FIRST SPEAKER: Lord MacKenzie of Framwellgate will be the first speaker of the new season of the Sacriston and District Everyman's Club.

HARVEST FESTIVAL: A prize leek show and grand auction followed by the harvest festival and hymn singing in the Methodist Church will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 7 and 8 at Beamish Museum.

JAZZ NIGHT: Jazz in Birtley will be entertained by Savoy Jazz between 8pm and 11pm on Thursday, in Birtley St Joseph's CMS Club and Parish Centre. Entry costs £2.

SOCCER FESTIVAL: Youth teams across the district will play a mini soccer festival from 10am to 5pm tomorrow, at the Riverside.

NETBALL PRACTICE: The Hermitage School holds women's netball at £1.50 a session from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Mondays, followed by children's netball at £1.25 per session from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. For details, call 0191-388 7139.

HOSPITAL TALK: Christ Church Mothers' Union in Lumley will hear from Father Peter Webb about his work as Chaplain to Sunderland Hospital on Wednesday.

NEW QUIZ: A new weekly quiz starts in the Wheatsheaf at Barley Mow, at 9pm on Tuesday, September 10. It has also started a bingo come lottery competition using the numbers drawn on Saturdays.

BIKERS MEET: The Broken Piston Motorcycle Club meets in the Galley, at Chester Moor, on Sundays at 7pm.

PRIZE LEEKS: The leek show of the Plough at High Flatts is being held on Wednesday and Thursday.

SPOOKY THEATRE: The Chester-le-Street Theatre Group is staging the Haunting of Hill House from Wednesday to Saturday, September 4 to 7 in the Chester-le-Street Community Centre.

NEW MUSIC NIGHTS: The Rose and Shamrock has started to hold a karaoke and disco night every Friday and Saturday.

SPONSORSHIP NEEDED: Abigail Milne, 16, from Great Lumley, who has won a place at the Sage Academy of Performing Arts, in Newcastle, is appealing for help with the £4,900 annual fee that she needs to find over the three years. To sponsor her call Lucy Sage on 0191-224 5604 or (01670) 516859.