BEDE LECTURE: Professor Faith Wallis, of McGill University, in Canada, a world expert on St Bede, will give a lecture titled Waves and Walls: How Bede Visualised Calendars and Time in room 140 of Durham University’s Elvet Riverside building, on New Elvet, Durham City, on Wednesday (October 24) at 6.15pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.

CASTLE TALK: The County Durham Centre (CORR) of the National Trust begins its winter programme of lectures on Thursday (October 25). Richard Annis, of Durham University, will give a talk titled Durham Castle and the Walls Survey in Durham University’s Scarborough lecture theatre, on its South Road science site, in Durham City, at 7.15pm. National Trust members are welcome to attend. For more information, call 0191-3862072.

PETER BREARS: Food historian Peter Brears will give a talk on the 19th Century country house kitchen in Holgate House, part of Durham University’s Grey College, on South Road, Durham, on Sunday (October 28) at 2.15pm. The talk is free and open to all. For more information, call Grey College on 0191-3345900.

COUNCILS UNITE: Representatives of seven North-East councils have met to discuss new arrangements which could lead to a more co-ordinated approach to promoting and protecting the region. The councils involved are Durham, Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Gateshead. Further talks are planned for November.