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Wearside stories you may have missed this week

Wearside stories you may have missed this week

Yahoo02-03-2025

The search for a missing woman concluded with the discovery of her body, a sea swimmer who inspired a Bafta-longlisted animated film and a World Marathon Challenge winner.
Here are some stories you may have missed on Wearside this week.
A mountain rescue team has received more than £7,000 since the conclusion of the search for a missing 23-year-old woman.
Jenny Hall, from Tow Law, County Durham was last seen leaving her home on 18 February, with her body found on Sunday after five days of searching areas around Eggleston and Hamsterley.
Read more about the search here
Katie Wotton, 53, from Murton in County Durham, suffered from depression and several illnesses and was encouraged to try sea swimming by a friend.
She said it changed her life.
Now Ms Wotton's story has been turned into a short animated film which has been screened at film festivals around the world.
Read the full story here
A former boxer has become the first British person to win a seven marathons on seven continents in seven days challenge.
Paul Holborn, 40, from Sunderland, won the World Marathon Challenge by running 26.2 miles (42.2km) in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, UAE, Spain, Brazil and USA all within a week.
For more on Paul's race, read here
Miners who took part in one of the UK's most divisive strikes have said they still cannot forgive those who did not, 40 years after it ended.
On 3 March 1985, delegates from the National Union of Mineworkers voted to end industrial action a year after it had begun.
Ronnie Peterson, who worked at Westoe Colliery near South Shields and had taken part in industrial action, said he still refused to speak to those who went to work during the strikes.
Read what happened in 1985 here
A new factory turning old tyres into jet fuel will create more than 100 jobs, its owners have said.
The £100m facility in Sunderland will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the International Airlines Group (IAG) which owns British Airways.
Read more about the initiative here
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Burial service to be held June 9 for Gravette WWII soldier killed in D-Day invasion
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I'm 92 and still live independently. I make sure to stay active, and I don't eat a lot of red meat.
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mira Armstrong, a 92-year-old from Porepunkah, Australia. It has been edited for length and clarity. I built my home with my husband, Bruce, in 1956. Now that I'm 92 years old, I still live independently. I hope I croak it here. I was born in Poland in 1933 during the Depression. My father was a shoemaker and in the army reserve. When World War II broke out, he was taken prisoner and sent to Germany. My mother, siblings, and I followed. I got a rough start to life Life was pretty tough. We lived in a derelict, abandoned farmhouse and weren't allowed to go to school because we weren't German citizens. While German children were at school, we'd scavenge at the dump — once, we even found an old gramophone. Toward the end of the war, I remember hearing American planes overhead. An old German man cycled through our village, sounding a siren as they approached. They never bombed our village, only cities and factories. I remember watching thousands of British airmen being marched past on foot. They stopped and ate grass because they were so hungry. I wish I knew how to speak English back then, but I didn't. We moved to Australia after the war, and things changed After the war, we were moved from one displaced persons camp to another. Europe was in chaos. We spent some time in Italy, then came to Australia aboard the SS Skaugum. My father got a job in the ship's kitchen and was finally able to buy toothpaste. We'd cleaned our teeth with ash during the war. When we arrived in Melbourne on March 28, 1950, I was 17. It felt like heaven. Everything was so strange and unusual. We were finally free. My family eventually settled in Porepunkah, Victoria, and I met my husband, Bruce, at the local swimming hole. One day, he waited in his truck to pick my sister and me up from work, and that was it. We were married in 1954 — I was 21, Bruce was 24. Longevity could be hereditary — my mum lived to 97. She was hardworking and survived many hardships, too. But I have also made a few lifestyle choices that may have helped. Being active has always been a priority When I was younger, I used to cycle 24 kilometers to and from work, even to church in high heels. I did everything fast, whether it was housework or heaving hay bales around our farm. When Bruce and I built our house, we dug the foundation holes and the well by hand. We had five kids, and I was constantly busy. I worked in hospitality and retail, never behind a desk. These days, I still walk a lot, mainly around the house and outside, and I like to garden. I eat a balanced diet, and I don't drink or smoke I eat everything — probably because I remember the starvation during the war. Once, we went for four days without food. For breakfast, I have porridge or Weetabix. I eat soup full of veggies, wholemeal toasties, chicken, fish, and walnuts. There's not a lot of red meat in my diet. My vice is fruit, though I have to be careful because I'm borderline diabetic. I never smoked or drank, and I only recently started drinking coffee. Staying social and volunteering is key Our home was always social — full of friends and family. I enjoy spending time with my eight grandkids and eight great-grandkids. I've also done a lot of volunteer work: 29 years with Meals on Wheels, 14 years with the op shop, and years of church work. I get bored easily, and I enjoy giving back. My faith has given me comfort in tough times Bruce died in 1977 shortly after a trucking accident. He was 47 years old, I was 44. I still had three boys at home and about 70 cows to manage on our farm. It was a horrendous time, and I went through hell. I did three part-time jobs and took care of everything on autopilot. After Bruce died, I started cursing God and stopped going to church. Then, in 1992, my youngest son, Graham, was killed in a road accident. It was very difficult, and that's when I returned to church. My faith has brought me comfort ever since. I make sure to keep my mind active I keep my mind active with puzzles and reading. I enjoy thrillers, and hot romances, too. After Bruce died, I'd read romance novels through the night. In the morning, I didn't even remember what they were about. These days, I enjoy feeding the birds and gardening. For what it's worth, these habits may have led to my longevity, and they've surely contributed to my enjoyment of life. But my No. 1 tip for a long life? Don't die!

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Jun. 6—John D.H. Harris John D.H. Harris passed away May 4, 2025 at a local hospital. He was in poor health for some months prior. Survivors are wife of 41 years, Mary Harris, son David Minall (Tracey), daughter Pam Gilsenan, grandchildren Leanne Minall (Tom), Ross Minall, Liam Gilsenan, Kerry Gilsenan. Katharine Ofcarzik (Rick). John was born April 1933 in Surrey, England. He received a Technical degree in England and rose to chief engineer at Decca Radar in London with a specialty in telecommunications. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1968 and began working in various technical fields, leading to a long career in General Instrument. He was remarkable for his contributions to many branches of creative engineering: if you ever used high definition television, a satellite dish, an IBM machine, a programmable thermostat, or driven a GM or Ford card with computerized dashboard, you have met John Harris. After retiring from GI, he worked for a local firm producing medical research equipment, including Laser Tweezers. In his own LLC company, he completed diverse projects for Los Alamos, Sandia, as well as for private individuals and companies. He was coding on his computer well up until poor health overtook him. At home, he also crafted model airplanes and grew tomatoes. Friends and acquaintances recall John as a warm and generous man, with a British wit and sense of humor that never quit. He was dedicated to high technology that has improved daily life for mankind. And no job was too small for him to lend a hand. John loved the East Mountains. It reminded him of England and Wales. He will remain with us in the East Mountains where he wished to stay. A Celebration of Life service is planned and will be announced in the near future.

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