Last summer the Northumberland Knightflyers coaches, Alan Hoyle and Isobelle Gibson, travelled to London on a very special journey, to not only watch the Chicago Bulls take on the Utah Jazz, but to actually learn first hand how the Chicago Bulls train, by the Chicago Bulls coaching staff. Alan and Isobelle were two of only fifty coaches from around the world to attend a special NBA coaches clinic with the Six Time World Champion Chicago Bulls.

The Northumberland Knightflyers Basketball Club is open to people of all ages and abilities, our junior team has an age range of 5 - 15 years old, while our senior team has no upper age limit. We also welcome casual players who just wish to improve their game.

Currently both the senior and junior clubs train each Friday, 7pm till 9pm at Coquet High School in Amble (Acklington Road, Amble, NE65 0NG), each session costs £5.

Starting Saturday 6th March, the Northumberland Knightflyers will be starting basketball sessions at Blyth Sportscentre (Bolam Park, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 5BT) at 11am till 12pm, each session will cost £3.

The 10ft figurehead of Admiral Boscawen is officially standing guard again overlooking the youngsters of Northumberland.

The wooden sculpture has been restored to its former glory with help of cash from infamous hard-man Wilf Pine and his pals, and on Saturday was formally back with the Ashington Sea Cadets.

Every year since 1991, scores of leather-clad motorcyclists have taken part in the annual Easter Egg run organised by the Northumberland Bikers' club.

They collected thousands of chocolate eggs donated by customers at various pubs and clubs and then set off in a huge motorbike convoy to deliver them to children and elderly people in hospitals and homes across Northumberland and Tyneside.

Cash has gone to the Concorde House sheltered housing scheme in Seaton Delaval, Seghill Institute Community Association's Newsletter Group and residents' associations in Newsham and New Delaval and Cowpen Farm and Isabella in Blyth.

The community-based initiative, the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC), has been set up to help people living mainly in the Blyth, Wansbeck and Morpeth areas.

It aims to raise awareness of the disease so people can spot the early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Blyth-based Headway Theatre Company scooped the 'Most Exciting Project' gong at the recent Stars of the Voluntary Sector awards.

Chief executive Frances Castle and creative director Alison Walton-Robson received The North East Voluntary and Community Sector trophy from Penny Wilkinson of the Northern Rock Foundation.

Blyth Valley's Ronnie Campbell is encouraging local organisations to check out the Big Lottery Fund's rules and conditions to see whether it can give their projects and community services a helping hand.

He is among many MPs all over the country who have been asked to spell out the potential benefits of bidding for lottery cash.

Rachelle, (16), from Blyth, and 15-year-old Nicholas, who hails from Wallsend, claimed bronze medals as part of the British Judo Council squad at the event.

The team competed against fighters from Russia, Austria, Ireland and Norway.

The town's neighbourhood policing team has joined forces with local sports clubs and organisations to organise the free event.

It will be held at the Briardale Centre on Briardale Road from 10am to 4pm. People of all ages are welcome to come along and take part in workshops and demonstrations.

Jake Power and Aidan McGuire claimed the junior boys' pairs title, finishing first in their aquatic Incident discipline, second in life Support, second in the swim and tow and fourth in the line throw.

Holly Mitchell and Charley Gourley came sixth in the junior girls' pairs.

Blyth Community Forum- Thursday 26 November 2009, 6:30 pm at the Buffalo Community Centre, Regent Street, Blyth

Popular Norman Howitt, the president of Cambois Rowing Club based on the River Wansbeck in Northumberland, died in hospital earlier this week, aged 71.

His death leaves a huge hole in the thriving club to which he gave six decades of voluntary service as a rower, coach, official and supporter.

The 1000 (Blyth) Squadron Air Training Corps now has a brand new building in a better location which will help it to give Northumbrian children unique opportunities to change their future.

The previous building on the Cowpen Estate was used since 1975 and was in a poor state of repair.