COUNTY Durham and Darlington Fire Authority paid its respects to Councillor Ron Lewis by holding a minute’s silence in his memory at the combined fire authority meeting on Thursday (February 13).

Coun Coun Lewis passed away on January 9. He had been a member of the fire authority since 2010.

Fire authority chairwoman Michelle Hodgson said: “Ron was a very hard-working member of the fire authority and it was fitting that we paid our respects at the meeting.”

SCHOOL EVENT: More than 200 A-Level students from around the region attended a conference on ethics at Carmel College, on Friday (February 14). The guest speaker was Dr Peter Vardy, a renowned authority in this field and author of many of the texts used by students of philosophy and ethics.

RACE NIGHT: A race night fundraiser for Darlington Community Carnival will be held at Darlington Rugby Club, Grange Road, on March 15, at 7pm.Tickets are priced £5 including a pie and peas supper and are available from Guru boutique, in Blackwellgate, by calling Gary Shrove, on 01325-488910, or emailing gary@pro-actif.co.uk

OPEN DAY: Age UK Darlington is hosting an open day on February 25, at its Bradbury House premises, from 9.30am to 5pm. Chief executive Gillian Peel said: “The staff, customers and volunteers all look forward to these event and this one should be very special. Stuart Hall, Darlington’s very own world champion boxer arrives at 10am which is really supportive of him, especially as we know he is in training for his next major fight.”