Sunday Email: Issue 305

Doug Allan
07785 223707
doug@dougallan.co.uk

• TODAY: Sunday 8 March at 10.45am – Holy Communion, followed by refreshments. 
• Wednesday 11 March at 7pm – Compline for Lent
• Thursday 12 March at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer
• Sunday 15 March (Mothering Sunday) at 10.45am – Sung Matins, followed by refreshments
• Wednesday 18 March at 7pm – Compline for Lent
• Thursday 19 March at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments
• Sunday 22 March at 10.45am – Holy Communion, followed by refreshments
• Wednesday 25 March at 7pm – Compline for Lent
• Thursday 26 March at 11am – Midweek Morning Prayer, followed by refreshments
• Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday) – No Service at Topcliffe (5th Sunday) but there’ll be a Benefice Service at Baldersby St James at 10.30am.

1. Name the two team captains in the long-running BBC satirical show. ‘Have I Got News For You’.
2. What is the capital of Azerbaijan?
3. What geological formation has a ‘basket of eggs’ topography?
4. Who plays the character of Jimmy McGill, later known as Saul Goodman, in the popular ‘Breaking Bad’ series and its prequel ‘Better Call Saul’?
5. Who was the singer in the folk rock group Stealers Wheel who had a big hit with the song ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ in 1973 and, for an extra point, what was the name of his even bigger solo hit in 1978?
6. In the TV series, The Simpsons, who is the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant?
7. In which US state is the city of Spokane?
8. Clove oil is a natural, short-term remedy for what?
9. What is the cube root of 343?
10. What is the largest and most populated town in Shropshire?

Anyone living outside of the two villages who wishes to receive a copy by email, should get in touch with the Editor, Doug Allan – doug@dougallan.co.uk

This year’s show will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 29 August. This year there are 88 classes, an increase of four on previous years. The new classes are – Pork Pies in the Baking category, woodworking in hobbies/handicrafts and examples of handwriting for adults and children.

There is also a brand new trophy – The Ray Fothergill Cucumber Cup, a special trophy donated by Joan Fothergill in memory of her husband Ray, who was a great supporter of the Produce Show, who sadly passed away last year.

There are five categories, including:
•              47 classes in the Horticultural section.
•              18 classes in the baking/jams/preserves and pickles category.
•              3 floral classes.
•              13 classes in the hobbies/handicrafts section
•              7 specific classes that only children can enter.
 
The full list of categories and classes, plus the show rules and timings on the day, are available on both village websites – http://www.asenby.net  and http://www.topcliffe.org.uk  or requested from Show Secretary Judith Lowe at lowepeter46@hotmail.com or by calling 01845 577911.

At the Parish Council meeting last Thursday evening, councillors said it is decision time for the building and they will soon be circulating a letter outlining the issues, along with potential costs, to all households in Topcliffe costs to ascertain residents views about the next steps. The letter will seek a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ mandate for future action, which basically means spend the necessary money or attempt to dispose of the building.

When asked about what would happen to the snooker club if a decision is taken to sell the building, the Chair of the Parish Council indicated that options for relocation to other sites would be considered and the Council would help in any way it could.

Topcliffe parish councillors will be available at the Village Hall Open Day & Brunch on Sunday 22 March to discuss the recent Toll Booth survey and its implications for the future of the building.

Maggie and Dave Mathews this week revealed that The Angel Inn Topcliffe was crowned Yorkshire Pub of the Year 2026 at the My Local Awards. Naturally they and their team are absolutely over the moon at the achievement. Maggie said: “This award means the world to us and wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team and every single one of our amazing customers who support us week in, week out. Thank you for your votes, your visits, and for making The Angel Inn what it is – a proper Yorkshire local.”

Congratulations to the whole team.

Royal Mail is introducing 3,500 solar-powered postboxes across the UK, ripping out the iconic look of the red pillar boxes that have punctuated Britain’s streets for nearly two centuries. That includes the postbox outside Topcliffe Post Office. 

In the new design, solar panels on the top of the postboxes power a digitally-activated drawer, allowing customers to deposit small parcels. Items as large as a shoebox can be posted in the pillar boxes, in what Royal Mail says is the “biggest redesign in its 175-year history”.
 
The change comes as Royal Mail is struggling in the face of competition from other delivery companies. 

You can meet BBC York presenters during a live broadcast from Thirsk Garden Centre on Monday, 9 March. Presenter Joanita Musisi will be broadcasting live from 10am until 2pm, talking about the 2026 BBC Make a Difference Awards, and chatting to guests who have gone above and beyond to make a difference to the Thirsk community. Also visiting will be Freya Cox, the York-based vegan baker from The Great British Bake Off.

Last week’s lunch saw 50 meals served and a charitable donation of £50 was made to Herriot Hospice in Thirsk.

There’s no set charge for Warm Hub meals but donations are requested to help pay the cost of hiring the Village Hall and for essential food and drink items that must be purchased for each lunch. The organisers don’t receive grant support or surplus food from supermarkets: everything is bought and paid for, cooked and brought into the hall by volunteers, many of whom are senior citizens themselves.

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.

• Land and Sea in Acrylics: Be inspired by Georges Seurat and paint your own canvas on Thursday 19 March between 10am and 1pm.
• Weekly Classes: Monday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. The next block of six starts after Easter on the Monday 13 April. These inspirational and fun sessions. Check out the ‘early bird’ offer on Becky’s website. Beginners are welcome.
• Spring Retreat Pastels Experience: Celebrate Spring by painting with soft pastels to create inspired scenes and floral displays, landscapes and gardens. Thursday 23 April, 10am to 3pm.
• Spring Retreat Paint in Oils: Tropical Flowers in Oils. A true pop of colours and contrasts against more traditional dark backgrounds. Friday 24 April from 10am to 1pm.

Also

• Welcoming Lights’ – lighthouses, lanterns or fairy-lights in acrylics – Friday 17 April, 10am to 2pm at Thirsk Town Hall.

For more information and to make a booking, check out the website at https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/

With the arrival of spring there’s a need to restart the regular grounds maintenance to ensure that we keep on top of things. As in past years, a series of Saturday working parties is being planned. These will be held between 9.30am and noon on Saturday 21 and 28 March.

They are open to all who would like to offer an hour or two to help the spring tidy up and also continue progress on reclaiming the lower terraces. Please join in if you can.

In the longer term, it’s hoped that one or two more volunteers might join the regular grass-cutting team. The old adage that ‘a job shared is a job halved’ seems appropriate here!

Special thanks go to Malc Morley who has very kindly given the maintenance team’s two mowers their annual service, which would otherwise be quite a drain on church funds.

As part of this year’s national Village Halls’ Week event, Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall Committee has agreed to hold a Brunch and Open Day on Sunday 22 March between 10.30am and 1pm. Karen Morley and her wonderful team will serve the usual delicious breakfast buns and other refreshments throughout the event. Both Topcliffe Parish Council and Asenby Parish Council have agreed to be present to meet residents from our two villages.

Topcliffe parish councillors will be available to discuss the recent survey of the Toll Booth and its implications for the future of the building.

There will also be displays by a number of user groups including the indoor carpet bowls group, boccia club and the regular art class. The slide presentation depicting the whole range of Village Hall activities has been updated and will be presented on the large screen throughout the day. More elements may be added to this event over the next few weeks. 

• Living Wreath Class – Sunday 22 March between 3 and 5pm.
• Spring Table Centre Workshop – Friday 27 March between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Check out their website for more details: http://www.thecattonkitchen.co.uk

There’s egg-traordinary adventures happening at Base Camp this Easter holiday and booking are now being taken. There’s an adventure to suit everyone…wild science, forest school creativity, archery with the Thirsk Bowmen, plus foraging and making food, wild art, Easter treasure hunt and lots of play and games. Sessions are on from 30 March to 10 April. All supervised by experienced and qualified staff. Base Camp is located at Baldersby Park, 90 acres of private country parkland close to Topcliffe. experienced, qualified staff.http:// https://www.basecamplearning.co.uk/

Resurfacing work will take place on the southbound carriageway of  A1 between junction 52 Catterick and junction 50 Ripon in two phases over the next few months. Work will be carried out as follows: 

• Phase 1: to 11 April (Leeming Bar to Ripon)
• Phase 2: 13 April – 16 May (Catterick to Leeming Bar)

There’ll be a series of overnight (8pm to 6am) full southbound carriageway closures. When closures are in operation, diversions will be via A6055. A temporary 50mph speed limit will be in operation for the full duration of the work.

You can expect to see local flora and fauna, familiar views and wild and wonderful interpretations of the theme from these members of the British Association for Modern Mosaic which includes local artist Siobhan Gifford from Asenby. This hugely popular exhibition is manned daily by the mosaicists themselves who are always happy to answer any questions you may have about this art form or to offer advice on workshops in the area if you are inspired to have a go yourself. There will be mosaic kits for sale along with various other small mosaics, cards and the like in the pop-up shop. Entrance to The Bath House is free once you have accessed the gardens.

• Wuthering Heights – to Thursday 12 March. Matinee Wednesday 11 March.
• The Secret Agent – Friday 13 to Thursday 19 March – no matinee.
• Kangaroo – Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March at 2.30pm.
• If I had legs I’d kick you – Friday 20 to Thursday 26 March – no matinee.
• Hamlet – National Theatre Live – Friday 27 March.
• Mother’s Pride – Saturday 28 March to Thursday 2 April. Matinee on Wednesday 1 April.
• The Audience – National Theatre Live – Friday 24 April.

Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.

London Mountain Adventure Film Festival
Though the core of these festival films are bold exploits and derring-do there is much more besides with contemplative works and the beauty of the outdoors.  Please don’t think “this isn’t for me”. If you are a climber, a biker, a skier, or a boarder, you will certainly not be disappointed; however, if you are none of these, you can still enjoy the grandeur of the natural habitat and the touching human tales told. Sunday evenings 8, 15 and 22 March. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Full details of the content for each night are detailed on the Ritz website. Each week is a totally different showreel. Each is approximately 90 minutes duration, category 12A and standard Ritz ticket price. Tickets can be booked online now or on the door on the night.

Events at Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Thirsk

• Fused Glass Sun Catchers – Embrace the springtime sunshine and make a colourful fused glass sun catcher on this half-day workshop with Rachel from The Glass Forge. Wednesday 11 March, 1:30pm-4:30pm. £75.
• Needle Felt Birds – Learn needle felting with artist Claire Ford and craft charming winter birds. Explore shaping, blending, and detailing techniques to create a unique handmade decoration to take home. Friday 13 March, 10.30am – 1.30pm. £35.
• Clay Workshop & Afternoon Tea:  Join Rebecca Norris, the talented artist behind The Clay Place and a celebrated contestant on The Great Pottery Throwdown, for inspiring three-hour ceramics workshop this Mother’s Day weekend. Saturday 14 March, 10:30am – 3:00pm. £90.
• Spring Woods in Watercolour: This full day workshop is suitable for you whether you have some experience of watercolour and would like to explore new techniques, or a total beginner. Minimal drawing experience required! The emphasis of the workshop is very much on play and experimentation. Thursday 19 March 10.30am to 3:30pm. £90.
• Exhibition Screening Turner/Constable: Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, this unmissable new documentary explores Turner and Constable’s intertwined lives and legacies alongside the groundbreaking Tate exhibition. Friday 20 March, 7pm. £12 or £10 concession.
• Observing the Seasons – Spring: Enjoy the emerging of new life as the days get lighter in this two-hour workshop led by artist Dove Armistead. Explore the colours of the shifting seasons with the uplifting blooms and buds of spring. Saturday 21 March from 1 – 3.30pm or Wednesday 25 March from 10.30am to 1pm. £25.

Buy tickets online at https://www.ruralarts.org/

• The Music of Whitney – The Candlelight Concert – Friday 13 March at 7.30pm.
• The Music of Ed Sheeran by Candlelight – Friday 10 April at 7.30pm.
• Pink Floyd by Candlelight – performed by What the Floyd? – Friday 5 June at 7.30pm.
• The Music of Coldplay by Candlelight – Friday 19 June at 7.30pm.

Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

1. Ian Hislop and Paul Merton
2. Baku
3. Drumlin Field
4. Bob Odenkirk
5. Gerry Rafferty
6. Mr Burns (Charles Montgomery Burns)
7. Washington
8. Toothache
9. 7
10. Telford.