Category: Sunday Email

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Sunday Email: Issue 94

Welcome to the 94th issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707
Meeting to discuss local celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Sunday, 6 February at 7.30pm.
A meeting has been called to discuss how our two villages might celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June. The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Sunday 6 February at The Angel. Everyone is welcome. It will be an opportunity for ideas to be aired and it’s hoped that a jubilee committee will be formed to take the lead on organising local events and activities over the jubilee weekend – Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June

Interestingly, 6 February marks the actual day The Queen celebrates becoming the first British Monarch to serve 70 years, but the public celebrations will be held in June because she was crowned on 2 June

Village Hall Committee offers free use of hall for celebrations
At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Village Hall Committee, a decision was taken to offer free use of the Village Hall for community events linked to the four-day platinum jubilee celebrations in June
Next soup and sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch at the Village Hall will be held on Wednesday, 2 February at 12 noon. The cash raised will be donated to the Boot Shop in Easingwold which is a charity with an excellent track record in supporting young people and adults with a range of mental health needs and disabilities – which include learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury, sensory impairments and dementia.
Bags2school recycling collection day
The date has been set for the spring Bags2school textile recycling event at the Village Hall. It’s on Thursday 28 April. That gives everyone loads of time to undertake that annual clear out of cupboards and wardrobes. Please keep your bags of textiles for this charity collection. If you have trouble storing the bags, contact Donna Fleming (07591 438766) or Doug Allan (07785 223707) and they will try to make arrangements for storage until the collection day. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts.

The following items are welcomed: men’s, ladies and children’s clothing – paired shoes (tied together or elastic band around) – handbags – hats – bags – scarves and ties – jewellery – lingerie – socks – belts – soft toys – household linen – household curtains – household towels – household bedding (bed sheets, pillow-cases and duvet covers). We are unable to accept duvets and blankets, pillows and cushions, carpets, rugs and mats (including bath, shower and toilet mats), soiled, painted, ripped or wet clothing, school uniforms, corporate clothing and workwear or textile off cuts or yarns.
Cleaner needed for Village Hall
Following Linda Bumby’s decision to retire, the Village Hall Committee is on the lookout for a volunteer who will help out in exchange for an honorarium. The hours are two per week and although Linda usually cleaned on a Sunday, the committee is happy to consider other hours that don’t clash with any hires or activities. Additional hours may be available on special occasions. The honorarium is £10 per hour. If interested please call Judith Lowe on 01845 577911.
Fish & chip van
The fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe each Friday evening 5 to 7pm. Welcome back Karen and Paul.
Open Day at new Crematorium
There’s an opportunity to visit the new multi-million Hambleton Crematorium near Busby Stoop on Thursday 24 February. Visitors can call in between 11am and 3pm for a look around and to talk to staff about the building and how it will operate.

In order to minimise the number of cars from our two villages, if anyone who is interested gives me their name, I’ll keep a list and see if transport can be pooled. Email doug or call 07785 223707.
Cross Talk is out
The February edition of the local church magazine, Cross Talk, has been published. You can read it on several church websites –http:// www.achurchnearyou.com/church/3447 and http://baldersbychurch.com

You can also have the newsletter emailed direct to your inbox. Just send a request to:kitnorris
New council for North Yorkshire
On 1 April 2023, the two-tier system of local government in our area will be abolished. The existing councils across the county will be abolished and replaced with a single unitary authority to run services across the entire county. It will be called North Yorkshire Council. Appropriate legislation to allow the change is currently before Parliament and, subject to MPs’ approval, the order is expected to be enacted in a month or so.

Following that announcement, elections will take place on 5 May 2022 when 90 councillors will be selected to represent the 89 wards across North Yorkshire. The councillors will serve one year on the existing North Yorkshire County Council before switching to the new unitary authority from 1 April 2023. This is the shadow authority and will run alongside the existing councils until they disappear at the end of March 2023.
Changes to The Highway Code
Major new road rules came into effect yesterday in a bid to better protect cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents. There are three main changes. They include introducing a risk-based hierarchy of road users, with the most vulnerable – pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders – taking priority. The new rules emphasise that it’s not just vehicle drivers who have responsibilities – cyclists and passengers need to think before they act!

  • Drivers now have ‘the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger posed to others, including cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders.
  • Drivers at a junction should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road that they’re turning into.
  • Drivers should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.
  • Drivers should not cut across cyclists going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane.
  • Drivers must leave a distance of at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists.
  • Cyclists are advised to ride in the middle of the road in certain situations to make themselves more visible and they should generally give way to pedestrians.
  • Passengers and drivers should use new ‘Dutch Reach’ technique when opening the door of a vehicle. This involves opening the door with the hand furthest away from the door as the movement provides a better opportunity to look over their shoulder and spot oncoming cyclists.

There are significant fines for those who fail to follow the new rules and are involved in any incident.
Rural Arts to start monthly classes at our Village Hall
The first in a new series of monthly Rural Arts classes will be held at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Tuesday, 22 February. The subject at the first class will be painting and brusho. The two hour class starts at 10am. Just turn up on the day (it’s free to attend) or if you want more information call Judith Lowe on 577911.

On 22 March the class will look at ceramics and subjects for 19 April, 17 May, 21 June and 19 July will be announced in due course.
Services at St Columba’s

  • TODAY – Sunday, 30 January – No Service.
  • Wednesday, 2 February at 7.30pm – Service of Compline for the Feast of Candlemas
  • Sunday, 6 February at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong accompanied by organist Matthew Atherton. This is the actual 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne and anyone who would like to join the Choral Evensong on this most significant day will be warmly welcomed.
  • Sunday, 13 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
  • Sunday, 20 February at 10.45am – Choral Matins.
  • Sunday, 27 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
Events at The Angel

  • 1 February – Hilarity Bites Comedy Club – Tickets £10 in advance or £12 on the night. Doors open at 7.30pm and show starts at 8pm.
  • 12 to 14 February – Valentine Evenings – special menu for this special occasion.
  • Friday nights – 5 to 9pm – Land & Sea – steak or fish for two with a bottle of wine for £35.95
  • Sunday roast – 12noon to 8pm – traditional Sunday lunch.

Check the website at https://theangelattopcliffe.co.uk/ or call 01845 578000.
Catton Kitchen winter opening hours

  • February – Closed – as the team are very busy getting everything seeded and prepped for spring!
  • March – Thursday 3 and Friday 4, 9am to 2pm; Saturday 5, 10am to 2pm; Sunday 6,10am to 2pm.

Opening times will be reviewed again in the spring.
Parish Council meetings

  • Topcliffe Parish Council – the February meeting has been cancelled, so the next meeting will be at 7pm on Thursday 3 March – http:// www.topcliffe.org.uk
  • Asenby Parish Council will meet at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 March – http://www.asenby.net

Village Hall Committee meeting

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
  • Until Thursday 27 January – The Matrix Resurrections – return to the world of two realities; one, everyday life and the other, what lies behind it!
  • Friday 28 January to Thursday 3 February – The King’s Man – In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out millions.
  • Friday 4 to Thursday 10 February – The Electrical Life of Louis Wain – English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.
  • Friday 11to Thursday 17 February – Save the Cinema – the story of Liz Evans who starts a campaign in the 90s to save the Lyric Cinema in Carmarthen.
  • Friday 18 to Thursday 24 February – Sing 2.

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Events on at The Forum

  • Sunday 6 February at 7.30pm – Sunday Jazz – the fabulous sounds of the Big Band Era performed, in an open session, by Alan Owens and The Forum Big Band.
  • Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 February at 7.30pm (matinee Saturday at 2pm) – Legally Blonde – Crash Bang Wallop are back performing to a live audience in 2022.
  • Monday 14 February at 7.15pm – Romeo and Juliet – the classic ballet live-streamed from the Royal Opera House. A Valentine’s Day treat.
  • Thursday 17 February at 7pm – The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage – live-streamed from the National Theatre.
  • Saturday 19 February at 7.30pm – Phoney Fools and Horses – the stage show.
  • Wednesday 23 February at 8pm – Ahir Shah – featuring his signature blend of philosophical inquiry, personal examination and sweet gags.
  • Friday 25 February at 6pm – Pop Divas Live – the UK’s number 1 Pop Tribute.

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall
1. Weekly Activities
Monday
Art classes – 10am to 12 noon.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm.
Tuesday
Rural Arts – monthly ‘Heart and Craft’ classes starting 22 February.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm.
Wednesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm (alternate Wednesdays).
Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm.
Thursday
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Friday
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm.
Scouts – 7 to 9pm.

2. Regular meetings and other events

  • Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7pm on Thursday, 3 March..
  • Asenby Parish Council meeting, 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 March.
  • Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.30pm – Tuesday 5 April.

The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled once the Covid pandemic is over.
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Refuse – Monday 31 January and 14 February.
  • Recycling – Thursdays 10 and 24 February.
  • Garden waste – resume 24 February for those who have subscribed to 2021/22 service.
  • Subscriptions for 2022/23 are now open. The cost is £40. New and existing customers can now sign up at http://hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609 779977.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Recycling – Mondays 31 January and 14 February.
  • Refuse – Mondays 7 and 21 February.
  • Green Waste – Subscriptions for 2022/23 are now open and the cost is £41. Sign up at http://www.harrogate.gov.uk
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
Back to Plan A
Plan B has now ended and we are back to Plan A measures, which means fewer restrictions are in place. The requirement to wear a face covering is scrapped (though still advised in certain settings) and Covid passes are no longer needed to access large venues. Work from home guidance has already been dropped and masks are no longer required in schools.

Isolation
The main legal requirement that remains is for anyone with Covid to self-isolate. Earlier this month, the quarantine time was cut from 10 days to five full days – provided you produce a negative test result on the fifth and sixth days, and do not have a temperature. Tests must be at least 24 hours apart. If either test is positive, you must wait 24 hours before testing again. This measure is due to expire on 24 March, though it could be dropped earlier if things continue to improve.

Care Homes
From Monday 31 January, care home restrictions will ease. There will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed at care homes, self-isolation periods will be cut and care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days, not 28.

Travel
From 4am on Friday, 11 February fully vaccinated passengers entering England will no longer need to book Covid tests. The rules before then mean fully vaccinated travellers must pre-book a Covid test from a private supplier (lateral flow or PCR) and take it, at most two days after arriving in the country. Rules for non-vaccinated travellers remain the same – they must take a pre-departure test and two post-arrival PCR tests. They must also self-isolate for 10 days after arriving in England.
The week’s UK Covid statistics

  • 52.3 million first doses given. That’s 91% of the population aged 12+. .
  • 48.3 million have had the second dose. That’s over 84%.
  • 37.2 million have now had a booster or third jab. That’s nearly 65% of those eligible.
  • There have been more than 16.4 million confirmed cases of Covid.
  • There were 72,727 new Covid infections yesterday and 622,156 people tested positive in the last week. That’s a 4% decrease on the previous week.
  • 12,223 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 24 January.
  • There were 296 deaths reported yesterday and 1,827 in the last seven days. An decrease of 3.2% compared with the previous week.
  • The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 155,613.
  • 176,813 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
  • Worldwide, the global death toll is 5,670,952.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

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Sunday Email: Issue 93

Welcome to the 93rd issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707
Community meeting to discuss local celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Following on from the article in last week’s Sunday Email, a meeting has been called to discuss how our two villages might celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June. The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Sunday 6 February at The Angel. Everyone is welcome. It will be an opportunity for ideas to be aired and it’s hoped that a jubilee committee will be formed to take the lead on organising local events and activities over the jubilee weekend – Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June.

As Sunday 6 February is the actual day The Queen celebrates becoming the first British Monarch to serve 70 years, the meeting will be a great opportunity for those present to toast Her Majesty on her amazing achievement.
Asenby bus shelter book library
David and Heather Allon, who have organised the very successful library in the bus shelter at Asenby throughout the period of the Covid pandemic, are having to give up the task from the end of this month and are hoping that someone else might volunteer to keep it going. Anyone interested is asked to call David on 07934135049.

David has asked for a mention of Siobhan Gifford who has kindly looked after the library on a temporary basis in recent months.
Village shops update
Big changes are underway at our two village shops – the Post Office and Milk Churn Farm Shop. As previously reported the way the two shops operate has been reviewed following a survey of customers views.

Essentially, the Post Office is going to concentrate on postal services, newspapers, stationery, sweets and hot & cold food, whilst the farm shop will widen its range of foodstuffs to include everyday essentials alongside the specialist locally sourced produce and the café.
Debbie says:

  • We have seen lots of new faces in the farm shop, so a big thank you to new and old customers for taking the time to pop in to see what’s going on. All household products are now in the farm shop and once the new shelving is up, the tinned foods will follow.
  • Everyone will have noticed that building work is underway at the Post Office. The doorway on the right-hand side of the building has been moved to accommodate an interior entrance to the flat above. Once the Building Control inspector has visited to check the work undertaken so far, the new oak doors can be fitted. We will try to carry out this work so that we cause the least inconvenience to customers.
  • This week electrician Chris Moores will be doing a night shift in the Post Office to install new lighting and do a few extra jobs.
  • The dog tying hook has temporarily been moved whilst construction work is under way, but we will replace it as soon as possible. Many apologies to dog owners who are finding this a bit of an inconvenience.
  • We’ve started to repaint the interior walls in the Post Office and we have had some excellent feedback on the paint colour…and about our scrapbook murals. Rob is currently making new shelving for the chocolate bars and we’re waiting for new wall shelving to arrive. When complete we’ll be able to stock and display an even greater variety of sweets and chocolate.
  • Negotiations are looking extremely favourable for the Post Office to provide a new laundry service for the community. I am having to jump through hoops to persuade Johnson the Cleaners to introduce a collection service, but I’m determined to succeed. It looks like any contract will involve set targets, so it will be a “use it, or lose it” arrangement. After my protracted discussions to get a service, I hope everyone will make use of it. Further details to follow.
  • Thank you to all the sweet-toothed farm shop customers out there! The new line of locally baked cupcakes have been flying off the shelves. They’re absolutely delicious, so come and try them for yourself.
Next soup and sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch at the Village Hall will be held next Wednesday, 2 February at 12 noon. The cash raised will be donated to the Boot Shop in Easingwold which is a charity with an excellent track record in supporting young people and adults with a range of mental health needs and disabilities – which include learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury, sensory impairments and dementia.

The last lunch (on 19 January) raised £77 for the Community Works charity based in Thirsk.
Fish & chip van
Coming back very soon! The fish and chip van will be back at its regular spot in Topcliffe on Friday 28 January.
Salsa classes – the bad news and the good news
It’s bad news for those who attended the Salsa classes in the run up to Christmas and were looking forward to the sessions restarting at the Village Hall this month. Unfortunately the tutor, who lives in Leeds, has decided it’s too far to travel, especially bearing in mind the numbers attending. So, Joanne Brierley, who initiated the classes, has reluctantly concluded that the local class will have to be abandoned.

But there’s also some good news! Joanne has contacted the Butterflies School of Dance in Westgate, Thirsk and its proprietor, Roxanne Marie Brearley has organised an eight-week course of Salsa classes. They start on Monday 31 January, between 8 and 9pm and are only £6 per session. If you are interested please contact Roxanne on 07976 067984.
Open Day at new Crematorium
Regular readers of The Tattler newsletter may recall that in the December edition the Leader of Hambleton Council and Topcliffe’s ward councillor, Mark Robson, raised the idea of an open day at the district’s new crematorium. Well, Cllr Robson has now confirmed that this opportunity to see the XX million new facility will take place on Thursday 24 February. Visitors can call in between 11am and 3pm for a look around and to talk to staff about the building and how it will operate.

In order to minimise the number of cars, if anyone who is interested gives me their name, I’ll keep a list and see if transport can be pooled. Email doug or call 07785 223707.
‘Dear Mum’ scam on the rise
Few parents would be suspicious of a WhatsApp text message from their son or daughter saying they had broken their phone and were using a temporary number. However, maybe they should be because it’s unusual for anyone to get a temporary number.

The text message appeals to mum or dad to pay for a new mobile phone because the child can’t access their bank account. The seemingly innocent message is, in fact, the start of a cynical scam that can leave them hundreds of pounds out of pocket. Known as the ‘mum and dad’ or ‘friend in need’ con, fraudsters impersonate their victims’ loved ones. They claim to be in distress and in urgent need of help and cash in the hope worried relatives will hand over money without thinking twice.

In 65 per cent of cases, the scammers disguised themselves as the victim’s son, and in 33 per cent, as their daughter. On occasion, the scammers pose as parents or friends. In the last three months of 2021 Santander reported a 532 per cent surge in the new scam and other banks are also reporting large increases.

To bring home the prevalence and cleverness of the scam, two incidents were reported locally in the last week. The targets of those attacks said that they are generally scam savvy but these WhatsApp messages are extremely convincing and the immediate desire to help a loved one clouded their judgement. One mum lost over £1,000 to the scammers paying for the new phone…but fortunately the bank refunded the cash. To report fraud or attempted scams, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
HMRC tax scams
Sorry to go on about fraud and scams, but with 31 January being the self assessment deadline, there’s usually an increase in criminals pretending to be from HMRC around this time. Never make a payment to anyone who contacts you out of the blue, even if you’re threatened with police or court action. Always check what you owe directly with HMRC on the gov.uk website.

2022 Big Garden Birdwatch

Final reminder that this year’s RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, takes place between Friday 28 and Sunday 30 January. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour on one of the mentioned dates. https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/birdwatch-take-part/
Rural Arts to start monthly classes at our Village Hall
Rural Arts starts its new series of monthly classes at Topcliffe and Asenby Village Hall on Tuesday, 22 February. The subject at the first class will be painting and brusho. The two hour class starts at 10am..Just turn up on the day (it’s free to attend) or if you want more information call Judith Lowe on 577911.

On 22 March the class will look at ceramics and subjects for 19 April, 17 May, 21 June and 19 July will be announced in due course.
Services at St Columba’s

  • TODAY – 23 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev’d Canon Steven Harvey.
  • Sunday, 30 January – No Service.
  • Sunday, 6 February at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong accompanied by organist Matthew Atherton. While everyone will no doubt be looking forward to celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the special four day bank holiday weekend 2 to 5 June, Sunday 6 February marks the actual 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne and we would warmly welcome anyone who would like to join us at Choral Evensong on this most significant day.
  • Sunday, 13 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
  • Sunday, 20 February at 10.45am – Choral Matins.
  • Sunday, 27 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
Catton Kitchen winter opening hours

  • January – Friday and Sundays 10am to12 noon.
  • February – Closed – as the team are very busy getting everything seeded and prepped for spring!
  • March – Thursday 3 and Friday 4, 9am to 2pm; Saturday 5, 10am to 2pm; Sunday 6,10am to 2pm.

Opening times will be reviewed again in the spring.
Parish Council meetings

Village Hall Committee meeting

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
  • Until Thursday 27 January – The Matrix Resurrections – return to the world of two realities; one, everyday life and the other, what lies behind it!

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Events on at The Forum

  • Thursday 27 January at 7pm – Leopoldstadt – this new award winning play by Tom Stoppard is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. (Live-streamed from the National Theatre).

Friday 28 to Sunday 30 January – (Friday matinee at 2.30pm; Saturday/Sunday at 7.30pm) Film: The Electrical Life of Louis Wain – the extraordinary true story the eccentric British artist portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch.

  • Friday 28 January at 7.30pm – Megaslam Wrestling: Live and Loaded 2022 Tour
  • Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 February at 7.30pm (matinee Saturday at 2pm) – Legally Blonde – Crash Bang Wallop are back performing to a live audience in 2022. Since you last saw them, they have been awarded ‘Best Youth Show in the North East’, by NODA.
  • Sunday 6 February at 7.30pm – Sunday Jazz – the fabulous sounds of the Big Band Era performed, in an open session, by Alan Owens and The Forum Big Band.
  • Monday 14 February at 7.15pm – Romeo and Juliet – the classic ballet live-streamed from the Royal Opera House. A Valentine’s Day treat.
  • Thursday 17 February at 7pm – The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage – live-streamed from the National Theatre.
  • Saturday 19 February at 7.30pm – Phoney Fools and Horses – the stage show.
  • Wednesday 23 February at 8pm – Ahir Shah – Dress – featuring his signature blend of philosophical inquiry, personal examination and sweet gags.
  • Friday 25 February at 6pm – Pop Divas Live – the UK’s number 1 Pop Tribute.

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Under the recently introduced Plan B rules, face masks must be worn by users of the Village Hall, except when eating, drinking or exercising.

1. Weekly Activities
Monday
Art classes – 10am to 12 noon.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm.
Tuesday
Rural Arts – monthly ‘Heart and Craft’ classes starting 22 February.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm.
Wednesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm (alternate Wednesdays).
Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm.
Thursday
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Friday
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm.
Scouts – 7 to 9pm.

2. Regular meetings and other events

  • Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm – Tuesday 25 January.
  • Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7pm on Thursday, 3 February.
  • Asenby Parish Council meeting, 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 March.

The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled once the Covid pandemic is over.
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Recycling – Thursday 27January and 10 February.
  • Refuse – Monday 31 January and 14 February.
  • Garden waste – Garden waste collections will resume mid-February for those who have subscribed to the current year’s service which runs until March 2022.
  • Subscriptions for 2022/23 are now open. The cost is £40. New and existing customers can now sign up at http://hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609 779977.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Refuse – Monday 24 January and 7 February.
  • Recycling – Mondays 31 January and 14 February.
  • Green Waste – Subscriptions for 2022 are now open and the cost is £41. Sign up at http://www.harrogate.gov.uk
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
How the Covid rules are changing
England’s Covid-19 Plan B restrictions have started to ease. Here are the key changes and dates::

  • 19 January – guidance to work from home was dropped.
  • 20 January – staff and pupils no longer required to wear masks in classrooms. The wearing of masks in communal areas will not be required after 27 January.
  • 27 January – mask-wearing for the public at large generally no longer required.
  • 27 January – the showing a Covid pass to enter large venues like nightclubs will no longer be required.
  • Date to be confirmed – when restricted visits to care homes will end.

Although it has been announced that face coverings will no longer be mandatory in any setting, people are encouraged to continue wearing them in enclosed spaces or when coming into contact with people they do not usually meet.

The main legal requirement still in place will be self-isolation following a positive Covid test. The period is now five days – provided you produce a negative test result on the fifth and sixth day and do not have a temperature. Tests must be at least 24 hours apart. If either test is positive, wait 24 hours before testing again. This measure is due to expire on March 24, although there have been suggestions it may expire sooner if the Covid situation continues to improve.
The week’s UK Covid statistics

  • 52.2 million first doses given. 48.1 million second doses. 90.8% of the population aged 12+ has now had the first jab and over 83.7% the second.
  • 36.8 million have now had a booster or third jab. That’s 64% of those eligible.
  • There have been more than 15.7 million confirmed cases of Covid.
  • There were 76,807 new Covid infections yesterday and 641,929 people tested positive in the last week. That’s a 22% decrease on the previous week.
  • 14,213 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 17 January.
  • There were 297 deaths reported yesterday and 1,888 in the last seven days. An increase of 2.4% compared with the previous week.
  • The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 153,787.
  • 175,256 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
  • Worldwide, the global death toll is 5,605, 039.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

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Sunday Email: Issue 92

Welcome to the 92nd issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707
Celebrating HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
On 6 February this year, the Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee, (our Monarch for 70 years).

To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and activities will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. It’s anticipated that the bank holiday will provide an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate the historic milestone.

Those of you who are members of the Top Residents Facebook page will have seen reference this week to how Topcliffe (and Asenby) might join in the celebrations. There’s plenty of ideas and lots of enthusiasm.

The consensus appears to be that a ‘Jubilee Committee’ should be formed to consider how best to organise and coordinate activities. And maybe one of the first decisions needs to be whether the two villages act together or plan their separate contributions to the celebrations. Another is how the Parish Council(s), Village Hall Committee and other local organisations will get involved?

The Sunday Email is here to help promote and publicise whatever plans are developed.
Next soup and sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch at the Village Hall will be held next Wednesday, 19 January at 12 noon. The cash raised will be donated to Community Works, a charity based in Thirsk but which does lots of excellent work in local villages too.
Fish & chip van
Don’t forget that the fish and chip van will not be visiting Topcliffe until Friday 28 January.
Salsa classes on hold
The fortnightly Salsa sessions which Joanne Brierley has been organising at the Village Hall on Saturday evenings are now on hold whilst she seeks an alternative tutor prepared to take the class. The former tutor travelled from Leeds and decided there was insufficient participants to make his journey worthwhile. Now Joanne is in talks with a dance teacher who lives more locally and she hopes that classes can restart in February or March. It would be helpful if anyone interested in joining the class could contact Joanne on 07732 941758 to register their interest.
Phone Calls from Bogus Police Officers
This issue has been raised in the Sunday Email in the past but it’s clear that the problem continues to be high on the agenda for North Yorkshire Police’s financial abuse unit. So, no apology is made for repeating this warning, which hopefully will save at least one person from falling in to the scam trap. This is the latest message from the police:

North Yorkshire Police have received a large number of reports from local residents who have been called by a male claiming to be a police officer. This ‘police officer’ goes on to claim they have arrested a person related to the victim who has attempted to buy a television or other high value item using the victim’s bank card.

The scammer will often give the victim a bogus reference number. The victim is instructed to attend their bank to withdraw money which will then be collected for safekeeping in order to protect them. The victim is further told that they must lie to the bank if they are challenged and say the money is to purchase a car or for building work or some other plausible excuse. This is of course false.

Remember, the police or your bank will never contact you and ask you to move or transfer money. If you receive a call of this nature, hang up immediately, do not engage with the caller. make sure the telephone line is clear (i.e. the scammer is no longer on the line) and call 101.

2022 Big Garden Birdwatch

Just a quick reminder that this year’s RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, takes place between Friday 28 and Sunday 30 January. It’s open to everyone whether they are complete beginners or a birding experts. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour on one of the mentioned dates. Last year over a million people took part, making it one of the biggest bird watching events in the world. You can register to join in the bird count here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/birdwatch-take-part/
Rural Arts to start monthly classes at our Village Hall
Rural Arts has announced a new programme of monthly classes that it intends to put on at Topcliffe and Asenby Village Hall. The first class, on Tuesday 22 February between 10am and 12 noon, will be painting and brusho. On 22 March the class will look at ceramics and subjects for 19 April, 17 May, 21 June and 19 July will be announced in due course.
Services at St Columba’s

  • TODAY! 16 January at 10.45am – Choral Matins
  • 23 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • 30 January – No Service
Catton Kitchen winter opening hours

  • January – Friday and Sundays 10am to12 noon.
  • February – Closed – as the team are very busy getting everything seeded and prepped for spring!
  • March – Thursday 3 and Friday 4, 9am to 2pm; Saturday 5, 10am to 2pm; Sunday 6,10am to 2pm.

Opening times will be reviewed again in the spring.
Parish Council meetings

  • Asenby Parish Council’s scheduled meeting on Wednesday, 19 January has been CANCELLED. The next meeting will be in March. http://www.asenby.net
  • Topcliffe Parish Council will meet at 7pm on Thursday 3 February 2022- http:// www.topcliffe.org

Village Hall Committee meeting

  • The next meeting will be at 7.15am on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
  • Until Thursday 20 January – Spider-Man: No Way Home – with Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
  • Friday 21 to Thursday 27 January – The Matrix Resurrections – return to the world of two realities; one, everyday life and the other, what lies behind it!

Important Notes:
1. Under the latest government instructions patrons over the age of 11 are asked to wear a face mask at all times, i.e. when standing and seated. Patrons are thanked for their co-operation.

2. Normal adult/concession ticket pricing will be in operation on Monday nights. The upstairs seating will be closed; Downstairs seating only.

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Events on at The Forum

  • To Saturday 22 January (various performance times) – The Northallerton Variety Company present the pantomime Cinderella – undoubtedly the best known and most popular panto of them all.
  • Wednesday 19 January at 7pm- Tosca – (live-streamed from The Royal Opera House) – into the romantic world of an idealistic painter Cavaradossi and his sensuous lover Tosca comes the malevolence of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police, with fatal results.
  • Thursday 27 January at 7pm – Leopoldstadt – this new award winning play by Tom Stoppard is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. (Live-streamed from the National Theatre).
  • Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 February at 7.30pm (matinee Saturday at 2pm) – Legally Blonde – Crash Bang Wallop are back performing to a live audience in 2022. Since you last saw them, they have been awarded ‘Best Youth Show in the North East’, by NODA.

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Under the recently introduced Plan B rules, face masks must be worn by users of the Village Hall, except when eating, drinking or exercising.

1. Weekly Activities
Monday
Art classes – 10am to 12 noon.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm.
Tuesday
Rural Arts – monthly ‘Heart and Craft’ classes starting 22 February.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm.
Wednesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm (alternate Wednesdays).
Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm.
Thursday
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Friday
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm.
Scouts – 7.30 to 10pm.
Saturday
Salsa and Bachata dancing (the fortnightly classes are on hold pending the outcome of a search for an alternative tutor).

2. Regular meetings and other events

  • Asenby Parish Council meeting – Wednesday, 19 January – CANCELLED
  • Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm – Tuesday 25 January.
  • Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7pm on Thursday, 3 February.

The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled in the spring.
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Refuse – Mondays 17 and 31 January.
  • Recycling – Thursday 27January.
  • Garden waste – Garden waste collections will resume mid-February for those who have subscribed to the current year’s service which runs until March 2022.
  • Subscriptions for 2022/23 are now open. The cost is £40. New and existing customers can now sign up at http://hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609 779977.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Recycling – Mondays 17 and 31 January.
  • Refuse – Monday 24 January.
  • Green Waste – Subscriptions for 2022 are now open and the cost is £41. Sign up at http://www.harrogate.gov.uk
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
Covid numbers drop
The number of reported daily Covid cases has dropped below 100,000 for the first time in almost a month. On Friday the Department of Health reported 99,652 positive tests in a 24 hour period. The last time daily reported cases dipped below 100,000 was on December 21. Friday’s figures represent an almost 30% drop in positive cases in the past seven days.
Isolation days cut
From tomorrow, people with Covid can stop isolating after five full days as long as they test negative on days five and six. The first test can be taken on day five and, if the test is negative, another can be taken 24 later. allowing release from isolation if again negative.

It’s still the case that anyone who develops Covid symptoms or tests positive for the virus must self-isolate immediately.
France is open again
Last Friday, France reopened its borders to British holidaymakers after restricting entry to the country last month due to the rise of the Omicron variant. Travellers who are fully vaccinated are now allowed to enter France if they have evidence of a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of departure.
The week’s Covid statistics

  • 52.1 million first doses given. 47.6 million second doses. 90.5% of the population aged 12+ has now had the first jab and over 83.2% the second.
  • 36.3 million have now had a booster or third jab. That’s 63.1% of those eligible.
  • There have been more than 15.4 million confirmed cases of Covid in the UK.
  • There were 81,713 new Covid infections yesterday and 824,602 million people tested positive in the last week. That’s a 32% decrease on the previous week.
  • 15,698 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 10 January.
  • There were 287 deaths reported yesterday and 1,843 in the last seven days. An increase of 45% compared with the previous week.
  • The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 151,899.
  • 174,233 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
  • Worldwide, the global death toll is 5,549,574.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on by

Sunday Email: Issue 91

Welcome to the 91st issue of the Sunday Email.

Doug
07785 223707
Survey leads to changes for Topcliffe shops
Late last year, a survey was undertaken by Debbie Roberts and Hannah Alderson to find out what changes customers using the Post Office and Milk Churn Farm Shop would like to see now that the two shops are under the same ownership. The feedback was extremely positive and helpful and now a range of changes are about to be put in place.

Debbie said: "The survey was developed with some professional guidance from Charlotte Burdett who recently moved to the village and lives at The Mount in Church Street. Her expertise has been invaluable and I would like to thank her for all the help she has given. I would also like to thank all of the customers who took the time to fill out our survey and let us know what they think of existing services and what they would like to see in the future.

"Whilst we do not want to compromise on the quality of the select range of locally produced produce we supply from the farm shop, which we believe are competitively priced in comparison with other farm shops in the vicinity, we recognise that customers would like to be able to buy a range of essentials at cheaper prices. So, one major change will happen with immediate effect. This coming week all the grocery and household products currently on sale at the Post Office will be moved over to the Milk Churn Farm Shop. So the higher priced specialist products will now be available alongside cheaper products – giving the best of both worlds!

"We have significant plans for the broadening of services on offer from the Post Office, including the supply of foreign currency (if Post Offices Services will give us approval), and we are investigating whether a laundry service can be introduced. We also have well-developed plans to supply hot and cold takeaway food, plus a wider range of sweets, crisps, chocolate and drinks…giving customers much greater choice.

"I hope that customers will agree that we have listened to their comments and taken action to try and meet the needs of the community. The ideas outlined above are just the start: we will continue to introduce new services and respond to customer suggestions."
What a mess! Which dog owners are responsible?
Dog mess is perhaps the most unacceptable and offensive type of litter on our streets. And dog fouling is an issue that many members of the public are very concerned about. So it is with regret that once again dog fouling has become a talking point in both Topcliffe and Asenby this past week or two. This scourge of our times is rife again and is raising anger levels among many villagers.

The Top Residents Facebook site has seen many residents angrily complaining that there’s dog poo everywhere – Front Street, Long Street, Winn Lane, various alleyways, country paths between Queen Mary’s and Asenby – and that some dog owners appear not to understand their responsibilities to pick up after their pet.

While most dog owners are caring, responsible individuals, there are still some people who do not clean up after their pets. The law states that being unaware a dog has fouled or not having a suitable bag is not a reasonable excuse. As we don’t have a dog warden or police patrols, the threat of a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £100 is probably no deterrent in Topcliffe and Asenby. But maybe, as a community, we should be investigating ways of deterring offenders and promoting greater responsibility among dog owners?
Brrrr.. did you feel the cold?
Because of the existence of a weather station attached to Topcliffe airfield, Topcliffe is often mentioned in national weather reports. On Thursday morning the BBC’s Today programme mentioned that overnight (4am) Topcliffe had recorded a temperature of -8 degrees, making it the UK’s coldest place that night.
Next soup and sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch at the Village Hall will be on Wednesday 19 January at 12 noon. The cash raised will be donated to Community Works, a charity based in Thirsk but which does lots of excellent work in local villages too.

The last lunch on 5 January raised £103 which was presented to the Boccia Club to help it pay its weekly rent for classes at the Village Hall.
Fish & chip van
Don’t forget that the fish and chip van will not be visiting Topcliffe until Friday 28 January.
Save the Salsa
A few more participants are needed to secure the future of the Salsa and Bachata classes that Joanne Brierley launched in the Village Hall a month or two ago. Some classes were reasonably well attended but the numbers need to increase to make it worthwhile for the tutor to travel to Topcliffe from his home in Leeds. The classes are scheduled to begin again on 22 or 29 January but before then an idea of the number of people interested is needed. If you would like to learn these wonderful dances, get in touch with Joanne on 07732 941758.
How much are you prepared to pay?
Residents across North Yorkshire are being urged to tell Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe how much they are willing to pay for policing and fire and rescue services. One of Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe’s roles, required by law, is to set the police and fire precepts – the amounts dedicated to policing and fire and rescue services in North Yorkshire from every household. This is your chance to have a say before the amounts are decided in February. The online survey runs until Thursday 13 January at http://www.tellCommissionerZoe.co.uk

2022 Big Garden Birdwatch

This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which is taking place between Friday 28 and Sunday 30 January, is open to everyone whether they are complete beginners or a birding experts. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour on one of the mentioned dates. Last year over a million people took part, making it one of the biggest bird watching events in the world. You can register to join in the bird count here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/birdwatch-take-part/
Rural Arts to start monthly classes at our Village Hall
Rural Arts has announced a new programme of monthly classes for over-70s that it intends to put on at Topcliffe and Asenby Village Hall. The first class, on Tuesday 22 February between 10am and 12 noon, will be painting and brusho. The subject matter on 22 March will be ceramics and subjects for 19 April, 17 May, 21 June and 19 July will be announced at a later date.
Thirsk Community Library
Thirsk Community Library has received funding to help isolated and/or elderly people from villages around Thirsk access its services. This can include using the Thirsk community minibus to collect people from their homes and to transport them to the library, so that they can become a member, borrow books, (including large print and audiobooks), DVDs and jigsaws or just visit for a cuppa and chat. The Library is looking to organise the first trip fairly soon so if you or someone you know would be interested in this service please contact Helen Ashworth, Activities Coordinator, at the Library on 07826 335255 or email: helen
Sporting Memories Foundation
Thirsk Community Library is starting a Sporting Memories Foundation club and is looking for volunteers who would be willing to help run the weekly club. All training and materials will be provided by the Sporting Memories Foundation so all you need is a love of sport.

The club will particularly aim to help older adults who are isolated, living with depression or dementia or other long-term conditions, but who have a common love of sport. The Foundation uses sporting memories and physical activity to help its members, who might be sports fans, former players or members from a sporting family. At the moment the nearest clubs are Northallerton and York, so it will be great to have a club serving Thirsk and surrounding villages.

If sport is one of your loves and you think you could help support the club, please get in touch with Helen Ashworth on 07826 335255 or email:helen
Services at St Columba’s

  • TODAY! 9 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • 16 January at 10.45am – Choral Matins
  • 23 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • 30 January – No Service
Catton Kitchen winter opening hours

  • January – Friday and Sundays 10am to12 noon.
  • February – Closed – as the team are very busy getting everything seeded and prepped for spring!
  • March – Thursday 3 and Friday 4, 9am to 2pm; Saturday 5, 10am to 2pm; Sunday 6,10am to 2pm.

Opening times will be reviewed again in the spring.
Parish Council meetings

Village Hall Committee meeting

  • The next meeting will be at 7.15am on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
  • Until Thursday 13 January (with matinee Wednesday 12 January) – West Side Story – an adaptation of the 1957 musical, which explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
  • Friday 14 to Thursday 20 January – Spider-Man: No Way Home – with Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
  • Friday 21 to Thursday 27 January – The Matrix Resurrections – return to the world of two realities; one, everyday life and the other, what lies behind it!

Important Notes:
1. Under the latest government instructions patrons over the age of 11 are asked to wear a face mask at all times, i.e. when both standing and seated. Patrons are thanked for their co-operation.

2. Normal adult/concession ticket pricing will be in operation on Monday nights. The upstairs seating will be closed; Downstairs seating only.

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Events on at The Forum

  • To Saturday 22 January (various performance times) – The Northallerton Variety Company present the pantomime Cinderella – undoubtedly the best known and most popular panto of them all.
  • Wednesday 19 January at 7pm- Tosca – (live-streamed from The Royal Opera House) – into the romantic world of an idealistic painter Cavaradossi and his sensuous lover Tosca comes the malevolence of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police, with fatal results.
  • Thursday 27 January at 7pm – Leopoldstadt – this new award winning play by Tom Stoppard is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. (Live-streamed from the National Theatre).
  • Wednesday 9 to Saturday 12 February at 7.30pm (matinee Saturday at 2pm) – Legally Blonde – Crash Bang Wallop are back performing to a live audience in 2022. Since you last saw them, they have been awarded ‘Best Youth Show in the North East’, by NODA.

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Under the recently introduced Plan B rules, face masks must be worn by users of the Village Hall, except when eating, drinking or exercising.

1. Weekly Activities
Monday
Art classes – 10am to 12 noon.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm.
Tuesday
Rural Arts – monthly ‘Heart and Craft’ classes starting 22 February.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm.
Wednesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm (alternate Wednesdays).
Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm.
Thursday
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Friday
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm.
Scouts – 7.30 to 10pm.
Saturday
Salsa and Bachata dancing 6 – to 8pm (currently fortnightly).

2. Regular meetings and other events

  • Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19 January.
  • Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm – Tuesday 25 January.
  • Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7pm on Thursday, 3 February.

The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled in the spring.
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Recycling – Thursday 13 and 27January.
  • Refuse – Mondays 17 and 31 January.
  • Green waste – There’ll be a special one off green bin collection on 13 January to take Christmas trees from residents who subscribe to the green waste collection service. Trees must be cut and fully contained within the bin: trees left whole by the kerbside will not be collected. Normal garden waste is accepted during this collection.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Refuse – Tuesday 11 January (Changed for operational reasons) and Monday 24 January.
  • Recycling – Mondays 17 and 31 January.
  • Green Waste – Subscriptions for 2022 open this month. Watch out for an announcement soon!
Hambleton Green Waste 2022/23
Subscriptions for Hambleton District Council’s garden waste collections for 2022/23 are now open. The cost has been held at £40 for the third year running. New and existing customers can now sign up at http://hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609 779977.

Garden waste collections will resume mid-February for those who have subscribed to the current year’s service which runs until March 2022.
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
Vaccination Centre – change of operator
Local GP surgeries are no longer running the vaccination centre in Northallerton. Homecare Pharmacy has taken over the site and offers Covid vaccines on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 8am to 6pm. This will include some specific clinics for children aged 12-15.

Homecare is happy for patients to attend without an appointment whenever the centre is open. An appointment can also be booked via the national booking system https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or by ringing 119.

Please note that Topcliffe Surgery does not have access to the national booking system so cannot book an appointment for you.

Flu jabs are not on offer at the Northallerton vaccine centre, so if you still need a flu vaccine please contact the Surgery direct.
Omicron hits one in 15 people
Figures from the Office for National Statistics estimates that more than one in 15 people would have tested positive for Covid in the last week of December. That equates to 3.7 million people infected, with rises in all regions of England except London. In the capital, one in 10 is estimated to be infected but there are signs infections are slowing. Infections are rising fastest in northern England – at least doubling in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and The Humber.
Booster is doing its job!
Figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that the vaccine booster is 90% effective against admission to hospital from the Omicron variant for the over-65s after three months. But protection for those with just two doses dropped to about 70% after three months and to 50% after six months.

Taking this data into account, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised the government that for the time being a second booster (or fourth jab) is not necessary, though the situation will be kept under review. It added that priority should continue to be given to rolling out the first booster dose, and that unvaccinated people should come forward for their first two doses as soon as possible.
The week’s Covid statistics

  • 51.9 million first doses given. 47.6 million second doses. 90.3% of the population aged 12+ has now had the first jab and over 82.8% the second.
  • 35.2 million have now had a booster or third jab. That’s 61.3% of those eligible.
  • There have been more than 14.3 million confirmed cases of Covid in the UK.
  • There were 146,390 new Covid infections yesterday and 1.2 million people tested positive in the last week. That’s a 10% increase on the previous week.
  • 15,812 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 3 January.
  • There were 313 deaths reported yesterday and 1,271 in the last seven days. An increase of 38% compared with the previous week.
  • The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 150,057..
  • 173,248 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
  • Worldwide, the global death toll is 5,499,416.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.

Posted on by

Sunday Email: Issue 90

Welcome to the 90th issue of the Sunday Email – the first of 2022.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I sincerely wish you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Doug
07785 223707
Next soup and sweet lunch
The fortnightly soup and sweet lunches at the Village hall start again on Wednesday 5 January at 12 noon. An announcement about which charity or organisation will benefit from the funds raised will be made on the day.

The last lunch of 2021 (22 December) raised £65 for Cancer Research.
Fish & chip van
The fish and chip van will not be visiting Topcliffe until Friday 28 January.
Volunteers needed for vaccination hubs
The NHS is calling for volunteers to help with a number of roles supporting the vaccination programme across North Yorkshire. The roles to be covered at the vaccination hubs include vaccinators, marshalling of cars and helping with administration (data entry skills would be useful). People interested in helping can apply via this website:https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer
Catton Kitchen winter opening hours

  • January – Friday and Sundays 10am to12 noon.
  • February – Closed – as the team are very busy getting everything seeded and prepped for spring!
  • March – Thursday 3 and Friday 4, 9am to 2pm; Saturday 5, 10am to 2pm; Sunday 6,10am to 2pm.

Opening times will be reviewed again in the spring.
Services at St Columba’s

  • TONIGHT! 2 January at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Epiphany
  • 9 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • 16 January at 10.45am – Choral Matins
  • 23 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • 30 January – No Service

Message from John Phillips
"Could I just say how wonderful it has been for us to be able to put on a full programme of Christmas services this year. This could not have happened without a lot of help from a lot of people, both seen and unseen. Those who helped to get the church cleaned, lit and beautifully decorated. Those who organised and prepared for services, rehearsed the choir, played the organ, and provided drinks and refreshments. A special thank you to the brass quartet that added a very special extra touch to carols around the village Christmas tree: John, Sarah and Martha Barber, plus John Hewlett. Thank you all for your generosity of time and hard work, and to everyone who was able to join in our celebrations. As for the coming year, may I wish you all a very happy, blessed and healthy 2022."
Cross Talk
The latest edition of the local churches monthly online newsletter, Cross Talk, is out. You can read it on several church websites –http:// www.achurchnearyou.com/church/3447 and http://baldersbychurch.com

You can also have the newsletter emailed direct to your inbox. Just send a request to:kitnorris
Parish Council meetings

Village Hall Committee meeting

  • The next meeting will be at 7.15am on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Both parish councils and the Village Hall Committee meet at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
Why it’s important to action software updates
Owners of electronic devices regularly receive software updates from the companies that made the equipment, but how many of us activate these updates straight away? The fact is that software updates are an important part of staying secure online. As well as containing new features or performance improvements, they often include bug fixes and security improvements.

Out-of-date software and apps contain weaknesses, making them easier to hack. Companies fix the weaknesses by releasing updates so when you update your devices and software, this helps to keep hackers out.

Devices contain a lot of personal data that is highly valuable to fraudsters. The likelihood is your device will contain your full name, date of birth, address, bank details, passwords, as well as many other forms of personal data such as private photos or videos.

It can sometimes be annoying to remember to update devices every time a new update is released and that’s why it’s sensible to enable automatic updates, if they are available. That means you don’t have to manually install updates every time they’re released.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: http://www.cyberaware.gov.uk
  • To Thursday 6 January – Ghostbusters: Afterlife – when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
  • Friday 7 to Thursday 13 January (with matinee Wednesday 12 January) – West Side Story – an adaptation of the 1957 musical, which explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
  • Friday 14 to Thursday 20 January – Spider-Man: No Way Home – with Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
  • Friday 21 to Thursday 27 January – The Matrix Resurrections – return to the world of two realities; one, everyday life and the other, what lies behind it!

Important Notes:
1. Under the latest government instructions patrons over the age of 11 are asked to wear a face mask at all times, i.e. when both standing and seated. Patrons are thanked for their co-operation.

2. Normal adult/concession ticket pricing will be in operation on Monday nights. The upstairs seating will be closed; Downstairs seating only.

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Events on at The Forum

  • To Saturday 22 January (various performance times) – The Northallerton Variety Company present the pantomime Cinderella – undoubtedly the best known and most popular panto of them all.
  • Wednesday 19 January at 7pm- Tosca – (live-streamed from The Royal Opera House) – into the romantic world of an idealistic painter Cavaradossi and his sensuous lover Tosca comes the malevolence of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police, with fatal results.
  • Thursday 27 January at 7pm – Leopoldstadt – this new award winning play by Tom Stoppard is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance. (Live-streamed from the National Theatre).

Enquiries 01609 776230. Tickets online at http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Under the recently introduced Plan B rules, face masks must be worn by users of the village hall, except when eating, drinking or undertaking exercise.

1. Weekly Activities
Monday
Art classes – 10am to 12 noon.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm.
Tuesday
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Library – 1.30 to 3.30pm.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm.
Wednesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm (alternate Wednesdays).
Cubs – 6.45 to 7.45pm.
Thursday
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm.
Friday
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm.
Scouts – 7.30 to 10pm.
Saturday
Salsa and Bachata dancing 6 – to 8pm (currently fortnightly).

2. Regular meetings and other events

  • Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19 January.
  • Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm – Tuesday 25 January.
  • Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7pm on Thursday, 3 February.

The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled in the spring.
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Refuse – Monday 3 and 17 January.
  • Recycling – Thursday 13 and 27January.
  • Green waste – There’ll be a special one off green bin collection on 13 January to take Christmas trees. Trees must be cut and fully contained within the bin. Normal garden waste is accepted during this collection.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Recycling – Wednesday 5 January (changed due to a Bank Holiday) and Mondays 17 and 31 January.
  • Refuse – Tuesday 11 January (Changed for operational reasons) and Monday 24 January.
  • Green Waste – Subscriptions for 2022 will open in January. Watch out for an announcement soon!
Hambleton Green Waste 2022/23
Subscriptions for Hambleton District Council’s garden waste collections for 2022/23 are now open for residents. The cost has been held at £40 for the third year running. New and existing customers can now sign up at http://hambleton.gov.uk or call 01609 779977.

Garden waste collections will resume mid-February for those who have subscribed to the current year’s service which runs until March 2022.
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
The week’s Covid statistics

  • 51.8 million first doses given. 47.4 million second doses. 90% of the population aged 12+ has now had the first jab and over 82.4% the second.
  • 33.9 million have now had a booster or third jab. That’s over 59% of those eligible.
  • There have been more than 12.5 million confirmed cases of Covid in the UK.
  • There were 162,572 new Covid infections yesterday and 1.1 million people tested positive in the last week. That’s a 48% increase on the previous week.
  • 9,937 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 27 December.
  • Up to 90% of Covid patients in intensive care have not had a booster jab
  • There were 154 deaths reported yesterday and 911 in the last seven days. An increase of 216 compared with the previous week.
  • The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 148,778..
  • 172,657 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
  • England has seen the majority of UK deaths since the pandemic began, with the total approaching 130,000.
  • Worldwide, the global death toll is 5,455,981.
Mask wearing in schools
Face masks are to be worn in secondary classrooms in England’s schools to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant, the government has announced. The temporary reintroduction of face coverings aims to address concerns about schools remaining open for face-to-face learning this coming term. Until now, England was the only one of the four UK nations where face masks were not recommended for pupils in classrooms. Teachers will not have to wear them under the new guidelines. The policy will be reviewed on 26 January.
Get tested…but there are few test kits available!
In the weeks after the government urged everyone to regularly test for Covid, particularly if they were planning to gather together to celebrate, it has been difficult to get access to testing appointments and home testing kits.

During much of last week there were no walk-in or drive-through PCR Covid test appointments available across all of England and home lateral flow tests and PCR tests were also unavailable online for the general public and essential workers. Pharmacies also voiced concerns over demand outstripping supply with chemists running out of lateral flow tests to handover at the counter.

Not surprisingly, the government is under massive pressure to rapidly up the capacity of Covid testing.
Omicron forces new look at Nightingales
The rate of infection from the Omicron variant of Covid has broken all records during the last week and daily totals continue to top recent highs. The situation is impacting hospitals to such an extent that the NHS is now setting up eight new Nightingale "surge hubs", each with a capacity of 100 patients, at hospitals across England. Further sites could be identified to add a further 4,000 "super surge" beds at a later date. Hospitals are already being forced to use hotels, hospices and care homes to safely discharge as many people who are medically fit to leave as possible – freeing up beds for those who need them most.
Self-isolation rules – a reminder of what is required
People with Covid in England can now stop self-isolating up to three days early – if they test negative twice. You must self-isolate as soon as your symptoms start, or when a positive test is taken if you do not have symptoms. You are now only required to self-isolate on the following seven days, instead of 10.

Two negative lateral flow tests are needed to end self-isolating – the first no earlier than day six of isolation and a second 24 hours later. If both tests are negative – and you do not have a high temperature – you can stop self-isolating immediately (on day seven). If the first tests are positive, further tests can be taken on other days.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.