Mayor takes on rafting challenge

From the archive, first published Tuesday 1st Apr 2008.

A 66-YEAR-OLD town mayor chose

to end his year in office with a

charity white-water rafting

challenge.

Stockton mayor Councillor Bill

Noble braved the Tees Barrage's

white-water rapids yesterday in

aid of the RNLI. He was keen to

take on the challenge because he

had never tried it before.

He said: "I love the Tees Barrage

and during my time as mayor, I

have done two walks and a cycle

ride along both banks of the river

to promote healthy living, but this

white-water raft experience is

something quite different."

British Waterways, which runs

the Tees Barrage, and the Stockton

Middlesbrough Initiative (SMI)

supported Coun Noble's event.

Les Southerton, the project

director for SMI, said: "Hundreds

of people enjoy the white-water

rafting here in the Tees Valley and

he showed it is definitely

something for everyone."