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Sunday Email: Issue 104
Welcome to the 104th issue of the Sunday Email. I’d like to wish all readers a very happy Easter.
Doug
07785 223707
Easter Family Fun Day at The Angel
It’s been a few years since The Angel was last able to organise a Family Fun Day’ – but the event is back and this year promises a day to keep all of the village’s ‘Little Angel’s’ delighted. It will be held on Easter Monday (18 April) from 1 until 5pm. The entry fee is just £3.50 per child with free entry for adults and children under-two. See poster here. There’ll be a BBQ available until 5pm, offering superb value for the whole family.
Scarecrow Festival – only two weeks to go!
Here’s a reminder that the Platinum Jubilee Scarecrow Festival will be held in Topcliffe and Asenby, as well as other local villages, over the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May. The scarecrow trail is being organised jointly by the Friends of Carlton Miniott School and the Friends of Topcliffe School.

All you have to do is create a scarecrow or group of scarecrows with a royal theme and display them in front of your home or in your garden over the designated weekend. All the details about registering an entry, joining the scarecrow trail and fundraising can be viewed here.

At the next stage, more information, including a map showing the location of all the scarecrows in all of the villages, will be available from Topcliffe Post Office and the Milk Churn Farm Shop.
Don’t forget Ukraine
Please don’t forget that local volunteers are still wanting donations. Sadly, the Ukraine invasion isn’t stopping and the people of this country under siege still need our help. The Yorkshire to Ukraine depot at Unit 7, Martree Business Park, Sowerby will be open again next Wednesday (20 April) to accept donations of aid. The important things still needed are hygiene products, sanitary wear, baby milk, baby bottles, baby nappies and wipes, children’s colouring books and crayons, children’s entertainment, warm clean clothing, dried foods, tinned foods.
Soup & sweet lunch
The next soup and sweet lunch will be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 27 April at 12 noon. Donations raised at this lunch will go to the Blue Cross – the animal rescue centre in Topcliffe. The last lunch raised a whopping £122.50 for Animal Crew Rescue.
More trees planted in Topcliffe
Last week three more trees were planted at the Sheepwash. Two copper beech trees, kindly donated to the village by Nicky and Chris James, who live on Long Street, and a cheery tree provided by Karen and Malcolm Morley have been added to other recent plantings by the Parish Council. Well done everyone concerned.
Knit and Natter
The next Knit & Natter session at the Milk Churn Farm Shop will be on Wednesday 20 April between 1.30 and 3.30pm. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, this is about enjoying an afternoon chatting and maybe trying something different whilst making new friends, or meeting old ones. A drink and cake is included in the price of £3. Bring your knitting or crocheting and share your knowledge or just come along to natter. Please ring the shop to confirm your seat 01845 400446.
Comedy Night at The Angel
The next Hilarity Bites Comedy Club will be held at The Angel on Tuesday 3 May. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts at 8pm. Tickets £10 in advance and £12 on day of the show. Call 01845 578000.
Race Night
In April 2020, just as the pandemic was at its worst and we were all in lockdown for the first time, plans for a Race Night at the Village Hall had to be put on ice. Many people had handed over cash to name a horse in the race and the money was retained as it was hoped that that the racing would be rescheduled fairly quickly. Two years on, possible dates to hold the event are being looked at, but sorting out a new date is proving difficult – partly because of continuing high levels of Covid, but mainly because the two key race technicians, who make the whole night work professionally and smoothly, are not available. However, Saturday 10 September has being pencilled in the diary so hopefully the event will go ahead then. Naturally, those who paid to name a horse will appear on the race listings, whenever the race takes place. There’ll be more information nearer the time.
Latest on Asenby parish elections
As reported in recent Sunday Emails, no one put their name forward to stand as a councillor on Asenby Parish Council. As anticipated, Harrogate Borough Council is re-running the nomination process in the hope that a few eligible villagers will step up to the mark and put themselves forward for election. The new deadline for nominations to be handed in to the council offices in Harrogate is 4pm on Thursday 28 April. If there is still less than the required quorum (3 nominations), Harrogate Borough councillors will be appointed to make up the shortfall and manage village affairs.
Candidates for new North Yorkshire Council – 5 May
Hambleton: In the Sowerby and Topcliffe ward (one seat) there will be two candidates:
– Mark Robson – The Conservative Party
– Dave Whitfield – Green Party
Harrogate:In the Wathvale & Bishop Monkton ward (one seat) there will be three candidates:
– Nick Brown – The Conservative Party
– Hannah Corlett – Green Party
– Chris Knight – Liberal Democrats
St Columba’s services

  • TODAY – Sunday 17 April at 9am – Easter Sunday Service at 9am. Richard Byas will lead this service of celebration based on Common Worship Morning (not Holy Communion). All welcome.
  • Sunday 24 April at 10.45am – Holy Communion.
  • Sunday 1 May at 6.30am – Choral Evensong.
The official start of Ripon Cathedral’s 1350th celebrations
With live music from Frankly Jazz, illuminations projected inside the cathedral, exhibitions featuring Chrissie Freeth’s beautiful tapestries before they go on show at the Royal Academy, over 27 flower installations and food from the Yorkshire Party Company, the launch night for the 1350th celebrations should be a night to remember. Tickets are priced at just £25, which includes a drink on arrival and fresh pizza from wood fired pizza ovens on the forecourt. Ripon Cathedral 1350th Launch Night | Ripon Cathedral

In 672, St Wilfrid built the first church to serve the community at Ripon. Some 1350 years later, Ripon Cathedral continues both as a diocesan cathedral and as a parish church, working with and for the people of the city and its locality.
Volunteers needed at Ripon Cathedral
The cathedral is recruiting volunteers to help find and share online some of the hidden gems from archives, libraries, and storerooms across the region as part of its 1350th celebrations. In particular, the cathedral is now looking for specialist volunteers who can help with:

  • Heritage collections
  • Social Media
  • Photographic archives
  • Website

If you might be interested in volunteering please take a look at the website:
http://Volunteer Projects | Ripon Cathedral
The Twilight Flea Market
There’ll be between 50 – 80 stalls at the ‘Twilight Flea’ being held at Thirsk Auction Mart on Saturday 23 April between 11am and 6pm. In the foyer there’ll be a wide range of dealers in antiques, vintage items, industrial salvage, art, jewellery, curios & collectables. Whilst in the livestock pens and hard-standing areas there’ll be lots of other stalls and pitches. Free parking, on-site cafe, good disabled access and dog friendly. Entrance just £3. For more details check out: http://www.antiquesfairs.com
They’re off! Racing at Thirsk Racecourse

  • Monday, 25 April – Evening Racing – entry from 3pm with first race at 5.05pm.
  • Saturday, 30 April – Thirsk Hunt Cup Day – entry from 11am with first race 1pm.

Book online at http://www.thirskracecourse.net
Deershed Festival
The 12th Deer Shed Festival will be staged at Baldersby Park between 29 and 31 July. There’s a fantastic range of music, comedy, arts, science and sport planned for people of all ages. Full ticket details are available at http://deershedfestival.com
Be alert to latest scam
Is there no end to the lengths that fraudsters will go to in order to steal our money? This latest attempt at defrauding a Northallerton resident is just unbelievable. North Yorkshire Police say a member of the public received a call on his mobile from his wife’s mobile number, on answering the call a male with a foreign sounding accent introduced himself as a doctor from the Friarage Hospital. He stated that the man’s wife had been in a car accident and required emergency surgery but that the procedure she required was not covered under NHS budgets so a payment was urgently required. The truth is, of course, the fraudster was simply wanting the target’s bank details. When the husband said he was immediately heading for the hospital the fraudster hung up. The man called his wife and happily there had been no accident and she was fit and well.

The incident has been referred to Action Fraud and NYPs Economic Crime Unit for further investigation, as the perpetrators appear to be using sophisticated methods to link two mobile numbers together, in order to achieve the necessary impact, to fulfil their scam. This incident was distressing for the parties involved, but luckily no bank details were given out. If you do receive such a call, please don’t fall for the fraud, but contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Rural Arts classes
Rural Arts ‘Hearts and Crafts’ classes will be held at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall at 10am on Tuesdays over the coming months, the next is on 19 April and will look at creating mosaics. In later months the programme includes:

  • 17 May – Mixed media and illustration
  • 21 June – Silk printing
  • 19 July – Fused glass

You can simply turn up on the day – it’s free to attend and materials are provided.
Sunday Brunch
A Sunday Brunch will be held in the Village Hall on Sunday 24 April between 10am and 12 noon. There’ll be bacon, sausage and fried egg sandwiches on offer, with plenty of tea and coffee. Any funds raised on the day will be donated to Call for Back Up, a charity that offers mental health support to blue light emergency services personnel, including fire fighters, police officers, ambulance drivers and paramedics.
Textile recycling – start cleaning out those cupboards
The spring Bags2school textile recycling event at the Village Hall will be held on Thursday 28 April. That gives everyone loads of time to undertake that annual clear out of cupboards and wardrobes. Please keep your bags of textiles for this charity collection. If you have trouble storing the bags, contact Donna Fleming (07591 438766) or Doug Allan (07785 223707) and they will try to make arrangements for storage until the collection day. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the Village Hall and 1st Topcliffe Scouts.

Just as a reminder, 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 – jewelry – 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 & Village Hall meetings
• Asenby Parish Council will meet at 7.30pm onWednesday 18 May in the Village Hall – www.asenby.net
• Topcliffe Parish Council will next meet at 7pm on Thursday 19 May 2022 in The Angel (conservatory) – www.topcliffe.org.uk
• Village Hall Committee – The AGM and an Ordinary Meeting of the Committee will be held consecutively starting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 7 June in the Village Hall – www.topcliffe.org.uk/village-hall/
The Ritz Cinema

  • To Thursday 21 April (with matinee on Wednesday 20 April.) – The Bad Guys – Several reformed yet misunderstood criminal animals attempt to become good, with some disastrous results along the way.
  • Friday 22 to Thursday 28 April (Matinee on Wednesday 27 April) – Phantom of the Open – Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist, managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship Qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in Open history, becoming a folk hero in the process.

Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
Rural Arts events at The Courthouse, Thirsk

  • Throughout April – Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm – Cafe Artist of the Month – born and bred in Ryedale, artist Jennifer Weston’s recent work is part of the ‘Scenes from Scarborough’ public art commission and highlights the decline of marine life in the North Sea.
  • Monday Makers – Every Monday to 23 May. 10am – 1.30pm. Develop your creative and business skills on this course for unemployed people.
  • Tuesday 19 April, 10.30am to noon – Chicken Little Collage – Use a collection of textured papers and patterned wallpaper scraps to create a quirky chicken collage. £4.50.
  • Wednesday 20 April, 10.30am to noon – Teddy Bear Ceramics – Use clay to create your very own teddy-bear ceramic! Be inspired by Winnie the Pooh characters, or create your very own clay version of your favourite stuffed toy. £6.50.
  • To Friday 22 April, 10am to 4pm – Nel Hume exhibition, ‘Let the Light Back In’ –
    a young artist living in North Yorkshire which, together with the Northumberland coastline, inspires her abstract expressionistic paintings that capture the essence of light and space.
  • For more information and to book places, go to https://www.ruralarts.org/:
Local traders
Most of these traders also have a Facebook page where you can check out latest information.
Bin Collections

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Recycling & Garden Waste – Friday 22 April (one day later than normal).
  • Refuse – Mondays 25 April.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Refuse – Tuesday 19 April (one day later than normal) and 2 May.
  • Garden waste – Friday 22 April and Thursday 5 May.
  • Recycling – Monday 25 April.
LATEST INFORMATION & NEWS ABOUT COVID
The week’s UK Covid statistics
• 53 million first doses given – that’s 92.1% of the population aged 12+.
• 49.6 million second doses given – that’s over 86.2%.
• 39 million booster or third jabs given – that’s 67.9% of those eligible.
• The R number range has dropped to 0.9 to 1.1 meaning that on average every 10 people infected will infect between 9 and 11 other people.
• In total, there’s been over 21.7 million confirmed cases of Covid. There were 238,938 cases confirmed in the last seven days
• 15,028 people were admitted to hospital with Covid in the week to 11 April.
• 1,984 deaths in the last seven days. A 50% increase compared with the previous week.
• 171,396 UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test.
• 188,991 UK deaths had Covid mentioned on the death certificate.
• Worldwide, the global death toll is 6,220,830.
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.