pancrack.tv news
Archive 2006
DEC 2006: 'SAVE LONGRIDGE WOOD'

For two years, a group in Marton have been fighting Middlesbrough Council's plans to tear down a young woodland and build yet more houses. After all Mr. Mallon and the council have said about the environment, reducing traffic on Marton Road and combating anti-social behaviour, it struck me as hypocrisy beyond belief. I got involved to help get the word out and show how easy it is now to get broadcasting worldwide via Youtube.


 CLICK PIC for film and microsite
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DEC 2006: REMEMBERED YET RUINED...

The 200th birthday of Henry Bolckow, Middlesbrough's first ironmaster, first Mayor and first MP was commemorated by the current Mayor Ray Mallon and MP Ashok Kumar. Mr. Mallon unveiled a clock in Captain Cook Square while a short distance away 'The North Riding Infirmary' Middlesbrough's first hospital and Henry Bolckow's gift to the town in 1864 was being demolished for an Aldi supermarket...

CLICK PIC for full article and pics

DEC 2006: DVDS NOW £10 IN SHOPS !

The Xmas iron rush stirs again with the DVD now £10 in most of the shops and from £12.50 inc. p+p online.

CLICK for OUTLETS & ONLINE SHOP

NOV 2006: PANCRACK TV ON 'YOU TUBE'

 Once upon a time, the only way to watch programmes about Teesside was via Tyne Tees and BBC North East/ Cumbria so naturally it was rare. Those days are now over !

The new video search-engines such as 'YouTube' and 'Google video' are a fantastic way to get film work seen locally and globally any time of day or night. Independent broadcasting has truly entered a new age...

CLICK PIC for clips

SEPT 2006: BOOK SHELVED

The book entitled "The Making of Teesside...and the movie" was started in June and the intention was to get it out for Xmas. I was pleased with how it was going but I've decided to shelve it because the new film is more urgent.

I have so much great material for the book in the form of photos, artwork, interview transcripts and behind the scenes that it is worth spending more time on. I hope to come back to this after the next film.



SEPT 2006: A CENTURY IN STONE - TEACHERS PACK

I will soon be working with a history teacher on a ' teacher's pack' . This will hopefully get the DVD integrated into the national curriculum and in schools, colleges,universities across the country.








The CSI before...

...and after Mandale.

Mandale at work on the Odeon

Middlesbrough Moving Forward...
Bolckow's Infirmary for an ALDI !

JULY 2006: THE CSI DEMOLITION IN M'BRO

 On June 27th, The Cleveland Scientific Institution Building (left) was torn down by new owner Mandale Properties just six weeks after they informed Middlesbrough Council. Two days later, the front page of the Gazette featured Ray Mallon on the rubble saying it was "an assault on the town" and claiming he knew nothing about it. Outraged letters poured into the Gazette. My letter was printed in the Gazette (26th July) but the last paragraph was disappointingly cut which neutered my point. This is the letter in full:

"The letter from chartered surveyors, G.N. Crass (13.7.06) congratulating Middlesbrough Council on the restoration of the Park Methodist Church as proof of “the importance the council attaches to the preservation of Middlesbrough’s heritage” is all well and good. I would also add that the campaign led by Coun. Barry Coppinger to save the Infirmary was keenly fought. But add the recent demise of the Cleveland Scientific Institution and the Gables to the equation and it just doesn’t add up.

When a property developer informs the council 6 weeks in advance that it will be demolishing a historic building just 400 yards from the Town Hall, you would expect ears to prick up especially when the developer is Mandale Properties. Mandale Properties as we know is the same developer that the council is desperate to see invest in a whopping £375m project constructing the tallest building in the North East. When the project, on the site of the former Odeon (demolished last week) is just across the road from the CSI (demolished two weeks ago) it is impossible to understand how Ray Mallon and his top brass, in the 6-week period leading up to it’s demolition, did not find out about it.

THE CUT PARAGRAPH: I believe that blind eyes were turned to the CSI demolition so as not to sour the multi-million pound project across the road. As it also happened to coincide with news of the Infirmary’s controversial fate, I believe Mr. Mallon’s outrage on the Gazette front cover was a PR stunt to save face. Economic interests over-riding heritage is one Middlesbrough tradition that doesn’t seem to be dying out".

Here are links to the Gazette site for articles and letters referred to above:

News of Infirmary Demolition - June 22nd click here

Mallon "An Assault on the town" - June 27th click here

GN Crass "One Bright Spot" - July 13th click here




JUNE 2006: MAYOR SNUBS SYDNEY GIFTS

Since returning from Australia in December, I have made repeated courteous requests by email, phone and in writing to briefly meet Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and present gifts (pictured) that I recieved for him at the Lord Mayor's office in Sydney. Bizarrely, Mr. Mallon wouldn't meet me...

CLICK PIC for full story


MAY 2006: NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE..OF A SORT !

Just returned from a mega-train trip across Canada and got talking to other passengers who then lobbied train staff for ACIS to be screened in the entertainment car ...and so somewhere in the middle of nowhere the tannoy announces; "Ladies and Gentlemen after the Dukes of Hazzard, a late movie from Middlesbrough England. So 5 people stayed up to watch it and I was one of em!

Watch train clip here

MARCH 2006: OZ TOUR REPORT AND PICS !

Historic screenings of 'A Century in Stone' at Sydney Harbour and cities across Australia...

CLICK PIC FOR BIG TOUR REPORT AND TON OF PICS !
MARCH 2006: PIRATE DVDS
V
Various reports have come in about illegal DVD copies. Somebody in Corus is knocking them out which is sickening as the end of the film was in support of the Corus workers. This is not the same as ripping off Hollywood, it is ripping off a one man band who put years unpaid into the project and who would like to stay in business and invest in more films about Teesside. Trading Stanadards can do nothing without hard evidence.

IF YOU CAN GET HOLD OF A PIRATE COPY AND KNOW THE THIEVING LEECHES WHO ARE KNOCKING THEM OUT, PLEASE CONTACT: Trading Standards 01642-444284 or drop me an email craig@pancrack.tv
FEB 2006: "JOURNEY IN STONE" WINS FILM AWARD

Caedmon Primary School in Grangetown have won a National Grid for Learning award for "Promotion of the Area using I.T."

Using ACIS as a foundation they developed their own multi-media extravaganza "A Journey in Stone" combining documentary video, stills, field trips, archive research and drama. They have set a bench mark for schools across the area. Well done to all the kids and visionary teacher Mr. Feasey.

JAN 2006: DVD & VHS SALES REACH 10,000 !
A milestone reached! Thanks to all who bought the DVD and came to see it down in Oz. Thanks to all the outlets and my sister Les for running the online shop while I was away.

Plans for 2006 include getting the DVD in schools, colleges and universities nationwide. I hope to bring the music soundtrack out on CD and the book entitled "A Century in Stone - The Making of Teesside...and The Movie". The next film project won't appear this year but the idea is in the bag for 2007.
DVD ON SALE AT THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE !

Every week, from every corner of the world, 4000 people climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and pass through the giftshop. The 'Bridgeclimb' guides tell them about Middlesbrough, Dorman Long and now the DVD which they are also using in staff training too.

Many thanks to Marianne and colleagues for coming to see the film and taking us up the bridge, an awesome trip!

CLICK PIC for BridgeClimb website
JAN 2006: HOW MANY ESTON MINERS LEFT?

As I often get asked how many, I can confirm there is now only ONE miner left and that is 83-year old Miff Brighton (pictured). He worked in the pit from 1939-49, firstly as a driver and then at the face as a miner. There are one or two former horse drivers who worked in the pit briefly such as Jack Plews who is featured in the film and Syd Lincoln who I met in Australia but they technically weren't miners.

And for the record, of the 12 people interviewed in the film, alongside Miff Brighton and Jack Plews, there are 2 others still living: Gwen Wadwell (the former nurse) and Gwen Waldon (formerly of Pit-Top).

JAN 2006: GOOD LUCK JASON !

Darlington native Jason Etherington has been in touch to say he will soon be leaving London to further his acting career in Vancouver, Canada. All the best Jason, the Canucks will love your posh accent, they used to think mine was exotic when I was there...





 

NEWS ARCHIVE: 2005