Hi Tony,

Sorry you are having such a frustrating time with the FH Centres. I had another look at the Familysearch website, and this time looked at Billingham which Adrienne recommended.
The Linkway BILLINGHAM, TS23 3HJ UNITED KINGDOM
44 0 1642 56 3162
They have a notice saying: Opening hours are:
Tu 10am-1pm;
W 1pm-4pm;
Tu-W 6.30pm-9.30pm.
Closures: 31 july 2013 reopen 3 sept 2013.
Those are probably the only times they answer the phones, because at other times there would be no volunteers there.

And that could also be the reason for the lack of response when ringing the other centres you tried - that they have closed until 3 Sept. (Summer holidays, as Marya suggested.)

I tried Ashington on the internet again as well, and they have a note: "this family history center does not have microfilm circulation privileges" (whatever that means - perhaps no access at all to ordering microfilms?), and no phone number. I would be inclined to give it a miss, and also not try to ring the Newcastle Church seeing that they have no FHC listed.

"Sunderland England Family History Center
Queen Alexandra Road SUNDERLAND, SR2 9BT UNITED KINGDOM
+44 0 191-528 5787
Hours T 1pm-4pm;
W,Th 10am-4pm;
T, F 6pm-9pm.
Closures: closed during August 2011" Assume also August 2013!

I also looked at "Newton Aycliffe England Family History Center
Shafto Way NEWTON AYCLIFFE, DL5 UNITED KINGDOM
⌚Hours T, Th 10am-4pm;
Th 6pm-8pm.
Closures: Closed from 19 December;
reopening 3 January 2012".
They haven't updated their details, and no phone no.

So Billingham and Sunderland look the best bets, with Newton Aycliffe a possibility if you can find their phone no. and try on a Tuesday or Thurs.

I hope you have better luck with them all next week!

Sue