Tuesday 13 August 2013

Pay back time for Ashes Maker


At 68-years-old, Ian Darling was probably the oldest amongst the 70-strong 'Ashes Maker' volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the event such a success for spectators.

They were there at the train stations when fans arrived at Durham and Chester-le-Street, they lined the walking routes to the ground and gave a helping hand outside and inside the ground.

And for Ian, from Hexham, Northumberland, helping people find their way to their seats and answering their many and varied questions was repaying an Ashes debt owed since 1956.

Ian's dad Andrew had taken his son to the Ashes Test at Headingley as a reward for passing his 11-plus exams and they decided to stay an extra day.

But with no overnight accommodation and strangers to Leeds they were lost in city when a friendly vicar walking his dog offered to help. After a trip to the local police station the vicar went even further out of his way to lead them to the door of a welcoming bed and breakfast.

"I am here now as an Ashes maker repaying that debt to anyone at this Test match who needs my help!" said Ian, Deputy Chairman of the Ashington-based Bernicia housing association.






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