St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 28 July at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
- Sunday 4 August at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong (wine or soft drinks and pre-supper nibbles served following the service).
- Sunday 11 August at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
- Sunday 18 August at 10.45am – Sung Matins.
- Sunday 25 August at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
Refreshments are served after every Sunday morning service.
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Thirsk Model Railway Show
TODAY: Sunday 28 July – at Thirsk Town Hall on Westgate from 10am to 4pm. The show features fifteen model railway layouts, a variety of traders and lots of different demonstrators, as well as refreshments, a children’s competition and a tombola. Profits to be donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Adults £5, accompanied children free of charge.
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North Yorkshire Open Studios Showcase
TODAY: Sunday 28 July – This is the final day of this exhibition at Ampleforth Abbey. It features around 30 artists and makers from across the county, including Asenby-based artist Eric Cross. It’s open from 10am to 5pm. You can view sculpture, paintings, photography, and ceramics with most pieces available to purchase. The exhibition is in the Alban Roe House Visitor Centre which has free, level parking, a beautiful tea room (with additional outdoor dog friendly seating) and it’s just a short walk from the Grade I listed Abbey Church, which is open to visitors. The Abbey’s beautiful grounds are also open to the public. Free entry.
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Ripon Old Cars
TODAY: Sunday 28 July – major Classic and Vintage Car Gathering at Ripon Racecourse between 9am and 5pm. Besides plenty of classic and vintage cars, there’ll be motorcycles, military and commercial vehicles, auto jumble, trade stands, vintage tractors and kit cars, Also live music, children’s play area (courtesy of Ripon Toy Library), and kids entertainer and home made refreshments. All proceeds go to Parkinsons UK and numerous other local good causes. £5, children under 14 free if accompanied by an adult. Sorry but entry is cash only.http:// www.riponclassiccargathering.co.uk
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Aldborough & Boroughbridge Agricultural Show
TODAY: Sunday 28 July between 10am and 4pm – at Newby Hall. Baking, handicrafts, horticulture, children’s classes, flower arranging, photography and farm produce. Dog, cattle, sheep, horse and donkey classes. Tickets include entry into the gardens and legendary adventure playground. Book online www.boroughbridgeshow.co.uk
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Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 21 July– The quiz is on at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall at 8pm.
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Last Sunday’s challenging quiz was set by Mike and won by Pete, Shirley, Sylvia and Sheila. Well done the winners…and everyone else who joined in.
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Chip ‘n Dales
The Chip ‘n Dales fish and chip van is in Topcliffe every Friday 5 ’til 7pm
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Two events taking place later in the year which you might wish to note in your diary.
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The Christmas Fayre
The annual Christmas Fayre will take place on Saturday 16 November between 10am and 2pm at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. Organiser, Karen Morley, is on the lookout for local groups and individuals who would like to book a craft or product stall, or organise a fundraising activity for their favourite charity. The cost will be £5 for a table. All money raised by the Fayre organisers will go to the Village Hall fund. For more information or to book a stall, call 01845 577426 or email – [email protected]
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The Flying Oysters
Those of you that have attended previous performances by The Flying Oysters will be pleased to hear that they’ve been booked for another gig at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. They’ll be here on Saturday 7 December. This is just an advance mention so that you can put the date in your diary to make sure you’ll be free to attend. There’ll be more information issued in the autumn.
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Change of direction for Adam
In this article Topcliffe resident Adam Clark explains how one life-changing event – the birth of his daughter in 2023 – also triggered a re-evaluation of his life and priorities, leading to him launching a new career in photography. His new company, Clark Photographic, is now up and running.
“2024 is for me a year of change, experimentation and opening up to new things. For the last fifteen years I have worked in the social housing sector, most recently as an executive in a north-eastern housing association. I’ve really enjoyed most of this time but at the end of 2023, I was ready for something different. Our daughter Flora was born in early 2023 and her arrival triggered a re-evaluation my priorities.
“Since art A-level, I have had an interest in visual arts and particularly, photography. So, in my year of change, I decided alongside consultancy work, to see if I could use my passion for photography to support local businesses and provide services to local people. Having founded the business and set up a website, I’m working with a small North Yorkshire hospitality business to document their stunning location and business, nestled deep in the North York Moors.
“I have previously sold work in an exhibition, taken on commissions and documented a few weddings. I particularly enjoy being outdoors, as a keen mountain biker, walker and kayaker, I’m keen to capture lifestyle photographs of people outdoors, enjoying their own adventurous pursuits.”
See poster here for more information.
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Please keep your hedges and trees trimmed
Several villagers have been in touch to ask me to put out a general request to residents to keep their trees, hedges and bushes trimmed. Footpaths are there for the benefit of pedestrians and they need to be kept clear. Branches which overhang footpaths cause both inconvenience and a danger to the public if they have to step into the road. Please check your boundaries and cut back any overgrown foliage.
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Greggs take space at A168 petrol station
The vacant unit at the recently refurbished petrol station on the south bound side of the A168 is being taken by food retailer Greggs. Planning applications for signage have recently been lodged with North Yorkshire Council and they should be decided by early September.
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Morrison’s Petrol Station
The petrol station at Morrison’s in Boroughbridge is open again following a refurbishment.
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Gas supply – essential upgrade work in Thirsk
Work on the gas supply network in Thirsk town centre has begun and road closures and traffic controls are causing chaos as expected. These problems are likely to last for around six weeks. You are advised to allow extra time for any journey into or around Thirsk.
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Celebrate Yorkshire Day at The Angel
The Angel at Topcliffe is celebrating Yorkshire Day in style…and is inviting everyone to join in the fun. On Thursday 1 August they’ll be serving delicious Yorkshire Pudding wraps and Yorkshire ales, plus other Yorkshire treats to honour our beloved county.
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Soup & Sweet Lunch
The next Soup & Sweet lunch will be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 7 August from 11.30 to 12.45pm. There’ll be a selection of home-made soups, puddings, delicious cakes and bakes and tea or coffee. All welcome. No set charge, but donations welcome.
The last lunch on Wednesday 24 July saw 41 meals served and £124 raised. A donation of £50 has been made to Community Works, Thirsk and, after paying the hall hire cost, the balance was added to the Warm Hub Community Fund.
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Concert at the Village Hall
This cabaret-style concert on Saturday 17 August features solo artist Alex Scott. Alex is a very talented singer with a great repertoire of songs from the 1960s to the present…all guaranteed to get you on the dance floor or at least to get your feet tapping.
This is a bring your own drinks and nibbles evening. All profits will go to help support and maintain the Village Hall. Tickets, priced at £10, have sold well and there’s only ten left. If you don’t want to miss out, get yours soon. Available from Topcliffe Post Office or Doug Allan on 07785 223707.
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Summer Basecamps
Plans for summer base camps at Baldersby Park have been announced.
- Monday 19 August – Kayaking & Willow-weaving
- Wednesday 21 August – Archery & Make-Your-Own-Bow-and-Arrow
- Wednesday 28 August – Wild Art & Bubble Science
- Thursday 29 August – Fire, Food & Forest Games
For more information see poster here. Book online at: http://www.basecamplearning.co.uk
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Topcliffe & Asenby Produce Show 2024
The show will be held on Saturday 31 August at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall and there will be 83 classes in five categories: 47 horticultural classes: 17 baking, jams, preserves and pickles classes: 3 floral classes: 11 hobbies classes and 5 specific classes that only children can enter. The full list of categories and show rules, together with timings on the day, are available here.
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Topcliffe Academy: dates for your diary
- Monday, 2 September – Staff Training Day
- Tuesday, 3 September – School reopens for the start of autumn term.
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Ripon Cathedral Tours
Every Thursday in August from 2 to 2:30pm you can explore Ripon Cathedral with knowledgeable guides for free. Highlights of the 30-minute tour include:
🔹The historic crypt dating back 1350 years
🔹The breathtaking Great East Window
🔹Sir Ninian Comper’s decorative Reredos
🔹Harold Gosney’s beautiful Mother and Child copper statues
🔹The intricate medieval woodcarvings that inspired scenes in “Alice in Wonderland”
Find out more here: https://riponcathedral.org.uk/events/free-guided-tours-available-in-august/
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Summer activities at the library
There’s a lot is going on at Thirsk Community Library this summer. The Summer Reading Challenge, Mini Engineering, Knitterlings with the Thirsk Yarnbombers, Lego drop-in sessions and so much more. Drop into the library for more information or see poster here.
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The Ritz Cinema
- The Dead Don’t Hurt – to Thursday 1 August – no matinee.
- Despicable Me 4 – Friday 2 to Thursday 8 August – matinees on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August.
- Fly me to the Moon – Friday 9 to Thursday 15 August – matinee on Wednesday 14 August.
Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
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Music for a Summer Evening
A concert featuring Matthew Atherton on the piano and organ playing a variety of music including classical, pop and jazz. Friday 2 August at 7pm at St Mary’s Church, Thirsk. All in support of the work of Holy Rood House, Sowerby. See poster here for more details.
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Bee & Bugs week
This exciting event is on at Monk Park Farm, near Bagby until Friday 2 August. Join Buzz & Honey, the park’s huge Bee mascots to kick off the summer holidays. Watch the thoroughly entertaining Bee Show and meet lots of creepy crawlies like snails, tarantulas, jungle nymphs, and stick insects, cockroaches and more. You can also help decorate a pebble and make the
world’s longest caterpillar, and enjoy all the usual fun on the farm. Book online £12 in advance, £15 on the gate. http://www.monkparkfarm.co.uk
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Racing at Thirsk
• Saturday 3 August – William Hill Summer Cup
• Friday 9 August – Circus family day
• Friday 16 August – Sausage and Craft Beer Evening
• Friday 30 August – All Creatures Great and Small Family Day
• Saturday 7 September- Ladies Day
• Monday 16 September – Season Finale
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Dalton Scarecrow Festival
This festival includes a scarecrow tour around the village and lots of other activities at Dalton Village Hall, including refreshments, play area, crafts and more. Saturday 3 August from 11am to 3pm. All funds raised will help maintain the Village Hall and support Cancer Research UK. See poster here.
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Repair Cafe
The next repair cafe will be held at Thirsk Library on Saturday 3 August between 10am and 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 for the cost of a voluntary donation.
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Rural Arts events
Here are some of the workshops coming up at The Courthouse in Thirsk:
- Life drawing – Saturdays 3, 10 and 17 August, 2 – 5pm.
- Thunk-it Theatre Company – Children’s activity: Create a play in a week. Five days – Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 August, 9am to 5pm.
- A taste of art: Portraiture basics – Wednesday 7 August 10.30am to 12.30pm.
- Summer Holidays – Ancient Egyptian Sarcopagus Collage – Tuesday 13 August, 10.30am to 12 noon.
- Natural Textile Dyeing – Wednesday 28 August, 10am to 1pm.
http://Workshops – Rural Arts
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Thirsk Farmers’ Market
On Thirsk Market Place on Sunday 4 August between 9am and 2pm. Around 20 artisan food and drink producers bring the fruits of their labour direct to you. http:// www.northerndalesfarmersmarkets.c om
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Ripon Canal Cruises
The final dates in 2024 for afternoon tea cruises on the Ripon canal have been announced. They are Saturdays 10, 17 and 24 August.
There are also ‘Sunday Social’ cruises on Sundays 4, 11 and 18 August. These are a 1.5 hour trip. You can take your own food and drink.
Book at http://https;//buytickets.at/riponsceniccruises/1169606
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Thirsk and Sowerby Festival
Will be held on Flatts Fields, Sowerby on Sunday 4 August between 10am and 5pm. A free volunteer-run family event with loads of full on fun. Live music stage, dog agility show, free bouncy castle, owl adventures, pony rides, axe throwing. Free entry.
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Family Circus
Enjoy a fabulous, fun-filled family show in a traditional tent with the famous National Festival Circus.
With clowns, contortionists, jugglers and tumbling acrobats, there’s entertainment for all the family.
The circus runs from Wednesday 14 August to Sunday 18 August. Showtimes: 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Refreshments will be available in the tearoom. Children under 2yrs old are free of charge, sitting on parent/guardian’s knee. The Circus will be located adjacent to the Arboretum, this is a stand alone event. Arboretum admission is not required to visit the circus. |
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Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral
- Beatles by Candlelight: Thursday 15 August at 7.30pm. Featuring a fantastic band and a cast of West End singers. All your favourite Beatles songs.
- Pink Floyd by Candlelight: Friday 16 August at 7.30pm. The ultimate tribute to Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon.
- Summer Beer Festival: Saturday 24 August – 11.30am to 7pm.
- Guest beers, refreshing cider and delicious street food.
- The Choir of King’s College: Thursday 29 August at 7.30pm. The King’s Men perform songs from The Byrds to The Beatles.
- Eagles by Candlelight: Friday 8 November at 7.30pm. Featuring a cast of West End singers and a live band.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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de Mowbray Music Festival
Thirsk’s annual music festival is on Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 August. Staged at venues throughout Thirsk, it offers something for everyone. See full programme on the poster here.
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Wensleydale Railway
There’s something for everyone at Wensleydale Railway over the coming months. They are planning plenty of events and activities and here’s a taste of what’s on with a link to the booking system:
- Sunday 18 August at 2.30pm – Summer Afternoon Tea Train.
- Saturday 24 to Monday 26 August – Industrial Diesel Weekend.
- Saturdays – 31 August, 14 September and 26 October – Gin Train.
- Sunday 22 September – Summer’s End Tea Train.
- Sunday 20 October – Autumnal tea Train.
Contact email: [email protected] / 01677 425805
Bookings: https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/events_and_experiences/
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World axe throwing championship coming to Thirsk
An international axe throwing championship is coming to the UK for the first time ever and Thirsk will be the host town. The event will be staged at Thirsk racecourse on the weekend 23 to 25 August. Baldersby-based club, the Axemore Throwing Club, is taking the lead on planning and delivering the world championships, which are sanctioned by the Global Axe Throwing Commission, the international governing body for double-bit axe throwing.
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Summer Music Series
The summer Rural Arts/De Mowbray Music evening concert series continues with on Friday 30 August with Native Gallantry – baroque strings. The concert starts at 6.30pm and tickets are £10 (£8 for concessions). Venue: The Courthouse, Thirsk. Book online at http://www.ruralarts.org/whats-on/performances
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Baldersby St James book sale
This year’s book sale will be held on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September between 10am and 5pm. The organisers are looking for volunteers to help arrange the book displays (Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 September) and after the event to tidy the books away (Sunday 8 September at 4pm). They also invite donations of any books, which can be left in the church at any time during the day.
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Music@Junction 50
There’s a concert being held at Baldersby St James Church on Thursday 19 September at 7pm featuring husband and wife Andrea and Djodje Gajic. They’ll be performing Ad Libitum on violin and accordion. Further details available from Colin Reid – [email protected] – or by telephone – 01765 640624.
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Other events in the area this summer
Here are some dates to note in your diary.
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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