10 YEARS AGO

DUKE SNUB: Campaigners were celebrating the news that a High Court judge had quashed planning permission for the Duke of Northumberland’s controversial plans to develop Prudhoe’s town centre.

BRIDGE CAMPAIGN: Edward Heslop, the local county councillor, launched a petition to prevent the bridge connecting Wark and Birtley from closing – despite Northumberland County Council insisting it had no plans to do so.

HUMAN REMAINS: It was revealed that human bones found in the grounds of the Cottage, at Fenwick Towers, near Matfen, the previous month dated back to the 13th century.

LIGHT SHOW: Thousands of people lined Hadrian’s Wall as 500 beacons were illuminated as part of a £250,000 tourism project organised by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd.

HISTORY MAKER: Tracy Irwin made history when she was appointed the first female watch manager in Northumberland when she took on the role at Haltwhistle Fire Station.

25 YEARS AGO

MP CRITICISM: Hexham’s Conservative MP Peter Atkinson was heavily criticised by a former mayor of Hexham, Conservative councillor John Lynch, for ‘failing to understand housing needs in his rural constituency’.

SHIVERING CONDITIONS: Elderly council tenants in Slaley were told by Tynedale Council that repairs to their retirement homes in Park Side which left rooms cold and smoke blowing from open fires would not be made for three years.

BRUSH OFF: Catton woman Jennifer Roberts announced her retirement as proprietor of one of the oldest firms in the North-East, Harrison Brushes.

BRILLIANT BATTLE: Military bases in Otterburn and RAF Spadeadam were involved in Exercise Brilliant Invade 95 which saw hundreds of aeroplanes from six international air forces carried out an aerial exercise over Northumberland.

50 YEARS AGO

BRIDGE OPPONENTS: The Ministry of Transport faced criticism over plans to erect a temporary bridge at Corbridge to prevent tailbacks during work to construct a £6m bypass connecting the village to Hexham.

ROAD WORRIES: There was disappointment at the news that repairs to the Longbyre to Greenhead road would not be made when the bypass was built due to a lack of public funding.

COUNCIL INTEREST: Three candidates were to contest the one available seat for Bellingham at the upcoming Northumberland County Council elections. Elections would also be held in the Haltwhistle, Otterburn, Hexham, Bywel and Prudhoe wards.

NO INJURIES: While a jockey was thrown from his horse as the Northern Area Point-to-Point season opened with a fixture at Downhills, near Corbridge, no serious injuries were sustained.

75 YEARS AGO

REDUNDANT INN: The Tanners Inn, on Hexham’s Gilesgate, reported it had ceased trading due to redundancy.

SCHOLARS’ INTEREST: Scholars of Hexham Senior School showed a keen interest in the ship’s company of the Hexham district’s adopted frigate HMS Loch Eck following the exchange of correspondence between scholars and officers and men of the frigate.

YMCA SUPPORT: The first of a series of fund-raisers in the North-East to provide funds to equip YMCA centres for service personnel in Europe was organised in Hexham.

100 YEARS AGO

GAS PROFITS: A gross profit of £1,800 was reported for the year by the Hexham Gas Company.

KEEN ANGLERS: A membership of 57 was reported at the annual meeting of the Ovingham and District Angling Club.

GLEE CLUB: Hexham artists were among the line-up as Hexham Gentlemen’s Glee Club held its second concert at the Presbyterian Hall, in Hexham.

125 YEARS AGO

FROZEN PIPES: Because of frost, water supplies in Hexham were greatly disrupted and water had to be carried considerable distances to serve households.

LIGHTING ISSUE: At a meeting of Humshaugh Parish Council, it was decided that the council would consider lighting the village with oil lamps.

RAILWAY REQUEST: Ryton Urban Council made a motion to request the North Eastern Railway Company erect a platform at Clara Vale to have trains stop there on Saturdays.

150 YEARS AGO

HEIRLOOMS SOLD: Heirlooms and antiques of the Derwentwater estates were sold in Newcastle by public auction.

SUBSCRIPTIONS SUPPORT: It was stated at the annual meeting of the Hexham Subscriptions Schools that receipts for the year had totalled £315 13 and expenditure £322.