SUPPORTERS of this year’s Turn Barney Pink campaign to raise funds and awareness for cancer research have been thanked for their support.
Dozens of businesses, residents and other organisations took part in the two-week campaign, organised by the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK, which came to an end on Saturday.
In addition to shops, homes, schools and community groups which embraced the event, the tower in the Methodist Church was illuminated pink on an evening, as were the new lights at The Witham.
The competition for best Turn Barney Pink window was won by the Butty Market, at the top of The Bank, with Brookes Outfitters runners-up and Boyes in third place.
The Butty Market’s display featured a number of bras courtesy of assistant Michell Swinbank as it highlighted the fight against breast cancer.
Brookes had tuned their entire window display over to Turn Barney Pink.
Fiona Brookes said she was delighted to support Turn Barney Pink.
“It’s a community event and it’s a very important event, not just locally but worldwide,” she said.
Staff at Boyes were delighted their efforts had received recognition.
The competition was judged by Mercury editor Stuart Laundy, who said: “It was really difficult choosing a final three.
“So much effort had been put in by so many people to produce some fantastic displays all through the town.”
In addition to the Turn Barney Pink displays, there were plenty of other activities running alongside.
Cakes, coffee and a chat were on offer at the Barnard Castle office of estate agents GCS.
Staff put on a big spread of treats including glazed pink doughnuts at their recently refurbished offices.
Customers and local businesses were invited in from the cold to enjoy the refreshments to help raise funds and awareness for the charity.
Sales negotiator Victoria Simpson, who wore a stunning pair of bright pink trousers especially for the event, said: “We were happy to open the offices to members of the local community and businesses to enjoy some cakes and a chat for such a great cause.”
At Kyle Travel, staff organised a bottle tombola with those entering in the running to win everything from bubbly to shampoo.
Meanwhile at Moments Cafe, a raffle was held to win a pink cake and at the weekly open mic night at The Old Well Inn, musicians took part to support the campaign.
Members of the Cancer Research UK Teesdale committee organised Pink Day, at Barnard Castle Cricket Club, where various stalls offered a host of gifts, crafts and other goodies.
Events concluded at the weekend when staff at William Smith took part in a sponsored walk to Middleton-in-Teesdale and back.
Pam Ashmore, secretary of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK, said: “There has been an excellent response again this year for the second Turn Barney Pink campaign.
“Thank you to everybody who has taken part and to the Christmas Lights committee for the lights in the Buttermarket and Methodist Church and also to the cricket club for letting us host events here.
“Next year is our group’s 50th anniversary so we will really have to pull out all the stops.”
![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)
