Sunday Email - Page 2 - Topcliffe and Asenby Sunday Email

Posted on 27 September 20262 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 334

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
[email protected]

St Columba’s regular services

TODAY: Sunday 27 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 1 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 4 October at 8.30am Said Holy Communion (BCP)
And at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by wine and pre-supper nibbles
Thursday 8 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.
Sunday 11 October at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 15 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 18 October at 10.45am, Sung Matins
Thursday 22 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.

Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.

Masham Sheep Fair
The second day of the Masham Sheep Fair is on today – Sunday 27 September between 10am and 4pm. Sheep showing, sheep racing, craft market, Bishop Blaize procession, fleece stalls, sheepdog demonstrations, hand bell ringers, Morris dancers, art exhibition and tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, as well as a small children’s fair.

The Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 27 September – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Another great quiz last Sunday. Prepared and presented by Mike and the winners, after a dramatic set of deciders, were Jean, Roger, Judith and Liz. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. What year was the Berlin Wall erected?
2. How many eyes does a bee have?
3. What was George the Sixth’s real first name?
4. Put these cities in order north to south – Amsterdam/Berlin/London.
5. Which country is credited with having invented Caesar Salad?
6. Which way does King Charles’ head face on a postage stamp?
7. What colour is a Polar Bear’s skin under it’s white fur?
8. Name the song and the artist that sang these lyrics: “I’ve been born with you inside my mind and in my dreams I’ve kissed your lips a thousand times.”
9. In the bible who was the first Christian martyr – chose from Paul, Peter or Stephen.
10. What is the dot over an i and j called?

Coffee Mornings at the Village Hall

Pic 1: Doug Allan, Editor of The Tattler and the Sunday Email.
Pic 2: A good crowd at Saturday’s coffee morning.

The first coffee morning organised by the former Warm Hub team was held yesterday (26 September) in the Village Hall. It was a resounding success with around 40 people popping in for tea, coffee and cakes…and for a look through a large number of back copies of The Tattler.

A total of £229 was raised, of which £27 covered the hall rent, leaving £202 which will support production costs associated with The Tattler and Sunday Email. A big thank you to the team – Karen, Malcolm, Richard, Chloe, Julie and the two Lindas, and also to those who baked cakes and biscuits and to everyone who popped in to support the event,

Two more coffee mornings to support local organisations will be held as follows:

Wednesday 28 October – 10.30am to 12 noon – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
Saturday 5 December (date changed from 21 November to avoid a clash with a similar event being held at The Angel Inn) – between 10.30am and 12 noon – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter and re-homing centre.

NEWS FLASH!
The Warm Hub team is discussing the idea of a weekly ‘winter warmer’ lunchtime get together at which a delicious dish of homemade soup and sausage rolls will be served, along with coffee tea and biscuits. More details in due course.

Topcliffe Parish Council seeks a new councillor
Topcliffe Parish Council is looking for applications from residents of the parish for a co-opted councillor vacancy. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in local matters, be available to attend monthly meetings and actively participate in the work of the Parish Council. Interested parties should apply in writing or via email by Saturday 31 October to The Parish Clerk outlining the reasons they wish to be considered, including any skills and experiences they would bring to the role.

[email protected]
or
Alexandra Robson, Clerk to Topcliffe Parish Council, Town Hall, Westgate, Thirsk, YO7 1QS

Asenby Parish Council
Asenby Parish Council also continues its search for a volunteer resident who is willing to be co-opted as a new councillor. Anyone who might be interested is asked to message Parish Clerk, Colin Grimston, to set up an informal chat – [email protected]

Cash raised for Macmillan Cancer Support
A huge thank you to everyone who joined supported the recent Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning and helped us raise an incredible £1,064.48. Also thanks to those who baked cakes, donated prizes, bought raffle tickets, made a donation or simply came along and supported the morning. Dave, Maggie and their team are so grateful to everyone who played a part in making it such a success.

There’ll be a fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer UK at The Angel Inn on Saturday 21 November between 10am and 1pm. Donations of cakes to supplement those made by The Angel chef, will be gratefully received at both events.

Art classes

The following special one-off classes are planned and anyone interested in attending is invited to get in touch:

Draw or paint your pet – or any dog, cat or other animals in pastels. Back due to popular demand. Bring your favourite photograph to copy. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 1 October. Either 10am til 1pm or 10 til 3pm.
Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am ’til 1pm or 10am ’til 3pm. Only 10 places available. £60 pp.
Paint and Relax with Monet! – Friday 16 October 6.30 to 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Paint a Glass Vase/Storm Lantern – create beautiful floral designs in gorgeous colours. Thursday 5 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Paint an autumn sunset with bright reflections and beautiful hues. Friday 6 November between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Learn how to add silver and gold leaf to enhance your painting. Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Seasonal Special crafts experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk town Hall. Only 15 spaces available. £45.

All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

All Hallows’ Eve Party

Topcliffe and Asenby residents are invited to a special Halloween party in the Village Hall on Saturday 31 October from 7pm for a night of fun and games, music and laughter. Children are welcome to attend, but only if accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian.

Everyone attending is asked to take along a sharing plate of spooky food and guests are asked to note that this is a Bring Your Own Drinks event. Some of the games will be charged at £1, so please have plenty of change if you can. It would be great to see your fancy dress outfits, but it is optional.

Tickets are just £2.50 per person and they’re available from Topcliffe Post Office or from Sheila Squires at Swaleside Holiday Park on 07803 008461. Any surplus funds will be shared equally between the Village Hall and the Blue Cross Rehoming Centre at Topcliffe.

Flying Oysters at the Village Hall
The Flying Oysters will be returning to Topcliffe on Saturday 7 November. Organiser, Doug Allan, promises another fantastic evening of music and dancing, along with an excellent supper consisting of pie and peas and a pudding.

Expert raffle organiser, Chrissy Findlay, is organising the raffle at the event and is already bringing together a fantastic selection of prizes donated by local businesses and organisation.

All funds raised will help support the Village Hall. Tickets, priced £15 are now on sale at Topcliffe Post Office and from Doug Allan…and they are already selling fast!

Christmas Fair in Topcliffe
The annual Christmas Fair at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall will be held on Saturday 14 November between 10am and 1pm. All the available stalls have been allocated and there’ll be a wide selection of local traders and organisations hoping to tempt you to purchase Christmas and other items. The catering team will be putting on a Brunch with bacon rolls, cakes, tea, coffee and squashes. There’ll also be a raffle. All funds raised will go to the Village Hall fund.

Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.

EVENTS IN THE WIDER AREA

The Ritz Cinema

Pressure – to Thursday 1 October. Matinee on Wednesday 30 September.
Bad Apples – Friday 2 to Thursday 8 October – no matinees.
Heart of the Beast – Friday 9 to Thursday 15 October – no matinees.
Sense & Sensibility – Friday 16 to Thursday 22 October – Matinee on Wednesday 21 October.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom – Friday 23 to Thursday 29 October – matinees on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
National Theatre Live: Golden Boy – Friday 6 November. 7.30pm

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

Coffee and Chat
Every Tuesday from 10am in the church at Baldersby St James. Please drop in to church for coffee and a feast of home-made scones and biscuits. Jigsaws always available to borrow.

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
The next Thirsk Farmers’ Market will be held in Thirsk Market Square on Sunday 4 October 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.

The Thirsk Friends of the Lambert Hospice
Friends of the Lambert Hospice are holding several fundraising lunches, with guest speakers, in partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe.

The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October
The winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.

Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org The funds are needed to support end of life and palliative care services in the area.

Events at Rural Arts
Here is basic information about events coming up at The Old Courthouse in Thirsk. Check out the website for more details and booking information – http://www.ruralarts.org

Ceramic Pumpkins and Cider: Friday 9 October between 7 – 9pm. Celebrate the cosy charm of autumn with an evening of creativity, conversation and a warming glass of cider. In this workshop, you’ll hand-build your own unique ceramic pumpkin using clay, learning simple techniques to shape and decorate your design. 7pm – 9pm.
Bookmarked: Batty!: Saturday 10 October at 7.30pm. Have you got a wild side? Batty has, she dreams of running barefoot, wild swimming, of talking trees, strange animals and the scent of the seasons turning. In fact, she’s starting to wonder if she might be a witch.
Beautiful Botanicals: Collagraph Printing: Saturday 10 October between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Join York-based printmaker, Yvonne Hoggarth, for a creative and inspiring workshop making botanical prints using natural materials such as leaves, stems and seedheads.
Stained Glass Indoor Mosaic Plaque: Friday 16 October between 10.30am and 4.30pm. An exciting opportunity to work with stained glass to create a unique mosaic plaque (22cm sq) using the direct method for indoor display. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to expand their knowledge using this versatile material. Lots of colours to choose from.
Thirlby Art Group Exhibition: Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 October between 10am and 4pm. Free entry. Bringing together work from 15 artists, the exhibition presents an eclectic selection of paintings, art prints, linocuts, watercolours, pastels and more. With such a wide variety of styles, subjects and media on display, there is sure to be something to capture every visitor’s imagination. All works for sale.

Thirsk Artisan Market
Sunday 18 October between 10am and 3pm. On the Market Place, Thirsk – 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.

Church supports RNLI
On Wednesday 21 October St John the Evangelist Church in Dalton will hold a coffee morning in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It will be at Dalton Village Hall between 10.30am and 12 noon. No set charge, but donations gratefully received.

Thirsk Repair Cafe
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. At Thirsk Library on Meadowfields. The cost is a voluntary donation. Saturday 24 October from 10am to 1pm, last repair 12.30pm.

Concerts at Ripon Cathedral

The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.

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

Live comedy comes to Sessay Village Hall
The Laughing Pug Comedy Show is coming to Sessay Village Hall on Saturday 24 October with the brilliant Paul Tonkinson, Helen White, Fran Garrity & Chris Lumb. The show will start at 7pm (doors open from 6pm) and tickets are £15. There’ll be a fully licensed bar available on the night. Follow this link for tickets and further information:
Sessay Village Hall Comedy Night at Sessay Village Hall event tickets from TicketSource

The Yorkshire Flea Market
At Thirsk Auction Mart on Sunday 25 October between 15am and 4pm. Around 100 dealers in antiques and vintage items. Free parking, cafe. See website for more details:
http://www.antiquesfairs.com/thirsk.html

Family Pumpkin Night
Experience the magic of The Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Patch after dark! at Monk Park Farm on Sunday 25 October between 5.30 and 8.30pm. Enjoy evening farm admission, thousands of pumpkins, entertainment, carnival games, pumpkin carving and fantastic family photo opportunities. Delicious food and drinks available. Wrap up warm and enjoy an unforgettable autumn evening. Prices starting from £3pp. Tickets: online or on the door.

Perfectly Spooky Halloween Ghost Walk
From the Clock Tower, Thirsk Market Place on Saturday 31 October at 6pm. Enjoy a wonderful autumn treat this Halloween and explore the old haunted streets of Thirsk and hear ancient tales of history and ghosts with the Historic Experiences team. A 75 minute tour of spooky places, legends and creepy tales. The tour is led by Tina, an archaeologist, tour producer and writer of over 30 years who is passionate about bringing
the past to life! After exploring Thirsk end the evening with a delicious hot chocolate at a historic location. Price £16.96.

Quiz answers

1. 1961
2. 5
3. Albert (Bertie)
4. Berlin, Amsterdam and London
5. Mexico
6. Left
7. Black
8. Hello and Lionel Richie
9. Stephen
10. Tittle.

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

Posted on 20 September 20266 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 333

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
[email protected]

St Columba’s regular services

TODAY: Sunday 20 September at 10.45am Sung Matins
Thursday 24 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Friday 25 September at 7pm, St Columba’s Harvest Festival Service led by Reverend Dawn. She’ll lead a short service of celebration with traditional harvest hymns sung and produce on display. Afterwards there’ll be ‘Bring & Share’ finger food and wine. All most welcome.
Sunday 27 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 1 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 4 October at 8.30am Said Holy Communion (BCP)
And at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by wine and pre-supper nibbles
Thursday 8 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.

Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.

Thirsk Artisan Market
TODAY: Sunday 20 September 10am-3pm on Thirsk Market Square. 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 Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 20 September – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was prepared and presented by Alan and the winners were Mike, Carolyn, Kate and David. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. What was Olive Oil’s younger brother called in the Popeye film of 1980?
2. What is the other name of Sicily’s mafia?
3. What was the name of the lodger of murderer John Christie at 10 Rillington Place who was wrongly prosecuted and later declared innocent, but only after being executed?
4. How many operational prisons are there on the Isle of Wight?
5. Who killed Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie?
6. Who said: ” It’s a funny old world. A man’s lucky if he gets out alive”?
7. Which became the UK’s longest span cable suspension bridge when completed in 1996?
8. In which city was the Queensberry Bridge opened in 2017?
9. Boodles and Whites, in London, originally were established to serve which beverage?
10. Who delivers the ball in a game of baseball?

Food Bank Wishlist

The Thirsk Food Bank run by Community Works is looking for help as we approach Harvest Festival. They have issued a ‘wishlist’ of items they would love to see stocking their shelves and which they can make available to those in need in the town and surrounding area. If you can help you can drop off items at Community Works in Thirsk or leave items in the collection box at Topcliffe Post Office over the next couple of weeks.

Sutton Bank – A170 annual closure
Sutton Bank is closed until 4 October to all traffic whilst annual maintenance is carried out. Diversions are in place during this time. The National Park Centre at the top of Sutton Bank will remain open for business throughout the closure period.

Asenby Parish Council
Asenby Parish Council continues its search for a volunteer resident who is willing to be co-opted as a new councillor. Anyone who might be interested is asked to message Parish Clerk, Colin Grimston, to set up an informal chat – [email protected]

Harvest Festival Service at St Columba’s
Friday 25 September at 7pm, St Columba’s Harvest Festival Service. Reverend Dawn will lead a short service of celebration with traditional harvest hymns. There’ll be harvest produce on display. Afterwards there’ll be ‘Bring & Share’ finger food and wine. All most welcome.

Coffee Mornings at the Village Hall

The former Warm Hub team is planning some coffee mornings at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall to raise funds for a couple of local organisations and good causes. Serving- coffee, tea, scones and bakes, homemade biscuits, delicious cakes, savoury treats and cherry buns. Three events have so far been put in the diary and they will all be on from 10.30am to 12 noon.

Saturday 26 September – to support The Tattler and Sunday Email. There’ll be a display of copies of The Tattler from over the years.
Wednesday 28 October – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
Saturday 5 December (date changed from 21 November to avoid a clash with a similar event being held at The Angel Inn) – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter and re-homing centre.

Art classes

The following special one-off classes are planned and anyone interested in attending is invited to get in touch:

Draw or paint your pet – or any dog, cat or other animals in pastels. Back due to popular demand. Bring your favourite photograph to copy. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 1 October. Either 10am til 1pm or 10 til 3pm.
Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am ’til 1pm or 10am ’til 3pm. Only 10 places available. £60 pp.
Paint and Relax with Monet! – Friday 16 October 6.30 to 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Paint a Glass Vase/Storm Lantern – create beautiful floral designs in gorgeous colours. Thursday 5 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Pain an autumn sunset with bright reflections and beautiful hues. Friday 6 November between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Learn how to add silver and gold leaf to enhance your painting. Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Seasonal Special crafts experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk town Hall. Only 15 spaces available. £45.

All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

All Hallows’ Eve Party

Expert raffle organiser, Chrissy Findlay, has agreed to organise a raffle at the event and is already bringing together a fantastic selection of prizes donated by local businesses and organisation.

All funds raised will help support the Village Hall. Tickets, priced £15 are now on sale at Topcliffe Post Office and from Doug Allan…and they are already selling fast!

Coffee Mornings at The Angel Inn
There’ll be a fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer UK at The Angel Inn on Saturday 21 November between 10am and 1pm. Donations of cakes to supplement those made by The Angel chef, will be gratefully received at both events.

Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.

EVENTS IN THE WIDER AREA

The Ritz Cinema

The Dog Stars – to Thursday 24 September – no matinees.
National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope – Friday 25 September at 7.30pm.
Pressure – Saturday 26 to Thursday 1 October. Matinee on Wednesday 30 September.
Bad Apples – Friday 2 to Thursday 8 October – no matinees.

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

Coffee and Chat
Every Tuesday from 10.00am in the church at Baldersby St James. Please drop in to church for coffee and a feast of home-made scones and biscuits. Jigsaws always available to borrow.

Events at Rural Arts
Here is basic information about events coming up at The Old Courthouse in Thirsk. Check out the website for more details and booking information – http://www.ruralarts.org

Japanese Woodblock Printing: Explore this captivating Japanese woodblock printing technique made famous by artists like Hokusai and his iconic Great Wave. Mokuhanga is a wonderfully accessible and eco-friendly method that uses water-based inks and requires no press, making it perfect for artists of all levels. Tuesday 22 September, 10:30am – 4:30pm.

Thirsk Jobs Fair: Looking for work or a fresh start? Meet local employers, explore full-time and part-time roles, find learning opportunities and get advice and support for next steps. There’s no need to book a place, just pop in! Thursday 24 September, 10am – 12noon.

Bellinis and Botanical Plaster Casts: In this workshop, you’ll use leaves, flowers and natural textures to create an elegant botanical plaster cast tile. Experiment with arranging your chosen foliage before casting it into plaster to produce a unique decorative piece for your home. Friday 25 September 7pm – 9pm.

Dalton Coffee Morning
There will be a Coffee Morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support on Wednesday 23 September in the Dalton Village Hall from 10.30am until 12 noon. Pop along and enjoy a cuppa, a piece of cake and a chat with friends and neighbours. There is no set charge, but donations will be greatly appreciated.

Barbara Rae: Monotypes
Major exhibition by the internationally acclaimed artist, Barbara Rae is on until Saturday 26 September (not Sunday or Mondays) at the Zillah Bell Gallery, 15 Kirkgate, Thirsk. Rae, who was created Dame Barbara Rae in 2025 for services to art, is exhibiting over thirty monotypes and original prints. Many of these works have never been seen before. 10am – Free entry.

Masham Sheep Fair
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September between 10am and 4pm. Sheep showing, sheep racing, craft market, Bishop Blaize procession, fleece stalls, sheepdog demonstrations, hand bell ringers, Morris dancers, art exhibition and tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, as well as a small children’s fair.

The Thirsk Friends of the Lambert Hospice
Friends of the Lambert Hospice are holding several fundraising lunches, with guest speakers, in partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe.

The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October
The winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.

Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org The funds are needed to support end of life and palliative care services in the area.

Concerts at Ripon Cathedral

The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.

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

Quiz answers

1. Castor Oil
2. Cosa Nostra
3. Timothy Evans
4. Two: Albany and Parkhurst (Camp Hill closed in 2013)
5. Ronnie Kray
6. W C Fields
7. The Humber Bridge
8. Edinburgh
9. Coffee
10. Pitcher

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

Posted on 13 September 20266 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 332

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
[email protected]

St Columba’s regular services

TODAY: Sunday 13 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 17 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 20 September at 10.45am Sung Matins
Thursday 24 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Friday 25 September at 7pm, Harvest Service with ‘Bring & Share’ finger food and wine to follow. Further announcements with full details in due course
Sunday 27 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 1 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 4 October at 8.30am Said Holy Communion (BCP)
And at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by wine and pre-supper nibbles
Thursday 8 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.

Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.

Baldersby-St James Annual Book Sale
Today, Sunday 13 September, is the second day of the annual book sale at Baldersby St James. It’s on between 10am and 5pm. This is the big fund raiser of the year for St James Church. This year funds will go towards the repair of the church ceiling, which is now securely netted making the church safe to use again until the repairs are done.

Help requested
Putting away all the books remaining after the sale is a big job, made easier if there are lots of volunteers to help! Can you give an hour or two from 4.30pm?

Sutton Bank – A170 annual closure
From today, Sunday 13 September, Sutton Bank is closed to all traffic whilst annual maintenance is carried out. The bank is closed until Sunday 4 October. Diversions are in place during this time. The National Park Centre at the top of Sutton Bank will remain open for business throughout the closure period.

The Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 13 September – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Last Sunday’s challenging quiz was prepared and presented by David. And the winners were Sue, Derek, Alan and Joanne. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. What is the name of Jeremy Clarkson’s farm in his TV series?
2. In which decade did the first mammal go into space?
3. Who is the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
4. In which city will you find the Spinnaker tower?
5. In which decade were the theory tests added to the UK driving test?
6. Which team knocked England out of this year’s World Cup?
7. In which month is Bastille Day?
8.In which TV programme did Andy Burnham’s wife appear in 1992?
9. In which county is Jodrell Bank located?
10. In which comic did the Bash Street Kids appear?

The Tattler – search for back copies
The former Warm Hub team is organising a coffee morning on Saturday 26 September at the Village Hall to help support The Tattler newsletter and the Sunday Email. It’s extremely kind of them as there are regular costs that have to be met.

As editor, I have offered to put on a display of copies of The Tattler produced since I took on the editorship and production in 2018. I have copies since that date. Does anyone have copies of earlier editions that could be added to the display?

If so, please get in touch asap so that a comprehensive display of as many issues as possible can be put together. Contact Doug Allan at [email protected]

Short report on the meeting of Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee held on Tuesday 8 September (prepared by Doug Allan, Village Hall Secretary)

The Chair reported on two resignations for the committee. Firstly, he thanked Emily Collard for her excellent contribution to the work of the committee over 10 years, particularly as Minutes Secretary. He noted that Emily had always had the knack of typing up the minutes as the meeting progressed, reviewing them the same evening and circulating them the next day. Emily’s commitment and efficiency will be missed and Trustees wished her well as she moves on to work with another village organisation.

Second, the Chair thanked Malcolm Sollitt in his absence and commented that although he had only been a Trustee for seven months, he had made a very useful contribution to the work of the committee as a Trustee able to represent the views of Asenby Parish Council and the residents of Asenby. It’s hoped that Asenby Parish Council will put forward a replacement in due course.

The Chair also reported on the retirement of Judith Lowe as Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show Secretary. The committee acknowledged the dedicated service, commitment and organisation given by Judith over 14 years. It was noted that Judith was among a small group of residents who resurrected the show after it had been dormant for quite a few years. She first took on the role when she was a member of the Village Hall Committee and retained the job of Show Secretary when she resigned from the committee in 2022.

The committee is seeking a replacement Show Secretary and hopes that someone in the community will step forward. It is also creating a small Show Committee to support the organisation of the show. The date of the 2027 show is set as Saturday 28 August.

The committee heard reports of the success of a number of recent events (BBQ & Boogie Night, Summer Fair & Brunch and Produce Show) which had boosted the funds of the Village Hall and acknowledged plans for future events including the Halloween Party on 31 October, Flying Oysters Dance on 7 November and Christmas Fayre on 14 November.

The Treasurer reported that the Village Hall’s accounts for 2025/26 were ‘signed off’ by the Independent Examiner and that the current financial position is relatively healthy. The Bookings Administrator indicated that the number of bookings this financial year is currently lower than they were last year, but it is likely that the situation will balance out as the year progresses.

It was agreed that at the Village Hall’s Week event, in March 2027, the main display will be of old photographs of Topcliffe and Asenby. Anyone with photographs that might enhance such a display is asked to get in touch with a committee member.

Asenby Parish Council
Asenby Parish Council is seeking to co-opt a new councillor. If and qualifying resident feels like they might be interested then please message Parish Clerk, Colin Grimston, to set up an informal chat – [email protected]

All Hallows’ Eve Party

Residents of Topcliffe and Asenby are invited to a special Halloween party in the Village Hall on Saturday 31 October from 7pm. The event organisers are promising a night of fun and games, music and laughter. Children are welcome to attend, but only if accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian.

Everyone attending is asked to take along a sharing plate of spooky food and this is a Bring Your Own Drinks event. Some of the games will be charged at £1, so please have plenty of change if you can. It would be great to see your fancy dress outfits, but it is optional.

Search is on for a new Produce Show Secretary
Following the recent retirement of long-serving Show Secretary, Judith Lowe, the Village Hall Committee is on the lookout for someone to take on the job. The role involves a bit of pre-planning work – though the show formula is well-honed – and management of the show day, which is normally a Saturday at the end of August or early September.

The Committee is also considering setting up a small Show Committee to help organise and manage the popular annual event.

On show days, there’s always an abundance of assistance available from Village Hall Committee members and supporters of the show, and starting next year there’ll also be support from Show Committee members.

Anyone interested is being Show Secretary or joining a Show Committee is asked to drop an email to the Village Hall Secretary at [email protected] – please include a telephone number so he can ring you to chat through the matter.

Carole’s moonlight walk for charity
On Thursday 3 October Asenby resident, Carole Ford, is undertaking a sponsored Moonlight Walk to raise funds for Herriot Hospice in Thirsk. She says: “I think we all know that hospices are under severe financial strain. Yet they provide essential help to families whose loved ones are experiencing life threatening situations. Several of my friends and family have benefitted from their support over the years, which is why I want to give a little back to the hospice.”

If you are able to support Carole please go to her Just Giving page –
https://justgiving.com/page/carole-ford-3

The Rat Run to Barcelona
There’s another fundraising event taking place right now, but this one involves a journey somewhat different to that of Carole Ford’s.

Caitlin Anderson and Tom Lambert, who live in Topcliffe, are doing an amazing journey from Topcliffe to Barcelona driving a clapped-out sports car. Rat Run 2026 is more than just a road trip though, it’s an opportunity to support Charlie’s Dallas Charity, a foundation set up after the tragic loss of brother Charles Dallas Lancaster after a long battle with mental illness. The aim is to raise funds for the vital work the charity does to improve mental health, raise awareness and provide help and hope to those who need it most. Mental health affects countless individuals, families and communities. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will help Charlie’s Dallas Charity continue delivering essential support to those who need it.

Those able to donate can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tomandcaitlinvtheworld

New parking meters
North Yorkshire Council is replacing parking ticket machines across the county, including in Thirsk. Customers will no longer receive a ticket to display in their vehicle. Instead, they will enter their vehicle registration number on the payment machine, select the length of stay required and pay using cash or card or a parking app (where available).

Aside from no longer receiving a printed ticket, customers should notice very little difference in how they pay for parking. The council’s installation team will carefully manage the transition to minimise disruption and ensure a smooth changeover at each location. Signage is also being updated to explain the new payment process, as well displaying parking tariffs and specific car park information.

The new machines will continue to accept cash as well as card payments. Parking apps will also be available where currently provided. Once payment has been made, the machine will confirm that your parking session has been successfully registered against your vehicle registration number.

ANPR technology is not being used in council car parks. Civil enforcement officers will be able to check parking sessions electronically using vehicle registration numbers, removing the need to check printed tickets.

Moving to a ticketless system reduces maintenance requirements, improves reliability, cuts paper usage and provides a more efficient service for customers and the council.

Have a voice in Hambleton policing
North Yorkshire Police are looking for new members to join the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) in Hambleton and Richmondshire. IAG members play a vital role in shaping local policing by offering honest feedback, sharing community perspectives and helping the force to better understand the issues that matter to the public.

People from all backgrounds, experiences and communities across Hambleton and Richmond. You don’t need any special qualifications: the only requirement is being able to receive and send emails and join on-line meetings, which will occur quarterly.

If you might be interested, please email [email protected]

Art classes

The regular art classes hosted by Becky Thompson at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall started again last Monday. It’s a block of six Monday classes running between 10am and 12 noon.

The following special one-off classes are planned and anyone interested in attending is invited to get in touch:

Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Magical Gardens’. Friday 18 September at Thirsk Town Hall between 6.30 and 9.30pm.
Draw or paint your pet – or any dog, cat or other animals in pastels. Back due to popular demand. Bring your favourite photograph to copy. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 1 October. Either 10am til 1pm or 10 til 3pm.
Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am ’til 1pm or 10am ’til 3pm. Only 10 places available. £60 pp.
Paint and Relax with Monet! – Friday 16 October 6.30 to 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Paint a Glass Vase/Storm Lantern – create beautiful floral designs in gorgeous colours. Thursday 5 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Pain an Autumn Sunset with bright reflections and beautiful hues. Friday 6 November between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Learn how to add silver and gold leaf to enhance your painting. Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Seasonal Special crafts experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk town Hall. Only 15 spaces available. £45.

All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

Coffee Mornings at The Angel Inn
Following the amazing success of last year’s event, The Angel team are organising another coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan Nurses. It’s on Friday 18 September from 10am until 1pm.

And there’ll be a fundraiser for second charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, on Saturday 21 November, also between 10am and 1pm.

Donations of cakes to supplement those made by the Angel chef, will be gratefully received at both events.

Coffee Mornings at the Village Hall
The former Warm Hub team is planning some coffee mornings at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall to raise funds for a couple of local organisations and good causes. Serving- coffee, tea, scones and bakes, homemade biscuits, delicious cakes, savoury treats and cherry buns. Three events have so far been put in the diary and they will all be on from 10.30am to 12 noon.

Saturday 26 September – to support The Tattler and Sunday Email. There’ll be a display of copies of The Tattler from over the years.
Wednesday 28 October – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
Saturday 5 December (date changed from 21 November to avoid a clash with a similar event being held at The Angel Inn) – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter and re-homing centre.

Expert raffle organiser, Chrissy Findlay, has agreed to organise a raffle at the event and is already bringing together a fantastic selection of prizes donated by local businesses and organisation.

All funds raised will help support the Village Hall. Tickets, priced £15 are now on sale at Topcliffe Post Office and from Doug Allan…and they are already selling fast!

Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.

EVENTS IN THE WIDER AREA

The Ritz Cinema

TODAY: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical – a sing along matinee organised as part of Thirsk’s Bookmarked event. Pre-booked tickets only.
Sunny Dancer – to Thursday 17 September – no matinees.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger – Friday 18 September at 7.30pm.
The Dog Stars – Saturday 19 to Thursday 24 September – no matinees.
National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope – Friday 25 September at 7.30pm.
Pressure – Saturday 26 to Thursday 1 October. Matinee on Wednesday 30 September.
Bad Apples – Friday 2 to Thursday 8 October – no matinees.

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

Racing at Thirsk
Finale Day – Monday 14 September – gates open 11am. Book online at http://www.thirskracecourse.net or on the gate.

Events at Rural Arts
Here is basic information about events coming up at The Old Courthouse in Thirsk. Check out the website for more details and booking information – http://www.ruralarts.org

Make & Meet: Candle Making: Get creative and transform everyday candles into beautiful hand-painted decorations. Wednesday 16 September, 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Willow Standing Deer: Use simple weaving techniques to create your own willow deer. The perfect addition to your home! Thursday 17 September,10am-3:30pm.
Rowan McCabe – ‘Hard Knocks’: Rowan McCabe returns to the stage with Hard Knocks, a show of spoken word and comedy about community and connection. With support from local poet Olivia Mulligan. The show is part of Bookmarked:Thirsk. Saturday 19 September, 7:30pm. £13 early bird or £14.50 full price.
Japanese Woodblock Printing: Explore this captivating Japanese woodblock printing technique made famous by artists like Hokusai and his iconic Great Wave. Mokuhanga is a wonderfully accessible and eco-friendly method that uses water-based inks and requires no press, making it perfect for artists of all levels. Tuesday 22 September, 10:30am – 4:30pm.
Thirsk Jobs Fair: Looking for work or a fresh start? Meet local employers, explore full-time and part-time roles, find learning opportunities and get advice and support for next steps. There’s no need to book a place, just pop in! Thursday 24 September, 10am – 12noon.
Bellinis and Botanical Plaster Casts: In this workshop, you’ll use leaves, flowers and natural textures to create an elegant botanical plaster cast tile. Experiment with arranging your chosen foliage before casting it into plaster to produce a unique decorative piece for your home. Friday 25 September 7pm – 9pm.

Summer Shows
There’s still a few summer shows across North Yorkshire before the end of the show season:

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Friday 18 to Sunday 21 September – book online at http://www.flowershow.org.uk/autumn-show
Stokesley Show, Saturday 19 September – 8am until 6pm.
Eggleston Show, Saturday 19 September – Hayberries Farm, Mickleton – 10am to 4pm.
Nidderdale Show, Sunday 20 September at Pateley Bridge. 7.45am to 6pm.

Thirsk Artisan Market
Sunday 20 September 10am-3pm on Thirsk Market Square. 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 Thirsk Friends of the Lambert Hospice
Friends of the Lambert Hospice is holding several fundraising lunches, with guest speakers, in partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe.

The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October
The winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.

Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org The funds are needed to support end of life and palliative care services in the area.

Concerts at Ripon Cathedral

The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.

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

Quiz answers

1. Diddly Squat
2. 1940s (was a Rhesus monkey in 1949)
3. John Healy
4. Portsmouth
5. 1990s (1996)
6. Argentina
7. July
8. Blind Date
9. Cheshire
10. Beano

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

Posted on 6 September 20262 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 331

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
[email protected]

St Columba’s regular services

TODAY: Sunday 6 September at 8.30am – Said Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer).
TODAY: Sunday 6 September at 6.30pm Choral Evensong.
Thursday 10 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 13 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 17 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 20 September at 10.45am Sung Matins
Thursday 24 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Friday 25 September at 7pm, Harvest Service with ‘Bring & Share’ finger food and wine to follow. Further announcements with full details in due course
Sunday 27 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion

Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
TODAY: Sunday 6 September – 9am-2pm on Thirsk Market Place. 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 6 September – A really fantastic day out for the whole family at Newby Hall, near Ripon, with with great atmosphere and your ticket includes free entry into Newby Hall’s grounds with its legendary adventure playground. Adult £22, child (4-15), £16, family (2+2) £65. Tickets at the gate or online from http://www.carsinthepark.org.uk

The Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 6 September – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Last Sunday’s excellent quiz was prepared and presented by Sue. And the winners were David and Chloe accompanied by newcomers Christine and Nicola. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. Who were the only duo to win a Sports Personality of the Year award?
2. Which actress played Delores van Cartier in the film Siter Act?
3. The Sister Boniface Mysteries on were a spin off of which TV programme.
4. In which town was Alan Titchmarsh born?
5. In which city are the Summer Olympics to be held in 2028?
6. How many American colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776?
7. Who joined the band Queen as lead singer between 2004 and 2009?
8. What does COP stand for in the global climate change world?
9. Who was the longest reigning monarch in French history?
10. What is the name of the US version of Strictly Come dancing?

NEW
Flying Oysters at the Village Hall
The Flying Oysters will be returning to Topcliffe on Saturday 7 November. Organiser, Doug Allan, promises another fantastic evening of music and dancing, along with an excellent supper consisting of pie and peas and a sweet. All funds raised will help support the Village Hall. Tickets, priced £15 are now on sale at Topcliffe Post Office and from Doug Allan.

The Tattler – September 2026
Most households in Topcliffe, Asenby and Alanbrooke Barracks will by now have received their September copy of the Tattler. If not, it should arrive in the next day or so.

Anybody living outside the villages distribution area can collect a copy from Topcliffe Post Office or the Village Hall. Residents of Swaleside Holiday park can pick up a copy in the park office.

Those living further afield who would like an electronic copy delivering by email, should drop Doug Allan a request – [email protected]

The Tattler can also be viewed on Topcliffe Parish Council website at https://www.topcliffe.org.uk/the-tattler/

The 25th anniversary of the Willis organ in St Columba’s Church
The main story in the September edition of The Tattler is about the amazing Willis organ that was transferred from St Andrew’s Church in Sharrow, Sheffield to St Columba’s Church in Topcliffe 25 years ago this month. It’s a remarkable story of good luck, hard work, dedication and commitment. The article in the Tattler had to be edited to fit the space available. Anyone wishing to read the full story can do so here.

Search is on for a new Produce Show Secretary
After 14 years of dedicated commitment to organising the Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show, Judith Lowe has retired as Show Secretary.

Judith was among a small group of residents who resurrected the show after it had been dormant for quite a few years. But having organised fourteen events and seen the show grow from strength to strength, she has decided it’s time for her to put her feet up and for someone else to take on the mantle. She first took on the role when she was a member of the Village Hall Committee and retained the job of Show Secretary when she resigned from the committee in 2022.

Now the Village Hall Committee is on the lookout for a new Show Secretary to manage the show in 2027 and beyond. The role involves a bit of pre-planning work – though the show formula is well-honed – and management of the show day, which is normally a Saturday at the end of August or early September.

Traditionally there hasn’t been a Show Committee, but setting up one is an option if the new Show Secretary thinks it would be desirable. Either way, there is always an abundance of assistance available from Village Hall Committee members and supporters of the show.

Anyone interested is asked to contact Village Hall Secretary Doug Allan for an initial chat. His number is 07785 223707.

Snooker Club – fees set for 2026-27
There are not many villages that can boast that they have a snooker club…never mind one that can offer two tables…one full size and the other three-quarter sized. So, Topcliffe is extremely fortunate in being able to offer a great sporting facility right on the doorstep.

The Topcliffe club is on the upper floor of the Toll Booth, just opposite The Angel pub. The building is the subject of much discussion as the Parish Council, which is responsible for its upkeep, is considering options for disposal. But the club is continuing to function and its membership numbers are fairly healthy.

At the club’s annual meeting held on 30 August, the committee decided that it would continue business as usual despite the uncertainty. The level of fees for the financial year beginning 1 September were set at £40 and Treasurer, Dave Bowman, has started collecting them. Existing and new members should contact him as soon as possible. Those not planning to remain in membership are asked to return their key to Dave.

Cross Talk Church Newsletter
The September edition of the church newsletter, Cross Talk, is now out. You can read it here.

Church Roof Repairs
Urgent work is needed on the roof of St Columba’s Church. Faulty lead flashings on the gable ends of the nave and north aisle need to be replaced and the ridge tiles need to be made safe, with loose stone and slipped slates reinstated. Grant funding towards the cost of around £10,000 is being sought.

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 by visiting the village hall pages on either the Topcliffe or Asenby village websites.

Revised hire charges effective from 1 September 2026 are:

Regular User (classes and clubs

Main Hall £13.50 per hour,
Committee rooms ££6.75 per hour

Topcliffe & Asenby parishioners – one-off hires

Main Hall £18 per hour
Committee rooms £9 per hour

Non-parishioners – one off hires

Main Hall £26 per hour
Committee rooms £13 per hour

Art classes

The regular art classes hosted by Becky Thompson at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall start again tomorrow – Monday 7 September. There’ll be some regulars signing up, but Becky would welcome interest from new participants who might like to join her on a creative art journey! Becky offers a block of six Monday classes between 10am and 12 noon.

For those who might prefer an evening class, Becky organises a block of six Tuesday night sessions at Thirsk Town Hall between 6.30 and 8.30pm. They commence on Tuesday 8 September. Also, on Monday evenings between 6.30 and 8.30pm ,she runs an online zoom class.

In addition, the following special one-off classes are planned:

Wild birds in pastels. Thursday 10 September at Sutton Bank Nature Hub between 10am and 3pm.
The nature and landscape of Sutton Bank. Friday 11 September at Sutton Bank Nature Hub between 10am and 3pm.
‘Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Magical Gardens’. Friday 18 September at Thirsk Town Hall between 6.30 and 9.30pm.
Draw or paint your pet – or any dog, cat or other animals in pastels. Back due to popular demand. Bring your favourite photograph to copy. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 1 October. Either 10am til 1pm or 10 til 3pm.
Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am ’til 1pm or 10am ’til 3pm. Only 10 places available. £60 pp.
Paint and Relax with Monet! – Friday 16 October 6.30 to 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Paint a Glass Vase/Storm Lantern – create beautiful floral designs in gorgeous colours. Thursday 5 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Pain an Autumn Sunset with bright reflections and beautiful hues. Friday 6 November between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Learn how to add silver and gold leaf to enhance your painting. Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
Seasonal Special crafts experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk town Hall. Only 15 spaces available. £45.

All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

Asenby Parish Council
The meeting on Wednesday 2 September had to be postponed at the last minute. The rescheduled meeting will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 8 September in the committee room at the Village Hall.

Village Hall Committee
The next meeting of Topcliffe and Asenby Village Hall Committee will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8 September in the Village Hall.

Sutton Bank – A170 annual closure
Anyone planning to travel in the Helmsley direction next month should remember that this year’s annual closure of the A170 at Sutton Bank is a big one, with the bank closed from Sunday 13 September to Sunday 4 October. Diversions will be in place during this time.

The National Park Centre at the top of Sutton Bank will remain open for business throughout the closure period.

And there’ll be a fundraiser for second charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, on Saturday 21 November, also between 10am and 1pm.

Donations of cakes to supplement those made by the Angel chef, will be gratefully received at both events.

Saturday 26 September – to support The Tattler and Sunday Email.
Wednesday 28 October – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
Saturday 21 November – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter.

Please add these dates to your calendar.

Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.

EVENTS IN THE WIDER AREA

The Ritz Cinema

The End of Oak Street – to Thursday 10 September – no matinees.
Sunny Dancer – Friday 11 to Thursday 17 September – no matinees.
Heritage Open Day – 31 years and still counting! – Saturday 12 September – All welcome to visit and look around our fabulous local, volunteer-run cinema. Behind the scenes tours, to areas not normally open to the public, on the hour from 10am. Last tour starts at 3pm. Tours last one hour.
National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope – Friday 25 September at 7.30pm.

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

The Thirsk Friends of the Lambert Hospice
A range of events organised by the Friends of the Lambert Hospice has been announced. The charity, which works within the local community, raising essential funds specifically to support end of life and palliative care services, plans the following:

Shopping event on Wednesday 9 September at the Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton, 11am-7pm. It will have artisan stalls and refreshments. There is a £5 entry fee and the event will help you get ahead with your Christmas shopping.
In partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe, several lunches with a guest speaker, are planned. The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October and the winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.

Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org

Concerts at Ripon Cathedral

ABBA by Candlelight – Friday 11 September at 7.30pm.
The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.

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

Bookmarked: Thirsk
From Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September, Thirsk will embrace all things bookish, creative, curious and magical as Bookmarked: Thirsk is launched. Across three days, there’ll be 24 events to discover across Thirsk, with authors, artists, performers, storytellers and creative people bringing the town to life through workshops, talks, illustration, writing, heritage, film, performance and opportunities to get involved. Check out Rural Arts website for more details. https://www.ruralarts.org/

The Yorkshire Vet
Join renowned Yorkshire vet Peter Wright for an entertaining and fascinating afternoon as he shares stories from a remarkable career in veterinary medicine. Friday 11 September between 3pm and 4pm at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk. Tickets £25.

During this special one-hour event, Peter will take audiences behind the scenes of his life as a rural vet, sharing personal memories of Alf Wight, heart-warming stories, amusing experiences and insights into the realities of working with animals and their owners.

Summer Shows
There’s still a few summer shows across North Yorkshire before the end of the show season:

Castleton Show and Road Race – Saturday 12 September – 11am to 4pm.
Stokesley Show, Saturday 19 September – 8am until 6pm.
Eggleston Show, Saturday 19 September – Hayberries Farm, Mickleton – 10am to 4pm.
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Friday 18 to Sunday 21 September – book online at http://www.flowershow.org.uk/autumn-show

Events at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk
Silver Pendant Necklace Making – have fun making your own silver necklace. Learn how to use basic jewellery making tools to cut and connect your shapes and how to apply different techniques to create textures and patterns on your silver pendant. Saturday 12 September between 10am and 1pm.

Thirsk Repair Cafe
This monthly repair session at Thirsk Library on Meadowfields, is proving extremely popular with locals. You can be greener by avoiding waste and saving money at the same time. The dedicated team of talented volunteers will try to repair any broken or worn down items. Voluntary donation. Saturday 12 September, 10am-1pm, last repair 12.30pm.

Baldersby-St James Annual Book Sale
This year’s event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 September between 10am and 5pm. This is the big fund raiser of the year for St James Church. This year funds will go towards the repair of the church ceiling, which is now securely netted making the church safe to use again until the repairs are done.

Help requested
Sorting out, displaying and putting away again is a major task made easier if there’s lots of helpers. Can you give an hour or two on one of these dates?

Monday evening 7 September at 6.30pm – the books arrive from storage and need to be be lifted in to the church.
Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September at 10am – to help put the books out in church ready for the weekend.
Sunday 13 September from 4.30pm to help pack books away.

Racing at Thirsk
Finale Day – Monday 14 September – gates open 11am. Book online at http://www.thirskracecourse.net or on the gate.

Quiz answers

1. Torvill & Dean
2. Whoopi Goldsberg
3. Father Brown
4. Ilkley
5. Los Angeles
6. 13
7. Paul Rodgers
8. Conference of the Parties
9. Louis XIV (72 years)
10. Dancing with the Stars.

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

Posted on 30 August 20262 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 330

Welcome to your Sunday Email.

Doug Allan
07785 223707
[email protected]

St Columba’s regular services

TODAY: Sunday 30 August (5th Sunday) at 11am – Benefice Service at St John’s Church, Dalton. All the South Mowbray Rural Churches have been invited to attend the service, which will be led by Rev. Dianne Gamble.
Thursday 3 September at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer.
Sunday 6 September at 8.30am – Said Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer).
Sunday 6 September at 6.30pm Choral Evensong.
Thursday 10 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 13 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion
Thursday 17 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Sunday 20 September at 10.45am Sung Matins
Thursday 24 September at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
Friday 25 September at 7pm, Harvest Service with ‘Bring & Share’ finger food and wine to follow. Further announcements with full details in due course
Sunday 27 September at 10.45am, Holy Communion

Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.

The Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 30 August – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.

Another challenging quiz held last Sunday evening set by Doug and presented to a packed hall of 43 quizzers. It was won by Alan, Sue, Derek and Joanne. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.

Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.

1. In 2012 five female activists protested in Russia’s largest Orthodox cathedral. What did they call the feminist group they belonged to?
2. Which was the last country in the Americas to ban slavery?
3. Yugoslavia disintegrated in 1989. How many individual countries are now in existence where Yugoslavia once was? Just the number required.
4. Travis Keice, a famous US sportsman, married who on 4 July this year?
5. Besides the country named Guinea, can you name the other two West African countries with Guinea in their name?
6. Which is Europe’s largest airline?
7. Which country receives the most tourists each year?
8. Which country was the first to introduce mandatory seat belts in cars?
9. Which infamous woman hanged in 1955 was in July granted an official pardon?
10. What is the capital of Oman?

Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show

Yesterday’s annual Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show, held in the Village Hall, was a huge success with over 60 villagers putting in 245 entries and well over a hundred people packing the hall to see the displays and congratulate the various winners.

Despite the near-drought conditions over the last few months, gardeners from Topcliffe and Asenby managed to grow and present a wide range of vegetables. The overall winner in the horticultural section was David Bowman who also won the most ‘firsts’. This completed a double for David as he won the same prizes last year.

A new trophy, The Cucumber Cup, in memory of Ray Fothergill who died last year and had been a great supporter of the Show, was won by Kevin Butters.

The hobbies section was as popular as ever and the quality and diversity of entries was absolutely amazing. The winner was Chris Moss who exhibited an amazing textile life-like hare among other category entries.

In the floral section there were some spectacular creations and bouquets. The winner was Cath Towers with an imaginative display based on decorating.

As usual the level of competition in the baking section was intense with upwards of 50 entries in the various classes. The overall winner was Carol Dyson who had seven firsts, one second and one third.

Once again, the number of entries in the children’s section was very entertaining with some outstanding entries. There is no trophy in this section, but all the children who entered are congratulated on their effort.

The money raised on the day from show entries, the raffle, sale of refreshments and sale of slices of Cath Tower’s beautiful cake, amounted to £471.80. After upfront expenses of £65.42 and the projected cost of trophy engraving, the amount to be presented to the Village Hall Committtee will be around £325. That’s an amazing amount, so thank you very much to everyone who supported this Show.

BBQ & Boogie team issue a big thank you
The team behind last week’s fantastic BBQ and Boogie Night at the Village Hall has announced that the event raised £1,231.38 for the support and maintenance of the hall. Speaking on behalf of the team, Jim Shaw said: “We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who purchased entry tickets, bought raffle tickets and bid in the mini auction. You helped raise an amazing sum towards Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall funds. THANK YOU”.

Simply Homemade – meals delivered to your doorstep!
Topcliffe resident Maddie Wainwright last week launched her new business enterprise – Simply Homemade – offering a range of homemade meals delivered to your door in Topcliffe, Asenby and surrounding villages. And the reaction so far has been very favourable.

Initially the choices are lasagne, chilli con carne, cottage pie or chicken curry, but the menu will be expanded in due course. Maddie will be preparing single and family portions, plus bulk orders. The prices are £8.50 for a single portion and £30 for a family meal (four). 24 hours notice of requirements is required via Maddie’s Facebook page – Simply Homemade.

Fraud Warning
North Yorkshire Police have issued a reminder to people to stay vigilant following reports of bogus police officers and courier fraud attempts in the area. There has been an increase in fraudsters targeting people claiming to be officers from New Scotland Yard, or the Met police, letting them know someone had been arrested in London (or elsewhere in the country) for using the victim’s cards.

The fraudsters invite the victims to verify their credentials by calling 999 or similar – this is part of the offence – they simply stay on the line, which means the call remains connected. A different offender will then pretend to take the 999 call, creating the illusion it is the police. The police emphasise the importance of properly cancelling a call, especially when using a landline. They suggest you should use a separate or different device if you need to verify someone’s identity.

If you have concerns about a police officer’s identity – clear the call, wait for a dialling tone (if using a landline), then contact the police control room via 101 and they will be able to verify an officer’s ID. Fraudsters may pretend to be police officers, or at other times they’ll pretend to be from the Financial Conduct Authority or bank staff on the phone. They often claim your bank account is at risk and instruct victims to withdraw or transfer cash, or hand over bank cards, PIN numbers, jewellery, or valuables to a ‘courier’.

But remember, your bank and the police will never:
• Ask for your PIN or online banking password
• Request you withdraw cash or ask you to part with valuables.
• Ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe account’
• Send a courier to collect money, cards, or valuables

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately, contact your bank using the number on the back of your card and report it to the police via 101 or Report Fraud.

Art classes to start again soon
The regular art classes hosted by Becky Thompson at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall are scheduled to start again on Monday 7 September. Becky will be emailing those already signed up with details in the near future…but she’d welcome interest from new participants who might like to join her on a creative art journey! Becky offers a block of six Monday classes between 10am and 12 noon.

In addition, the following special one-off classes are planned:

Wild birds in pastels. Thursday 10 September at Sutton Bank Nature Hub between 10am and 3pm.
The nature and landscape of Sutton Bank. Friday 11 September at Sutton Bank Nature Hub between 10am and 3pm.
‘Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s Magical Gardens’. Friday 18 September at Thirsk Town Hall between 6.30 and 9.30pm.
Draw or paint dogs, cats and other animals. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Thursday 1 October between 10am and 3pm.
Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am to 3pm.
Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall – Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm.
Seasonal crafts Experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. At Thirsk Town Hall on Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm.

All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

Events at The Angel Inn

Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday Monday) – Live music, pizzas and drinks from the new outdoor bar. From 2pm.
Friday 18 September – Macmillan Coffee Morning – our annual event to support this amazing charity. From 10am.

Asenby Parish Council
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 2 September in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Village Hall Committee
The next meeting of Topcliffe and Asenby Village Hall Committee will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8 September in the Village Hall.

Pedal to the Pad – Yorkshire Air Ambulance
There’s just over a week left to register to join the Yorkshire Air Ambulance inaugural charity cycle ride – Pedal to the Pad. The deadline is Thursday 10 September. The actual ride through some of Yorkshire’s most stunning landscapes is on Saturday, 3 October,

Cyclists are being encouraged to take on this unforgettable challenge to raise funds that will help keep their helicopters and crews flying. Starting from the new Northern Airbase at Skipton Bridge, riders can choose between a 30-mile route finishing in Malton or take on the 102-mile challenge to the Nostell Airbase, near Wakefield. Every rider will be helping to raise vital funds to keep Yorkshire Air Ambulance saving lives across our region.

Those tackling the 30 mile route will be expected to raise £100 plus and those riding the 102 miles must have a £200 minimum fundraising target. If you fancy a challenge for a fantastic Yorkshire charity, have a look at the website and get signed up.

http://Pedal to the Pad – Sponsored by Legacy Locker – Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The National Park Centre at the top of Sutton Bank will remain open for business throughout the closure period.

Saturday 26 September – to support The Tattler and Sunday Email.
Wednesday 28 October – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
Saturday 21 November – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter.

Please add these dates to your calendar.

Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday evenings between 5 and 7pm.

EVENTS IN THE WIDER AREA

The Ritz Cinema

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie – to Thursday 3 September – matinees on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August.
The End of Oak Street – Friday 4 to Thursday 10 September – no matinees.
Sunny Dancer – Friday 11 to Thursday 17 September – no matinees.
Heritage Open Day – 31 years and still counting! – Saturday 12 September – All welcome to visit and look around our fabulous local, volunteer-run cinema. Behind the scenes tours, to areas not normally open to the public, on the hour from 10am. Last tour starts at 3pm. Tours last one hour.
National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope – Friday 25 September at 7.30pm.

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

Summer Shows
There are plenty of summer shows planned across North Yorkshire this month.

TODAY Raskelf Produce Show, Sunday 30 August – Raskelf Village Hall – free admission from 2pm.
The Reeth Show, Monday, 31 August – 9.30am to 3pm.
Farndale Show, Monday 31 August – 9.30am to 5pm.
Kilnsey Show, Skipton, Tuesday 1 September – 9am to 5pm.
Muker Show, Wednesday 2 September – 10am to 5pm.
Kildale Agricultural Show, Saturday 5 September – 9.30am to 4pm.
Castleton Show and Road Race – Saturday 12 September – 11am to 4pm.
Stokesley Show, Saturday 19 September – 8am until 6pm.
Eggleston Show, Saturday 19 September – Hayberries Farm, Mickleton – 10am to 4pm.
Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Friday 18 to Sunday 21 September – book online at http://www.flowershow.org.uk/autumn-show

Newburgh Plant Fair
The next plant fair at Newburgh Priory will be on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August between 11am and 4pm. Specialist plant dealers, locally grown plants and refreshments. Entry: Adults £5, children free.

Events at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk

Thursday 3 September at 7pm. Music Monthlies features Steve Tilston – An intimate evening of music with one of our most celebrated songsmiths, widely recognised within the world of folk and contemporary music. A style drawing from folk, blues, jazz and classical. 7:30pm. £15. Tickets from http:// www.ruralarts.org
Saturday 12 September between 10am and 1pm – Silver Pendant Necklace Making – have fun making your own silver necklace. Learn how to use basic jewellery making tools to cut and connect your shapes and how to apply different techniques to create textures and patterns on your silver pendant.

Concerts at Ripon Cathedral

The Greatest Shows – Friday 4 September at 7.30pm.
ABBA by Candlelight – Friday 11 September at 7.30pm.
The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.

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

Racing at Thirsk

Ladies’ Day – Saturday 5 September – gates open 11am
Finale Day – Monday 14 September – gates open 11am.

Book online at http://www.thirskracecourse.net or on the gate.

Sports Cars in the Park
A really fantastic day out for the whole family at Newby Hall, near Ripon. Sunday 6 September – an event with great atmosphere and your ticket includes free entry into Newby Hall’s grounds with its legendary adventure playground. Adult £22, child (4-15), £16, family (2+2) £65. Tickets at the gate or online from http://www.carsinthepark.org.uk

Thirsk Farmers’ Market
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. Sunday 6 September, 9am-2pm on Thirsk Market Place.

Shopping event on Wednesday 9 September at the Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton, 11am-7pm. It will have artisan stalls and refreshments. There is a £5 entry fee and the event will help you get ahead with your Christmas shopping.
In partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe, several lunches with a guest speaker, are planned. The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October and the winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.

Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org

Quiz answers

1. Pussy Riot
2. Brazil in 1888
3. 7
4. Taylor Swift
5. Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau
6. Ryan Air (by both passenger numbers and fleet size)
7. France
8. Australia (in 1970)
9. Ruth Ellis
10. Muscat.

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