ONLY one more week of training for this years fun run and Penn Seven, which take place on Sunday June 17. Full details of the weekends events will be in the new edition of Village Voice, which is due out any day now.

MEMBERS of the Afternoon Womens Institute celebrate their 75th birthday this year and will be holding a birthday lunch in the village hall on June 14. I have been given a history of the early days of the Institute, which makes very interesting reading. Members provided holidays in the village for children through the Country Holidays Fund and in 1937 £5 was sent to provide holidays for people in the Durham mining village of Byers Green. I note that in 1937 there was considerable discussion when the village hall rent was raised to £6.10 (£6.50) per annum! During the war years particularly, the ladies worked very hard, helping with evacuees in the village, making pyjamas for troops and prisoners in Germany and 3,065 pounds of jam! Many other fascinating facts are also revealed and it is clear that the WI played a big part in village life over the years, as indeed they still do.

EVENING WI also celebrate their birthday on June 14, but they are mere youngsters of 36! Both groups welcome new members to their meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month in the village hall at 2.15pm and 8pm respectively.

CONCERT in aid of Village Care will take place at Penn School on Monday next at 8pm. Tickets £4 each from Roger Wagstaff on (01494) 815563.

SIGN the locally based charity for people suffering from deafness and mental health problems, invite you to tea and cakes at Watercroft, Church Road Penn on Thursday, July 12 from 2pm-4pm. Mary Berry will provide the cakes and give a talk, and Mr Sam Twining, of Twinings Teas will talk about tea. Tickets are limited in number and cost £15 each from Steve Grudgings on (01494) 816777.