A little older still and he went up to Cambridge university. The photographing of his hometown stopped, even though it is clear that he had a real eye for it, in terms of composition, subject matter and human interest.

You may remember from Memories 437 in 2019 that after university, Richard rarely returned. He worked for British Steel and then for Cardiff City Council, rising to become head of corporate services.

AND: EMOTIONAL PICTURE OF A LITTLE GIRL IN RISE CARR

But in his youth he had amassed a remarkable collection of black and white images of a town on the cusp of real change. In the 1960s, the inner ring road was blasted through the centre, cutting a swathe through scores of terraces and causing the demolition of hundreds of houses.

Darlington power station from Freeman’s Place, where Halford’s is today, showing the dereliction of the town centre in the late 1960s as it waits for the ring road to come through

It was a 20 year project, which was never completed: in 1990, a public inquiry decided that the final stage of the ring road was too environmentally damaging to be allowed to go ahead. So Darlington has a ring road that doesn’t form a circle – although it still forms a noose around much of the town centre, cutting it off from the residential areas, forcing people to sprint across four lanes of traffic to reach it.

A train coming into the north end of Bank Top station with the power station in the background

Richard’s pictures capture the town beginning to undergo that immense change, but they also gave a glimpse of the town as it was, when it was still dominated by railways and industry, when the skyline was filled with the three enormous cooling towers and the three slender cricket stump chimneys of the Haughton Road power station, and when every street corner really did have a shop on it.

A stylish late 1960s lady marches into the corner shop on Park Place with the Victoria Road New Connexion Methodist Church in the background. The shop has been replaced by modern housing but the steps are still there, and the church is now a bathroom

Darlington library has accepted more than 300 of Richard’s images and a selection of them form this month’s exhibition in the Centre for Local Studies, which runs until June 30. His pictures are a remarkable record of a town as it once was.

Bowman’s grocers and off licence on the corner of Backhouse Street, which ran from Victoria Road northwards along the bank of the River Skerne, opposite St Cuthbert’s Church. The riverside was largely lined with industrial premises, including, opposite the town hall, Backhouses’ linen mill. With all its windows broken, Bowman’s looks ripe for demolition as preparations are made for the inner ring road

We think this is Model Place looking towards the Haughton Road power station

A slushy day on a back lane off Victoria Road, so perhaps the corner shop selling coats had a good day. Can anyone tell us which corner this was on?

We think this is Darlington Forge, on Albert Hill, with the East Coast Main Line train crossing Five Arch Bridge – is that correct?

Darlington Forge in the late 1960s, beside the East Coast Main Line on Albert Hill, by Richard Gaunt

Looking over the railway lines at the north end of Bank Top station with Pensbury Street on the left and the Haughton Road power station to the right. You can still see the outlines of the camouflage shapes that were painted onto the towers during the Second World War, in the hope that these vast hulks were disappear from the Luftwaffe’s view

The Freemasons Arms, now the Old English Gentleman, in Bondgate with the Odeon cinema (formerly the Majestic) in the top left. Perhaps most interesting is Darlington’s first Wimpey bar, the town’s first burger joint, which opened in May 1961 next to the pub. Are these old cars of any interest? We have done this for a while, but can anyone identify the car nearest the camera, the car turning into Commercial Street or the car going out of the picture on the right? Email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk if you can

The blaze can be seen tearing through the structure in West Lothian this afternoon.

A huge fire has engulfed an industrial estate in West Lothian. The alarm was raised around 3.20pm when fire crews received reports of a blaze at Deans Industrial Estate on Caputhall Road in Livingston on Sunday, June 14.

Emergency services, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, raced to the scene and four appliances, as well as one height appliance, was deployed to tackle the raging inferno.

It is understood firefighters remain on site while efforts to bring the fire under control continue. It is not yet known whether anyone has been injured, or whether Police Scotland or Scottish Ambulance Service are in attendance.

Photos and videos taken at the scene, and shared with the Record, show bright, angry, orange flames bursting through the roof of a building. The fire rips through the structure as thick, black smoke billows into the sky.

Locals have been sharing their concern at what’s unfolding this afternoon on social media as they pass by. Some are reporting seeing the blaze from places including Culross and on the road to Burntisland.

The area is also taped off to the public and one fire engine can be seen parked up.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 3.20pm on Sunday, June 14 to attend a fire on Caputhall Road in Livingston. Four appliances and one height appliance were deployed.”

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BBC Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise has wrapped up its fourth series, and Anne Lloyd star Barbara Flynn has paid tribute to co-star Vincent Franklin, describing the actor as ‘funny’

Beyond Paradise star Barbara Flynn, who portrays Anne Lloyd, has praised a guest performer following their departure from the BBC programme.

The fourth series of Beyond Paradise concluded earlier this year and featured Anne Lloyd stepping in to prevent Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) from being dismissed from his position.

The instalment also witnessed Zoe Williams departing Shipton Abbott to embark on her travels. Newcomer Mr James Smith (Vincent Franklin) was additionally exposed by Anne for conducting an affair with a DI from Heston Morley station.

Anne, who featured on a repeat of Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh today, also said she feared she’d lose her job after a week of filming.

During the repeat instalment, Anne spoke with Alan about the series and how she considers it “a joy” to go to work.

“It is lovely,” Barbara remarked before commending the programme’s writers, “Tony Jordan and Tim Key are an amazing pair. Death in Paradise has such a huge following around the world, and I think it is just something pleasant.

“I said to Sally (Bretton) once, because most of my scenes are with her, who I absolutely adore, I said, ‘Look, Sal, here we are sitting on a bench on a beach’.

“We are at work, and we were doing yoga on a beach, and it was a complete delight.”

She continued by revealing that she fractured her ankle following a week of shooting, which made filming scenes difficult. She added, “The rest of it was filmed of me from wheelchairs and crutches. I thought I’d lost a job after the first week, but they said, ‘No, no Barbara, we will wheel you up and down’.”

Anne also previously discussed what it was like to film alongside newcomer Vincent in series four, characterising the performer as “funny”.

She told Reach PLC, “We got on incredibly well. He’s a funny man, and we had enormous fun off-screen as well as on. He was a lovely addition and a bit of a mystery, and that it’s going to all end in…not tears, but chaos or something.

“And, of course, because Anne decides to get much more involved than that, then there’s a real, there’s a real kind of shift,” reports the Express.

When addressing what collaborating with Kris Marshall’s character more closely was like, Barbara continued, “Well, they all find it difficult having Anne in the station.

“I mean, Humphrey is as polite as he could be. He was never rude, but he’s so in his head, and so Anne is constantly bemused by him, but at the same time, very fond.”

Kris also expressed his enjoyment working with Vincent, who portrayed his adversary, describing him as a “genius actor”.

Beyond Paradise is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Desperate holidaymakers have been queuing outside Gatwick Airport for hours after sinkholes near a railway bridge cancelled all trains to London.

Network Rail engineers discovered a ‘number of sinkholes’ close to a bridge during planned engineering work outside Purley.

Claiming it was ‘for the safety of passengers’, all lines between Purley and East Croydon were closed leaving holidaymakers scrambling for alternative ways to get to and from the major airport.

Some reported taxis charging as much as £250 to get to East Croydon as others queued for hours for replacement buses.

After taking first place at a professional competition in Spain this month, Nikki Beattie has qualified for the Masters Olympia 2027

A Co Antrim mum is in “absolute disbelief” after becoming the first woman from Northern Ireland to qualify for a top bodybuilding competition.

Nikki Beattie, from Larne, fell into the world of bodybuilding after having her first child and fell in love with training and pushing herself in a new sport.

Earlier this month, she travelled to Madrid to take part in her second professional show and came away with the top prize for Women’s Physique in the 40+ age group.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Nikki shared her excitement at qualifying for the Masters Olympia next August – considered the pinnacle competition for bodybuilding.

She said: “After I had my first son, I was like stuck in the house as a mum just like a robot doing the do. I just thought I need to do something for myself as I just didn’t like how I felt within myself.

“So I started the gym Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, that’s when I worked out and I just never stopped.

“From there, I just progressed and my coach at the time asked did I want to do a competition and I was like yeah we’ll do it for the craic, not knowing what I was going into.”

Nikki threw herself into working to compete at local shows over across three federations, coming away with the top prize at most she attended.

“When Covid hit, I just tried to do what I could but in the meantime, I’d had another baby and I was able to train up until three days before I had him,” she explained.

She didn’t let a global pandemic stop her passion, returning to competing when restrictions were lifted and winning once again before qualifying for her pro card and making her professional debut 16 months ago.

After placing 15th, a score she was “delighted” with, she took over a year off before going to compete in her second professional show this month in Spain.

Remembering the moment she won, she added: “I couldn’t believe it, because when you’re backstage seeing those girls who are far bigger than you and the girls that you see on Instagram, you’re looking up to them, you’re like ‘wow, I’m actually here’.

“I was literally just happy to be there with them because I really admire these girls.

“There was a lot of hype about the girl who came second as she was the favourite to win, so I was like that’s alright, I’ll take a loss compared to her because she’s amazing.

“When they called her out and I was left standing there in first place, I was like wow, I literally couldn’t believe it.

“Just in absolute disbelief – very, very grateful, very grateful for the opportunity to do it as well.”

Taking part in the Masters Olympia 2027 will put Nikki on the world stage, competing with the best of the best in bodybuilding.

She said she in honoured to be able to represent Northern Ireland and highlight “our wee country on the map of bodybuilding” as the first woman in the country to qualify for the Masters Olympia.

Nikki continued: “There are no days off – our off-season is literally building muscle.

“Everything’s so structured, but as a mum of two boys, they’re my priority so it doesn’t eat into our family time and things like that.

“My boys are seven and one’s coming 13 here – they’re very, very proud of me and I do believe that every parent should do some sort of exercise to lead by example with their kids – nutrition as well because it’s very important too.”

Nikki hopes that people can be inspired by her passion and determination and showcase that bodybuilding is not the “lone sport” it is made out to be, thanking the team around her for helping her take her first professional win.

VIDEO BY JUSTIN KERNOGHAN

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Ninety teams hurtled across a gruelling 2.4-mile course in the 60th Great Knaresborough Bed Race on Saturday (June 13).  

The event featured a “Swinging Sixties” theme to commemorate the first-ever bed race event, which took place in 1966.

Recommended reading:

Before setting off from the grassy banks through Conyngham parkland, the teams showed off their dressed beds, inspired by this year’s theme, at Knaresborough Castle.

Ninety teams participated in the day’s parade before undressing the beds for the big race (Image: Lisa Young)

The winners, Bed Number 44 – The Rocket Men – were selected by a voting panel and led the beds in the town’s parade from 1pm.

Decorations came off for the second instalment of the day, the big race, at 3pm.

The course led the teams from Conyngham across Bond End and onto Waterside before the ascent to Castle Ings.

The parade through Knaresborough delighted thousands of people who lined the streets (Image: Lisa Young)

The teams turned off in High Street, looping back to Bond End through to Mackintosh Park before the arduous 50-yard swim across the River Nidd back to Conyngham.

Joining those taking part was a group of NHS mental health clinicians, raising money for charity Maternal Mental Health Alliance.

Speaking about this, team member Anna Kilsby, a consultant psychiatrist who works in the Harrogate and Knaresborough perinatal mental health service, said: “1 in 4 women have a mental health problem associated with having a baby.

“And 1 in 10 women and birthing people are considered at a level to need specialist perinatal mental health support.

“This means that struggling with your mental health after a baby is as common as everyday things, such as having curly hair.”

“My motivation to run is that hopefully people who might need us will hear how common this is, learn that we exist and want to support them” (Image: TEWV Bed Race team)

She added: “Despite this, people fear stigma and judgement if they ask for help.

“Too many people wait longer than they should – which impacts the woman or birthing person, baby and family.

“My motivation to run is that hopefully people who might need us will hear how common this is, learn that we exist and want to support them.

“Most importantly, they might also realise we are normal people who struggle doing things we aren’t used to – like running – and they don’t feel so anxious about meeting us.”

Teams have been preparing for the event for months (Image: Lisa Young)

Jazz Richardson-Forster, who works as a Peer Lead for North Yorkshire York and Selby Community Services, said that training for the bed race was a “real team effort”.

Knaresborough Striders Men were crowned this year’s winners of the bed race, with an impressive time of 12:33.

They were followed by Gh Brooks Mens (12:34) and The Half Moon (14:12).

The teams gathered at Knaresborough Castle for the judging of the Best Dressed Beds (Image: Lisa Young)

The event is organised by volunteers from the Knaresborough Lions charity, who are assisted by 300 others.

Each year, thousands of pounds are raised through entry fees, sponsorship and sales of the programme – money which goes back into the organisation of the next Bed Race, with any excess donated to worthy causes.

For more on this and the full results from the day, please see here.

Russell conceded afterwards that he would have, adding that he felt his former teammate was now in this title fight. “The pace today was insane from Lewis, so yeah, they [Ferrari] are coming, I think,” he said.

It does look as if Hamilton might be at least. This was his first win in 686 days (since the 2024 Belgian GP), his first time crossing the line in first place in 707 days (since the 2024 British GP), and it leaves him 41 points behind Antonelli in second place in the championship, with Russell a further nine points behind.

Hamilton appeared to be choking up over the radio as he returned his car to the pits.

“Grazie tutti to everyone at Maranello,”  Hamilton told his team as he returned his car to the pits. “I can’t thank you enough. I’m so proud of you. And to my family, I love you. And to my fans, thank you for reminding me who I am. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

More to follow…

It took the new champion a few moments to gather her thoughts, but she was full of praise for her opponent: “Wow. First of all congrats Emma on such a great week, you’re such an incredible player and I wish you and your team all the best for the remainder of the grass season.”

“This really is my favourite time of the year, my favourite surface and I really made the most of it this week],” she added. “I’ll see you guys in two weeks, thanks for all your support.”

She continued: “[I’ve been dreaming of this for] the last couple of years, for sure. [After the first set] I was thinking, I won 6-0 that’s kind of a curse in tennis, but [Raducanu] really stepped up, she played some amazing tennis, just try to stay with her, make her serve it out, try to play every single ball. To be honest, her last service game and the tiebreak is still a bit of a blur.”

The gorgeous restaurant can be found within a 1,000-acre Georgian deer park

A pub hidden in the North Norfolk countryside has been crowned as “the best in the UK” following its triumph at the 2026 National Pub & Bar Awards. The Gunton Arms, in Thorpe Market near Cromer, is a charming pub set within a pretty Georgian park.

The award-winning pub can be found in Gunton Park, a 1,000-acre deer park. The park won an award in 2021 for restoration efforts which returned the park to the way it would have been in Georgian times.

These beautiful surroundings mean that deer are often spotted from inside the pub.

Owned by Ivor Braka and overseen by husband and wife team Stuart and Simone Tattershall, The Gunton Arms is a traditional pub with 16 bedrooms.

Leading the kitchen is Stuart, previously head chef at Mark Hix, who cooks from local ingredients over a fire grill, including venison from the deer park. The restaurant also utilises fresh seafood, mussels, and the renowned Cromer crab and lobster caught by local fishermen.

Having opened in October 2011, Mr Braka’s history as an art dealer makes for a pub and grounds that blends rustic charm with contemporary art and eccentric luxury. Inside, guests will find works by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

Reacting to the accolade, chef Stuart said “I’m gobsmacked”. He added: “Absolutely incredible to be mentioned in the same breath as so many of these people at the awards. It’s a credit to the team at The Gunton and the great county of Norfolk. Our guests have really supported us and been really kind to us, so after 15 years to get this is a massive achievement.”

The menu changes daily, depending on the local produce which is available and seasonable. Although, some items on the sample menu include a farmhouse chicken, leek and bacon pie, pork and leek sausages with mash and onion gravy and a barbecue beef brisket served with chips and slaw.

On Sundays, roast dinner is offered and desserts range from a white chocolate cheesecake with Norfolk strawberry to an apricot and almond tart served with clotted cream.

The Gunton Arms was selected as number one ahead of 252 other pubs and bars from across the UK, all of which had been shortlisted to represent their respective counties at the annual event.

Other awards on the night were the Pub Group of the Year and Bar Group of the Year. All of the 2026 National Pub & Bar Awards winners, including County and Regional, can be found here.