What's so good about Newton Aycliffe? (From The Advertiser Series)

What's so good about Newton Aycliffe?

5:42pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News By Lizzie Anderson

A FACEBOOK page asking Newton Aycliffe residents to share photos, memories and observations of their home town has attracted hundreds of fans within days of its creation.

When proud Newtonian Phil Bosten launched What’s so good about Newton Aycliffe? on the social networking site last week, the 43-year-old never dreamt he would receive such an enthusiastic response.

Overnight, more than 200 people liked the page and, at the time of going to press, the page boasted almost 600 likes and more than 1,000 people were “talking about it.”

“I didn’t expect the page to attract so much interest so I am delighted,” said Mr Bosten. “After just ten days the page has had more than 9,500 hits and it’s heart-warming to see people feel the same way about Newton Aycliffe as I do.

“I am a consultant for an oil company and spend a lot of time abroad. It is always nice to come home.

“A lot of people who have posted on the page now live away from the town and have contacted me to tell me how much they miss it.

“It is a beautiful, healthy and safe place to live.”

As well as a large number of photos, dating from the 1950s to the present day, the page is full of comments from people, keen to share the things they love most about Newton Aycliffe.

From summer play schemes at Moor Lane Park; to Betty’s Chip Shop, Jaques, Dancing School, dog walking trails, the boating lake and the town carnival – the list is long.

Summing up the sentiment of many of the posts, Lornamarie Anderson wrote: “I’ve lived all over this country but do you know I’ve never met friendlier people than in Aycliffe.”