Darlington Monthly Oct 2022

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

Hello!

Welcome to October’s edition of Darlington Monthly.

It’s officially autumn, and therefore the season of spooks, scares and Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Of course, it’s also time for a new edition of our magazine, and you can trust that we’ve found all of the best Halloween activities in Darlington. Head on to page 38 to check them all out! If you’re looking for something to do in the run up to half term, make sure you check out our film review on page 36.

Naturally, we want to tell you about all of the amazing things that have happened in Darlington recently, and you can find those stories on page 8 and page 30, where you’ll see just how much our town is expanding.

Next month, we’ll be looking ahead to Christmas, then before we know it, it will be 2023. Where has the time gone? Have an amazing October, and we’ll meet again soon!

Yorkshire Loft Ladders are the proud sponsor of this month’s Darlington Monthly.

If you’re looking to make improvements to your loft this month, get in touch with Yorkshire Loft Ladders. With the renowned local firm’s areas of expertise including loft hatches, ladders, boarding, insulation and lighting, you can depend on them to provide the complete service.

Call 0800 612 8359 now, or visit www.yorkshireloftladders. co.uk, for more details and to request a highly competitive quote.

YORKSHIRE LOFT LADDERS

Competitions

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners, all winners have been notified. Winners are selected at random. The provider will only receive the details of winning entries in order to fulfil completion of the prize.

Disclaimer...

Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All advertisements are accepted in good faith as to their veracity and we are not responsible for views expressed by contributors or other sources. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers or Studio Managers consent. By providing your email address and entering our competitions you agree to receive email communications from the competition sponsor/prize provider.

Yorkshire proudly

Cleveland Bridge - what will become of the old site?

The Cleveland Bridge site in Darlington has a new owner - and he’s got big plans!

The Adhan Group acquired the site when it closed, planning to start an “extensive refurbishment”, and split the 30 acre site into smaller units, creating an industrial park for business.

Under New Management

However, the site was swiftly sold on to Mohammed Asjad, who has a number of business interests in the North West. In October 2021, he became the Managing Director of Darlington Investments, set up to work with the Cleveland Bridge administrators and now the owner of the site.

While the Adhan Group’s plan to divide the site made sense due to its size, Mr Asjad is looking to close in on a single buyer, who will be interested in using the whole 395,000 sq ft.

Currently, a tenant is in talks with Mr Asjad. The company is a large local employer, though Mohammed has pointed out that the team are open to the idea of allowing some smaller industrial users to use the space as well.

Right now, the larger company has expressed interest in taking up two-thirds of the site, though Mr Asjad is encouraging the employer to take on the entire space. He is working closely with Darlington Borough Council to get the best possible outcome.

No matter which way the deal goes, Mr Asjad’s goal is to bring as much employment to Darlington as possible.

Collaborating With The Council

Darlington Borough Council have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the site has the brightest and best future possible, bringing as many opportunities to Darlington as it can.

It seems like splitting the site up to create a new business park is the most likely outcome, given the economic pressures on both Adhan Group and Darlington Investments, and both parties believe 20 tenants would be possible.

The impact of Cleveland Bridge and the large-scale employment brought to Darlington may not return, but it stands to remain a place where careers can be built and entrepreneurs can start businesses that will be underpinned in Darlington’s economy for generations.

Northallerton Glass - Working hard to stand out from the crowd!

Glass is being used more and more in every aspect of our lives. Any time we look through a window or check ourselves in a mirror it’s there.

New innovative and decorative applications for glass are always being found. From kitchen splashbacks to bathroom enclosures. Furniture and staircases through to architectural walk on glass, the uses are endless and Northallerton Glass can supply them all.

This month we are focusing on glass balustrades and windbreaks. We provide many glass panels to both homeowners and tradesmen alike for internal and external balustrade work.

Renovate a tired staircase by removing the spindles and adding glass between the newel posts. Keeping the existing posts and handrail means that glass can be fitted with minimal work to create effective results. Our digital templating service is available to both the trade and public saving the need to make wooden templates or worry over providing accurate measurements.

Frame-less balustrades are very popular. We have a couple of options available that are suitable for any configuration and are very simple to install. Alternatively the traditional post and handrail type can be used. All are designed to meet current building regulations.

Why not add some decorative sandblasting to your balustrade project? We specialise in surface etching and multi layer glass carving.These breathtaking designs work especially well for illuminated balustrade systems.

The creative options are endless. Speak to our design team today to find out more.

If you need your glass dropping off, no problem. We deliver to the Darlington area once a week.

Are you ready for a new you?

The reason that so many ‘ordinary’ diets fail is that they don’t tackle the reasons behind why people overeat in the first place. They suggest the answers are in the food and focus on calories and complex food plans. LighterLife offers a weight management plan to suit your weight loss needs that doesn’t just include meal replacement products but access to our unique behaviour change programme.

With LighterLife you can lose a stone a month, every month!

LighterLife combines a choice of plans for fast weight loss and groups to help you understand far more about your relationship with both you – and the food. We have a range of plans

depending on how quickly you want to lose weight, all leading to personalised Management plans with will help you achieve a healthy and balanced way of eating for life with healthy recipes and ongoing group support.

Tel: 07852 983866

Hello, I’m Chloe, your personal Mentor. You too can experience life-changing weight loss! With free weekly meetings and Mentor support, I’ll be there to provide encouragement and support every step of the way. Call me now on 07852 983 866 or email chloe.langsdale@lighterlifementor.com Kat lost 9 stone and has kept it off since 2018.

Darlington businessman to trek to Peru, to raise money for charity

A businessman from Darlington is heading to Peru, to undertake a charity trek to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu.

Douglas Dinwidde, Managing Director of the Darlington digital marketing agency, White Digital, will be raising funds for COCO Charity, when he sets off for his adventure. Douglas is hoping to raise at least £10,000, ahead of his trek.

Who is COCO?

COCO empowers communities in East Africa to lift themselves out of poverty, by providing a variety of resources and working directly with the local communities. These resources include a sustainable quality of education to children, providing sustainable agriculture training to farmers and offering small loans to members of the community.

Why is Doug undertaking this challenge?

Doug explains his reason for wanting to undertake this challenge is down to his privileged upbringing. He recognises how fortunate he is to have been born to a wealthy family, and how

access to a great education has allowed him to get where he is today in his personal life, as well as his business.

He is hyper-aware that many children have not been afforded the same opportunities as him, so he feels compelled to make a difference to their lives where he can. Doug firmly believes that children, no matter where they are in the world, should have a healthy, happy life.

Of course, trekking to Machu Picchu is no mean feat. In Doug’s view, this adventure highlights the inequalities and difficulties that communities in Africa face.

These funds can absolutely change someone’s life. Doug is appreciative of any donation, no matter how large or small, and they can be made by texting DOUG to 70460

Agatha Christie’s murder-mystery play The Mousetrap has run continuously in London’s West End since 1952, bar a break due to theatre closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ironically, this longevity has prevented a film version from ever being made, as Christie herself insisted on this only happening at least six months after The Mousetrap’s absence from the West End stage.

See How They Run circumvents this contractual restriction by telling a comedic, fictionalised story of a murder mystery linked to the murder mystery. In the 1950s, Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) are on the case after film director Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody) is murdered at a London theatre staging The Mousetrap, which he had been set to adapt for the big screen.

Stoppard and Stalker interview various suspects — among them screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo), theatre owner Petula Spencer (an underused Ruth Wilson) and film producer John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith). Woolf is one of several real-life ‘50s figures depicted, including Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson) and his wife Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda), who were both in the original Mousetrap production.

However, while the abundant geeky references to aspects of Christie lore suggest that See How They Run is aimed at people with an encyclopaedic knowledge of whodunnits, these

same people are likely to see many of the story beats coming a mile off. These include the revelation of the killer’s identity, despite the script running up to this moment by industriously throwing in one red herring after another.

Ultimately, See How They Run is more interested in poking fun at clichés of the murder-mystery genre than springing too many surprises with how the murder plot at the centre of the film’s own story is unravelled. The problem here is that many of the barbs just aren’t particularly witty — such as when Cocker-Norris bemoans the narrative device of flashbacks only for one to then abruptly appear.

Where a lot of the film’s humour does come from is the chemistry between Stoppard and Stalker, with the former portrayed as insightful but world-weary and the latter as enthusiastic but naive. It’s a dynamic that might remind you of ‘90s animated TV favourites Pinky and the Brain, or grumpy geriatric Carl Fredriksen and excitable eight-year-old “Wilderness Explorer” Russell in the 2009 Pixar classic Up.

Ronan also gets a chance at some great physical comedy, such as when Stalker rams open the door of a suspect’s room only to be told straight away that a key to it had been left under a mat outside. Meanwhile, Tim Key is good value as the two sleuths’ superior, Commissioner Harrold Scott.

The amusing exchanges between See How They Run’s two leads largely make up for much so that it wouldn’t be Stoppard and Stalker turn up in further comedic detective of Agatha Christie.

Craig Lenaghan Copywriter

CINEMA DARLINGTON

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YORKSHIRE to look out for in...

Carole - The Music of Carole King

14th October - 7.30pmDarlington Hippodrome, Darlington

Enjoy the music of Carole King, as we celebrate one of the world’s greatest singer songwriters. You’re sure to know all of the words and melody’s, and spend the evening tapping your foot while the amazing singers do their job. Book a ticket today: darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

High Force Halloween Trail

15th October - All Day - High Force Waterfall, Teasdale

If you take a walk down High Force Waterfall this Halloween, you’re sure to find a series of clues along the woodland walk. Solve them all and make it back to the hotel…if you can. The family trail is included with general admission to High Force Waterfall.

Raby Castle Halloween Trail

15th October - 10am - Raby Castle, Staindrop

Raby Castle is putting on a

Spooktacular Halloween trail in the run up to the scariest night of the year. Collect an activity sheet and see what creatures you can find. You can even bring along a pumpkin to display! Trail included with a general admission ticket.

Terry Deary’s True Ghost Stories

24th October - 2pm - Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Bishop Auckland

A gang of spine-chilling characters and ghastly ghosts is hitting the stage in Bishop Auckland, and inviting you back in time. Help the cast determine the fact from the fake, and see if there is such a thing as ghosts! Book your ticket at: bishopaucklandtownhall. org.uk/theatre

Freaky Friday: Silent Disco

28th October - 1pm - The Hullabaloo, Darlington

Choose your own tracks and dance away to a range of disco and spooky tunes. There’s going to be plenty of

Got an event coming up?

gruesome games and fangtastic fun at the Hulla-ween silent disco. Book a ticket right now: theatrehullabaloo. org.uk

Harry Hill: Pedigree Fun

29th October - 7.30pmStockton Globe, Stockton-onTees

Harry is coming out to play, and he’s bringing his animal friends with him. Audiences will get to meet his new baby elephant, Sarah and Ian, The Information Worm. Of course, Stouffer the Cat will also be making an appearance. Book online today: stocktonglobe.co.uk/shows

Halloween Fun Run 5k

30th October - 3pm - South Park, Darlington

Entries are open for a Halloween fun run, in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice. All ages and abilities are encouraged to take part, in fancy dress (or not), to raise some money for a fantastic local cause. More information here: racebest.com/races

Let us know and we’ll help spread the news. Email details of your event to: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk