I have recently discovered a parallel universe that I never knew existed. And it’s taken me nearly half a century. You see, our family had a new arrival in late August - Gracie. Gracie is a blue roan cocker spaniel, we think. More of that in a moment. Never having owned and therefore walked a dog, I simply never knew that there were two kinds of people: those … [Read more...]

Not a headline we expect to see this summer. However, it did happen in the first London Olympics of 1908 when Gilbert Laws helmed Dormy to win a gold medal in sailing’s six metre class. As the designer of Dormy, Laws’ intimate knowledge of the boat must have proved advantageous in its racing. Tom McMeekin, the boat’s owner, had nominated him as its helmsman … [Read more...]

As this edition of Roundabout lands on your doormat, the start of the 2012 Olympic Games will be fewer than 150 days away. Billed as the London Olympics, there is plenty to excite us here in the North East. In fact, the Games commence in Newcastle, at the stadium still referred to in Olympic publicity as St James’s Park, on 26 July - the day before the official … [Read more...]

Most followers of local sport know about the success of Whitley Bay Football Club – Wembley winners of the FA Vase for the past three years. Fewer will be aware of their ice hockey-playing neighbours, Whitley Warriors – a short slapshot across Hillheads at Whitley Bay Ice Rink. In retaining the English National League North title last season, the Warriors became … [Read more...]