Local Highlights from Wearside This Week

This week on Wearside, a collection of notable stories included an 80-year-old rower’s double gold medal victory, a local hospice facing financial difficulties, and a donkey rescue organization reporting an excess of animals. These are some of the local developments you might have overlooked. Earlier this month, an 80-year-old individual dedicated to fitness secured two gold medals at the British Rowing Indoor Championships. Roger Stainforth, a resident of Durham city, triumphed in both the 2,000m and 500m races within the 80-84 age bracket. He competed against only two other participants, noting that at his age, the pool of competitors is significantly smaller. Stainforth explained that as the age category “goes up and up,” the number of competitors goes “down and down.” St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham is grappling with funding challenges, which could lead to nearly 30 job losses and a reduction in some patient services. The facility, located on Park House Road, employs 124 staff and has stated it is experiencing “growing financial pressures.” It provides essential services such as pain management, end-of-life care, and support for dementia and bereavement. Angela Lamb, the hospice chair, expressed that there is a “real risk” that certain services will need to be cut, a prospect she described as “heartbreaking.” A replica of York Minster, constructed from 80,000 matchsticks, has been acquired by a toy shop, with the proceeds donated to charity. Clive Holmes, 87, from Durham, dedicated two years to creating the 6ft (1.8m) long model. His inspiration came from his granddaughter’s relocation to the city for university. However, his wife mentioned that the creation occupied too much space in their home. His daughter, Sue Todner, commented: “He was going to torch it, so it certainly had to go somewhere and we’re so glad it’s found a new home.” A previously undiscovered artwork by one of the Pitmen Painters is now on display in a public art gallery, after having been kept on a dining room wall for many years. The painting, titled Fish and Chips by Tom McGuinness, was originally a gift to William Cartner, a university art lecturer who taught McGuinness at night school. In 2019, Mr. Cartner’s granddaughter, Helen Clay, inherited the piece and surprised art collectors when she revealed its presence in her Hylton Castle, Sunderland, residence. She stated: “It was hanging on my wall for five years and people have offered me money for it, but I won’t part with it.” Durham Donkey Rescue, a sanctuary that primarily takes in animals from across north-east England, has reported that it has an excessive number of donkeys for its site and is “struggling” to secure homes for them. The charity currently cares for 24 donkeys, despite having a capacity for approximately 20. Ian Emmerson, the head of the organization, remarked: “We’ve only been a charity for two years and it’s been non-stop trying to build new shelters and make things work.”