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Sunday Email: Issue 147

Welcome to the Sunday Email.

Thank you to those readers who expressed disappointment at the idea that the Sunday Email might go fortnightly. And also thanks to those who suggested there are possible alternatives to MailChimp platform for dealing with bulk emails. I’m looking at them and it is possible that a solution might be found that means I can continue to issue over 300 emails each Sunday morning at no cost to myself. Watch this space!

Doug
07785 223707

Artisan Market
TODAY – a market featuring independent traders providing locally-produced arts, crafts, food and drink, is on at Thirsk Market Squarebetween 10am and 3pm. http://www.littlebirdmade.com.
St Columba’s

  • TODAYat 10.45am – Choral Matins.
  • Sunday 26 February 10.45am Holy Communion.

Lent services
In addition to the usual Sunday services, throughout Lent there’ll be a service of Compline at 7pm every Wednesday, starting 1 March. The church won’t be organising Lent lunches this year as the Warm Space lunches are being held each Wednesday.

  • Wednesday 1 March at 7pm – Compline (Evening Prayers)
  • Sunday 5 March at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong
  • Wednesday 8 March at 7pm – Compline
  • Sunday 12 March at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • Wednesday 15 March at 7pm – Compline
  • Sunday 19 March at 10.45am – Choral Matins
  • Wednesday 22 March at 7pm – Compline
  • Sunday 26 March at 10.45am – Holy Communion
  • Wednesday 29 March at 7pm – Compline
  • Sunday 2 April at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Palm Sunday
Village Quiz moves to the Village Hall
Following the closure for refurbishment of The Angel, arrangements have been made for the Sunday quiz to be held at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall until further notice. So please come along tonight at 8pm and enjoy a bit of a laugh mixed with some good company, together with a drink or two. Oh, and you’ll have the chance to show off your general knowledge skills…or at least get a bit of an education! Please bring your own drinks and nibbles. Glasses are available, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
Knit and Natter Club
The club will be moving to the Village Hall from early March and will meet there until The Angel reopens after refurbishment. Please note that next Thursday’s meeting (23 February) will be at Anne Marie Mulley’s home in Deans Square from 1.30 to 3.30pm.

The Knit & Natter club aims to decorate Topcliffe with fantastic knitted bunting for the coronation of His Majesty the King on Saturday 6 May. They have three months in which to achieve their goal and are hoping that residents will help by making cash donations so that sufficient wool can be purchased. They are looking for cash, rather than wool, as very specific coloured wool is needed and if they simply asked for wool donations, they would get too many different shades which would not work for the design.

Cash donations can be left in a collection pot at the Topcliffe Post Office. If there is any cash left over, it will be used to purchase red and black wool for Remembrance Day poppies in November.

The Angel to have major refurbishment
The Angel at Topcliffe closed last Monday when Dave and Maggie Mathews purchased it from the West Park Inns group. Now their company, Stoneybridge Ltd, has moved in and work is already underway on a massive improvement plan.

The immediate priority is a total refit and reconfiguration of the kitchen, bar, restaurant and hotel reception area, but plans in a second phase of development will see the 16 guest bedrooms modernised, the Plaza Suite improved and refurnished and there are exciting plans for a garden and outside bar make-over.

The purchase of the neighbouring property, Cliff House, is nearing completion and in the summer work will start on creating a top-quality bridal suite on the first floor of the house along with luxury bedrooms at ground level.

It is likely that The Angel will be closed for around six months. But we are promised that the wait will definitely be worth it.

Asenby Parish Council
There’s good news in relation to Asenby Parish Council. Two residents – Sue Hazelton and Colin Grimston – have been co-opted onto the council. The next meeting of the council will be at 7pm on Thursday 23 February at the Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

BBC Radio York: Make a Difference Awards

The deadline for submitting entries to BBC Radio York’s Make a Difference Awards is rapidly approaching – the deadline is Sunday 5 March. They are on the lookout for community groups or individuals who have gone the extra mile to help or gone above and beyond to make a difference in their local community. BBC – Make a Difference

Topcliffe & Asenby Community Warm-Up
Warm-up lunches are held every Wednesday between 11.30am and 1.30pm (food served to 12.45pm) at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.

Last week 46 meals were served. A total of £140 was raised of which £50 has been donated to the Bootshop charity in Easingwold, with the remainder going into the Community Warm-up fund.

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

Uninvited callers and tradesmen
North Yorkshire Police are asking the residents in Thirsk and surrounding villages to be vigilant about uninvited callers and tradesman who call at their homes. There has been an increase in reports of callers offering to clean patios, driveways, guttering or look to repair/clean roof tiles and once engaged, charging extortionate prices. Work undertaken often leads to more unnecessary work and the need to incur extra costs on top of the original prices quoted to put things right. Some residents have felt quite vulnerable and fearful of saying no to the forceful tactics used and have then handed over money they didn’t have or expect to pay.

The following advice has been copied from North Yorkshire County Council’s website:
• Do not agree to have work done by anyone who cold calls or door knocks at your property.
• Ask friends and family for recommendations if you need a tradesperson. Check reviews online but be aware that some traders do post fake reviews.
• There is a government-endorsed scheme called Trustmark that can help you to find a tradesperson.
• Try to get at least three quotes for work so you can compare the work required and prices to be charged.
• Make sure you know the trader’s name and address. If things go wrong, it is usually easier to arrange a repair or refund with a local trader, so find out who you are dealing with and where to contact them if you need to.
• If damage is weather-related, speak to your insurance company before agreeing to have work done. The company is likely to have a list of approved traders and may well want to instruct them to undertake any necessary repairs themselves.

Residents can report rogue traders or obtain advice from Citizens’ Advice on 0808 223 1133.

Please call the police on 101 to report any incidents as they are working with Trading Standards in order to identify rogue traders, or email
SNAthirsk

Chip ‘n Dales
The Chip ‘n Dales fish and chip van is in Topcliffe each Friday tea time – 5 to 7pm.
The RItz Cinema, Thirsk

  • To Thursday 23 February – No matinees – Tár.
  • Friday 24 to Thursday 2 March – No matinees – The Fabelmans.
  • Friday 3 to Thursday 9 March – Matinees on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March – Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Prices: Adult – £6, concession – £5 (14 and under, over 60s and matinees).
Opening times: evenings – doors open 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees doors open 2pm for 2.30pm.
Updates: Please check the cinema website for the latest information – https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/

The Rainton Gardening Club
The popular gardening club based in Rainton Village Hall is inviting anyone interested in gardening to join the club which meets on the third Tuesday of each month. There’s a ‘taster’ meeting this Tuesday (21 February) at 7.30pm. Plantsman Chris Small will talk about the seasonal progression ‘From Winter to Spring’. There are eight speakers booked for the coming year, plus four summer garden visits included in the annual membership fee. For more details please contact Gill Common, Club Secretary – gillcommon
Free concerts at Ripon Cathedral
The free lunchtime concert series at Ripon Cathedral continues in February and March. Although entry is free, there is a voluntary collection at the end. Refreshment are served at 12.30pm and the 50 minute performances start at 1pm. Here’s what’s on:

  • 23 February – Performance by students from Leeds University.
  • 2 March – Charlotte Harper, Soprano.
  • 9 march – Keith Dale on the organ.
  • 16 March – Performance by students from Leeds University.
  • 23 March – Ed Jones on the organ.
  • 30 March – Prima Musica students.
Snowdrops at Thorp Perrow
The first of the arboretum’s spring flower events will take place between 10am and 3pm on Friday 24 February. Join curator, Faith Douglas, for this hands on, educational workshop where you will learn to identify different varieties of snowdrop (Galanthus), propagate the seeds, and plant the bulbs ready to take home. You’ll also have the opportunity to assist with the management of the arboretum’s special collection. The workshop will take place both outdoors and in the summer house, so sturdy footwear, warm clothing and gardening gloves are a must! Tickets £40 to include refreshments and a light lunch. https://www.thorpperrow.com/
Khooghi by Kauser Mukthar
Kauser Mukhthar’s family-friendly show, set within a beautiful toy theatre stage, uses puppetry, music and song to tell a story of humour, tragedy and hope, built around a song and a Kashmiri folk tale. It’s on at Rural Arts at The Courthouse, Westgate, Thirsk at 7pm on Saturday 25 February. Tickets are £8 – £10. http://www.ruralarts.org
Domino Drive at Dalton Village Hall
Domino Drive – Saturday 25 February at 7pm. Admission is £2, with £1 for 5 raffle tickets. Tea and biscuits are served at the interval. The proceeds of this event will be for the village hall funds. All ages are welcome.
Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of the parish council will be at 7pm on Thursday 2 March at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
Thirsk Farmers’ Market
The next Thirsk Farmers’ Market will be held on the Market Square between 9am and 2pm on Sunday 5 March. All stallholders are local independent businesses which grow, rear or produce the food or drink available on their stall. http://www.northerndalesfarmersmarkets.com
Australian Aboriginal Rock Art
Paul Bahn presents the world’s longest unbroken art tradition. Exploring both
this ancient and current art form, highlighting its regional differences and many meanings. At Solberge Hall Hotel from 1.45pm to 3.15pm on Tuesday 7 March. Free to Art Society members, Visitors £7 on the door.
http://theartssociety.org./hambleton
Village Hall Committee
The next meeting of the committee will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 7 March in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
Celebrate International Women’s Day with Rural Arts

  • Wednesday 8 March – 3.30 to 4.30pm – Female Pioneer Portraits – a session inspired by influential women. Draw bold and colourful illustrations of famous female pioneers, such as Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai or Emmeline Pankhurst.
  • Wednesday 8 March – 11am to 12 noon – a second workshop inspired by influential women. How to recreate the stunning enlarged flower paintings of modern artist and contemporary painter Georgia O’Keefe.
  • Both events will be held at The Courthouse in Thirsk and the cost is £7.50. http://www.ruralarts.org
Opera for the People
Popular opera and crossover music (think Andrea Bocelli and Katherine
Jenkins), where the audience choose the songs to be sung from the song menu. Songs include popular opera, popular classical songs, songs from musicals and Pavarotti pop section. It’s on at The Courthouse in Thirsk at 7.30 pm on Thursday 9 March. Tickets are £10. http://www.ruralarts.org
Model Rail & Engineering exhibitions
This annual event is being staged at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on Friday 10 and Satuarday 11 March.
Two fantastic events, one admission ticket. Some of the best model railway
layouts including the UK’s biggest – the gigantic 200ft Heaton Lodge Junction.
10am-5pm each day. Adult £15, Family £30 (2+3). Tickets are cheaper when bought online – http://www.theeventsoffice.com
Spring Pruning at Thorp Perrow
This is a hands-on educational workshop with Thorp Perrow’s Curator, Faith Douglas, who will cover the fundamentals of what, when, where and how to prune. Then you’ll put your new found skills to practice in the Arboretum. The workshop will take place both outdoors and in the Summer House, so sturdy footwear and gardening gloves are a must! Thursday 16 March – 10am to 3pm. Tickets £40 with refreshments and a light lunch included.
https://www.thorpperrow.com
Sunday Lunch at The Swan
The Swan serves great Sunday lunches every week, but there are two special treats coming up soon:

  • Mothering Sunday – 19 March – A day to celebrate and appreciate the wonderful women in our lives mums/grannies/aunties and everyone in between. Serving lunch 12noon to 4pm.
  • Easter Sunday – 9 April – A great time to spend time with family and friends. Serving lunch 12 noon to 4pm.
  • Please call 01845 595185 to book or message us on Facebook.
Dishforth Military Wives in concert
‘Spring into Song’ is the name of the concert the Dishforth Military Wives’ Choir will give at 7pm on Saturday 25 March at All Saints church, Thirkleby. Tickets are £20 and include the first drink and nibbles. The concert will raise money to be split between All Saints Together, a charity that supports the church in Thirkleby, and Herriot Hospice at The Lambert, Thirsk. Tickets from Gill Walmsley on 07969 571002.
Easter Wreath making at Thorp Perrow
If you believe that wreaths are for every season then this Easter workshop is for you. Celebrate the joys of Springtime creating a beautiful, nature-inspired door wreath to welcome family and friends to your home at Easter. The workshop is on Thursday 30 March from 10am to 4pm and it will be led by Curator Faith Douglas. It will take place in the beautiful Summer House located in the garden of Thorp Perrow. The cost is £70 and refreshments and a light lunch will be provided. All equipment is provided but you may like to bring gardening gloves. https://www.thorpperrow.com/
Art classes at the Village Hall

  • Thursday 30 March – 10.30am to 1pm – Spring Flowers and Garden Birds painted in oils.
  • Thursday 27 April – 10.30am to 1pm – Escape to the Sea – paint a seascape in oils.

These art class are for artists of every level of experience…or none! Expert guidance is offered throughout the sessions. Equipment and paint provided. Refreshments included. Price £25/£28. More information and online booking at http://www.rebeccajayneartist.co.uk

Racing in Thirsk
The season opener at Thirsk Racecourse is the Easter Family Day on Tuesday 4 April. There’ll be some fantastic racing but also lots of entertainment for all ages, including face painting and balloon modelling, plus live music from Georgia Grace. Gates open from 11am. First race at 1.10pm.
https://www.thirskracecourse.net/fixtures-tickets/
Guided Daffodil Tour & Afternoon Tea
In early April Thorp Perrow Arboretum bursts into colour when the thousands of daffodils come into bloom and it’s an amazing sight to see. This lively and informative walk and talk tour on Thursday 6 April is led by Curator Faith Douglas. She will show you the best of the daffodil collection and share some fascinating facts and care tips along the way. Afterwards, you will enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea and a glass of champagne, all served in Thorp Perrow’s Summerhouse overlooking the beautiful grounds. Tickets £60. http:// https://www.thorpperrow.com/
Introduction to Bushcraft
Join Paul Holden Ridgway in this introduction to bushcraft and wilderness skills at the beautiful Thorp Perrow arboretum. between 10am and 4pm on Tuesday 18 April. From shelters and fire lighting to navigation and plant identification, this course is designed for beginner and promises to be both fun and educational. Price £70 to include lunch and refreshments. Sturdy footwear and appropriate outdoor clothing required. Please note this is an adults only workshop. https://www.thorpperrow.com/
The Flying Oysters
Reputedly one of the North East’s best rock and pop bands, The Flying Oysters, will be performing at the Village Hall on Saturday 22 April. Last time they appeared in Topcliffe those present rated them as one of the best groups to have played the Village Hall and a great night was had by one and all.

Tickets, which are £12 and include a sausage and mash supper, are already selling fast so to avoid disappointment, reserve or buy yours now. They are available from Doug Allan (07785 223707) or Topcliffe Post Office.

Deer Shed Festival 2023
The date of this year’s festivalhas been announced. It’s to be held from Friday 28 to Monday 31 July. deershedfestival.com
Local traders

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

Bin Collections
Hambleton (Topcliffe):

  • Recycling & Garden Waste – Thursdays 23 February and 9 March.
  • Refuse – Mondays 27 February and 13 March.
  • Subscriptions for the 2023/24 garden waste service will open in March.

Harrogate (Asenby)

  • Refuse – Mondays 20 February and 6 March.
  • Recycling – Mondays 27 February and 13 March.
  • Garden Waste – Wednesday 22 March (only for those who have paid the annual subscription). The charge for 2023 is £43.50 for 19 fortnightly collections and you can apply now at http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/garden-waste-subscription-service
That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.