Sunday Email: Issue 136

• TODAY: at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong
• 11 December at 10.45am – Holy Communion, Rev’d Robert Williamson.
• Sunday 18 December at 6.30pm – traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols, with St Columba’s Choir, led by Linda Hewlett, accompanied by Matthew Atherton on the organ. Carols new and old and an opportunity to come and sing your favourites followed by finger food and wine.
• Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 December at 2pm – Crib Service with Rev’d Dawn Ward. An informal telling of the Christmas Story for everyone to enjoy, particularly those with children.
• Christmas Eve at 11.30pm – Midnight Mass – the Christmas service of Holy Communion for everyone, with Rev’d Robert Williamson.

Here are some photographs of taken on the day:
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Afterwards, enjoy mulled wine and mince pies inside the Village Hall with seasonal good wishes from all at St Columba’s, Topcliffe Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee.

The St Columba’s Christmas Charity this year is Macmillan Nurses and any donations will be very gratefully received.

The Topcliffe Charity is an historical fund created for the benefit of Topcliffe, plus a number of surrounding villages, including Asenby, Baldersby, Dishforth, and Rainton, that were part of the ancient Parish of Topcliffe.

The nature of the charity has changed over the years, but it continues to create a small amount of income from invested funds which the Feoffees in each village are able to distribute as they see fit. The amount available for distribution is in proportion to each village’s population.

This year, the Topcliffe Feoffees have a total of £270 to distribute and the Asenby Feoffee has £70 to hand out.

There is no official record of those who are over eighty years of age, so the Feoffees rely on local knowledge to identify eligible residents. Last year’s lists of recipients in Topcliffe and Asenby have been updated, so those who received a gift in 2021, will automatically get one this Christmas.

If you qualify and want to be considered or to check that you are on the list, please get in touch with Anne-Marie Barningham on 07740 175311 or Doug Allan on 07785 223707 in Topcliffe or Carole Ford on 01845 577718 in Asenby. The deadline is Friday 9 December.

Final dates for sending second-class post has been brought forward from December 19 to the 12th and for first class from December 21 to the 16th.

Look here at the scrumptious food served last Wednesday. It included mushroom soup as a starter, sausage casserole, chicken & leek cobbler, or shepherd’s pie with a crispy cream top as a main course, desserts included treacle pudding, meringue, rice pudding or apple crumble. Plus, cakes, tea or coffee and sweet treats. Each week the menu is varied and equally delicious.

Last Wednesday £93 was raised, of which £75 was donated to the Boot Camp charity in Easingwold which supports adults with learning difficulties. The balance has gone into the Warm-Up Community Help fund. This will help pay for food in future weeks and the organisers are looking at how further support might be offered to those in need during these financially difficult times.

If you can donate any prepared food or ingredients for a forthcoming lunch or would like to help in some way, please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426 or Linda Carver on 01845 578014.

If anyone outside our two villages would like to receive an electronic copy of The Tattler, please get in touch with Doug Allan at doug@dougallan.co.uk

Historically, the Institute ran the now demolished village hall and organised regular events there. Later it became involved in developing the recreation field and playpark through fund raising and grant applications. Until Covid struck, the Institute organised the village’s successful festive mulled wine and mince pie evening as a charity fund raiser, donating over £1,000 to Herriott Hospice over recent years. Its most recent project was the construction and installation of the bespoke Platinum Jubilee Bench under the old chestnut tree on the village green

The Institute now needs new life and enthusiasm breathed into its work. Retiring committee members have agreed to remain as ‘caretaker’ members until a Special General Meeting on 11 January 2023. In the meantime, anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a committee member is invited to ring Siobhan Gifford on 01845 578300 or 07966 228206.

There are plenty of wonderful businesses serving our two villages so maybe they deserve an entry in these awards. It’s likely that simply being in the awards line-up would be beneficial and give businesses a boost.

Are you prepared to nominate one of our local incredible businesses? The closing date for nominations is Saturday 31 December. For the categories and how to enter see www.hambleton.gov.uk/businessawards

For further information please email julie.hutton@hambleton.gov.uk

The Village Hall Committee has introduced the Hallmaster online booking service. This is accessed via the village website – www.topcliffe.org.uk and allows enquiries and bookings to be made directly online. The Village Hall no longer has a Bookings Secretary.

• Saturday 10 December – 7.30pm – Ripon Choral Society perform Handel’s Messiah at Ripon Cathedral, followed by carols. Tickets online from www.riponchoralsociety.org.uk
• Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 December – 2 to 8pm – An Illuminated Winter Wonderland at Ripon Spa Gardens. Free entry but donations welcomed.
• Sunday 18 December – 10am to 3pm – Christmas Market – soak up the atmosphere and follow the market trail as it winds through Ripon’s historic marketplace. All the traditional market favourites including bratwurst, pies, cheese, cakes, fresh coffee and mulled wine.
• Sunday 18, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 December– 5.30pm – Festival of Lessons & Carols at Ripon Cathedral. The Christmas story told in readings and music. Featuring the Ripon Cathedral Choir.
• Saturday 24 December – 11am – Ripon Cathedral presents the Journey to Bethlehem, an interactive service for families.
• Saturday 24 December – Midnight Mass at Ripon Cathedral.
• Sunday 25 December – 10.30am – Christmas Day Festal Eucharist.
• Monday 26 December (boxing Day) – 9.30am – Eucharist for St Stephen’s Day followed by pilgrimage to Fountains Abbey.

• Thursday 15 December – "How to paint a hare, fox or owl in a moonlit winter landscape using acrylics". The cost is £25 and this includes all materials needed to complete your masterpiece. Refreshments will be provided. Time: 10.30am to 1pm.
• Monday 9 January – a new series of the popular weekly art classes will start and run until 7 February. 10am and 12 noon. Bring your own materials and create works you will be proud of.
• Saturday 30 January 2023 – 10am to 1pm – Painting on Fabric – helpful tips and techniques with creating your own creative, vibrant painting on fabric. Equipment and paint provided. Refreshments included. Just bring your fabric item – Denim Jacket, purse, bag, baseball boots, cushion cover, table runner or other item. On booking further details will be sent about the session.

All of the advertised art classes are for artists of every level of experience…or of none! Expert guidance is offered throughout the sessions. More information and online booking at http://www.rebeccajayneartist.co.uk

• To Thursday 8 December (No matinees) – Living.
• Friday 9 to Friday 15 December (Matinees on Saturday 10, Sunday 11 and Wednesday 14) – Matilda – The Musical.
• Friday 16 to Thursday 22 December (No matinees) – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
• Friday 23 December through to Thursday 5 January (no matinees. Each day except dates the cinema is closed – see below) – Strange World.
• Closed 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 January

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

A list of local traders in Topcliffe and Asenby can be viewed here.

Hambleton (Topcliffe):

• Refuse – Mondays 5 and 19 December.
• Recycling – Thursdays 15 December and 30 December (one day later than normal).
• Green waste – no further collections until the post-Christmas collection on Thursday 12 January.

Harrogate (Asenby):

• Recycling – Mondays 5 and 19 December and 2 January 2023.
• Refuse – Monday 12 December and Tuesday 27 December (one day later than normal)
• Green waste – no further collections until March 2023.