ARE you on board with a Hartlepool Mail campaign to improve fitness?

We want to hear from hundreds of people in the Hartlepool and east Durham areas who plan to spend this year improving their wellbeing.

Our Race For Fitness project aims to get 2,012 people doing something to change their life for the better.

Our supporters so far include Hartlepool Borough Council which has highlighted its excellent range of services for all the family, including the younger generation.

And as the details below show, there’s plenty to do for all ages.

A council spokesman said: “Our outdoor activities team offers a range of events across Hartlepool and the Tees Valley. They are fully inclusive and led by qualified instructors”.

But it is not just close to home that the council runs activities. It also takes teams of people – led by experienced staff – to scenic places such as the Lake District.

The fun includes mountain biking, walking archery, canoeing, orienteering, climbing and abseiling at the very scenic location of St John’s in The Vale.

Groups can enjoy some of the best views available of Skiddaw and Blencathra, while sleeping in comfort in dormitory style rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

Those who have enjoyed the outdoor activities programme have so far included school parties, adult walking groups and foster care teams.

Closer to home, the council is holding swim tots sessions at the Mill House Leisure Centre on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

And the Summerhill reserve off Catcote Road offers a huge variety of activities such as indoor climbing in the visitor centre, nature studies, archery, a hands-on look at archeology, boulder climbing and craft sessions for groups which can include making mini beasts;

There are charges for the activities and more details are available from the centre.

The council’s principal recreation officer, Maxine Crutwell, said: “We are committed to enhancing the lives of the people of Hartlepool. Our aim is to get more people participating in sport and physical activity.

“We work with many key partners to achieve our aim such as schools, colleges, clubs, the Primary Care Trust and voluntary organisations.”

More details are available from.hartlepool.gov.uk, on twitter HBC Sport, and by email to sport.recreation@hartlepool.gov.uk

And anyone wanting to find out about events at Summerhill should contact (01429) 284584.

A COMMUNITY organisation says a multi-million-pound scheme to help young people into work has “narrow scope”.

The Wharton Trust, in Hartlepool, agrees the £126m Youth Contract scheme announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday will help young people “move forward”.

But trust bosses say extra should be done to help more young people, as the fund only targets 16 and 17-year-olds who have no GCSEs at Grade C or above.

Mr Clegg has pledged to deal with the “ticking time bomb” of teenagers who are not in work, school, or training, or “NEETS” – not in education, employment, or training.

At least 55,000 16 and 17-year-olds are set to benefit from the scheme, which will see charities and businesses invited to bid for contracts worth up to £2,200 to take young people on.

Carl Crossman, access to employment co-ordinator at the trust, based in Wharton Terrace, said: “Of course we welcome the announcement that there is money to be made available to support specific groups of NEET young people to move forward and believe that it will help some young people which is a good thing.

“However, we have real concern that there are many young people who will not benefit from the scheme due to the narrow parameters announced so far.

“Equally importantly, the scheme will not enable small organisations, such as the Wharton Trust, to be part of the delivery of this work.

This age range has been singled out because evidence suggests that unemployment early on can have a permanent effect on earning potential, according to the Department for Education.

The Hartlepool Mail reported earlier this month that the Access to Employment course, which has helped 300 people into work over the past two years, is under threat due to funding cuts.

It came during the launch of our Work in Progress campaign, which aims to highlight the plight of the town’s unemployed and help them into work.

Mr Crossman added: “The nature of the contracting arrangements appear to be on a results basis, which means that only organisations with large reserves will be able to take a risk on working with the young people on what is essentially a no win-no fee basis.”

Under the Youth Contract scheme, young people would receive an initial payment up front and more money when they show good progress.

The announcement comes days after the latest unemployment figures showed the number of jobless 16 to 24-year-olds increased by 22,000 to 1.04 million in the three months to December.

Last month in Hartlepool, 4,633 people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance, with 1,460 of claimants being young people aged 18 to 24.

Mr Clegg said: “This problem isn’t new, but in the current economic climate we urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.”

TOP UK Olympic prospect Andy Turner showed his support for the Hartlepool Mail’s campaign to get people fit.

We sent him details of our campaign, to get 2012 people in shape by the time the London Olympics opening ceremony is held, through social media site Twitter.

Andy, a 110-metre hurdler who took bronze at the last World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, was asked by the Mail if he would support the campaign.

He then re-tweeted the message to his 7,000 followers.

He is among a range of sportsman and women who have backed the campaign including Lord Sebastian Coe, former Olympic javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread and Hartlepool’s own Olympic hopeful, boxer Savannah Marshall.

The campaign has also won the support of Prime Minister David Cameron, Minister for Public Health Anne Milton, project director of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, Tony Aikenhead, and Hartlepool-born Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling.

Why not follow their example and show your support?

We want to hear from at least 2,012 people in Hartlepool and east Durham who plan to spend this year improving their health.

You could quit smoking or drinking, take up exercise, or go on a diet.

Or do you have plans for a sponsored cycle, run, walk or swim?

It doesn’t have to be a Herculean challenge. The most important thing is that you take part in our Race For Fitness project.

Contact Chris Cordner by writing to him at New Clarence House, Wesley Square, Hartlepool, TS24 8BX, via email to chris.cordner@northeast-press.co.uk or by calling (01429) 239377.

A full list of people who are supporting the campaign and taking part can be found at www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk in the campaigns section.

A RUGBY club has been awarded £2,000 to get young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour involved in the sport.

Peterlee Pumas have been given the cash by Sported which will enable the club to provide Rugby League sessions and also to provide an Active Listening service to help young people identify and tackle issues affecting their lives and behaviour.

STUDENTS got an insight into life at war as they welcomed a former child soldier and refugee into school.

The youngsters at St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School, in Peterlee, enjoyed the unique opportunity to speak to Bini Araia, an Eritrean who spent his childhood as a soldier before fleeing the country.

Bini was invited into the school in Westway, in Peterlee, to help the students with their citizenship programme and a recent Geography study on conflict.

Paul Dickson, assistant headteacher at the school, said: “We were delighted to welcome Bini into the school, he was excellent.

“It gave students the chance to explore how conflict occurs around the world and to look at how conflict can be avoided or resolved.”

Students also worked on a display to mark the annual Red Hand Day which took place earlier this month.

They joined millions of people around the world who took part in an activity to help draw attention to the fate of child soldiers.

Mr Dickson added: “At St Bede’s we place great emphasis on nurturing young people who can show compassion with other people around the world and in their immediate community.

“The work we do helps to make students aware of the world in which they live and, most importantly, empower them to participate in shaping a better future.”

THE future of two sheltered housing complexes is uncertain after a housing provider launched a consultation scheme.

Tremeduna Grange, in Trimdon Village, could be demolished as part of a housing review by livin, which was formerly Sedgefield Borough Homes.

Thurlow Grange, in Sedgefield, could also be demolished and redeveloped as bungalows under the scheme.

The complexes are two of 13 similar developments across the Sedgefield area, where residents are being asked for their views in a six-week consultation.

Bosses at livin say Tremeduna Grange, near Front Street, has a low occupancy rate, with nine units filled and 14 left empty.

Thurlow Grange, in Thurlow Road, has 10 occupied units and 21 standing empty.

Alan Boddy, executive director people and communities for livin, said on average, 30 per cent of livin’s sheltered housing schemes are empty, with some more than 50 per cent unoccupied and added this figure is expected to increase.

He added: “We fully appreciate the sensitivities when discussing the future of someone’s home and understand proposals may not be welcomed by all tenants.

“Rest assured, our team will be listening very carefully to tenants’ views and no decision will be made about the proposals until the consultation period has closed and all tenants will be given every opportunity to have their say on the proposals.”

Other options being considered include redeveloping the sites for new affordable homes.

Tenants and their families are being consulted on a one-to-one basis and are being given the chance to have their say and give feedback.

The consultation period ends at noon on April 20.

A final decision is expected at the end of May.

A COUNCIL is running courses in a bid to boost people’s job prospects.

Durham County Council’s adult learning and skills service offers a range of courses in subjects including customer services, retail skills, business and administration, team leading, first line management, IT, teaching and health and social care.

The local authority’s service also runs employability courses, giving people the chance to explore their career options.

Staff can also offer advice and guidance on choosing a course.

For more information email alss@durham.gov.uk or call (0191) 5862402.

A HEROIN dealer who was twice caught selling drugs in the street has been jailed for four years.

Malcolm Bradley, 46, admitted selling the Class A drug in Hartlepool to fund his own addiction.

He was arrested on June 2 last year, when police saw four men acting suspiciously in Wynyard Road and suspected an exchange was taking place.

Bradley had 12 wraps of heroin between his buttocks, and five £10 notes were seized from him. A search of his home resulted in a list being found linking him with drug users.

Helen Masters, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said Bradley initially denied dealing but admitted that he gave an unnamed friend a wrap in exchange for allowing him to use his house as a place to store drugs.

A man was then seen on October 9 last year, acting suspiciously in the town centre, making brief telephone calls and looking around. Bradley then appeared with a woman and a young child and the man walked towards him.

They stood close together and Bradley reached into his pocket and they swapped items.

When they were searched by officers, the man had three wraps of heroin, and Bradley had £125 in cash. Analysis of Bradley’s phone showed they had been communicating.

Bradley claimed that the cash had nothing to do with drugs and he said that he was going to the chemist with his girlfriend to collect methadone for her.

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, told Judge Howard Crowson that Bradley now accepts he was taking part in deals but has difficulty coping with emotions and problems in his life.

He added: “He acknowledges the problems from drugs of violence and acquisitive crime in the area where he lives.

“There is a far wider and greater impact not only to the community but also to his family.”

Judge Crowson told Bradley: “The finding of 12 wraps of heroin, some money and a list in your home led to the inevitable conclusion that you were involved in dealing at a low level, lastly because you were a user yourself.”

Bradley, of Wynyard Mews, Hartlepool, was jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty to supplying a Class A drug and possession with intent to supply.

POLICE chiefs have defended figures which show an increase in Taser weapon use by officers.

Durham Police has seen the number of uses of the high-voltage weapon rise from four in 2008-09 to 30 in 2010-11.

But police chiefs say the figure relates to the weapon being deployed to more officers last year and the Taser being used a number of times in a single incident last year near Durham City when a man barricaded himself in his home and attacked officers with a Samurai sword.

There were seven uses from 2007-08 and 13 in 2009-10.

Police say they do not accept Durham as having a higher than average Taser deployment.

A spokeswoman said Home Office figures covering a period between April 2004 and March 2010 show the force has having the 20th lowest usage out of 43 forces for Taser discharges.

She said the force was also the lowest of all the North-East forces apart from North Yorkshire.

Durham Police’s Acting Chief Constable Michael Banks said: “Initially the use of Tasers was limited to authorised firearms officers.

“But in 2010 Durham Constabulary followed the policy taken by many forces and extended their deployment to its road policing officers.

“Our officers are given specific training in the use of Tasers, to ensure that deployment is appropriate and proportionate under the circumstances and that it complies with national policy.”

Home Office figures show Cleveland Police officers fired Tasers six times from April to December in 2009 and once from January to March in 2010.

A MAN has been jailed for nine years for committing sex crimes against a child.

Andrew Pearson, 40, was convicted of two rapes and two counts of indecent assault after a Teesside Crown Court trial last month.

Pearson, of Sandringham Road, Hartlepool, has been locked up for nine years by Judge Tony Briggs.

The abuse is said to have happened when Pearson was living in Middlesbrough.

FUNDRAISERS are going flipping crazy today to mark Pancake Day.

Today is Shrove Tuesday and two Hartlepool businesses have been heating up their pans ready to cook up tasty treats for a £3 donation.

The Place in the Park Cafe, in Ward Jackson Park, and the Grand Hotel, in Swainson Street, are holding pancake feasts for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The events are being organised by the Rotary Club of Hartlepool and will run until 4pm.

Maria Harrison, who runs the park cafe, said: “Anyone can come along to both businesses and have a bit of fun.

“The £3 gets you a drink and a couple of pancakes and goes towards helping out an important charity.

“I’ve been told by about 30 people that they will pop in, and I hope they and more do. It will be interesting to see how busy it is.

“I’m sure I’ll be pretty good at flipping pancakes by the end of the day!”

Shrove Tuesday is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which Christians observe up until Easter Sunday.

Pancakes are eaten as they are made out of sugar, fat, flour and eggs, whose consumption was traditionally restricted during the ritual fasting associated with the period.

During Lent, some people commit to a form of fasting or give up certain types of luxury such as chocolate or alcohol.

A DISTRAUGHT pet owner has offered a reward for information leading to the return of his beloved dog.

Digger the Patterdale Terrier has not been seen since last Monday, when he went missing down a rabbit hole at Crimdon Dene.

Her owner, Joe Hepworth, 63, is not sure whether the 18-month-old pooch is still underground or made her way out.

He says the breed is expensive and he hopes if Digger has made her way out of the hole, which leads to a maze of rabbit warrens, whoever has got her will return her.

Ex-miner Joe, from Cotsford Lane, in Horden, said he took Digger for a walk near the stables at Crimdon on Monday, February 13, around 2.30pm, and the dog ran away after he let her off her lead.

Joe, whose grandsons Alfie Robinson, five, and Callum Robinson, seven, are devastated that Digger is missing, added; “I blocked the holes up slightly with sticks and stones to see if there was any sign of her getting out.

“But when I went back the next morning and opened it up and shouted her she wasn’t there.

“She’s a working dog, you can’t keep them on the lead all the time.

“I let her off the lead and she ran down the hole.

“She must have got a whiff of a rabbit, I don’t know whether she got out or is still down there.

“The kids are devastated.”

Joe contacted the fire brigade on Wednesday to see if they could help.

A crew from Peterlee Fire Station attended the scene and used thermal imaging cameras, but to no avail, as reported by the Mail last week.

Joe contacted the RSPCA to see if they could help, but sadly they could not.

He said Digger had gone missing before and she had been involved in a road accident, leading to her ending up at a vet’s in Hartlepool.

“She’s a lovely little dog,” he added.

“She dug her way out of Cotsford Park dene before and made her way to my daughter’s.”

Digger is a black, long-haired variety with a short tail.

Anyone who knows Digger’s whereabouts can call Joe on (0191) 5869417 or 07515487035.

STUDENTS were warned of the dangers of kitchen-related fires as a campaign was launched to put a halt to alarming statistics.

During the three-year period between January 2009 and December 2011 Cleveland Fire Brigade raced to 102 fires in Hartlepool homes – 53 of which started in the kitchen.

The causes of the fires varied with 31 starting due to food being cooked unattended, six fires starting from a chip pan, seven from radiated heat, five appliance-related and four being caused by something other than those listed.

In an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of fires starting in the kitchen, Cleveland Fire Brigade launched Kitchen Safety Week.

Firefighters spent the day at Hartlepool College of Further Education yesterday where they carried out chip pan demonstrations and beamed a safety DVD on large screens around the building.

Fire chiefs chose the college as a venue to launch the campaign because they say it’s really important to get into safe cooking habits as early as possible.

Phil Lancaster, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s director of community protection, said: “The statistics are very clear.

“Over half of house fires start in the kitchen and of those fires almost two-thirds are caused by people leaving cooking unattended or using old-fashioned chip pans.

“This demonstrates that the kitchen is the biggest fire risk in the home and during the week we’ll be involved in a number of initiatives to help people stay safe.”

The week-long campaign which will last until this Sunday will also include competitions, the handing out of leaflets and radio advertising.

For free home fire safety visits call (01429) 874063.

People can also access an interactive kitchen safety house by visiting www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/kitchen.

LOVE had no bounds for Albert Thompson.

He was a Hartlepool man besotted with his wife, Ethel Kate Payne.

But there was one serious hurdle which stood in the way of love for Albert and Kate, as she preferred to be known. War broke out.

And because Albert was reported to have been of German birth, he was locked up in a camp somewhere in Hartlepool throughout the conflict.

The only time he ever got to see the woman he adored was when he was allowed out on day release.

He took full advantage of those precious moments of freedom. He would cycle through the streets of Hartlepool – taking nylon stockings and chocolates as treats for his sweetheart.

Sadly, no photographs remain of the loving couple. Every image, and most documents, were burned many years ago, said the couple’s granddaughter, Anne Thompson, 68.

But her own love of genealogy means the tale of romance can live on.

Anne admits: “I spend most of my time compiling my family tree.

“I have researched back to the 1600’s. We are mostly a family of seamen and that is how Albert met my grandmother”, said Anne.

It’s Anne’s grandparents who provide her greatest fascination.

Hopefully, with some help from Mail readers, we could be able to further build up Anne’s factfile on the doting couple.

Are there any photographs we could pass on? Can anyone provide us with precious memories that Anne may not know of?

Tell us more.

But first, let’s follow Anne’s research.

The story starts with Albert, who was born around 1881, sailing to Hartlepool from Germany years later as he reached adulthood.

Anne told the Family roots: “I have been researching my grandfather for 10 years. He was German so he was hush hush because of this.

“I have been told he sailed on the same ship as my great grandfather John Henry Payne. This was how he met my grandmother”.

The couple tied the knot on March 30, 1914. The details are confirmed on their wedding certificate, one of the few records which still remain of them.

In times of freedom, Albert lived in Windsor Street, West Hartlepool.

But in times of war, he was locked up, though few details remains as to where he was interred.

Anne added: “I have been trying to find out where he could have been interred during the Second World War and have been told that there is a possibility that there was a camp where Kingsley Avenue is today”.

Is she right? Let us know.

Albert and Kate had a son, Sydney, born in December 1914. He was their only child.

“According to my mother, no other member of the Thompson family spoke of my grandfather’s nationality because of the world wars”, said Anne.

“He was interred during both wars. During the Second World War he was allowed out and about on his bike. 

“He would travel to Lister Street to bring my mother stockings and chocolate.”

One other detail remains of Anne’s grandfather. He is known to have worked at Ward Jackson Park as a gardener until he retired and then did private gardening work.

Sadly, he died of a heart attack in Park Road, Hartlepool, on April 11, 1951, while he was cutting down a tree. “He had foolishly gone out with pneumonia”, said Anne.

We would love to find out more and help Anne with her research.

Do you know more about Albert?

Does anyone know where he was interred or more about his life.

And does anyone have a photograph of Anne’s grandfather?

Contact Chris Cordner by writing to him at New Clarence House, Wesley Square, Hartlepool, TS24 8BX, via email to chris.cordner@northeast-press.co.uk, or by calling (01429) 239377.

A WOMAN broke down in tears as she described how she cradled her dying boyfriend in her arms after he was stabbed by her brother.

Jade Blackburn, 20, told jurors how Cole Wilson said “I love you,” then kissed her moments before he died.

Her brother John Blackburn is being tried at Newcastle Crown Court for the murder of Mr Wilson in Peterlee, which he denies.

Prosecutor Mark Giuliani told the court Blackburn had warned he would stab Mr Wilson, before he delivered the fatal wounds to Mr Wilson’s head and chest.

Mr Wilson, bled profusely from both injuries and died within minutes.

The court heard the attack happened in the living room at Blackburn’s former girlfriend Kim McGuire’s house at Sledmere Close, last September.

Blackburn had brought his sister Jade Blackburn, and her boyfriend of three years Cole Wilson, who was also his friend, to spend the night.

After a “pleasant evening,” Blackburn and Miss McGuire went to her bedroom to watch a film while a “silly argument” broke out between Miss Blackburn and Mr Wilson.

The court heard the squabbling couple, who had been playing loud music, had been asked to be quiet but the noise and argument continued.

It was in the early hours of the morning Blackburn told Miss McGuire “I’m going to stab him.”

Miss Blackburn told jurors she saw her brother throw what she thought was a punch at her boyfriend, but that she never saw the knife and did not know where all the blood was coming from.”

She said her boyfried was later “on his knees and I was on mine, I had his head in my chest.

“I remember I was cuddling into Cole with his head in my chest and he looked at me, straight in the face and said ‘I love you’ and gave me a kiss.”

Despite efforts to save Mr Wilson, from Walker, Newcastle, he died as a result of blood loss.

Blackburn, of Holywell Avenue, Walker, denies murder.

Proceeding

A GRIEVING family travelled to an Irish court to see the road rage killer of a much-loved dad finally admit his guilt.

Karl Donohoe, 30, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peterlee construction worker Raymond Bates in September 2010 on the day he was set to stand trial for murder.

Raymond, 49, who had been in Ireland working on a gas pipeline, was beaten about the head with a hurley stick after a row in a leafy south Dublin suburb.

He died in hospital four days later.

Some of his relatives, including wife Brenda, 49, were in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin expecting to see Donohoe go on trial for murder yesterday.

But he entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter and Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded him in custody until he is sentenced on April 16.

Isobel Kennedy, senior counsel for the State, had said Donohoe’s plea to manslaughter was acceptable to the prosecution.

Senior counsel for Donohoe, Brendan Grehan, said his client wanted to take the opportunity to apologise to the Bates family, who were swamped by messages of sympathy after he died on September 30.

“He said it was a moment of madness on his part and he is sorry for his actions,” Mr Grehan added.

Raymond was attacked in the Sandymount area of the capital on September 26.

Both Raymond and Donohoe had driven away from the scene before a witness reported the assault to the Garda, the Republic of Ireland police force.

Raymond went to St Vincent’s Hospital the following day after becoming unwell, and was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he fell into a coma before losing his fight for life.

Donohoe, a crane worker from Tyrellstown, west Dublin, was arrested and initially charged with assault causing serious harm.

The Director of Public Prosecutions later ordered that he should be charged with murder.

Brenda had just arrived back at the couple’s Dinting Close, Peterlee, home after a girls’ holiday in Benidorm when she got a call to say her husband was in hospital.

By the time she could get a flight, Raymond’s condition had worsened and he was already in a coma when she arrived with her three sons.

Raymond, who also has one grandchild, died two days later on September 30.

Brenda, who works as a childminder, told the Mail shorty after Raymond’s death: “He was a lovely man and was the best dad. I couldn’t have asked for a better husband.

“I have been with him since I was 15 or 16 and he has always provided everything I’ve ever wanted.

“He loved life, his family and he loved animals.”

Brenda, who could not get her husband’s body home for a funeral for four weeks, said the people of Ireland had been “fantastic” and had sent cards and gifts from across the sea.

Raymond, who went by the nickname Ginger, leaves behind sons Paul, 29, Mark, 27 and Karl, 24, and Paul’s two-year-old son, Leon.

He also has three sisters, Denise Brunwell, 49, Karen Bates, 41, Julie Taylor, 47, and a brother, Gary, 51.