Geoffrey Gillow

02/07/2026

15/06/2026

💪🏻 Motivational Monday 💪🏻

In honour of today’s final core GCSE exam- Physics- we have sought motivation from one of the most significant futures in the world of science. As we prepare to say a fond farewell to our Year 11 students, some for pastures new and some just goodbye for now, we hope they carry with them the core values we have instilled within them during their time at St John’s. We hope they remember that being true to themselves and carrying the virtues of honesty, compassion, self-belief and respect are more important than any results on a piece of paper or any future job title.

We look forward to following their next steps and seeing the incredible difference they will make to the world.

12/06/2026

Discover Arthur Wharton's inspiring story this summer at Hopetown Darlington! 🌟

Widely recognised as the world’s first professional black footballer and the world's first recorded fastest man, Wharton's sporting career began right here in Darlington.

Through photographs, stories and interactive activities, you can learn even more about Wharton's incredible career and fascinating life.

The exhibition is free and begins today, running all the way through until August 31. ⚽

12/06/2026

GEOFFREY GILLOW SUMMER SALE

09/06/2026

Amazing night and generosity
(Still haven’t had a thankyou for the red and white shirt I sent to him🥴🤔😺😸🙏😔

Testimonials were supposed to be one last payday. A reward for years of service. A chance to bank serious money before hanging up your boots. Players received fees. They kept the proceeds. That was how it worked.

Then Niall Quinn decided to do something different.

His testimonial was at Sunderland in May 2002. The opposition was the Republic of Ireland. The venue was the Stadium of Light. It made perfect sense – a chance to celebrate his career at one club with a side that meant everything to him.

But Quinn wasn't thinking about money.

Instead, he announced something that shocked the football world: he would donate every single penny to children's charities. Not some of it. All of it. Children's hospitals in Sunderland. Children's hospitals in Dublin, his home city. Projects helping street children living in poverty in India.

And he set himself a target: £1 million.

It was ambitious. Probably too ambitious. By the week of the match, they'd raised around £750,000, but they were still short. They hadn't reached the target yet.

So Quinn made a promise.

"Anything short of a million and I'll come back and top it up."

He meant it. If the match fell short, he would make up the difference himself. The target was getting reached, no matter what.

Then the night came.

More than 35,000 people turned up at the Stadium of Light. The atmosphere was electric. Quinn played for both sides – 45 minutes for Sunderland, then 45 minutes for the Republic of Ireland. He didn't score, but that was never the point.

The Republic of Ireland won 3-0, but the scoreline didn't matter. What mattered was the money. What mattered was the cause.

The players didn't receive fees for playing that night. Instead, they each received a letter from a sick child from one of the charities Quinn was supporting. A reminder of who they were really playing for.

When it was all counted up, the match had raised over £1 million for charity. Quinn's target was reached. And his promise to top it up was never needed.

For a moment in football history, a testimonial wasn't about the player's wallet. It was about children who needed help. And it changed what testimonials could be.

Parliament praised him. Tony Blair praised him. He received an honorary MBE for it.

But Quinn simply called it his "night of all nights."

06/05/2026

Not Laura Hayes

The charming reality TV show winner, princess in the making & now Dining Detective fan

07/04/2026

We shall be closed today (Tuesday 7th. April) due to simultaneous staff
commitments.
Many apologies, but we shall be open normal hours of 10am-4pm from tomorrow, showcasing fantastic new men’s and women’s Summer collections.

01/04/2026

Sartorial Elegance Gillow