SECRETARY RETIRES: Carole McLaughlin has retired after 13 years as secretary of Birtley East Primary School.

AFRICAN AID: The surplus of St John's Church Tear Fund Appeal will go to the North Kigeli Diocese Water and Sanitation Project, in Uganda.

OPEN NIGHT: Those Were The Days, a slide show by Bob Bell, will be part of the open night held by the Birtley Methodist Men's Fellowship at 7.30pm on Monday. Admission is £1, which goes to the disability fund.

SCHOOL INITIATIVES: St Joseph's RC Primary School is now part of the Safe Routes to School Project and the Waste Foundation Programme.

KEEPING SAFE: A workshop on health and safety is being held by the Durham Business Club between 7.30am and 10am on Thursday at the Durham Cricket Club. A light breakfast is available. More details can be obtained by calling 0191-388 4488.

COFFEE FOR SCHOOLS: A coffee morning to raise school funds is being held by Christ Church, Lumley, from 10am to 11.30am, on Saturday next week, in the community centre.

BLACK AND WHITE: The Camera Club will hear about Just Mono from Marshall Calvert at 7.30pm on Monday, October 27, in the library.

FRONTIER LAND: Sacriston and District Everyman's Club will hear about the East March of the Anglo-Scottish border at 7.30pm, on Tuesday, in the lounge of St John's Court.

OVERSEAS SERVICE: The Deanery is holding its Overseas Service at 2pm on Monday, October 27, in Holy Trinity Church, Pelton.

LUNCHEON CLUB: The Youth Centre holds a luncheon club from 12.40pm to 1.25pm each weekday for pupils of Park View Community School.

CANINE GRANT: The North East and Cumbrian Co-op Community Dividend Fund has made a grant of £400 to the Chester-le-Street-based International Service Dog Fund.

CELEBRATION CONCERT: Chester-le-Street Band and Youth Connection are giving a celebration concert at 6.30pm, on Thursday, at Roseberry Sports and Community College. Cheese and wine is included in the £6 tickets (£4 concessions).

VILLAGE REGENERATION: The Whitehills Crescent area of Pelton Fell is being regenerated by Bellway Homes, Durham Aged Miners Housing Association and Nomad, with more than 200 houses, new play facilities and a community resource centre in the pipeline.