St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December (Fifth Sunday) – No Service
- Sunday 5 January at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Epiphany followed by pre-supper refreshments and wine
- Sunday 12 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev Robert Williamson
- Sunday 19 January at 10.45am – Sung Matins
- Sunday 26 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev Robert Williamson.
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Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 29 December – The quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.
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Last week’s quiz was set by Steve and, after a three-way decider, was won by the Long Street Mafia – Charles, Jim, Andy and Malcolm. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.
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Christmas tree disposal
After the festive season real Christmas trees can be chopped up small and left in your garden waste wheelie bin for collection in March 2025 – but you’ll have to have paid for your new licence before it will be emptied.
Alternatively, you can recycle your tree at the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Sowerby. See North Yorkshire Council’s website for details: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/
North Yorkshire Council will be inviting householders to renew their green waste collection licence early in the New Year.
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Mummers visit to Topcliffe
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The Wakeman Mummers danced in the streets of Topcliffe yesterday performing the Topcliffe play and fulfilling an age-old tradition.
The tradition of performing a Mummers’ Play goes back many centuries and nobody knows for certain when, where or why they started. There are three existing traditional plays in this area – one from Ripon (known as the ‘sword dancers’ play although there has not been a sword dance accompanying it within living memory!). Another is from the village of Skelton-on-Ure and a third is from Topcliffe.
All three plays are of the “Blue Stots” tradition; named after the plough boys who performed around Christmas or New Year in order to cadge some extra money for the festive season.
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Are you a doorbell detective?
A brand new BBC TV show, presented by Matt Allwright, wants to hear from householders who have used their Smart Video Doorbell to investigate a real-life mystery on their doorstep or in their neighbourhood.
The producers are looking for members of the community who are committed to cracking crime by sharing their doorbell camera footage to solve wrongdoing. So if you have any home surveillance camera footage that has captured shocking or mysterious events that are worth revealing to the nation, they would like to hear from you.
The programme makers are Purple Productions who are keen to have clips of doorstep scammers, pet thieves, fly tipping, car theft, burglars or vandals.
Matt Allwright also wants to recruit his own team of Doorbell Detectives to take part in tips and tricks to help make neighbourhoods safer. If that sounds like you, please also get in touch. Please email: doorbelldetectives@purpleproductions.co.uk
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Bank scammers warning
North Yorkshire Police has issued a warning that even during the festive season they are receiving regular reports of people in the county being scammed by criminals claiming to be from their bank.
The scammers tell victims that their bank account has been hacked and that they are advised to go to their bank as a matter of urgency to withdraw cash so that the hackers can’t get hold of it. They are then told a bank representative will collect the cash to deposit it in a new safe account. Not surprisingly, victims are advised not to tell anyone about what’s going on. The scammers seem to be targeting elderly people, but this could happen to anyone.
To keep safe, please be aware of the following:
- Your bank or the police will never contact you to ask you to move money or set up a new account.
- If you receive a call from someone saying they are from your bank, advising your account has been hacked, be extremely wary of any requests they are making. If you have any doubt, simply hang up and call or visit your local branch.
- Don’t feel rushed or pressured into doing something. It is alright to refuse or reject what they are saying. Criminals are experts in impersonating banks and other services, and they will often try to rush and panic you into doing something immediately.
Please share this with your family, friends and neighbours or anyone you know who may not be on social media. If you or any of your family have been targeted by similar fraudsters, please call 101. You can also report direct to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk
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Topcliffe Academy – Emergencies during school closures
Neighbours of the school often ask what they should do if they are aware of incidents at the school during holiday periods. Unfortunately, there’s no live-on-site caretaker so calls need to be made as follows:
- If you think there is a break-in taking place, please call the police on 999.
- If there is something else that needs reporting, please call 01845 577412 and leave a message (this will be picked up) or email admin@topcliffeacademy.org
- Or call Elevate Multi Academy Trust on 01423 541996.
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The Elm Gallery – festive opening hours
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December – 12noon to 5.30pm.
- Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December – CLOSED
- Wednesday 1 January – CLOSED
- Normal opening hours from Thursday 2 January.
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Catton Kitchen – festive opening hours
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December – 10am 12 noon
- (Wednesday 1 January – New Year’s Day – 10am to 1pm
- Friday 3 January – 10am to 2pm
- Saturday 4 January – 10am to 2pm
- Sunday 5 January – 10am to 2pm.
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Topcliffe Post Office – festive opening hours
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December – Closed
- Monday 30 December – shop 7am to 5pm; Post Office counter 8am to 5pm
- Tuesday 31 December – shop 7am to 5pm; Post Office counter 8am to 5pm
- Wednesday 1 January – Closed
- Thursday 2 January – shop 7am to 5pm; Post Office counter 8am to 5pm.
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Festive opening hours at The Angel Inn
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December – normal service.
- Monday 30 December – drinks from 3pm and food served from 5.30pm.
- New Year’s Eve – Bar open 12 noon through to 1am. Food served 12 noon to 2pm. Different times for the New Year’s Eve dinner dance in the function room.
- New Year’s Day – the Sunday lunch menu will be available until 4pm. Bar until 6pm.
- The Angel will be closed from 6 to 9 January.
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Festive opening hours at The Swan
- TODAY: Sunday 29 December – normal hours
- Monday 30 December – drinks only, 4pm ’til close
- New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 31 December – drinks only 5pm ’til close
- New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1 January 2025 – Closed
- Thursday 2 January onwards – normal hours.
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Thirsk Garden Centre – festive holiday
The garden centre is closed over the festive holidays to give staff a good break and allow them to spend time with their families. The centre reopens on Thursday 2 January.
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Festive Bin Collections
Asenby
- Tuesday 31 December – Recycling
- Tuesday 7 January – Household Waste
- Monday 13 January – Recycling
- Monday 20 January – Household Waste
Topcliffe
- Tuesday 31 December – Household Waste
- Friday 10 January – Recycling
- Monday 13 January – Household Waste.
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Winter art classes
- Next block of six Monday morning classes at the Village Hall – starts on Monday 6 January.
- Winter sketch and draw class at the Village Hall on Thursday 27 February from 10am to 2pm.
- Paint Beautiful Gardens from around the World in oils on Thursday 27 March from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Save the dates or pre-book your space. Suitable for beginners and artists at all levels. For more information and to book, visit http://www.rebeccajayneartist.co.uk
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Topcliffe Academy – School Re-opening
The school will re-open for the Spring Term on Tuesday 7 January.
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Warm Hub Lunch
The next Warm Hub lunch will be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 8 January from 11.30 to 12.45pm and then fortnightly thereafter. There’ll be a selection of home-made meals, followed by puddings and tea or coffee. All welcome. There’s no set charge, but donations are welcome to help pay the rental cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch.
Residents of Topcliffe and Asenby can have a meal delivered if they are housebound – either on a short-term basis because of illness, or longer-term. If you wish to have a meal on the day the Warm Hub is held, please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426.
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Chip ‘n Dales
The Chip ‘n Dales fish and chip van will return after the festive break on Friday 22 January. Paul and Karen are taking a well-deserved festive break.
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Village Hall Fundraising Events – dates for your diary
Volunteers have two more events planned at the Village Hall in the coming months and you might want to make a note of these dates:
- Sunday 26 January 2025 – Sunday Brunch – bacon and sausage buns in the company of your friends and neighbours.
- 29 March 2025 – The Flying Oysters – back by popular demand, everyone’s favourite dance band.
There’ll be more information announced about these events in due course.
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The Topcliffe Big Race Night
The Big Race Night will be held at the Village Hall on Saturday 22 February 2025. There’ll be eight video races and betting on the horse of your choice. Lots of local businesses, including Severfield, Yes Hire, Hambleton Brewery, Crab Manor Hotel, My Electrical Contractors, Topcliffe Post Office, JAB Agricultural, My Lock Up and The Angel Inn have provided sponsorship and many others have supplied fantastic raffle prizes.
Name your horse
All 64 horses in the eight races have now been named and the Race Card is at the printers so that it is ready for the big night.
Entry Tickets
Entry tickets, priced at £8 each, include a two-course supper. Each ticket is numbered and there’ll be a draw for bed & breakfast for two at The Crab manor Hotel in Asenby. Tickets will be on sale from Thursday 2 January at Topcliffe Post Office or from Doug Allan.
Contact Doug Allan on 07785 223707 or email him at doug@dougallan.co.uk
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Local traders and businesses
See here for a list of businesses and traders based in or close to Topcliffe.
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The Ritz Cinema
- Conclave – to Thursday 2 January – no matinees.
- Moana 2 – Friday 3 to Thursday 9 January – matinees on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January.
- Mufasa – Friday 10 to Thursday 16 January – matinees on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 January.
Opening times: Evenings – doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. Matinees – doors open at 2pm for 2.30pm. You can now book online at https://www.ritzcinema.co.uk/
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Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral
- Bowie by Candlelight – Friday 17 January at 7.30pm.
- The Music of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight – Friday 14 February at 7.30pm
- Take That – tribute group Re-Take That in concert – Friday 14 March at 7.30pm.
- Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons – by candlelight – Saturday 1 March at 7.30.
- Queen by Candlelight – Friday 16 May at 7.30pm.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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Coming up at Rural Arts in Thirsk
- French for Almost Beginners Starts on Monday 13 January, 2 – 4pm.
- A Taste of Art: Ceramic Bird Feeder – Wednesday 15 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm. £20.
- Positivity and Poetry – Wednesday 15 January – Join Olivia Mulligan for a rejuvenating two hour mini-writing retreat focused on positivity and poetry. Explore your creativity, reconnect with emotions, and write your own poetic pieces to inspire 2025! 10.30am – 12.30pm. £20.
- Two Day Wooden Spoon Carving – Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January – Using simple hand tools, you’ll learn to carve a wooden spoon from a log. Green woodworking, wood selection, carving techniques, tool care and spoon finishing. Over two days, use a carving axe, Sloyd knife and hook knife to create your unique spoon. 10.30am – 4.30pm. £95.
- Weekly Drawing Club – starts Thursday 16 January and runs through to April. 6 – 8pm.
- A Taste of Art: Winter Wellbeing Creative Journaling – Wednesday 22 January, 10.30am to 12.30pm. £20.
- Friday Feelgood Singing Session with Jessa Liversidge – Friday 24 January, 10.30am to 12 noon. £10.
- Ceramics and Handpan – Friday 31 January – A relaxing afternoon of creativity with ceramicist Amy and musician Joe Jordon. Make beautiful candle holders while enjoying live handpan music. 1.30pm – 3.30pm. £30.
- Willow Obelisk – Thursday 6 February – a hands-on willow weaving workshop where you can create a beautiful obelisk planter, perfect for your climbing plants. 10.30am – 12.30pm. £45.
Tickets online at www.ruralarts.org or telephone 01845 526536.
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Thirsk Repair Cafe
Do your bit for the environment in the new year by being greener, avoiding waste and saving money. Let the Repair café team of dedicated and talented volunteers try to repair your broken or “worn-out” items. Saturday 18 January from 10am until 1pm. All jobs done in return for a voluntary donation.
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Thirsk Hall History Tours
These new tours looking at the house and its architecture give visitors an exclusive insight into the Hall’s history. Led by 18th century historian, Dr Helen Metcalfe, guests are guided through the rooms of the house before sitting down to enjoy refreshments served in The Old Dining Room with a Q&A session. The first tour is taking place at 11am on Friday 31 January. It lasts about ½hrs and tickets are £20 per person. Book at
https://shop.beyonk.com/8p9ern3j/experiences/08docpwq
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The Lego Show
This popular show is coming back to Thirsk & Sowerby Town Hall on Saturday 8 February from 10am to 4pm. Suitable for all ages, with funds raised to support Holy Rood House in Thirsk.
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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