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Bishop Auckland news

Tony Blair backs plans for Stan Laurel museum Tony Blair and the daughter of Stan Laurel have added their support to plans to turn the comedian's former school into a museum and arts centre. Plans are progressing for the derelict King James I Grammar School for Boys, in Bishop Auckland, which was extensively damaged in a 2007 arson attack. Known locally as the Stan Laurel Museum, the young Laurel was taught there in 1902 while his father ran the nearby Eden Theatre. Now a new group, the Stan Laurel Community Building Group, has launched a campaign to save the old building from demolition and turn it into a landmark in the town. Having already secured support from the Prince of Wales, the campaign group has added two high-profile supporters - the former prime minister and Sedgefield MP and Lois Laurel-Hawes, the daughter of Stan Laurel. In a letter sent to campaigner Michael O'Neill, Annie Ferguson, who works in Mr Blair's private office, said: "As a former resident of County Durham, the area remains very important to Mr Blair. "On behalf of Mr Blair please accept my warmest wishes and the very best of luck with the renovation." Mr Blair also sent a signed copy of his autobiography to be auctioned to raise funds. Mr O'Neill has also received an email from the Laurel and Hardy films website on behalf of Ms Laurel-Hawes, 83, in which she described the plans as "wonderful". Parts of the grade-II listed school date from about 1605, when King James I approved a request from Anne Swyfte to teach Latin and Greek in Bishop Auckland. After the school closed, it was used by Bishop Auckland's operatic society and ballet group before it closed in 2000. The group's plans involve opening a drama centre and museum, part of which will be about Stan Laurel, as well as creating office space to lease to local groups. Go to stanlaurelmuseumbishopauckland.yolasite.com. Duncan Leatherdale in The Northern Echo (26.09.11.) Michael O'Neill, who is spearheading the campaign to renovate Stan Laurel's old school, has had a couple of emails (see below). He has also had a logo designed (below), which is awaiting committee approval. There is also a fund appeal poster (below). Dear Michael, Lois usually has trouble using her computer, and when it does work, she also has trouble with arthritis in her hands, so I have my doubts she will be able to visit your website. But I told her about your plans, and she said, "Wonderful, and do keep me informed on what you are doing. Best of luck. Be sure to include the message that my father always regretted not studying harder and staying longer in school!" Richard Bann on the Official Laurel and Hardy Website   Lois is one of our honorary members of our tent, the Melbourne Night Owls, and this story will be reported in the next edition of our tent journal The Busch Telegraph, named after Mae Busch - originally from Melbourne - who was a silent star in many movies of the 1920s, but is best remembered for her work with Laurel and Hardy. Brian McPartland, Melbourne, Australia