Hexham Courant headline news in Hexham, Tyne Valley 150 years ago

10 years ago

TEEN TAX: Northumberland County Council's policy board was to decide whether to scrap free school transport for over-16s or not. Almost 1,000 people petitioned the council to retain free post-16 transport, but the controlling Labour group on the council claimed the figures no longer added up.

SCHOOL REVIVAL: A new headteacher was to take the reins at Corbridge First School. Jennifer Ainsley was to take over the post from Julie Logan, who was sacked as headteacher following a 14-month suspension and a hearing by a panel of the governing body.

PLANNING APPEAL: Controversial plans to build on Ponteland's green belt were to be determined by a public inquiry. Developer Lugano lodged an appeal against the decision to reject its proposal to build 280 houses on the outskirts of the town. Northumberland County Council's west area planning committee voted unanimously against the application on land at Birney Hill Farm, next to Stamfordham Road.  

25 years ago

ELECTION CRISIS: District and parish council elections were due to take place in May, however, political parties were woefully short of candidates. The Conservatives had the most candidates in the Tynedale Council elections, with their total at 34. Yet with 52 seats up for grabs, they had hoped to persuade more people to come forward.  

Anneliese Lindsley puts the finishing touches to the mural of animals she painted on a wall at Slaley First School. She was both a parent of a pupil and a member of the parent-teacher association at the school (Image: Newsquest)

TRUCKER DEMO: A convoy of lorries was to set off from Hexham to join other drivers from around the region at a Newcastle demonstration against government taxes the truckers said were driving them out of business. 

HEROIC RESCUE: An elderly woman named Jessie Moffitt, 88, was pulled to safety by two people, one an off-duty police officer, as her home filled with smoke due to a fire in the kitchen. Off-duty Insp. Hugh Thompson of Byker police entered the house along with Leslie Hill, of Bolton.

INTERPOL SEARCH: The discovery of a luxury tent apparently abandoned in Kielder Forest sparked a massive police search extending as far as Brussels. Police dog handlers were called to the scene when it was feared the owner of the tent may have been injured. 

50 years ago

FIRST MAYOR: Hexham Parish Council, the successor to the old urban district council, took on town council status. This led to parish council chairman John Pickering becoming the town's first mayor. 

GRENADE FIND: Four rusting old hand grenades were found at the Fallowfield caravan site at Acomb. Army experts were called in to dispose of them. 

75 years ago

WRECKING BALL: 69 houses in Bellingham were scheduled for demolition following a council survey of rural housing in the district. 

OLDEST OCCUPANT EXPIRES: Hexham's oldest resident, Grace Davison of Woodside, died at the old age of 98.

UNDER FIRE: Northumbrian education director HM Spink came in for criticism at Alston's 1949 annual parish meeting for describing the Cumbrian town's grammar school as redundant.

PHONE BID FAILS: A request by Haltwhistle Primary School for telephone facilities was turned down by the county education committee.

100 years ago

ORGAN APPEAL: A jumble sale held at Corbridge parish hall raised £32 for the parish church's new organ appeal.

TRACKING BACK: Calls were being made in Mickley for the reopening of the village's railway station.

125 years ago

MAGISTRATE MOURNED: Hexham justice of the peace and barrister John Matthew Ridley, of Walwick Hall, Humshaugh, died aged 78.

PIE PURLOINED: Schoolmaster Edward Carroll's home at Redburn near Henshaw, was burgled. A watch, a pie and some jewellery were stolen.

150 years ago

BACK IN ACTION: St Cuthbert's Church at Allendale and St Giles' Church at Chollerton were reopened after refurbishment.