We take a look back at the stories which made the headlines in the Hexham Courant over the years.

10 YEARS AGO

BRAIN SURGERY: Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman underwent a high risk surgery to remove a brain tumour after collapsing in the House of Commons the previous week.

ROYAL OCCASION: Communities across Tynedale pulled out the bunting and the party frocks as they marked the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton in fine style.

MINE REJECTION: Angry words were exchanged between applicant Paul Murphy and resident Eddie Armstrong at County Hall after Northumberland County Council rejected plans for an opencast mine site in the hamlet of Halton Lea Gate.

SOVIET BLOC: Northumberland County Council threw out plans for a ‘Soviet Bloc’ housing development in Darras Hall, which was described as a threat to the area’s garden village style.

DERBY WIN: A try from Jonny Williams two minutes from time saw Tynedale defeat main rivals Blaydon37-35.

25 YEARS AGO

POLICE PROMISE: Northumberland County Council had the backing of police to help remove a group of New Age travellers camped near Bardon Mill as they ignored a High Court eviction order in a long-running battle.

WARD FEAR: There were concerns that a total of 38 beds would be lost at the soon to be built showpiece hospital in Hexham, with a further 32 under threat as the area’s spinal injuries unit was earmarked to transfer to Newcastle or Leeds.

RAT INFESTATION: An invasion of rats led managers of the Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham to close down its play area, with nearby supermarket Safeway taking action by calling in pest control specialists.

FOOTBALL RIOTS: Two Wark men were injured in the riots as Newcastle United failed to win the Premiership after being in such a commanding position. Timmy Wright was hit by a concrete bin and kicked as he lay on the ground, while Roy Glendinning was punched and hit with bottles as he went to his friend’s aid.

AXE ATTACK: A worker at the West Wylam civic amenity site, Joe Newton, suffered a broken arm and a cut to the head after two men set upon him wielding an axe and a claw hammer during a daylight attack.

50 YEARS AGO

GOALS GALORE: Bardon Mill’s Carlisle District League football side went top of its division after beating the bottom placed team, Courtaulds, 14-0. Their top scorer was Doug Batey, who helped himself to six goals.

SPEEDING SURVEY: A survey carried out by Hexham East First School pupils revealed more than two thirds of vehicles travelling along the town’s Corbridge Road broke the speed limit, some going up to 60mph.

GOLDEN ORGAN: Alfred Glendinning (69) notched up his 50th year as organist at Prudhoe’s West Roa Methodist chapel.

COMPLEX BID: Plans to build a housing complex for the elderly, comprising 44 flats and bungalows at Holme Terrace in Haltwhistle were drawn up.

75 YEARS AGO

ABBEY APPEAL: Hexham Abbey launched a £12,000 restoration fund appeal.

HOSPITAL HALTED: Plans to build a £1,000 nurses’ home at Corbridge’s Charlotte Straker Hospital were put on hold amid doubts about the hospital’s future.

DESCENDANTS DELUGE: The Hexham Courant reported that a Hexham woman, Jessie Lambert (80), had what it thought might be a record number of living descendants - 76! These comprised 13 sons and daughters, 43 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

100 YEARS AGO

GAS FIRST: A Hexham man, Herbert Lees, became the first honorary member of the North of England Gas Managers’ Association. The honour followed his resignation as the association’s secretary and treasurer.

MEMORIAL CEREMONY: A 9.5ft high war memorial was unveiled at St John Lee, near Acomb.

125 YEARS AGO

THUNDER STRUCK: A man was struck by lightning while working on a farm at Garrigill, near Alston. Although he was knocked unconscious, and temporarily rendered partially deaf and blind, lightning victim Havelock Bell subsequently made a complete recovery and was able to resume work within days.