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FREE - May 2018

COMMUNITY NEWS - LOCAL EVENTS - FEATURES - COMPETITIONS - LOCAL PEOPLE

Ready Player One reviewed Has Spielberg done it again? Whatâ€™s on in May Stay busy in Darlington this spring We head to Aberdeen The attractions of the Granite City

From bank worker to engineer Exciting career switch for Teesside mum

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Welcome to the May edition of Darlington Monthly! Well, it took long enough for the sun to come out properly this year, but it’s fair to say that over the last month or so, it’s done so with a vengeance. Everyone here at Darlington Monthly very much hopes that you’ve been enjoying it all – complete with the requisite sun protection, of course! But when you do take cover in the shade, we hope you have a copy of the latest issue of our monthly magazine with you. We’ve got yet more of the Darlington-focused features and ‘what’s on’ listings that you’ve come to love from us, alongside a complement of more general articles. We bet you didn’t know, for example, that it’s National Smile Month, which you can read more about on page 6. We’ve also been to the cinema again, and have the verdict on the latest much-talked-about Spielberg epic, Ready Player One, waiting for you on page 10. Or maybe you’re more in the mood for a bit of travelling during May? If so, check out contributor Alex Nelson’s assessment of Aberdeen on page 14, where you’ll learn more about the wealth of attractions that the often-unsung Granite City has to offer to those visiting by rail. Finally, please avail yourselves of some of our advertisers’ services, mentioning Darlington Monthly as you do so! You can become one of them yourself, in fact, by emailing sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk or calling 07500 828 396. There are some great discounted longterm plans available to enable you to spread the word about your business throughout the Darlington area. That’s it for now. Have a very contented May, and we’ll see you again in June!

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Places To Go...

Sunday morning after breakfast the Episcopal (Anglican) cathed Andrew’s in the city centre, to a 10 which happened to be on Mothers the Mothers’ Union were preparing lunch for the congregation, to whic visitor – was warmly invited. Well I to be asked twice for a free meal full of African specialities made by of the very international MU branc afternoon, I found the VisitScotlan on Union Street very helpful, and w Maritime Museum. Many of the free are open on a Sunday afternoon. I good on the history of the harbour, d to 1136, and the modern oil and ga including the 1988 Piper Alpha disa I walked down to the city beach an coffee on the front by Codona’s am and back for the jazz.

On Monday morning, early bus 7

airport to find my flight was firs Disclaimer... The train provided a lovely journey up then cancelled, so using my return take everysightseeing care toinensure accuracy in back thisto Edinb theWhilst coast, a we couple of hours £17 train ticket I got magazine, weway, regret wescenery cannot accept responsibility forthere to Edinburgh on the morethat coastal having to buy a single from north andinformation. then a cheap room the Good newsare - I was eligible for a €2 anyof Dundee incorrect All inadvertisements accepted Station Hotel on arrival in Aberdeen. compensation payment, so the who in good faith as to their veracity and we not responsible paidare for itself! A swanky modern hotel it isbynot, but it is for views expressed contributors or other sources. The perfectly comfortable and ideally close, as the To thank you is for strictly reading this fa copying of any material within this publication name implies, to the railway station. Indeed confide that TransPennine are run without the office publishers or Studio Managers halfforbidden of it was originally the head of the popular Club 55 promotion (for on railway company based in Aberdeen, whichaddress passengers 55) from consent. By providing your email and over entering ourSunday 2 had a grand staircase, and it is now managed to Saturday 19th May 2018. They a competitions you agree to receive email communications by the Newcastle-based Cairn Group. An OPEN RETURNS valid for the da from single the competition economy room was onlysponsor/prize £75 for TWO provider. one month from the outward jo

The Croft Hotel Vue Cinema P. Kay Kay Carvey To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396only £21 standard and £41 in first cl nights, with a delicious optional breakfast at £9.50 extra. I arrived to find there was a Jazz

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You’ve got a particularly great reason to smile in May – it’s National Smile Month! It’s so easy for many of us to underestimate just how important a healthy smile is. Of course, you need good teeth for the simple practical reason that they help you to chew and digest food, but it’s easy to forget that they also assist the act of talking and give your face its shape. Quite frankly, your oral health is something that you should be smiling, rather than frowning about. That’s precisely why National Smile Month is so important, with the annual campaign by the Oral Health Foundation running this year from 14th May to 14th June. It’s come a long way... You might initially wonder why we need a National Smile Month, especially these days. After all, don’t most of us look after our teeth and mouths fairly well? Alas, even today, that’s often not the case. There are still too many of us who continually forget to brush our teeth twice a day, or who too frequently spend less than two minutes brushing. We’ve also seen our diets become overly reliant on added sugars, and millions of us haven’t even seen a dentist in the last two years. When you also consider that back in 1977 – when the forerunner to National Smile Month, the week-long ‘Smile 77’ project was held – only one in three people had their natural teeth, you can probably begin to appreciate just how crucial a role the event has long played in educating Britons about their oral health. So... how can you look after your mouth better? There are a lot of things that you can do to help to ensure the best possible oral health. You’ll find a more comprehensive list on the National Smile Month website 6

at nationalsmilemonth.org, but here are a few to be getting on with... • Brushing your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day with a fluoride toothpaste • Cleaning in-between your teeth at least once a day using interdental brushes or floss • Visiting your dentist regularly, or as often as they recommend • Chewing sugar-free gum after eating or drinking, especially sugary foods • Following a varied diet rich in vitamins, minerals, fresh fruit and vegetables • Avoiding snacking and only having sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes • Changing your toothbrush every two to three months or sooner • Quitting smoking Plenty of events are also taking place during the month Every National Smile Month, supporters and organisers hold all manner of events in a varied range of settings – including dental practices, hospitals, pharmacies, retailers and even just out on the street – to spread the message of how to maintain optimum oral health. With the likes of Smileathons, Two Minute Challenges, school visits and much more taking place over the month, there’s a lot to get excited about – and you can find out more about it all by visiting www.nationalsmilemonth.org. However you choose to celebrate National Smile Month, always remember to keep smiling!

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Post Code: Email: Please send all entries to: Competitions Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-St, Co. Durham, DH3 3DY *NEW* Or enter free by commenting on this advert on our Facebook Page @DarlingtonMonthly Entrants can view Terms & Conditions at www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Vue guest admission policy terms and conditions apply, visit myvue.com/legal for details.

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Tori encourages women to engineer new careers A TEESSIDE mum-of-one is launching a new career for herself thanks to Middlesbrough College – and now she’s encouraging other women to follow suit. Tori Stephenson, 36, received an Access to Higher Education (HE) diploma from Middlesbrough College and is now in her final year of studying for a Master’s degree in chemical engineering. Tori, a former bank worker, decided to retrain after having her daughter and relocating to the North East to be closer to her parents. She explained: “I left school after my GCSES and went straight to work. I knew I wanted to go back to education but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or how to get there. “I’ve always enjoyed maths so when I found out about the Access to Higher Education engineering course at Middlesbrough College it sounded perfect.” Access to HE diplomas offer an alternative route for people who want to go on to university but don’t have traditional qualifications. The year-long courses equip students with the skills and know-how required for further study. The College offer 15 diplomas across a range of subjects, including business, healthcare and computing. After completing an Access course, students can progress to further study at degree level.

mechanical, electronic, manufacturing and instrumentation – all of which are validated by Pearson Education. Tori said: “I was apprehensive about returning to education after so long but the course really helped me to hit the ground running and prepare myself for the workload and fast pace of university study.” As one of only a handful of women on her course, Tori now wants to encourage other women to consider engineering as a career option. She said: “Traditionally engineering is a male dominated field but there’s no reason that should be the case. “The number of women engineers is on the rise and I found it very encouraging to have so many female lecturers. “If you’re considering returning to education as a mature student then I’d definitely recommend thinking about engineering. “I love it, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done!” Lecturer Tim Ong added: “Tori is a focused and driven young lady who strives to understand the science of engineering theory and the craft of its skilled application. “Adding the interpersonal skills honed from her previous customer-centred career will make Tori a very capable engineer for a prospective employer.”

Engineering students can choose between a selection of specialist HND/HNC engineering pathways including

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FILM REVIEW

hat do you expect the world to be like in 2045? You might imagine, given the pretty dystopian terms in which we already speak of the years ahead, that it might be pretty badly beaten-up. However, the two seemingly cataclysmic events merely referred-to in passing in Ready Player One – the “corn syrup droughts” and the “bandwidth riots” – might not have been the causes you’d imagined. Escaping the slums of mid-21st century Ohio Anyway, imagine that in the intervening time, Ohio’s state capital and most populous city – Columbus – has been rendered a grim favela of trailers mounted on top of each other, a world in which the drudgery of the slums drives the remaining citizens to hook themselves on escapism. Such escapism is provided by the alternate wholly virtual reality world known as the Oasis, in which most of the population live their lives, generally play-acting and mashing together favourite elements of 20th-century pop culture. Those references, by the way, are truly teeming, encompassing everything from King Kong, the Tyrannosaurus rex from Jurassic Park and Marty McFly’s Back to the Future DeLorean to a soundtrack covering such ‘70s and ‘80s touchstones as George Michael’s “Faith” and Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover”. A high-octane chase for the keys to the Oasis The heavyweight-of-all-heavyweights reputation of producer and director Steven Spielberg was undoubtedly instrumental in securing the necessary rights for the scores of references to films, television shows, movies and other media littered throughout Ready Player One, which is based on Ernest Cline’s 2011 novel of the same name. It’s a suitably Spielbergian cast, too, headed by Tye Sheridan, who plays Wade Watts, very much the kind of determined, single-minded male lead to whom we have become accustomed across the director’s epics ranging from E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial (Henry Thomas) to Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford).

Contributing a performance of vital quiet and humanity in an otherwise top-speed, overwhelming universe is Mark Rylance as James Halliday, the celebrated but socially awkward Willy Wonka-meets-Steve Jobs-like figure who was the creator of the Oasis, but is already dead as the film’s story begins. Nonetheless, Halliday has left behind quite the enticing ‘Easter egg’: the opportunity for a mere mortal to take the helm of his trillion-dollar empire and rule the Oasis. All that players need to do is complete the dizzying treasure-hunt that stands between them and this most seemingly unobtainable of honours. This double-life romp may be worth a second helping Ready Player One therefore revolves around the two separate worlds of ‘reality reality’ and ‘virtual reality’, as while immersed in the latter, such ‘gunters’ – or egg-hunters – as Watts, Samantha Cook (played by Olivia Cooke), Helen Harris (Lena Waithe) and Toshiro (Win Morisaki) race for the literal keys to the Oasis. All the while, these heroes of humble origin are forced to look over their shoulders for any signs of chilling corporate villain Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) and his massive army of mercenaries, who have their own designs on exploiting the Oasis for profit. It all adds up to a searing and ever-stimulating adventure, albeit one also occasionally too slick for its own good, that falls tantalisingly short of timelessly transcending its rich seam of source material.

Gavin Lenaghan Copywriter

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A house this good. Must be Miller Homes. Hunters Fold, off Sadberge Road, Middleton St George, DL2 1RJ Home of the Month: The Ashbery – plot 29. 4 bedroom detached home with garage. Priced from £265,950.

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03331 225 396 | www.millerhomes.co.uk Prices and availability correct at the time of print. Artist’s impression for illustration purposes only. Photography represents typical Miller Homes’ interiors. Carpets and floorings

in our homes as standard. To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396 12are not included

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Places To Go...

Aberdeen is 255 miles north of Newcastle by rail, about the same as London, but fares are cheaper because there are plenty of trains competing for your custom. At the age of 56, I am too young for the over-60s Senior Railcard, but I am eligible, even as a resident of England, for the Scotrail Club 50 card which gives a discount on journeys within Scotland. In the spring they offered a special open return fare of £17 in standard class, bookable on the day, so I booked an advance ticket to Edinburgh for a Saturday in mid-March and, once there, bought a return to Dyce, just north of Aberdeen, for £17. I had considered going to Thurso and Wick to get best value for my £17 but there was not a suitable itinerary available for such a long journey, and I discovered a cheap flight with Loganair from Aberdeen on the Monday morning back to Durham Tees Valley in the last week before the end of the operation, so I thought that would be an interesting quick way back home. The train provided a lovely journey up the coast, a couple of hours sightseeing in Edinburgh on the way, more coastal scenery north of Dundee and then a cheap room in the Station Hotel on arrival in Aberdeen. A swanky modern hotel it is not, but it is perfectly comfortable and ideally close, as the name implies, to the railway station. Indeed half of it was originally the head office of the railway company based in Aberdeen, which had a grand staircase, and it is now managed by the Newcastle-based Cairn Group. An economy single room was only £75 for TWO nights, with a delicious optional breakfast at £9.50 extra. I arrived to find there was a Jazz festival on so I booked the Blue Lamp venue with two bands playing on Sunday night.

ABERDEEN

Sunday morning after breakfast I went to the Episcopal (Anglican) cathedral of St. Andrew’s in the city centre, to a 1045 service which happened to be on Mothers’ Day and the Mothers’ Union were preparing a special lunch for the congregation, to which I – as a visitor – was warmly invited. Well I don’t need to be asked twice for a free meal and it was full of African specialities made by the ladies of the very international MU branch. In the afternoon, I found the VisitScotland iCentre on Union Street very helpful, and went to the Maritime Museum. Many of the free museums are open on a Sunday afternoon. It was very good on the history of the harbour, dating back to 1136, and the modern oil and gas industry, including the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster. Then I walked down to the city beach and enjoyed coffee on the front by Codona’s amusements, and back for the jazz. On Monday morning, early bus 727 to the airport to find my flight was first delayed, then cancelled, so using my return half of the £17 train ticket I got back to Edinburgh, only having to buy a single from there to Newcastle. Good news - I was eligible for a €250 (£217!) compensation payment, so the whole trip has paid for itself! To thank you for reading this far, let me confide that TransPennine are running their popular Club 55 promotion (for one or more passengers over 55) from Sunday 22nd April to Saturday 19th May 2018. They are offering OPEN RETURNS valid for the day or up to one month from the outward journey for only £21 standard and £41 in first class, across Northern England. Alex Nelson. www.nationalrail.com

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Showroom. 10 Northumberland Street, Darlington, DL3 7HJ Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 10am til 5.30pm Saturday - 10am til 5.30pm | Thursday & Sunday - Closed

POETRY CORNER I gazed upon the waters of the Mediterranean Sea; I think I need a boat and oars, or at least a Sail for me. Warm coat and food aplenty with a cooker and a Fridge; It is a long way to North Africa without a solid Bridge. My mobile phone to herald arrival, or call for assistance if required; Perhaps some fuel to last the trip by keeping the outboard fired. To brave the Roughest Sea could be Suicidal Folly; That sinking feeling, too real, quintessentially, without an Englishmanâ€™s Brolley!! A Seagull alights, too briefly, upon our Sunny Balcony; Perhaps to Fly some distance, over this Briney Sea. It needs no clothes nor larder as food is present all the way; No trappings of Civilisation, no House in which to stay. Free of ALL encumbrances, no debt or responsibilty; Nature provides its every need for Breakfast, Lunch and Tea. Whilst we Fill our Lives with Material things, we are In Fact, The Weaker; For Survival; this Gull needs none of these; Whose Life do you think, The Bleaker?

Just 59p pint Darlington Barnard Castle Aycliffe Richmond

(No delivery charge)

Northallerton Middleton St George Staindrop & many villages in between.

Tel: 01325 466999 E: organic@acorndairy.co.uk

Lost for Words? Could you need help in: Putting the case for or against proposal. Letters of condolence: personal or business. Newsletters to entertain and inform. Job Applications. Programmes for Seminars & meetings. Copy writing for Sales - Blurb to friends Christian material for church hand-outs: for Christ our Lord Product descriptions.

Lost for Words? is manned by people experienced in drafting good text in both routine and unusual situations! We can produce stylish material to match any cause.

Contact Ring Graeme C. ÂŠ gch 2018

www.rite4me.co.uk

01325 332095 to enquire and discuss

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Now Open in Darlington for: Equine - Pet - Farm - Garden

Plenty of on-site parking available

Cut me out and take to our DARLINGTON Store to receive : A DOG TOY or GIANT BIRD FAT BALL * Original voucher only , No photocopies, this voucher has no monetary value, 1 per customer while stocks last

Over 13,000 products for your hamster to your horse..and all in stock. With friendly, knowledgeable staff who will even load your car, why not come and have a browse? We also offer free delivery on all bulk orders. Complete Dog Food 15kg £6.99 Pegasus Horse Nuts £5.50 Pegasus Horse Mix £6.50 FW Horse Treats 20kg £7.50 FW Condition Mix 20kg £8.99 Whiskas Pouches x40 £8.49 Real Creosote 20ltr £46.99 Pigeon Mix 20kg £6.99 Lamb Milk 10kg £21.99 Pig Rolls 20kg £6.30 Ferret Feast 15kg £14.99

3 stores in the North East:

Dog Beds from £2.99 Raw Dog Meat Blocks 89p Gain 28 Greyhound £13.50 SupaDog Adult 15kg £14.99 Wild Bird Seed 20kg £8.99 Sunflower Hearts 20kg £19.99 Layers Pellets 4 for £23.00 Mixed Corn 2 for £13.00 Sheep Nuts 25kg £7.99 Goat Mix 20kg £9.50 Wagg Bunny 15kg £8.49

Plus many more offers in store & on our Facebook page

Browney, Durham DH7 8HX (0191) 3789 005

Delves Lane, Consett DH8 7JU (01207) 500 097 Corporation Rd, Darlington DL3 6AE (01325) 487 147 Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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All aspects of Carpentry and Joinery Specialist in Kitchen Fitting & Wooden Floors

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FULLY INSURED

For a FREE No Obligation Quote Please Call:

07817 153861

www.dmcdadejoinery.co.uk

Make the most out of your marketing budget... Start your advertising campaign with us today. With prices from ÂŁ59, can you

Call today on: 07500 828 396 or email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Find us @ The Grange, 41 Hurworth Road, Hurworth Place, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL2 2BN

Tel: 01325 720 000 â€˘ 0800 022 3357 â€˘ www.oaktreewindows.com

Your Beautiful Conservatory Transform your conservatory into an all-year-round living space...

Alarm Systems

Bi-Folding Doors

Covering North Yorkshire & The North East Open Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm. Saturday by Appointment Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

Please mention Darlington Monthly when contacting advertisers

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

Please mention Darlington Monthly when contacting advertisers

Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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DMALAW ‘The Link’ is our very own ‘law shop’ walk-in centre (and still the only one we know of in the country we may add!). We are now well in to our 3rd year here at The Link and are very much a part of the local community in Darlington. We are a legal walk-in centre where, there is no hassle, no stress and all our initial consultations are free of charge. In the time we have been open we have proudly assisted over 2000 members of the local community. We offer free help and guidance and people can come and speak to us at any time during our opening hours and don’t need to make an appointment to do so. You can just come through our door and speak with our solicitors, lawyers and advisors. We have experience across a range of areas of law; family matters, crime, personal injury, wills and probate, employment, debt recovery, civil litigation, contract

disputes, housing, medical negligence, conveyancing and many others. We opened The Link in direct response to the cuts to legal aid funding to help people access justice. Our aim is to help, support, guide and encourage people who have legal issues but aren’t certain what they need to do to resolve them, or when they feel there is nowhere else to turn in their hour of need. This is exactly what The Link is about; what we do; who we are and we are very proud of that! What does the future hold for The Link? Well, we are going to be here for at least another 3 years and in that time we are sure that we will continue to get bigger and better and assist more and more of you. Why is that? Because we think The Link works! We are at 40 Skinnergate, Darlington and all our consultations are free of charge and in confidence.

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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DMA LAW has been providing mainstream legal services in the North East for over three decades. Whatever your need is right now, we’re here to help.

ACCIDENTS & DISPUTES

LIFE PLANNING

FAMILY & CHILD CARE

MOVING HOUSE

PROBATE

CRIME

Let DMA take the stress away www.dma-law.co.uk Darlington 56 Duke Street - 01325 482 299

@DMAlawNorthEast DMA Law is a trading name of DMA Law Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA 635837

We also have a free legal walk in centre. If you have any legal queries visit DMA Law Link, 40 Skinnergate, Darlington. to us Mon–Fri 10-4, Sat 10-2 No appointment needed. Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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Employment Round Up Are you ready for GDPR? On the 25th May, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR’) comes into force, yet many employers seem to have taken the ostrich approach and chosen to side step the issue. Why, well probably because smaller firms, without a dedicated IT or HR department lack the resources to devote the necessary time to a re-evaluation of how they store their data, and who has access to it. The ICO has set up information guidelines to help you manage your way through the legislation, but to access the right one you need to ask the fundamental question, are you a controller of data, or processor of data, or do you do both? This is a ticking time bomb and won’t be de-activated, no matter how much you focus on ignoring it! If you think this may directly affect you and your business, then take advice if you are not sure what to do. As a starting point you could go to the ICO website h t t p s : / / i c o. o r g . u k / fo r- o r g a n i s a t i o n s / b u s i n e s s / g u i d e to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr-faqs/ This will provide the necessary detail to direct what you need to do next, and hurry; the 25th May is not far off!

Denmark Street Advert 64x96mm_Layout 1 29/01/2016 1

Libby Eglin, HR Resolutions E: hrresolutions@btconnect.com M: 07967 200603 W: www.hr-resolutions.co.uk

A pharmacy that’s open early until late and 7 days a week! NHS prescriptions, over the counter medicines and healthcare products, and a wide range of other services available. Denmark Street Pharmacy Denmark Street Surgery, Denmark Street, Darlington, County Durham DL3 0PD Tel. 01325 482 498 info@denmarkstreetpharmacy.co.uk Visit denmarkstreetpharmacy.co.uk

Opening Times Mon - Sat: 7:00am - 10:30pm Sun: 10:00am - 5:00pm @DenmarkStPharm

Find us on Facebook

07939 079 527

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Darlington

01325 485 151

Bishop Auckland

01388 604 273

In our 107 years

we have sold more properties in Co.Durham than any other estate agent.

Instruct the agent that gets results! Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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Traditional Sunday Lunch served between 12:00pm and 4:00pm One, Two or Three courses available in our Farmhouse Restaurant and Bar. Main courses from ÂŁ10.95 per adult ÂŁ6.95 per child (12yo and under)

Piercebridge, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3SW

To Advertise Contact Darlingtonwww.thegeorgehotelpiercebridge.com Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Find us on Facebook: DarlingtonMonthly Visit us online: www.darlingtonmonthly.co.uk

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H O T E L

VISIT OUR WEDDING SHOWCASE 6TH MAY 2018. 11:00AM - 2:00PM.

WHAT’S FEATURED? The Croft Hotel will be brimming with a host of suppliers for your big day. We’ve got amazing photographers to delicious wedding cakes. Don’t forget we will have wedding dresses and so much more!

CAN’T MAKE IT? Join us for our Wedding Open Weekend. 16 June – 17 June. For more information find us on facebook or register by email at events@crofthotel.net.

The Croft Hotel, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2ST www.crofthotel.net Contact: 01325 720319 or email: info@crofthotel.net

To Advertise Contact Darlington Monthly Email: sales@darlingtonmonthly.co.uk Tel: 07500 828 396

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Elderflower cordial recipe by H O T E L

Ingredients. 30 elderflower heads 1.7litres/3 pints boiling water 900g/2lb caster sugar 50g/2oz citric acid (available from chemists) 2 unwaxed oranges, sliced 3 unwaxed lemons, sliced

Homemade elderflower cordial is so much better than anything you can buy. Serve with sparkling water for a refreshing drink or sparkling wine for a delicious cocktail.

Method. • Gently rinse over the elderflowers to remove any dirt or little creatures. • Pour the boiling water over the sugar in a very large mixing bowl. Stir well and leave to cool. • Add the citric acid, the orange and lemon slices, and then the flowers. • Leave in a cool place for 24 hours, stirring occasionally. • Strain through some muslin and transfer to sterilised bottles.

Robson Granite Worksurfaces Limited Darlington's Premier Granite, Silestone and Quartz Specialist.

years experience

B GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

OUR SERVICES

Fantastic Prices on Quartz, Silestone and Granite Throughout May! We supply, template and install Granite, Silestone, Quartz and Corian worktops for kitchens, bars and bathroom vanities at fantastic prices. We can also make amendments to existing granite & also oﬀer a chip repair service.

07590 430370

enquiries@graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk www.graniteworktopsdarlington.co.uk

POTHOLE REPAIRS FENCING LITTER PICKING HOUSE CLEARANCE SITE CLEARANCE RUBBISH REMOVAL SMALL DEMOLITION WORK INCINCERATION OF SENSITIVE MATERIAL. (DEFRA/DART) APPROVED.