20/02/2012 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, welcome to Look North. Coming up in tonight's programme:

Player, coach, manager, chairman. Niall Quinn's career with

Sunderland ends after 12 amazing years.

Searchers comb the countryside for an elderly woman with dementia,

who's missing from home. Also tonight - The bull who's a cash cow.

Fabio smashes the world record and looks forward to a pampered life.

And a Redcar lifeboatman wins the RNLI's highest award after a

dramatic rescue. And in sport - The Black Cats shoot down the Gunners

to march on in the FA Cup. And The Great Escape starts here. A Falcons

victory gives them hope in their After more than 12 years on

Wearside as a player, coach, manager and chairman, Niall Quinn

is leaving Sunderland Football Club. The 45-year-old Irishman stepped

down from his role at the head of the club four months ago to take on

a new post promoting the team overseas. Now he says he wants to

return to Ireland, to spend more time with his family, and

concentrate on business interests outside football. Mark Tulip is at

the Stadium of Light. Is the move a surprise, Mark? Not really, Jeff,

although there is a sense of disappointment and even sadness

among fans here on Wearside. When Niall Quinn stood down from being

chairman, back in October, you sensed he wouldn't be around for

too much longer. When he took over in 2006 he said five years was the

usual lifespan for someone in that role. But supporters here will

never forget what he's done for this club on and off the pitch.

They were the little and large double act that struck terror into

Premier League defences. Kevin Phillips and his beanpole striker

partner Niall Quinn helped guide Sunderland to successive seventh-

place finishes in 2000 and 2001. But it was Quinn's contribution off

the field on his return to Wearside that has laid even more solid

foundations, and seemingly an end to the yo-yo existence of promotion

and relegation. He headed a consortium of mainly Irish

businessmen in 2006 dedicated to taking the club to the next level.

Quinn the chairman briefly became Quinn the manager, before he took

an Irish punt on Roy Keane who quided Sunderland to promotion. As

chairman, Quinn was also pivotal in getting current owner and chairman

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 47 seconds

American billionaire Ellis Short on Any took the national development

role, that was in taking a step back. He is one of the few people

in history who has played, manager, and been chairman of a club. That

kind of says it all. He came back and saved us in our moment of need.

And when he has left we are in a strong position. A tenth-place

finish under Steve Bruce last season may well be repeated by

Martin O'Neill whose appointment may yet prove to be Quinn's

greatest legacy. Meanwhile the man dubbed "Mr Sunderland", and "St

Niall" after his testimonial raised nearly �1 million for children's

hospitals, can spend a bit more time indulging his other great

sporting passion - horse-racing. Niall Quinn says he's leaving the

club in good hands with Ellis Short, Mark. Just a shame they've lost

someone who had such a tremendous rapport with the fans. It is a

generalisation, but football club officials seem to be isolated from

the fans. I remember filming Niall Quinn at a social club in

Sunderland last year and you could see most people in the room had

bought into his long-term vision for the club and Ellis short takes

that Ford from now. -- for would Police in Northumberland say

they're increasingly worried about an elderly woman who hasn't been

seen for more than 24 hours. 84 year-old Monica Dixon has dementia.

She was last seen yesterday afternoon, leaving the care home in

Corbridge where she lives. Police have begun searching the nearby

river, as Damian O'Neil reports. Monica Dixon left the Abbeyfield

care home in Hexham at 1:30pm yesterday afternoon wearing only

light brown trousers and a thin blue jumper. As far as the police

know she spent the night outside with no other clothing, and with no

sign of her, the search has now been widened to include the river

near her home. Mrs Dixon is said to be very familiar with the local

area but she does suffer from dementia and the police are

increasingly worried. We do know she was due to meet a

friend that 1:30pm, but she did not make the appointment and it was

obviously a friend who has telephoned the police and we have

jumped into action and got lots of police officers in that area. Today

we are encouraging members of the public, if they do see Monica, to

get in touch. Lots of police officers out today and places where

we know Monica frequents, and we would urge anybody who sees Monica

to get in touch with us. weather is forecast to get mild but

it has been cold and wet since Mrs Dixon went missing and police say

she is not found soon we can expect more police activity in the town

It's been confirmed that the fell walker who died in the Lake

District yesterday was Peter Huntley, the former managing

director of the Go North East bus company. Rescue teams were called

to the southern end of Haweswater yesterday afternoon, after Mr

Huntley fell from a ledge near the summit of High Street. He was

airlifted to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. Mr

Huntley, who moved to Lancashire in December, after six years with Go

North East, was training for a charity fundraising trek when he

slipped and fell. If you're fond of a nice cut of

beef, you'll know that prices can be eye-wateringly expensive. And a

bull has just sold in Carlisle for a world record price of �126,000.

But he won't be ending up in a butcher's shop. The award-winning

Limousin has been bought by breeders based at Clifton near

Penrith. And his new owners have high expectations. As Alison

You certainly wouldn't argue with him. But would you pay a world-

record-breaking �126,000 to own this mountain of muscle? Well,

Penrith farmers Messers Jenkinson did on Saturday. We did not set out

to buy the world's most expensive ball. There was plenty of

competition, and he was the overall champion on the day and was judged

as that, so he is the best throughout the whole sale, and one

of the best that has ever been in the rink, and we were delighted to

get him. It's obviously disappointing not to come face to

face with about a ton of prize- winning bull but Fabio is currently

in isolation having his sperm collected so he can help to expand

the herd with the help of some of these ladies. If he is a big fellow,

and he needs to be. We have some big ladies came to look after. He

needs to be a be glad to get the flesh on the progeny. Fabio's first

additions to the farm's 150-strong pedigree herd are expected next

summer. And his sought-after semen will be sold online before then to

help recoup the cash from his price-tag. While the bull can

expect a happy life at Whinsfell Farm, his former owner is also said

to be pretty pleased. He'd expected to sell for around �40,000.

When we got to 100,000 I was using the rostrum to hold himself up. And

when we got to 120,000, he could hardly speak to worse. I think it

was a great surprise for him. great surprise for you and for him.

For every one, a marvellous feeling. It might be something I will never

do again in my life and it was Enjoy it, Fabio. I'm sure you will.

The campaign to buy Darlington Football Club is off to a

successful start. In just five days, �187,000 has been raised by fans

who want to buy into a new community-owned club. The aim is to

raise a quarter of a million pounds and take Darlington out of

administration. Shares are being sold online, and today saw the

biggest investment so far - made by the town's own newspaper. Our

Business Correspondent Ian Reeve reports. This is how Darlington

fans are trying to save their club, buying shares in a new company

online. And today the biggest purchase so far, �10,000, from the

town's newspaper the Northern Echo. The paper's money will go some way

to reaching the first stage, raising �250,000. The goal is

�750,000 to get out of administration, pay off all the

creditors and have money in reserve. It is a lot of money and a decision

we have not taken lightly. These are difficult economic times, and

we have to be careful, but we feel it is important we show our support

and I am confident we will at least get to the target in phase one and

see where we go from there. But it is �10,000 we feel we need to

invest. In spite of the cash, the paper is still asking tough

questions. Most notably, how can the new company make a go of

something that's eluded past chairmen? There is still a degree

of uncertainty about not just the short term of how the club will be

saved, but how it will move forward in the longer term and have it will

succeed where other chairmen have all failed in trying to make a

viable Football Club within Darlington, in that stadium. I

think there are questions to still be answered. But still the fans are

stumping up. About �187,000 has been pledged by 385 investors so

far, an impressive amount in just a few days. Not going quite so well

is communication behind the company. The administrator does not return

phone calls, and the two public faces of the rescue group had stood

down. The appointment of a public relations agency is imminent, but

for the fans, who need information, and who knows maybe one to pledge

money, it can't come soon enough. - They're called "The Hidden Army."

Its thought there could be about 700,000 young carers in the UK. No-

one knows the exact numbers, because many are struggling, alone,

without support. But one teenager from North Tyneside is pushing to

have that changed. Chris Jackson 16-year-old student Imogen looks

like any other teenager. But she's been keeping a huge secret.

couldn't tell my friends because I didn't understand it. I didn't

think they would understand. mum has bi-polar disorder, which

means her moods swing from depression to mania. Imogen helps

around the house but more importantly, supports her mum

emotionally. I can't sleep if my mum's still awake. I just worry

about her. In case she feels lonely. I don't like her being on her own.

She has before gone and bought things on eBay at 3:00am. I worry

about that happening but that's Imogen could not talk to anyone and

was overlooked by the services are caring for her mother for six years.

It was only when she found this young carers' centre in a Tyneside

last year that she found her voice. I was ecstatic. I was so relieved

to know there were other people. I am not the only one! I can be

normal! To an extent, anyway. she is determined to use her voice

to highlight the case of the forgotten young carers. What are

you doing to make a change for young carers? Last week when we

went to Number Ten a young came with us and spoke to a number of

ministers and gave their lives to the Prime Minister about her

experiences. We have also done work with schools and we would like to

see every school having a member of staff responsible for young carers,

to make sure that everyone in the school, students and teachers, know

that young carers are important and need to be supported.

An amazing young lady. You can hear that story on Inside Out tonight at

7:30pm. Still to come tonight, Sunderland's

winning streak continues. More in Team Talk. And we have been on a

winning streak of our own at the World Society Television Awards.

And there is a real change in the weather on the way. I am back with

all the details after the end of the rest of the news.

He and his crew had to overcome gale force wind and waves 15 ft

high but a brave to those horrendous conditions to rescue a

fisherman who had been swept into the water at his mouth last October.

But now a red card RNLI it work has been awarded one of the highest

awards. The last two years are the busiest

in the 200 year history of the RNLI. Now the skill and bravery of one of

its crew has been honoured. Mike Picknett barrelled -- battled

through treacherous seas to rescue a fisherman who had been swept into

the water. The police helicopter was on the scene, telling me when

the casualty was. As we got closer, we could see him. He was close to a

concrete structure. As I was moving towards the casualty, we had a

couple of breaking waves coming through the lifeboat. The sea was,

today but last October they were 15ft in the air. The crew trapped

the vision man on board and gave him CBR. They then fitted an air

way to help him breathe. A helicopter transferred him to

hospital. It was one of 57 call- outs in the last 12 months. We are

all a team on that boat. The man who drives it needs to look out for

us and we need to look out for him and each other. Especially in

weather conditions like that. Mike's award, the highest RNLI on

a, was one of seven event to staff across the country.

-- given shoes staff. Good news about us. The BBC here in the North

East and Cumbria or won eight categories in the Royal Television

Society Regional Awards. It is particularly pleasing for us at

Look North because we are now officially the regional news

television programme of the year. On Saturday a multiple award

winning Sage Gateshead played host to the 25th Royal Television

Society awards. With a host of well-known TV faces to present and

received some of the top awards. Including Reeves and Mortimer, from

Darlington, won an outstanding Award for Comedy achievement. The

BBC appeared editor Andy Cooper made two appearances on stage,

first to receive best newcomer award for are Look North's Adele

Robinson, who is away on leave. Then again, joined by a couple of

other people you might recognise, to pick up the regional news

programme of the Year award for Look North, featuring Tara Metro

The Musical. Another top award for journeys of the year it went to

Look North house reporter. Our colleagues on Inside Out won the

best current affairs programme for the investigation into the Southern

Cross care homes. Another documentary, Mr Rich And The

Terriers, produced by and Maggie Latham, won an award. BBC camera

men Steve Paton won an award for personal excellence. The editor of

Metro The Musical won an award for production on the project. There

was a special commendation for Keith Blackburn.

It is time for Team Talk and we have already brought you the news

of Niall Quinn leaving Sunderland for a quieter life, possibly back

in Ireland. But we have to pay tribute to the man, Dawn? Yes, as a

player, he became a bit of a legend, along with his strike partner Kevin

Phillips, and I think it is fair to say he loved Sunderland, and that

is why he came back as chairman. He was the sort of chairman football

managers at other clubs dreamed of. He always had time for the fans,

great with the media and a huge driving force in turning the club's

fortunes around. He did a lot for Sunderland as a city, too, raising

hundreds of thousands for local charities. But he liked a bit of

fun as well, and had the real gift of the gab and a great sense of

humour. Now he can spend more time with his family and probably at the

racecourse as well. And the golf course! And possibly a

pint of Guinness for two. Well, we understand Niall Quinn was abroad

on club business at the weekend, so he missed Saturday's FA Cup win

over his old club, Arsenal. Revenge for that 2-1 defeat to the Gunners

the week before. And you know, if you are going to win the cup, you

need a bit of luck along the way. Richards and's strike was superbly

but it did get a slight deflection. They were under a bit of pressure

but they break so well from the back and the ball eventually ended

up in the net. You had to feel sorry for Alex because he's a

bright spark in Arsenal's team at the moment. That was the one

disappointment for the day. One player blamed Arsenal players

wearing gloves. Nicklas Bendtner, what has he got on his head?

He thinks he is a fashion guru. We think he pinched that hat from

Bob Stoker. He was in fact in the foyer of the Stadium of Light. He

might bring him luck from 1973. Two numbers left in yesterday's

final draw. It was another old Sunderland manager, Peter Reid, who

drew Everton out first, leading the Black Cats with a trip to Goodison

in four weeks' time. The big news in non-League football

is there will be no trip to Wembley this season for Whitley Bay. FA

Vase was for the past three years, after 29 games unbeaten in the

competition, they lost 2-1 to the Northern League leaders West

Auckland, and they gave -- game overshadowed by this incident, West

midfielder Alex Francis left with a double leg break after a challenge

by Whitley Bay's Leepaul Scroggins. Matin Moffett scored for West on 89

minutes and Willie Bain equalised in the 91st minute through Paul

Robinson, only for West Auckland to It is getting lively towards the

end. No game for Middlesbrough at the

weekend. They face a trip to Millwall tomorrow night but they

have persuaded Aussie international Rhys Williams to sign a new four-

and-a-half-year contract. And in League One, Carlisle are away at

Brentford tonight. Both are teams aiming to get back into the play-

off places. Hartlepool, though, cracked their fourth consecutive

home win against Notts County on Saturday. A wind of change has

blown through Victoria Park since Neale Cooper arrived. Pools have

been winning at home. Young Luke James from Amble could and should

have put Hartlepool ahead but it was seasoned campaigner Antony

Sweeney who eventually got the opener. Luke James making a big

impact this season even though he is only 17. The ball not dipping

quite enough to find the net but Sweeney managed it again after the

break to double the lead. And it was another old hand, Andy

Monkhouse, who made it 3-0 and a fourth home win on the trot for

Neale Cooper. Unfortunately for Notts County boss Martin Allen, the

result got him the sack. That is all the football but there

will be more on Niall Quinn's contribution to Sunderland on to

ride's Late Kick-Off at 11:05pm tonight. And they will be talking

to Colin Cooper. He's a top bloke.

Now, rugby union, and some encouraging news at last for

Newcastle Falcons. At the weekend, they gave themselves a lifeline in

their battle to stay in the Premiership. Yes, they beat London

Irish to narrow the gap at the bottom of the League to six points,

giving fans hope that they might yet pull off a great escape. What a

difference a new coaching team makes. Last month a confused and

lacklustre Falcons were going nowhere but down. Now Gary Gold,

Mike Ford and John Wells have organised and galvanised the squad

and it was a confident and determined side which took to the

Kingston Park pitch to take on the Exiles. Falcons' talismanic fly-

half Jimmy Gopperth put the first points on the board but a period of

sustained pressure from the Londoners eventually paid off when

they crossed the line on the half hour. Undeterred Gopperth narrowed

the gap with a drop goal to go into half-time just 10-6 down. The

Falcons came out firing after the break, the fly-half nailing another

penalty, but although Newcastle found themselves a man down after

Adriaan Fondse got a straight red card, Irish could not capitalise

and Ryan Shortland intercepted a pass from Delon Armitage to run

half the length of the field to score Newcastle's only try of the

game, which Gopperth converted, to the delight of the crowd. London

Irish had no response and another Falcons penalty sealed a 19-10

Good stuff. Fingers crossed. Just before we leave sport, how long

since we saw red headline like this? "Shearer's Goal Sends United

Out Of The League Cup". Yes, it is. William Shearer's father is Alan

Shearer and he scored in the Corbridge United under-11s. Time

for the weather and we won some It is all good news for the next

few days for the North East and North Yorkshire. Good news for

Cumbria in terms of the temperatures and good news for

Cumbria in terms of yesterday, the No chance of seeing it tonight. Far

too cloudy. Birds are headline for this week, much milder. A lot of

rain fall in the West in the next 24 hours, splashing the East

sometimes. Have a particularly through the western part of the

Pennines for the first part of tonight. The East is dry and

everywhere milder temperatures, no lower than around six to nine

Celsius to start your morning. Around the mid- forties Fahrenheit.

Tomorrow the weather it gets very mild particularly in the East. The

rain continues in the West and splashes eastwards over the Pennine

hills at times. By teatime most places dry. As we tour northwards,

very mild indeed. It will be feeling very spring-like indeed,

although it is wet over the Northumberland National Park,

really hammering down overkill that tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow, to

finish, dry in the West. Mild here as well, although perhaps not quite

as mild in the East. It stays mild over the next couple of days to

come. Generally, a severely and were -- a slovenly or south-

westerly airflow. Cloudy at times. Carlisle wet on Wednesday as is

much of the West of the county, and drizzly on Thursday as well but

notice the temperatures. Well up into double figures, particularly

on Thursday. That will be the mildest day of the week. 14 Celsius

for much of Teesside and for North Yorkshire on Thursday. There is

bring light indeed. The high fifties in Fahrenheit. Sow winter

will be feeling well and truly gone, although we must not count our

chickens. It is still February. Anything could happen before the

end of the month. If you are out and about with your cameras we

would like to see your weather voters particularly with is milder

weather. You can send them to us or And what to say thanks to you all