The girl who named leader of the pack
COMPETITION winner Tracy Latheron was delighted when her entry was chosen to name the 'Ace of Spades'.
And 16 years on she is still proud of her unique connection to the 4,000 tonne excavator.
The former Widdrington Station resident beat off competition from more than 300 schoolchildren to name the massive beast after reading about it in the 'Herald'.
When the day came for its unveiling the excited ten-year-old made the short journey to the Stobswood opencast site from her home in The Gables to take pride of place as guest of honour.
For her troubles, Tracy was given a 10 voucher from British Coal, computer equipment for her school, Druridge Bay Middle, and a ride in the digger's cab, but the true prize was a lasting memory of a very special day.
"I am proud to have named one of the largest draglines in Europe," she said.
"The thing I remember from the time was having to keep the name a big secret.
"I named it the Ace of Spades because it was the best card in a pack of cards, the 'spade' reminded me of the massive bucket which was used to move the hundreds of tonnes of earth and the 'ace' is associated with being the best and this was the best of its type of machinery."
Tracy, 26, moved away from the area when she went to study English at Teesside University and now lives in Darlington, where she works as a business process analyst.
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Weather for Morpeth
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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