Sunday Email: Issue 111

And, I am sure everyone in both Topcliffe and Asenby will wish to join me in offering their warmest congratulations to HM The Queen on this very special occasion.

Doug
07785 223707

The majority of villagers embraced the Jubilee event and transformed Topcliffe and Asenby into a brightly decorated royal wonderland with bunting, flags and other decorations. Yesterday independent judges toured Topcliffe and Asenby and selected a the best decorated house from each village. The prize winners are:

• Topcliffe: Pauline Hand, Deans Square
• Asenby: The Robertson Family, The Old Barn.

Yesterday’s Party in the Park – the main event of the weekend – was held on the Playing Field in Topcliffe and dozens of families joined in the fun and games…and enjoyed a picnic, live music and ice creams. Here are a few pictures taken during the day:

• Fancy a tug of war?
• Afternoon teas galore
• View from the church tower (1)
• View from the church tower (2)
• View from the church tower (3)

A big thank you to all the parents who gave up their time to plan and organise the event and to Wendy and Louise Bumby who prepared 80 afternoon teas for those who preferred not to have to make up their own picnic. 

Children were invited to attend the picnic wearing their own homemade monarch’s crown and the best efforts were awarded prizes. The winner was:

• Teddy McLean of Half Moon House, Topcliffe
• The second and third places went to Evelyn and Connie Robertson
• All the competitors are pictured here

Throughout Saturday afternoon visitors had the opportunity to climb up the tower of St Columba’s Church to see how the village looked from above in its Platinum Jubilee colours. 

This morning, around 100 villagers attended the Sunday Brunch at the Village Hall, making it one the best attended brunches ever organised. A big thank you to the team in the kitchen – Judith Lowe, Malcolm and Karen Morley, Linda Robinson, Chris Wiggins and Lynne Mee (and anyone else who helped).

Royalty-themed paintings prepared by children attending Topcliffe Academy were on display at the brunch. The artwork was judged earlier in the week and the judges chose the following winners:

• Nursery & Reception: Amy Foster, Shaila Rahman and Louis Desquesnoe
• Dragons (Years 1 and 2): Annabelle Bumby, Rose Davis and Isla Burke
• Knights Coats of Arms – (Years 3 & 4): Tyler Dawson, Oliver Robertson and Ava Clark
• Queen’s Images – (Years 5 & 6) Marilyn Wright, Grace Butma and Lewis Clark.

TONIGHT
This evening at 6.30pm the community’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations will close with a Choral Evensong at St Columba’s Church. The service will be followed by refreshments. It’s hoped that our two villages might find this a nice way to close the extended weekend’s celebrations. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.

• TONIGHT – Sunday 5 June at 6.30pm – Jubilee Service of Choral Evensong
• Sunday 12 June at 10.45am – Holy Communion
• Sunday 19 June at 10.45am – Choral Matins
• Sunday 26 June at 10.45am – Holy Communion.

All services conclude with refreshments and time to linger.

Much of the story of his early life in Ireland is disputed but he seems to have been involved in the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne in 561, during which many men were killed. A synod of clerics and scholars threatened to excommunicate him for these deaths, but eventually, the process was deemed a miscarriage of justice. However, Columba’s own conscience was uneasy, and on the advice of an aged hermit, Molaise, he resolved to deal with his uneasiness by leaving Ireland and moving to, in 563, to Scotland.

According to legend he first landed on the Kintyre Peninsula. However, being still in sight of his native land, he moved farther north up the west coast of Scotland. The island of Iona was given to him by his kinsman Conall mac Comgaill, King of Dál Riata, who perhaps had invited him to go to Scotland in the first place.
Columba subsequently played a major role in the politics of the country. He was very energetic in his work as a missionary and he founded several churches in the Hebrides. He also worked to turn his monastery at Iona into a school for missionaries. He was a renowned man of letters, having written several hymns and being credited with having transcribed 300 books.

According to traditional sources, Columba died on Iona on Sunday, 9 June 597, and was buried by his monks in the abbey he created. Columba’s relics were finally removed in 849 and divided between Scotland and Ireland.

Patients will be unable to order their regular prescription whilst the changeover is taking place in July so that month’s prescription should be requested early so that requests can be fulfilled ahead of the change.  

As a result of the computer systems update, patients will need to take action to ensure they can access medical services via their Apps. The Patient Access app will soon stop working altogether and instead everyone should download and use the NHS App to order their medication. However, patients are advised that they won’t be able to order medication on the NHS app unless they also link their app to the Surgery. Help about how to do this can be found at https://help.login.nhs.uk

• To Thursday 9 June – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
• Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 June (Matinees only) – Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Friday 10 to Thursday 16 June – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (This film contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy)

Updates
Please keep checking the website for the latest details – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

Ripon Theatre Festival
The popular festival in Ripon is set to take place from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 June and will host more than 40 performances for all ages, many of them free. Children and families will be spoilt for choice across the whole weekend. Ripon Library welcomes back Hoglets Theatre with a twilight show for little ones and Story Craft Theatre will bring an afternoon of crafty tales around the Heading into Space theme. Full information and tickets are available via the festival website at https://www.ripontogether.com/ripon-theatre-festival/

• The Angel at Topcliffe – http://www.theangelattopcliffe.co.uk
• Asenbee Honey – http://www.asenbeehoney.co.uk
• John Aston Flooring Ltd – info@johnastonflooring.co.uk – 01845 421111.
• The Catton Kitchen – http://www.cattonkitchen.co.uk – 07747 083155.
• Chip ‘n Dales – Friday teatime – 5 until 7pm in Topcliffe. https://www.chipndales.co.uk
• The Elm Gallery – http://www.the-elm-gallery.co.uk – 01845 577316 or 07709 223920.
• Fotiá Candles – http://www.fotiacandles.co.uk – 07879 447953. 
• Joanna’s Touch Photography – 07732 941758. Also on Facebook and Instagram.
• The Little Yorkshire Hamper Company – http://www.thelittleyorkshirehampercompany.co.uk 07793 775987.
• The Milk Churn Farm Shop & Cafe – https://www.milkchurnfarmshop.co.uk/ – 01845 400446.
• Studio 18 Hairstylist – Nicola James, 18 Long Street (opposite the surgery). 07851 034815.
• The Swan – 01845 595185  The Swan, Topcliffe | Facebook
• The Thirsk Food Bank – collection point at the Milk Churn Farm Shop. 
• Topcliffe Post Office – 01845 577517.

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Refuse – Tuesday 7 June (one day later than usual) and Monday 20 June.
• Recycling & Garden Waste – Thursdays 16 June and 30 June.

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling  –  Monday 6 and 20 June.
• Refuse – Monday 13 and 27 June
• Garden waste – Thursday 16 and 30 June.