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Friendly Durham
Plus make Sunderland Durham, village listed as "poshest", Chelsea Pensioners visit Seaham and much more!
Stephen
April 08, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
Good morning, Durham! As well as being awarded the most festive place in the UK, Durham has just been named the friendliest.
In this week’s Durham Scoop:
Brits applaud Durham as friendliest
Make Sunderland part of Durham again?
Durham village listed in UK’s “poshest”
Chelsea Pensioners visit Seaham
Portillo films in Beamish
Business news
And much more!
Let’s get to it.
— Stephen
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
📸 Andrew Bielawski | 📍 Beamish Museum
LOCAL PEOPLE
Brits applaud Durham as “friendliest place” in the UK
Durham, a friendly place where everyone 'smiles' (Image: Getty Images)
Durham is officially the UK's capital of friendliness! But wait, before you start thinking there's been some grand national survey or a team of friendliness detectives combing the country, let me fill you in on the scoop.
The crown comes straight from the heart – or rather, the many hearts that have wandered through Durham's historic lanes, dined in its cosy cafes, and, most importantly, chatted with its locals.
It turns out, people on Reddit’s "Ask a Brit" section have been sharing travel tips and Durham has been constantly popping up for its friendliness. One Brit said, "Every time I go there everyone talks to you, and all smile."
So, while the title of 'friendliest place in the UK' might not come with a scientific seal of approval, it's the personal experiences, the shared stories, and those unforgettable smiles that make Durham stand out.
DURHAM BY THE NUMBERS
👥 1,000: The number of people volunteering for Kynren this year [Kynren]
🧀 11: The number of specialist markets coming to County Durham this year [Northern Echo]
WEATHER
In typical form, it seems like a mixed bag with a little bit of everything. Ideal for planning a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.
Monday, 8th: 15°C 🌡️ 8°C. Cloudy, turning to light showers by late morning. 🌥️ 🌦️
Tuesday, 9th: 11°C 🌡️ 4°C. Light rain clearing by nighttime. 🌧️ 🌃
Wednesday, 10th: 13°C 🌡️ 11°C. Starts cloudy, then expect light rain in the afternoon. ☁️ 🌦️
Thursday, 11th: 17°C 🌡️ 10°C. Sunny intervals becoming cloudy by the afternoon. ⛅ ☁️
Friday, 12th: 16°C 🌡️ 9°C. Cloudy with sunny intervals by early evening. ☁️ ⛅
HERITAGE
Make Sunderland part of County Durham again?
A thought-provoking article by Tony Gillan in the Sunderland Echo revisits the 50th anniversary of the contentious removal of Sunderland from County Durham.
Fifty years ago, the creation of ‘Tyne and Wear separated Sunderland from Durham - a change that still has some resistance among locals.
The 1972 Local Government Act (which was introduced in 1974) realigned geographical boundaries and also, arguably, severed ties with deeply rooted heritage and identity.
Gillan says there is a lingering sentiment of being "Sunderland out of Durham" because Tyne and Wear is viewed by many in the area as a non-existent county.
County Durham boundaries before the 1972 Local Government Act (Image: Wikipedia)
“Sunderland was booted out of County Durham and forced into something called Tyne and Wear”, he says. “Sunderland didn't want it. Nor did South Shields, Jarrow, Gateshead, Hebburn and others who had been in County Durham for a millennium or so.”
He passionately argues for the change of Sunderland's boundary status, advocating for its reintegration into County Durham. Proposing a return not to the past but a stride towards rectifying a half-century-old decision that still impacts the city's cultural and historical identity.
What do you think?
Should Sunderland be absorbed back into County Durham? |
THE DIGEST
💅 Brancepeth crowned among UK's poshest villages again: In an accolade that's becoming a bit of a tradition, Brancepeth has once more made the Telegraph's exclusive list of the UK's 48 “poshest” villages. (link)
⛪️ Restoration underway for Ushaw's St Aloysius Chapel: Following an arson attack last year, the iconic St Aloysius Chapel within Ushaw Historic House is set to undergo crucial emergency repairs. With a generous £400,000 grant from Historic England, the chapel and its neighbouring Grade II listed Junior House will see restoration to their roof structures and masonry. (link)
🚂 Portillo’s visit to Durham: Michael Portillo visited Beamish recently to film part of his Great British Railway Journeys. See him travel back in time at Beamish where childhood memories are rekindled in the museum’s 1950s hairdresser. If you missed the show, you'll be able to catch up on BBC iPlayer (link)
Michael Portillo in Beamish filming Great British Railway Journeys (Image: Beamish)
🌊 Chelsea Pensioners visit Seaham: Arguably the UK's most recognisable veterans, the Chelsea Pensioners paid a visit to Seaham this week to perform at East Durham Veterans Trust and take a tour of the town. Dressed in their iconic scarlet coat and black shako cap, the veterans were welcomed by eager attendees and visited Ray Lonsdale's WW1 Tommy statue and the newly installed Artillery Field Gun. (link)
👑 Last chance to volunteer for this year’s Kynren: The final chance to volunteer for Kynren, the UK's largest live-action show in County Durham, is this Tuesday. This summer's event seeks volunteers of all ages and abilities, offering a behind-the-scenes tour and insight into the show's production. With roles for around 1,000 volunteers, aged 5 to 88, the award-winning Kynren invites participants to join its diverse cast and crew. (link)
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
Properties in Co Durham borders that recently came to market.
Hauxley Drive, Chester Le Street
(Image: Rightmove)
Detached | Bed: 6 | Bath: 4 |
This 6-bedroom detached home in Chester Le Street offers privacy and tranquillity, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern amenities. Built from reclaimed train station stone and featuring church-style windows, the property includes a whole-house sound system, adjustable lighting, and integrated screens for security and convenience. A garden, bar and garage completes the exterior.
EVENTS
What’s happening this week
Music
🎤 Heather Small. Saturday 13th, 7:30 pm: The voice that has powered through the British soul and dance music scenes is set to grace Durham with her awe-inspiring presence and vocal prowess. Known particularly as the former lead vocalist of the band M People, Small has left an indelible mark on the music world with hits that have resonated well beyond the UK’s borders. At Durham Cathedral. Tickets.
Theatre
🧪 Ministry of Science Live. Friday 12th, 1:30 pm and 5:20 pm: The UK’s favourite science team are back and more explosive than ever. Join their presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way. At the Gala Durham. Tickets.
Culture
🌍 World Heritage Day. Wednesday 10th, 10:00 am: Durham University celebrates World Heritage Day with public festivities at Durham Castle and Cathedral. The event starts with a paid brunch and castle tour (pre-booking required). Attendees can enjoy free attractions like Vanguard Norman soldier re-enactments, craft sessions for the Peace Doves installation, and visits to the Palace Green Library and Museum of Archaeology. The day features free talks, tours, and activities, including encounters with a medieval monk and a portrayal of Thomas Wright, an 18th-century astronomer, by actor David Napthine. At Durham Cathedral and Castle. More details.
BUSINESS NEWS
🔋 Strong growth and recruitment for Peterlee battery manufacturer: Global battery manufacturer Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT) is to recruit and heavily invest in its UK and overseas sites as it embarks on an ambitious growth strategy to meet rising worldwide demand. The Peterlee-based company, which designs and manufactures customised rechargeable battery packs for a range of industries, has enjoyed strong growth in the last 12 months with turnover rising to £18m for 2023. (link)
👨💼 New CEO takes the helm at tech firm Filtronic: County Durham's Filtronic, a tech company specialising in aerospace, defence, space, and telecoms technologies, has appointed Nat Edington as its new CEO. Edington brings extensive experience from senior roles in public and private tech sectors, particularly in high technology and semiconductors. (link)
🏋️ PureGym to open new branch in Durham City Retail Park: High street leisure group PureGym has announced that it will be opening at a County Durham retail park in the next couple of months. After already opening several facilities across the North East, PureGym said that Durham City Retail Park would be its next destination to open one of its branches. (link)
☢️ Mini-nukes to be built under multimillion-pound proposal: Hartlepool could host a fleet of mini-nuclear reactors within a decade after the Government awarded a multimillion-pound grant to engineering group Babcock to explore the project’s feasibility. (link)
What did you think of this edition of the Durham Scoop? |
THANKS!
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