Old Durham Road Arson
A member of the ATV Today team has been injured in an arson attack.
“Darren joined us to gain work experience in photography. He had long had an interest in meeting celebrities and collecting autographs. We know he had a collection in his home worth over £2000. Jamie attended, with Darren, many of our ATV parties. The last in January of this year. Both are down to earth, and good to be around. It’s a terrible thing that’s happened. Jamie was training to join the army, and had been working hard at his fitness. We’re all still shocked at the moment, we can’t understand why it’s happened.” – Doug Lambert, ATV Today Editor
Arson attacks are not something ATV Today covers. The daily woes of the world isn’t something ATV Network looks into. We leave the hard hitting serious regional news to the likes of local radio and newspapers. This is an entertainment website from an aged television company. But we are today breaking into serious news. Because one of our team is making the news.
As reported by the BBC, and several local newspapers, tonight our showbiz photographer, Darren Turner, 33, is fighting for his life after an arson attack on his home in Old Durham Road, Gateshead.
His cousin, Jamie Campbell, who will be 21 on Wednesday, is also seriously injured.
Anyone with information on the incident are asked to ring Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043.
Our thoughts are with the Turner and Campbell families. More details at the Chronicle Live website here
Darren, since joining us in January 2009 has provided footage from some of the biggest events in the North East. From Boyzone in Newcastle, the War of the Worlds tour, Great North Games and various location shots from the Metro Centre to Grays Monument. He also snapped the illegal goings-on with flouting of Data Protection in a ‘back to work’ ‘training centre’ in the North East for ATV.
“Darren is one of the nicest of gentlemen you could meet. A real rare gentleman. Of the old skool that’s all too rare these days, carry your bag for you, open doors, compliment you. I can’t imagine why anyone would do this to his home. We only spoke on Thursday, it was always a laugh. The thing about ATV Today is we don’t take ourselves too seriously, or anyone else for that matter. And Darren was always smiling and laughing about something. I’m utterly shocked by the news. Its tragic.” – Helen Jones, Soap Editor
