Teacher dies: Loretta McGowan, who was born in the Mill House, and later helped to run the Black Bush and taught at both St Bede's and St Joseph's RC primary schools, has died at the age of 72.

Her family asked that donations be made to the Meningitis Research Fund in lieu of flowers.

Pub music: The Keelboat at Fatfield is presenting FM at 8pm next Friday, followed by Amy Saxon on Tuesday, September 30.

Music night: The Coach and Horses, in Oxclose, is presenting Aisha today with Russ Hird's After Hours next Saturday.

Improved school: A £3.7m development has enabled Columbia Grange Primary School, which caters for 75 pupils with learning difficulties, to have new classrooms, hall, library, a light and sound room, art facilities, computers and music.

School club: The After School Club at Washington Village Primary School, which runs from 3.30pm to 6pm daily, has been opened by MP Fraser Kemp.

Dance cash: The Children's Cancer Research Dance Club, which has started meeting weekly in the Usworth and District Workingmen's Club, has already raised over £300 for Grace House.

Folk night: James Keelaghan will be entertaining at the Davy Lamp Folk Club, at 7pm tonight, in the Biddick Arts Centre.

Mother and toddler: Harraton Primary School hosts a mother and toddlers group from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Mondays.

Indian talk: Leah Pattison and Usha Patil gave a talk on their work in India with the Start Campaign to the Washington Rotary Club.

Remembering him: The Honest Boy, in Blackfell, raised £500 for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Institute (SSAFI) in memory of local soldier Corporal Simon Miller who was killed near Basra.

Safe Journey: Ravensworth Terrace Primary School has established a working group to look at setting up a school travel plan.

Youth Club: Birtley St Joseph's Youth Club has bought an air hockey table and various computer games with the help of grants of £3,000 from the Community Chest, £500 from Westhelp, £250 from the CMS Club and £100 from the council.

Flower Show: The Chester-le-Street Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society will hold shows from 2pm to 6pm next Saturday and 10.30am to 4pm next Sunday in Dobbies Garden World, Birtley.

Residents' Fund: A coffee morning held by Shadon House raised £220 for the Residents Amenities Fund.

Active School: St Joseph's RC Primary School has received the Activemark from Sport England.