STITCHCRAFT TALK: Gillian Peel will give a talk about embroidery to the members of the Washington Embroiderers at 7pm next Friday, at St Bede's Church Hall, Hedworth Road.

NEW LEAGUE: A new six-a-side Washington football lea-gue for the over-16s, which will play its matches on Tuesday nights, is seeking more players. Further infromation can be obtained from Angus on (01937) 587012 or by contacting www.footbal.mondial.com

RARE VISITORS: A lesser yellowlegs, which nests in North America, and a black tern, from either Holland, France or Germany, have joined the red rumped swallow on a new island at the Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Park.

OH CALAMITY: New members, especially men, are needed by the Fatfield and District Amateur Operatic Society for their production of Calamity Jane next year. The group meets at 7.30pm each Thursday at the Harraton and District Community Centre.

FITNESS PLANS: The Washington Millennium Centre, at Concord, offers fitness plans for all age groups, including sessions for toddlers, the late teens and the over-50s, as well as Chi Gung and GKR Karate. More details are available from Jayne Alderson on 0191-219 3881.

LOVE AND PEACE: Artist Jim Chambers, from Rickleton, will stage an exhibition, entitled Love and Peace, from next Wednesday to Friday, in the Durham room of Durham County Hall.

LIFE SAVERS: The region's blood supplies can be topped up during a donor session to be held between 10am and 7pm on Friday, June 14, in the Conference Room of the Washington Leisure Centre.

VOLUNTEER BUREAU: A representative of the Sunderland Volunteer Bureau holds a meeting in Connexions, between the Galleries and Washington Library, from 10am to 3pm each Thursday.

RECOGNISING BUSINESS: Alfie Gibson, from Springwell, who founded Cherished Memories to tend graves, will have his success recognised at an official reception with the Blairs in Downing Street.

THIRD AGE: Washington University of the Third Age hosts activities in various parts of the town every weekday. More details can be obtained from John Holleran on 0191-417 3878 or Trevor Gauntlett on 0191-416 1347.

PARENTS GROUP: A new National Childbirth Trust Group is starting from 11.30am to 1.30pm, with a break for lunch, on Friday, June 14, in the Sure Start Building of Usworth Colliery Nursery.

FAMILY HISTORY: The Washington Branch of the North-umberland and Durham Family History Society meets from 6pm to 9pm in the Washington Millennium Centre on the last Tuesday of each month.