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Durham accolades
Plus Seaham Hall wins award, appeal to save world's oldest railway, Durham secures HS2 funding and much more!
Stephen
March 04, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
Good morning, Durham! Welcome to March. With each day passing, we edge closer to spring.
In today’s newsletter:
Seaham Hall wins hotel accolade
Appeal to save world’s oldest railway station
Co Durham secures £73m from HS2 funding pot
Durham award for Armed Forces support
And much more!
Let’s get to it.
— Stephen
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
📸 @graeme_hallmark | 📍 Durham Cathedral
THE DIGEST
Seaham Hall wins Small Hotel of the Year
Luxury hotel, Seaham Hall, has clinched the Small Hotel of the Year award at the North East Tourism Awards for an impressive fourth consecutive time.
Situated along East Durham’s dramatic coastline, Seaham Hall is renowned for its luxurious hotel, spa and restaurant offerings. Four times in a row clearly shows they’re doing something right.
P.S. Seaham Hall also made it in the Times’ Best Places to Stay.
Winners of the Small Hotel of the Year award. Image: Seaham Hall/Facebook
Appeal to save ‘world’s oldest’ railway station in County Durham 🚂
In a move to safeguard a piece of railway heritage, the Heighington railway station, thought to be the world’s oldest, is attempting to raise £500,000 for its restoration.
The station is a landmark from the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first passenger railway to use steam trains to transport passengers, and is a product of the “Father of Railways“ George Stephenson.
If raised, the fund will revive the station and repurpose it into a unique 1825-themed hospitality venue. Read more.
County Durham secures £73m boost from HS2 funding pot
County Durham is on the brink of a transport transformation, bagging £73m slice of the HS2 funding pot - the only area in the North East to do so. This investment, part of a redirected £4.7bn fund, is set to rev up local travel options, according to Durham County Council leader Amanda Hopgood.
With the county's late entry into the North East devolution deal, this allocation marks a significant step forward, promising to connect communities and fuel future transport projects.
The exact projects benefiting from this boon remain under wraps, but the anticipation is high as Durham gears up for a phase two CRSTS settlement, promising even more development down the line. Read more.
Durham County Council wins gold award for Armed Forces support
Cllr Robert Potts, Cllr Joan Nicholson, and Major Stephen Simpson. Image Durham County Council
Durham County Council has once again been awarded the prestigious Ministry of Defence's Gold Award for its commitment to supporting serving and ex-members of the Armed Forces.
The award, presented by Major Stephen Simpson to Cllr Joan Nicholson and Cllr Robert Potts, underlines Durham's promise to fairness and support, embodying the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant. It's a proud moment for Durham, showcasing the collective gratitude and respect for those who have served.
WEATHER
The weather this week, we're stepping into the spotlight of spring, tiptoeing into double figures on the thermometer as the mercury flirts with the 10°C mark.
Monday, 4th: Max: 9°C 🌡️, Min: 5°C. Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by early evening. 🌤️➡️☁️
Tuesday, 5th: Max: 10°C 🌡️, Min: 3°C. Overcast changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime. ☁️➡️🌤️
Wednesday, 6th: Max: 10°C 🌡️, Min: 3°C. Cloudy. ☁️
Thursday, 7th: Max: 10°C 🌡️, Min: 3°C. Overcast. ☁️
Friday, 8th: Max: 9°C 🌡️, Min: 4°C. Cloudy. ☁️
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’
Catch Reginald D. Hunter at the Gala Theatre
Gala Theatre is hosting the brilliant Reginald D. Hunter, on Tuesday, 5th March. The stand-up comedian is known for his sharp wit and profound insights into our modern socio-political landscape.
In his latest show, "The Man Who Could See Through Sh*t," Hunter promises an hour of engaging comedy that navigates the tricky waters of distinguishing truth from falsehood in today's world. Get tickets.
Celebrate International Women's Day in Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland Town Hall is hosting an International Women's Day event on Friday, 8th March, with a day filled with inspiration, empowerment, and celebration.
Hosted by the esteemed Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon, "Inspire Inclusion" includes an excellent line-up of speakers, including author and filmmaker Marie Gardiner, Teesdale hill farmer Anna Wood, and Caroline James, the dynamic general manager of Utilita Arena Newcastle. Find out more.
Auckland Castle announces Easter weekend programme 🐇
Auckland Castle has announced an exciting range of entertainment including adorable animals you can pet, children’s performers, photos with the Easter bunny, an Easter Egg Hunt trail, and fun family crafts. All activities are included for free with Auckland Castle admission. Find out more.
ODEON Luxe Durham listings 🍿
Times and dates vary. Please check the Durham ODEON website
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PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
Properties in the Co Durham boundaries that recently came to market.
Image: Rightmove
Detached | Bed: 5 | Bath: 7 |
Durham House sits in the heart of the city and dates back to 1847, a date which is etched on the headstone of the original door. It features in many paintings and photographs of Durham in the foreground with the cathedral as its backdrop.
Durham House once fronted onto Durham’s Racecourse and the former county cricket pitch where Sir Ian Botham played his last game for Durham CC. Today it is university playing fields.
DURHAM BUSINESS NEWS
County Durham's Cook Defence Systems rallies to aid Ukraine
Cook Defence Systems, based in Bishop Auckland, has secured contracts within a £100m international support package for the Ukrainian Army. This involves the reverse engineering of Soviet-era armoured vehicle parts, a task requiring the team to study Cold War archives and employ cutting-edge technology like laser scanning and digital x-ray inspection.
With a history of defence supply dating back to World War II, the company is increasing its workforce to meet urgent demand while playing a crucial role in supporting Ukrainian forces on the frontline. Read more.
Business Durham charts path for growth and innovation in Durham
Image: Northern Insight
Managing Director of Business Durham, Sarah Slaven speaks to Northern Insight on how the organisation is spearheading efforts to transform County Durham into a powerhouse for business and innovation.
With a focus on supporting start-ups, fostering business growth, and attracting new investment, particularly in cutting-edge industries like space and satellite technology, Business Durham is providing business support and also building a community where businesses can thrive.
The Durham Business Growth programme, backed by a £8.16 million fund, is set to streamline access to vital resources for businesses across all sectors, ensuring Durham remains a top choice for firms looking for growth, innovation, and a quality standard of living. Read more.
EXTRA SPRINKLES
Durham Engineer named in the prestigious Northern Power Women (link)
According to a new report, leading UK universities, Durham included, have contributed nearly £900 million to the North East's economy (link)
'Funny, caring and charming' Durham lad wins award for looking after brother with muscular dystrophy (link)
Durham County Council awarded £6m to tackle homelessness (link)
MP for Durham City Mary Kelly Foy writes of the battle to save Leazes footbridge (link)
Congrats to Bells for winning two gongs at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2024 (link)
Durham County Council is developing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy which will help County Durham’s wildlife thrive (link)
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
The Forum | The Skapones w/ Floral Detectives - Thur 7th, 7:30 pm (tickets)
Durham Cathedral | Durham University Palatinate Orchestra plays Bernstein, Mazzoli and Rachmaninoff - Fri 8th, 6:30 pm (tickets)
The Fire Station | 'The Dark Side of the Moon' Anniversary Concert - Sat 9th, 7:30 pm (tickets)
The White Room | Carrie Martin - Sat 9th, 7:45 pm (tickets)
ARC - Bay City Rollers | Sat 9th, 8 pm (tickets)
Darlington Hippodrome | Nathan Carter - Sun 10th, 7:30 pm (tickets)
THANKS!
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