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Chris was appointed editor of the Gazette in January 2012. He is also a former Gazette news editor. Chris has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and has previously worked in senior positions in Newcastle, Exeter and Nottingham.
Boro are looking to continue their impressive run of form in the league as they visit Charlton Athletic this afternoon.
Karanka's in-form side have won three league games on the bounce and came almighty close to pulling off a cup shock at Anfield on Tuesday night.
But Charlton have started the season in impressive fashion as well and are yet to lose a league game so far.
Boro are looking to continue their impressive run of form in the league as they visit Charlton Athletic this afternoon.
Karanka's in-form side have won three league games on the bounce and came almighty close to pulling off a cup shock at Anfield on Tuesday night.
But Charlton have started the season in impressive fashion as well and are yet to lose a league game so far.
An amateur theatre group for young people is hoping for token success in The Gazette’s Wish campaign.
Crash Bang Wallop Youth Theatre Group is a registered charity and serves young, theatrically- minded people between the ages of seven and 19 in Great Ayton, Stokesley and the surrounding areas.
Run by professional actor and director Dan Brookes, the group prepares two major musicals each year and performs productions of a high standard, never failing to amaze and impress audiences across the Teesside area.
As well as the musicals, the group also performs smaller summer shows as well as holding theatre craft workshops.
Group spokesperson Louise Egan said: “Last year’s money helped towards improving the facilities at our Stokesley-based theatre studios. This has benefited the young people accessing the facilities as well as many arts-based organisations.
“Crash Bang Wallop Youth Theatre is celebrating its 10th anniversary with two major shows and a concert scheduled over the next 12 months. Any money from this year’s Wish campaign will go towards funding set and costumes to help stage these shows.”
Every year, The Gazette’s Wish campaign gives away thousands of pounds to not-for-profit groups and organisations benefiting the Teesside community.
To get involved, groups must first register online here . All registered groups will receive confirmation in writing as well as a free starter pack to get supporters ready to start collecting tokens. Every registered group will be guaranteed a share of our £40,000 fund.
There are no losers in the Wish campaign but the aim is to collect as many tokens as possible. The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its share of the prize pot.
Tokens will start appearing in The Gazette on Monday, October 13, with the last token appearing on Wednesday, January 21. Submissions for tokens will close at 5pm on Monday, February 23.
Wish 2014: Enter this year's £40k campaign here
Time is running out for groups to register to take part in this year’s Wish giveaway.
There are just days left for your organisation to sign up to the ever-popular campaign where not-for-profit groups grab a share of £40,000 by collecting tokens from The Gazette.
Registration closes on Monday, so it’s important to move fast or lose out on the chance to be in the money.
The more tokens groups collect, the more cash they get from us - it’s as simple as that.
The figures involved show just how important Wish has become to organisations across Teesside.
By the time we’ve allocated this year’s £40,000 prize fund, we’ll have given away a remarkable £305,000 to more than 1,700 groups since Wish began eight years ago. That adds up to just under 30 millon tokens - a staggering total, and proof of how addictive collecting Wish tokens can be.
When Wish began, we perhaps didn’t appreciate how popular it would become. But it’s that chance to help a good cause - big or small - which has so captured the imaginations of kind-hearted Gazette readers.
Last year, 3.4 million tokens were collected by 288 groups. And the old adage of never working with children or animals certainly doesn’t apply to Wish, with animal and children’s causes regularly attracting huge support.
The group which collected the most tokens last year was dog charity Save Our Strays, with 144,388 tokens earning it £1,565.76.
But it’s not just the big winners who feel the benefit from Wish as, each year, smaller groups get more modest, but still vital, amounts.
The cash from Wish could fund a pensioners’ day out or buy junior footballers some new kit; it might pay for a playgroup’s new equipment or even just buy the paint to freshen up a community centre.
The one common theme is that Wish really can make a difference ... so don’t delay in signing up.
How good is your childminder?
Childminders in Redcar and Cleveland are twice as likely to be branded inadequate than the England average, according to data provided by the education watchdog Ofsted.
One in 32 - 3.1% - of childminders in the borough, who were active as of March 31, are rated as inadequate by Ofsted, compared to 1.6% across England.
Nearly two-fifths of childminders - 38.3% - are rated as satisfactory/requires improvement or inadequate, way above the England average of 23.9%.
But nurseries in the borough judged good or outstanding are 82%.
Council chiefs at Redcar and Cleveland have hit back at Ofsted’s figures because they are six months out of date.
Councillor Joan Guy, Redcar and Cleveland Council’s cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “The figures reported, reflect previous inspections published by Ofsted in March 2014.
“At the present time, there are currently 155 registered childminders, with the majority of providers having been judged to be outstanding or good.
“Current data shows a marked improvement in the outcomes for childminders in the borough, with less than 2% of our current registered childminders being classed, by Ofsted, as inadequate, and we are working with these providers to address issues and support continuous quality improvement.”
In neighbouring boroughs, there are no inadequate childminders in Middlesbrough and one in Stockton, according to Ofsted - although Stockton Council chiefs were quick to point out that there are no inadequate childminders now.
Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Childminders play a crucial and much-valued role in giving our children a great start in life and as a council we offer them a range of support to help them be the best that they can be.
“We are seeing the benefits of this approach because, contrary to this outdated data, no childminder in the borough is currently rated ‘inadequate’.
“One of the things we do to support our childminders is offer our A Journey to Outstanding document. The document includes all kinds of advice and guidance to help childminders improve the quality of care they provide and is well worth a look.”
Cllr Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive member for supporting communities, said: “The ratings given to Middlesbrough’s childminders by Ofsted reflect the high quality childcare offered to parents and carers in the town.
“For our part, childminders in Middlesbrough are continually offered and take up support provided by the council’s 0-19 Service, this includes training, information, advice and guidance.”
The figures provided by Ofsted are:
Redcar and Cleveland
Inadequate: 4
Providers: 128
% inadequate: 3.1
Middlesbrough
Inadequate: 0
Providers: 61
% inadequate: 0
Stockton
Inadequate: 1
Providers: 165
% inadequate: 0.6
A burglar who left a woman “petrified” after she caught him in her home is behind bars today.
Robert Andrew Wilkinson’s criminal record reached 50 offences when he targeted two homes minutes away from each other in one morning.
The 33-year-old ex-soldier was out of prison for just two days when he re-offended while “full of drink and drugs”.
Wilkinson walked into a home on Knole Road, Billingham via an unlocked front door at about 7.20am on August 28.
When the woman who lived there confronted him, he said he was in the wrong house, Teesside Crown Court was told today.
He claimed he was with workmen in a neighbouring garden, and was shown out of the house, said prosecutor Jenny Haigh.
“I was petrified at the time,” the householder later said in a statement read out in court.
“I didn’t know what he would do to me as no one has any right to enter my home, which should be a place of safety.
“My daughter was upstairs and I was worried for her.”
Wilkinson then tried to get into a home on Delaval Road while the occupant was out shopping.
He was spotted trying gates and doors, breaking a handle, before he was arrested.
He told police: “I walked into the wrong person’s house before. I was thinking it was my friend’s house.”
He denied the offences at first but later admitted burglary and attempted burglary.
Wilkinson, of Flodden Way, Billingham, faced a minimum three-year sentence for the “third strike”, with 48 previous offences including home burglaries in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012.
He was jailed for 16 months in January this year for inflicting grievous bodily harm. He broke his own sister’s leg in October last year.
Graham Silvester, defending, said: “This is something of a mystery.
“He has previous convictions for burglary which were planned and organised.
“This is an offence committed while he was full of drink and drugs.”
He said Wilkinson got out of jail, stayed with his mother and some friends and did some decorating work before he “foolishly” drank and took drugs.
Wilkinson admitted he would have stolen belongings from the woman’s home if she had not been there, but left swiftly and did not threaten her or damage anything.
Mr Silvester added: “He’s determined to change his ways and get off drugs. That seems to be the root of all his problems.”
Judge George Moorhouse gave Wilkinson credit for his early guilty plea, reducing the sentence to two years and seven months.
Youngsters from a Billingham football club have raised more than £1,000 for a children’s cancer ward where their schoolmate is receiving treatment.
Eight-year-old Rebecca Henderson attends Ward Four - the Children’s Oncology Ward - at Newcastle RVI for treatment for a rare cancer.
After hearing about Rebecca’s illness from three of the young players who attend Bewley Primary School with her, Billingham Synthonia Under-9s manager Martin Bennington decided to hold a charity day for the ward.
Rebecca was diagnosed with the rare alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma after being taken to hospital with a swollen leg in February this year.
In the few short months since, Rebecca, who lives in Billingham with mum Tracy, dad Paul and little brother Jake, six, has already undergone four operations, intensive chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy.
Mum Tracy said: “Rebecca is responding well to her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treament. She finished six weeks of radiotherapy on September 3. This involved travelling to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle every week day of the summer holidays with her dad Paul, myself and Jake. It was really tough on her and she’s been exhausted.
“She’s still recovering now from the after effects of the radiotherapy with broken skin and sore areas making it difficult for her to walk and to sit comfortably.
“But that’s finished now, and on Friday she should start her last session of intensive chemotherapy. Then after an MRI scan and other tests to check on progress, she should be able to start 12 months of maintenance chemotherapy.
“This shouldn’t mean overnight stays in hospital anymore, which she’s very pleased about.”
Martin organised a mini-tournament after learning of Rebecca from her school friends Richie Pooley, Ethan Woodhall and Leo Durnion, who wanted to do something to help their friend.
The tournament was held at the teams’ ground at Stockton Riverside College (SRC) Sports Centre in Billingham on Sunday, September 7, with teams from Billingham Juniors, Billingham Synthonia, SRC and Kader taking part.
Match fee donations from every participant, plus takings from a number of stalls, tombola and raffles helped raise £1,000.39, but Martin said the highlight was having brave Rebecca in attendance to give out the prizes.
“She is a fantastic little girl,” he said. “It was really good to see her.
“This was a great amount to help Rebecca and other kids of the hospital.
“I would just like to say a big thank you to all the people who donated for this wonderful charity event and for making this day really great. I was overwhelmed, I wasn’t expecting to raise so much and was amazed how many people came together.”
Rebecca’s mum Tracy said: “Rebecca had left her hospital bed that morning and was absolutely shattered. But she was determined to be there so we took her home for a little sleep then went for the last hour or so.
“When she realised the trophy was engraved with her name, she was so touched. I think she was really pleased the boys cared enough to do this for her.”
The organiser of Britain’s first football tournament for homeless people and addicts believes sport is helping save lives among one of Teesside’s most vulnerable groups.
Alan Harrison, Middlesbrough Homeless and Recovery League’s sports development coordinator, says the benefits of events such as the Homeless Recovery Shield, held on Thursday, can’t be over-estimated.
And he praised Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation for backing the tournament.
He said: “What we’re able to do is all down to their support. If it wasn’t for them, some people who are engaged with us now would have lost their lives.
“There are people who have tried to commit suicide and through the support we’re able to give them are now recovering.
“The day was about celebrating the recovery of each and every one of those who took part. It gets them involved in the community again and helps lift the stigma they are carrying on their shoulders, giving them confidence and the chance to play together in a team.”
Alan got involved with North East Athletic when he moved to Middlesbrough from Merseyside and discovered there were no programmes here using sport to help people with problems such as homelessness and substance abuse.
It was then that he started to help the charity spread its wings to Teesside.
Alan, himself a recovering alcoholic, said: “From then on it’s grown bigger and bigger and we now have around 60 people on our books who are involved with the agencies or have left them and are recovering.
“We’re very active in Middlesbrough and are looking to set up similar work in Stockton too.”
“It’s not just about football – we’re including as many sports as possible. The Philanthropic Foundation is funding rowing courses with Olympic gold medallist Kat Copeland and Tees Valley Rowing Club.”
Agencies including the Probation Service, hostels and other homelessness and substance abuse organisations throughout the country were invited to submit teams. For further information, or to find out about future tornaments, call Alan on 07935942381.
Aitor Karanka wants Boro fans to enjoy the moment and dream of a Premier League return - but has demanded his players not to believe the hype.
Boro head to Charlton this afternoon targeting a fourth straight Championship win and looking to maintain their perfect league form in September.
But the Teessiders now find added pressure on their shoulders, with their dazzling form attracting international headlines following Tuesday’s heroic defeat at Liverpool.
With nearly 3,000 away fans travelling to Anfield and more than 1,500 making the long 510-mile return trip to Charlton today, Karanka wants the fans to enjoy the team’s form - but called on his players to focus.
He said: “Our game on Tuesday was perfect for the fans. I can feel on the streets how excited they are and they deserved to watch that Anfield game.
“I know how difficult it is for fans to afford to come to games, and for that reason it’s a pleasure when you can give them a game like the one at Liverpool.
“The fans have to enjoy this because they’re living a very good moment, but for the players (my message is) the Liverpool game has past, we now have three games in a week and then have an international break to recover.
“Everyone is saying that we will be in the Premier League next season but they’re wrong. I know how difficult this league is and we have to keep our feet on the ground.
“Our worst enemy (this afternoon) could be ourselves.
“Charlton are a team that in seven or eight games haven’t lost a single game. That’s because they’re doing very well.”
Boro head to London boasting one of the best away records in the division, having lost only two of their last 11 matches away from the Riverside.
Karanka’s team are within touching distance of the Championship top two - and the Boro boss admitted his side’s form has become the talk of the town.
“Everyone around (is talking about the Premier League), even when I take my kids to school”, Karanka admitted.
“It’s normal and I understand - but it’s not true.
“It’s not difficult for me because I used to be a player, I had a lot of victories and a lot of defeats, and have a lot of experience.
“When everyone is telling you how good you are and how good you’re playing, sometimes you are in another world.
“I would be the same way but I have to keep calm for everyone, because we’re only in September.”
