A MUSICAL showcase aims to raise funds for local charities.
For the past year stalwarts of the dale’s music scene Eddie Tinkler and James Dykes have been performing at care homes, lunch clubs and charity events, asking only for donations to charity for payment.
Now the Two Local Blokes have organised an evening’s entertainment featuring three other bands to raise even more money.
Mr Dykes, said: “When we did a charity gig at the cricket club for Teesdale Branch of Cancer Research they offered to pay us £85. We said no, we were doing it for fun. That is how it started and we’ve raised about £650.”
The idea for the showcase event on Friday, December 1, at Barnard Castle’s Workingmen’s Club, came about as a way to shine a spotlight on some of the best local musical talent.
Mr Tinkler said: “We thought if we can generate more money from that event it would help the charities.”
The showcase proceeds will be divided among the Well Beings of Barney, a group concerned with men’s mental health set up by Chris Johnson, The Clique and Teesdale Cancer Research UK.
Popular ukulele band D’ukes of Scarth will kick off the evening’s entertainment, followed by Button Hole Jam, then The Corner Boys with Two Local Blokes closing out the sets before a big finale featuring all musicians.
Mr Dykes said: “There is so much musical talent in the dale and we have picked just four groups for the evening. Each group will be performing a 30-minute set and then at the end of the evening all of us will be on stage for the finale.”
Mr Tinkler said: “It will be the best value ticket for the talent on stage and we’re hoping to double what we’ve already raised.”
Members of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK will run a raffle on the night, while members of The Clique will be on the door.
Tickets cost £5 and are available by calling 078168 67942.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
