Wearside and County Durham stories you might have missed

6 days ago

News image — A parade took in the new Keel Crossing before before Sunderland celebrated the New Year

Sunderland City Council Crowds look on as entertainers make their way to Keel Square as part of the parade. A woman is wearing an illuminated white headdress and flowing white skirt. — A parade took in the new Keel Crossing before before Sunderland celebrated the New Year

Sunderland City Council Fireworks explode in the night sky as crowds look on in Keel Square. A Christmas tree is illuminated in the right-hand side of the image alongside a number of other festive decorations. Many people in the crowd are wearing coats and woolly hats. — Fireworks lit up the night sky as Sunderland welcomed the new year

An academic's connection to Netflix series Stranger Things, MBE honours for knife campaigners and a hospital's first patient to undergo a new spinal procedure.

Here are some stories from Wearside and County Durham you might have missed.

Academic's link to Stranger Things

Adam Powell Dr Adam Powell, with short brown-reddish hair, with a ginger moustache and beard, wearing a black and white checked blazer, looks at the camera. A bookcase filled with books is behind him. — Dr Adam Powell's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the main filming locations for Stranger Things

The Netflix hit Stranger Things has proved to be somewhat close to home for one North East academic.

Dr Adam Powell, who is based at Durham University, said he was hooked from the moment he recognised some of the show's locations which were shot in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

He said he "fell in love" with the show ever since he felt those "nostalgia pangs" of home while watching the first season.

Read more about it here.

City to get £1m ahead of Big Weekend

A picture taken from the stage of a crowd of people singing and dancing with arms in the air. Several are wearing red and white-striped Sunderland shirts, in one corner there is a couple kissing. A man at the front with short ginger hair is blowing a whistle, there are two young women with blonde hair cheering next to him and many people are clutching plastic drink glasses and bottles. — BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend was last in Sunderland in May 2005

Almost £1m has been pledged for Sunderland as it prepares to host Radio 1's Big Weekend.

About 80,000 music lovers are set to descend on Herrington Country Park in May, when the festival makes its return there.

The money from the North East Combined Authority and Sunderland City Council would cover the funding of a week-long fringe festival across the North East, masterclasses to promote careers in the arts and upgrades to the park.

Read more about it here.

New Year's Honours for knife crime campaigners

Simon and Tanya Brown standing side by side outside a large sandstone building with decorated windows and spires. Mr Brown is bold and has a grey goatee. He is wearing a black zip-up fleece over a whites shirt and he is wearing a silver chain around his neck. Mrs Brown has shoulder-length light brown hair and is wearing a baby blue coat over a grey-blue blouse. They are speaking to a reporter who is interviewing them out of shot. — Simon and Tanya Brown said they were overwhelmed to be appointed MBEs in the New Year's honours

A couple from Sunderland whose son was stabbed to death have been appointed MBEs for their work tackling knife crime.

Tanya and Simon Brown set up the Connor Brown Trust in 2020 after the fatal stabbing of their son aged 18 a year earlier.

Mrs Brown recalled receiving confirmation of the honour and said: "Just reading the letter itself was an emotional experience for us."

Man able to walk without pain after spinal surgery

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Russell Stamp. He has brown hair and stubble on his chin. He is wearing a hooded coat and is standing in a doorway. — Russell Stamp was the first patient to undergo endoscopic spinal surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital

A man says he can now walk without pain after becoming a hospital's first patient to undergo a new spinal procedure.

After having endoscopic surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital, Russell Stamp said he was now able to "get out and about to see family and friends".

"I still haven't tried anything excessive like sport or running yet, but I hope to in the coming months."

Read more about it here.

More than 4,000 calls to police over festive period

Durham Police Staff working at their desks in Durham Police's control room. A blonde-haired woman has her back to the camera as she looks at her computer screens. A grey-haired man is sitting to her right. There are dozens of desks across the room. — Control centre staff worked around the clock, Durham Police said

A police force received more than 4,000 calls over the festive period, including almost 300 to its 999 service on Christmas Day.

Durham Police said its control room staff had dealt with a total of 1,783 enquiries made to 999 between 24 and 29 December.

A further 2,269 calls were received by its non-emergency 101 service during the same period.

Read more about it here.

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