Ant weds, Ashley leaves, Arwen strikes
Katie Dickinson reviews the second half of 2021, a tough year – but one with its lighter moments too
THOUSANDS of jobs were announced around the Nissan plant in Washington with the building of a new model electric vehicle and plans for a new battery gigafactory.
In one of the most significant announcements in the plant’s 35-year manufacturing history, 900 jobs will be created at Nissan with the building of an electric crossover vehicle, while 750 new posts will come with the expansion of the adjoining Envision AESC battery plant.
An estimated 4,500 more jobs will be created in the companies’ supply chains while there are hopes thousands more jobs could follow in future years as the North East cements its position as a major player in the electric vehicles revolution.
ENGLAND’S football team took part in a historic Euros campaign which ended in defeat following a nail-biting penalty shootout.
The Three Lions were hailed as heroes who should be “so proud” of their efforts in reaching the country’s first major final in 55 years.
The side swept into the knockout stages and brushed aside Germany, Ukraine and Denmark to set up a final against Italy at Wembley – but were downed in a penalty shootout.
Sadly, their efforts were marred by the racist trolling of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after they failed to score in the penalty shoot-out defeat.
Figures within the sport, from the Government and even the Duke of Cambridge were united in their condemnation for the abuse and manager Gareth Southgate said: “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really.”
Former Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford received a hero’s welcome as he returned from the final, fellow ex England goalie David James saying he could consider himself “unfortunate” not to have won player of the tournament.
Another North East star of the Euros was Ouseburn Farm’s Suzie the Psychic Pig, who made headlines with her many correct predictions.
JULY 19 marked so-called “Freedom Day” in England when most remaining legal coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
After months of pandemicrelated constraints, the country finally reached the last step in the Government’s unlocking roadmap.
Despite the continued rise of Covid rates across the North East, the legal requirement of wearing face masks was lifted and nightclubs were able to re-open.
AUGUST
ANT McPartlin and Anne-Marie Corbett were pronounced husband and wife in a beautiful wedding ceremony attended by celebrity guests.
The TV presenter, one half of beloved Geordie duo Ant and Dec, said his vows with pal Declan Donnelly, his best man, by his side.
Anne-Marie is Ant’s former PA and the couple had been dating since 2018.
A Level results were recorded at North East schools despite a second year of disruption to classroom teaching.
Among the success stories was deaf Newcastle student and gifted musician Peter Qiang, who secured his place at university to study medicine – fulfilling his dream of becoming a doctor.
Abby Phillips, from St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy in Sunderland won a place at Cambridge University to study veterinary medicine after achieving three As, while twin sisters Libby and Emily Doughty achieved identical grades of two A*s and an A when they collected their results at Dame Allan’s Schools in Fenham.
COUNTY bosses hit the brakes on plans for a land train to ferry visitors around Holy Island.
The scheme prompted a storm of opposition after it was announced, objectors branding it “tacky” and claiming it would turn their homes into a “theme park.”
SEPTEMBER
HUNDREDS of people attended a rally in a North East city centre to welcome Afghan refugees.
North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll addressed a crowd at the event at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle.
Holding flags and banners, young and old stood in the miserable September weather to offer a warm welcome to those who had fled Afghanistan since the Taliban formerly regained control and Western forces withdrew.
IT was a euphoric day for thousands of runners and spectators as the Great North Run returned to Tyneside.
The iconic event celebrated its delayed 40th anniversary in 2021 after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Organisers estimated around 57,000 people took part in the world’s biggest half-marathon.
MOTORISTS faced huge queues at petrol stations following days of panic buying across the UK.
The Tesco petrol station at Kingston Park was one of the worst affected in the region while at an Esso garage in Seaham, County Durham, a notice was put up saying there would be a maximum limit of £30 per customer.
The surge in demand led the Petrol Retailers Association to warn as many as two-thirds of its membership of nearly 5,500 independent outlets were out of fuel at one point, the rest of them “partly dry and running out soon.”
OCTOBER
NEWCASTLE marked a “momentous day” for the city after a £300m takeover at St James’ Park was confirmed.
The long-awaited end of the Mike Ashley era on Tyneside arrived on October 7 with news the Premier League had approved Newcastle United’s takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium.
The news triggered jubilant scenes outside the club’s ground, while North Shields singer Sam Fender inspired a new line of merchandise with his hungover post-celebration appearance on BBC Breakfast.
The takeover was criticised by human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which accused the gulf state of ‘sportswashing’ by making the takeover investment.
NEWCASTLE United confirmed Steve Bruce had left his position as the club’s head coach by mutual consent.
The Magpies announced the 60-year-old’s departure following their dismal start to the Premier League season.
The 3-2 defeat against Tottenham proved Bruce ‘s last game in the job and he left with Newcastle second bottom – having failed to win any of their opening eight matches.
NOVEMBER
AS of November 8, drivers using the Tyne Tunnels no longer needed cash to pay the toll fare.
However, the first day of the tunnels going cashless saw drivers complain of traffic congestion, while operators TT2 admitted to technical issues with the payment app.
From now on vehicles going through the tunnel will be able to drive straight through the tolls as cameras will automatically register customers’ journeys.
NEWCASTLE United fans said they believed Eddie Howe was the ‘perfect man for the job’ after he was unveiled as the Magpies’ new head coach.
The 43-year-old signed a threeand-a-half year deal.
Alan Shearer tweeted: “Welcome. Good luck
Eddie. We all hope you can bring us some much needed drive and ambition.”
North East. The Prime Minister was pictured greeting nurses at Hexham Hospital without a mask, causing a backlash online.
Number 10 initially dismissed suggestions the Prime Minister had broken any rules, telling journalists he had “followed the Covid measures in place during his visit, including wearing a mask in all clinical areas.”
Appearing before the powerful Commons liaison committee, Mr Johnson finally acknowledged he had breached rules by “mistake” and apologised.
DRAGONS’ Den star Sara Davies became the seventh celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing.
The County Durham – born entrepreneur, 37 and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec faced social media star Tilly Ramsay and her partner
Nikita
Kuzmin in the dance-off following the public vote.
Sara’s dance partner Skorjanec had high words of praise for Davies’s work ethic and welcoming nature and said he would not have wanted to dance with anyone else.
DECEMBER
ANT and Dec gained a mention in the House of Commons after several cheeky jibes at the Prime Minister.
The pair poked fun at Boris Johnson during I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here over allegations a Christmas party was held at Downing Street last year in breach of the Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
The presenting duo jokingly referenced the allegations during the ITV series, saying the show’s contestants “categorically deny” any suggestion they had a party in the Welsh castle.
Dec Donnelly also mocked Boris Johnson’s ‘forgive me’ gaffe, referencing the Prime Minister’s speech in front of business leaders at the CBI conference where he lost his place for 20 seconds before rambling about Peppa Pig.
Their comments against Johnson and his Government earned them a mention from Labour leader Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions when he remarked: “It is obvious was happened. Ant and Dec are ahead of the Prime Minister on this.”
POWER was restored to all homes in North East on December 8 – 12 days after Storm Arwen battered the region.
Some 240,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity following the storm.
The army was called in to help residents in County Durham and Northumberland as a major incident was declared in both counties.
One heartwarming story to emerge from the chaos was a Northumberland couple whose wedding was saved after their reception venue was severely damaged.
AFTER months of relative normality, a new Covid-19 variant emerged – along with the threat of further restrictions.
The country went into Plan B with reintroduced guidance to work from home in a bid to reduce contact in the workplace. Face mask guidance was extended to include most public indoor venues and vaccine passports were brought in for nightclubs and large events.