St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: 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 5 January – The first quiz of 2025 will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.
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Last week’s quiz – the last of 2024 – was set by Jim and won by a team named SAD! Aka Sue, Alan and Derek. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.
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The Churchwarden and Parochial Church Council at St. Columba’s has announced that the Rev’d Dawn Ward is taking on a more permanent role in Topcliffe as Assistant Curate.
Rev’d Dawn will already be familiar to many parishioners and churchgoers through her presence at local events, her contribution to the life of Topcliffe Academy and her personal support and involvement in pastoral care for several local families.
It’s hoped that she will enjoy her time here in Topcliffe and that her placement with St Columba’s will be a fulfilling, happy and fruitful one.
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Herriot Hospice Update
After years of hard work and support from the remarkable community, Herriot Hospice @ The Lambert has reached a significant milestone and is now able to offer specialist bereavement and emotional wellbeing support to local people.
The former Lambert Memorial Hospital is also becoming an office base and reception for the charity’s existing and expanding services, including community Home service. Soon they’ll also be opening the Community Hub, which will be open 10am-2pm, Monday to Friday, serving refreshments and giving visitors the opportunity to find out what services Herriot Hospice Homecare can offer.
In the not too distant future, it is hoped that the full suite of wellbeing services for local people affected by terminal illness will be available, alongside the inpatient hospice care we know is much needed.
Some of the planned services are awaiting regulatory authorisation from the Care Quality Commission. Every effort is being made to speed up this process, though the final timescale is outside the hospice’s control.
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Christmas tree disposal
A reminder that 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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New Year Bin Collections
Asenby
- Tuesday 7 January – Household Waste
- Monday 13 January – Recycling
- Monday 20 January – Household Waste
Topcliffe
- Friday 10 January – Recycling
- Monday 13 January – Household Waste.
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Cross Talk
The January edition of the church newsletter Cross Talk is now out. You can read it here.
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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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The ART of Intension
An afternoon of deep self-discovery and creative expression is on offer at the Art of Intention workshop being held at The Angel Inn on Saturday 18 January starting at 1pm. This workshop offers a harmonious blend of meditation, creativity, and intention-setting in a supportive, nurturing environment—perfect for anyone ready to step into a new year with purpose and clarity. Book at The Angel Inn reception on 01845 578000.
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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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Sunday Brunch
Butties with bacon or sausage, plus an egg as an optional extra, with endless tea or coffee. Great Sunday get-together with friends and neighbours. At Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall between on Sunday 26 January 2025 – 11am and 1pm.
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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.
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 are now on sale from Topcliffe Post Office or from Doug Allan (07785 223707 or email doug@dougallan.co.uk).
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The Flying Oysters
Returning to Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall this spring. Back by popular demand, everyone’s favourite dance band will be appearing on Saturday 29 March. To include supper. Tickets will go on sale early February.
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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
- Moana 2 – 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.
- Country by Candlelight – Saturday 17 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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Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
Here’s a good idea for all you dissectologists out there. The Coffee and Chatter Group that meets in St James’ Church at Baldersby St James will be holding jigsaw puzzle exchanges on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next ‘exchange’ is on Tuesday 28 January between 10am and 12 noon.
Please take along any puzzles that you would like to swap. This is a great opportunity to obtain new ones without having to buy them.
Note: There are some ‘unofficial’ terms for people who do jigsaw puzzles, one of which is ‘puzzler.’ The term makes perfect sense, so many people are happy to use it. But ‘puzzler’ is not the correct, official term that describes a person who puts jigsaw puzzles together. The official term is a ‘dissectologist’. The term may seem an ironic choice at first, especially if you don’t know the origins of the jigsaw puzzle. However, it does make perfect sense once you know that the first jigsaw puzzles were called dissected maps.
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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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