I had a very enjoyable evening in the company of the Phoenix Club in Chester-le-Street last night.

I have to admit that when I agreed a year ago to give the club a Dad At Large talk, I hadn't realised it was a Bank Holiday Monday.

Nevertheless, a date is a date and I couldn't let them down.

As its name suggests, the Phoenix Club was born out of the ashes of the Chester-le-Street Ladies Club which fizzled out about 15 years ago.

Revived six years ago, the Phoenix Club now exists for fun and fundraising and meets once a month in the coffee shop in the grounds of St Cuthbert's Catholic Church on Ropery Lane.

On June 10, at 7.30pm, the club is staging a Grand Western Night with live music in aid of the "Stairway To Heaven" memorial in Chester-le-Street cemetery.

The memorial is in memory of children who lie in unmarked graves on the site.

Everyone is welcome on the night and tickets cost £4 to include refreshments.