The Spice Lounge

Meet your favourite presenters, enjoy great Indian food (English dishes also available), pitch yourself against the Bishop FM teams in the quiz and there’s a chance to obtain exclusive artwork by Krispen Stig.

The artwork will be based on “A Little Town (Bishop Auckland)”, by John Lambert, who will also be there on the night.

Tickets are £15 per head and half of the proceeds will be kindly donated to 105.9 Bishop FM by The Spice Lounge.

To reserve your tickets call Keith Swinbank on 01388 771503, or keith.swinbank@bishopfm.net. Book early to avoid disappointment!

The live music event, called Bishop Band Night, is an alcohol free event and will be held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall. The event will be open to all, but is aimed at the over-thirteen’s.

“Bishop Band night is a chance for young people from the area to perform,” explains youth worker Alison Ghent.

“In the past we have had bands as well as solo acts perform, some doing covers and others performing their own songs.

“I’ve been very impressed with all of the young people who have taken part and the standard of the performances.”

The event is open to up and coming bands from the Bishop Auckland area and is organised by Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Durham County Council’s Activities for young People team.

The evening will take place on Saturday, 4th February, between 7pm and 9pm in Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

For a ticket or to take part in future band nights please contact Alison Ghent: 07825 341 218.

Successful completion of all ten modules will open up opportunities for attendees to work as a volunteer at key County Durham events.

Earlier this month two speakers with experience in event planning gave talks at the college. Future module topics include design and concept, sponsorship, marketing, health and safety and customer care.

Speakers from firms such as Artichoke and organisers of local events such as the Stockton International Riverside Festival will share their knowledge and experience on the module topics.

Limited places are available for the free course at Bishop Auckland College on Woodhouse Lane. To book a place on the course or request further information call Wendy Brown on 01388 443003.

The initiative is supported by County Durham’s Economic Partnership with the Performance Reward Grant.

Over fifteen new courses are being offered by the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), including an introduction to youth work, cake decorating, lunch around the world, weight management, computers for the terrified, introduction to administration and employability.

An enrollment will be held on Wednesday, 11th January from 9:30am to 12 noon, and 3:30pm to 6:00pm at the Pioneering Care Centre, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SF.

Visitors to the enrollment event will have an opportunity to see the full programme of activities on offer, including days and times, and speak with course tutors.

Many of the courses last for four weeks and are free if people are in receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). Courses are priced at £4.60 per hour otherwise.

Carol Wood, Business Development Director for the PCP says: “We feel there is a full range of courses on offer to help people learn a new skill, discover a new hobby or improve their confidence and self-esteem.”

“We would also like to know if there is something people want to do that isn’t on offer. Please get in touch to tell us and we will do our best to provide, depending on numbers (a minimum of 10 people is required)”.

The Pioneering Care Partnership has arranged the courses in partnership with Bishop Auckland College, Durham County Council and County Durham Learning.

Further information is available from the Pioneering Care Centre, Carers’ Way, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4SF. Telephone 01325 321234, e-mail: enquiries@pcp.uk.net or visit the website – www.pcp.uk.net.

Jack and dancers

We recommend that you get yourselves along to the excellent new Pantomime at The Gala Theatre – Jack and the Beanstalk.

This years production is a new show written and directed by Simon Stallworthy, it tells the story of Jack, his magic beans, a huge beanstalk and a scary run-in with The Giant.

Hilarious duo Paul Hartley and Jane Deane are back as the dim-witted Jack and his sidekick Jill. Facing hard times, they have to take their cow Milkshake to market to sell for their mother Dame Shrivell. However, evil baddie, (and he is a baddie and evil at that – much to the delight of the young audience who booed and hissed at all the appropriate places) Fleshcreep – is determined to stop them.

Meanwhile Baron D’Oolally aims to marry off his daughter Lucy to a Prince of his choosing… but jack has other ideas.

Overseeing the whole proceedings with a little magic is Fairy Hazbeen.

Filled with mayhem, magic and live music – it is a hilarious ride through the traditional fairytale story, with all the laughter, sparkle and surprises you have come to expect from a Gala Pantomime

It really is an enjoyable, entertaining production. The local cast – all experienced in theatre and television, work extremely hard and bring to life really great characters who are amusing and have the audience in the palm of their hands.

The voice of The Giant is provided by the one and only Brian Blessed.

Brian provided the best joke of the night – relating to a hen called Gordon whom he thought was dead but then discovered that, in fact, was ‘ALIVE’ – fans of the 80′s film Flash Gordon and Mr Blessed’s immortal line in the Queen classic ‘Flash, will cheer loudly – I did !!

The production runs daily until 7th January 2012 and tickets can be bought from the Box Office on 0191 332 4041.

Treat your family to a great night out this month.

‘Highly recommended’ – Keith Swinbank, Bishop FM

Dale and Valley Homes Good Neighbour Awards 2011

- Good Neighbour of the Year
- Young Neighbour of the Year
- Getting Involved in the Community
- Outstanding Contribution to the Fight Against Anti-Social Behaviour

The deadline for entries is Friday 30th December, and you can send your entries to: Good Neighbour Awards 2011, Dale and Valley Homes, 27 Longfield Road, South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6XB.

Auckland Park Gate at Night

Here is a selection of pictures from around the area.

See the gallery on Flickr

Entrance will be free of charge and food is kindly provided by The Merry Monk – but donations will be received at the door to raise money for Breast Cancer and Bishop FM.

If you would like to donate a prize for the raffle draw – please contact us on 01388 771503.

This is a great opportunity to meet some of the presenters, raise money for a great cause and have a great night out.

Make a date in your diary – Friday 9th December, The Merry Monk from 7:00 – see you there !!

If approved, an area of land adjacent to the current North Bondgate car park would form an extension of the existing car park. The land was previously used as a bus depot, and is currently used to store materials for refurbishment of the Market Place.

The new public car park would add 122 spaces to the town centre, with an additional 14 disability spaces. Access to the additional spaces would be provided through the existing car park.

Plans for additional disability spaces would increase the number available in the town after parking bays were removed as part of refurbishment to the Market Place.

The site forms part of an area which was previously subject to a 2008 planning application for retail space, residential apartments and car parking.

Originals plans for the site outlined 234 public car park spaces, with an additional 105 parking spaces set aside for residents and retail managers.

Town councillors are due to consider the car park extension planning application at a meeting on Monday, 28th November.

Councillor Robert Yorke is pictured (left) with Elizabeth Charles, chair of Witton Park Community Association and Andrew Charles, committee member.

The building is widely used, taking in community groups such as mother and toddler groups, coffee mornings and fitness classes.

Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP allocated the project £5,500 from councillor’s Andy Turner and Rob Yorke’s neighbourhood budgets.

“Witton Park Community Association supports the village hall because we believe it provides a vital service to the community,” explained Andrew Charles, a committee member with Witton Park Community Association.

“Over the years we have become increasingly dependent on grants and loans to help us meet the ever increasing costs of maintaining it.

“In helping to pay for the installation of the solar panels on the hall roof, councillors Yorke and Turner have played a part in supporting our long-term financial security, and massively reducing our carbon footprint.