Latest news with #TheNorthernEcho
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the North East teen taking on Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Fourteen-year-old actor Alfie Williams made his feature debut in 28 Years Later, an experience he said was 'fantastic', and at the North East gala screening of the film, all eyes were on the young star. Alfie shares the screen with some of the country's finest actors, including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes. Working with Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle to shoot the film was an experience he enjoyed. "It was so crazy because there were so many things going on! It was amazing, I had a really great time," he said on the black carpet outside the Tyneside Cinema. "You know, Aaron, Jodie, Mr Fiennes, even Danny made it really easy for me. It was a lot of laughs, and it was really intense anda fantastic experience." Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams and Jodie Comer arriving at the 28 Years Later world premiere. (Image: Ian West/PA Wire) The Gateshead lad has been acting since the age of seven, but nothing more than short films and commercials. He isn't even old enough to watch the film, which has a 15 certificate. But did he find it scary on set? "I don't know about scary, but it was very intense," he said. "I mean, getting chased by naked people is always going to be intense! "It was a lot of fun. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer both looked after me. And then working with Mr Fiennes is always a privilege. "There's a lot of pressure when you're leading a film, and I've not done anything like this prior, so I hope people like it. I tried my best." Alfie with director Danny Boyle. (Image: The Northern Echo) Alfie knows that with the pressure also comes the privilege of representing the region on world screens, and even said his schoolmates have been texting him images of him on the side of buses around the region "It's great to be here and to represent the North East. I love it here. I was raised here," Alfie said. "There's a lot of beautiful places throughout the film and Holy Island is definitely one of them. We had a couple of weeks there." Starbucks to open new drive-through cafe in County Durham business park Parents 'devastated' at closure of County Durham nursery despite hopes of being saved BBC confirms W1A sequel with Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher after 8 years Would Holy Island be the perfect place to survive a zombie apocalypse though? "Me and Danny have talked about this a lot of times," he confessed. "If this happened in real life - let's hope not - a lot of people would go there, and Danny thinks it would be overpopulated."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Campaigning mum and sister of North East teen stabbed to death receive MBEs
The mum and sister of a teenage girl who was murdered just weeks after the birth of her son have made history after being awarded MBEs together. Alison Magdin and Carly Barrett from Wallsend in Newcastle have spent the last six years delivering thousands of workshops to children between 12-18 as part of their charity Samantha's Legacy. The mum and daughter duo set up the charity in 2019 on what would have been Samantha Magdin's 30th birthday - 12 years after young mum Samantha, 18, was murdered by a 15-year-old as she tried to break up a fight. Samantha Magdin, 18. (Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)Now, after years of tireless work spreading awareness of knife crime, Alison and Carly have today (June 13) been named in the King's Birthday Honours; both receiving MBE's. But that's not all. They are the first mum and daughter in history to be awarded said honour at the same time - as the pair say the news is more motivation to keep Samantha's Legacy going. Alison, 59, told The Northern Echo: "Carly rang me and asked if my post had arrived, and she asked me if I had got a letter. I didn't at the time, and then she told me that she had been awarded an MBE. Mum and daughter Alison Magdin and Carly Barrett. (Image: ALISON MAGDIN) "I thought it was marvellous news. Turns out there was a bit of a mix up in the post and I got mine a few days later. I sat and cried the whole day, it was so emotional. "I shouldn't be receiving the MBE really, I should have Samantha here. But I will take it - I'll take it for me, my family, everyone who has supported us and for the North East." Alison added that Carly, 34, was "bursting to tell Samantha" the news, but felt she had an "even bigger fire inside her" to keep going. Samantha's Legacy first major breakthrough saw the moving Knife Angel, made out of thousands of blades with an anti-violence message come to Gateshead. The angel remained outside The Sage for the whole of February 2020. Years later, the pair opened Samantha's Retreat in 2022 - a caravan getaway open to families affected by knife crime. They have also been involved in The Northern Echo's Knife Crime task force - bringing together families affected by knife crime from across the North East in a bid to make positive change. Alison Magdin and Carly Barrett, who attended a reception at Number 10 Downing Street yesterday (June 12) as part of the honour. (Image: ALISON MAGDIN) "I have been privileged to be involved with the task force", Alison said. "It is great to see local media supporting the likes of Samantha's legacy to help make change." As for what happens now, Alison and Carly are hoping to take Samantha's Legacy from strength to strength even alongside their full time jobs. Alison still runs a cleaning business, and Carly works at a school, but they dream one day of being able to make the charity their main focus. Alison said: "I put a lot of anger and grief at the time in to finding out what happened to Samantha and why, but as everything unfolded, I realised I needed to do something. Read more: Machetes sold in County Durham as Knife Angel unveiled by knife crime victims nearby Two teenagers arrested on suspicion of attempted murder during knife crime raids Dad of murdered teenager backs North East police forces' crack down on knife crime 'One injury is one too many': Durham Police launches new anti-knife crime campaign Bereaved mum urges people to watch Adolescence on TV to 'realise knife crime problem' "Obviously, we know knife crime has continued, but every time I hear of it happening it gives me more strength and passion to carry on to try and make a difference. "We've been trying to support other families, too, with their own trauma." She added: "The work we do is more important than ever. We are victims ourselves - but I think families affected by knife crime all inspire each other to do work. "My anger had fuelled me to want to stop knife crime. I hope with this MBE more doors can be opened and we can make more of a difference. "We want to work alongside leaders and get them to listen - are they listening now?
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Children across County Durham share love for their dads in special supplement
Children across the North East have sent us messages of love for their special dads, and we've compiled them together in a special Father's Day supplement. From Darlington to Thirsk, we received thousands of messages from schoolchildren wishing their dads a very happy Father's Day. On Tuesday, June 10, The Northern Echo will carry a special edition eight page supplement carrying heartfelt messages from 11 schools across the region. The following schools took part in creating the supplement: St Anne's Church of England Primary School Rosa Street Primary School North and South Cowton Community Primary School St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School Alanbrooke Academy St John's Church of England Primary School Melsonby Methodist Primary School Le Cateau Community Primary School Gainford Church of England Primary School Chilton Academy Victoria Lane Academy The supplement will be included in Tuesday's edition of The Northern Echo, but if you miss out, you can still get one. Buying a copy on Tuesday will cost the usual price of £1.15. If you buy one at a later date, you can order one via Paypal for £5. You can buy one at your local newsagent, or you can order a copy by visiting
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia O'Connor: The life of County Durham's boxing superstar who was taken too soon
Tributes have been paid to County Durham's brightest boxing star Georgia O'Connor - who has this week tragically died following a brave battle with cancer. Kayleigh Fraser takes a look back at how a young athlete who dared to dream took gold for her country and made a distinctive mark in the boxing world. "My hope is to one day fight at the Olympics for Great Britain", confessed hopeful 12-year-old Georgia O'Connor during an interview with The Northern Echo in 2012. Just two years after taking up boxing, she was already tipped to be a future Olympian. Stood in the ring at West Durham Boxing Academy, the pre-teen from Waterhouses, who was looking to take part in her first fight - as she and her coaches was pushing for more female representation in boxing. Georgia O'Connor pictured in 2012. But, this was not the first time we had heard of this budding young athlete who would just years later join Team GB, take commonwealth gold. Her journey was still just beginning. John O'Connor, Georgia's father, started her boxing - sparring with pads in the garage of their home - when she was just five. "The way society is going, I thought she ought to be able to look after herself and it snowballed from there," says John, who had three fights as an amateur boxer. "She still has her dolls but she'd rather be out training three or four times a week, or out on the streets with the other kids. She's a little national treasure." Georgia O'Connor in 2007. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) By 2007, Georgia was nicknamed the Little Battleaxe - in a sport a little different to boxing. In fact, Georgia was making a name for herself in Chungdokwan, a full-contact Olympic sport affiliated to the British Taekwondo Council. At that point, she had won all but four of her 28 fights. "For a kid that age she's amazing," said Graham Thompson, one of her instructors. "You meet her and she's a bonny little girl who's really nice and polite but believe me she can be pretty mean." In 2008, Georgia won the Most promising new talent accolade at The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) In 2008, Georgia won the "Most promising new talent" accolade at The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards - and by 2009, she had won her second successive British taekwondo championship. At the British championships in Manchester, 2009, her gold medal in the pee-wee class - 11 and under - was presented by Sarah Stephenson, who won taekwondo bronze in the Beijing Olympics. In 2010, Georgia, who was very quickly climbing the ranks, took home a third title. But, this is where she took a different path. Her love for sport remained, but little did she know, her journey into boxing would see her soar to new heights she only could have dreamed of. Georgia O'Connor pictured in 2016. Having won the National Championships in 2015, she was invited for a trial with England Boxing and won a place on the national elite junior squad, based in Sheffield. In 2016, she defended her National Championship title, became Junior 70kg National champion, and was promoted to England Boxing's Excel Talent Squad, as one of only six females on the team. She then became a silver medallist at the Junior and Youth European Championships in Turkey, and by 2017 was preparing to represent Team GB at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. Georgia O'Connor pictured with her gold medal in 2017. Thanks to her hard work, dedication and pride for boxing, she took gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games and silver at the 2017 Youth World Championships. By 2021, Georgia had turned pro - and ended up winning all three of her fights in the ring, but in 2024, her life changed forever. At just 24, in October 2024, she was handed her biggest fight yet - she was diagnosed with cancer branded "incurable" by doctors. Georgia receiving treatment in hospital. (Image: VICKI WILLIAMS) To help fund alternative treatment not on the NHS, a GoFundMe page was set up by Georgia's mum Vicki Williams in February who wrote her "beautiful and brave" daughter is a "fighter". Thousands was raised thanks to the fundraiser. Vicki wrote: "Our beautiful, brave, and determined daughter, Georgia, has just been given the fight of her life. At only 24, she has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. But Georgia does not accept this. "If you know Georgia, you know she is a fighter—always has been, always will be. As a boxer, she has spent many years pushing herself beyond limits, proving that strength isn't just physical—it's in the heart, in the mind, in the refusal to give up. This is just another fight, and she is determined to win." In an emotional message to her thousands of followers on Instagram in February, she vowed "to kick the absolute sh*t out of this cancer". Georgia O'Connor in hospital. (Image: VICKI WILLIAMS) "Then, I will do everything in my power to go on to help as many people as I can who have been in this same awful position where your entire life is at stake, before you've even had a chance to live it. I promise that," she added. "She wants to use this battle not just to save her own life but to inspire others, to raise awareness, and to show the world that 'incurable' does not mean impossible." In the months that followed, branded a "rollercoaster", Georgia went through treatment, was diagnosed with sepsis and married the "love of her life" Adriano on May 9. Just under two weeks later, on May 22, she passed away - and her death has brought on tributes from across the sport world and from family and friends. Georgia's former club, Brandon Boxing Club, have also issued an emotional tribute. They wrote: "Everyone at the club is absolutely gutted to hear the sad news that Georgia has lost her battle. "Social media is flooded with tributes to an extremely talented and popular young lady who touched so many lives. "Our thoughts are with John, Vicky and all her family, R.I.P Georgia." Recommended: Brandon Boxing Club held event for Georgia O'Connor Champion Durham boxer, 24, diagnosed with rare cancer North-East glory in national boxing finals Fellow boxer Joe Laws took to social media and said she was the "strongest person he knew". He wrote: "Heartbroken G, I love you man bro. Strongest person I know, always put a smile on my face. "Listen life is short kids - rest easy Georgia you beautiful soul."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
We're looking for the best chippy in County Durham and we need your help
One of The Northern Echo's most popular reader competitions of last year is returning for 2025. The Northern Echo's Best Chippy award launches again today and we're looking for help from our readers to find out who takes the crown in Darlington and County Durham. Last year, we were inundated with voting slips from across the region as fans were desperate to share their love for their favourite takeaway treat. Highly popular Cockerton Fisheries, on Woodland Road, clinched the title in 2024, with owner Sam Todd saying she was 'delighted' at the news. The chippy, which has been in Sam's family for more than 30 years, is a staple in Cockerton Village with the restaurant often going 'above and beyond' for their customers. "It's all down to hard work and looking after our customers. And the staff are amazing. We go out of our way for our customers. "We have lots of regulars and have a delivery service for elderly people. Since Covid, I have carried on with that. On a Saturday, I have 20 to 30 people that I deliver to and take the food into their house - they just love it. "It's all about looking after and doing that extra for our customers - as well as having the best fish and chips." Nominations open today (May 19), with readers encouraged to vote for their favourite online. Once nominations close, votes will be counted, and a shortlist of the top ten will be released. We'll then release features on each of the nominees, alongside voting slips where you can vote for your favourite. Once the votes have been totted up, we'll reveal the winner and a special feature will be published online and in print. You can submit your nominations here, or find the QR code in the paper. Nominations close Sunday, May 25.
