Ashley’s pizzas, Sayers jailed and academic freed
In the last part of our news review of the year, killer Albert Dryden dies, hardman John Henry Sayers is jailed, a UN inspector calls and Toon boss Mike Ashley gets the pizzas in... some of the many stories we have covered in 2018.
IN September we revealed how police were investigating after a Mobike went up in flames in Ouseburn - sparking fresh fears the firm may quit Tyneside.
Firefighters were called to the scene, the latest act of Mobike vandalism which came after the Chinese company behind the scheme revealed it was debating leaving the North East due to vandalism. The orange and silver bikes have been found dumped in the Tyne and ditched around Newcastle since they were launched in October 2017.
However a couple of days later the company revealed that Mobikes are here to stay - for the time being at least. The announcement came on the same day the firm said it was to suspend its service in Manchester.
The 2018 Great North Run was a record-breaker as a total of 43,600 runners crossed the finish line, the most ever for the event.
Planning row killer Albert Dryden died this month aged 77. The eccentric gunman, who shot and killed council officer Harry Collinson after being ordered to demolish his bungalow, passed away in a County Durham care home. The murderer, who was jailed for life for the 1991 slaying, was released from prison last year after suffering a stroke.
The North East was battered by Storm Ali which blew trees on to cars, overturned lorries and destroyed homes during the most extreme day of weather since summer ended.
Newcastle “hard man” John Henry Sayers, 54, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after a shooting outside the Tup Tup Palace city nightclub, which left bouncer Matthew McCauley with multiple shotgun wounds.
Prosecutors claimed Sayers sent Michael Dixon to do the shooting in revenge for his son being thrown of the club.
Dixon was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. But while Sayers was cleared of any role in the shooting, jurors convicted him of perverting the course of justice by getting convicted killer Michael McDougall to falsely confess to it instead.
In October we revealed how Billionaire Toon owner Mike Ashley ate a £7.95 spaghetti bolognese during a four-hour clear-the-air meal with Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and his squad. And the Sports Direct owner, accused by some MPs of underfunding the club, dished out ‘big tips’ to staff.
Around 45 Newcastle United officials and players tucked into steak, pizza
and pasta at Italian restaurant Rialto in Ponteland.
The world-famous Tyne Bridge, opened by King George V in October 1928, celebrated its 90th birthday.
In November the Government urged Newcastle United to improve the way it engages with supporters. But ministers also said they were “not aware of any failing by the current owners”.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch issued the statement in response to a petition presented to the House of Commons by Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah, which claimed that owner Mike Ashley had failed to support the club. The petition sparked a bitter war of words at the time, with Mr Ashley writing his own letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to claim that it presented a “wholly inaccurate assessment of the situation at Newcastle United”.
The North East fell silent at 11am on November 11 to mark the centenary of the Armistice that ended the fighting in the First World War. Thousands of people attended ceremonies at war memorials across Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham for the poignant event. A two-minute silence was held for people to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Government policies and drastic cuts to social support are entrenching high levels of poverty and inflicting unnecessary misery, a UN human rights expert said. Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, travelled across the country to examine the impact of austerity and also came to Newcastle and the West End Food Bank.
At the end of his 12-day visit, he said: “The United Kingdom’s impending exit from the European Union poses particular risks for people in poverty, but the Government appears to be treating this as an afterthought.”
A £5 million appeal backed by the likes of artist Grayson Perry and film director Ken Loach was launched to safeguard the future of one of the North East’s most historic buildings.
The impressive Grade II-listed Redhills in Durham was built in 1915 and is home to the Durham Miners Association, paid for by the subscriptions of the 200,000 members who were then members of it.
Known as The Pitman’s Parliament, it contains a council chamber where elected delegates from more than 200 collieries on the Durham Coalfield would take their seat.
Metro bosses pledged the service will become more reliable following a drop in performance in 2018. At that time just 81.7% of Metro trains had arrived on time – and only 68% between October 14 and November 10.
Those figures marked a significant drop-off from 2017, in which the service was reporting its best sustained performance improvement in years until the Beast from the East hit – with punctuality reaching a high of 88.35% before finishing the year at 85%.
The day after the pledge the entire Tyne and Wear Metro network was brought down by a “signalling and communication” failure leading to “major delays”.
A British academic sentenced to life imprisonment by the United Arab Emirates on an espionage charge was released from jail after being pardoned by the nation’s president.
Matthew Hedges was freed after a high-profile battle with Britain’s Gulf state ally, but local officials persisted in calling him an MI6 spy – a claim denied by family and colleagues.
The Durham University PhD student, originally from Exeter, was arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave on May 5. It was announced work on the iconic Tyne Bridge will be delayed until at least 2020, with council bosses no closer to securing the £20m needed to carry out the work.
The world-famous bridge is in need of a major refurbishment – including a fresh coat of paint, road resurfacing, and other vital repairs.
The council said it was looking to secure funding from the Department for Transport to allow it to undertake works to refurbish the bridge, with the cost in the region of £15-20m.
In December we held our ever-popular Chronicle Champions Awards at The Hilton in Gateshead. Our champions included youngsters who have overcome remarkable adversity, tireless campaigners who have made our region a better place, emergency services heroes who have gone beyond the call of duty, and some truly courageous lifesavers.