BRIAN Jennings, branch chairman of the Motor Neurone Disease charity, accepted a cheque for £758.91 raised at Richmond Comrades' Club, when singer Freddie Briggs, whose wife, Dorothy, suffers from the condition, entertained members.

The event was followed by a sponsored head shave by club vice-president John Butterfield, committee member Malcolm Boon and treasurer Richard Sanderson.

MEETING DATE: The Hambleton and Richmondshire branch of the National Osteoporosis Society is meeting on Monday, September 9, at 7pm, at Lascelles Court, Northallerton. Admission is £1.50.

CHARITY CASH: The CRUSE Bereavement Care charity, which provides counselling and support for people in the Northallerton district, has raised £1,315 through recent collection days at Tesco stores in Northallerton, Thirsk and Catterick Garrison.

MP'S VISIT: Richmond MP William Hague is visiting the War Memorial Institute at Scorton, today, to speak to constituents at a coffee morning. The event starts at 11am.

TOP MOTORISTS: Northallerton's group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists meets at the Lodge, Leeming Bar, on Wednesday, at 7.30pm. The evening includes a talk by Peter Webster, northern manager of Datatag ID, about security tagging.

HISTORY TALK: Knaresborough town crier Nancy Buckle talks about the history of the town, in the library on Thursday, at 2pm. Tickets cost £1 and are available from the library.

EMERGENCY IDEAS: A comprehensive list of residents with specialist skills is to be drawn up to update Malton's emergency plan. Town councillors are to work alongside Ryedale District Council on the plan.

HOUSING DELAY: Plans to build 30 homes on the Claypenny and Easingwold Motors site, in Easingwold, have been put on hold by developers Persimmon. The company is awaiting the publication of Hambleton District Council's Local Plan before going ahead.

NEW BOSS: Francine Williams has been appointed manager of the Barnardo's charity shop in Malton. She previously worked as a volunteer at the charity's shop in Driffield, East Yorkshire.

DEGREE DELIGHT: Steven Warriner, of Crayke, near Easingwold, has graduated from Leicester University with a BSc (Hons) in geography. The former Easingwold School pupil is hoping to pursue a career working on oil rigs.

VANDAL ATTACKS: Malton police say that vandalism in the town's cemetery has reached an all-time high after incidents in the past six weeks. Police chiefs urged the town council to work with the local community to protect the area.

APPLE TALK: The first meeting of the season for Husthwaite Gardening Club takes place on Thursday, September 12, at 7.30pm, in the village hall. Speaker Stuart Murfitt will discuss Apples - Talk and Tasting.