AROUND 40 lucky winners have enjoyed a tour of Darlington’s Clock Tower thanks to a competition aimed at celebrating Love your Local Market.
For many it proved to be a lifetime ambition to climb the one hundred steps up the 152 year old clock tower. Each of the eight tours, taken over two days, was hosted by tour guide and former Markets Manager, Peter Wilson. He said:
“Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed their tour. It has been a privilege to take them around such an iconic building in the centre of town. There were lots of questions and some happy memories were shared. One winner recalled meeting his future wife outside the clock tower. He struck up a conversation with her as she waited for her boyfriend who never turned up and the rest became history.”
Tour winner Peter Ratcliffe from Darlington added:
“It was excellent. I have lived in Darlington all my life and have tried to get on a tour through the Heritage Open Days many times but failed. It was incredible to have the chance to take the tour and our guide Peter was fantastic – he really brought the history of the place and the markets to life.”
Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Environment and Transport said:
“Darlington has a rich cultural heritage and I am delighted that our lucky winners have had the chance to share and enjoy a part of this.”
Darlington joined more than 1,000 markets across the country to celebrate Love your Local Market. The day, on Saturday 21 May, featured regular and specialist market stalls, live music, Punch & Judy, balloon modeller, circus magician, face painter and family entertainment both inside the covered market and around the town centre
More clock tower tours will be on offer at the next markets celebration event in August and later in the year through Heritage Open Days.
Darlington Markets is on Facebook www.facebook.com/darlingtonmarkets and online at: www.darlington.gov.uk/markets