text: The Mayor, Cllr Richard Porthouse, the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield, Julie Dudgeon and Mayoress Patricia Porthouse.
  Julie Dudgeon received a British Empire Medal for services to charitable fundraising in the North East after she was announced as a beneficiary in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June.
  Mrs Dudgeon, from Imeary Street, South Shields, was presented with her award during a ceremony held in Jarrow Town Hall by The Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield.
  The ceremony was also attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Richard Porthouse and his wife Patricia.
  Mum-of-two Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.
  Since then she has raised about £10,000 for cancer charities by taking part in various activities and events including the Great North Run, the Great North Bike Ride and climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland in 2014.
  The civil servant and magistrate was presented with the medal in recognition of her fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Care and St Clare’s Hospice in Jarrow.
  Mrs Dudgeon said: “I was both nervous and excited about today, but I was thrilled it was a local presentation as my close family and friends were there, which made the event more special.
  “I’m really honoured to be recognised in this way and I am just as excited about the award as I was in May last year when I found out I’d would be receiving a British Empire Medal.
  “I have always done various things for charity and I couldn’t have raised so much or taken part in so many events without the brilliant support I receive throughout my fundraising.”
  Dick Advocaat is growing frustrated by the stop-start nature of Sunderland’s bid to add to their squad before the end of the transfer window.
  Advocaat has made it crystal clear that Sunderland must make a couple of “quality” signings over the remaining 16 days of the window, particularly after the news that Adam Johnson faces six weeks on the sidelines, albeit the diagnosis is better than first feared on the winger.
  Sunderland made an enquiry for former loanee Fabio Borini this week after learning of the lay-off facing Johnson.
  But the move for Borini remains in the early stages, while the Black Cats’ pursuit of Adnan Januzaj on loan has dragged on for more than a fortnight, with Manchester United dragging their heels until they can complete the £20million signing of Barcelona’s Pedro.
  Head coach Advocaat is weary of the daily rollercoaster in the transfer market and is longing for the conclusion of the window, when he hopes to be able to oversee a more balanced squad.
  Advocaat was coy on the current state of play regarding Sunderland’s targets at his pre-match press conference yesterday, and would not be drawn on either Januzaj or Borini.
  But the implication was clear that Sunderland owner Ellis Short needs to sanction a couple of signings after the club’s spending has been modest so far this summer.
  Sunderland have splashed out more than £15m to bring five new signings to the Stadium of Light, yet they recouped £9m from the sale of striker Connor Wickham.
  The majority of the squad being presided over by Advocaat is the one which narrowly avoided relegation last season and the former Holland manager doesn’t want to experience similar this time around after last weekend’s opening day drubbing at Leicester.
  “Last season, Leicester finished the season with eight wins, one draw and one defeat from the last 10 games,” said Advocaat.