North East

Chris writes...

There are so many stories that touch you, no matter how hard you try to retain a healthy journalistic distance.

One story that certainly struck a chord was the Morpeth floods back in September 2008.

As a former resident of the Northumberland market town I have a real sense of just how overwhelming the deluge was.

Just the week before I’d been splashing around the river in a rowing boat passing beneath the bridges.

On the day of the floods those very boats were submerged and useless in any rescue.

Flooded out - Morpeth rescue operation

As we met more and more distraught people whose homes had been left soiled and dripping wet by the floodwater I was aware of a lesson learnt by the residents of Carlisle in the floods of 2005, but one I didn’t like to volunteer.

Namely, no matter how soon you think your house will be put right – the wait will be far longer.

So, six months on and just over 70% of the residents who had to abandon their homes have still not been able to return.

A statistic is rather cold – put a name to them, like the Beaton family and hear how they’re all still crammed into a relatives house several miles away.

Then try not to feel a real sense of just how awful a flood is.

BMX champ

If you need faith in being able to carry on in the face of disaster then I only have to think of  Stephen Murray.

The Tyneside BMX champion took the US by storm and was at the top of his game when he fell and broke his neck.

A fantastically fit sportsman suddenly paralysed from the neck down.

His motto is "stay strong".

I’m sure I couldn’t in his situation, but he puts himself through rigorous physio and treatment, convinced that one day he will walk again.

If ever I have a day feeling even slightly down, I just have to think of Stephen to put me in my place.

Tilly

Three-year-old Tilly made a huge impression on many people.

Tilly Lockey

Having lost her hands as a result of meningococcal septicaemia she is now trying bionic hands – the youngest person to be fitted with this type of artificial limb.

She’ll need a new pair every year and they cost tens of thousands of pounds.

The focus is on her of course, but I was also struck by her amazing parents, Sarah & Adam who’ve fought tooth and nail to get the very best they can for their daughter.

Best news of all they’ve been able to convince their health trust to put money towards getting those replacement hands as she grows older.

Premier waste

I get a great buzz when we uncover wrongdoing and expose it.

In March 2008 we revealed how waste that was supposed to be turned into a type of compost was in fact potentially dangerous because it wasn’t being treated properly.

Premier waste shut the specialist composting tower down – a year on it’s still not fully working.

Without our award-winning investigation the problems might never have come to light.

Tuxedo Princess

Sometimes my job is just pure fun, like when I was let loose on the Tuxedo Princess before the iconic Tyneside nightclub left the river for good. 

It was a bit of a tardis – few people had ever been below decks and in the dark recesses of the cobwebbed ferry cabins I even found a 70’s style pair of y-fronts...I didn’t like to ask too many questions about that!

Sea Shanties

One of the most rewarding moments was reuniting some Sunderland families with a long lost relative.

Turning back time - Mark Page.

I spent months tracing the descendants of a 90-year-old sea-dog Mark Page had been recorded in the 1930’s singing sea shanties.

As they gathered together they had no idea that they were about to hear the voice of their great-great grandfather singing from beyond the grave.

From serious hard hitting investigations to some of the lighter side of life in the North East and Cumbria, there’s no other job quite like it. ..... and I love it!

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