The man who led a review of Church of England schools addresses clergymen and women in York tomorrow.

Lord Dearing is a speaker at the Diocese of York's education conference at the city's racecourse, where he is expected to discuss the findings of the report. The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, Birmingham headteacher Linda Rockey and York University's Professor Halch Afehar will also be taking to the rostrum, attended by teachers and governors from 125 local schools and chaired by Bishop of Selby, Humphrey Taylor.

CLUB DONATION: The Northallerton and District Lioness Club has voted to donate £600 to the James Cooke Memorial Hospital. The cash will be used to help cover the cost of equipment used to detect cancer.

BOOK PRIZES: People are being sought to write a book on the Northallerton area by the town's Ottakar's bookstore. The project aims to produce a history of the area written by local people who live in it. Articles of up to 2,500 words will be welcomed on various topics. The entries will be judged and the authors of the three best pieces will each win £200. Submissions must be in by July 31. For details, call Ottakar's on (01609) 761890.

JAZZ 'N' BEER: Jazz music will be served with beer at a concert at the Black Sheep brewery bistro, Masham, on Wednesday. The Dixie Band and Jazz Orchestra, from Northallerton College, will be performing. All proceeds go towards sending students to London next month, where they will perform at the Royal Festival Hall. Tickets are £9.95, including a meal, available on (01765) 680100 or Northallerton College on (01609) 773340.

PUBLIC INVITE: Ripon City Partnership is holding a public meeting on Tuesday, July 2, at 7.30pm, in the leisure centre, in Dallamires Lane. Residents are invited to attend to check the latest progress made by the organisation to boost the area's economic fortunes.

NEW CURATES: Eight new curates are being ordained at Ripon Cathedral next Sunday. They are: David Stevens (Horsforth); Peter Askew (St John's Bilton, Harrogate); Margaret Rimmer (Aysgarth with Bolton and Redmire); Martine Crabtree (Kippax and Allerton Bywater); Adam Clayton (St Chad's, Headingley); Tim Hurren (St Peter's, Harrogate); James Turner (St Cross, Middleton, Leeds) and Clyde Rawlins (St. Aidan's, Harehills, Leeds).

BACK AGAIN: Parish politics will resume next month after being in limbo for several weeks at Arkendale, near Boroughbridge. Parish councillors resigned en bloc in protest over the new code of conduct. But now parish council business will get under way again when the new council, returned unopposed, hold their first meeting on July 10. Peter Hollis, Wendy Lill, Hilary Kelly, Ruth Cuthbert and John Tomlinson will form the new council.

NO HOME: Plans to convert first floor offices into a flat at a builder's yard in New Park Row, Harrogate, have been turned down. Borough planners said it would mean loss of employment premises and added that the flat would result in "limited amenity for any occupant".