Doug Allan - Page 15 - Topcliffe and Asenby Sunday Email

Posted on 18 May 20252 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 263

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

Thirsk Artisan Market
TODAY: Sunday 18 May between 10am and 3pm on Thirsk Market Place. An artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunities to showcase and sell their handmade goods.

The Yorkshire Flea
TODAY: Sunday 18 May between 11am and 6pm – A vintage & antique retail event on at Thirsk Auction Mart. Admission £3.

St Columba’s Services

TODAY: Sunday 18 May at 10.45am, Sung Matins, followed by refreshments.
Thursday 22 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 1 June at 8.30am, Said Holy Communion (BCP), Revd Dawn Ward
Sunday 1 June at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by pre-supper wine and nibbles
Thursday 5 June at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 8 June, Festival Choral Eucharist for St Columba’s Day, Father Robert Williamson, followed by refreshments and Village BBQ at 1pm.

Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 18 May – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Last Sunday’s challenging quiz was set by David and won by Pete, Shirley, Sylvia and Alan. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.

Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.

1. Which country did Celine Dion represent in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest?
2. In which continent is Surinam?
3. What collective name is given to a group of frogs?
4. Which city gets the most International visitors?
5. Which continent has the most countries?
6. Who played the Queen in the third series of The Crown?

The Tattler – June edition
The next edition of the Tattler is now in production and will be published on or before Tuesday 2 June.

Topcliffe CoE Academy
The school has been awarded the highest possible rating of ‘Outstanding’ in every category following an Ofsted inspection in April. Well done all involved.

Toll Booth Update
The Toll Booth questionnaire will remain open for a further week, closing on Sunday 25 May. This should give everyone sufficient time to take the opportunity to express their view. Please click on the link to start the survey and have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Toll-Booth

The next phase of the project will be to look into the cost implications. Meanwhile the Toll Booth Group is continuing investigations into the history of the building as this in itself is proving very interesting.

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee
The Village Hall Committee held its AGM and an ordinary meeting consecutively last Tuesday (13 May). Here’s a photograph of all Trustees.

Committee member Jim Shaw prepared this Brief Report.

At Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting of the Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall the committee re-elected chairman Richard Byas and he welcomed new member Reverend Dawn Ward. All current officers were re-elected.

In her finance report Treasurer Linsey Payne stated the Village Hall accounts were in a healthy position and as far as the 2025/26 budget was concerned a 5% increase was recommended. Hall lettings had been good enough to cover basic running costs and the committee agreed to an inflation increase on prices to keep pace with overheads. The Treasurer also mentioned that in previous years John Graham has acted as Independent Examiner of the accounts, but due to his retirement a new examiner needs to be found. Linsey thanked John for his valued work over the years.

Following on from the AGM the May meeting of the Committee commenced. Doug Allan reported the hall floor had undergone its tri-annual treatment and is rejuvenated. The Village Halls’ Week event had been successful and a special mention was given to Asenby Parish Council for their input and presentation.

The initial problem with the window lintels reported last month has been dealt with and three quotations for the remaining three windows have been sought. The committee agreed to have them repaired.

The Toll Booth was on the agenda but an expected letter from Topcliffe Parish Council concerning its future had not arrived and therefore no discussion could take place.

A pack welcoming new arrivals to the village has been prepared full of useful information, including contact details for various groups, organisations and key people, has been prepared and Chrissy Findley agreed to distribute and keep it relevant and up to date.

Following last year’s BBQ & Boogie Night a second is programmed to go ahead this year on Saturday 16 August. Look out for adverts and tickets.

In previous years our Christmas tree lights have been battery operated and the batteries have needed to be replaced on too much of a regular basis (every day). So Malcolm Morley reported he is now in the process of providing reduced mains electricity to give constant light to the tree next Christmas.

I hope this brief report has been informative and of interest.

NOTE: The next bi-monthly meeting of the Village Hall Committee will be held on Tuesday 15 July at 7.30pm.

Your local councillor…always available to help
Local councillor, Dan Sladden, who represents the Sowerby & Topcliffe division on North Yorkshire Council aims to be accessible to people and to listen to their concerns and ideas for our community. His email address is cllr.dan.sladden@northyorks.gov.uk and his phone number is 07466 487989 – so do not hesitate to contact him if you have any issues you would like to discuss with him.

Art Classes at the Village Hall
The dates of the latest art classes and Evening Zoom online classes have been announced by art teacher Becky Thompson.

Spring Sketch and Draw with more Confidence
Last month Becky held a ‘Winter Sketch and Draw’ experience at which everyone had such a wonderful time. As a follow up, she is continuing the seasonal theme and arranging a ‘Spring Sketch and Draw’, which will take place on Thursday 22 May between 10am and 2pm at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. This will be a great experience and help artists of all abilities to continue to develop their practice and skills.

‘Sketch and Draw in Pencil and Charcoal’
This special one-off class will be held at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 22 May between 10am and 2pm. All materials provided. You can take your own lunch or pay for a light lunch pre-ordered from a local caterer nearer the time.

Regular Monday morning classes
The next block of six Monday morning classes in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall will start on Monday 2 June. There’s an early bird offer for anyone who books online before Friday 23rd May. If you can’t make daytime classes, consider joining the Monday evening online class via Zoom.

Tuesday evening classes at Thirsk Town Hall
Some people may wish to attend Becky’s evening classes held in Thirsk Town Hall. They start on Tuesday 3 June, are held from 6.30 to 8.30pm and also run for six weeks.

Book online at https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/product-category/workshops

St Columba’s Choir to sing at Newby Hall church
Don’t forget that next Thursday 22 May at 6pm St Columba’s Choir will once again sing Evensong at the church of Christ the Consoler in the grounds of Newby Hall. The church is accessed from Skelton-on-Ure. Everyone is most welcome to enjoy the opportunity to visit this spectacular high Victorian church which is now maintained by the Historic Churches Trust having been closed some years ago for regular worship. Parking available.

Asenby Parish Council
The Parish Council will hold an annual parish meeting on Tuesday 27 May and the next normal Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 4 June. Both will be held at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Soup & Sweet Lunch
The next Soup and Sweet lunch will be held on Wednesday 28 May from 11.30am to 1pm. There’ll be hearty soup choices with a selection of sandwiches, cakes and tea or coffee. All welcome. There’s no set charge, but donations are welcome to help pay the rental cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch.

The last lunch held on Wednesday 14 May saw 36 lunches served and donations totalling £106. The sum of £50 was presented to the Animal Rescue Crew charity and after expenses, the balance was added to the Warm Hub Community Fund.

Don’t forget that residents of Topcliffe and Asenby can have lunch delivered if they are housebound – either on a short-term basis because of illness, or longer-term. If you wish to have a delivery please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426.

Base Camps
This coming half term sees more adventures at Base Camp, located the beautiful parkland at Baldersby Park near Topcliffe.

Thursday 29 May – archery with the Thirsk Bowmen – expert tuition with real arrows.
Wednesday 28 – wild science with Becca Clarkson – natural science experiments outdoors.

Book via the website at: https://basecamplearning.co.uk/

Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be on Thursday 3 July at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.

Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.

EVENTS ON IN THE AREA

Rural Arts Summer Programme
Thirsk-based Rural Arts summer programme contains a fantastic mix of workshops, craft and art classes, musical events and performance. There’s something for all age groups – from children’s pre-school activities through to ‘those of a certain age’. The programme is too large to list in the Sunday Email but you can check out what’s on by popping in to The Courthouse on Westgate or checking out their website: https://www.ruralarts.org/whats-on/

The Ritz Cinema

A Minecraft Movie – Sunday 18 May.
The Accountant 2 – to Thursday 22 May – no matinee.
Thunderbolts* – Friday 23 to Thursday 29 May – matinee Wednesday 28 May.
The Salt Path – Friday 30 May to Thursday 5 June – matinee Wednesday 4 June.

Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

Yarnbombers Coffee Morning
Support the amazing Thirsk Yarnbombers and support local charities at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, Westgate on Wednesday 21 May between 10.30am and noon.

Haunted Thirsk Guided Tour
Explore the ancient areas of Thirsk and discover its haunting tales. On Friday 23 May at 7pm. Rob your guide will meet you at the Town Clock whatever the weather. Tour lasts about 75 minutes. Pre-booking only. Adults £9. Concessions £7 – under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets from: tina@historicexperiences

Thirsk Hall history and architecture tours
Following the sell-out success of the House & Architecture tour of Thirsk Hall led by historian Dr Helen Metcalfe on 23 March, three more tour dates have been announced. They are Friday 23 May at 10.30am and 2pm and Friday 25 July at 2.30pm. Please note that the number of tickets available is very limited and that tickets for the last tour sold out very quickly. Get yours, priced £20 from https://shop.beyonk.com/8p9ern3j/experiences/08docpwq

Hambleton District Show
This year’s show is on Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May at Sutton Park, Sutton-on-the-Forest. It’s the largest horse show in the north of England. Check out: http://www.hambletonshow.com

Husthwaite Village Open Gardens
Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May between 11am and 5pm – Visit a range of gardens, purchase plants and enjoy refreshments at The Apple Tree cafe for home made sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee. The Hall is wheelchair accessible but some gardens are not. Assistance dogs only in gardens. Adults £5, children free. Tickets from the Village Hall and Village Green stall.

Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
The Coffee and Chatter Group that meets in St James’ Church at Baldersby St James will be holding jigsaw puzzle exchanges on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next ‘exchange’ is on Tuesday 27 May between 10am and 12 noon. Please take along any puzzles that you would like to swap. This is a great opportunity to obtain new ones without having to buy them.

Dishfest
DishFest is making a grand return this summer with a new-look festival on Saturday 31 May. The organisers are cranking it up with fresh musicians, a DJ extravaganza, and a whole new setup that’ll make your heart sing. Get ready for an afternoon into the evening filled with music, street food, beer marquee with seating and good vibes. It will all take place on the afternoon and through to the evening, on the Dishforth Playing Fields. Bring your own table and chairs, but please do not bring your own alcohol on site.

Tickets are limited and the event did sell out last year, so don’t leave it too late to book. Go online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dishfest-2025-tickets-1288240896199?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
To be held in the Market Place, Thirsk on Sunday 1 June between 9am and 2pm. All stallholders are local independent businesses who grow, rear or produce the food or drink on their stall. They’re passionate about what they do and it shows.

Thirsk Racing
An afternoon of racing at Thirsk Racecourse on Friday 6 June. Gates open 11am, First and last race times to be confirmed. From £18, Family £25, Seniors £12, Child (0-17) Free. Tickets online (cheapest) from: http://www.thirskracecourse.net

Byland Abbey Tours
Byland Abbey is open through to October. Volunteers at the English Heritage site will normally be on site, and the museum open, from 1pm to 5pm every Friday to Monday. And abbey tours, lasting about an hour, will take place at 2pm every Saturday and Sunday. These tours are free and do not need to be booked. There are also some special events coming up:

Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July

For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk

Music at Junction 50
The programme for this year’s concert series at Baldersby St James Church has been announced. The first, on Thursday 19 June at 7pm, features the Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet. Then on Thursday 17 July the JKL Duo will appear, also at 7pm. See full details here.

Northallerton Vintage Vehicle Display
The Vintage Vehicle and 1940s Extravaganza on Northallerton’s High Street will be staged on Sunday 22 June. Step back in time and enjoy a fantastic day filled with classic vehicles, vintage vibes and 1940s nostalgia.

Ripon Theatre Festival
Get ready for a joyful celebration of live performance, bursting with theatre, music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and plenty of laughs during this year’s Ripon Theatre Festival. The spectacular event is fast becoming a highlight of the region’s cultural calendar—welcoming audiences of all ages with a programme that’s packed with high-quality performances, friendly faces, and magical moments. Save the dates: 1 to 6 July. See the full programme here: https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ripon-Theatre-Festival-2025-interactive.pdf

Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral

Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.
Tina Turner by Candlelight – Friday 19 September at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

Quiz answers

1. Switzerland.
2. South America.
3. An army or a colony.
4. Bangkok.
5. Africa with 54.
6. Olivia Coleman.

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on 11 May 20252 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 262

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

St Columba’s Services

TODAY: Sunday 11 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
Thursday 15 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 18 May at 10.45am, Sung Matins, followed by refreshments.
Thursday 22 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.

Nunnington Hall – free to visit today
TODAY: Sunday 11 May – ‘Love Local’, an event on at Nunnington Hall near Helmsley, is this National Trust property’s biggest day of the year when they show the best of what the hall and the local area has to offer. There’ll be food and drinks stalls offering tasters and products to buy, as well as local artists, craftspeople, businesses, charities and community groups. The house, gardens and exhibition are free to enter all day and the tearoom and tea garden are open too. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/nunnington-hall

Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 11 May – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Last Sunday’s challenging quiz was set by Mike and won by Roger, Judith, David and Jean. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.

Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.

1. Jacques Cousteau is credited with inventing what?
2. In which year did the Chernobyl nuclear power station explode?
3. The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Island is what type of rock?
4. What is the capital of Bolivia?
5. The Faroe Islands are a dependency of which country?
6. Who wrote the book entitled ‘The Horse Whisperer’ and name the two main actors who starred in the subsequent film?

Toll Booth Update
The Toll Booth Group would like to thank everyone who has completed the questionnaire sent out in last week’s Sunday Email. The response has been fantastic with 60 responses being submitted to date. Here are a few statements made by residents that capture the mood of the village:

Anything that promotes social cohesion would be worth supporting!
The Parish Council should be doing everything to protect this village asset. As custodians it is shocking that short term gain is being put before protection for future generations.
As much as it is important to maintain and support historic buildings, the current increased taxation and cost of living means that this is a luxury the majority cannot afford. There cannot be a ‘tax’ on residents to maintain this through the parish council stipend with 100% support from all residents.
Has the council investigated Lottery Heritage Grants and other grants that can assist with the upkeep of the toll booth?
The snooker club is really important to my mental health and my personal well-being. I often go to the pub to get my drinks and go back and forth between the two during the evening. It’s wonderful. I don’t know what I would do if it was to be taken from us.
A public meeting (is required) providing all evidence and information to the whole community.
You will never please everyone but I am certainly open and willing to work with ideas to preserve the building.
Men’s mental health is suffering. We need as many low cost activities for men of all ages. A haven for men would be great!

The questionnaire will remain open for a further two weeks to ensure everyone has the opportunity to express their view. Please click on the link to start the survey and have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Toll-Booth

Once the survey is closed, the results will be made public so that everyone can see exactly how residents feel about the future of this important building. Already a wide range of future uses have been suggested. The next phase of the project will be to look into the cost implications. Meanwhile the Toll Booth Group is continuing investigations into the history of the building as this in itself is proving very interesting.

Churchyard equipment appeal: great response

Pictured above with John Phillips, who coordinates maintenance at St Columba’s churchyard, is the wide range of equipment and tools donated for use by the volunteers who do the work. A big thank you to those who made donations including Ben Harrison, Steve Hall, Rita Simmerson, and a lady named Christine (all of Asenby) and Gordon Hatton of Topcliffe. Thanks again to Malcolm Morley who has checked the petrol-driven equipment and made sure the items are safe for use.

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee
The Village Hall Committee holds its AGM and an ordinary meeting consecutively on Tuesday 13 May starting at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend the AGM.

Soup & Sweet Lunch
The next Soup and Sweet lunch will be held on Wednesday 14 May from 11.30am to 1pm. There’ll be hearty soup choices with a selection of sandwiches, cakes and tea or coffee. All welcome. There’s no set charge, but donations are welcome to help pay the rental cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch.

St Columba’s Choir to sing at Newby Hall church
On Thursday 22 May at 6pm St Columba’s Choir will once again sing Evensong at the church of Christ the Consoler in the grounds of Newby Hall, accessed from Skelton-on-Ure. Everyone is most welcome to enjoy the opportunity to visit this spectacular high Victorian church which is now maintained by the Historic Churches Trust having been closed some years ago for regular worship. Parking available.

Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.

Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.

EVENTS ON IN THE AREA

The Ritz Cinema

The Penguin Lessons – to Thursday 15 May – matinee on Wednesday 14 May.
The Accountant 2 – Friday 16 to Thursday 22 May – no matinee.
A Minecraft Movie – Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May.
Thunderbolts* – Friday 23 to Thursday 29 May – matinee Wednesday 28 May.
The Salt Path – Friday 30 May to Thursday 5 June – matinee Wednesday 4 June.

Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

James Herriot Walking Tours
A walk through key Thirsk locations that inspired the beloved All Creatures Great and Small books, films, and TV series. Friday 16 May at 12 noon. Visitors will see the original veterinary surgery and significant town landmarks while gaining fresh insights into Herriot’s life and legacy. The tour starts at The World of James Herriot Museum in Kirkgate and takes about 2 hours. £5, or £10 including Herriot Museum entry. Book online at http://visitthirsk.uk/herriotwalkingtour

Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral

Queen by Candlelight – Friday 16 May at 7.30pm.
Country by Candlelight – Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm
Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.
Tina Turner by Candlelight – Friday 19 September at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

Racing at Thirsk
Sky Bet Irish Day on Saturday 17 May Prepare your Irish-themed outfits and be part of the excitement. Thrilling races, live Irish music from The Emerald Thieves and some quality racing. Children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and slide, alongside a variety of tasty food vans. Entry from £18, Family £25, Seniors £12, Child (0-17) Free. Book online at http://thirskracecourse.net

The Yorkshire Flea
A vintage & antique retail event on at Thirsk Auction Mart on Sunday 18 May between 11am and 6pm. Admission £3.

Thirsk Artisan Market
on Market Place on Sunday 18 May between 10am and 3pm. An artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunities to showcase and sell their handmade goods.

Yarnbombers Coffee Morning
Support the amazing Thirsk Yarnbombers and support local charities at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, Westgate on Wednesday 21 May between 10.30am and noon.

Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July

For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk

Quiz answers

1. The aqualung
2. 1986 (April)
3. Basalt
4. La Paz
5. Denmark
6. Niclolas Evans / Robert Redford and Kirsten Scott Thomas.

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on 4 May 20252 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 261

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

St Columba’s Services

TODAY: Sunday 4 May at 6.30pm Choral Evensong, followed by pre-supper wine and nibbles.
Thursday 8 May at 11am, A service to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Led by Revd. Dawn Ward. Everyone welcome and refreshments will be served afterwards.
Sunday 11 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
Thursday 15 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 18 May at 10.45am, Sung Matins, followed by refreshments.
Thursday 22 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.
Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd. Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.

A bus to the Moors
TODAY: Sunday 4 May – The M5 Thirsk to Helmsley Moorbus, a not-for-profit service run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of local communities and visitors, starts to run again between Thirsk and Helmsley. The Moorsbus timetables are available at the Thirsk Information Centre. https://visitthirsk.uk/

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
TODAY: Sunday 4 May between 9am and 2pm. on the Market Place, Thirsk. All stallholders are local independent businesses who grow, rear or produce the food or drink on their stall. They’re passionate about what they do and it shows.

Sports Cars in the Park
TODAY: Sunday 4 May – A fantastic day out at Newby Hall for the whole family, with a great atmosphere. Event includes free entry into Newby Hall’s amazing grounds with its legendary adventure playground. It’s on from 10am to 3pm. Tickets £18, Child (4-15) £15, Family (2+2) £54, under 4s free. Book online at http://www.newbyhall.com/event

Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 4 May – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was set by Andrew and won by Mike & Linda and Karen and Malcolm (with a little help from Linda’s daughter Zoe). Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.

Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.

1. Which is the second longest river in the UK?
2. Fillet, groove, mig, butt and corner are all part of what engineering process?
3. Barbie was first introduced in 1959, but when did Ken arrive on the scene?
4. Put these four locations in order of distance as the crow flies from Topcliffe (nearest to furthest) – Reykjavik, Oslo, Munich and Porto.
5. In Andy Pandy, what was the name of his teddy bear friend?
6. Which chocolate bar had the slogan ‘It’s not for girls’?

Toll Booth Update
Following a meeting of the Toll Booth Group, which is looking to persuade Topcliffe Parish Council to retain the building and find new uses for the space, a short survey has been created which is is hoped all residents will complete. This is an opportunity for all Topcliffe residents to have their say and to ask any questions. Please note that individual responses will remain anonymous. If you complete your name and e-mail address, that will only be used to verify that no duplications are included in the survey results. The Group looks forward to wide community engagement and it promises to be open and transparent with the overall results once the survey is closed. Please click on the link to start the survey and have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Toll-Booth

Churchyard equipment appeal: great response
An appeal in recent Sunday Emails for equipment for use by the ground maintenance volunteers at St Columba’s churchyard has been extremely successful. The team is grateful to Ben Harrison and Steve Hall who both live in Asenby, who donated petrol strimmers, and to Rita Simmerson, and a lady named Christine also of Asenby, and Gordon Hatton of Topcliffe, who donated a range of useful gardening tools. Thanks are also given to Malcolm Morley who has taken on the task of checking the donated equipment and making sure the items are safe for use in the churchyard. The appeal for donations is still ongoing. if you can help, please get in touch with John Phillips on 01845 577034.

Cross Talk
The May edition of the church newsletter Cross Talk is now in circulation. You can view it here.

Comedy Night at The Angel
Tickets are already selling well for the next Comedy Bites evening at The Angel this Thursday evening (8 May). Doors: 7:30pm (for an 8pm start). The show will feature Rob Deering, Pete Selwood and Pete Otway. Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door. http://hilaritybites.co.uk/show/topcliffe-may-8th-2025/

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee
The Village Hall AGM will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13 May in the hall. It will be followed by a regular bi-monthly meeting of the committee. Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings.

The last lunch held on Wednesday 30 April saw 35 lunches served and donations totalling £126. An award of £50 was made to The Clock Community Works charity in Thirsk and, after taking out expenses, the balance was added to the Warm Hub Community Fund.

St Columba’s Special Events
On Thursday 22 May at 6pm St Columba’s Choir will once again sing Evensong at the church of Christ the Consoler in the grounds of Newby Hall, accessed from Skelton-on-Ure. Everyone is most welcome to enjoy the opportunity to visit this spectacular high Victorian church which is now maintained by the Historic Churches Trust having been closed some years ago for regular worship. Parking available.

To celebrate St Columba’s Day on Sunday 8 June there’ll be a special Choral Eucharist service at 10.45am led by Rev Robert Williamson. It will be followed by the usual family BBQ at 1pm and during the afternoon there’ll be visits to the top of the church tower and history tours around the church. It’s possible that more events to enhance the celebration will be announced later.

News from Asenby Parish Council
The Parish Council is planning to hold an annual parish meeting on Tuesday 27 May and the next normal Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 4 June. Both will be held at 7pm and held in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

From now on, Parish Council meetings will be held quarterly on the first Wednesday in the months of June, September, December and March.

Bees and Brunch
If you are a budding beekeeper you might want to attend one of these events planned at the Catton Kitchen over the summer months – Saturday 14 June, Saturday 9 August, Saturday 13 September. Please call to check availability and make a booking: 07747 083155.

Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.

Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.

EVENTS ON IN THE AREA

Duncombe Park Country Fair
There’s lots going on at this annual country fair, including stunt riding, mini Grand National, gun dog display, terrier racing, fun dog show, working ferret display. It’s on Monday 5 May from 59am to 5pm. Tickets £35 for a family (2 +2), £15 adult, £10 OAP, £5 child, Free under 5yrs. Book online at http://www.dpcountryfair.co.uk

The Ritz Cinema

The Amateur – to Thursday 8 May – no matinees.
Flow – Saturday 3 to Monday 5 May (all matinees).
The Penguin Lessons – Friday 9 to Thursday 15 May – matinee on Wednesday 14 May.

Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

James Herriot Walking Tours
The walk through key Thirsk locations that inspired the beloved All Creatures Great and Small books, films, and TV series. Fridays 9 and 16 May at 12 noon. Visitors will see the original veterinary surgery and significant town landmarks while gaining fresh insights into Herriot’s life and legacy. The tour starts at The World of James Herriot Museum in Kirkgate and takes about 2 hours. £5, or £10 including Herriot Museum entry. Book online at http://visitthirsk.uk/herriotwalkingtour

Sowerby Flatts Bowls Open Day
Here’s an opportunity to try out the game of bowls as part of a fun-filled event. Sowerby Flatts Bowls Club, behind ‘The Institute’, next to Sowerby Park, is inviting men and women of all abilities to try their hand at this enjoyable and engaging sport on Saturday 10 May between 10am and 2pm. Don’t be fooled by appearances – the club’s members are friendly, younger than you might think and eager to share their love of the sport. All equipment provided, but kindly please wear flat-soled shoes. For further information please email: sowerbyflattsbowlingclub@gmail.com

Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral

Queen by Candlelight – Friday 16 May at 7.30pm.
Country by Candlelight – Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm
Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.
Tina Turner by Candlelight – Friday 19 September at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

The Yorkshire Flea
A vintage & antique retail event on at Thirsk Auction Mart on Sunday 18 May between 11am and 6pm. Admission £3.

Yarnbombers Coffee Morning
Support the amazing Thirsk Yarnbombers and support local charities at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, Westgate on Wednesday 21 May between 10.30am and noon.

Thirsk Hall history and architecture tours
Following the sell-out success of the House & Architecture tour of Thirsk Hall to be led by historian Dr Helen Metcalfe on 23 March, three more tour dates have been announced. They are Friday 23 May at 10.30am and 2pm and Friday 25 July at 2.30pm. Please note that the number of tickets available is very limited and that tickets for the last tour sold out very quickly. Get yours, priced £20 from https://shop.beyonk.com/8p9ern3j/experiences/08docpwq

Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July

For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk

Music at Junction 50
The programme for this year’s concert series at Baldersby St James has been announced. The first, on Thursday 19 June at 7pm, features the Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet. Then on Thursday 17 July the JKL Duo will appear, also at 7pm. See full details here.

Quiz answers

1. Thames
2. Welding
3. 1961
4. Oslo (970kms), Munich (1128kms, Porto (1542kms) and Reykjavik (1603kms.
5. Teddy
6. Yorkie Bar.

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on 27 April 20252 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 260

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

St Columba’s Services

TODAY: Sunday 27 April at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 1 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 4 May at 8.30am Said Holy Communion Revd Dawn Ward
Sunday 4 May at 6.30pm Choral Evensong, followed by pre-supper wine and nibbles
Thursday 8 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 11 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 15 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 18 May at 10.45am, Sung Matins, followed by refreshments
Thursday 22 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.

Indoor Car Boot Sale
TODAY: Sunday 27 April – An indoor car boot sale will be held at Dalton Village Hall between 10am and 2pm. Admission £1. Refreshments available.

Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 27 April – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was set by Derek and won by Alan, Sue and Andrew. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.

Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.

1. What was a Roman public square or market place commonly called?
2. What is the quietening devise used on a trumpet known as?
3. Which light cavalry regiment gives its name to a dance in which usually 8 or 16 dancers take part?
4. Which famous cartoonist included a grandma character in his work?
5. Which is the nearest city to the Taj mahal?
6. In which US state is Seattle?

Toll Booth Update
The Toll Booth Group will be meeting again in the coming week, prior to the next meeting of the Parish Council, to consolidate its research and findings. The Group encourages residents who have an interest in the future of the Toll Booth to attend the Parish Council meeting on Thursday 1 May for further updates from our elected representatives. The meeting is held in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall and starts at 7pm.

In the near future, the Toll Booth Group, will be formulating a plan which will be shared with residents and they will be invited to give their thoughts and ideas for the future of the building. This will most likely be in the form of a short online questionnaire which will be distributed via the Sunday Email. Further information will follow next week.

Madge Brewer – 1922-2025
A reminder for those who wish to pay their respect to Madge Brewer, who passed away earlier this month, the Remembrance of Life service will be at Maple Park Crematorium at 10am on Wednesday 30 April. Refreshments afterwards at The Angel Inn. Many residents will remember Madge by her maiden name, Proctor.

Free parking in Northallerton every Sunday
Every Sunday it’s free parking on Northallerton High Street and in the Applegarth car park.

Churchyard equipment appeal: early success!
Last week’s appeal for equipment for use by the ground maintenance volunteers at St Columba’s churchyard has had an immediate success. Big thank yous are due to Ben Harrison and Steve Hall who both live in Asenby. They have donated petrol strimmers, the item of equipment the volunteers most wanted. These items are now with Malcolm Morley, who has kindly offered to undertake maintenance checks before the equipment is put to work.

The appeal for donations is still ongoing. Any spare gardening equipment, such as spades, forks and rakes, would be appreciated. And this is perhaps a long shot, but if anyone is prepared to donate a self-propelled petrol grass mower in a reasonable state of repair, that would be a huge help and would ensure that at least two machines are always available for increasing areas of grass that now need regular cutting.

If you can help, please get in touch with John Phillips on 01845 577034.

Soup & Sweet Lunch
The next Soup and Sweet lunch will be held on Wednesday 30 April, from 11.30am to 1pm. There’ll be hearty soup choices with extras such as sausage rolls, followed by a variety of cakes and bakes and tea or coffee. All welcome. There’s no set charge, but donations are welcome to help pay the rental cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch.

Bingo
There’ll be no bingo after the Soup & Sweet lunch on Wednesday 30 April.

Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be on Thursday 1 May at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Planning application on fields near Asenby
Don’t forget that the deadline for comments on an application for the construction of a large agricultural shed on land adjacent to Asenby Allotments on Wide Howe Lane has been extended to Thursday 1 May. There is some concern in Asenby that very few objections have been submitted and that complacency could see this application getting approval and setting the scene for the resubmission of previously refused applications and new more commercial applications along that stretch or rural road. So don’t delay if you want to have your say. The reference to look for on North Yorkshire Council’s website is ZC25/00747/FUL.

International Dawn Chorus Day
Whether it’s Skylarks, Blackcaps, Nightingales or Robins, the UK’s birdsong spectacular reaches its crescendo in early May and is marked by International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 4 May. The dawn chorus can be heard in some form or another almost everywhere – from gardens, parks, hedges and woods to marshes and even mountain tops. If you want, just open your bedroom window, lie back and enjoy the songsters near you. But for the full effect, a wooded area with mature trees is the best bet.

A bus to the Moors
The M5 Thirsk to Helmsley Moorbus, a not-for-profit service run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of local communities and visitors, is due to start a new season on Sunday 4 May. The Moorsbus timetables is available at the Thirsk Information Centre. https://visitthirsk.uk/

Comedy Night at The Angel
Tickets are already selling well for the next Comedy Bites evening at The Angel at Topcliffe. The show is on Thursday 8 May. Doors: 7:30pm (for an 8pm start). The show will feature Rob Deering, Pete Selwood and Pete Otway. Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door. http://hilaritybites.co.uk/show/topcliffe-may-8th-2025/

From now on, Parish Council meetings will be held quarterly on the first Wednesday in the months of June, September, December and March.

Bees and Brunch
If you are a budding beekeeper you might want to attend one of these events planned at the Catton Kitchen over the summer months. Amy and Hugo are organising Bees and Brunch events on:
Saturday 14 June – two spaces remaining.
Saturday 12 July – sold out!
Saturday 9 August – four spaces remaining
Saturday 13 September – one space remaining.

Please call to check availability and make a booking: 07747 083155.

Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.

Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.

EVENTS ON IN THE AREA

Dishforth Bowling Club
The bowling club in Dishforth is now open for the new season through to September and the club is inviting members of the public from surrounding villages, including Topcliffe and Asenby, to pop along to have a try. The green is in tip-top shape following some very hard work by volunteer groundsman, Andrew. The club is a fantastic local resource and it’s hoped that lots of local villagers will make use of it. Each Sunday afternoon from 2pm there’ll be a free session at which players of all ages can give the sport a try. Don’t forget to take flat soled shoes to protect the green.

The Ritz Cinema

Mr. Burton – Friday 25 April to Thursday 1 May – no matinees.
The Amateur – Friday 2 to Thursday 8 May – no matinees.
Flow – Saturday 3 to Monday 5 May (all matinees).
The Penguin Lessons – Friday 9 to Thursday 15 May – matinee on Wednesday 14 May.

Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

Yoga with Alex
Yoga for All: classes resume on Monday 28 April. New and old students welcome. See here for dates and venues.

The Busby & Me
Meet Wade Radford, film maker of ‘The Busby & Me’, who will be joining Thirsk Museum, Kirkgate on Monday 28 April from 10.30am to 3pm to discuss all things about the Busby Stoop chair. This will include scans from his personal archives, including original sketches of the spirits of the Busby Stoop Inn. Donations to the Museum.

Pop-Up Fashion Show
The Friends of Topcliffe School are holding a Pop-up Shop and Fun Fashion Show at Dalton Village Hall at 7pm on Thursday 1 May. You’ll be able to shop for all your favourite high street brands at a remarkable 70% off. For tickets and more information please contact Karen on 07875 331227 or see the ‘Friends’ Facebook page.

Racing at Thirsk

One of the big meets of the year sees the Thirsk Hunt Cup raced on Saturday 3 May at Thirsk Racecourse. Gates open 11am and first race at 1.35pm.
Sky Bet Irish Day on Saturday 17 May Prepare your Irish-themed outfits and be part of the excitement. Thrilling races, live Irish music from The Emerald Thieves and some quality racing. Children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and slide, alongside a variety of tasty food vans.

Entry from £18, Family £25, Seniors £12, Child (0-17) Free. Book online at http://thirskracecourse.net

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
Market Place, Thirsk on Sunday 4 May between 9am and 2pm. All stallholders are local independent businesses who grow, rear or produce the food or drink on their stall. They’re passionate about what they do and it shows.

Sports Cars in the Park
A fantastic day out at Newby Hall for the whole family, with a great atmosphere. Event on Sunday 4 May includes free entry into Newby Hall’s amazing grounds with its legendary adventure playground. It’s on from 10am to 3pm. Tickets £18, Child (4-15) £15, Family (2+2) £54, under 4s free. Book online at http://www.newbyhall.com/event

If you are interested in taking your own car along for exhibition, go to http://www.carsinthepark.org.uk.

Duncombe Park Country Fair
There’s lot’s going on at this annual country fair, including stunt riding, mini Grand National, gun dog display, terrier racing, fun dog show, working ferret display. It’s on Monday 5 May from 59am to 5pm. Tickets £35 for a family (2 +2), £15 adult, £10 OAP, £5 child, Free under 5yrs. Book online at http://www.dpcountryfair.co.uk

Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral

Queen by Candlelight – Friday 16 May at 7.30pm.
Country by Candlelight – Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm
Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.
Tina Turner by Candlelight – Friday 19 September at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

The Yorkshire Flea
A vintage & antique retail event on at Thirsk Auction Mart on Sunday 18 May between 11am and 6pm. Admission £3.

Yarnbombers Coffee Morning
Support the amazing Thirsk Yarnbombers and support local charities at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, Westgate on Wednesday 21 May between 10.30am and noon.

Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July

For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk

Quiz answers

1. Forum
2. Mute
3. Lancers
4. Giles
5. Agra
6. Washington.

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on 20 April 20252 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 259

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

St Columba’s Services

TODAY: Easter Sunday 20 April – No Service
Thursday 24 April at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 27 April at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 1 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 4 May at 8.30am Said Holy Communion Revd Dawn Ward
Sunday 4 May at 6.30pm Choral Evensong, followed by pre-supper wine and nibbles
Thursday 8 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 11 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 15 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 18 May at 10.45am, Sung Matins, followed by refreshments
Thursday 22 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson
Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments.

Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 20 April – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.

Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was set by Mike and won by Alan, Sue and Derek. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.

Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.

1. What is the administrative centre for the county of Somerset?
2. Which is the largest National Park in the UK?
3. Who was voted the greatest Briton of all time by BBC viewers and in an Internet poll?
4. Who took the lead female role in the 1991 version of The Addams Family film?
5. Who’s famous catch phrase was “You lucky people”.
6. Eric Blair is the real name of which famous person?

Thirsk Easter Walking Tours
TODAY: Sunday 20 April – Thirsk through the ages Easter walking tours will provide a fascinating insight of Thirsk through the ages. This tour takes about 1.5 hours and starts at Thirsk’s Information Centre in the Market Place (in front of the door) at 11am. Please wear sensible shoes. No fixed price but donations gratefully received.

Easter in the Park
TODAY: Sunday 20 April – Asenby Parish Council is holding an Easter Picnic in the Community Park starting at 2.30pm. Families are encouraged to take a picnic. There’ll be various Easter-themed games with prizes. Come along and celebrate Easter with your friends and neighbours.

Thirsk Artisan Market
TODAY: Sunday 20 April – An artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunities to showcase and sell their handmade goods. From 10am until 3pm on Thirsk Market Place.

Historic Vehicle Rally
TODAY: Sunday 20 April – Newby Hall will be surrounded by vintage and classic cars, for the North’s biggest one-day car show. being held on Sunday 20 April. Over 1,000 exhibitors. 10am-3pm. £14, Child (4-15) £9, Family (2+2) £40, under 4s free. Tickets: Book online (cheapest) – http://www.newbyhall.com/event

Madge Brewer – 1922-2025
Madge Brewer, who lived in Asenby and Topcliffe villages for over seventy years, died peacefully on Tuesday 1 April at the age of 102. Her grandson, John Pearson, has invited those who wish to pay their respect to her to attend the Remembrance of Life service at Maple Park Crematorium at 10am on Wednesday 30 April. Refreshments afterwards at The Angel Inn. Many residents will remember Madge by her maiden name, Proctor.

Latest on the Toll Booth
Update from The Toll Booth Group
The Toll Booth Group is moving along confidently with their project. This has included reaching out to historians and experts regarding the building as well as formulating a number of usage suggestions. Many tasks have already been completed and the Group will be reconvening at the end of the month to consider the next steps. As we move into May, the Group will consider ‘opening out’ to other residents to get their thoughts, opinions and suggestions on our preliminary conclusions. We are in communication with the Parish Council and we thank them for their quick response to all of our requests for information. Further updates will follow in coming weeks.

Dog fouling remains a significant issue in our villages

Asenby Parish this week issued a warning that their grass cutting team will refuse to maintain the riverside walkway between Asenby and Topcliffe Bridge if the problem of dog fouling isn’t resolved.

It is unfortunately the case that dog fouling continues to be a real problem in both Topcliffe and Asenby. This is not only unhygienic and distasteful…it is also illegal. In fact, following recent legislation, it is now illegal to walk a dog and not have poo bags with you.

The majority of dog walkers are responsible but a few are persistent offenders. So here’s a plea to those who ignore the law and let their dogs foul paths and walkways: nobody likes to ‘put their foot in it’ so please bag it and bin it. There are bins located around both villages, including at the Asenby end of the riverside walkway.

If you see dog fouling it can be reported directly to North Yorkshire Council: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/…/ani…/dogs/dog-fouling…

Village Hall Committee
The appeal for new volunteers to step forward to join the Village Hall Committee has had some success as the Revd Dawn Ward, who is ‘attached’ to St Columba’s Church, has put her name forward and will attend her first meeting in early May.

The committee is still looking for at least one more volunteer from the communities of Topcliffe and Asenby. The Village Hall can only exist and flourish if residents are prepared to give their time and are prepared to undertake basic roles to ensure the hall is run effectively and efficiently. Everyone loves having the fantastic facilities available for community and social events, but without the direct support of volunteers the building cannot operate smoothly.

Will you consider joining the committee and making an important contribution to village life? The committee meets six times a year and deals with the management and upkeep of the Village Hall, as well as the organisation of events and activities. If you are interested or would like to talk about what is involved, please get in touch with our chairperson, Richard Byas, on 07801 721528 or by email at rtbyas@outlook.com

The next meeting of the Village Hall Committee is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13 May.

Churchyard maintenance equipment wanted
St Columba’s church has really welcomed the support of a group of volunteers who have been working tirelessly to keep the churchyard looking tidy and well-maintained and to steadily reclaim the overgrown areas particularly on the lower terraces. The huge improvement to this important village ‘green space’ in recent months is testament to their hard work and the manicured appearance is certainly enjoyed by many villagers.

St Columba’s has a limited range of equipment for the volunteers to use, including two petrol mowers, rakes, loppers and such like, but they often find that further equipment that could be very beneficial isn’t available unless they use their own. Unfortunately St Columba’s simply can’t afford to buy and maintain all the necessary equipment and as of this week one of the mowers is out of action, It’s hoped that it can be repaired at a reasonable cost, but even if it can, such work has quite a waiting list!

So this is an appeal to the wider community for help. Do you have any spare gardening equipment in your shed or garage that you might be prepared to donate to the church for the volunteer maintenance group to make use of? Top of the ‘want’ list is a petrol strimmer (the churchyard is too extensive to rely on electric equipment), but spades, forks and rakes are also needed. And this is perhaps a long shot, but if anyone is prepared to donate a petrol grass mower in a good state of repair (preferably self-propelled), that would be a huge help and would ensure that at least two machines are always available for increasing areas of grass that now need regular cutting.

If you can help, please get in touch with John Phillips on 01845 577034.

Watch your speed!
Here’s a warning for all car drivers. For the next month or so, North Yorkshire Police Volunteers will be carrying out Community Speedwatch checks at approved sites in and around Thirsk, Northallerton and surrounding villages. Signs will be in place advising drivers that speed checks are in operation and operators will be in uniform and wearing high visibility clothing. Offending drivers will not be stopped, however their vehicle details will be recorded and passed to North Yorkshire Police Traffic Bureau which will decide what if any action is taken. Please comply with speed limits at all times as speed kills!

Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show
Our annual show will be held on Saturday 30 August at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. The classes and categories will be same as last year, meaning there’ll be 84 classes in total in five categories, including:
•              47 classes in the Horticultural section.
•              17 classes in the baking/jams/preserves and pickles category.
•              3 floral classes.
•              11 classes in the hobbies section
• 6 specific classes that only children can enter.

The full list and show rules, together with timings on the day, are available here or can be found on both village websites – http://www.asenby.net and http://www.topcliffe.org.uk

Forest School family Sessions
Are your children Curious by Nature? If so, they’ll enjoy the first Forest School Family Session at Willow View Farm on Catton Lane, Topcliffe which will be held on Saturday, 26 April. Take your little explorers and discover the wonders of nature as a family. These family-friendly sessions will be packed with outdoor activities, adventure and hands-on learning in the farm’s beautiful surroundings. 9:30am to 11am. Book online at http://www.curiousbynature.simplybook.me

Bingo
There’ll be no bingo after the Soup & Sweet lunch on Wednesday 30 April.

Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be on Thursday 1 May at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Planning application near Asenby
Don’t forget that the deadline for comments on an application for the construction of a large agricultural shed on land adjacent to Asenby Allotments on Wide Howe Lane has been extended to Thursday 1 May. The reference to look for on North Yorkshire Council’s website is ZC25/00747/FUL.

News from Asenby
The Parish Council is planning to hold an annual parish meeting on Tuesday 27 May and the next normal Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 4 June. Both will be held at 7pm and held in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

From now on, Parish Council meetings will be held quarterly on the first Wednesday in the months of June, September, December and March.

Bees and Brunch
If you are a budding beekeeper you might want to attend one of these events planned at the Catton Kitchen over the summer months. Amy and Hugo are organising Bees and Brunch events on Saturday 14 June, Saturday 12 July, Saturday 9 August and Saturday 13 September. Some days are nearly fully booked, but please call to check availability. 07747 083155.

Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.

Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.

EVENTS ON IN THE AREA

Thirsk Digital Hub

The Digital Hub, which operates at Thirsk Community Library, is a resource to help people who need a little support to understand and handle their digital activities. Digital Buddies are there to assist with queries every Monday and Thursday, and every second Saturday of the month there’s a Digital Cafe at which you can get support whilst enjoying some refreshments.

Norton Conyers Gardens
The gardens at Norton Conyers are now open between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. The gardens were laid out in the mid-18^th century and they retain the essentials of their original design, together with sympathetic replanting in the English style. The large and magical walled garden has a central Orangery, an ornamental pond, magnificent herbaceous borders and parkland beyond. For more information and to check house opening times go to: http://nortonconyers.org.uk

Ripon Indie Fiesta
This popular festival is back between 10am and 4pm on Monday 21 April, taking over Kirkgate with a full day of live entertainment, delicious street food and the best of Ripon’s independent shops. Brilliant live music across outdoor stages, a buzzing community atmosphere and great vibes all round. For more information contact Rich at Manchega on 01765647554.

Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
The Coffee and Chatter Group that meets in St James’ Church at Baldersby St James will be holding jigsaw puzzle exchanges on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next ‘exchange’ is on Tuesday 22 April between 10am and 12 noon. Please take along any puzzles that you would like to swap. This is a great opportunity to obtain new ones without having to buy them.

Racing in Thirsk
An evening of racing on Tuesday 22 April. Gates open 3.00pm, First Race 4.55pm, Last Race 8.00pm. From £15, Family £25, Seniors £12, Child (0-17) Free. Tickets: Book online (cheapest) – http://www.thirskracecourse.net

The Ritz Cinema

Snow White – to Thursday 24 April – matinees on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April.

Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

Harrogate Spring Flower Show
With over seventy plant nurseries and societies as well as inspiring show garden designs and beautiful floral art to discover, there will be plenty to put a spring in your step and everything you need to plan and plant the perfect outdoor space at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show. It’s on from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 April at Harrogate Showground. Book your tickets now and enjoy a £5 discount per adult ticket – offer available for a limited time only.

The Evolution of the Garden
Thirsk Hall’s garden has changed over several generations, with keen gardeners each adding something unique to the development of the estate. This tour, to be held on Friday 25 April at 11am, will offer a tantalising glimpse into the history of the house and the family by looking at its evolution from grazing land to sculpture garden and all the bits in between. Tickets £20: Book online at http://www.thirskhall.com/events

Haunted Thirsk Guided Tour
Explore the ancient areas of this beautiful market town and discover its haunting tales. Friday 25 April at 7pm (meet at 6.55pm at The Town Clock, Market Place, Thirsk). Rob your guide will meet you whatever the weather. Tour lasts approximately 75 minutes. Pre-booking required. Adults £9. Concessions £7 – under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 07876 010835 or email tina@historicexperiences.com.

Repair your stuff
Be greener by avoiding waste and save money by letting a team of dedicated and talented volunteers try to repair your broken or ‘worn-out’ items for a voluntary donation. It’s on at Thirsk Community Library, Chapel Street between 10am and 1pm on Saturday 26 April.

Ripon Big Sky Wheel
The Ripon Big Sky Wheel, temporarily located on Ripon Market Place until Sunday 27 April offers panoramic city views, towering above the obelisk and providing unique perspectives of Ripon’s landmarks. 11am-7pm daily. £5 (under 1.4m) or £7 (over 1.4m). No booking, just turn up.

Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral

Queen by Candlelight – Friday 16 May at 7.30pm.
Country by Candlelight – Saturday 17 May at 7.30pm
Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July

For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk

Quiz answers

1. Taunton
2. The Cairngorms (1,461 sq miles)
3. Winston Churchill
4. Anjelica Houston
5. Tommy Trinder
6. George Orwell.

That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.