Minister bids to stir interest

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford will be at the Crown Hotel, The Esplanade, Scarborough, on Monday, June 28, to chair a meeting aimed at stimulating debate about an elected regional assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber. The meeting starts at 6pm and places can be booked by calling 0113-283 6273.

DIABETES MEETING: The next meeting of the Northallerton and District volunteer group of Diabetes UK takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday next week in the postgraduate lecture room at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. The speaker will be Sister Judy Furness and her subject will be digital retinal screening.

YOUTH EVENTS: Pre-parations for two large-scale youth events are under way. The Active Ryedale Festival takes place on July 10 and 11. It is a free event at Helmsley Sport and Recreation Ground. On July 11, Youthfest will be held in Ryedale. Workshops on dj-ing, break-dancing, Bollywood dance and drumming will be on offer. Bands from the area will compete to win a day in a recording studio in Leeds.

CHURCH CONCERT: The Northallerton Methodist Church Choir will give a concert on Saturday at 7.30pm in Northallerton Methodist Church. There will be guest singers from Stokesley Methodist Choir and the evening will be compered by the Reverend Brian Hoare, from Knaresborough. Admission is free and there will be a collection in aid of church funds.

ART EXHIBITION: An exhibition of paintings by Valerie and Richard Bell, from Newton Art Group, opens on Saturday at Beningbrough Hall. Colour in Harmony is a mix of watercolours and pastels and runs until July 28. All the paintings will be for sale.

Published: 17/06/2004