St Columba’s Services
- TODAY: Sunday 25 May at 10.45am, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson.
- Thursday 29 May at 11am, Morning Prayer to celebrate Ascension Day. Revd. Dawn Ward (or Richard Byas, if Dawn is delayed), followed by fellowship and refreshments.
- Sunday 1 June at 8.30am, ‘Said’ Holy Communion (BCP), Revd Dawn Ward
- Sunday 1 June at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by pre-supper wine and nibbles
- Thursday 5 June at 11am, Morning Prayer, Revd Dawn Ward, followed by fellowship and refreshments
- Sunday 8 June, Festival Choral Eucharist for St Columba’s Day, Father Robert Williamson, followed by refreshments and Village BBQ at 1pm.
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Hambleton District Show
TODAY: Sunday 25 May – The second day of the show at Sutton Park, Sutton-on-the-Forest. It’s the largest horse show in the north of England. Check out: http://www.hambletonshow.com
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Husthwaite Village Open Gardens
TODAY & TOMORROW – Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May between 11am and 5pm – Visit a range of gardens, purchase plants and enjoy refreshments at The Apple Tree cafe for home made sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee. The Hall is wheelchair accessible but some gardens are not. Assistance dogs only in gardens. Adults £5, children free. Tickets from the Village Hall and Village Green stall.
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Toll Booth Update
TODAY is your last opportunity to complete the questionnaire about the Toll Booth. You have until 6pm this evening. After that the results will be collated and made public so that everyone can see exactly how residents feel about the future of this important building. Please click on the link to start the survey and have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Toll-Booth
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Village Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 25 May – the quiz will be held at 8pm in the Village Hall.
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Last Sunday’s challenging quiz was set by Sylvia and won, after a tense decider, by ‘The Four of Us’, namely Peter, Shirley, Sheila and David. Well done the winners and everyone else who took part.
Here are a few of the questions from the quiz to test your knowledge. See the answers at the end of today’s email.
1. Which meringue-based dessert has the same name as a Russian ballet dancer?
2. By what common name is the flower Heartease known?
3. Which country’s international car index mark is PL?
4. In which country are the Drakensberg Mountains?
5. What is the common name of burnt gypsum?
6. Louboutin shoes are famous for having red soles. What did Louboutin use to colour the prototype shoes?
And the decider: How many muscles does a cat have in each ear?
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The Tattler – June edition
The next edition of the Tattler will be out on or before Tuesday 2 June.
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Welcome Pack
Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee has prepared a comprehensive information sheet that is to be offered to all people who move into either Topcliffe or Asenby. It lists important contact details for local organisations and lets people know how to get in touch with the organisers of activities in the two villages. Committee member and Trustee Chrissy Findlay is going to manage the distribution of the Welcome Pack in hard copy or electronic format. As she’s a dog walker, she tends to notice what’s going on, but she would welcome being informed when someone new moves in. She can be called or texted on 07717 795711. See a copy of the Welcome Pack here.
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St Columba’s churchyard
It now seems quite normal to see the churchyard looking immaculate throughout the year, but this is only because of the dedicated efforts of a small number of volunteers who regularly set aside time to keep on top of everything. This is very much appreciated and our thanks go out to Karen, Andrew, Gordon, Shirley, Doug and Linda.
But, as the maintained areas expand and with people being away or unavailable from time to time, it would be very helpful if a few more volunteers were to get involved and put in a shift or two as and when.
The church has been able to fund a self-propelled replacement for one of the two mowers that recently failed, though this may yet be repaired to bring our total to three! If you would like to talk further about getting involved, please get in touch with John Phillips on 01845 577034. Finally, a big thankyou again to those who responded so generously to the recent appeal for gardening equipment.
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Asenby Parish Council
The Parish Council will hold an annual parish meeting on Tuesday 27 May and the next normal Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 4 June. Both will be held at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
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Soup & Sweet Lunch
The next Soup and Sweet lunch will be held on Wednesday 28 May from 11.30am to 1pm. There’ll be hearty soup choices with a selection of sandwiches, cakes 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.
The last lunch held on Wednesday 14 May saw 36 lunches served and donations totalling £106. The sum of £50 was presented to the Animal Rescue Crew charity and after expenses, the balance was added to the Warm Hub Community Fund.
Don’t forget that residents of Topcliffe and Asenby can have lunch delivered if they are housebound – either on a short-term basis because of illness, or longer-term. If you wish to have a delivery please get in touch with Karen Morley on 01845 577426.
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Base Camps
This coming half term sees more adventures at Base Camp, located the beautiful parkland at Baldersby Park near Topcliffe.
- Wednesday 28 May – wild science with Becca Clarkson – natural science experiments outdoors.
- Thursday 29 May – archery with the Thirsk Bowmen – expert tuition with real arrows.
Book via the website at: https://basecamplearning.co.uk/
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Art Classes at the Village Hall
The dates of the latest art classes and Evening Zoom online classes have been announced by art teacher Becky Thompson.
Regular Monday morning classes
The next block of six Monday morning classes in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall will start on Monday 2 June. There’s an early bird offer for anyone who books online before Friday 23rd May. If you can’t make daytime classes, consider joining the Monday evening online class via Zoom.
Tuesday evening classes at Thirsk Town Hall
Some people may wish to attend Becky’s evening classes held in Thirsk Town Hall. They start on Tuesday 3 June, are held from 6.30 to 8.30pm and also run for six weeks.
Book online at https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/product-category/workshops
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Road Resurfacing in Thirsk area
There’s a whole batch of resurfacing jobs being undertaken in the Thirsk area starting 2 June. The road closures may well impact on journeys made to and from Topcliffe.
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Station Road
Drivers are advised that the resurfacing of the A61 Station Road in Thirsk will begin on Monday 2 June and take 25 weekdays to complete. Work will take place in three phases:
- Phase one – from Monday 2 June to Friday 20 June. Two-way traffic lights between 9.30am and 3:30pm.
- Phase two – from Friday 6 June to Monday 16 June. A full road closure between 9pm and 5am between the B1448 to the roundabout at Tesco/Lidl.
- Phase three – from Friday 13 June to Friday 4 July. A full road closure between 7pm and midnight between Tesco/Lidl and the Railway Bridge.
A61 at Skipton-on-Swale
Resurfacing work on the A61 at Skipton-on-Swale will start on Monday 2 June, for five weekdays.
The road will be closed between 7:30am and 5pm. A fully signed diversion will be in place.
A19 at Bagby Crossroads
Resurfacing work on the A19 at Bagby Crossroads will begin on Tuesday 3 June lasting for five weeknights. The road will be closed from 9pm until 5am during this work. A fully signed diversion will be in place.
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St Columba’s Day Celebrations
Events are being planned to celebrate St Columba’s Day – our church’s Patron Saint – on Sunday 8 June.
• 10.45am – Feast of Pentecost & Patronal Festival, Holy Communion, Father Robert Williamson with members of the choir leading the singing.
• From 1.15pm (approximately) – a BBQ in the churchyard and church hall will serve sausages, burgers, chicken and vegetarian options, plus salads and puddings. This is open to all so please do come along and join us and, if you can, please bring a salad or pudding to share, plus whatever you might like to drink, though wine and soft drinks will also be available. Donations, if desired, will help towards costs and also support St Columba’s.
• From 2.30pm – the Tower will be open for escorted tours to the very top to admire the remarkable views. These will take place every half hour or so but, as numbers for each assent are limited, you may need to be patient. For safety reasons children under the age of 10 are not allowed and please be aware there is a fixed ladder for the final ascent.
• There will be displays in church describing aspects of its history and guided tours of the building will be offered. Teas will be served later in the afternoon and donations of cakes, scones or sandwiches would be very much appreciated.
• At 6pm the day will close with Compline, a short service of readings and prayers (15 mins)
We would really love to see as many as possible coming to enjoy some or all of what is on offer: it should be a great day of food and fun, especially if the sun shines!
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Topcliffe Parish Council
The next meeting of Topcliffe Parish Council will be on Thursday 3 July at 7pm in Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
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A proper Yorkshire Do!
The Angel Inn will soon be celebrating its first birthday: it’s a year since reopening after its major refurbishment. And in true Yorkshire style, they’re planning a proper Yorkshire Do! The big celebration starts 7pm on Friday 4 July and party goers might consider dressing in traditional Yorkshire attire. Think flat caps, Schoffels and Fairfax & Favour! There will be prizes to be won so don’t hold back. Early bird tickets, priced £19.95, are on sale until Friday 6 June. After that, the price increases to £24.95 – so don’t delay. Book online at http://bit.ly/4kC50Yy Alternatively you can pop into the main bar to buy your tickets. Your ticket includes a luxury BBQ feast, live country music, giant outdoor games and a few surprises too! Strictly over 16s. Well behaved dogs welcome.
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Chip ‘n’ Dales
The Chip ‘n’ Dales fish and chip van is now back in Topcliffe every Friday 5 to 7pm.
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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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Rural Arts Summer Programme
Thirsk-based Rural Arts summer programme contains a fantastic mix of workshops, craft and art classes, musical events and performance. There’s something for all age groups – from children’s pre-school activities through to ‘those of a certain age’. The programme is too large to list in the Sunday Email but you can check out what’s on by popping in to The Courthouse on Westgate or checking out their website: https://www.ruralarts.org/whats-on/
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The Ritz Cinema
- Thunderbolts* – to Thursday 29 May – matinee Wednesday 28 May.
- The Salt Path – Friday 30 May to Thursday 5 June – matinee Wednesday 4 June.
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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Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
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 27 May 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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Dishfest
DishFest is making a grand return this summer with a new-look festival on Saturday 31 May. The organisers are cranking it up with fresh musicians, a DJ extravaganza, and a whole new setup that’ll make your heart sing. Get ready for an afternoon into the evening filled with music, street food, beer marquee with seating and good vibes. It will all take place on the afternoon and through to the evening, on the Dishforth Playing Fields. Bring your own table and chairs, but please do not bring your own alcohol on site.
Tickets are limited and the event did sell out last year, so don’t leave it too late to book. Go online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dishfest-2025-tickets-1288240896199?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
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Thirsk Farmers’ Market
To be held in the Market Place, Thirsk on Sunday 1 June between 9am and 2pm. All stallholders are local independent businesses who grow, rear or produce the food or drink on their stall. They’re passionate about what they do and it shows.
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Thirsk Racing
An afternoon of racing at Thirsk Racecourse on Friday 6 June. Gates open 11am, First and last race times to be confirmed. From £18, Family £25, Seniors £12, Child (0-17) Free. Tickets online (cheapest) from: http://www.thirskracecourse.net
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Byland Abbey Tours
Byland Abbey is open through to October. Volunteers at the English Heritage site will normally be on site, and the museum open, from 1pm to 5pm every Friday to Monday. And abbey tours, lasting about an hour, will take place at 2pm every Saturday and Sunday. These tours are free and do not need to be booked. There are also some special events coming up:
- Great Big Green Week – Sunday 8 June
- Festival of Archaeology – Sunday 27 July
For more information about this famous abbey and the tours, please contact sam.macfie@english-heritage.org.uk
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North Yorkshire County Show
A wonderful day awaits for the whole family at the North Yorkshire County Agricultural Show being staged at South Otterington Hall on Sunday the 15 June. An unmissable celebration of Yorkshire country life will unfold with animals galore, crafts / food and a whole lot more. https://www.northyorkshireshow.co.uk/
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Music at Junction 50
The programme for this year’s concert series at Baldersby St James Church has been announced. The first, on Thursday 19 June at 7pm, features the Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet. Then on Thursday 17 July the JKL Duo will appear, also at 7pm. See full details here.
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Northallerton Vintage Vehicle Display
The Vintage Vehicle and 1940s Extravaganza on Northallerton’s High Street will be staged on Sunday 22 June. Step back in time and enjoy a fantastic day filled with classic vehicles, vintage vibes and 1940s nostalgia.
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Ripon Theatre Festival
Get ready for a joyful celebration of live performance, bursting with theatre, music, dance, storytelling, puppetry, and plenty of laughs during this year’s Ripon Theatre Festival. The spectacular event is fast becoming a highlight of the region’s cultural calendar—welcoming audiences of all ages with a programme that’s packed with high-quality performances, friendly faces, and magical moments. Save the dates: 1 to 6 July. See the full programme here: https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ripon-Theatre-Festival-2025-interactive.pdf
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Concerts and Events at Ripon Cathedral
- Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 18 July at 7.30pm.
- U2 by Candlelight – Friday 8 August at 7.30pm.
- Tina Turner by Candlelight – Friday 19 September at 7.30pm.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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Thirsk Hall history and architecture tours
House & Architecture tour of Thirsk Hall led by historian Dr Helen Metcalfe on Friday 25 July at 2.30pm. Please note that the number of tickets available is very limited and that tickets for the last tour sold out very quickly. Get yours, priced £20 from https://shop.beyonk.com/8p9ern3j/experiences/08docpwq
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Quiz answers
1. Pavlova
2. Pansy
3. Poland
4. South Africa
5. Plaster of Paris
6. He used his personal assistant’s nail polish.
The decider: A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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