As you may have guessed I was extremely pleased and really proud last week when I was handed a trophy for the second year running to mark our being chosen as BT Regional Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

It means that the judges believe the KN is the best weekly newspaper from an area which stretches from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, through the whole of Yorkshire. It was stressed it was a team award.

During the production of this week's issue it was my delight to read and process some of the stories about our schools and their achievements.

For example, look at the great team from Braithwaite School who entered the West Yorkshire Schools Swimming Gala for the first time and came away with six gold and one silver medal. Holy Family pupils have fared very well in the UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge.

What a wonderful development at Crossflatts First School where the Better Reading Partnership is going from strength to strength.

So many children have successfully completed better reading with partners that they have set up the 100 Club. Look at the beaming faces of the youngsters with their certificates and the looks of pride on the faces of their partners.

To those, and any I may have missed out, I also extend the warmest and most sincere congratulations.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.