IT MUST be one thing that every teacher wishes for from time to time. Getting youngsters to be quiet in the classroom can apparently be a perpetual battle.

Parents and youth leaders will presumably be more than able to sympathise. However, now teachers in the city can - for a short time, at least - get some peace and quiet, while raising cash for charity.

Cast members in York Theatre Royal's popular production of Cinderalla - starring the city's renowned pantomime dame, Berwick Kaler - are encouraging school children to take part in a sponsored silence.

The Big Hush, organised by Macmillan Cancer Support, will raise cash for victims of cancer by asking kids to keep quiet on Friday, January 26.

The annual event - now in its 11th year - aims to get school classes and youth groups, such as Brownies and Cubs, to join in the fun.

Lucy Watson, Macmillan Cancer Support community fundraiser, said: "We're challenging all primary school pupils and after-school groups to see if they can keep quiet, as part of a massive sponsored silence to help people living with cancer.

"Not only does it give teachers precious moments of golden silence, but kids love it too, especially with the fantastic materials we've got to keep them quiet."

She said last year 150,000 children took part across the country - which is a lot of relief for long- suffering teachers.

But there is also a serious message, and the charity is also offering schools materials to help children talk and learn about the realities of cancer.

Lucy said: "Because we know that so many children in York will have had someone in their family touched by cancer, we are also offering schools the chance to take part in our Cancertalk Week.

"We provide teachers with free classroom materials to help them with lessons that can help children talk about their fears or concerns about cancer and to break down the myths that surround it."

To register for the Big Hush, phone 0845 6011716 or log on to www.macmillan.org.uk/bighush


WERE you born on February 26, 1981?

Admittedly, it's an unusually specific request. But one writer is searching for some of the roughly 1,800 people born on that day in Britain.

Belinda Cole hopes to meet every person born on that day to learn about their lives for a book and possible TV documentary.

She said: "Taking stock of my life one evening, I got to thinking about other people my age and what their lives were like.

"Then I started thinking about people born on the same date as me - perhaps we would share a common bond?

"I thought it would be an amusing idea to try and meet them all and see for myself."

So, if you're a 25-year-old who fits Belinda's bill, get in touch with her at feb-26-1981@hotmail.com