St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 19 January at 10.45am – Sung Matins
- Sunday 26 January at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev Robert Williamson.
- Sunday 2 February at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong for Candlemas followed by pre-supper refreshments with wine
- Sunday 9 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev Robert Williamson
- Sunday 16 February at 10.45am – Sung Matins
- Sunday 23 February at 10.45am – Holy Communion with Rev Robert Williamson
- Sunday 2 March at 6.30pm – Choral Evensong followed by pre-supper refreshments with wine
- Wednesday 5 March at 7pm – Compline for Ash Wednesday.
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Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 19 January – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.
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Last Sunday’s quiz was set by David and won by a team with the unusual name of ‘Landlads’ – namely Andrew, Steve, Denise and Liz. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.
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Bin Collections
Asenby
- Monday 20 January – Household Waste.
Topcliffe
- Thursday 23 January – Recycling.
Green Waste Licence
North Yorkshire Council will soon be inviting householders to renew their green waste collection licence.
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Village Hall – A Brief Report
(Prepared by committee member Jim Shaw)
Last Tuesday evening the Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee held their bi-monthly meeting.
The Christmas Carols around the Christmas Tree on the 20 December had exceeded all expectations by attracting around seventy attendees creating a hugely exciting festive atmosphere.
Maintaining the lights for the donated Christmas Tree had proved problematic with the batteries having to be replaced every other day, so an alternative lighting method, using mains electricity will be used next Christmas.
Condensation within parts of the Hall is still a concern although it was agreed this time of year was not the best time to tackle the problem and it would remain a priority in the coming months.
Following the failure of the strip light in the kitchen Malcolm Morley has replaced it with LED lighting which not only is more energy efficient but also brightens the kitchen. It was agreed to replace other strip lighting with the more efficient LEDs.
The hall floor is shortly due for its bi-annual refresher to remove stains and scratches with Doug Allan organizing that.
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall is hosting a Community First Yorkshire Network Meeting on 7 March with representatives from village halls from all over the county. Presentations will be given by Doug Allan on various subjects including our history, current use, improvements and by Helen Fothergill who will talk on the success of the Hallmaster Booking System.
A celebration of village halls will take place nationally during Village Hall Week, held between 17-23 March and the Committee agreed to commemorate it by holding an Open Function inviting Hall users along with local councils and politicians to participate on Sunday the 23 March. Everyone is not only welcome but encouraged to come along and enjoy what our Village Hall has to offer.
The question of hirers of the hall being able to connect and use the halls Public Address system has for a long time been problematic. Hopefully a solution has been found using Bluetooth connectivity without any large monitory outlay. Jim Shaw has undertaken the task and will install shortly.
A few weeks ago, the question of possibly holding bingo sessions was put to Doug Allan by a villager and he in turn recruited Jim Shaw who agreed to help pilot the scheme. So, watch out for some Big Bingo news!
In raising hall funds, the Christmas Fayre last November raised a superb £500. The Sunday Brunch is next on the list, Sunday 26 January, the Race Night on 22 February, live music with The Flying Oysters on Saturday 29 March and, newly announced, the Summer BBQ & Boogie Night on 16 August.
The next Village Hall Committee Meeting will be held on 18 March 2025. It’s hoped this has been of interest and informative.
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If you want to play bingo in Topcliffe you need to say so
Last week the idea of running regular bingo sessions in the Village Hall was raised. The suggestion is that an afternoon bingo session, on a weekly or fortnightly basis, could be organised if there is sufficient interest. There would have to be a charge for entry sufficient to cover the cost of renting the Village Hall (say, two hours – £24) and to cover prizes (maybe £2 for a first line and £4 a full house). If ten games are played, the total prize pot would need to be £60. Roughly, this means that each session would need an income of £84, meaning that if twenty people attended, the cost would be £4.20 per person. If refreshments of a cup of tea and a biscuit are served, the total could be rounded off to £5 per person.
Does this idea appeal to you and you would attend? So far only half a dozen residents have indicated an interest. But a minimum 20-25 players will be needed to make it worthwhile. Ring Doug Allan on 07785 223707 or get a message to him to let him know what you think.
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LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
People on low income, universal credit housing benefit or disability related benefit are eligible to apply for a free energy check aimed at reducing energy usage and costs. For more information click on the image above.
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How to book the Village Hall
The Village Hall has excellent facilities for private events, such as Christening or birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, wedding receptions and even wakes. And, of course, the hall can also be booked for classes and business meetings. The hall contains three different spaces for hire – a large main hall and two smaller committee-style rooms.
The Village Hall Committee has set charges to cover the cost of maintaining the hall and keeping it available primarily for residents’ use but also for use by the wider community. Residents living within either Topcliffe (which includes Alanbrooke Barracks) or Asenby parishes are offered a discounted rate.
Booking the hall is simple. All bookings are made via the Hallmaster system which can be accessed on the Topcliffe’s website – www.topcliffe.org (there is also a link via Asenby’s website – https://www.asenby.org). Once on Topcliffe website, on the top bar menu click ‘Village Hall’ and on the drop-down menu go to ‘Book the Village Hall’. The page displayed will explain everything you need to know before beginning your booking – which you do by clicking ‘Hallmaster Booking System’.
Anyone interested in a potential booking who wants to chat about their requirements, or anyone experiencing any difficulty making a booking, can call the Bookings Administrator, Helen Fothergill on 07592 650944 or email tavhc1@gmail.com. She will be happy to talk you through the process.
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Warm Hub Lunch
The next Warm Hub lunch will be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday 22 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 24 January – 5 to 7pm.
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Big Garden Bird Watch 2025
It’s nearly that time in the year when thousands of people take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Bird Watch. It takes place between 24 and 26 January 2025. All you have to do is select an hour on these dates and count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony, or in your local park. Only count birds that land. Even if you see nothing, it still counts.
Big Garden Birdwatch provides a snapshot in time of how garden birds are doing in the UK. It is held at a similar time every year so that results can be compared with previous years. The number of birds visiting gardens and parks varies throughout the year, so it’s better that everyone counts over the same long weekend. Report what you count to the RSPB at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch by 23 February.
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Burns Night at The Angel Inn
The Angel Inn is organising an evening in honour of the beloved Scottish poet, Robert Burns on Saturday 25 January starting at 7pm. With the spirit of Scotland in the air, you’ll be treated to a traditional Burns Supper of haggis, neeps and tatties, followed by cranachan for dessert and, of course, a wee dram of whisky. Enjoy the timeless ‘Address to the Haggis’ and afterwards join in the Ceilidh dancing to live music. Tartan attire encouraged. Tickets are £25 per person (non-refundable, full payment taken at time of booking) from The Angel reception team on 01845 578000. Tables are set for 10 guests, therefore please specify at the time of booking if you are joining with other friends, otherwise The Angel will allocate you a table for the evening.
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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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Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be on Thursday 6 February at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
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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, The Angel Inn and the Swan 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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Winter art classes
- 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 & Asenby Village Hall Committee
The next meeting of the Village Hall committee will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 March in the hall.
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Asenby Parish Council
The next meeting of Asenby Parish Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025 in the upper committee room at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
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Village Halls Week
Village Halls across the UK will be celebrating the vital role they play in their communities and the importance that volunteering has in keeping them operating, during a week-long event which runs from 17 to 23 March. As part of the celebration, our very own Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall is planning an Open Day and Lunch on Sunday 23 March between 11am and 1pm. The hall’s committee is inviting all users to put on a display or demonstration of their activities so that visitors can see what they do and can consider getting involved themselves. Kevin Hollinrake MP for Thirsk and Malton, our local North Yorkshire Council representative Cllr Dan Sladden and members of the two village Parish Councils are being invited to be present to meet their constituents. Watch out for more details as plans are finalised.
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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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Thirsk Digital Hub
The Digital Hub, which operates at Thirsk Community Library, is a resource to help people who need a little support to understand and handle their digital activities. Digital Buddies are there to assist with queries every Monday and Thursday, and most Saturdays there’s a Digital Cafe at which you can get support whilst enjoying some refreshments. Click the logo below to learn more.
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Want to swap memories?
If you enjoy meeting people and sharing stories of times gone by, there’s a discussion group which meets at Thirsk Community Library which may be of interest. The Memory Swap Discussion Group meets on the first Monday of the month between 2 and 3.30pm. Refreshments are available. No charge to attend and there’s a lift and hearing loop system for those who need them.
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The Ritz Cinema
- Better Man – to Thursday 23 January – matinee Wednesday 22 January.
- We Live in Time – Friday 24 to Thursday 30 January – matinee Wednesday 29 January.
- Nosferatu – Friday 31 January to Thursday 6 February – no matinee.
- Special event – The Busby & Me – a documentary about the Busby Stoop Inn, with film-maker Wade Radford – Sunday 2 February at 7pm. Tickets for this screening were selling fast last week and may have sold out. Check with the cinema.
- A Complete Unknown – Friday 7 to Thursday 13 February – matinee Wednesday 12 February.
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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Coming up at Rural Arts in Thirsk
- 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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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.
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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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Fairytales at the bottom of the garden!
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Three unlikely characters from the world of myth and make-believe are among the many names that feature in the 2025 BAMM North mosaic exhibition at RHS gardens at Harlow Carr, Harrogate. Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince, the Greek goddess Persephone and Little Red Riding Hood, plus many more, will be featured in ‘Fable, Folklore and Fairytales’ on from 1 to 23 February, 10am to 4pm daily.
Over 20 members of the regional branch of the British Association for Modern Mosaic have works in the exhibition, including Siobhan Gifford, who lives in Asenby. It is free to enter once you have accessed the gardens. In 2024 almost 30,000 people visited the gardens during the exhibition and almost 400 purchased one of the works.
The photograph above is of Siobhan Gifford with a mosaic in the exhibition called ‘The Stars Were Laughing’, based on Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince.
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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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Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral
- 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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Activities at Thorp Perrow
the new programme of activities for 2025 has been announced. There’s a wide range of events suitable for people of all ages and interests. Check out their website – http://Your Visit (Home) – Thorp Perrow
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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