I’M delighted to report that the afternoon tea at Aston Greys last Sunday raised a fantastic £600 for Mind.

After a rather damp morning, the rain held off, the sun shone for visitors to the garden, and everyone enjoyed the fabulous tea.

Many thanks to all those who supported the event. The next tea is on Sunday, July 19, in aid of Tynedale Hospice at Home. Details will follow in the next few weeks.

THE Bywell Arts Festival in St Peter’s and St Andrew’s churches is this weekend. Do come down to enjoy the paintings set against the backdrop of the two ancient churches.

A selection of prints and crafts will also be on sale, and there will be refreshments, and stalls selling books and plants as well as a raffle and tombola.

The opening times are tonight 7pm-9pm; tomorrow, 10am-4.30pm; and Sunday, 11am-4.30pm. Entry to the festival is free, and everyone is welcome.

PRUDHOE Community Choir is staging a concert at St Peter’s Church, Bywell, tomorrow at 7.30pm.

The programme looks fantastic and offers something for everyone, with wonderful songs such as Flying Free by Don Besig and Speed Your Journey from Verdi’s Nabucco, a medley from Les Miserables, and favourites from West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and much more.

Wine, bottled beer and soft drinks are on sale in the interval. Tickets are available from Michael Allan on (01661) 843183 and at Stocksfield Central convenience store.

The Stocksfield Retired Men’s Association meets in the usual venue, the Baptist Church Hall, on Thursday, July 2 at 10.30am.

The talk will be Coventry Cathedral by Bill Bland.

Members are invited to assemble for coffee from 9.30am, as usual. New members and visitors are always welcome.

STOCKSFIELD Churches are running “mega makers” holiday club at Stocksfield Baptist Church from 10am to 12.30pm every weekday morning from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24.

Aimed at children in school years 1-6, the holiday club provides two and a half hours of non-stop fun, free of charge.

Children will meet inventors, Boffin and Brainwave, and discover their amazing mega machine which enlarges everything placed inside it, whilst at the same time exploring the vastness of God’s love using stories from Matthew’s Gospel.

Contact Barbara on (01661) 599384 for details and bookings.