Our Darling Town

Today we’re honoured to be joined by Caroline Todd, Foodbank Manager at King’s Church Darlington. Caroline has witnessed the foodbank’s remarkable growth over the years, navigating rising demand, securing vital support from local businesses and community groups, and providing essential help to families facing food poverty.

In this episode, we chat with Alison Grange, the Collection and Engagement Manager at Hopetown Darlington. Alison helps share the town’s incredible railway story, curating exhibitions, caring for the museum collections, and working closely with the local community to keep Darlington’s heritage alive.

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we’re joined by the wonderfully colourful and brilliantly entertaining illustrator Liz Million. Based right here in Darlington, Liz has built a career out of bringing joy to children and families through her books, artwork, and hilariously lively workshops.

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we meet Paul and Joanne, the passionate driving forces behind Darlington Community Theatre, a vibrant charity project founded in 2023.Their mission is simple but powerful: to make performance and theatre accessible and affordable for everyone, while enriching the heart of our community.

From creating opportunities for local talent to building a welcoming space for audiences, Paul and Joanne share the journey, challenges, and joy of bringing this project to life.🎭 Find out more at dapaonline.co.uk

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we’re joined by Lisette Auton — a multi-award-winning author, poet, spoken word performer, playwright, creative practitioner, and activist.

Based right here in Darlington, Lisette has written several acclaimed novels set in Darlington and the wider North East, bringing to life brave disabled and neurodivergent characters who challenge stereotypes and celebrate difference.

We talk about her creative journey, the inspiration behind her storytelling, and why representation matters so deeply in literature and the arts.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with one of Darlington’s most powerful creative voices.

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we welcome Paul I’Anson, author of the hugely popular Darlington Trivia book, a treasure full of quirky facts, fascinating stories, and surprising details that will make you smile and think, “I never knew that about Darlington!”

Paul shares what inspired him to write the book, how he uncovered these hidden nuggets of local history, and a few of his personal favourites along the way.

📖 You can find Darlington Trivia at Waterstones Darlington.

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we sit down with Martin Stand, coordinator of The Listening Post, a heartfelt project run by the Darlington Area Churches Youth Ministry. Since 2017, The Listening Post has been offering a safe, confidential space for young people in Darlington to share their thoughts and feelings while navigating low-level mental health and wellbeing challenges.Martin shares the story behind the project, the importance of simply being heard, and how The Listening Post has made a lasting impact on the lives of young people in our community.

In this episode of Our Darling Town, we sit down with Suzy Hill, a passionate advocate for community learning. As a key figure behind the success of Darlington Library, Suzy has helped transform it into more than just a place for books — it's now a thriving hub for creativity, connection, and learning. Discover how the library continues to evolve, engage the community, and stay relevant in the digital age — all while preserving its rich history and local importance.

Welcome to Our Darling Town, the podcast that celebrates the people, places, and stories of Darington.Season 4 opens with a very special guest: Niccy Hallifax, a leading creative producer renowned for delivering large-scale, award-winning cultural projects that bring history to life through bold public events and immersive experiences.Niccy is currently leading S&DR 200, a major international festival marking 200 years since the groundbreaking Stockton & Darlington Railway — the line that launched the modern railway age and transformed global travel forever.Join us as we explore the rich heritage, creative spirit, and exciting future of Darington.🎧 Tune in and discover the stories that make our town extraordinary.

In this special episode of Our Darling Town, we're thrilled to welcome back Chris Lloyd, our very first returning guest! As the Chief Features Writer for the Northern Echo, Chris is a true fountain of knowledge when it comes to Darlington’s rich and layered history.

Why bring him back now? Because there's no better time. Darlington is marking a momentous occasion: the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world’s first passenger railway. It's a landmark not just in our town's story, but in the history of global transportation and innovation.

Chris joins us to unpack the deep significance of this milestone, share some remarkable tales from Darlington’s past, and offer his unique insights into what this anniversary means for the present and future of the town.