St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 15 March (Mothering Sunday) at 10.45am – Sung Matins, followed by refreshments
- Wednesday 18 March at 7pm – Compline for Lent
- Thursday 19 March at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments
- Sunday 22 March at 10.45am – Holy Communion, followed by refreshments
- Wednesday 25 March at 7pm – Compline for Lent
- Thursday 26 March at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments
- Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday) – No Service at Topcliffe (5th Sunday) but there’ll be a Benefice Service at Baldersby St James at 10.30am.
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Thirsk Artisan Market
TODAY: Sunday 15 March from 10am to 3pm. An artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunity to showcase and sell their handmade goods.
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Sunday Quiz Night
TONIGHT: Sunday 15 March– the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.
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Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was set by Rachel – another first time quizmaster – and won by Chrissy, Sarah and Stu . Well done the winners and everyone else to who took part.
Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. See how you do. The answers are at the end of today’s email.
1. What are the origins of the name of the supermarket chain ASDA?
2. What are the two main ingredients of a Gimlet cocktail?
3. What is the value of ‘x’ in the game of scrabble?
4. How many bones are there in the human body?
5. In which year was the first Superbowl held?
6. What kind of fruit is a Winter Banana?
7. What was the name of the Spice Girls first album and in which year was it released?
8. Who sang the title song for the James Bond film, ‘No Time To Die’?
9. Which was Disney’s first feature length animation film and in which year was it released?
10. In the Beatles song Penny Lane, what did the fireman keep in his pocket?
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The Flying Oysters are coming back!
Here’s a date for your diary! Top north east band, The Flying Oysters, has been booked for another performance at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall later this year. It’ll be on Saturday 7 November, so make sure you keep the date free.
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Bake to help out
Final reminder that help is being sought from local bakers to help out with cakes, buns or a tray-bake for the Village Hall open day on Sunday 22 March? If you can help, your contribution would be greatly appreciated. Contact Karen Morley on 01845 577426 to let her know what you can provide.
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A Brief Report – Village Hall Committee – 10 March
Vice Chair Malcolm Morley advised the Committee that the condensation in the kitchen was still an ongoing problem but assured members he would have a solution in time for the next meeting.
Treasurer, Linsey Payne, stated that the current account was stable and she is seeking a savings account which not only pays interest but is also readily accessible if required in an emergency, as had been previously experienced. A brief discussion took place and an agreement made on the suitable home for the hall’s reserve funds.
Bookings Administrator, Helen Fothergill, reported that hall bookings were slightly down compared to the same period of last year but not too significantly to be of great concern. Regular users are still active: it is the incidentals events that are missing.
In their regular hall inspection Chair Richard Byas and Vice Chair Malcolm Morley noted that some repointing is required to an area of brickwork and guttering on the south side of the building and some attention is required to an air vent on the west apex that needs some cleaning and possibly painting.
There is a Community First Workshop dealing with Managing Volunteers on the 17 March which Malcolm Sollitt will attend.
Secretary, Doug Allan, reported the final draft of the revised Village Hall Governing Document is about ready to be forwarded to the Charity Commission for their approval. He also requested some fellow members to assist in reviewing all key documents and policies in time for their approval at the forthcoming AGM.
The forthcoming Village Halls’ Week was discussed and our contribution will be the Open Day & Brunch on Sunday 22 March from 10.30am to 1.00 pm. Karen Morley and her team will be serving their delicious breakfast buns along with liquid refreshments. Local parish councillors will be in attendance to to answer your many questions and representatives from groups and organizations who regularly use our Village Hall will be giving displays. All are welcome.
Under any other business, Debbie Kane approached the Committee to request space for the storage of the decorative poppies used in the annual poppy display around the village. She announced that after many years, she wished to stand down from the responsibility of displaying them and she hopes to find volunteers willing to take up this once-a-year task. Her husband Rob will continue to help out. The Committee agreed to the storage and will actively assist in seeking the required volunteers to undertake this much revered task later in the year.
Doug Allan has been looking at the sort of activities that would be an asset to the future of the hall, if only volunteers could be found to launch and operate them. He listed a wide variety of activities, including book and board games clubs, folk club, dance classes, singing groups, flower arranging, fitness classes…and lots more. If any residents can promote and organise any new activity, or knows someone who could, please let the Committee know. A wider range of activities can only be of benefit to our two villages.
In bringing the meeting to a close, the Chair announced that the AGM and next Ordinary meeting will be held consecutively on Tuesday 5 May starting 7.30pm. In accordance with the Village Hall Constitution, all villagers are invited and welcome to attend.
It’s hoped this summary report has been informative and of interest. The Minutes of the meeting are available for viewing on the Topcliffe website – https://www.topcliffe.org.uk/village-hall/committee-meetings/
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Parish to consult residents about future of the Toll Booth
Topcliffe Parish Council will soon be circulating a leaflet outlining the structural and financial issues relating to the future of the Toll Booth. The Parish Council wishes to ascertain residents’ views about the next steps. It’s understood councillors will seek a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ mandate for future action, which basically means spend the necessary money to secure the building’s future, or attempt to dispose of the building.
Topcliffe parish councillors will be available at the Village Hall Open Day & Brunch on Sunday 22 March to discuss the recent Toll Booth survey and its implications for the future of the building.
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The Little Village Bakery
Topcliffe’s own Little Village Bakery, launched last year, continues to go from strength to strength.
The bakery, operated by Cat Cowton from her home at 12 Winn Lane, offers a wide range of home-baked breads, cakes and bakes. Every week Cat publishes her planned menu on Facebook and Instagram, and takes pre-orders ready for picking up on Saturdays.
Cat has recently introduced a stall in her front garden, which operates on Saturdays. Each week she puts out a selection of freshly baked items. It works on an honesty basis and people can just take what they’d like and leave payment in the box or use the QR code for bank transfers.
The Facebook page is (1) the little bakery, topcliffe – search results | Facebook You can also get in touch with Cat by calling 007527 086800.
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Asenby Bus Shelter Refresh
Asenby Parish Council has reorganised the bus shelter library and notice boards…and everything is certainly looking spic and span. They’ve also put up new signs for the defibrillator, making it much clearer where it is. The battery in the defibrillator has also been replaced, so should be good for another five years! A sign indicating the location of the defibrillator has been put up on the Community Park notice board.
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Warm Hub Lunch
The next Warm Hub will take place on Wednesday 18 March between 11.30am and 12.45pm. There’ll be a selection of home-made meals, followed by puddings and tea or coffee. All welcome.
There’s no set charge for Warm Hub meals but donations are requested to help pay the cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch. The organisers don’t receive grant support or surplus food from supermarkets: everything is bought and paid for, cooked and brought into the hall by volunteers, many of whom are senior citizens themselves.
Residents of Topcliffe and Asenby can have a meal delivered if they are housebound – either on a short-term basis because of illness, or longer-term. If you wish to have a meal on the day the Warm Hub is held, please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426.
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Art classes in the Village Hall
Here are details of art classes coming up in the Village Hall:
- Land and Sea in Acrylics: Be inspired by Georges Seurat and paint your own canvas on Thursday 19 March between 10am and 1pm.
- Weekly Classes: Monday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. The next block of six starts after Easter on the Monday 13 April. These inspirational and fun sessions. Check out the ‘early bird’ offer on Becky’s website. Beginners are welcome.
- Spring Retreat Pastels Experience: Celebrate Spring by painting with soft pastels to create inspired scenes and floral displays, landscapes and gardens. Thursday 23 April, 10am to 3pm.
- Spring Retreat Paint in Oils: Tropical Flowers in Oils. A true pop of colours and contrasts against more traditional dark backgrounds. Friday 24 April from 10am to 1pm.
Also
- Welcoming Lights’ – lighthouses, lanterns or fairy-lights in acrylics – Friday 17 April, 10am to 2pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
For more information and to make a booking, check out the website at https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/
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Village Halls’ Week
As part of this year’s national Village Halls’ Week event, Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee has agreed to hold a Brunch and Open Day on Sunday 22 March between 10.30am and 1pm. Karen Morley and her wonderful team will serve the usual delicious breakfast buns and other refreshments throughout the event. Both Topcliffe Parish Council and Asenby Parish Council have agreed to be present to meet residents from our two villages.
Topcliffe parish councillors will be available to discuss the recent survey of the Toll Booth and its implications for the future of the building.
There will also be displays by a number of user groups including the indoor carpet bowls group, boccia club and the regular art class. The library will open for book loans and exchanges. And the slide presentation depicting the whole range of Village Hall activities has been updated and will be presented on the large screen throughout the day. More elements may be added to this event over the next few weeks.
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Living Wreath Class
Join Holly of Tarragon Flowers on this special workshop at Catton Kitchen on Sunday 22 March between 3 and 5pm. There are only four places still available, so don’t delay. Check out their website for more details: http:// http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk
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Churchyard Maintenance
As announced in last week’s Sunday Email, a couple of grounds maintenance days are being planned to get to grips with things as spring growth gets underway. Two dates were mentioned but one is proving difficult so is being cancelled. There will not be a tidy-up session on Saturday 21 March but volunteers are asked to gather on Saturday 28 March from 9.30am until noon. If there is more work to be done, arrangements will be made for a second session on Saturday 11 April.
These sessions are open to all who would like to offer an hour or two to help the spring tidy up and also continue progress on reclaiming the lower terraces. Please join in if you can.
In the longer term, it’s hoped that one or two more volunteers might join the regular grass-cutting team so that the amount of cutting is shared by a few more individuals.
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Base Camp for Kids
There’s egg-traordinary adventures happening at Base Camp this Easter holiday and booking are now being taken. There’s an adventure to suit everyone…wild science, forest school creativity, archery with the Thirsk Bowmen, plus foraging and making food, wild art, Easter treasure hunt and lots of play and games. Sessions are on from 30 March to 10 April. All supervised by experienced and qualified staff. Base Camp is located at Baldersby Park, 90 acres of private country parkland close to Topcliffe. experienced, qualified staff.http:// https://www.basecamplearning.co.uk/
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Yorkshire on show in mosaics
If you’re looking for a right Yorkshire treat this spring, why not pop down to The Bath House at RHS Gardens Harlow Carr, Harrogate, to take in the annual BAMM North mosaic exhibition which runs from 23 April to 17 May 2026.The theme for this year’s exhibition and sale is Up Hill and Down Dale: A Celebration of Yorkshire and it promises a collection of colourful, unusual, clever and whimsical mosaics from over 20 mosaicists working in our region and concentrating on all the best that Yorkshire has to offer.
You can expect to see local flora and fauna, familiar views and wild and wonderful interpretations of the theme from these members of the British Association for Modern Mosaic which includes local artist Siobhan Gifford from Asenby. This hugely popular exhibition is manned daily by the mosaicists themselves who are always happy to answer any questions you may have about this art form or to offer advice on workshops in the area if you are inspired to have a go yourself. There will be mosaic kits for sale along with various other small mosaics, cards and the like in the pop-up shop. Entrance to The Bath House is free once you have accessed the gardens.
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Siobhan Gifford, of Asenby, has been celebrating the richness of
the Yorkshire dialect with this work in progress ‘Ey Up Duck’.
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Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall – bookings and hire
The Village Hall is available for hire to local organisations, businesses and individuals. It is a superb venue with fully equipped kitchen – an ideal place for family parties. Book online for your event by scanning the QR code or visiting either the Topcliffe or Asenby village websites.
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Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.
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Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.
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EVENTS ACROSS THE WIDER AREA
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The Ritz Cinema
- Kangaroo – Sunday 15 March at 2.30pm.
- The Secret Agent – to Thursday 19 March – no matinee.
- If I had legs I’d kick you – Friday 20 to Thursday 26 March – no matinee.
- Hamlet – National Theatre Live – Friday 27 March.
- Mother’s Pride – Saturday 28 March to Thursday 2 April. Matinee on Wednesday 1 April.
- The Audience – National Theatre Live – Friday 24 April.
Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.
London Mountain Adventure Film Festival
Though the core of these festival films are bold exploits and derring-do there is much more besides with contemplative works and the beauty of the outdoors. Please don’t think “this isn’t for me”. If you are a climber, a biker, a skier, or a boarder, you will certainly not be disappointed; however, if you are none of these, you can still enjoy the grandeur of the natural habitat and the touching human tales told. Sunday evenings 15 and 22 March. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Full details of the content for each night are detailed on the Ritz website. Each week is a totally different showreel. Each is approximately 90 minutes duration, category 12A and standard Ritz ticket price. Tickets can be booked online now or on the door on the night.
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Events at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk
- Spring Woods in Watercolour: This full day workshop is suitable for you whether you have some experience of watercolour and would like to explore new techniques, or a total beginner. Minimal drawing experience required! The emphasis of the workshop is very much on play and experimentation. Thursday 19 March 10.30am to 3:30pm. £90.
- Exhibition Screening Turner/Constable: Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, this unmissable new documentary explores Turner and Constable’s intertwined lives and legacies alongside the groundbreaking Tate exhibition. Friday 20 March, 7pm. £12 or £10 concession.
- Observing the Seasons – Spring: Enjoy the emerging of new life as the days get lighter in this two-hour workshop led by artist Dove Armistead. Explore the colours of the shifting seasons with the uplifting blooms and buds of spring. Saturday 21 March from 1 – 3.30pm or Wednesday 25 March from 10.30am to 1pm. £25.
Buy tickets online at https://www.ruralarts.org/
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Bingo Night
To be held at Sessay Village Hall at 7pm on Saturday 21 March. Fun for the whole family. pop-up bar, raffle, nibbles. Doors open 6.30pm. Bingo from 7pm. £10 per book of tickets.
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Thirsk 10 Mile Road Race (also Wheelchair Race and Fun Run)
Starting from Thirsk Racecourse, Station Road. Sunday 22 March. With only 1100 places, it sells out every year, so secure your spot for the main race or the 1.5 mile children’s fun run. A share of proceeds supports charities, which in 2025 received £1500 each. Kids Fun Run 9am, main race 10am, wheelchairs at 9.50am. £23 affiliated, £25 unaffiliated, £3 Kids Fun Run. Book online (or on the day for kids). http://tasharriers.club/thirsk10
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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 24 March 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.
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Repair cafe
At Thirsk Library, Meadowfields, on Saturday 28 March from 10am to 1pm. 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. Voluntary donations welcome.
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Thirsk Museum re-opens
The Thirsk Museum on Kirkgate re-opens for the summer season on Wednesday 1 April. Experience the history of Thirsk in the house where Thomas Lord, founder of Lord’s Cricket Ground, was born in 1755. Explore rooms full of exhibits featuring local life and industry, cricketing memorabilia, farming equipment, furniture, costumes and toys. Marvel at the bones of our Saxon Giant and shudder at the legend of the Busby Stoop Chair!
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Holly Taymar Sings Eva Cassidy
Holly Taymar is a highly accomplished singer-songwriter from York with a warm, expressive voice and a mesmerising stage presence. Holly has been performing for over 20 years, earning a reputation for her sensitive interpretations of classic songs. Thursday 2 April at 7:30pm at Rural Arts Courthouse theatre. £13. Book online http://www.ruralarts.org
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The Great Yorkshire Egg hunt
Join Yorkshire’s biggest Easter Egg Hunt this easter at Monk Park Farm near Bagby. Enjoy a full day of farm fun alongside the hunt, including animal encounters and outdoor play. Every child receives a chocolate treat. Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April from 10am. Adult £12.45 child £18.45 and under 1s £6 when booked in advance online.http:// www.monkparkfarm.co.uk
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Thirsk Farmers’ Market
On the Market Place in Thirsk on Sunday 5 April from 9am to 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.
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Easter Art Camp 2026
A three-day Holiday Art Camp at Rural Arts in Thirsk. Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 April. For children aged 6 to 11 to explore Yorkshire’s most famous creators during three days of arts and craft. There will be lots of opportunities to explore art forms and techniques over the three days alongside experienced artists, Claire Ford and Jane Wilson. 9am – 1pm each day. £80. Book online http://www.ruralarts.org/whats-on/workshops/easter-art-camp-2026/
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Easter Family Day
To be held at Thirsk Racecourse on Friday 10 April from 11am onwards. An exciting afternoon of competitive racing and family fun. Book online at http://www.thirskracecourse.net
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Concerts at Ripon Cathedral
- The Music of Ed Sheeran by Candlelight – Friday 10 April at 7.30pm.
- Pink Floyd by Candlelight – performed by What the Floyd? – Friday 5 June at 7.30pm.
- The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 19 June at 7.30pm.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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Village Hall AGM
The Annual General Meeting of Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall will be held in the Village Hall on Tuesday 5 May at 7.30pm. Residents of both Topcliffe and Asenby villages are invited to attend. The AGM will be followed by an Ordinary Meeting of the committee.
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Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be held in the ground floor committee room at the Village Hall at 7pm on Thursday 7 May.
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Asenby Parish Meeting
Asenby’s Annual Parish meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 May at 7pm, followed immediately by the Annual Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm. Both meetings will be held in the upper floor meeting room at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
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Quiz answers
1. Combination of the AS in Asquith and DA in dairies (The Asquith brothers merged with Associated Dairies in 1965.
2. Gin and Lime
3. 8 points
4. 206
5. 1967
6. Apple
7. Spice, released in 1996.
8. Billie Eilish
9. Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, released in 1938
10. A portrait of The Queen.
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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