November 12, 2001
The Queen yesterday led the nation in remembrance of the fallen amid tight security to prevent any terrorist attack.
On Big Ben's first stroke of 11am, Britain was called to two minutes' silence.
It was the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month - the first time since 1990 that Remembrance Sunday had coincided with Armistice Day.
The 101-year-old Queen Mother watched as the Queen laid a wreath at The Cenotaph in London. Prime Minister Tony Blair headed politicians, diplomats and military chiefs who also laid floral tributes.
Round of gunfire
Poppy wreaths were laid at memorials around the North- East as veterans of the major campaigns joined current servicemen and women.
In Newcastle a round of gunfire from the guns of 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery Volunteers started the two minutes' silence among the crowds which packed Old Eldon Square and neighbouring streets.
Across the Tyne in Gateshead the Mayor, Coun Joseph Hattam, led a ceremony at the town's war memorial in Prince Consort Road.
In Northumberland wreath-laying ceremonies and Remembrance Day services brought the streets to a standstill in Alnwick, Morpeth, Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin. In Hexham, First World War veteran Norman Cowan, 103, laid a wreath to remember his fallen comrades.
Around 500 people made their way to Sunderland's memorial in the city's Mowbray Park.
Many people laid their own wreaths alongside those laid by the Armed Services, Royal British Legion and firefighters, who remembered the 343 who were lost on September 11 in the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.
November 10, 2001
One of the warmest autumns on record came to an abrupt end yesterday when the first winter snow fell across the region. Hazardous road conditions, howling winds and freezing temperatures signalled the arrival of winter following the mildest October since 1659. Snow ploughs were called out in Northumberland when the A68 near Carter Bar and the A67 in Allendale became blocked. The A66 transpennine route and the A689 at Cowshill, in Weardale, were only passable with extreme caution.
No-fly zone over nuclear plant
November 6, 2001
A no-fly zone is in force around Hartlepool's nuclear power station, it has been revealed.
Pilots must now seek special permission to fly planes below 600m (2,000ft) within two miles of the British Energy-owned plant as a result of the terror strikes of September 11.
A British Energy spokesman said other precautions had been taken but could not be discussed in detail.
Visitors' tours to the plant have stopped and business visits cut back.
Security is being stepped up at key Teesside sites to protect industry from international terrorism.
Defence chiefs are considering using the Territorial Army to guard vulnerable buildings, but no plans had been drawn up.
Redcar MP Vera Baird is seeking more government cash for the Tees Fire brigade which protects the biggest concentration of chemical works in Britain.
Teesside's chemical firms are taking advice from the Government on security issues and Cleveland Police and the region's councils are being extra vigilant.
November 6, 2001
A pay strike by bus drivers brought the public transport system in the North-East to its knees yesterday.
Just a handful of services run by Stagecoach made it on to the streets of Teesside and County Durham. There angry scenes at the company's Teesside depot as more than 50 drivers picketed managers and non-unionised drivers.
The Teesside drivers are paid £5.32 an hour and are fighting for parity with their Tyneside colleagues who can earn up to £7 an hour. They have been offered 40p an hour increase and will ballot members later this week.
If the latest offer is turned down, a further strike is planned next Monday.
November 5, 2001
The Royal Air Force Association club in Duke Street, Darlington, closed its doors for the final time last week.
Twenty years ago, membership at the branch stood at 800. But now that figure has halved and attendance at the club has dwindled.
The association for the former servicemen and women of the town was formed in 1946. It met in various pubs around the town before settling in the Astoria buildings, in High Northgate in 1951. The club bought the Duke Street building in 1958.
Around 80 people turned up for the final night - many more than would normally have attended. Among them was club president and secretary Eric Roberts, whose sad job it was to break the news of the committee's decision in July.
Mr Roberts, a Darlington borough councillor, said the branch would continue its work of providing welfare for ex-service people and their dependents. The JUC Club and Mowden Park Rugby Club have already offered places where members can continue to meet.
Money raised from selling the premises will go into the branch funds.
Ancient monument found at Sutton Bank
November 5, 2001
A team of archaeologists using a mixture of global positioning technology and old-fashioned leg work have found one of the country's biggest ancient hill forts in North Yorkshire.
The spectacular 40-acre site is at Sutton Bank on the western boundary of the North York moors near Thirsk. It is believed to date back to 400BC.
The site commands breathtaking views over the Vale of York and further afield to the Yorkshire dales.
In the mid-19th century an Ordnance Survey team mapped a short stretch of 'tell-tale' Iron Age earth works in the area.
But archaeologists down the years failed to follow up the discovery, confusing the earthworks with nearby mediaeval boundary ditches.
Prehistoric monument
A team from English Heritage surveyed the area around Roulston Scar and the famous White Horse of Kilburn this summer.
They found a series of ancient ditches, banks, humps and other features extending much further than anyone had previously thought, embracing much of the present day airfield of the Yorkshire gliding club. Some stretches of the defences survive to a height of nearly three metres.
The area's scheduled ancient monument designation will be amended and the national park authority is considering how best to present this important prehistoric monument to the thousands of walkers who pass through on the Cleveland Way.
Theatre plans tribute
to Sid James
November 5, 2001
The Sunderland Empire is planning a tribute to the memory of actor Sid James who died at the theatre 25 years ago.
Theatre bosses hope to include a plaque to the star of the Carry On films in their current building programme.
There is already a plaque at his former home in Gunnersbury Avenue, London, and his fans have called for a similar memorial to be erected at the venue of his last performance.
Sid James died of a heart attack on stage at the Empire in April 1976 just 15 minutes into the first performance of a comedy called The Mating Game. He was 62.
Wife watching from wings
Sitting centre stage on a sofa, Sid slumped back in his seat. The audience and the actress next to him thought he was joking. It was only when he failed to respond that she realised something serious had happened.
The curtain was brought down and the theatre's technical manager, Mel James, asked if there was a doctor in the house.
The audience still thought it was part of the fun, but Mel, who still works at the Empire, explained it was no joke, and a doctor came forward from the front stalls.
Sid was taken to Sunderland General Hospital, but he was dead when he arrived there.
His wife, Valerie Ashton, had been watching from the wings.
The Empire is discussing its memorial plan with Comic Heritage, an organisation which commemorates the careers of Britain's comedians.
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