31/07/2014 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

If I saw his wife, I would give her a big hug and just say thank you,

your husband has given me two years. And Sir Bobby's widow gives

a rare television interview about life without the man still

held in such great affection. Also tonight, a transport union

warns of harsh cuts to rail Actress Joanne Lumley joins the

debate about the future of Scotland, I am not against Scottish

independence, I just don't see how we can ever be divided because we so

we can ever be divided becatse we so interlinked.

One of the region's best loved weekly newspapers celebrates

And plenty of celebrations here at the Commonwealth Games here in

Glasgow. Could be another successful Glasgow. Could be another successful

night for our region's athldtes Five years ago today, the region

lost one of its best`known Sir Bobby Robson made his name as a

footballer, and then as a coach and manager ` of England, of the Spanish

club Barcelona, and of his beloved Having fought several battles with

cancer, in his final days hd set up a charity to help fellow`sufferers

in his native North East. Among the thousands

of people to have benefited from Sir Bobby's legacy is Theresa H`rrison

from Forest Hall in Newcastle. When Theresa was first diagnosed

with pancreatic cancer ` nearly two years ago `

she naturally feared the worst. But after weekly treatment

at the Sir Bobby Robson Centre, Jim Knight's been to meet hdr

on this fifth anniversary of Theresa comes her once a wedk

for her blood tests, check`up, I would hate anybody to be worried

about coming in here. I can't come in here fast enough! The support you

get is just unreal. Reflexology, everybody is so caring.

And if only Sir Bobby could have been

around to hear Theresa talk about what happens here on a daily basis,

They are amazing. You will never get treatment like you get in here. They

treatment like you get in hdre. They speak to you, they lay your flares.

`` the LA your fears. They are angels.

It seems the great man left a culture of care, and real friendly

compassion, which is now a part of everything that happens herd.

They are so caring. I would say to Lady Robson, your husband h`s

They are so caring. I would say to Lady Robson, your husband has given

Lady Robson, your husband h`s given me two years. He has left a huge

legacy. I wish I could have met him and I wish he could have bedn here

and I wish he could have been here today. I cannot thanks Bobbx Robson

today. I cannot thanks Bobby Robson enough for what he has done.

Lady Elsie Robson and her sons have done a relarkable

job, carrying on the fundraising effort and helping to steer the

In a rare television interview, I got the chance to ask her about life

without the man who's still held in such great affection ` not just

in this part of the country, but across the whole football world.

Possibly, but I have always been busy.

You have been thrown into the spotlight as well,

which is not something you have looked for, is it?

You don't know how things are going so we plodded on

I think he would be astonished to know what we have raised.

I don't think he attributed it to himself but he made his lark

Well, we go on and hopefully keep raising more money for this really

excellent cause to benefit the North East and the patients who are

Did you say to him, you know you are going to leave me

And it is a great opportunity to put something back as a famhly.

Sir Bobby Robson, who died five years ago today.

The RMT transport union was protesting

in Newcastle today against possible changes to the Northern

The Department for Transport is currently

New franchises will start in February 2016.

But the RMT claims Department proposals will see services

destroyed, with harsh cuts to services at little`used stations.

Our business correspondent, Ian Reeve, reports.

They claim changes to the Northern and Trans`Pennine services will see

staff cut, fares increased and fewer trains

We want to maintain stations across the North for the benefit of local

communities. Communications are essential to the North of England

and we have to fight to savd essential to the North of England

and we have to fight to save them and we have to fight to save them

and that is what we are doing. Both franchises will be awarded next

year, and start in February 2016. But the Department for Transport

consultation document seeks support But that could come

"at the expense of some redtction in What that means is

"fewer calls at low`use stations". This is Castleton Moor, a low`use

station in North Yorkshire on Just 13 passengers a day usd

the halt. Not many,

but they intend to fight for it There is no bus service. There are

only four trains a day alre`dy. And only four trains a day already. And

some of the trains have to stop to pick up children. `` schoolchildren.

So there are only a small number pick up children. `` schoolchildren.

So there are only a small number of stops on the line.

Amy's pub benefits from the railway line running close by.

Fewer stopping trains would hit her business.

It would definitely have a lassive impact. And the whole community, we

impact. And the whole community we get stuck in the village because you

can't get out of the road and people use the service to get to work. It

would have a big impact on us as a business and as a community.

The Department for Transport has said no decisions have been taken on

It's merely consultation ` a process that still has ovdr two

We saw the Esk Valley line there but these low`use stations are right

Yes, there are 64 low use stations across the area. And 20 havd been

identified in our patch. Ten in North Yorkshire, three in Teeside

North Yorkshire, three in Tdeside and some in Northumberland and

North Yorkshire, three in Teeside and some in Northumberland `nd Tyne

Wear. Teeside contains the famous Wear. Teeside contains thd famous

halt at Durham Tees Valley @irport, the second least used holding the

country. We saw just eight passengers using that from two

services a week last year so that must be favourite for the chop. The

Department for Transport rehterates Department for Transport rehterates

that it is just consultation, no stations are currently under

threat. The result of consultation will be published in Decembdr.

North Yorkshire Police has scrapped plans to build a new HQ

and is instead looking to share space with the Cleveland force.

North Yorkshire's current base at Newby Wiske had been earlarked

for closure, and a replacement was due to be

But the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan,

has stopped the scheme ` saying it'll save

She says the force has been offered space in Cleveland Police's new

headquarters, which is on the border with North Yorkshire.

It is in Cleveland, but an HQ is not an operational police station. It is

offices, payroll, support. Back office functions. This is not an

operational police station and operational police station `nd

neither is the current HQ. This is trying to find a cost`effective

solution to actually support the police service so that we c`n

solution to actually support the police service so that we can keep

police service so that we c`n keep bobbies on the beat, out in the

local communities. Joanna Lumley is backing

a Cumbria`led campaign The actress ` who has Scotthsh

family ` was promoting a project set up by the Penrith

and the Border MP, Rory Stewart It's to encourage friendship with

Scotland, ahead of the all`important In a field at Gretna, one of the

UK's most popular personalities helps to make the Auld Acquaintance

Cairn a little bigger. To show her support of the union, Joanna

Cairn a little bigger. To show her support of the union, Joann` Lumley

brought a stone from the garden of her London home. I feel like a

penguin, you know they make their nests carrying a special stone? But

I wrote with love and affection my name and my husband's stone so they

will be buried within the w`ll to will be buried within the wall to

show that we believe in the unity of our country. The actress is English

and has a is `` US got his family and has a cottage just over the

border. I am not against Scottish independence, but I don't sde

border. I am not against Scottish independence, but I don't see how we

independence, but I don't sde how we can ever be divided because we are

all so interlinked. We are `ll all so interlinked. We are `ll

cousins. No matter whether we live in north or south of the border or

have English or Scottish nales. in north or south of the border or

have English or Scottish names. If have English or Scottish nales. If

you scratch back in our history, have English or Scottish names. If

you scratch back in our history we are all related. So independence

must mean something politically, but in human terms, it doesn't seem

possible. Here at the westernmost point of Scotland's border with

England, the can is growing day by day. Stones have been added by

leading public figures as well is ordinary folk from both sidds of

leading public figures as wdll is ordinary folk from both sides of the

ordinary folk from both sidds of the border. Rory Stewart, the

Conservative MP for Penrith and the border is he is behind the idea.

border is he is behind the hdea Opponents say that Joanna Lumley

border is he is behind the idea. Opponents say that Joanna Ltmley is

Opponents say that Joanna Lumley is misguided. This debate is about who

is best placed to make the dconomic decisions that favour Scotland.

Should it be a government b`sed decisions that favour Scotl`nd.

Should it be a government based in Scotland that make these decisions

or not? We believe that is natural and normal for any nation state.

or not? We believe that is natural and normal for any nation state And

and normal for any nation state. And so a celebrity's stone joins

thousands of others as a sylbol of thousands of others as a sylbol of

the union. They aim to get the care and as high as possible by the time

of the vote in September. One

of the region's best`known regional newspapers is celebrating a very

significant birthday this weekend. The Hexham Courant will

be 150 years old. It was founded by one

Joseph Catherall in 1864, when there was just a single column

of local news in its pages. It was hand`set in London, and then

sent up to Hexham on the tr`in. Well, things have moved

on a bit since then, as Every copy of the Courant

from the last 150 years has been diligently filed and stored

in leather`bound books in a hallway Editor Colin Tapping showed me

a copy form 1940, when the news That is May the 11th with the

advertisements on. But if you see later in the month, on the 25th,

front`page news. This leads out of me. Mother and four helplessly

drunk. Nothing really changds! drunk. Nothing really changds!

Wonderful stories. A rich tapestry of history. Fascinating story, that

one. It says on landing, he immediately ran to a carol and

immediately ran to a carol `nd started to milk it.

The Courant also has another wartime German connection.

There was a prisoner of war camp nearby and the paper published a

German publication put together by the prisoners of war. It was printed

on the press out here. The prisoners did it? Yes. Was it proofread

on the press out here. The prisoners did it? Yes. Was it proofre`d and

edited? We are told it was not, but I'm sure somebody cast an eye over

it? So where next for the Courant,

at a time when newspapers have come under scrutiny like never bdfore,

and when digital media and instant What we are trying to get across is

that we are a force for good in championing the local community.

Without us, the community would be a poorer thing. If you buy thd

Without us, the community would be a poorer thing. If you buy the paper

poorer thing. If you buy thd paper this week, you will get an insert of

the edition from the 1850s. `` from 1864. It shows how much things have

changed and how much they have remained the same!

It's exactly five weeks until the opening ceremony to

celebrate the Great North Run's millionth finisher.

The huge event marking this world first is being masterminded

But taking centre stage are ordinary members of the public.

Hundreds have already volunteered to be performers,

Here's our arts reporter Sharuna Sagar.

OK, Angel of the North, five... Six... Up and twist, one...

Choreography on the quayside. Six... Up and twist, one...

Choreography on the quaysidd. This Choreography on the quaysidd. This

is the first test run to see what is the first test run to see what

the dance moves look like altogether. Just like in 2012

the dance moves look like altogether. Just like in 2002 and

altogether. Just like in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games, it hs a

volunteer performers who will be at the centre of the great North run

million opening ceremony. These are the first volunteers to have signed

the first volunteers to havd signed up. They are all all ages and

abilities but what they havd up. They are all all ages and

abilities but what they havd in common is that they want to take

part in the biggest event the quayside has ever seen. Verx

quayside has ever seen. Very excited. I am excited to be yet

today. I you are running in it? Yes! As well as performing? Yes. It is

such a good `` experience. Xou don't need to tell that to the Marines

because they have signed up already! Yes, we are getting involved in an

aerial display and we don't know the details. We are that kind of guy. It

will be an adventure. And it will be over the time? Yes, but at least

they can swim. Volunteers are registering every day. The response

has been amazing so we are over the halfway point. We are delighted but

we still need more people to sign up. We are taking people as

volunteers up until the last weekend in August. This is a chance for

people to be involved in a once`in`a`lifetime experience. It is

a party with 1 million invitations and we want people to come `nd

a party with 1 million invitations and we want people to come and take

and we want people to come `nd take part. If you volunteer, you will

have the best seat the housd. part. If you volunteer, you will

have the best seat the house. And have the best seat the housd. And

those seats will be right here. have the best seat the house. And

those seats will be right hdre. This whole area will be transformed. A

special story about the North East will be told through giant floating

sculptures up and down the Tyne river. There will be pyrotechnics

and music from Mark Knopfler. The real stars of this event ard the

real stars of this event are the public, the people of the North East

and that is why the people `` the organisers want as many people as

possible to take part on the night. possible to take part on the night.

It will be a fabulous night. If you want to be a volunteer, go on to the

website and sign up. If you are a sports fan, whdre would

If you are a sports fan, where would you like to be? At the common love

games. That is where we send Dawn. How is it going? Here we are on the

banks of the River Clyde ovdrlooking banks of the River Clyde overlooking

some of the city's iconic sporting venues. We have the Armadillo over

there. There is a genuine buzz venues. We have the Armadillo over

there. There is a genuine btzz about there. There is a genuine btzz about

the games whatever Usain Bolt may have said or thought about ht. The

have said or thought about it. The Commonwealth Games was never going

to be like the Olympics but from our region's point of view, it has been

even better because we have had more medals. For some of them it will be

the pinnacle of their sporting the pinnacle of their sporthng

career, but for others, it will be a springboard to greater success.

career, but for others, it will be a springboard to greater succdss. The

region got its first medals in the diving. It was in the pool that was

built in the Commonwealth Games in built in the Commonwealth G`mes in

1970. What a night it was for

Harrogate's Jack Laugher. The North Yorkshireman held

off strong competition from two Australians in the men's

one`metre springboard ` to secure A breathtaking performance

considering it's not even I am lost for words. In the prelims

I scored less but I'm absolutely I scored less but I'm absolttely

ecstatic. And Jack's going for another medal

in the 3m springboard final right now ` along with his Harrog`te

team mate Olliver Dingley. There was a podium finish l`st night

for York's Jess Taylor, too, who Jess produced her best

on the big stage with back`to`back personal bests in

the 100m hurdles and the high jump. In the boxing,

Hartlepool's Savannah Marsh`ll progressed through to tonight?s

quarterfinals of the middleweight division with a unanimous points win

over Pooja Rani. She'll now fight

the unknown Botswana fighter In the bowls, Sunderland born

Stuart Airey is making good progress Stuart,

who trains at Wigton in Cumbria helped his England teammates to

victory in the quarter finals ` they're currently playing India

in the semifinal now Table Tennis. And it's been domestic bliss

for Teesside's husband and wife partnership of Paul

and Joanna Drinkhall. Paul and Jo were

in perfect harmony as they cruised through to the semi finals of

the mixed doubles this afternoon. And in Berwick later tonight `

all eyes will be on the 800m final at Hampden

as local lad Guy Learmonth goes up Guy clearly ran the race

of his life in the semi to pualify My legs were dying, buckling towards

the end. But I'm in the fin`l. I the end. But I'm in the final. I

couldn't ask for anything more. Let's hope he gets

the same lift from the Hampden Roar Just before the games, Guy told me

that it was his aim to reach the final. He is up against the world

record holder. As we speak, Jack is in the pool in Edinburgh. He

record holder. As we speak, Jack is in the pool in Edinburgh. Hd is

going for another gold. He is in the pool in Edinburgh. He is

going for another gold. He hs in the going for another gold. He is in the

lead and we will know whethdr ye has lead and we will know whethdr ye has

got it in about half an hour. And finally, good luck to

Middlesbrough's Jade Jones in the T Middlesbrough's Jade Jones in the T

54 1500 metres. Trained by Taney Grey Thompson's husband, Ian. It

could be a fantastic night for higher if she clinches a medal. But

she will probably need a personal best