10 YEARS AGO

STORM BREWING: Sue Lawrence, the owner of Martha’s Tea Room, in Corbridge, caused a stir when residents and businesses complained that a 1967 Morris Minor named Dotty advertising the business was taking up a free parking space.

SAD FAREWELLS: Hundreds of mourners packed into St Peter’s Church, in Humshaugh, for the funeral of mother and daughter Susan Washington (46) and Katie Washington (17), who died in a car accident on the Military Road between Stagshaw and Chollerford.

WAR HERO: Ossie Chipchase, of Hexham, a man who survived the horrors of forced labour in a Japanese POW camp during the Second World War, died just six months before his 100th birthday.

SAVE SELEFEST: Teenagers at Tynedale Youth Forum launched a fund-raising appeal to save Hexham music festival Selefest from finishing. The group needed to raise close to £8,000 to allow it to continue.

FARMWATCH FLOP: Keith Preston, a sheep farmer in Kirkwhelpington, said he was one of many in the district to have sheep stolen by rustlers in the same week Northumbria Police relaunched its Farmwatch scheme.

25 YEARS AGO

CAT CRUELTY: The RSPCA refused to rehouse cats at its shelter at three council estates in Prudhoe after killing of pets became so common. The animal charity also issued a warning to cat owners to be wary of the spate of crimes.

BURNING QUESTION: Tynedale Council accused Egger of lying about the type of fuel they used at its Hexham plant, claiming the factory used two-thirds of wood dust against one-third of the cleaner natural gas.

POST OFFICE PLEA: Hexham newsagent and chairman of the Tynedale branch of the North East Chamber of Commerce, Chris Dixon, pleaded for the old Post Office to be reopened on Battle Hill as its closure had hit businesses on the street badly.

BUILDING DEMAND: The House Builders’ Federation claimed double the amount of new houses allocated for Tynedale in the draft County Structure Plan for Northumberland were needed. The federation said close to 4,000 were needed compared to the 2,000 which were highlighted.

50 YEARS AGO

TRAFFIC CONGESTION: While the bypass between the village and Hexham was constructed, a temporary bridge was erected in Corbridge to relieve growing traffic congestion.

FROZEN OUT: Seven tenants of bungalows in Wark operated by Bellingham Rural Council were told they would have to wait for central heating to be installed after they complained of freezing cold conditions.

STUDY CENTRE: Hexham was being touted as the site of a study centre for an Open University scheme which would see students watch and listen to radio and TV programmes and meet counsellors and other students.

CRIMINAL MINDS: Residents of Wylam, described as one of the district’s most law-abiding villages, took part in a two-week course on criminology, run by the Workers Educational Association.

75 YEARS AGO

POSTAL SERVICE: On receiving an Imperial Service Medal, Hexhamshire postal worker Frank Clark estimated he must have clocked up 220,000 miles around the Shire during 44 years of service.

SNOW COST: Hexham Urban Council revealed that three weeks of snow clearance in the town cost the authority £227. A total of 36 workers had been employed to clear the snow.

IN THE DARK: Despite pleas to introduce a modified form of street lighting in Hexham, the urban council decided the streets would remain unlit.

100 YEARS AGO

WAR TROPHIES: Twelve matching guns, rifles, bayonet and helmets, and two grenade throwers, were offered to Hexham Rural Council by the War Trophies Committee.

FARM GIFTS: Northumberland County Council purchased 1,800 acres of land in Hexhamshire with the intention of giving 30 to 40 ex-soldiers each a 50 acre farm.

125 YEARS AGO

STONE BREAKERS: Haydon Parish Council was alarmed at the number of unemployed people in Haydon Bridge, and suggested villagers should be employed on stone breaking work.

DOG BITE: A Chollerton man bitten by a dog left for Paris to consult famed doctor Professor Pasteur.

150 YEARS AGO

FOUNTAIN CEREMONY: A drinking fountain was erected at Greenhead in memory of Mr J.B. Coulson, of Blenkinsopp Hall, the cost borne by his widow, family and friends.

DARK JUSTICE: A judge at Hexham County Court called attention to the deficient lighting of the court room, which was lit by six candles.