Sunday Email – Page 52 – Topcliffe and Asenby Sunday Email

Posted on 10 October 20212 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 79

Welcome to the 79th issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707

The week’s Covid statistics

The R number for England as a whole has has returned to to 0.9 to 1.1. This means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 9 and 11 other people.
49.1 million first doses given. 45.1 million second doses. 85.4% of the population aged 12+ has now had the first jab and over 78.5% the second.(note this is now based on +12s)
There were 34,950 new infections yesterday and 256,652 people tested positive for Covid in the last week. That’s a 5% increase on the previous week.
5,153 people were admitted to hospital with Covid between 30 September and 5 October.
There were 133 deaths reported yesterday and 790 in the last seven days.
The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 137,697
160,824 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
Worldwide, the global death toll is 4,859,207.

North Yorkshire Covid Situation

Since the start of the pandemic there’s been 62,624 positive cases of Covid in North Yorkshire. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 327 cases per day. The seven-day rate for the county was 434 cases per 100,000 people, still slightly higher than the England seven-day rate of 331.

Information for Topcliffe Surgery patients
Topcliffe Surgery and other Hambleton GP practices are working together to give Covid boosters and flu vaccines at Northallerton High School. Flu vaccines will not be available via the surgery this winter.

Some patients may have already received texts or emails inviting them to book their Covid booster vaccine via the NHS vaccine national booking service. Appointments booked in this way are likely to be at vaccination centres which are further afield, such as Knaresborough, Darlington or York. But only the booster jab will be available at these appointments – not the flu vaccination.

If you wish, you can ignore the NHS invitation and await an invitation via the surgery, so that you can have both jabs together. You will be contacted when it’s your turn, starting with over 75s. Please let the surgery know if you are over 75 and have already received your Covid booster jab through the national booking service but still require a flu jab.

Cases on the rise again
On Thursday last week, for the first time in over a month, the number of daily Covid cases rose above 40,000 in a 24-hour period. The previous time that more than 40,000 cases were reported in a day was on 6 September. The total number of cases confirmed since the start of the outbreak in the UK now stands at 8,046,390.

The UK now has one of the highest rates of Covid infection in Europe. Most of the big nations have significantly lower numbers, with only Serbia and Romania being higher.

Should you get the vaccine if you’ve had Covid?
Scientists analysing data collected via the ZOE app have found anyone who has had Covid before receiving two vaccines is likely to have much greater protection. The research found that a previous infection alone gave only 64% protection against catching Covid again, but together with a Pfizer jab the protection rises to 94% (the AstraZeneca jab gives slightly less). This obviously supports the call for everyone to get vaccinated even if they’ve already had Covid.

More travel restrictions lifted
From tomorrow the red list of countries will be reduced to just seven – mainly in south and central America. The UK will no longer advise against travel to the majority of countries on Covid-19 grounds, except in exceptional circumstances, such as if the local healthcare system is overwhelmed. This will make it easier for people visiting those locations to obtain travel insurance.

If you are fully vaccinated:

You no longer have to take a pre-departure test before travelling to the UK
You do not have to self-isolate upon your return
You must take a day two PCR test after arriving back in the UK (will be replaced by a lateral flow test later in October)

If you are not fully vaccinated:

You must still take a pre-departure test (PCR or lateral flow) within three days before travelling to the UK
You must self-isolate for 10 days upon your arrival
You must take a day two and day eight PCR test
You may take an additional day five PCR test and be released from isolation early if you test negative.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The government is failing to publicise which countries are putting the UK on their red lists. As our infection rates remain stubbornly high and our vaccination programme slows down, many countries are seeing travellers from the UK as the real danger. You only find out about potential restrictions when you try to book travel to these countries. But be warned, the UK is being red-listed by more and more nations.

Covid Testing

Test and Trace – For details about Test and Trace and how it works go to Test and Trace
Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is eligible to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to find out if they have the virus. You can also book a PCR test if you are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. People who don’t have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book their PCR test.
Lateral Flow Testing Kits – are available free of charge to everyone. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. You can order here

Soup and sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch will be held this Wednesday, 13 October at 12 noon. There’s no set charge for lunch but customers are asked to make a small donation. Money raised goes to a different charity each time and on this occasion will be donated to help support Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Topcliffe Tidy Up Day

Get ready for the big Topcliffe Tidy Up Day. It’s on the morning of Saturday 16 October. Parish councillors Ben Collard and Malcolm Morley are leading on this project and they hope that a few community-minded residents might join them to tackle a few jobs that need attention in the village, including:

Litter picking on all streets and alleyways
Maintenance of hedges and ivy around Jubilee Gardens
Painting of the long fence between the Swan and the school (paint supplied by the parish council)
Weeding and litter removal on paths close to Topcliffe bridge
Cleaning of road signs around the village
General tidy up of Long Street near the Post Office
Removal of nettles along the playing fields entrance track
Removal of damaged fence panels and picnic table near play area at the playing field.

Would volunteers please meet at the Village Hall 8.45am for coffee and to be allocated to working parties. Bacon sandwiches will be served by Karen Morley at around 11 to 11.15am. All helpers should wear long sleeves and protective/gardening gloves. Hi-vis vests and plastic bags are being provided by Hambleton District Council. If anyone would be able to bring their own gardening tools, that would be much appreciated.

Thank you to Asenby litter-pickers
Judith Lowe, Vice Chair of Asenby Parish Council would like to offer a big thank you to the fifteen volunteers who turned out last Sunday to pick up litter in the village. Many bags were filled and as a result the village is looking spic and span again.

Post Office opening times
Debbie Roberts is the village’s new Post Master. She has announced the following set of opening times:

Shop sales, including newspapers
7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 12.30pm Saturday.

Post Office services
8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 12noon on Saturdays.

Newspaper vouchers.are now being accepted. New lines already in the shop include frozen foods, a selection of cleaning products, tinned food items and lots more. The range of items will continue to be added to and it is anticipated that alcohol sales will be available before too long.

Textile recycling collection day

The Bags2school textile recycling event was held last Thursday and around 150 bags were collected. The weight of the bags was 650kg and £195 was raised, which will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event

Autumn Wedding Event at The Crab
TODAY! – 12 until 2pm, Crab Manor Hotel is holding an Autumn Wedding Open Day. Anyone looking for a wedding venue can check out this beautiful hotel on our doorstep. As well as seeing the fantastic rooms in Crab Manor, there’ll be a chance to see the Crab & Lobster restaurant and the splendid gardens. There’ll also be a range of wedding suppliers on hand to offer advice and information.

Seedlings Shed Project
Around 25 children from the Seedlings Nursery, part of Topcliffe Academy ,are doing a sponsored walk on Wednesday 13 October to raise cash for the shed project. They’ll be walking about two miles around Topcliffe, finishing at the Milk Churn Farm shop to have a hot chocolate drink and a biscuit.

The Shed Project is a campaign to raise cash to replace a dilapidated storage shed in which the nursery stores equipment. Around £1,000 is needed for a new shed and so far over £300 has been raised within the village.

Leisure Centre to reopen later this month
Thirsk & Sowerby Leisure Centre will open its doors on Wednesday 27 October after undergoing a £4 million makeover. Work on the centre began in February this year with planned upgrades and extensions now complete, bringing it bang up to date. It now boasts a gym three times the size of the old facility which is fully equipped with market leading ‘Technogym‘ equipment which, for the first time, will be operational 24/7. A new studio for exercise classes and meetings, as well as a cycling studio, will help provide a vibrant range of classes for customers. The pool changing area and showers have also received a makeover.

Outdated plant equipment has been replaced with greener, more environmentally sustainable equipment, the building now has a much-needed new roof and the reception area has been transformed into a light and airy modern space.

Leader of the Council Councillor Mark Robson said: “The £4 million investment made to improve this essential community facility shows the council’s commitment to improving and developing our area. It’s never been more important for people to have easy access to facilities that can benefit their health and wellbeing and the new look leisure centre will offer just that. The leisure centre is looking fantastic, and I hope people will come along and enjoy the new facilities.”

New 159 number to protect against bank fraud
It’s hoped that a new fraud hotline for banks’ customers will stop scammers in their tracks. If someone is contacted by a person claiming to be from their bank and they are unsure if they are genuine, they can hang up and call the trusted number 159 to check. It’s eventually hoped it will become a universal number, like 999, with people able to use it from all phones and for all banks. The pilot scheme, which will run for at least a year, is a collaboration between banks, telecoms firms and technology companies and is being spearheaded by anti-fraud coalition Stop Scams UK.

Bilsdale Mast – services still not restored
The fifty-year old Bilsdale mast, which was badly damaged by fire in August, was safely demolished last Wednesday. Arqiva, the firm which operated the 1,030 ft-high mast said that the 500 ton structure was unsafe and had to be removed. TV and radio signals to homes in North Yorkshire have been badly disrupted since the fire. The company has erected a number of temporary masts and will soon switch on a temporary 80-metre tower close to where the original mast stood .This will restore TV services to about 95% of households across the region. Arqiva has also set up an online hub to provide up-to-date information on help and support for priority groups affected by the loss of TV services, including how to retune or re-direct TV aerials. It can be found at https://www.bilsdalemast.co.uk/

North Yorkshire New Weather Stations
The signs are that this winter could be a tough one with the promise of some colder-than-usual weather. So it’s good to know that North Yorkshire County Council has installed ten new state-of-the-art weather stations with solar-powered cameras on some of the county’s highest routes, including Ribblehead, Blakey Ridge and the Hole of Horcum. These new stations mean that North Yorkshire has the most up-to-date, extensive range of weather stations in the country to help travellers have better and more detailed knowledge of the prevailing weather conditions. The new sites will go live soon and have their images displayed on the county council’s website.

Spilmans pumpkin festival
The annual Spilman’s pumpkin festival is being held over several weekends in October at Church Farm, Sessay (YO7 3NB). As well as being able to pick your own pumpkin, there’s plenty more to see and do for all the family, including tractor rides, pumpkin washing, wood-fired pizzas, takeaway food and drink, fun fair, carving barn, spooky walk, corn cannon and bale mountain.

TODAY! Sunday 10 October
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 October

Timed sessions from 9.30am through to 3.30pm. Tickets only – available online. http://www.spilmans.co.uk

Halloween painting fun
Last few places are available on the Milk Churn Farm Shop’s two pumpkin painting sessions this half term. The sessions are on the afternoon of Tuesday 26 October and the morning of Thursday 28 October. The cost is £5 per child. Craft materials and refreshments will be supplied, though pumpkins themselves must be purchased separately. Parents are welcome to join the fun or relax in the farm shop’s tearoom. Call 01845 400446 to book your place(s).

Seed count!
Have you had a go at guessing the number of seeds in the jar at the Milk Churn Farm Shop? There’s a few spaces left – – just £1 a go – and the winner will get a special food hamper as a prize. The ‘rafflle’ is raising cash for the Shed Project at the Seedlings Nursery.

Christmas Fayre – 10am to 2pm – Saturday 13 November
Thank you to all the kind and generous people who responded to the appeal for stallholders at this year’s Christmas Fayre. The response has been fantastic and the organisers, Karen Morley and Linda Carver, say they are nearing capacity.

The event at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Saturday 13 November will have a wide range of interesting stalls, including crafts, lampshades, crocheted items, Christmas cards, calendars, decoupage, upcycling, gift wrap and coasters. There should be lots of great ideas for Christmas presents.

Linda and Karen will be providing two stalls themselves – one selling home-baked cakes and another selling homemade produce. They would welcome any donations from the many talented bakers and preserves bottlers in the village. Refreshments including, sausage sandwiches, will be on sale.

Catton Kitchen upcoming events:

Autumn Garland making, with Sahra Rayner of Willow View Farm, Topcliffe – Saturday 23 October 2-4pm. £25 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for tea/coffee and cake, which is included in the price.
Christmas wreath making – Sunday 5 December 3.30 to 5.30pm (An extra class to cope with demand). £30 per person. Arrive at 3pm for mulled wine and mince pie (included in the price).
Please note that the three other wreath making sessions on 2, 4 and 5 December are fully booked.

See contact details in Traders section below.

CLOSED – Until Further Notice
Once again The Ritz Cinema is in the unfortunate position of being unable to open. due to an equipment malfunction. The replacement server has broken down and despite the volunteer team working tirelessly and for long hours to remedy the situation, they haven’t been able to fix it. Right now the cinema is unable to give any firm date as to when it will be re-opening, but it will certainly be as soon as possible. Given the situation it is unclear what the film programme will be at that time of reopening. Please keep checking the website for the latest details. https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

St Columba’s Church

TODAY: Sunday 10 October, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
Sunday 17 October, 10.45am – Choral Matins (Book of Common Prayer) with hymns and readings
Sunday 24 October, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
Sunday 31 October – No Service
2 November 7.30pm, Choral Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls. November is the season of Remembrance and on the 2^nd we are invited to remember those known to us who have died. The service is open to all, of any denomination or none, and provides the space and tranquillity to reflect on and give thanks for the lives of family and friends we see no more. During the service there will be the opportunity to remember people by name or, if preferred, silently by the placing of names on the altar. As we emerge from the Covid pandemic this will be particularly relevant and poignant.
Sunday 7 November, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
14 November, Remembrance Sunday 10.45am, Holy Communion with Act of Remembrance. With the cancellation of this service last year, it will be good to see it return to our calendar once again, particularly as we remember the sacrifices our forces have endured in Afghanistan over the past twenty years. We hope that service personnel from Alanbrooke Barracks will join us and participate in the laying of wreaths.

Flea Market
There’ll be a Flea market at Thirsk Auction Mart on Saturday 16 October from 11am to 6pm. Great selection of indoor pitches selling antiques, vintage, salvage, mid-century and curios. Licensed cafe and free parking.

Bedale Book & Postcard Fair
After being cancelled last year, this popular book and postcard fair is back. It will be held on Sunday 24 October between 10am and 4pm at Bedale Hall, which is at the north end of the High Street opposite the parish church. Admission is £1.50 for adults with under 14s free of charge. Refreshments are available and there’s ample free parking.

Events on at The Forum

There are some great events coming to The Forum in Northallerton in the coming months, including

TONIGHT! Sunday 10 October at 7.30pm – An evening with Julian Norton, the North Yorkshire vet.
Friday 15 October at 7.30pm – An evening with John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols.
Re-scheduled – Friday 5 November at 7.30pm (was Saturday 28 August) – The Unravelling Wilburys perform songs of the super-group The Traveling Wilburys.

Enquiries to 01609 776230. Book tickets online http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Parish Council meetings

The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be at 7.15pm on Thursday 4 November in the main hall of the Village Hall.http:// www.topcliffe.org.uk
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November in the main hall of the Village Hall. http://www.asenby.net

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Art classes – 10am to 12 noon each Monday to 18 November.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm every Tuesday.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm every Tuesday.
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays – next 13 October.
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm every Wednesday.
Cubs – 7 to 8pm every Wednesday.
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm every Thursday.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm every Friday.
Scouts (from October onwards) – 7.30 to 10pm every Friday.
Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 4 November.
Christmas Fayre – Saturday 13 November .
Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.30pm on Tuesday 23 November.

Group activities are being offered free use of the hall until 31 December (this does not include commercial one-off or private hires for parties and social functions). This is to encourage existing activities to get going again and new ones to be introduced. The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled before the end of the year or early in 2022.

Local traders

The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow The Angel on Facebook to get regular updates.
Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Big selection of carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
The Catton Kitchen Opening times are: Thursday and Fridays 8am to 2pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm; Sunday 10am to 12 noon. Bacon sandwiches served until 1pm most days – but only until 12 noon on a Sunday. Takeaway food or veg boxes can be pre-ordered – 07747 083155. Check out www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk
Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
The Elm Gallery – Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 12noon to 5.30pm; Monday and Tuesday – closed. Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920 or check out the website at: www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk
Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing soy wax candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Perfect gift ideas. Bespoke orders for special occasions such as wedding favours. www.fotiacandles.co.uk Get in touch at Info@fotiacandles.co.uk or 07879 447953.
The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – run by Kerry Parker and based in Melmerby. Provides beautiful hampers for all occasions, containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. Telephone: 07793 775987. www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Takeaway teas and coffees with cake. Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the property. Trees and turkeys will again be provided to order this Christmas. Check out Facebook page for information about new lines in fresh and frozen foods. 01845 400446. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food with a new menu and ‘specials board’. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late. Bar times: Monday to Thursday 5pm to close; Friday 4pm to close; Saturday 3pm to close and Sunday 12 noon until close.
The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. Foodstuffs such as tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, cereals, jars, crisps, juices, bottled products, soups, crisp breads, anything in packets, are very welcome. But please, no fresh products as there’s a risk they will go to waste.
Topcliffe Post Office – opening hours are: Shop – weekdays 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7 to 11.30am. Post Office – weekdays 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30 to 11.30am. Closed on Sundays.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

Refuse – Mondays 11 and 25 October.
Recycling & green waste – Thursdays 21 October and 4 November.

Harrogate (Asenby):

Recycling – Mondays 11 and 25 October.
Refuse – Mondays 18 October and 1 November.
Garden waste – Thursdays 21 October and 4 November.

The final garden waste collections in Harrogate district this year will be the week commencing 15 November. The service doesn’t operate during the winter and will return in March. If you subscribed this year, the council will be in touch in January to explain what you need to do if you want to have your garden waste taken away in 2022.

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

Posted on 5 October 20212 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 78

Welcome to the 78th issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707

The week’s Covid statistics

The R number for England as a whole has increased slightly to 0.8 to 1.1. This means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 11 other people.
48.9 million first doses given. 44.9 million second doses. 89.8% of the population aged 16+ has now had the first jab and over 82.5% the second.
There were 30,301 new infections yesterday and 243,983 people tested positive for Covid in the last week. That’s a 3% increase on the previous week.
5,095 people were admitted to hospital with Covid between 22 and 29 September.
There were 121 deaths reported yesterday and 800 in the last seven days.
The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 136,910
159,716 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
Worldwide, the global death toll is 4,811,923.

North Yorkshire Covid Situation

Since the start of the pandemic there’s been 59,922 positive tests in North Yorkshire. There were 2,792 new cases reported last week. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 399 cases per day. The seven-day rate for the county was 471 cases per 100,000 people, still higher than the England seven-day rate of 332. The situation appears to be worsening week by week.

Flu vaccines will not be available via the Surgery this winter.

Some patients may have already received texts or emails inviting them to book their Covid booster vaccine via the NHS vaccine national booking service. Appointments booked in this way are likely to be at vaccination centres which are further afield, such as Knaresborough, Darlington or York. But only the booster jab will be available at these appointments – not the flu vaccination.

If you wish, you can ignore the NHS invitation and await an invitation via the Surgery, so that you can have both jabs together. Please don’t contact the Surgery at this stage. You will we contacted when it’s your turn.

Covid Testing

Test and Trace – For details about Test and Trace and how it works go to Test and Trace
Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is eligible to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to find out if they have the virus. You can also book a PCR test if you are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. People who don’t have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book their PCR test.
Lateral Flow Testing Kits – are available free of charge to everyone. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. You can order here

The major planning application for commercial and industrial development at Dalton Industrial Estate was, as anticipated, approved by Hambleton District Council’s planning committee last Thursday. The following report is copied from the village website – http://www.topcliffe.org.uk

The application for outline planning permission for Dalton Industrial Estate development was heard by Hambleton District Council Planning Committee on 24th September and approved after some discussion. The meeting was attended by members of Topcliffe and Asenby Parish Councils who were allowed time to express the concerns of both villages that the development without some degree of control/enforcement would lead to significantly increased traffic through both villages. This particularly applies to HGV traffic where North Yorkshire Highways and Trading Standards have failed to impose the current weight restrictions and show little interest in the impact of the development.

We received a lot of support from members of the Planning Committee for our position which was that the development should be approved with strict conditions imposed through a Section 106 legally binding agreement with the developer. The following conditions were agreed by the committee:
1. The developer would pay for new and significantly enhanced road signage showing the routes to and from the development and making the HGV enforcement zone around Topcliffe and Asenby clear. This would include signs further along both sides of the A168 highlighting the correct exit for Dalton and other signs saying “no access to the industrial estate” at the Crab and Lobster exit.
2. A traffic plan which the developer will make clear to new tenants.
3. A £50,000 bond to be lodged with Hambleton Council by the developer. The use of the bond would be triggered by the Parish Councils reporting increased HGV traffic in the villages:
a). In the first instance the bond would pay for surveillance to establish the extent of the traffic increase.
b) Step 2 would be to implement enforcement measures using the bond. For example, this could be used for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras or surveillance teams.

There was support for installing cameras now but overall the feeling was that the traffic plan plus new signage should be effective and given time to work before cameras are installed. We (the two parish councils) do not share this view given the current lack of action on enforcement of the existing non HGV zone.

Further Actions
1. Continue to press Highways and Trading Standards to move the HGV enforcement zone near to Topcliffe.
2. Continue to press for enforcement action against illegal traffic.
3. Monitor traffic volumes as the development progresses.
4. Provide evidence of increased traffic/HGVs and trigger use of the bond..

Coffee Mornings for Macmillan Cancer Support

The two coffee mornings held last weekend were a tremendous success and in total over £1,500 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Lois and Julian Hooker of Manor Close, Topcliffe raised £508
The Parker family of Asenby raised over £1,000

That’s a tremendous effort by everyone involved. A big thank you to everyone who gave their support.

Bilsdale Mast – latest update
Arqiva, the firm responsible for the Bilsdale transmitter mast, which was damaged by fire in early August, says it has been working around the clock to return vital signals to homes in North Yorkshire. So far, a number of small temporary masts have been erected around the region and on Tuesday this week an 80-metre mast erected at the original site in Bilsdale will be switched on. It’s anticipated services will then be restored to more than 95% of households.

CEO Paul Donovan met representatives of 15 regional organisations last week to discuss ‘Project Restore’, which is the company’s plan to restore services to all homes and help those who will still not have a full service once the big mast is switched on.

A dedicated call centre will open shortly, and a new online hub will be launched providing updated information and a place where people can register their postcodes and details to get support. Engineers will be sent out to help households that need extra support. At the outset, people aged over 65 and those who are either clinically vulnerable or vulnerable will be prioritised for support.

The company also announced that it was donating £150,000 to three regional charities who can support elderly and vulnerable people affected by the loss of their TV service.

Rogue Sheep
Anyone who lives near Topcliffe playing fields or who reads the Top Residents Facebook page will be very familiar with the problems of rogue sheep escaping from a field off Whin Lane and messing up the playing field and eating plants in local gardens. Sheep always think the grass is greener anywhere else but their own field, so it’s natural they’ll try to get to better pasture if they can. In response to many complains from residents Topcliffe Parish Council has been actively seeking a solution and this message was issued last week’

“Topcliffe Parish Council has been identifying and blocking as many gaps as it can find along the hedge between the playing field and the sheep field. We have discussed the matter with the farmer, who has also been blocking gaps on his side of the hedge. We will be installing wires along the entry lane fence between the horizontal latts to reduce the space available for potential ‘escapees’.

“In the meantime, can we ask anyone using the playing fields to please shut the pedestrian gate on entry and exit. We will also be putting signage on the gate to request this.

“Unfortunately, sheep are quite adept at finding passages to greener pastures and we will need to have ongoing monitoring and checks on whether they have new escape routes!”

Contactless card transactions going up to £100
From Friday 15 October the UK the limits for contactless card transactions will increase from £45 to £100 for each individual payment and from £130 to £300 for cumulative spend. Transactions for higher amounts will need to be made by Chip and PIN in the usual way.

Hambleton Heroes
Hambleton residents have just over a month left to nominate their ‘Hambleton Heroes’ for an award. The council scheme is aimed at recognising those who’ve gone above and beyond in 2021 and gives people the opportunity to say thank you to a Hambleton Hero who has supported them. Since the start of the Covid crisis, there have been many acts of kindness and generosity as well as examples of communities pulling together and going that extra mile to help and support those who need it. More information and the nomination form is available at http://www.hambleton.gov.uk/heroes Nominations can be made for an individual or organisation and must be submitted by 31 October 2021.

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
Light up your evenings this October at Fountains by Floodlight. Wrap up warm, grab a torch and have an adventure you won’t forget as the sky grows dark and the abbey ruin shines through the night. Wander through glowing archways, chase shadows and hear live music ringing through the air while you enjoy delicious local treats. Booking is essential. For tickets and everything you’ll need to know visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden/features/autumn-nights-with-fountains-by-floodlight-at-fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal

Halloween painting fun
The Milk Churn Farm Shop still has a couple of places left on each of its two pumpkin painting sessions this half term. The sessions are on the afternoon of Tuesday 26 October and the morning of Thursday 28 October. The cost is £5 per child. Craft materials and refreshments will be supplied, though pumpkins themselves must be purchased separately. Parents are welcome to join the fun or relax in the farm shop’s tearoom. Call 01845 400446 to book your place(s).

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 October
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October
Saturday 16 and 17 October

Timed sessions from 9.30am through to 3.30pm. Tickets only – available online. http://www.spilmans.co.uk

Christmas Fayre – 10am to 2pm – Saturday 13 November
Linda Carver and Karen Morley are organising a Christmas Fayre and coffee morning at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall on Saturday 13 November. Anyone who would like to have a stall should contact Linda (578014) or Karen (577426). Tables are available at £5 and virtually anything can be offered for sale. Already there are cake and homemade stalls booked. If anyone would like to donate items for these stalls that would be appreciated. ‘Homemade’ is basically anything. Jams, chutneys and other edibles or hobby items such as knitted items like gloves and hats. Refreshments will be tea/ coffee and sausage sandwiches.

Order in the Courthouse
The Courthouse in Thirsk is the base of Rural Arts, a North Yorkshire charity dedicated to offering a regular programme of workshops, performances, events and exhibitions for all ages and abilities. It’s also a friendly, vibrant venue and cultural hub for residents of Thirsk and the surrounding area. The award winning cafe offers homemade cakes and lunches and unique art by independent artists is available in the shop..

https://www.ruralarts.org/whats-on/workshops/

The Catton Kitchen
The Catton Kitchen is closed this weekend as Amy and Hugo have been getting married. Congratulations to them both.

Normal opening times are: Thursday and Fridays 8am to 2pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm; Sunday 10am to 12 noon. Bacon sandwiches served until 1pm most days – but only until 12 noon on a Sunday. Takeaway food or veg boxes can be pre-ordered – 07747 083155. Check out www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk

Catton Kitchen upcoming events:

Autumn Garland making, with Sahra Rayner of Willow View Farm, Topcliffe – Saturday 23 October 2-4pm. £25 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for tea/coffee and cake, which is included in the price.
Christmas wreath making – Sunday 5 December 3,30 to 5.30pm (An extra class to cope with demand). £30 per person. Arrive at 3pm for mulled wine and mince pie (included in the price).
Please note that the wreath making sessions on 2, 4 and 5 December are fully booked.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Ritz Cinema has been experiencing technical difficulties with its projector resulting in changes to its film programme.

Until Thursday 7 October – ‘The Last Bus’ (12A) – a heart-warming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain’s most northerly point, John O’Groats, to his original hometown at its most southerly point, Land’s End, using his free bus pass.
Friday 8 October to Thursday 14 October – ‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ (12A). This has a pair of interwoven stories set in the past and present following an ambitious journalist determined to solve the mystery of a forbidden love affair at the centre of a trove of secret love letters from 1965.
Check out all showings at http://www.ritzcinema.co.uk

Audience members must wear a face covering or mask whenever they are not seated.

St Columba’s Church

TODAY Sunday 3 October, 6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Harvest Festival. A service with harvest hymns and readings, giving us time to thank God for his abundant goodness and to appreciate the rural farming community in which we live.
Sunday 10 October, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
Sunday 17 October, 10.45am – Choral Matins (Book of Common Prayer) with hymns and readings
Sunday 24 October, 10.45am – Holy Communion with hymns.
Sunday 31 October – No Service

Morning services are always followed by refreshments and a chat in the Percy Chapel.

Special seasonal services coming up:

2 November 7.30pm, Choral Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls. November is the season of Remembrance and on the 2^nd we are invited to remember those known to us who have died. The service is open to all, of any denomination or none, and provides the space and tranquillity to reflect on and give thanks for the lives of family and friends we see no more. The unaccompanied choir sings the glorious and contemplative 1605 setting by Tomas Luis de Victoria composed in six-part harmony. During the service there will be the opportunity to remember people by name or, if preferred, silently by the placing of names on the altar. As we emerge from the Covid pandemic this will be particularly relevant and poignant.

14 November, Remembrance Sunday 10.45am, Holy Communion with Act of Remembrance. With the cancellation of this service last year, it will be good to see it return to our calendar once again, particularly as we remember the sacrifices our forces have endured in Afghanistan over the past twenty years. We hope that service personnel from Alanbrooke Barracks will join us and participate in the laying of wreaths.

Textile recycling collection day

The Bags2school textile recycling event will be held at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall this Thursday (7 October) between 8.30am and 12noon. Please bring bags of textiles along on the 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.

Parish Council meetings

The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be at 7.15pm on Thursday 7 October in the main hall of the Village Hall. www.topcliffe.org.uk
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November in the main hall of the Village Hall. www.asenby.net

Ian McMillan – Yorkshire Poet

An evening at Husthwaite Village Hall with Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss. Words, music, laughs, joy, thoughtfulness, singing and plenty of audience participation. Friday 8 October. Doors and bar open at 7pm. For tickets contact Andrew Coulthard on 01347 868130.

Thirsk & Sowerby Pop Up Market
On 10am to 3pm on Saturday 9 October at Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall. There’ll be a wide range of stalls and lots of local businesses offering a variety of goods and products.

Soup and sweet lunch
The next lunch will be held on Wednesday 13 October at 12 noon. Rather than having a set price for lunch, customers are asked to make a small donation. On this occasion all cash received will be donated to help support Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. The last lunch on 29 September raised £81 for the Blue Cross rescue centre in Topcliffe.

Flea Market
There’ll be a Twilight Flea market at Thirsk Auction Mart on Saturday 16 October from 11am to 6pm. Great selection of indoor pitches selling antiques, vintage, salvage, mid-century and curios. Licensed cafe and free parking.

Topcliffe Tidy Up Day

The Topcliffe big tidy up will take place on the morning of Saturday 16 October. Parish councillors Ben Collard and Malcolm Morley are leading on this project and they hope that a few community-minded residents might join them to tackle a few jobs that need attention in the village, including:

Litter picking on all streets and alleyways
Maintenance of hedges and ivy around Jubilee Gardens
Painting of the long fence between the Swan and the school
Weeding and litter removal on paths close to Topcliffe bridge
Cleaning of road signs around the village
General tidy up of Long Street near the Post Office
Removal of nettles along the playing fields entrance track
Removal of damaged fence panels and picnic table near play area at the playing field.

Would volunteers please meet at the Village Hall 8.45am for coffee and to be allocated to working parties. Bacon sandwiches will be served around 11 to 11.15am. All helpers should wear long sleeves and protective/gardening gloves. Hi-vis vests and most equipment will be supplied. If anyone would be able to bring their own gardening tools, that would be much appreciated.

Events on at The Forum

There are some great events coming to The Forum in Northallerton in the coming months, including

Tonight – Sunday 3 October at 7.30pm – Ed Byrne in his show ‘If I’m Honest’ a masterclass in observational comedy.
Wednesday 6 October at 8pm – Comedian Mark Thomas presents ’50 Things About Us’ – using stand-up, storytelling, subversion and very well-researched material, Mark explains why we are where we are today.
Friday 8 October at 7.30pm – Dom Jolly’s Holiday Snaps.
Sunday 10 October at 7.30pm – An evening with Julian Norton, the North Yorkshire vet.
Friday 15 October at 7.30pm – An evening with John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols.
Re-scheduled – Friday 5 November at 7.30pm (was Saturday 28 August) – The Unravelling Wilburys perform songs of the super-group The Traveling Wilburys.

Enquiries to 01609 776230. Book tickets online http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Art classes – 10am to 12 noon each Monday to 18 November.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm every Tuesday.
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm every Tuesday.
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm every Wednesday.
Cubs – 7 to 8pm every Wednesday.
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm every Thursday.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm every Friday.
Scouts (from October onwards) – 7.30 to 10pm every Friday.
Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 7 October.
Christmas Fayre – Saturday 13 November .
Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm on Wednesday 24 November.

Local traders

The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow The Angel on Facebook to get regular updates.
Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Big selection of carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
The Elm Gallery – Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 12noon to 5.30pm; Monday and Tuesday – closed. Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920 or check out the website at: www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk
Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing soy wax candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Perfect gift ideas. Bespoke orders for special occasions such as wedding favours. www.fotiacandles.co.uk Get in touch at Info@fotiacandles.co.uk or 07879 447953.
The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – run by Kerry Parker and based in Melmerby. Provides beautiful hampers for all occasions, containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. Telephone: 07793 775987. www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Takeaway teas and coffees with cake. Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the property. Trees and turkeys will again be provided to order this Christmas. Check out Facebook page for information about new lines in fresh and frozen foods. 01845 400446. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food with a new menu and ‘specials board’. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late. Bar times: Monday to Thursday 5pm to close; Friday 4pm to close; Saturday 3pm to close and Sunday 12 noon until close.
The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. Foodstuffs such as tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, cereals, jars, crisps, juices, bottled products, soups, crisp breads, anything in packets, are very welcome. But please, no fresh products as there’s a risk they will go to waste.
Topcliffe Post Office – opening hours are: Shop – weekdays 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7 to 11.30am. Post Office – weekdays 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30 to 11.30am. Closed on Sundays.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

Recycling & green waste – Thursdays 7 and 21 October.
Refuse – Mondays 11 and 25 October.

Harrogate (Asenby):

Refuse – Mondays 4 and 18 October.
Garden waste – Thursdays 7 and 21 October.
Recycling – Mondays 11 and 25 October

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

Posted on 26 September 20212 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 77

Welcome to the 77th issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707

The week’s Covid statistics

The R number for England as a whole remains 0.8 to 1.0. It means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 8 and 10 other people.
48.7 million first doses given. 44.7 million second doses. 89.6% of the population aged 16+ has now had the first jab and over 82.2% the second.
There were 31,348 new infections yesterday and 235,417 people tested positive for Covid in the last week. That’s a 14% decrease on the previous week.
5,602 people were admitted to hospital with Covid between 15 and 21 September. That’s a 16% decrease on the previous week.
There were 122 deaths reported yesterday and 942 in the last seven days.
The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 136,105.
Over 158,664 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
Worldwide, the global death toll is 4,757,639

North Yorkshire Covid Situation

Since the start of the pandemic there’s been 56,708 positive tests in North Yorkshire. There were 1,599 new cases reported last week. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 228 cases per day. The seven-day rate for the county was 270 cases per 100,000 people, still higher than the England seven-day rate of 264.

Cold or Covid: how to tell the difference
With so much crossover of current symptoms between Covid and a cold, it can be difficult to know what is making individuals unwell. Here are some tips supplied by the ZOE Covid Study, the app that thousands of people use to record their health each day. Essentially we need to know which virus we have – Covid or common cold – and whether a Covid test ought to be taken.

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, the main distinguishing symptoms of Covid were thought to be fever, cough and loss of smell. Thanks to millions of health reports on the ZOE app more than 20 symptoms of Covid, including headache, runny nose, sneezing and sore throat, are listed.

Over the past 18 months the pattern of symptoms has changed as the virus has evolved and more people have been vaccinated. Many symptoms of Covid are now the same as a regular cold, especially for people who have received two doses of the vaccine, making it hard to tell the difference. Data shows that loss of smell or loss of taste are still the most important predictors of testing positive for Covid rather than a regular cold, so it’s an important symptom to look out for, whether you’ve been vaccinated or not.

Anyone feeling newly unwell, especially if suffering from any of the common Covid symptoms, should stay home and get a Covid test, even if fully vaccinated. This is particularly important if there’s any changes to your sense of taste or smell.

A positive result from a lateral flow test is highly likely to be true. However, a negative result from a lateral flow test is not reliable enough to be sure you’re definitely not infected, so if the symptoms persist it’s best to get a PCR test to be sure.

Booster jabs underway
The roll out of Covid booster jabs has started. Around 30m people will be offered a third dose at least six months after their second dose. Those eligible include over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and care workers. Vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 is also underway.

Information for Topcliffe Surgery patients
Topcliffe Surgery is working with other Hambleton GP practices to give Covid boosters and flu vaccines to from Northallerton High School from early October onwards.

Flu vaccines will not be available via the Surgery this winter.

International travel
The key dates for changes to international travel are:

4 October – travel rules simplified with the travel traffic light system being scrapped.
also from 4 October, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when returning from countries not on the red list. That includes all of Europe and many other popular destinations. They will still have to take a PCR test two days after arrival, but this will be replaced by a cheaper and simpler lateral flow test later in October.
The rules will be reviewed every three weeks, but they are expected to remain the same at least until the New Year.
Anyone who hasn’t been double-jabbed with a vaccination recognised under England’s travel rules, will still have to take a pre-departure test. They will also need a PCR test on days two and eight after arriving, and will have to self-isolate for 10 days on returning from a non-red list country.

To check the exact details and requirements please consult the government’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#new-rules.

Respect and Protect
North Yorkshire County Council has launched a campaign calling for kindness and consideration to ease the community through the next phase of the pandemic during autumn and winter. Covid is still around so as people go about their daily lives, the idea is reassure those who continue to be vulnerable and uncertain. Simple steps to respect and protect others can include:

Accepting that some people want to carry on with social distancing.
Helping people find their feet by looking out for neighbours and friends.
Suggesting meeting outdoors in a quiet place for people who feel anxious.
Helping people to go at their own pace and to seek support if they are lonely.
Getting both doses of the vaccine, continue to test regularly and isolate if necessary.

Covid Testing

Test and Trace – For details about Test & Trace and how it works go to Test and Trace
Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is eligible to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to find out if they have the virus. You can also book a PCR test if you are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. People who don’t have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book their PCR test.
Lateral Flow Testing Kits – are available free of charge to everyone. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. You can order here

Post Office Closed this Tuesday
The Post Office will be closed all day on Tuesday (28 September) to allow the transfer of business from John Mulley to Debbie Roberts. The former and new owners are sorry for any inconvenience this will cause.

John Mulley retires and a new Post Office era begins
As readers will see from the item above, the change of ownership deal on the Post Office will be finalised on Tuesday when John Mulley hands over the keys to Milk Churn Farm Shop owner Debbie Roberts.

John has been a constant presence in the village for many years, maintaining the Post Office and shop service for villagers, local businesses and people passing through. He deserves a big thank you for opening up early mornings, no matter what the weather, and we wish him every success in whatever he intends to do next.

In the longer term, Debbie has big plans for the internal layout of the Post Office in order to accommodate new business ideas, but for the time being she’ll be giving the shop front a freshen up, replacing some signs and installing a new door. Debbie says that both sites in the village will continue in business, but as one business enterprise. We wish her well in this new venture.

Dalton 49 planning application approved
The major planning application for commercial and industrial development at Dalton Industrial Estate was, as anticipated, approved by Hambleton District Council’s planning committee last Thursday. Details of the decision and conditions agreed will be reported next week.

Asenby Litter Pick
There’s to be a litter pick in Asenby next Sunday (3 October) starting at 10am. All volunteers to to meet at the bus shelter. Bring your own gloves. Littter-picking sticks and bags will be provided. Coffee and cake afterwards at Green End Dairy.

Rural Crime in the spotlight
Here’s something that might be of particular interest to local farmers and recipients of this email who are concerned about the level of rural crime around Topcliffe and Asenby. This online meeting hosted by Philip Allott, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will explore how North Yorkshire Police work to address rural crimes and aim to mitigate the impact of Covid post-pandemic. Check out the link for more details and how to attend and participate:
Public accountability meeting – 28 September 2021 – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire (northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk)

Scam TV Engineers
In a new scam, fraudsters are posing as TV engineers and offering to help local residents retune their TVs following the Bilsdale mast fire. They charge a fee of £200. Action Fraud report that this is not legitimate activity and advise everyone to reject unsolicited offers of help. So, if anyone knocks on your door to offer this service, do not let them into your home and do not give them any money. Arqiva, the company which owns the Bilsdale mast, say they are developing an official support plan with local organisations. Details of this plan will be shared in a future Sunday Email.

Halloween painting fun!
As part of its celebration of Halloween, the Milk Churn Farm Shop will be holding two pumpkin painting events this half term. There’ll be eight slots available on both the afternoon of Tuesday 26 October and the morning of Thursday 28 October. The cost is £5 per child. Craft materials and refreshments will be supplied, though pumpkins themselves must be purchased separately. Parents are welcome to join the fun or relax in the farm shop’s tearoom. Call 01845 400446 to book your place(s).

The Catton Kitchen

Open Thursday and Fridays 8am to 2pm; Saturday 10 to 2pm; Sunday 10 to 12 noon. Bacon sandwiches served until 1pm most days – but only until 12 noon on a Sunday. Takeaway food or veg boxes can be pre-ordered – 07747 083155. Check out www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk

Catton Kitchen upcoming events:

Pizza night – 4.30-8pm – Thursday 30 September It’s a takeaway service and pre-ordering is essential.
Autumn Garland making, with Sahra Rayner of Willow View Farm, Topcliffe – Saturday 23 October 2-4pm. £25 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for tea/coffee and cake, which is included in the price.
Christmas wreath making – Thursday 2 December 6-8pm. Fully Booked.
Christmas wreath making – Saturday 4 December 2-4pm. Fully booked.
Christmas wreath making – Sunday 5 December 2-4pm (An extra class to cope with demand). £30 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for mulled wine.and mince pie (included in the price).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Ritz Cinema has been experiencing technical difficulties with its projector resulting in the postponement of its re-opening until Friday 01 October. This has meant that the film programme has altered.

Friday 1 October to Thursday 7 October – ‘The Last Bus’ (12A) – a heart-warming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain’s most northerly point, John O’Groats, to his original hometown at its most southerly point, Land’s End, using his free bus pass.
Friday 8 October to Thursday 14 October – ‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ (12A). This has a pair of interwoven stories set in the past and present following an ambitious journalist determined to solve the mystery of a forbidden love affair at the centre of a trove of secret love letters from 1965.
Check out all showings at www.ritzcinema.co.uk

Audience members must wear a face covering or mask whenever they are not seated.

St Columba’s Church
Services at St Columba’s are getting back to normal with the usual monthly routine of services, namely:

1^st Sunday – Choral Evensong 6.30pm (3 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec)
2^ndSunday – Holy Communion 10.45am (10 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec)
3^rd Sunday – Sung Matins 10.45am (17 Oct, 21 Nov, 19 Dec)
4^th Sunday – Holy Communion 10.45am (26 Sept, 24 Oct, 28 Nov)
5^th Sunday – No service (31 Oct)

Morning services are always followed by refreshments and a chat in the Percy Chapel. There are a number of special seasonal services coming up:

3 October 6.30pm, Choral Evensong for Harvest Festival. A service with harvest hymns and readings, giving us time to thank God for his abundant goodness and to appreciate the rural, farming community in which we live. This will be followed by a ‘finger buffet’ and drinks, including wine.
2 November 7.30pm, Choral Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls. November is the season of Remembrance and on the 2^nd we are invited to remember those known to us who have died. The service is open to all, of any denomination or none, and provides the space and tranquillity to reflect on and give thanks for the lives of family and friends we see no more. The unaccompanied choir sing the glorious and contemplative 1605 setting by Tomas Luis de Victoria composed in six-part harmony. During the service there will be the opportunity to remember people by name, or, if preferred, silently by the placing of names on the altar. As we emerge from the Covid pandemic this will be particularly relevant and poignant.
14 November, Remembrance Sunday 10.45am, Holy Communion with Act of Remembrance. With the cancellation of this service last year, it will be good to see it return to our calendar once again, particularly as we remember the sacrifices our forces have endured in Afghanistan over the past twenty years. We hope that service personnel from Alanbrooke Barracks will join us and participate in the laying of wreaths.

Soup and sweet lunch
The next lunch will be held on Wednesday 29 September at 12 noon. Rather than having a set price for lunch, customers are asked to make a small donation. Any surplus will be donated to Blue Cross animal rescue centre in Topcliffe.

TODAY!
Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Support

Lois and Julian Hooker are holding a coffee ‘morning’ between 11am and 3pm today (26 September) at their home at 17 Manor Close, Topcliffe. Everyone’s invited to pop along to help raise some cash for an excellent cause.

YESTERDAY

Yesterday’s event held by the Parker family at their home in Asenby raised over £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. That’s truly amazing and it just shows how generous local people are. A big thank you to everyone who gave their support.

Textile recycling collection day

Less that two weeks until the next Bags2school textile recycling event at Topcliffe Village Hall. It’s on Thursday, 7 October between 8.30am and 12noon. If you are having a clear out of cupboards and wardrobes please consider keeping bags of textiles for this charity collection. If you have trouble storing the bags, please let the organisers know and they will try to make arrangements for storage until the day. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts. (Organisers: Donna Fleming 07591 438766 and Doug Allan 07785 223707).

Ian McMillan – Yorkshire Poet

Topcliffe Tidy Up Day

The Topcliffe big tidy up will take place on the morning of Saturday 16 October. Parish councillors Ben Collard and Malcolm Morley are preparing a list of small projects to be tackled and more details will be revealed in next week’s Sunday Email. Anyone interested in helping out is asked to note the date in their diary.

Events on at The Forum

There are some great events coming to The Forum in Northallerton in the coming months, including

Friday 1 October at 7.30pm – Britain’s Got Talent 2020 finalist, comedian, juggler and variety star Steve Royle presents his Royle Variety Performance – a fun-filled evening for all the family!
Saturday 2 October at 7.30pm – Almost the Bee Gees – a great tribute to one of the best bands ever.
Sunday 3 October at 7.30pm – Ed Byrne in his show ‘If I’m Honest …’ a masterclass in observational comedy.
Friday 8 October at 7.30pm – Dom Jolly’s Holiday Snaps.
Sunday 10 October at 7.30pm – An evening with Julian Norton, the North Yorkshire vet.
Friday 15 October at 7.30pm – An evening with John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols.
Re-scheduled – Friday 5 November at 7.30pm (was Saturday 28 August) – The Unravelling Wilburys perform songs of the super-group The Traveling Wilburys.

Enquiries to 01609 776230. Book tickets online http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Parish Council meetings

The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be at 7.15pm on Thursday 7 October in the main hall at the Village Hall. www.topcliffe.org.uk
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November 2021 at the Village Hall. www.asenby.net

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Art classes – 10am to 12 noon each Monday to 18 November.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm every Tuesday
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm every Tuesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm every Wednesday.
Cubs – 7 to 8pm every Wednesday.
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm every Thursday.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm every Friday.
Scouts (from October onwards) – 7.30 to 10pm every Friday.
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm Wednesday 29 September.
Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 7 October.
Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.

Local traders

The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow The Angel on Facebook to get regular updates.
Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Big selection of carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
The Elm Gallery – Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 12noon to 5.30pm; Monday and Tuesday – closed. Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920 or check out the website at: www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk
Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing soy wax candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Perfect gift ideas. Bespoke orders for special occasions such as wedding favours. www.fotiacandles.co.uk Get in touch at Info@fotiacandles.co.uk or 07879 447953.
The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – run by Kerry Parker and based in Melmerby. Provides beautiful hampers for all occasions, containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. Telephone: 07793 775987. www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Takeaway teas and coffees with cake. Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the property. Trees and turkeys will again be provided to order this Christmas. Check out Facebook page for information about new lines in fresh and frozen foods. 01845 400446. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food with a new menu and ‘specials board’. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late.
The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. Foodstuffs such as tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, cereals, jars, crisps, juices, bottled products, soups, crisp breads, anything in packets, are very welcome. But please, no fresh products as there’s a risk they will go to waste.
Topcliffe Post Office – opening hours are: Shop – weekdays 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7 to 11.30am. Post Office – weekdays 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30 to 11.30am. Closed on Sundays.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

Refuse – Mondays 27 September and 11 and 25 October.
Recycling & green waste – Thursdays 7 and 21 October.

Harrogate (Asenby):

Recycling – Mondays 27 September and 11 October.
Refuse – Mondays 4 and 18 October.
Garden waste – Thursdays 7 and 21 October.

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

Posted on 19 September 20212 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 76

Welcome to the 76th issue of the Sunday Email.
Doug
07785 223707

The week’s Covid statistics

The R number for England as a whole remains 0.9 to 1.1. It means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 9 and 11 other people.
48.6 million first doses given. 44,4 million second doses. 89.3% of the population aged 16+ has now had the first jab and over 81.6% the second.
There were 29,547 new infections yesterday and 206,929 people tested positive for Covid in the last week. That’s a 20% decrease on the previous week.
6,627 people were admitted to hospital with Covid between 7 and 14 September. That’s a 5% decrease on the previous week.
There were 164 deaths reported yesterday and 1,003 in the last seven days.
The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 135,314
Over 157,669 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
Worldwide, the global death toll is 4,697,647

North Yorkshire Covid Situation

Since the start of the pandemic there’s been 55,121 positive tests in North Yorkshire. There were 1,553 new cases reported last week. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 222 cases per day. The seven-day rate for the county was 318 cases per 100,000 people, considerably higher than the England seven-day rate of 296

Covid Winter Plan
The government has published its plan for tackling Covid during autumn and winter and it includes booster jabs for millions. There’s a Plan A promoting vaccines and testing and a Plan B with measures including face masks and Covid passports – which would be held in reserve and aim to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed. Economic and social restrictions would only be considered as a last resort.

Plan A will:

encourage the unvaccinated to be jabbed
offer vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds
begin a booster jab programme for millions
continued testing, tracing of cases and self-isolation for those who catch the virus’

Plan B will:

urge us to act more cautiously
mean mandatory vaccine passports could be used for mass events and other settings
mean face coverings could be legally mandated in some places
mean guidance on working from home may also be issued

Plan A will move to the stricter Plan B if the risks and state of the disease intensify.

Booster jabs on the way
The roll out of Covid booster jabs will begin next week. The government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that around 30m people should be offered a third dose at least six months after a second dose – with the Pfizer jab recommended. Those eligible include over-50s, younger adults with health conditions and frontline health and care workers.

The recommendation from the JCVI comes amid concern about waning immunity. If current levels are sustained throughout winter, the NHS will struggle, and it’s believed that even a small dip in vaccine effectiveness could make a big difference to hospital admissions. However, the good news is that big surges in infection levels are probably behind us, given the amount of immunity built up in the population.

The announcement about booster jabs comes after the government confirmed that all children aged 12 to 15 in England would be offered one dose of the Pfizer jab, with invitations going immediately. It follows advice from the UK’s chief medical officers, who say the jab will help reduce disruption to education.

Announcement from Topcliffe Surgery.

Following the government’s Covid booster announcement on 14 September, Topcliffe Surgery plans to work with other Hambleton GP Practices to co-administer Covid boosters and flu vaccines from a site in Northallerton. 1st and 2nd vaccines, as well as 3rd doses for those who are severely immunosuppressed, will also be available. The most vulnerable will be called for vaccination first. Please don’t contact the surgery at this stage as everyone will be contacted when it’s their turn. Check out the surgery website for updates.

Traffic Light System to be scrapped
Last Friday the government announced that international travel rules are to simplified with the heavily criticised travel traffic light system being dumped from 4 October. Instead, the green list is set to become dozens of countries longer, the amber list will be scrapped and the red list shortened. Effectively it means that ‘green means go’ and ‘red means don’t go’.

As part of the changes, eight countries – Turkey, Pakistan, the Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya – will be removed from the red list from next Wednesday, 22 September. People returning from these destinations will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine.

From 4 October, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when returning from countries not on the red list. That includes all of Europe and many other popular destinations.

They will still have to take a PCR test two days after arrival, but this will be replaced by a cheaper and simpler lateral flow test later in October.

The government will continue to review the rules for each country every three weeks, but they are expected to remain the same at least until the New Year.

Anyone who hasn’t been double-jabbed with a vaccination recognised under England’s travel rules, will still have to take a pre-departure test. They will also need a PCR test on days two and eight after arriving, and will have to self-isolate for 10 days on returning from a non-red list country.

To check the exact details and requirements please consult the government’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#new-rules.

Covid Testing

Test and Trace – For details about Test & Trace and how it works go to Test and Trace
Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is eligible to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to find out if they have the virus. You can also book a PCR test if you are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. People who don’t have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book their PCR test.
Lateral Flow Testing Kits – are available free of charge to everyone. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. You can order here

Dalton Plan up for decision
The major planning application for commercial and industrial development at Dalton Industrial Estate will be considered by Hambleton District Council’s planning committee at 10am on Thursday 23 September at the Civic Centre in Northallerton. The recommendation attached to the application is that it should be approved.
Anyone with an interest in the application can attend. Those who would like to speak at the meeting must contact the council in advance to register their interest (ring 01609 767015), but anyone can just go along to listen to the discussion.

The Catton Kitchen

The Catton Kitchen is open Thursday and Fridays 8am to 2pm; Saturday 10 to 2pm; Sunday 10 to 12 noon. Bacon sandwiches served until 1pm most days – but only until 12 noon on a Sunday. Takeaway food or veg boxes can be pre-ordered – 07747 083155. Check out www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk

Catton Kitchen upcoming events:

Pizza night – 4.30-8pm NOW Thursday 30 September (not 23rd as previously advertised). It’s a takeaway service and pre-ordering is essential.
Autumn Garland making, with Sahra Rayner of Willow View Farm, Topcliffe – Saturday 23 October 2-4pm. £25 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for tea/coffee and cake, which is included in the price.
Christmas wreath making – Thursday 2 December 6-8pm. Fully Booked.
Christmas wreath making – Saturday 4 December 2-4pm. Fully booked.
Christmas wreath making – An extra class to cope with demand! – Sunday 5 December 2-4pm £30 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for mulled wine.and mince pie, which is included in the price.

Looking forward to Halloween

The Milk Churn Farm Shop will shortly be getting in pumpkins for Halloween. The owners are also planning a pumpkin painting competition for children in the run up to Halloween. It aims to be a fun afternoon painting pumpkins under the watchful eye of Sally Machen. Watch out for more details soon.

Kind offer for Christmas
Debbie Roberts who is soon to be the proprietor of both the Post Office and Milk Churn Farm Shop has offered again to provide the Christmas tree for Topcliffe. She is also planning to provide materials that children can use to make baubles to decorate the village’s and their own Christmas tree at home.

Trees and Turkeys
This Christmas, trees and turkeys will again be provided to order by the Milk Churn Farm Shop.

Squirrels build a drey
1st Topcliffe Scout Group is leading the way in national scouting by being one of the first in the country to launch a Squirrel Drey, a section for four and five year old boys and girls. The drey will run along the same format as our other sections, with squirrels wearing a uniform and group neckerchief, there’ll be investiture ceremonies and members will be expected to follow the scouting values. 1st Topcliffe Squirrels are meeting 5 to 6pm every Tuesday at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. The section is starting small with only ten children already recruited, but if you would like to add your child to the waiting list for Squirrels or any of our other sections, please get in touch with Sarah Rands at: TopcliffeSquirrels@gmail.com or call 07852 584344.

Asenby parish councillor needed

It’s a couple of weeks since Asenby Parish Council announced it is looking for a replacement councillor following the resignation of Don Crompton – but so far no one has come forward. If the parish is to continue to operate for the benefit of villagers, it is imperative that volunteers come forward to serve the community. Any Asenby resident interested in joining the parish council should contact parish council chairman Peter Palmer on 578057.

Indoor Bowls Club – future in doubt!
The number of members of the Indoor Bowls Club is reducing year on year and the age range of those continuing to participate is at the higher end of the scale! That means that the continued existence of the club is in doubt unless more younger residents join and give it a new lease of life. The club meets at the Village Hall on Thursday evenings between 7.30 and 9.30pm and this season will just be playing friendlies, rather than entering competitions or leagues. If you’re interested in giving the sport a try please just pop along and join in. There’ll be no membership charge for the rest of this year. If you want to chat about getting involved, please call Mel Arkley on 01845 578728.

Community Works seeks befrienders and helpers
Anyone who has an hour or two to spare each week could help make a big difference to the lives of older people who are lonely and isolated or have dementia.

Thirsk-based Community Works is always looking for male and female befrienders, but right now needs a few male volunteers to take out male clients for a coffee or a walk, or just sit and chat in their homes whilst their wife or carer has a break. It is a great way to give a little back. The photo shows Barry enjoying a walk with two volunteers, Ben and Farina. There are many more like Barry looking for befrienders.

The charity is also looking for helpers who can drive a van used for collecting and delivering furniture to and from the Reuse Store. There are always two van hands to help with the lifting and carrying so if you can’t do that that is fine. Van drivers are required Monday to Thursday. There is great comraderie and a lot of banter involved too. If you are interested or know someone who could help please contact Helen Ashworth, Volunteer Coordinator on 01845 524494 or email: helen@communityworks.uk

The popular Ritz cinema will be reopening on Friday 24 September. Audience members must wear a face covering or mask at all times whenever they are not seated. The first film to be shown will be ‘The Last Bus’ (12A) – a heart-warming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain’s most northerly point, John O’Groats, to his original hometown at its most southerly point, Land’s End, using his free bus pass. From Friday 1 October the film will be the drama/romance ‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ (12A). This has a pair of interwoven stories set in the past and present following an ambitious journalist determined to solve the mystery of a forbidden love affair at the centre of a trove of secret love letters from 1965. Check out all showings at www.ritzcinema.co.uk

New Homes must have electric charging points
It has been announced that from 2030 all new homes and offices in England will have to be built with EV charging points included. The measure has been agreed to address serious concerns around the lack of infrastructure which is preventing people from adopting electric technology.

St Columba’s Church
With Covid restrictions now easing, St Columba’s is getting back to normal with its usual monthly routine of services, namely:

1^st Sunday – Choral Evensong 6.30pm (3 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec)
2^ndSunday – Holy Communion 10.45am (10 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec)
3^rd Sunday – Sung Matins 10.45am (19 Sept, 17 Oct, 21 Nov, 19 Dec)
4^th Sunday – Holy Communion 10.45am (26 Sept, 24 Oct, 28 Nov)
5^th Sunday – No service (31 Oct)

Morning services are always followed by refreshments and a chat in the Percy Chapel. There are a number of special seasonal services coming up:

The search is on for the UK’s best neighbour

People across the UK are being invited to take part in the annual hunt for the country’s ‘Neighbour of the Year’ and ‘Young Neighbour of the Year’ – a nationwide search undertaken in partnership by Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch. 2021 also sees the introduction of a new category: Community of the Year. This award will celebrate the nation’s most outstanding community (could be a street, a sports club, village hall, a faith collective, or anything in between) and the lengths its members have gone to to support others and make a real difference. To nominate your choice and to find out more about these awards please visit coop.co.uk/noty.

Soup and sweet lunch success
The fortnightly soup and sweet lunches organised by Linda Carver and Karen Morley have proved to be an outstanding success. Each week they choose a different local charity to support and so far close to £750 has been raised and shared between Friends of Topcliffe School, Community Works, The Boot Shop, Seedlings Nursery Shed Project, Herriot Hospice, Salvation Army and Animal Rescue Crew.

The next lunch will be held on Wednesday 29 September at 12 noon. Rather than having a set price for lunch, customers are asked to make a small donation. Any surplus will be donated to Blue Cross animal rescue centre in Topcliffe.

Annual Steam Gala on the North York Moors Railway

Between Thursday 23 and Sunday 26 September. You can ride behind one of the guest locomotives or home fleet engines, with services calling at stops along the line. Online booking – www.nymr.co.uk

The Duncombe Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Friday 24 and Saturday 25 September 10.30am to 5pm and Sunday 26 September 10.30am to 4.30pm. Nationally known antiques & fine art dealers will be exhibiting a wide range of antiques and fine art. Tickets: www.gallowayfairs.co.uk

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Support

The Parker family is organising a coffee ‘morning’ at their home at Meadow View, Asenby between 1 and 3pm on Saturday 25 September.
The Hooker family is holding a coffee ‘morning’ between 11am and 2pm on Sunday 26 September at their home at 17 Manor Close, Topcliffe.

Everyone’s invited to pop along to one or both of these events to help raise some cash for an excellent cause.

Masham Sheep Fair

This popular sheep and old-time fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 September. Check out: www.mashamsheepfair.com

Textile recycling collection day

It’s only four weeks until the next Bags2school textile recycling event at Topcliffe Village Hall. It’s on Thursday 7 October between 8.30am and 12noon. If you are having a clear out of cupboards and wardrobes please consider keeping bags of textiles for this charity collection. If you have trouble storing the bags, please let the organisers know and they will try to make arrangements for storage until the day. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts. (Organisers: Donna Fleming 07591 438766 and Doug Allan 07785 223707).

Ian McMillan – Yorkshire Poet

Village Tidy Up Day

There’s to be a village tidy up day in Topcliffe on the morning of Saturday 16 October. There’ll be more details in future Sunday Emails, but anyone interested in helping out is asked to note the date in their diary.

Events on at The Forum

There are some great events coming to The Forum in Northallerton in the coming months, including:

Thursday 23 September at 7.30pm – Comedian Pete Firman, one of the UK’s most popular magicians, is back on the road.
Friday 24 September at 7.30pm – The Rod Stewart Songbook – an amazing tribute band plays Rod’s best songs from the last 50 years.
Saturday 25 September at 7.30pm – Comedian and musician Jon Courtenay, the first ever Golden Buzzer act to win Britain’s Got Talent.
Friday 1 October at 7.30pm – Britain’s Got Talent 2020 finalist, comedian, juggler and variety star Steve Royle presents his Royle Variety Performance – a fun-filled evening for all the family!
Saturday 2 October at 7.30pm – Almost the Bee Gees – a great tribute to one of the best bands ever.
Sunday 3 October at 7.30pm – Ed Byrne in his show ‘If I’m Honest …’ a masterclass in observational comedy.
Re-scheduled – Friday 5 November at 7.30pm (was Saturday 28 August) – The Unravelling Wilburys perform songs of the super-group The Traveling Wilburys.

Enquiries to 01609 776230. Book tickets online http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Parish Council meetings

The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be at 7.15pm on Thursday 7 October in the main hall at the Village Hall. www.topcliffe.org.uk
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November 2021 at the Village Hall. www.asenby.net

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall

Art classes – 10am to 12 noon each Monday to 18 November.
My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome.
Squirrels – 5 to 6pm every Tuesday
Beavers – 6.15 to 7.15pm every Tuesday
Soup & Sweet lunch – 12 noon to 1pm on alternate Wednesdays
Boot Camp – 6 to 7pm every Wednesday.
Cubs – 7 to 8pm every Wednesday.
Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
Indoor Carpet Bowls – 7.30 to 9.30pm every Thursday.
Boot Camp – 7 to 8pm every Friday.
Scouts (from October onwards) – 7.30 to 10pm every Friday.
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – 7.15pm Wednesday 29 September.
Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 7 October.
Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17 November.

Local traders

The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow The Angel on Facebook to get regular updates.
Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Big selection of carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
The Elm Gallery – Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 12noon to 5.30pm; Monday and Tuesday – closed. Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920 or check out the website at: www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk
Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing soy wax candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Perfect gift ideas. Bespoke orders for special occasions such as wedding favours. www.fotiacandles.co.uk Get in touch at Info@fotiacandles.co.uk or 07879 447953.
The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – run by Kerry Parker and based in Melmerby. Provides beautiful hampers for all occasions, containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. Telephone: 07793 775987. www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Opening hours: Tuesday (but see notice re closure on 7 September), Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Takeaway teas and coffees with cake. Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the property. Check out Facebook page for information about new lines in fresh and frozen foods. 01845 400446. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food with a new menu and ‘specials board’. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late.
The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. Foodstuffs such as tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, cereals, jars, crisps, juices, bottled products, soups, crisp breads, anything in packets, are very welcome. But please, no fresh products as there’s a risk they will go to waste.
Topcliffe Post Office – opening hours are: Shop – weekdays 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7 to 11.30am. Post Office – weekdays 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30 to 11.30am. Closed on Sundays.

Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

Recycling & green waste – Thursdays 23 September 7 and 21 October.
Refuse – Mondays 27 September and 11 and 25 October

Harrogate (Asenby):

Refuse – Mondays 20 September & 4 and 18 October
Garden waste – Thursdays 23 September and 7 October
Recycling – Mondays 27 September.and 11 October

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

Posted on 12 September 20212 October 2026 by Doug Allan

Sunday Email: Issue 75

Welcome to the 75th issue of the Sunday Email.
There’s a change in the way this week’s email is presented and delivered. Microsoft has been warning me for some time that I am sending out the email to too many recipients. The ordinary email system doesn’t like multiple addresses. So, I have moved the whole Sunday Email onto a system called Mailchimp, which accommodates bulk emailing. Besides being a better emailing process, Mailchimp will make life easier for me and allow enhancements to the weekly message.

Doug
07785 223707

The week’s Covid statistics
•     The R number for England as a whole is 0.9 to 1.1. It means that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 9 and 11 other people.
•     48.4 million first doses given. 43.9 million second doses. 89% of the population aged 16+ has now had the first jab and over 80.8% the second.
•    There were 29,547 new infections yesterday and 259,849 people tested positive for Covid in the last week. That’s a 5.9% increase on the previous week.
•    6,831 people were admitted to hospital with Covid between 31 August and 6 September. That’s a 3.6% increase on the previous week.
•     There were 156 deaths reported yesterday and 983 in the last seven days.
•     The total number of UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test now stands at 134,144.
•    Over 156,888 deaths registered in the UK had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
•     Worldwide, the global death toll is 4,634,570.

North Yorkshire Covid Situation
So far, there have been 53,195 positive tests in North Yorkshire since 3 March 2020, or roughly the start of the pandemic. There were 2,012 new cases reported in the past week. The weekly rolling average of new cases is 287 per day. The seven-day rate for the county was 353.7 cases per 100,000 people, again higher than the England seven-day rate of 328.6.

Covid Winter Plan
The Prime Minister will announce the government’s Covid Winter Plan for England on Tuesday (14 September). It will include contingency measures that would be implemented if the NHS was at risk of becoming overwhelmed and outline plans for booster jabs. Officials are looking at measures that could be needed if cases rose steeply, but government sources have said further lockdowns were not being considered. The Times newspaper reported last week that mandatory face coverings and working from home will be brought back in if there is a winter surge in infections.

Consultation on mandatory jabs for health workers begins
A six-week consultation is about to start on whether Covid and flu jabs should be made compulsory for frontline NHS and care workers. Plans are already in place to make it mandatory for care home workers to be fully vaccinated. But some unions and care organisations have warned making the jabs mandatory will lead to staff shortages. About 88% of NHS trust staff have received two Covid doses but in some trusts that falls to 78%. About 90% of care home staff have been double vaccinated.

Covid Testing
•   Test and Trace – For details about Test & Trace and how it works go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works
•   Anyone who is showing coronavirus symptoms is eligible to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to find out if they have the virus. You can also book a PCR test if you are self-isolating after being in contact with someone who has tested positive. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. If test sites are fully booked they will not appear on the government’s website. https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test   People who don’t have access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring the 119 service to book their PCR test.
•   Lateral Flow Testing Kits – are available free of charge to everyone. Rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. You can order here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests?medium=email&source=GovDelivery

The Tattler – September 2021
The next edition of The Tattler will be distributed door to door in Topcliffe and Asenby this week.

Snooker Club
Topcliffe Snooker Club fees will remain unchanged for the next twelve months. At the club’s annual general meeting last Sunday, it was decided that membership fees will remain at £25 per annum. Fees are due now. Existing and new members are asked to get in touch with Dave Bowman on 577843 to make
arrangements to renew their subscription. If you don’t intend to renew your subscription, please return your key to David Bowman as soon as possible.

The Catton Kitchen
The Catton Kitchen is open Thursday and Fridays 8am to 2pm; Saturday 10 to 2pm; Sunday 10 to 12 noon. Bacon sarnies served until 1pm most days – but only until 12 noon on a Sunday. Takeaway food or veg boxes can be pre-ordered – 07747 083155. Check out www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk
Catton Kitchen upcoming events:
•   Pizza night – 4.30-8pm Thursday 23 September. It’s a takeaway service and pre-ordering is essential.
•   Autumn Garland making, with Sahra Rayner of Willow View Farm, Topcliffe – Saturday 23 October 2-4pm. £25 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for tea/coffee and cake, which is included in the price.
•   Christmas wreath making – Thursday 2 December 6-8pm. £30 per person. Arrive at 5.30pm for mulled wine and mince pie, which is included in the price.
•   Christmas wreath making – Saturday 4 December 2-4pm £30 per person. Arrive at 1.30pm for mulled wine and mince pie, which is included in the price.

Asenby parish councillor needed
Following the resignation of Councillor Don Crompton, Asenby Parish Council is looking for a replacement councillor. Any Asenby resident interested in joining the parish council should contact parish council chairman Peter Palmer on 578057.

Road closure in Asenby
Here’s a reminder that the main road through Asenby village, near the entrance to Jamesville Way, will be closed for three days between 15 and 17 September. Then, on the following three days there’ll be carriageway works to allow Northern Powergrid to complete a new customer connection.

All Creatures Great and Small
The second series of the re-make of All Creatures Great and Small will air on Thursday 16 September at 9pm on Channel 5. It will consist of six episodes and a
Christmas special. The programme, which includes scenes in Thirsk, was filmed earlier this year.

Art Classes start again tomorrow
Art classes start tomorrow, Monday 13 September, at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall. They are on between 10am and12 noon. People of all abilities and experience are very welcome to attend. Attendees are asked to take their own materials. A full list of what might be required is available. Participants can choose to work in whatever medium they prefer. Refreshments are provided. Places need to be pre-booked. The two-hour classes cost £12.50 weekly or all five sessions can be booked in advance at an early bird offer of £60. Please contact Rebecca on 07704 819806 or email on rebeccajayneartanddesign@outlook.com
If you would like to check out her website go to www.rebeccajayneartist.co.uk

The Boccia Club
It’s odd that the Boccia Club is finding it difficult to recruit new members despite the fact that our two villages have relatively high numbers of elderly residents. The club, which meets Tuesdays between 1.30 to 3.30pm at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall, offers a great opportunity for a bit of gentle exercise and a great deal of fun and conversation. Anyone interested can just turn up on the day or if you want more information ring organiser Judith Lowe on 577911. As usual, it’s a matter of use it or lose it!

St Columba’s Church
Today, Sunday 12 September, 10.45am – Holy Communion.
Sunday 19 September, 10.45am – Sung Matins.
Sunday 26 September, 10.45am – Holy Communion.
There will be congregational hymn singing at all services. The wearing of masks and social distancing is still expected.

The Ritz Cinema, Thirsk
The popular Ritz cinema will be reopening on Friday 24 September. Audience members must wear a face covering or mask at all times whenever they are not seated. The first film to be shown will be ‘The Last Bus’ (12A) – a heart-warming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain’s most northerly point, John O’Groats, to his original hometown at its most southerly point, Land’s End, using his
free bus pass. From Friday 1 October the film will be the drama/romance ‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ (12A). This has a pair of interwoven stories set in the
past and present following an ambitious journalist determined to solve the mystery of a forbidden love affair at the centre of a trove of secret love letters from 1965. Check out all showings at www.ritzcinema.co.uk

Baldersby St James Book Fair
The annual book fair is on until Monday at St James’ Church, Baldersby St James. Today and Monday you can visit between 10am-5pm.

Soup and sweet lunch – Wednesday 15 September
The next soup and sweet lunch will be held on Wednesday 15 September at 12 noon. Rather than having a set price for lunch, customers are asked to make a small donation. Any surplus will be donated to Animal Rescue Crew.

Annual Steam Gala on the North York Moors Railway
There will be up to 13 locomotives in steam at this steam gala being staged between Thursday 23 and Sunday 26 September. You can ride behind one of the guest locomotives or home fleet engines, with services calling at Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt (by request), Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Online booking – www.nymr.co.uk

The Duncombe Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Nationally known antiques & fine art dealers will be exhibiting furniture, porcelain, jewellery, clocks, silver, sculpture, glass, paintings, treen, objets de vertu, antique maps and prints. Refreshments – Car Parking. Friday 24 and Saturday 25 September 10.30am to 5pm and Sunday 26 September 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Tickets: www.gallowayfairs.co.uk

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Support
•            The Parker family is organising a coffee ‘morning’ at their home at Meadow View, Asenby between 1 and 3pm on Saturday 25 September.
•            The Hooker family is holding a coffee ‘morning’ between 11am and 2pm on Sunday 26 September at their home at 17 Manor Close, Topcliffe.
Everyone’s invited to pop along to one or both of these events to help raise some cash for an excellent cause.

Masham Sheep Fair
This popular sheep and old-time fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 25 and 26 September. Check out: www.mashamsheepfair.com

Textile recycling collection day
It’s only four weeks until the next Bags2school textile recycling event at the Village Hall. It’s on Thursday 7 October between 8.30am and 12noon. If you are having a clear out of cupboards and wardrobes please consider keeping bags of textiles for this charity collection. If you have trouble storing the bags, please let the organisers know and they will try to make arrangements for storage until the day. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts. (Organisers: Donna Fleming 07591 438766 and Doug Allan 07785 223707).

Ian McMillan – Yorkshire Poet
An evening at Husthwaite Village Hall with Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss. Words, music, laughs, joy, thoughtfulness, singing and plenty of audience participation. Friday 8 October. Doors and bar open at 7pm. For tickets contact Andrew Coulthard on 01347 868130.

Village Tidy Up Day
There’s to be a village tidy up day in Topcliffe on the morning of Saturday 16 October. There’ll be more details in future Sunday Emails, but anyone interested in helping out is asked to note the date in their diary.

Events on at The Forum
There are some great events coming to The Forum in Northallerton in the coming months, including:
•    Thursday 23 September at 7.30pm – Comedian Pete Firman, one of the UK’s most popular magicians, is back on the road.
•    Friday 24 September at 7.30pm – The Rod Stewart Songbook – an amazing tribute band plays Rod’s best songs from the last 50 years.
•    Saturday 25 September at 7.30pm – Comedian and musician Jon Courtenay, the first ever Golden Buzzer act to win Britain’s Got Talent.
•    Friday 1 October at 7.30pm – Britain’s Got Talent 2020 finalist, comedian, juggler and variety star Steve Royle presents his Royle Variety Performance – a fun-filled evening for all the family!
•    Saturday 2 October at 7.30pm – Almost the Bee Gees – a great tribute to one of the best bands ever.
•    Sunday 3 October at 7.30pm – Ed Byrne in his show ‘If I’m Honest …’ a masterclass in observational comedy.
•    Re-scheduled – Friday 5 November at 7.30pm (was Saturday 28 August) – The Unravelling Wilburys perform songs of the super-group The Traveling Wilburys.

Enquiries to 01609 776230. Book tickets online http://www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk

Parish Council meetings
•    The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 15 September 2021 at the Village Hall. www.asenby.net
•    The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be at 7.15pm on Thursday 7 October in the main hall at the Village Hall. www.topcliffe.org.uk

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall
•    Art classes – the next series of art classes starts tomorrow, Monday 13 September.
•    My Time Yoga – 1.30 to 2.45pm – every Monday.
•    Boccia Club – 1.30 to 3.30pm every Tuesday. More participants welcome. Please come along.
•    Pammy’s Pilates – 6 to 7pm, every Thursday evening.
•    Boot Camp – every Tuesday and Friday evening, 7 – 8pm.
•    Soup and sweet lunch – 12 noon Wednesday 15 September.
•    Asenby Parish Council meeting – 7.30pm on Wednesday, 15 September.
•    Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee – Wednesday 29 September.
•    Indoor Carpet Bowls – Thursdays 7.30 to 9.30pm. If you are interested in joining the group, please call Mel Arkley 01845 578728.
•    Topcliffe Parish Council meeting – 7.15pm on Thursday, 7 October.

To encourage existing activities to get going again – and new ones to be introduced – group activities are being offered free use of the hall until 31 December (this does not include commercial one-off or private hires for parties and social functions). The Big Race Night and Challenge Quiz & Curry Night will hopefully be rescheduled before the end of the year.

Local traders
•    The Angel at Topcliffe – Check out full details at www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk or follow The Angel on Facebook to get regular updates.
•    Asenbee Honey – a local business selling honey but also making beeswax candles, a range of hand-carved spoons and oak chopping boards. www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
•     John Aston Flooring Ltd – The Old Hatchery, Asenby. Big selection of carpets and flooring. Appointment only. 01845 421111 info@johnastonflooring.co.uk
•     Chip ‘n Dales – the Fish & Chip van is in Topcliffe on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.
•     The Elm Gallery – Opening times are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 12noon to 5.30pm; Monday and Tuesday – closed. Covid safety arrangements remain in place. Call 01845 577316 or 07709 223920 or check out the website at: www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk
•     Fotiá Candles – Nikki and Sam Key’s home-based business producing hand poured soy wax candles, wax melts and reed diffusers. Perfect gift ideas. Bespoke orders for special occasions such as wedding favours. www.fotiacandles.co.uk Get in touch at Info@fotiacandles.co.uk or 07879 447953.
•     The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – run by Kerry Parker and based in Melmerby. Provides beautiful hampers for all occasions, containing the best of produce from small Yorkshire food and drink producers. Telephone: 07793 775987. www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk
•     The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – Customers continue to be asked to wear a mask/face covering (unless exempt) and also to maintain social distancing. This is out of respect for staff and more vulnerable customers. At both doors, there is hand sanitiser provided. Opening hours: Tuesday (but see notice re closure on 7 September), Wednesday and Friday 9am – 5pm; Thursday 9am – 1pm; Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays. Takeaway teas and coffees with cake is still available. Wheelchair access is available at the rear of the property. Check out Facebook page for information about new lines in fresh and frozen foods. 01845 400446. https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/
•     Studio 18 Hairstylist – unisex hairdressing salon run by Nicola James at 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). Open Monday to Saturday. Male and female adults as well as children. For an appointment call Nicola on 07851 034815.
•     The Swan – Providing traditional home-cooked food with a new menu and ‘specials board’. Extra choices on Wednesday Pie Night. Take-away meals every day. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 4pm. On Saturdays, food is served 12 noon until 8.30pm and the bar stays open until late.
•    The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. Foodstuffs such as tins, pasta, rice, biscuits, cereals, jars, crisps, juices, bottled products, soups, crisp breads, anything in packets, are very welcome. But please, no fresh products as there’s a risk they will go to waste.
•     Topcliffe Post Office – opening hours are: Shop – weekdays 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7 to 11.30am. Post Office – weekdays 8.30am to 5pm and Saturday 8.30 to 11.30am. Closed on Sundays.

Bin Collections
Hambleton (Topcliffe):
•      Refuse – Monday 13 September.
•      Recycling & green waste – Thursday 23 September.
Harrogate (Asenby):
•      Recycling – Monday 13 September.
•      Refuse – Monday 20 September.
•      Garden waste – Thursdays 23 September.

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