FOREIGN POST: Judith Lee, the 54-year-old headteacher of Red Rose Primary School in Chester-le-Street, is serving a five-week secondment at a school in Ghana. It is funded by the National Lottery under the Link Millennium Project. Mrs Lee has 94 pupils in her class, out of a school roll of 600. A Chester-le-Street calendar to raise funds for this school has been produced by her husband, Bill. It costs £4 and is available from Red Rose, and St Mary's and St Cuthbert's parish church.

SWEET SUCcESS: Sugar or Alpine Shadow Girl, a four- year-old mare owned by Carol Shepherd of the Minstrel Miniature Horse Stud at Beamish, was best in her class at the Wembley Horse of the Year Show.

OPERA NIGHT: High Society is being staged by the Chester- le-Street Operatic Society from next Monday to Saturday, November 10, in Park View Community Association. For tickets, call 0191-584 3061.

PIANO PRESENTATION: St John's Congregation in Barley Mow held a presentation night for Ivy Davison, who has played the piano there and is moving out of the area.

NEW BOSSES: Andy and Linda Giterle have taken over the running of the Barley Mow Inn.

SAFE FIREWORKS: There will be a fireworks display at Chester-le-Street Riverside from 7.30pm on Saturday, with tickets at £2, or £1.50 for children.

BAND NIGHTS: Music is provided by Half Breed at 9pm on Friday, in the Queen's Head at Birtley with Pit Bull playing the following night.

CARTRIDGE AID: There has been a suggestion from Gwenda Soulsby that Birtley Methodist Church increases its disabled access fund by collecting used printer cartridges and returning them to a central depot to obtain the refunds.

RESEARCH FUNDS: An entertainment evening with the Bearpark and Esh Brass Band and the Agape Ladies Choir will be held by the Cancer Research Group at 7pm on Friday, in the Red Lion at Chester-le- Street. Tickets are £4.75 and more details can be obtained from 0191-388 5944 or 0191-388 3994

SQUIRREL AID: The Shell Better Britain Campaign has donated £1,500 to the Craghead Area Partnership Woods Group to promote its work in helping to save the red squirrel.

DIPTON WALK: A countryside ranger is leading an eight-mile walk to Dipton and Hamsterley Mill at 10am on Saturday, from the car park opposite the Red Lion at Dipton.

GLEEFUL ANNIVERSARY: The Leadgate Gleemen are holding their 60th anniversary concert with guest stars the Whitley Bay Ladies Choir at 7pm on Saturday, November 10 in the Consett Empire Theatre.

ANTIQUES SALE: An antiques and crafts fair is being held in Lumley Castle on Sunday, November 11