Billingham man died after being struck by a motor vehicle while in Dubai an inquest has heard

A coroner yesterday thanked a grieving father for his dignity following the death of his son.

After ruling on the death of popular Billingham man Gavin Duffy, acting Teesside assistant coroner Malcolm Donnelly told his dad Mike: “No words of mine can give you any comfort.”

Quantity surveyor Gavin, 29, died after being struck by a car in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city in the early hours November 23 last year.

An inquest heard how, due to the limited evidence made available to the British Embassy, some questions would remain unanswered.

Addressing Mr Duffy’s father, Mike, Mr Donnelly said: “When people die abroad it is complicated because my jurisdiction only extends to the United Kingdom.

“Mr Duffy had been out for a meal and as he got out of a taxi he has been struck by a motor vehicle.

“I don’t have the power to check these details in any way, such as imposing sanctions; it’s outside my jurisdiction”

Mr Donnelly described how following the incident, a 31-year-old Brazilian driver had been imprisoned for four months and had been told to pay 200,000 United Arab Emirates dirham (£33,760) in blood money to Mr Duffy’s family.

The inquest heard how a post-mortem examination was carried out in Dubai which found that Mr Duffy had died from “multiple injuries”.

However, due to the embalming process carried out on Mr Duffy’s body in the UAE, a British forensic pathologist was unable to establish some details after Mr Duffy’s body was repatriated to the UK.

Mr Donnelly said: “When your son was returned, there had been a post-mortem carried out in Dubai. A separate forensic post-mortem was carried out here by Dr Jennifer Ruth Bolton at the RVI in Newcastle.

“The post-mortem was complicated because your son had been embalmed as can happen when people die abroad.”

Mr Donnelly told the inquest that Dr Bolton was therefore unable to be sure if ethanol found in Mr Duffy’s system had been a result of the embalming process. Therefore Mr Donnelly said the ethanol found in Mr Duffy had, “no evidential value”.

Reading from the British post-mortem, Mr Donnelly said Mr Duffy had suffered injuries “consistent with having been caused by a road traffic incident”.

He continued: “It is likely that Mr Duffy was instantly unconscious with death a short time afterwards.”

In his closing remarks, Mr Donnelly said: “In so far as our being able to ascertain what happened, we’re dependent on the information provided by the embassy.

“It is an unusual conclusion that reflects what we know .

“What I want to be careful of is to record a conclusion that does not reflect badly on Gavin.

“Accidental death possibly implies that Gavin was putting himself in a situation that was a risk but there’s no evidence of that.

“The conclusion I’m going to reach today is that he died as a result of injuries consistent with having been struck by a motor vehicle.”

Addressing Mr Duffy’s father, Mr Donnelly said: “That is of no comfort to you, sir, and I do not pretend for a moment that it is. No words of mine can give you any comfort.

“It must be astonishingly difficult for you, I thank you for your dignity.”

Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr Duffy’s father spoke briefly and said: “The people of Teesside have been wonderful and that has kept us going.”

Politics behind socialist clothes bank branded 'shameful' by Stockton's Tory MP James Wharton

Stockton’s Tory MP James Wharton has become embroiled in a row with organisers of a clothes bank - outside his constituency.

Mr Wharton, MP for Stockton South, said there was “more than a hint of party politics” about the launch of the County Durham Socialist Clothes Bank “six months before an election”.

“This is as much about making statements about politics as it is about doing good things,” he told a local TV news station.

“I welcome one, I’m not convinced about the other.”

But his comments have landed him in trouble with the Durham Unite Community, whose members coordinate the clothes bank.

Unite Community is a non-industrial section of the Unite union “created to empower people outside the labour market to use the trade union values of solidarity and collective action to improve their own and others’ situations”.

Members said Mr Wharton had “shamed himself” with his comments.

Said a spokesperson: “To seek to undermine the huge amount of voluntary effort spent by our members getting the clothes bank up and running in order to score cheap political points is unacceptable.

“Helping out fellow human beings in times of need, as our members are doing through the clothes bank, is something that politicians of all parties should be applauding rather than cynically trying to denigrate their efforts in the way James Wharton MP has done.”

Mr Wharton told the Gazette he did “support all well intended community efforts”, but said he wondered why “they also need to issue highly political press releases to go with them”.

He hit back: “There are six months to go until the election and sadly it appears the unions are going to be fighting a particularly nasty and personal campaign.

“Hijacking good causes to launch their attacks is particularly shameful.

“All I can ask is that if any of the left wing unions issue statements about me which concern or worry anyone in Stockton South then people who read them consider contacting me for the truth before drawing conclusions.”

Socialist clothes bank branded 'shameful' by Stockton's Tory MP James Wharton

Stockton’s Tory MP James Wharton has become embroiled in a row with organisers of a clothes bank - outside his constituency.

Mr Wharton, MP for Stockton South, said there was “more than a hint of party politics” about the launch of the County Durham Socialist Clothes Bank “six months before an election”.

“This is as much about making statements about politics as it is about doing good things,” he told a local TV news station.

“I welcome one, I’m not convinced about the other.”

But his comments have landed him in trouble with the Durham Unite Community, whose members coordinate the clothes bank.

Unite Community is a non-industrial section of the Unite union “created to empower people outside the labour market to use the trade union values of solidarity and collective action to improve their own and others’ situations”.

Members said Mr Wharton had “shamed himself” with his comments.

Said a spokesperson: “To seek to undermine the huge amount of voluntary effort spent by our members getting the clothes bank up and running in order to score cheap political points is unacceptable.

“Helping out fellow human beings in times of need, as our members are doing through the clothes bank, is something that politicians of all parties should be applauding rather than cynically trying to denigrate their efforts in the way James Wharton MP has done.”

Mr Wharton told the Gazette he did “support all well intended community efforts”, but said he wondered why “they also need to issue highly political press releases to go with them”.

He hit back: “There are six months to go until the election and sadly it appears the unions are going to be fighting a particularly nasty and personal campaign.

“Hijacking good causes to launch their attacks is particularly shameful.

“All I can ask is that if any of the left wing unions issue statements about me which concern or worry anyone in Stockton South then people who read them consider contacting me for the truth before drawing conclusions.”

Boosbeck pensioner remains in a critical but stable condition after 'vicious' attack in home

A pensioner remains in a critical but stable condition after a “vicious” attack in East Cleveland.

The man, named locally as 66-year-old Harry Campbell, was found with serious head injuries in his flat in Brookside, Boosbeck, at about 8.50pm on Saturday.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

Two men aged 37 and 40 were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Police say Mr Campbell, a retired welder, had not been seen since about teatime on Friday.

Four police officers and two police cars remained outside the property near Boosbeck High Street last night.

A police cordon remained in place outside the garden gate of the property.

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A female neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “It should not have happened. Harry is an elderly man. It’s very shocking.”

Neighbour Peter Leng, 32, who lives with his mum and dad, said: “My mam actually found him on Saturday night.

“I’ve known Harry for years. Everyone in the block knows Harry. He is all right, he is kind, very kind.

“We normally look after his dogs - he has two greyhounds.

“My mam found him, she was very shocked. We haven’t seen him yet, we’ve been advised by the police not to go and see him.”

Detective Inspector Matt Murphy-King said: “This elderly and vulnerable man has suffered a vicious and sustained attack resulting in life threatening injuries.

“We believe the incident was a targeted attack and would like to reassure the community that such incidents are very rare.

“In response to what has happened we have increased high visibility patrols in the area and we would like to urge any members of the local community who may have information which could assist our investigation to speak to those officers.

“I have a dedicated team of detectives, crime scene investigators and other police resources who are working tirelessly and are determined to bring those responsible to justice.”

Mr Campbell was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where his condition was last night described as “critical”.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything or anyone suspicious in the Brookside area between Friday teatime and Saturday evening to contact Det Insp Matt Murphy-King on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

'I've lost my dad, my role model, my hero': Devastated son in tribute to Hemlington man who died in crash

The son of a Hemlington man who died in a car crash has paid tribute to his “role model and hero”.

Owen Corfield said his dad Andy was the “kindest and most loving man he has ever met”.

Mr Corfield, 39, was driving a Ford Fiesta when it was involved in a serious crash on Cass House Road last night.

A 17-year-old female passenger, thought to be Mr Corfield’s daughter Alice is in a critical condition at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

An 18-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, causing death by dangerous driving and failing to report the collision. He remains in police custody.

Owen posted an emotional tribute to his dad on Facebook today.

He said “I still can’t get my head round it, I’ve lost my dad, my role model my hero. There’s no words to describe how I’m feeling right now and why this happened to the kindest most loving man I have ever met in my life.

“You were only just saying to me how proud you were of me getting my new job and calling me a “docker mong”. I will always love you, you will never be forgotten.

“Hope you’re having a Jack Daniel’s up there with Jack and the rest of the family lots of love your oldest son Owen.”

Mr Corfield, the creator of Boro Pat - a popular X-rated spoof of Postman Pat, and his wife Lisa lost their third child, Jack to cot death in 1995 aged just five weeks old.

He went on to raise money for charity in memory of his late son.

Mr Corfield, a married dad and grandad, also leaves daughter Amy.

Floral tributes were left at the scene of the crash.

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One read: “A part of Hemo’s soul died here. What a waste of life.”

Another said: “Your memories will never fade kid.”

One Hemlington resident said: “Everyone was out on the front and saw what happened.

“It was really horrible.

“It looked like the lad was going too fast and as soon as the crash happened, he got out of the car and jumped over a back fence and ran off.

“It is a horrible day for Hemlington.”

Another resident, who said she had lived in Hemlington for more than 40 years, said: “We heard three loud bangs, and came outside. We’re not right next to the road so we didn’t know what had happened at first.

“You see young lads driving up and down here all the time, speeding. But nothing has ever happened like this.”

The accident is the second fatal collision in less than a week in Middlesbrough.

Grandmother-of-seven Linda Warren, 60, was killed in an accident on Saltersgill Avenue last Thursday.

A 19-year-old has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of dangerous driving in connection with the incident.

Families left distraught after thieves steal items from graves at Stockton cemetery

Families have been left distraught after callous thieves stole “sentimenal” items from graves.

Sometime between 7pm on Saturday, October 25, and 10am on Sunday, October 26, a number of items were stolen from three graves at the cemetery on Durham Road, Stockton.

Cleveland Police say three solar fairies, two solar powered black lanterns around 7ins in height and a 2ft silver lantern were stolen.

The fairies are described as around 5ins tall and in various colours of pink, green and blue. The bases are marked with V.Elliott E12.

A force spokeswoman said: “The families have been left distraught as the items are very sentimental.”

Anyone who may have information regarding the thefts or those responsible is asked to contact PC Andrea Lloyd on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Major investigation into how 12-year-old child was left blind after shocking neglect by parents

A major investigation is being held into how a 12-year-old boy was left blind in one eye due to the shocking neglect by his mum and stepdad.

Gillian Hendry and Craig Dick, both 34 and from Thornaby, were jailed last month for the appalling poor care of the boy and his two-year-old sister.

The boy went blind in his left eye from cataracts because they failed to take him for hospital appointments that could have saved his sight.

He also became increasingly crippled with arthritis until doctors called in social services so they could treat him.

A serious case review has now been launched by Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children, the body responsible for overseeing child welfare across the borough.

Such investigations are held when a child has died or suffered serious injury where abuse or neglect are known or suspected to have been a factor.

They typically look at the contact the family had with a number of authorities such as social workers, police, school, and health services.

Hendry and Dick were living on benefits in Teesdale Terrace and the conditions of the property were described by police and social workers as dirty and infested with flies with one of the bedrooms having been used as a toilet.

Hendry was jailed for two-and-a-half years and Dick for two years and two months after they pleaded guilty to two charges of child neglect.

The two children have since been rehomed and are “doing well”.

Teesside Crown Court was told that doctors had become concerned and contacted social workers about the about the boy’s welfare after he repeatedly missed appointments.

Officials were stopped from enterting the couple’s Thornaby home in August 2013 and when they later returned with police, found that pair had hurriedly tried to tidy the mess.

Colin Morris, the independent chairman of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board, said the review began in June.

“We are aware of this very sad case and a serious case review is already well under way having been initiated in June,” he said.

A Stockton Council spokesman said: “Along with a number of other agencies, we are fully participating in a Serious Case Review which has been initiated by the Stockton-on-Tees Local Safeguarding Children Board and is overseen by two independently appointed, experienced professionals.

“The boy and his sibling are settled in appropriate placements and are doing well.”

Tesco under criminal investigation by Serious Fraud Office over accounting irregularities

Tesco has formally been placed under criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) following its discovery of a £263 million hole in profit expectations.

The group said that in light of the SFO probe, a separate investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been closed.

It comes after a probe for Tesco by accountants Deloitte and law firm Freshfields found the accounting error was worse than first thought and that the supermarket had been overstating its earnings for years.

In a statement, the group said: "Tesco confirms that it has been notified by the Serious Fraud Office that it has commenced an investigation into accounting practices at the company.

"Tesco has been co-operating fully with the SFO and will continue to do so.

"Tesco has been notified by the Financial Conduct Authority that, in light of the SFO investigation, its investigation will be discontinued."

The SFO confirmed that its director David Green QC "has opened a criminal investigation into accounting practices at Tesco plc".

It said that as the investigation was under way it could not provide further details.

The SFO is responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious and complex fraud and corruption.

The FCA confirmed that it had "decided to discontinue its own investigation with immediate effect".

UK weather: Is Britain set to suffer the worst winter in 100 years?

Britain could be set for the coldest winter for 100 years.

That's the claim of some weather experts as many parts of the UK woke up to a icy pinch in the air this morning.

So dust off the winter woolies, stock the cupboards with food and put a spade in the boot of the car – just in case.

Because while we might have enjoyed an unusually mild autumn, some scientists claim we should prepare for a freezing winter – predicting record low temperatures, Arctic blizzards and icy gales that could cripple the country.

And snow could hit parts of Britain in a matter of days, with many forecasters predicting the white stuff to arrive in November. It comes just after the National Grid warned that a cold winter could take Britain to the brink of blackouts on several particularly dangerous days this year.

Weather experts claiming to have studied air flows in the upper atmosphere say a jet stream that usually holds extreme weather over the North Pole is weak this year.

And that could mean the gates are open to a freezing influx of air that could engulf the UK - similar to what happened in 1947 when average temperatures plummeted to -2.7C.

The worst of the weather is predicted to arrive around the middle of November and could again mean nightmare travelling conditions on the roads and chaos at British airports.

Readings so far this year point to similar conditions to the winter of 2009/10 – the coldest for 31 years – it is claimed.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, told the Daily Express: "The worst case and more plausible scenario could bring something on a similar par to the winter of 2009/10, the coldest in 31 years, or an event close to 2010/11 which experienced the coldest December in 100 years.”

“In addition to this the Siberian snow cover is also well ahead of schedule and is another strong signal for a harsh winter based on previous studies."

News of a harsh winter has inevitably sparked talk of a white Christmas.

The last official white Christmas was in 2010, when snow was widespread across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, north-east and far south-west England.

BetFred makes it 7-1 for there to be a white Christmas in London and Birmingham, 6-1 for Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester and 4-1 for Edinburgh.

Met Office experts have warned that forecasts are less accurate the further in the future they look.

Cross country champion Greg Jayasuriya keeps up winning ways

Last year’s overall champion Greg Jayasuriya (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) won the senior men’s race in the second round of the North Yorkshire South Durham Cross Country League at the challenging Filey course.

Jayasuriya repeated his win from the first round in Acklam, finishing over a minute ahead of Lewis Rogers (Loftus and Whitby).

Leading the way with an emphatic victory in the Under-20 men’s event was Matthew Bailey (Middlesbrough AC), finishing more than seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

Highest Tees finishers in the senior women’s race were Carolyn Ollis (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) who ran well to finish third, and Kath Aspin (New Marske Harriers) who was fifth.

Grace Cuff (Middlesbrough AC) and Hazel Costello-Webster (Middlesbrough and Cleveland) ran strong races to finish second and third respectively in the Under- 20 women’s event.

In the Under-17 men’s race there was a clear win for Jay Ferns (Loftus and Whitby) from Hassan Ben-Tiba (New Marske) with Billingham’s Callum Martin fifth.

Josh Cowperthwaite took the top position in the Under-15 boys’ age group from team-mate and training partner Josh Allen in second. Callum McDonald of Billingham was fifth.

Libby Hedger (Middlesbrough AC) was second in the Under-15 girls’ race and the New Marske pairing of Eli Barnbrook and Frances Bell finished in fourth and fifth places.

The youngest boys’ age groups - Under-13 and Under-11 - saw a pair of 1-2-3s for Tees athletes.

Daniel Gunn (New Marske Harriers) won the Under-13 boys’ race ahead Daniel Currie (Middlesbrough AC) with club- mate Dominic Shipman third.

Billingham’s Will Simpson won a close Under-11 race from Adam Wanless (Middlesbrough AC) and Benjamin Johnson (Middlesbrough AC).

Gabrielle Marsh (Billingham) was second in the Under-11 girls’ event.

Middlesbrough College's new site safety simulator uses parts from Wilton's Boiler 6

SEMBCORP Utilities UK has donated tens of thousands of pounds worth of equipment to a key safety training simulator at Middlesbrough College.

The industrial giant, which has sites around the globe - including Wilton - has given parts from Teesside’s old Boiler 6 to the £12m STEM Centre being built by Middlesbrough College.

Sembcorp bosses say the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths training centre will ‘play a vital role’ in bridging industry’s ‘critical’ skills gap.

The new STEM centre is currently taking shape on the Middlehaven site, with doors due to open in 2015.

It will play a vital role in meeting the needs of employers across a wide range of sectors, by training future engineers and delivering bespoke training programmes for workers already in industry.

Boiler 6 – a coal-fired unit at Wilton Power Station - was decommissioned recently, after more than 60 years’ service.

Now the parts will operate the STEM Centre’s simulated COMAH site – Control of Major Accident Hazards – and operational procedures will be in force to raise awareness and develop the important safety behaviours required in industry.

The simulator will create a ‘real’ working environment, teaching trainees to prevent and mitigate the effects of major accidents involving dangerous substances, such as chemicals, petroleum gas and explosives.

George Ritchie, Sembcorp Senior Vice President for HR, said the donation demonstrated the company’s commitment to the centre and showed the level of support for the “massive leap of faith” the college is taking on behalf of the region and its employers.

He said: “It’s a critical time for industry on Teesside and the STEM Centre will play a vital role in bridging the skills gap, not just locally but right across the region providing traineeships, apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships and bespoke training for companies.

“It was very fortuitous that Boiler 6 closed recently and a lot of equipment had become surplus to requirements.

“It seems only right that we donate it to the STEM Centre where it will be used to help train the engineers of the future.”

The donation includes equipment from pumps, valves and pipework to fasteners, instrumentation, controls and racking.

It will assist in delivering first-class training across disciplines from advanced manufacturing, digital warehousing and logistics and process and engineering.

Courses will be available for students of all abilities, from entry level to HND and apprenticeships.

Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the generosity shown by the management team at Sembcorp, it’s beyond all expectations.

“We can assure them that the equipment will be put to good use.

“The STEM Centre is a natural progression of the relationship we’ve had with the area’s industry for many years – we’re just taking it to another level to guarantee that the Tees Valley remains an engineering skills hotbed.”

Employers keen to find out more about staff training, apprentices or even how they can get involved in working with the STEM Centre once the doors open next year are asked to contact Middlesbrough College on 01642 333322 or email icp@mbro.ac.uk

Badger Hill Primary help Send a Cow in fundraising effort

Children at Badger Hill Primary School in Brotton have raised more than £850 - by reading books.

The funds have been raised as part of the Read to Feed campaign organised by the Send a Cow charity, which raises money to enable families in Africa to develop sustainable smallholdings.

Youngsters were determined to raise the £750 needed to provide a cow by being sponsored to read - but just before the school’s Harvest Service they were close, raising £687.

But a collection during the service raised a further £175 which meant they ended up with £862 in total.

Heather Rowe, headteacher, said: “The children are celebrating not only being able to Send a Cow, but some sheep, goats and chickens too.

“They have learned lots about African countries, food fairness and the lives of some children in Africa as part of their research for their Harvest Festival.”

“We are very proud of them.”

Hartburn road racer celebrates successful comeback season

COmeback kid Tom Leonard has paid tribute to his supporters after ending a hugely successful season on a high note.

The Hartburn bike ace returned to the saddle for the first time in 12 years this season, dedicating his comeback to his close pal, former racer and Gazette writer Andy McGladdery, who was tragically killed in a road crash.

And he brought the season down on his Buff Headwear Thundersport 500 Championship campaign with a trio of victories and a second place.

That excellent run of results confirmed his second place finish in the final championship standings.

“It was all looking a bit grim after qualification,” he admitted, “a lowly 12th position and the worst grid position of the year at a circuit that’s short, intense and tiring.”

But in each of the opening day’s races he carved his way through the pack to the front and emerge a clear victor by more than a second.

On day two he continued his great form with another win and a second.

“This is a fantastic way to end the season, finishing on such a high and proving we’ll be a force come next year,” said Leonard.

“The final race on the Sunday was scrappy and both the other riders I was dicing with were up to some crazy tricks round Gerards Bend.

“I’d like to thank all who have supported and followed us during the year, and especially those who have made commitments both financial and time wise, it’s been great and couldn’t have happened without these key characters.

“Particular thanks to my crew who have kept me focused and not let me lose sight of the reasons of our desicion to compete again.”

It was also a cracking weekend for Stockton’s Colin Mooney who wrapped up second place overall in the Seniors Cup.

He stormed to four class victories to make it a great weekend for Teesside.

Mooney will also be competing in next year’s series and, like Leonard, be eager to go one place better.

Young Jak Liddle from Middlesbrough has learned much and progressed well in his first full season of racing, although his final weekend was marred by a crash which caused burns to his elbows and side.

He’s a tough cookie though and now he’s looking forward to a season on Supersport 600 machines in 2015.

Trials ace Guy Kendrew keeps up his good form

Faceby's Guy Kendrew continued his excellent form this season by taking the runner-up spot in Eboracum MC’s Colonial Trial.

The event may no longer have national status, but the name alone assures a first class entry.

The three-lap moorland course at Hill House, Farndale, certainly brings the best out of riders and Beta UK rider Ian Austermuhle held off a strong challenge from British expert champion Kendrew and rising young star Dan Peace, the British A class champion.

A cold wind kept the rain at bay and Austermuhle lost his only two marks first lap on sections three and four.

After that he remained feet up.

Former Redcar Cubs speedway rider Kendrew and Peace lost ground on the fifth and ninth where Peace, unluckily, dislodged a flag on the first lap.

Mark Harrison topped the ever growing intermediate class entry from Pete Sharp who hit trouble on the eighth section with six marks lost.

Lealholm’s Alistair Jackson produced his best - and most consistent - riding for some time to nail a strong A class entry, pushing Middlesbrough rider Alan Williams into the runner-up berth with Mark Coulson third.

Results

Expert: Ian Austermuhle (Beta-uk.com) 2, Guy Kendrew (Beta) 13, Dan Peace (Gas Gas UK) 17.

Intermediates: Mark Harrison (Gas Gas) 23, Peter Sharp (Beta) 27, Gary Collinson (Gas Gas) 32.

Clubman A: Alastair jackson (JTG) 14, Alan Williams (Montesa) 17, Mark Coulson (Gas Gas) 21, Alan Carr (Gas Gas) 25.

Clubman B: Mark Summer (Beta) 3, Dave Wardell (Beta) 5, Bryan Kendra (Gas Gas) 7, Wayne Alderson (Sherco) 9.

Clubman B Over-40: Mick Orange (Fantic) 6.

Youth A: Jack Peace (Gas Gas UK) 45.

Youth B: Zac Collinson (Feetup Gas Gas) 18, Henry Jackson (Gas Gas) 61, Jake Eley (JTG) 87.

Youth C: Sam Charlton (Gas Gas) 30, Claire Collinson (Beta) 78.

Tees rally crew chase trio of national titles

Tees crew Chris Roe and Bob McKenzie have won their race against the clock to be ready for this weekend’s MEM Malton Forest Rally.

Driver Roe, from Redcar and his Skelton navigator go into the event on Sunday challenging for three ANCC Championship titles. But they’ve had their work cut out getting their Vauxhall Nova ready after suffering a number of problems in the Trackrod Rally last time out.

“It’s been a race against time to get the car ready after finding a differential fault on the car after the last round, coupled with a damaged engine mounting and a few other problems meant we had plenty to sort before the event,” explained Roe.

“But having rebuilt the damaged diff and repaired all the other problems, we are ready to head out to fight for championship honours.

“We’re still in with a chance of fighting for not just the (1400cc) class championship but the forest championship and the overall championship as well.

“At the start of the year and my first full season in the driving seat did I think I’d be in this position at the end of the year?

“No not at all! We have performed far better than I’d expected for our first season.

“At the start of the year we had no plans in place other than just doing a few events but as the year progressed we have built up a championship challange. Whatever happens from here on in we can surely be pleased with how the year has gone, and hopefully we can maintain the challange to the end.

“We have been seeded as 1400 class runners for this weekend but if there are long straights then we are sure to struggle with gear ratios as we are still gathering funds to repair our damaged gearbox from Croft.”

Ollie Mellors (Proton Satria Neo) is the top seed but Billingham businessman Peter Stephenson (Ford Focus) is likely to be a challenger.

Stages in Langdale, Cropton and Gale Rigg forests will be used, and the event will be based at Adderstone Field in Dalby Forest.

Recycling guru Max McMurdo special guest at Redcar and Cleveland Business Forum

Recycling guru and rising TV star Max McMurdo got a taste of Teesside when he was guest speaker at a packed business networking event.

Max – star of Channel 4’s Shed of the Year, and Kirstie’s Fill Your House For Free – was special guest at the Redcar and Cleveland Business Forum.

And to make sure he got a real taste for the town, Redcar ice-cream family the Pacittos sent along some of their famous lemon top.

“It’s delicious, I can see why it’s a big hit,” said Max.

The free business forum is a monthly event organised by Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Enterprise Team, a group providing free advice and support to more than 250 companies across the borough.

More than 100 businessmen and women took their seats at the event at Tuned In to hear Max share details of how he went from design student to car designer and eventually entrepreneur before appearing on TV’s Dragons’ Den, where he secured £50,000 of investment from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis.

Owner of highly-successful furniture upcycling company ‘reestore’, Max set up his business in 2003 after being concerned about mass consumption in the economy.

Famous for his bathtub sofas, shopping trolley chairs and the Formula 1 wheel coffee table, Max’s innovation has inspired a generation of designers, crafters and ‘upcyclers’ – those who give new life to unwanted items.

Cllr Mark Hannon, Redcar and Cleveland Council’s cabinet member for economic development, said: “It was a fantastic event and it was reassuring for many people there that Max, for all his success, faces the same challenges as any entrepreneur.

“The business forum, which is held each month, is part of a raft of free help and support being provided by the Enterprise Team, and is a great example of how the local authority is playing a key role in job creation across the borough by supporting local businesses.”

Max, who’s about to start filming for George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, said: “As an entrepreneur, with all the challenges that brings, it’s easy to focus on the negative, but those brave enough to be in business should always believe in what they are doing.

“I think about giving up at least once a year – always February for some reason – but then I’ll come up with a new idea and my enthusiasm returns and off I go again.

“Sometimes I find running a business the most stressful thing in the world but then other times it’s incredibly rewarding - the positives definitely out way the negatives overall though!”

The Enterprise Team is made up of skilled business coaches, and is focused on helping companies in Redcar and Cleveland to achieve their goals, including moving premises, increasing their turnover, improving profitability and reaching more potential customers.

The scheme offers Redcar and Cleveland businesses at least 12 hours of free, tailored support and in the last year more than 250 companies have been helped, leading to the creation of more than 150 jobs.

The business coaches have also held scores of free pre-start workshops, enabling hundreds of residents to realise their dream of running their own business or exploring the possibility of self-employment.

To find out more about the Enterprise Team visit http://ift.tt/1xDeXqA or call the team on 01642 438500.

Turn Down for What?

On the way to the airport the other day, my Uber driver, an elderly Russian chap, turned on a Top 40 radio station. Not being one to complain, I actually sat and listened to the lyrics. The song blasting through the speakers of the late-model Honda Civic was titled “Habits.” The singer, a young, presumably wealthy Swede named Tove Lo (actual name: Tove Nilsson), warbles about her need to visit sex clubs, do drugs, “binge on all my Twinkies, throw up in the tub.” She laments that she “drank up all my money.”

Why? Well, she explains, “You’re gone and I gotta stay high all the time.”

The next song featured a rapper named Lil Jon screaming loudly at the listener that it is “Fire up that loud, another round of shots. … TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!” Translation: We’re drunk and crazed, and we won’t stop being drunk and crazed. The music video, as described by creator Daniel Kwan explores, “this other universe where dudes are so pumped up on their own d***s — and they’re so into their testosterone — that the way that the show that is by breaking s*** with their d***s.” The video, which shows a young man crashing through ceilings and into furniture as his erect penis swivels wildly in his pants, currently has nearly 130 million views on YouTube.

No wonder Tove Lo needs to stay high all the time.

The end of Western civilization, it turns out, comes with both a bang and a whimper. The bang: endless sex, animalistic, primal, without strings. As Adam Levine whines, “Baby, I’m preying on you tonight, hunt you down, eat you alive, just like animals, animals, like animals.” In 1971, according to the National Survey of Young Women, 30.4 percent of young women aged 15-19 living in metropolitan areas reported having premarital sex. By 1979, that number was 49.8 percent. Today, 62 percent of young women overall have had premarital sex according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In 1950, men’s median age of first marriage stood at 22.8; today, it stands at 28.2. More people having sex younger, and without commitment is not a recipe for societal happiness.

Thus the whimper. In a culture in which emotional connections are degraded to the level of bovine rutting, is it any wonder that 9.2 percent of Americans — some 23.9 million people — have used an illicit drug in the past month, and that nearly a quarter of those aged 18-20 have done so? Or that nearly a third of men over the age of 12 and 16 percent of women have participated in binge drinking in the last month?

From what are these people running? Drugs and alcohol are an escape — but we are the most prosperous society on the planet. We are wealthier and healthier than any nation in history. So why the angst?

That question sticks in the craw of the materialists of the secular left, who insist that endless supplies of Soma and government-sponsored sex, complete with Malthusian belt — to borrow terms from Huxley — should bring happiness. Obviously, it doesn’t. America’s suicide rate recently hit a 25-year high. Suicide has surged among the middle-aged, those aged 35-64, jumping 30 percent from 1999 to 2010.

Turn down for what? For survival. Or we could just keep going to sex clubs, throwing up in the bathtub and drinking up all our money. After all, isn’t that what freedom from consequences — our God-given pursuit of happiness, according to the left — is all about?

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