A splendidly compiled scrapbook shown to me this week records a memorable day enjoyed at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland by four young-at-heart Teesdale friends - Sheila Barkes, Margaret Raw, Anne Kent and Hilda Robinson.

More than 70 years ago when Mrs Barkes was a slip of a schoolgirl she lived just a goalkick from Roker Park and saw many of Sunderland's big matches there - or at least the tail end of them.

With gangs of other local children, and hundreds of unemployed men who couldn't afford the sixpence admission, she used to rush in and watch the last ten minutes for free as soon as the gates were opened to let spectators out.

When recalling these happy times to Margaret Raw she mentioned she would love to see the club's new stadium. So Margaret sent a letter, and back came an invitation to make up a party of four and spend a day there. They were treated like royalty by club official Malcolm Hopkins.

"It was a truly marvellous experience," said Mrs Barkes as she showed me all the snapshots and souvenirs pasted into the scrapbook. "It was a thrill to go through the tunnel and on to the pitch. We were taken round every bit of the stadium before being treated to tea."

Her one regret, she chuckled, was that the star players were not splashing about in the big bath when the ladies were ushered into the dressing room.

Adam Hearn was getting ready for his latest influx of fun-seeking youngsters when I called at the Kingsway Adventure Centre, in Middleton, on Tuesday. It is based in an old school in which the three Rs were drummed into the children of leadminers back in the mid-1800s.

The boys and girls who packed into classrooms for long days of severe lessons, with the frequent swish of a cane, would be startled to see what goes on - rope climbing, raft building, archery and training for other pursuits, such as canoeing, gorge walking and orienteering.

Mr Hearn and his wife, Lin, moved into the building 14 years ago. It had been used as a holiday centre for Sunderland children but had been empty for years. Now it takes parties of up to 35 pupils and four leaders from schools all over the North-East for up to five days of exciting activities and bracing air.

"The idea is to help their personal development and enable them to bond together in team work," said Mr Hearn, a former Army officer. "But an important point is that they all have fun."

He stresses however that it is safe fun. Referring to tragedies that have happened elsewhere, he said: "Our instructors are all highly trained, and some things that happen on other adventure trips would never be allowed here."

Another example of an old dale property being given a new life is at Etherley. The Literary Institute was built there in 1864 and became the hub of village life. It had reading and recreation rooms, a library and a large hall which was also used as an infants' school.

Members paid a shilling a quarter to use the facilities, which included more than 400 books plus daily, weekly and monthly newspapers.

In more recent times the institute was used less and it eventually closed before being sold for development. I saw it described in an estate agent's window this week as "an outstanding and imaginatively converted detached residence with five bedrooms and three bathrooms." It cost £500 to build in the first place. Now offers are invited in the region of £350,000.

* I'll be glad to see anyone who calls with snippets of news at The Northern Echo office at 36 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle, on Mondays and Tuesdays, telephone (01833) 638628.