LAST year, it was a camel racing night which topped the bill of events arranged to help raise money for the Mayor of South Ribble's charity.

This year it is an evening learning how to cook with celebrity chef Paul Heathcote.

And mayor, Coun Margaret Smith, can't wait.

"It should be a good night and hopefully will attract people who perhaps haven't been to our events before, raising even more money for the mayor's charity," she said.

The charity fund is, in fact, a euphemism for the fund built up over a year and then divided between the good causes close to the mayor of that year's heart. Preston has a similar one.

Tradition prevents a mayor revealing how much was raised during their year in office but Coun Jim Owen, last year's South Ribble Mayor, the man responsible for a unusual camel-racing night at the Civic Centre, said: "I can say it was a tidy sum which was very well received by the charities I chose, which included St Catherine's Hospice. I had good fun doing it." This year Coun Smith is plotting ways to raise as much money as possible for her four good causes: Friends of Moorfield Special School (in Preston), KEY South Ribble - which aims to improve the prospects for under-privileged young adults, the Lancashire Head Injury Association and, once again, St Catherine's.

Over the year Coun Smith has dozens of events planned, ranging from the traditional Mayoral Banquet in December to a fashion night and a sportsman's dinner.

She is hoping there will be something for everyone: "In the past, the councillors have been very supportive but you can't keep returning to the same pot. This year, I hope we have come up with events to appeal to everyone so everyone knows what we are doing."

"The causes I have chosen are close to my heart and relevant to the borough.

"Not only do the charities benefit financially, I hope I can also boost their profiles as well.

"But there won't be any camel racing!"

Having said that, the fund has already benefited from one unusual source. Part of the stash raised at the burial of the Blackburn Rovers' coffin in Bamber Bridge was handed over to the mayor last week, with scores of other donations, to be handed in over the year.

She added: "Hopefully we can raise a lot, with the help of the whole community."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.