Wear-Tees Summer BBQ

Wear-Tees Summer BBQ

Bishop Auckland Rugby Club

Thursday 2nd July from 5pm onwards

Nice choice of marinated chicken, pork loin alongside jacket potato and salad / coleslaw..
Vegetarian option available (please advise in advance what you would like)
Plus choice of desserts ..

Raffle with all proceeds going to the family of Jeff Blair who very sadly lost his life whilst working as a Bailiff. RIP Jeff 🙏

£10 a ticket to cover cost of the BBQ.
Everyone welcome.

Please get your tickets from:
Kieran Reed
kieranreed2004@yahoo.co.uk

Death of Retired Police Officer: DC 1335 David Colin Makinson

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of retired Police Officer, Detective Constable 1335 David Colin Makinson, who died at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Tuesday 10th March 2026, aged 83 years.

David joined Durham County Constabulary in 1962, his first posting being to Hartlepool.  He also served with Motor Patrols South, finishing his service with the Stolen Vehicle Squad, before retiring in 1991.

David spent a lot of his spare time on his interests, which were mainly cycling, bird watching and fishing, the latter taking him to several foreign destinations.

David is survived by daughters Lisa and Karen, son-in-law Peter, daughter-in-law Norma and grandchildren Alex and Isaac.  He is predeceased by his wife Sandra.

A funeral service is to be held at 10.30pm Tuesday 31st March 2026 at Wear Valley Crematorium, Coundon, Bishop Auckland DL14 8PE

Family flowers only, donations in lieu, to Durham Wildlife Trust.

After the funeral, friends are invited to join the family at the Manor House Hotel, Front Street, West Auckland DL14 9HW

Our thoughts are with David’s family and friends at this sad time.

Death of Retired Police Officer: Policewoman 44 Aline Mary Simpson

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of retired Police Officer, Policewoman 44 Aline Mary Simpson, who died in the Rosin Ward at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Wednesday 4th March 2026, aged 83 years.

Prior to being a Police Officer Aline served as a Wren with the Women’s Royal Naval Service, between 1961 and 1965 at HMS Drake (Plymouth) and then HMS Seahawk (Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, Helston, Cornwall).  She became a Leading Wren and was a driver for senior officers.

After leaving the Royal Navy, Aline lived and worked in Australia 1967-70

Aline joined Durham Constabulary in 1971 in the Policewomen’s Department at Darlington.  Remaining at Darlington she worked at Eastbourne Section, the Court Office, Accident Prevention and Fixed Penalty Office.  She was then posted to Barnard Castle where her work included General Duties, Communications and Front Office.  Aline remained there for the rest of her service, retiring in 1997.

Following her retirement from the Police service an extended 4-month holiday took her to New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania.  She later ventured into Hot Air Ballooning and Trial Flying Lessons, followed by a trip to Lapland.

Aline was a lady who enjoyed gardening, partaking in various ‘Ladies who Lunch’ groups and walking trips with her late sister and friends from her youth.  She was also an avid reader and partial to a day at the races.  Several generations will also remember her for taking them on outings, strawberry picking, followed by lunch.

A funeral service is to be held at 1.00pm Thursday 26th March 2026 at Darlington Crematorium, Carmel Road North, Darlington DL3 8RY

(Would anyone intending to attend please notify Ray Jones on 07535 261063 or rayjones2341@gmail.com in order that her family can be informed)

Family flowers only, donations if desired, to Cancer Research.

After the funeral, friends are invited to join the family at the Blackwell Grange Hotel, Grange Road, Darlington DL3 8QH

Our thoughts are with Aline’s family and friends at this sad time.

Invitation from Sunderland NARPO ( Beacon of Light social meeting)

 The Sunderland Branch of NARPO hold a social meeting on the THIRD THURSDAY of each month at The Beacon of Light which is situated near The Stadium of Light directly adjacent to The Aquatic Centre.

They have a court booked for 1 hour from 11.00am but normally meet about 10.30am in the ground floor cafe for a coffee.  For anyone who hasn’t been it's a fantastic facility and the court can accommodate 4 table tennis tables, 2 pickleball courts, a badminton court and a five-a-side football pitch.

It is emphasized that not everyone participates and there is no pressure to do so.  Some just come for the craic and to spectate.  They have been going since July 2024 and normally have around ten to fifteen regular attenders.

It is an alternative to the more formal NARPO meetings.  As the event can obviously cater for more, the committee have asked me to offer the hand of friendship to your members if they want to pop along even if it's just as a recce.  There is no charge and no need to contact in advance, simply turn up.

There is a cafe that does toasties etc if anyone is peckish.

If anyone is considering accepting this offer, would you please notify Ray Jones, Durham2@narpo.org.uk in order that we can monitor the take up and advise the Sunderland Branch, out of courtesy.

This social meeting is regularly attended by retired Durham officers

The next meeting is on Thursday 19th March.

Use the attached address for The Beacon:

https://beaconoflight.co.uk

Please Note:
From Sunderland NARPO Chairman Colin Dobson: "As from 26th August 2025 car parking charges have been introduced. Currently 0-2 hours: Free, 2-4 hours: £4, 4-8 hours: £8 and 24 hours: £10.
IMPORTANT: Payment will be taken via the EVOLOGY cashless parking app.
The next meeting is this Thursday 19th February 10.30am for 11.00am. I would suggest that to save time you download the app to your phone and REGISTER AND CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT. If you intend staying for more than 2 hours then the first payment shown in the app is for £4.25 for 4 hours ie the free 2 + 2 hours.
As Narpo funds the actual event this is the only expense on the day, excluding any refres

Reminder Notice for the AGM on Monday 9th March 2026

The AGM of the Durham Branch of NARPO will take place this coming Monday, 9th March 2026, starting at 7.30pm at The Masonic Hall, Station Road, Chester le Street DH3 3DU

The Durham Branch of NARPO currently has 775  members.

On average the meetings held throughout the year are attended by approximately 10-25 members and whilst we fully appreciate that some members have serious health and mobility issues, we are sure that we can greatly improve on these numbers.  This would bring in fresh ideas, provide encouragement and help to invigorate our Branch for the future.

The Officers and Committee work extremely hard in their own time to try and provide support to members and their families and also to provide information to the membership via 'The Durham Peeler' magazine and via communications sent out electronically.

An invitation to attend our meeting has been accepted by the NARPO President, Richard Critchley and NARPO CEO, Alan Lees.  

Richard and Alan are giving up their valuable time to make the journey to County Durham following a previous meeting they are attending and will update members on the work of NARPO nationally.  Please show your support to your branch and our Head Office staff and come along if you are able to do so.

Due to the lack of support from the membership it will get to the stage where a committee cannot be formed and the branch will cease to exist.

There would subsequently be no local support to members families and no information flow as The Peeler magazine, website etc would stop.  At this years AGM our secretary Stuart Ingram is stepping down after serving the branch in this role for over a decade. To date nobody has shown an interest in taking over the role of secretary.

PLEASE if you can attend the AGM to show your support and provide any help or ideas in how to improve the local Durham branch it would be greatly appreciated.

If you do intend to come along on Monday night please could you let Chairman Ray Jones know: Tel: 01325 327165,  Mob: 07535 261063 or  email (rayjones2341@gmail.com) so that Treasurer Sue Knaggs can cater for the numbers attending.

Assistance sought

Ray Jones is currently dealing with an information request from the family of an ex Durham County Constabulary Police Officer - Constable 1154 Douglas Coad, who served with the force from August 1948 until his death in service in October 1968 at the age of 42 years.  

At the time of his death he may have been living in Darlington.  Douglas had previously served with the Police in Palestine.  

His wife's name is believed to have been Margaret.

If anyone can provide any information about this officer, would you please contact Ray via his mobile 07535 261063 or email rayjones2341@gmail.com 

Death of Police Widow, Theresa Miller

 It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of Police Widow, Theresa Miller, who died at Southport on Thursday 12th February 2026, aged 98 years.

Theresa was the widow of Police Constable 1707 Charles Miller, who joined Sunderland Borough Police in 1947, later transferring to Durham County Constabulary and retiring in 1972 after 25 years’ service.  Charles died on 19 July 2001.

Charles and Theresa moved from Washington to Formby in 1992.

Theresa was predeceased by son Ian.  She is survived by daughter Elaine and son-in-law David, daughter-in-law Janet, grandchildren Claire, Karen and Jayne, their respective husbands John, John and Steven and great grandchildren Megan, Charlie, Ethan, Elliott, Thomas and Poppy.

A funeral service for Theresa took place at 2.00pm Thursday 5th March 2026 at Southport Crematorium.

She was a widow member of the Southport & District Branch of NARPO.

Our thoughts are with Theresa’s family and friends at this sad time.

Death of Retired Police Officer: Sergeant 35 John Taylor

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of retired Police Officer, Sergeant 35, John Taylor, who died at Picktree Court Care Home, Chester le Street on Wednesday 21st January 2026, aged 87 years.

John was appointed to Gateshead Police in October 1964, transferring to Durham County Constabulary in October 1968 because of force amalgamations, and posted to Durham.

He resigned in August 1969 and in March 1970 was further appointed to Northumbria.  In July 1974 John transferred to Durham Constabulary.

He spent a short time with Motor Patrols, although much of his service was spent with the Firearm Department.  When promoted to the rank of Sergeant in June 1980 he was posted to Seaham, spending a year there, before returning to the Firearms Department as a Firearms Training Officer, a position he held until his retirement in April 1995.

In 1991, John was the winner of the Matt Wilkinson Memorial Trophy.

He was a founding member of the Durham Police Shooting Club and continued as Chairman, beyond his retirement.

John is survived by wife Rosalind.

A private cremation was held on 11th February 2026.

Our thoughts are with John’s family and friends at this sad time.

Death of Retired Police Officer: Sergeant 2283 Jonathan Crosby

It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of retired Police Officer, Sergeant 2283 Jonathan (Jon) Crosby, who died at home on Wednesday 11th February 2026, aged 85 years.

Jon joined Durham County Constabulary on 31st March 1969 and was posted to Consett.  In 1975 he moved to the Mounted Branch, based at Harperley Hall.  On 10th September 1979 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the force’s Dog Section, also based at Harperley Hall.  Jon later moved back to the Mounted Branch where he remained until his retirement on 19th January 1995.

Jon is survived by his wife Ann, son John, daughter Louise and daughter-in-law Mel.

A funeral service is to be held at 1.15pm Wednesday 11th March 2026 at St Catherine’s Church, North Terrace, Crook DL15 9AZ, followed by a private interment at Willington.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu to The Woodland Trust.

After the funeral, friends are invited to join the family at Crook Masonic Hall, 7 Church Street, Crook DL15 9BG

Our thoughts are with Jon’s family and friends at this sad time.