IF your birthday fell on Christmas Day and if, this year, you would reach your milestone 60th - how might you choose to mark it?I bet spending a night in a sleeping bag outside Sainsbury's wouldn't be on most people's list of preferences.

IF your birthday fell on Christmas Day and if, this year, you would reach your milestone 60th - how might you choose to mark it?

I bet spending a night in a sleeping bag outside Sainsbury's wouldn't be on most people's list of preferences.

Woolly hats off (and then very quickly back on again) to Judith Mitchell, chairman of the Benjamin Foundation who will be doing just that shortly before her big birthday in December.

Judith and others - including you if you fancy it - will be taking part in a sponsored sleepout to raise cash and awareness about the plight of homeless people locally.

Watch out for them all as you rush in to buy the crackers and cranberries - and dig deep.

Charity founder Richard Draper and his wife Vanessa are celebrating the safe return of their 26-year-old daughter Ellie who has just conquered Mount Kilimanjaro on her second attempt, raising a goodly sum for the foundation in the process.

Her dad founded the charity after the tragic death of his son, and her big brother, Ben, 17, in a motorcycle accident. You Facebookers might like to take a look at a photo of Ellie planting the Benjamin Foundation flag on the summit.

The foundation does a phenomenal amount to help young people, and others, locally. It has now embarked on a special link with North Walsham's Sainsbury's which has just adopted it as charity of the year. Ring 01692 500999 if you want to get involved.

KALAMAZOO reader David Anderson e-mailed my colleague Karen Bethell recently in praise of her Face-to-Face interviews.

Former Felmingham lad David is a regular News reader thanks to his mum Violet who still lives in the village. He says she sends out regular 'care packages' to him in Michigan.

David's attention was caught by Karen's recent interview with ex-RAF pilot John Bryant, from Southrepps.

He wrote: 'I forwarded this article electronically to one of my former Paston colleagues who had also made a career in the RAF and had also flown Lightnings. I wondered if they had ever known each other. It turns out that my friend was best man at John Bryant's wedding but over the years they had lost touch! He was pleased to see the article.'

David was a pupil at The Paston School from 1957-1962 where he was a good friend of another of Karen's interviewees, comedian Pat Nearney.

Reminiscing about the past obviously stirred up even earlier memories for David. He remembers that during his years at Colby Primary School, from 1951-1957: 'I was a member of the Cobber's Club which was featured each week in the North Norfolk News and authored by somebody called Josh Junior I believe. I may be one of your most dedicated readers!'

Any other proud former Cobber's Club members out there who would care to tell us all what you got up to? And who was Josh Junior? I wonder if he's writing under the name of Joshua Senior nowadays.