10 years ago
SAFE AND SOUND: A week after a brush with death on the football field, a determined Redesdale teenager aimed to be back on the pitch before the end of the season. Adam Stephen, then 17 years old, was technically dead for seven minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest in his last game. But surgery at Newcastle Freeman’s Hospital meant the Haydon Bridge High School sixth former from Otterburn meant he could resume his sporting career with no ill effects. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator was fitted to his heart which was to give off shocks should anything similar ever happen again.
FITNESS COSTS: Exercise enthusiasts in Tynedale were heavily subsidising keep-fit fans across the rest of Northumberland. People using Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham and Prudhoe’s Waterworld were shelling out more than £100 per year more than other centres. Active Leisure said it was working hard to level out charges across the county, with a new price structure planned for introduction in April.
Prince Harry and Polar adventurer Conrad Dickinson (Image: NQ)
RED ALERT: Prince Harry met Polar adventurer Conrad Dickinson during his visit to see the work of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which was helping red squirrels in Tynedale.
25 years ago
DRUGS FEARS: Drinking, smoking and drug-taking among young people in Tynedale was causing concern – particularly the wide availability of drugs. The worrying trend was revealed by a school survey carried out by Northumberland Health Authority to find out how young people’s health could be improved. Almost 5,000 pupils aged 10 and 14 participated county-wide. More 14-year-olds in Tynedale than anywhere else in Northumberland said they had been offered drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy.
POWER CUTS: For the third year running, the Christmas period in Tynedale was overshadowed by gale-force winds and power cuts. Villagers in Slaley and surrounding areas were without power and were contemplating further action against Northern Electric, which they said failed to provide an essential service.
FLU SEASON: Out-of-hours health services in Tynedale were inundated with calls over Christmas from people suffering from what some doctors deemed a flu epidemic. Young and old people were hit with the illness which lasted for up to a week.
50 years ago
EXCESS ALCOHOL: New Year revellers were blamed for smashing the windows of three Hexham shops – Denton’s newsagents, Nichol’s bakery and Ladbroke’s bookmakers.
GOING UP: Tynedale Council was debating increasing the price of a season ticket for its car parks to £5.48 per year for district residents, and £8.64 for non-locals.
75 years ago
SAD SANTA: Shortly before he was about to distribute gifts to children at Princes Cinema in Corbridge, Santa Claus’s cloak and whiskers caught fire and he was burnt on his face and hands.
MEAN-SPIRITED: A request to Prudhoe Urban Council for additional street lighting to be provided in Cross Bank, West Wylam and the British Legion Houses at Prudhoe and West Mickley was turned down as it was considered too extravagant by the council.
100 years ago
FANCY DRESS: The fancy dress carnival and display of dancing at Queen’s Hall on Boxing Day was a success with 350 children and adults participating. It included Indian, Hungarian and Russian ballet dancing.
ABBEY BELLS: After a silence of two years, Hexham Abbey bells rang out again following the recasting of the tenor bell. A short peal was rung for evensong and a muffled peal to greet the New Year.
UNCLE FRED: The Hexham Courant’s children’s corner, under the benevolent direction of Uncle Fred, was restored to the paper after a decade-long absence.
125 years ago
NEW CHAPEL: Trustees and friends of the Primitive Methodists in Hexham decided to build a new chapel, and bought 1,000 square yards of land at the old auction mart for it.
STORE SUCCESS: At the annual meeting of the Fourstones and Newbrough Industrial and Provident Society, it was reported that the society had had a good year, with 305 members and capital nearly stood at £2,500.
150 years ago
GOOD SHOW: The third annual exhibition of poultry, pigeons, cage birds, rabbits and cats held at Hexham Town Hall and Corn Exchange attracted over 1,000 entries. The Brahma Pootras and Cochins were particularly commendable.
PAY DAY: The poor people of West Woodburn were each given the sum of 5s 6d, the proceeds of the Christmas Day offertory at the parish church and a concert at the vicarage.
NEW JOBS: Rather than setting the old men at the workhouse to work on stone-breaking or oakum picking, the Hexham Board of Guardians decided splitting firewood would be more pleasant for them.