IT was party time for members of a group which provides support for those living with dementia.
The group meets at the TCR Hub, Barnard Castle each Monday, with sessions varying from games and craft to music and memories.
Members welcomed the popular duo Two Local Blokes – James Dykes and Eddie Tinkler – who were supported by three more musicians on ukuleles and harmonica.
They treated the group to a number of old favourites from artists such as Johnny Cash and Dion and the Belmonts before they all tucked into a buffet.
A second set saw everyone dancing, singing and clapping along.
James and Eddie then made a donation of £40 to the group – one of a number planned. Mr Dykes said: “We have raised about £450. We often sing at care homes and lunch clubs but they tend to donate to us.”
In addition to the dementia group, a second donation has been made to the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.
“We intend doing something for the Clique as they support local charities and organisations, but we are still at the planning stage,” added Mr Dykes.
![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)
