latter part of this proposal.

But Brian Buckley, the council’s strategic highways manager, said the 30mph limit at the Ushaw College end of Bearpark ‘lacks credibility’.

Coun Mark Wilkes said he had been pushing for the Bearpark changes for some time, they made absolute sense and should have happened years ago.

The changes were approved by 11 votes to one, with only Coun Turnbull voting against.

As a result of the changes, there will be no 60mph zone between Bearpark and Durham City. The eastern 40mph buffer zone will extend all the way to Toll House Road, where another 30mph limit begins.

via Anger after speed limit raised outside Ushaw Moor school (From The Northern Echo).