News & events

Stockton Transformed – Crossing the Tees

Posted on June 24, 2026 in Events, News

On Saturday, I went to the opening of Stockton Riverside Park.

Wow! Just Wow!

Stockton-on-Tees new land bridge to the river

Secluded gardens

I really can’t do justice to just how AMAZING and WONDERFUL and INSPIRING it is. The Georgian High Street is now open all the way to the River Tees with an open-air amphitheatre and lots of lovely play areas and gardens – nooks and crannies for all ages.

The Rocket and the River Tees

The Terracotta Warriors of Stockton Primary Schools

Judging by how busy Drake – Stockton’s brilliant independent bookshop – was on Saturday, the project will transform the town and bring further (much needed) investment to the area.

Mel from Drake Bookshop at Crossing the Tees

Crossing the Tees Book Festival (11 – 29 June 2026) is a wonderful annual event run by the library services for Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Darlington and Redcar & Cleveland. It brings together author talks, writing workshops, art installation and fabulous local audiences united by their love of stories.

On Monday 22nd I had the chance to interrogate prolific authors Helen Cox and Wes Markin at Darlington Library. I am in awe of their productivity. Turns out they are really charming and interesting people too, as were the audience who asked some smashing questions.

On Tuesday, I joined four of the madcap crew (Jude O’Reilly, Robert Rutherford, Rob Parker & Chris McGeorge) from the seven strong Northern Crime Syndicate (we missed you Trevor Wood and AM Peacock) to write a bestseller in an hour with the help of a fabulous audience!

I’m not sure quite how Mick Herron lookalike Andy Burnham snuck in (riding a dolphin?) or how we travelled from Seaton Carew to Dubai (more than a canoe required), but I guarantee that the crime novel of the summer is completely unique with more twists and turns than Hardknott and Wrynose Passes combined.

A wonderful evening at Middlesbrough Library (in a gloriously air-conditioned room).

The Northern Crime Syndicate, Middlesbrough Library

Cooling off in the fountains, Middlesbrough