Toy Boy Number 9 For Gran Pat

By Ryan Pilot

A serial bride grandmother is to wed toy boy number nine.

Pat Higgins has never married a man older than her, and her ninth husband will be 32 years her junior.

Fiance Mark Sanderson, 24, proposed to Pat in September last year.

Despite Mark's family unhappy with the engagement - and taunts of "maneater" and "black widow" - the 56-year-old is unrepentant about her career of short-lived marriages.

She said: "People call me a maneater and a black widow which is silly.

"I'm not a predator, I just like to be happy in life - what's wrong with that?

"I want to be with someone who treats me like I should be treated.

"Most of my family are very supportive of me, although Mark's family are not happy."

And despite the longest lasting five years and the shortest just five days -Pat insists this marriage will be forever.

She said: "I'm an eternal optimist and have thought every marriage was going to work.

"But this time I know it's going to last. People might say he is too young but age has got nothing to do with love."

Pat, of Longbenton, North Tyneside, first got hitched to Michael Kelly in 1974 but the marriage lasted only three years.

Some marriages ended with accusations of infidelity but in some cases Pat and her husband simply drifted apart.

It earned her a reputation as a maneater and as all of her grooms were younger than her she gained the cruel nickname of The Black Widow - named after the spider who eats her lovers.

But Pat pays no attention to the taunts. She said: "Younger men are more fun than men my age which suits me because I want to enjoy myself until I draw my last breath.

"I'm young at heart so young men suit me better.

"I haven't done anything wrong - I haven't killed anyone or done anything illegal.

"People get divorced all the time so I don't know how people can judge me.

JOY AT LAST FOR MUM

ABOVE: Pamela Mude finally has her own bundle of joy, named Aaron

Pamela Mudie suffered five miscarriages, one on Christmas Day and another on her birthday

6th January 2011

By Ryan Pilot

A Miracle mum finally cradles a son after 12 years of baby torment.

Pamela Mudie suffered five miscarriages, one on Christmas Day and another on her birthday.

She was heartbroken when none of her pregnancies lasted longer than 13 weeks, a tragedy that baffled doctors who could not find anything wrong with her.

But now at the age of 44, Pamela finally has her own bundle of joy, named Aaron. She said: “The doctors couldn’t find any reason for the miscarriages. But with Aaron, for some reason, from day one he was totally strong.

“There was nobody more shocked than me the day I found out I was pregnant and my initial reaction was: ‘Oh great, I’m going to lose it again.’

“I even worked out on the calendar when I would lose him and thought it might happen at Christmas, like it did in 2001.

“I was in total denial. I didn’t want to invest emotion in him and I was prepared for the worst. Every time we went for a scan I would get totally euphoric then have to calm myself.”

And Pamela, who lives with husband Stephen in Wideopen, Tyne and Wear, says her workmates at St Oswald’s Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle, were as delighted as she was.

She said: “They were crying with happiness. He is very much a baby of hope. He’s our little miracle baby.”

Rail Crash Couple To Marry

By Ryan Pilot

THE hero of the Grayrigg rail crash is to marry the girlfriend who helped him prevent more lives being lost.

Driver Iain Black, 50, was left with a broken neck after his Virgin train left the track at Grayrigg, Cumbria, in 2007, killing one and injuring 22.

In great pain, his first thought was to call train manager Janice Duff, 32, to prevent other trains hitting the wreckage. He said: “My first priority was to get other trains stopped.”

The couple say the crash, which was blamed on faulty points, has brought them closer together.

Now they plan to marry next summer before going by train to the Costa del Sol for their honeymoon.

Arts News - December 10

Arts News for The Cultural Thing - December 10

http://www.theculturalthing.com/?p=597

Fans Stunned by Hughton's Departure

For The Shields Gazette

Also partly used for the Daily Mirror front cover - Tuesday December 7

By Ryan Pilot

NEWCASTLE fans reacted with disbelief after manager Chris Hughton was dismissed today - just weeks after his side walloped arch-rivals Sunderland 5-1.

Baffled and upset fans gathered outside St James's Park after the news broke.

And as sacked Hughton left the stadium, looking thoroughly dejected, he was given a round of applause by Toon supporters.

Hughton took Newcastle back to the Premiership in one season under his 18-month spell as manager, but left St James's Park with his bags packed.

Lifelong Newcastle fans Tom Stephens and Joe Benns thanked Hughton and shook his hand before he was driven away in a black Lexus saloon.

Tom, 19, said: "Thank you Chris, I'll never forget you."

Hughton replied with a simple "Thank you."

As the dejected manager was driven away, the two fans clapped.

Wearing a Newcastle top, Tom, a student from Jesmond, said: "I was nearly in tears. It's horrible isn't it?

"To do this to someone who's stuck by the club and kept with the boys, got the boys back up.

"He should have been given another two years. What's he done wrong? He's lost a few games in a season that's been mental and horrible for everyone.

"It's disgusting of the club – when will we start to learn? We've done this so many times before - we did it with Keegan and we got relegated.

"Are we going to get relegated again? How many chances do you want? It's just ridiculous.

"Ashley has to go – no one likes him – I don't know why he's staying, what's the point? Just sell the club, get out of here, no one likes you.

"People absolutely hate him – there's no reason why he should stay, he thinks he's the big Godfather of the club.

"But the fans are the most important people and they wanted Hughton to stay, it's horrible."

Benns, 20, also a student from Jesmond, said: "We were just coming to Shearer's bar to try and spend our vouchers and we got a text saying Hughton's being sacked, so we came down here.

"I like the fact that we got to see him and got a chance to say goodbye because he's been the best manager that I've seen here."

Alan Curbishley has emerged as a bookies' favourite to take the vacant spot - but fans slammed the idea of appointing the former West Ham United boss.

Stephens added: "What's Curbishley gonna do that Hughton can't? The only reason I can just about see this happening is if a decent manager is coming in, but not Alan Curbishley. What's he ever done?"

John Shearer, 49, a full-time carer from Byker, who claims to be a cousin of Toon legend Alan Shearer, said: "He did the big job, he beat Sunderland didn't he? Any manager who did the big job shouldn't be sacked.

"I would've kept him. But you can't go and beat the big clubs then lose against the little ones like West Brom. These supporters won't put up with it."

Supporter Stephen Denison, 38, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I cannot believe it - he brought us back up and we were beating Chelsea and Arsenal, then all of a sudden you play West Brom and get beat and you're out.

"It's not fair - you have to give him a chance. He's done well in the Premier League, it's not his fault, he's on coppers really. He's got no money to spend, he just had to get on with it."

North East Film Gets Edgy

For The Cultural Thing

Ryan Pilot

Explicitly erotic underground film brilliantlove made its North East debut this week.

Produced by Newcastle-based Pinball Films and directed by one third of the organisation, James Horner, it premiered in June at New York's Tribeca Film Festival and also played this year's Edinburgh Film Festival.

But it came home to play at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle last Tuesday and also played Thursday.

Set in a remote Teesside town, the Northern Film and Media funded film follows young lovers, Manchester and Noon as they spend most of the first half of the film naked and blissfully having sex.

But their relationship is put to the test when naïve Manchester gets caught up in a world of art and pornography.

Speaking after the first screening, the film's writer, Sean Conway said: “I discovered the word erotology, which is the study of sexual love and love making and thought 'shit, I wish I'd have done that at A-level!'

“So one of ideas was that and the other idea was a pastiche of the art world, which was called 'Fuck Art' initially until brilliantlove became a fusion, an amalgamation of both.

“But obviously as a writer you should write about what you know and I don't know a great deal about the art world but sex and being in love is my specialist subject.”

Historical Staging Of Pitmen Painters: Your Chance To Star

For The Cultural Thing

By Ryan Pilot

The People’s Theatre in Newcastle has secured the exclusive rights to stage the first ever amateur production of the Pitmen Painters as part of its centenary celebrations next year.

The play, based on the true story of a group of Ashington miners who become the toast of the art world recently played Broadway and was penned by Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall.

People’s Theatre venue manager, Steve Robertson explained how to get involved.

He said: “You do two pieces in front of the production committee and the director of any show can go up and watch.

“We have what we call a new members night where people come along – next one’s the first of December.

“I would say that if you’re joining the theatre just because of Pitmen Painters – not a great way to go about it because we have roughly a 350 membership.

“But if you want to join to be part of the People’s Theatre that’s great.

“And if you want to get a part in Pitmen Painters, go for it – but there will be a lot of people going for six parts.”

Technical staff, such as stage designers, sound engineers and security staff are also encouraged to get involved. See www.ptag.org.uk for more details.

The Pitmen Painters will play June 13 to June 18 next year.

New Creative Hub For North East

For The Cultural Thing

Exclusive by Ryan Pilot

A New creative hub is set to open in central Newcastle.

The building will primarily be used by Sustained Theatre North East, a black and ethnic theatre group.

But it will be open to everyone - with the man behind it, Oscar Watson of North East Intercultural Arts keen to include as manny people as possible, not just a creative élite.

He said: “There is a discussion at the moment about a building which will be about development of performance art.

“But I am very keen if that does happen is what we create is a creative community hub.

“The last government talked about creative hubs as spaces like schools for example, so I wanted to build on that – using the resources that came from Sustained Theatre to buy and open a building.

“But to make the resources of that building available to schools, and colleges and wide groups of people.

“There is a particular building that we have in mind and we're very close in the way to possibly getting it.

“But there are problems. It's a significant amount of money that's being brought into the region.

“It's £750,000 but we may not be able to get hold of it for the want of £10,000.”

Helictite Feature

A feature on the North East's finest free-noise collective and their recording in an underground waterfall chamber for The Cultural Thing.

Helictite Podcast

This Week’s Arts News - Nov 18

This weeks top stories from the region's arts for The Cultural Thing.

This Week’s Arts News

All on Board at Walk Bus Man Honour

For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)

By Ryan Pilot

A CARING dad has been awarded a medal for his services to Durham's longest running walking bus.

Michael Walker set up the walking bus six years ago when his daughter Danielle asked him.

He said: "I used to walk her to school anyway, so I said yeah, I would do it. I went to a meeting at school and it all went from there."

Danielle, 12, has since left Woodhouse Community Primary School in Bishop Auckland. But dedicated Michael, 25, has continued with the scheme. He said: "I enjoy it and to be honest I don't want it to fold. I enjoy doing it and I want it to keep going for the school itself."

Durham County Council chairman Mac Williams gave Michael the Chairman's medal last Friday at a school assembly. It now has pride of place in his living room.

He said: "I'm very proud of it. They recognise the work that I've done for the school." A group of six adults run two walking buses, with one running morning and evening.

Michael, a parent governor, takes about 10 children to school every morning. His wife, Emma, 30, who is a supervising assistant at the school, is also involved.

Handing over the award Coun Williams said: "Michael is a perfect example of why the Chairman's Medal was launched. Michael's work has been outstanding and it's a credit to his sterling efforts that the Walking Bus Scheme is so successful at Woodhouse Primary School."

Danielle missed her dad's award ceremony as she was at school, but is very proud nonetheless.

Fruit Of Labours

For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)

Otterly brilliant: Volunteers install an otter holt

By Ryan Pilot

A WEAR Valley group has bagged an award for transforming their nature reserve into a haven for wildlife and visitors.

Hedleyhope Community Association was given the Green Heroes Northern Community Group of the Year award for regenerating the Hedleyhill Colliery Wood and Meadow.

The hardworking group regimented a traditional woodland management programme to whip it into shape and win the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers' prize.

Volunteers built bridges, created footpaths and installed bird boxes, bat boxes and otter holts and a variety of species have blossomed in the reserve's meadows.

Chair of the Environment Group Clare Ross said: "It's a fantastic achievement for the members who have worked so hard to improve this land for people and wildlife."

The association leased the 13 hectare plot in 2005 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. It is built on the site of two collieries, which makes the soil nutrient-poor.

But conditions have proven perfect for the brightly coloured waxcap mushroom - and many varieties have popped up in the reserve's meadows this year.

The meadows provide the rare environment required to create the "waxcap grasslands" that the funghi require - thanks to the sheep that graze there during winter.

Waxy Wonder: A waxcap mushroom

The association is the only community group in the North East receiving grants from the Forestry Commission, who provided 50 bird boxes. They are about to provide a grant for the nurturing of at-risk birds like the Willow Tit and the Spotted Fly Catcher.

The small group have improved the reserve for people as well as wildlife, providing guided walks and hosting children's groups. Artistic carved benches are currently being added and paths are maintained to the highest quality.

Mrs Ross said: "It has improved the biodiversity in the meadow, but we have also improved it for people."

Tree-mendous effort: Youngsters plant a sapling

Remarkably, the reserve's woodland grows flowers usually found in ancient woodland - such as blue bell and dog's mercury - despite being felled and naturally regenerated years ago.

The Hedleyhopers are hoping for more volunteers as groupds like theirs face hardship as grants dry up following Government budget cuts.

Urging others to get involved Ms Ross said: "It's good for your mental health - you can meet new people, learn new skills and do something positive to help the environment and wildlife."

Already a Local Wildlife Site, Durham County Council have promised to dedicate the land as aLocal Nature Reserve - to recognise its educational services - but the group are still waiting for the confirmation that will secure its future.

Date Anger Lead to Crash

For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)

By Ryan Pilot

A HEARTBROKEN businessman crashed while chasing the mother of his child as she snook off with an internet date.

Ian McDonald received a call from his hysterical teenage daughter informing him that her mother, Mary McGregor, had gone on a date with a man she had found online, a court heard.

Mr McDonald, 39, raced hom to Becket Close in Ehterley Dene from Leeds afer hearing the man had been let into the house he still shared with ex-partner Ms McGregor and their 16-year-old daughter, magistrates were told.

He followed Ms McGregor as she went to meet John Allen at 8pm - causing her to panic and go straight to the police station.

He pursued her again at 9pm in a Vauxhall Vectra down Woodhouse Lane as she travelled in Mr Allen's Audi A3.

It was stated to the court that Mr McDonald hit the back of the Audi as he drove carelessly - causing more than £2,000 worth of damage.

Not realising he had hit the car, Mr McDonald didn't stop. He later discovered minor damage to his front bumper, but failed to notify police of the accident.

Speaking at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court, defence solicitor Clive Booth described Mr McDonald as driving in "very sad and distressing circumstances."

He explained to the court how Mr McDonald had suspected Ms McGregor to be looking for men on dating websites before they split a year ago.

But he still went "out of his way to do his utmost to maintain the relationship" - even paying for cosmetic surgery for Ms McGregor's nose.

Ms McGregor continued to seek internet love after her relationship with Mr McDonald broke down.

Their daughter now refuses to speak to her mum after finding obscene messages on her computer. A top student, her school work has suffered as a result of the stress brought on by what happened, the court heard.

Mr McDonald pleaded guilty to harassment, careless driving and failing to report an accident. He received five penalty points on his driving licence and was fined a total of £445 - which included compensation for Mr Allen.

Ms McGregor did not wish to pursue the harassment charge - which usually results in a restraining order - due to their living together. They also share a mortgage, a taxi business and a corner shop.

Thorn In Paw Slows Lion Rae

For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)

Grin and bear it: Rachel smiles through the pain 20 miles in.

By Ryan Pilot

Pain shot from her hip after six miles - she knew what had happened - but Rachel also knew she had to limp 20 more to commemorate her three late relatives.

Rachel Glendenning fundraised and trained for the Kielder Marathon for months, planning to run in memory of three relatives who died of cancer. The Mercury first reported on her plans in August.

But she was ordered not to do any long distance running just a week before the race by her doctor after being diagnosed with a join condition.

Ignoring advice, the headstrong 22-year-old from Willington - now living in Stanley Crook - took part anyway.

Rachel said: "My hip gave out at about six miles, which meant I limped up to twenty miles. Then I couldn't pull my right leg any further than straight - so I was pulling myself along with my left leg. So it was a bit traumatic!

"I'm quite stubborn. There was no chance I wasn't going to finish. No matter how much it hurt, I was gonna be finishing.

"I'd raised just in excess of £2,000 and there just wasn't a chance that I wasn't going to be earning that money.

"I would've felt like a bit of a con - people sponsored us to do it and if I hadn't have finished, I wouldn't have felt like I'd earned it.

"A big thank you to all who sponsored me. I never thought I'd raise this much."

Rachel was one of only 240 females to finish out of 934 runners.

It took her nearly six hours as her hip got gradually worse as the gruelling, off-road course went on.

She has hypermobility, which causes her joints to move further than they should. Her condition is mild, but caused agony as each mile took its toll.

At each checkpoint Rachel was asked if she was OK, but insisted she was fine.

Tachel was spurred on by the memory of her aunt Tracy Alderson, gran Pat Alderson and great aunt Judith Matthews, nee Alderson, who all recently died within nine months of each other from cancer.

She said: "If I wasn't running for Cancer Research I wouldn't given in.

"The fact that it was the memory of them and for that cause was definitely on my mind."

Rachel's mum and step dad Julie and Stephen Staples walked the last mile with her, and - although concerned by the state she was in - knew she wouldn't stop.

Rachel said: "They were supportive, obviously, they knew my mindset - that there wasn't an option that I wasn't going to do it and they were really proud."

Despite the remarkable achievement of finishing, Rachel was disappointed by her time of five hours and 50 minutes at the end of the race.

She said: "The first thing I asked for were painkillers, I didn't celebrate or anything, I was really dissappointed with how long it took me.

"Because if my hip hadn't given out I could have done it a lot quicker - finished." Exhaused and hurting, Rachel visited her doctor after the long drive to Wear Valley then headed home to rest ahead of work the next day.

Rachel limped around Durham Sixth Form College, where she is a student support assistant, until las Thursday and craved junk food after her "nightmare" ordeal.

She laughed: "On Monday afternoon I had to go and get dinner, because I hadn't taken any, and I thought 'I just need a Burger King, I need something really fatty and calorific!'

"So I had to toddle off into town and that was quite uncomfortable, I must say."

Rachel supports students with special educational needs, such as those with dyslexia or ADHD and received the full support of her colleagues. She said: "They were very pleased that I was OK and very proud that I'd finished."

Surprisingly, Rachel insists she enjoyed the experience. She said: "IT was just a nightmare quite honestly. I enjoyed it, as much as it was a nightmare, I enjoyed it."

Her doctor has insisted that she does not run again, but stubborn as ever, Rachel is thinking about returning to Kielder to ru the whole thing properly.

She said: "I've been advised I shouldn't do anymore running, but I would quite like to run it. I'm not going to rule it out entirely."

For more information on how to donate, log on to www.runningsponsorme.org/rae.

Red Left For Dead

For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)

Pics of red squirrels at Killhope by Phil Curtis.

Decision is nuts: A Killhope red squirrel

By Ryan Pilot

WEAR Valley's last bastion for red squirrels will receive no help from a North East body as the county is surrendered to the invasive greys.

The war on the grey is long fought in the North East, but the Durham front is to be abandoned as new funding focuses on Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Save Our Squirrels (SOS) received £50,000 this month from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help North East Reds - but will not be spending it on County Durham due to its lack of red strongholds.

An SOS spokesperson said: "Northumberland, Cumbria and the tip of Yorkshire have red squirrel strongholds. Lots of places like Durham - there are red squirrels but they have smaller pockets."

There are 17 strongholds in the North East - none of them in County Durham which is over-run by the squirrel pox-carrying greys. The pox does not affect the American grey, but is deadly to the red.

Durham Wildlife Trust director Jim Corkhill said: "The national strategy to conserving red squirrels is to protect areas where there are still reasonable populations. We don't have any significant large populations left in County Durham."

But Killhope Lead Mining Museum is continuing the fight for the Durham reds singlehandedly. Their population diminished after last year's harsh winter and the removal of nearby Forestry Commission woodland - but is quickly recovering.

Visitor services officer Shelagh Connor said: "Towards the end of the summer we have seen them returning - they're nothing like the number we have seen in the past - but where there's two there'll soon be more if you know what I mean!"

In the red: Squirrel numbers are dwindling in Durham

Young Hope: A baby squirrel brings optimism for Durham reds

Staff feed squirrels with a buffet of nuts daily and provide traps for nearby residents who spot greys to catch and kill them - maintaining a grey-free zone.

Disappointed with the SOS decision, Ms Connor added: "I don't know how significant our red squirrel population is nationally. But any red population should be helped really, so they should help us, give us their money!"

Despite visitors coming from far and wide to see Killhope's reds, it is not viewed as an area of significance by SOS.

Ms Connor added: "I don't know what qualifies to put us on the map. We don't have help from outside organisations - it's the staff mainly. We're pretty much on our own."