I’ve recently had a birthday which means I have a list. Contents included a wireless mouse, new trainers, and the latest John Wilson CD. Rytonian Judith Lawson has put me to shame then. Judith celebrated her 65th birthday earlier this year and she produced a list to beat mine, and all for the benefit of other people. A storyline in the Canadian TV series Murdoch, gave her the idea of creating Judith’s Year of Giving, a twelve month-long string of events to raise funds for different local charities, including the RVI Children’s Unit and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.  In February Judith was able to hand over 125.30kg of tinned and packet foods to the Blaydon Food Bank, and an Easter egg drive led to the delivery of 100 chocolate eggs to the RVI Children’s unit. In May Judith held a coffee morning and raised £262 for the Rape Crisis Centre.  This came from the sale of raffle tickets, tea and coffee, and also a cake stall. The fund-raising drive for May, was collecting donations of art and craft materials in aid of Changing Lives, this has now concluded and thew donations are ready to be handed over.