Acclaimed children’s author and respected journalist Peter Barron MBE is to be the guest of honour at an annual charity shopping event.
Peter will give a reading from one of his books, sign copies and draw the charity raffle at the Durham Shopping Extravaganza being held at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham, next month.
The two-day event is run entirely by volunteers, yet has raised in excess of £425,000 for more than 90 charities in and around County Durham.
Now in its 29th year, the DSE runs from 12pm-8.30pm on Wednesday, October 4, to include a free glass of wine for every visitor after 5pm, and from 10am-4pm on Thursday, October 5.
Peter, who has more than 30 years’ experience in regional newspapers, 20 of them as editor of the Hartlepool Mail and The Northern Echo, will be there from approximately 2.30pm on October 5, drawing the raffle at 3.30pm.
Brought up in Middlesbrough, he started his career as a trainee reporter with the Scunthorpe Telegraph in 1981, a job that was meant to go to a young Jeremy Clarkson but he was mistaken for Peter during the interview process.
A former UK Columnist of the Year and North-East Journalist of the Year, Peter was awarded the MBE for services to journalism in 2013 and last year stepped down as editor of The Northern Echo to run his own media company.
More recently, he has established himself as a broadcaster with the BBC and he is also a successful children’s author.
Peter will be at the DSE alongside more than 75 stallholders selling food, fashion and gifts.
Shoppers will also be entertained by The Senior Choristers and Galilee Choir of the Chorister School, Durham Cathedral on the Wednesday.
Ten per cent of stallholders’ takings over the two days contribute, along with entrance ticket sales, a raffle and tombola, to the final amount raised which this year will support DFW Adoption, a private adoption agency in Durham; St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham; My Sister’s Place, a domestic abuse charity based in Middlesbrough; and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), as well as a number of smaller, local causes.
Co-chair Nicky Swan said: “We are delighted that such a well-known and popular North-East figure as Peter Barron is joining us and will draw our raffle, for which supporters have donated some fabulous prizes.
“With just a few weeks to go, everything is shaping up well to make it another fantastic Durham Shopping Extravaganza, which we hope the people of the North-East and beyond will support so we can raise as much as possible for our charities.”
The DSE is sponsored by BHP Law, Sherwoods, Lycetts, Brewin Dolphin and Parklane Plowden Chambers. There are also opportunities for advertising in the event brochure. For more information, email: enquiries@durhamshoppingextravaganza.co.uk