NOVICES to the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi can learn the rudiments of the self-defence technique, at classes starting this month.

All are welcome to the sessions, staged in the Conference Hall, at the Houghall site of East Durham College, off the A177 Durham to Shincliffe road, on Thursdays, from 7 - 8.30pm.

There is a £6 charge per session, with further information available via www.communigate.co.uk/ne/taijiquan, or by ringing 0191-375 4700.

LITTLE LIGHTS: St Cuthbert’s Church, in Shadforth, near Durham, is running a Little Lights mother and toddler group, for children aged from birth to four-years-old, on Wednesdays, from 1 - 2.30pm.

The charge is £1.90 for a first child, then 90p per child thereafter.

Further details are available from Claire Tomlinson, on (07795) 566464.

FLOREAT DUNELMIA: A book charting the six centuries of Durham School will be launched at an event on campus, attended by the city Mayor, councillor Pauline Charlton, on Thursday (January 16), at 7pm.

Copies of the book, Floreat Dunelmia, can be ordered, costing £40 each, from Alison Bowden-Stoker, via a.stoker@durhamschool.co.uk, or by ringing 0191-386 4783, extension 2299.

HALL TREK: Local historian David Butler leads a guided walk in search of the original Newton Hall, which gave its name to the large private housing estate built north of Durham in the late 1960s.

The 4.5-mile ramble, described of ‘medium’ difficulty, takes place on Sunday (January 19), starting at the DLI Museum car park, off Framwelgate Peth, Aykley Heads, Durham, at 1pm.

It is expected to take about two-and-a-half hours to complete. There is a £4 charge per walker.

GUYS N’ DOLLS: Tickets are available for Durham University Light Opera Group’s (Dulog) production of the 1955 Frank Loesser musical Guys and Dolls.

The seven show run at the Gala Theatre, Durham, is from Tuesday to Saturday, January 21 - 25, (curtain up 7.30pm), with 2.30pm matinees on the Wednesday and Saturday.

Tickets cost £8 upwards and can be booked via the theatre website, www.galadurham.co.uk, using the Dulog facebook and twitter accounts, by email to the box office, at info@galadurham.co.uk, or by phoning (03000) 266 600.

WARTIME SPIRIT: Ken Loach’s view of Britain in the year the Second World War came to a close, The Spirit of ‘45, is the next selected fortnightly screening of Clayport Film Club, in Durham.

The 2013 exploration of life for ordinary people amid the austerity of rationing, uses contemporary footage from the regional and national archives.

It will be shown at Clayport Library, in Millennium Place, on Thursday January 23, at 7.30pm.

There is a £5 annual membership fee with a £4 charge, or £3 for concessions, thereafter.