Delving into The Northern Echo archive for a look back at Newton Aycliffe...
The Neville Parade of shops in October 1959 The town centre in the late 1960s The parade of shops beneath Churchill House: next to the hairdresser was the Cofficana coffee bar where teenagers could congregate in booths. At the end of the run is Bruce Moore's record and electrical appliance shop which also doubled as a post office. This picture is from March 1967, before Moore's was taken over by Rumbellows Newton Aycliffe Development Corporation 40 years ago enjoyed courting controversy with its adverts which were meant to attract new businesses.
At the start of the 1979, it hired “the nubile charms of a naked Newcastle model”, and then, in 1980, came the Sweet FA campaign which, as previous Memories have told, was about how much in rates new start-ups had to pay, but it featured pictures of a 16-year-old girl called Claire "Fanny" Adams. Inbetween the two campaigns came the Aycliffe Angels, who were recruited from local factories to launch a new brochure. "It took me just three days to come up with seven smashers," said estates director Tony Cooper as he launched the brochure.
The smashers were, at the back, Debbie Hodgson, Valerie Curry and Ruth Pritchard. Front: Valerie Winship, Elaine Shedden and Gillian Singlewood SEE MORE PICTURES OF AYCLIFFE FROM THE ECHO'S UNIQUE PHOTO-ARCHIVE A beautiful picture from a French lesson at Newton Aycliffe Junior School on October 1, 1964. Whatever happened to Lucien, Francoise, Henriette, Gisele and their friends? Reid's newsagent and Post Office in Newton Aycliffe in October 1969.
We think this is the newsagent's on St Cuthbert's Way, and we love the two watering cans on display on the pavement A fabulous picture from the clocktower of Newton Aycliffe shopping centre on November 14, 1963, before the days of pedestrianisation Elmfield Junior School, Newton Aycliffe, planting trees in February 1970 Newton Aycliffe market on a wet day in March 1980 Churchill House, Newton Aycliffe, on May 26, 1960, beside the town's iconic clocktower. "This is where the development corporation have their offices and plan the future of the town," said the Northern Despatch back in 1960. Churchill House was demolished in 2016 as part of the town centre redevelopment READ MORE: NEWTON AYCLIFFE'S 75-YEAR TIMELINE Newton Aycliffe shopping centre, looking towards the clock and the oak tree in December 1961 A lovely study of a group of mothers in cardigans pushing large prams past the Newton Aycliffe library, welfare centre and clinic in August 1963 MEET THE QUAKERS' KEEPER WHO BROUGHT HIM THE BACON FOR DENMARK IN THE 1948 OLYMPIC GAMES.
