VIRGIN TAKEOVER: The largest building society in the UK has reached a preliminary agreement to takeover Virgin Money in a £2.9bn deal. Nationwide said the merger means they would become the second largest provider of mortgages and savings in the UK. In a message to Virgin Money staff, Swindon-headquartered Nationwide said they ‘value Virgin Money’s …
The vice chairman of an impartial body charged with monitoring Durham Prison has called into question whether fresh government plans to reduce overcrowding can scratch the surface of a crisis threatening to cripple the UK’s justice system. The Independent Monitoring Board’s (IMB) annual report into the state of under-pressure HMP Durham — published today (March …
With longer days in prospect and clement weather surely on its way, National Trust properties in the North East are opening for the season like the crocuses and daffodils (although at Wallington this year, the former were reportedly three weeks early). Cherryburn, birthplace of wood engraver Thomas Bewick, is the next to open, on March …
Five of the six candidates vying to be the first elected mayor of a huge swathe of the North East attended their first hustings at St Chad’s College, Durham, on Monday night. It is reported about 100 people were there to hear them put their case, discussing issues including transport, green energy, schools, housing and …
October 1963. The Beatles have been at number one for six weeks with She Loves You. Meanwhile, in 10 Downing Street, a report of huge significance lands on the desk of the new Conservative prime minister, Alec Douglas-Home — the Robbins Report on the future of higher education. At a time when only 5% of …
Gateshead, as explained in Part One of our report, was initially intended by the Boundary Commission for England to be a self-contained sub-region with two constituencies. Instead it was sacrificed to avoid what the Commission saw as serious knock-on disruption in the neighbouring areas of Jarrow, Sunderland and County Durham. Gateshead’s two current seats (Gateshead …
Michael Bailey, 51, grew up in South East Northumberland and now lives in North Tyneside. A digital marketer, designer and musician, the 51-year-old remembers taking his first photos on a school trip to France when he was 12 – using the bulk of his precious 24 shots attempting to get abstract close-up photos of waves …
Independent bookshops so often form the backdrop of romantic films, such as Notting Hill, and their popularity on the high street is growing. Despite kindles and the like, the Booksellers Association reports the number of independent bookshops across the UK has reached its highest point for 10 years. The North East is blessed with passionate …
The whiteboard in Alison Gwynn’s office offers a pretty straightforward message. As far as the chief executive of North East Screen is concerned, film and TV production equals jobs and investment for the region, at the kind of levels which are not to be sniffed at. And while I’m not going to betray the kindness …
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