St Columba’s regular services
- TODAY: Sunday 4 October at 8.30am Said Holy Communion (BCP)
- And this evening at 6.30pm, Choral Evensong, followed by wine and pre-supper nibbles
- Thursday 8 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.
- Sunday 11 October at 10.45am, Holy Communion
- Thursday 15 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer
- Sunday 18 October at 10.45am, Sung Matins
- Thursday 22 October at 11am, Midweek Morning Prayer.
Refreshments follow Sunday and Thursday services, but not the Sunday 8.30am Said Holy Communion.
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Thirsk Farmers’ Market
TODAY: Sunday 4 October between 9am and 2pm, Thirsk Farmers’ Market will be held in Thirsk Market Place. 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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The Sunday Quiz
TONIGHT: Sunday 4 October – the quiz will take place at 8pm this evening in the Village Hall. All welcome.
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An excellent quiz last Sunday prepared and presented by Jean (her first since the days when the quiz was held at The Angel). The winners were Roger, Judith, Chloe and David. Well done to them and everyone else who took part.
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Here’s a selection of questions from the quiz. The answers are at the end of today’s email.
1. Which iconic London building built in 1873 this year celebrates 90 years’ association with the BBC?
2. In 1620 the Pilgrims sailed from which UK port?
3. What’s the name of the Scottish Castle in which the TV show Traitors is formed?
4. What was the name given to De Gaulle’s WW2 forces.
5. Which combat sport takes place on a piste?
6. In which European city was the Archduke Ferdinand assassinated?
7. Who is the patron saint of music?
8. Which adult singing voice is lower than a tenor but higher than bass?
9. What does an odometer measure?
10. Which king seated on a throne features in the opening scans on Bayeux Tapestry?
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Padre Henry Afful leaves Alanbrooke Barracks
The man that has worked hard over the last couple of years to increase links between the Army at Alanbrooke Barracks and the village of Topcliffe is leaving the area to take up a new posting in the south of England.
During his time at Alanbrooke, Padre Henry Afful actively sought to improve and deepen relationships between villagers and the 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery. In the run up to Armistice Day last November, he organised for soldiers to form working parties to tackle a variety of maintenance jobs around the village and particularly at St Columba’s Church. Then on Armistice Day itself, troops marched from the Barracks to the church in atrocious weather to join Topcliffe and Asenby residents at a service of remembrance. That was one of the few occasions in recent years that St Columba’s was packed to overflowing!
With his trademark smile and endless enthusiasm, Padre Henry demonstrated a passionate interest in improving relations between barracks and villages, always reminding people that the barracks are located within the parish of Topcliffe.
To mark his imminent departure, Padre Henry invited a few villagers for lunch in the Officer’s Mess. Doug Allan and John and Clare Phillips went along. Unfortunately, Parish Chair Jamie Moores had to pull out at the last moment and Rev Dawn Ward was busy with another engagement.
We wish Padre Henry and his family all the very best in his new posting and new ‘home’. Topcliffe will miss him, but the camp commander, Colonel Tom Hargeaves promised that camp/village relationships would continue to grow and improve.
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Two Parish Councils seek new councillors
Topcliffe Parish Council is looking for applications from residents of the parish for a co-opted councillor vacancy. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in local matters, be available to attend monthly meetings and actively participate in the work of the Parish Council. Interested parties should apply in writing or via email by Saturday 31 October to The Parish Clerk outlining the reasons they wish to be considered, including any skills and experiences they would bring to the role. Either email
parishclerk@topcliffe.org.uk or write to Alexandra Robson, Clerk to Topcliffe Parish Council, Town Hall, Westgate, Thirsk, YO7 1QS
Asenby Parish Council also continues its search for a volunteer resident who is willing to be co-opted as a new councillor. Anyone who might be interested is asked to message Parish Clerk, Colin Grimston, to set up an informal chat – clerk@asenbyparish.gov.uk
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First call for bookings for Seniors’ Christmas lunch
Bookings are now open for places at the annual Senior Citizen’s Christmas lunch in the Village Hall. The date has been set as Tuesday 15 December and the price this year for a three-course festive lunch is £18.
There’ll be a choice of prawn cocktail or pate for starters; turkey or pork with all the traditional vegetables for main course; and choice of Christmas pudding or trifle for sweet. Wine will be served with the meal and tea or coffee and mince pies afterwards.
Following last year’s extremely well-received entertainment, courtesy of the Cherry Tones, the duo has been invited back for an encore performance. The Cherry Tones are a vintage vocal harmony duo who love all things retro. They perform a wide range of favourite classic vintage songs in harmony with an upbeat edge. They’re guaranteed to get everyone singing and dancing along.
All this for just £18! Senior citizens are encouraged to book their place as soon as possible as numbers that can be catered for are limited. Contact organiser Judith Lowe on 01845 577911 or 07526 354445.
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Topcliffe School – key diary dates
- Tuesday 13 October – Parent Conversation Meetings, 3.30 – 6pm
- Wednesday, 14 October – Pupil School Photographs
- Tuesday, 20th October – Harvest Service at St Columba’s Church at 2.15pm
- Thursday, 22 October – School closes for half term
- Monday, 2 November – School re-opens for second half of Autumn Term
- Monday, 9 November – Service Children’s Festival of Remembrance at Ripon Cathedral (KS2 pupils)
- Wednesday, 11 November – SATs Parents Information Evening, 5.30 – 6pm
- Friday, 13 November – Children in Need Day
- Friday, 27 November – FOTS Christmas Fair
- Monday, 14 December – Carol Service at St Columba’s Church at 2pm
- Thursday, 17 December – Christmas Dinner & Christmas Jumper Day
- Thursday, 17 December – School Closes for Christmas Holidays
- Tuesday, 5 January – School re-opens for Spring Term.
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Household Waste Recycling Centres
All of North Yorkshire Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are now operating on winter opening hours of 8:30am to 4pm. They’re open every day except Wednesdays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
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Urgent fraud warning after dozens of reports of scam calls
Over the last week, North Yorkshire Police say they have received more than 50 reports from the public about a scam in which criminals pose as police officers in an attempt to obtain personal and financial information.
Victims report receiving calls from individuals claiming to be police officers involved in an investigation. In some cases, callers have provided fictitious crime reference numbers and other seemingly credible information to make them appear genuine.
The callers appear to be using “spoofing” technology to make calls appear as though they originate from legitimate phone numbers linked to North Yorkshire Police. Similar incidents have been reported across the country, with fraudsters also impersonating officers from other forces.
They’re trying to persuade victims to reveal sensitive information relating to their finances, banking arrangements or cryptocurrency holdings, or to transfer funds under the guise of protecting them from criminal activity.
So, please be very careful how you deal with unsolicited calls…and if you have elderly relatives or neighbours, please make sure they are aware of this type of scam. |
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Taste Awards for Best Yorkshire Pub
The Angel Inn at Topcliffe has been listed as a finalist in the 2026 Taste Awards for Best Yorkshire Pub. With a record number of entries this year, being named amongst the finalists means a huge amount to Dave, Maggie and their hard-working team. From busy Sundays and summer nights in the garden to the food coming out of the kitchen and the pints poured at the bar, reaching this final is very much a team effort. The award winners will be announced in November.
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Baldersby Book Sale
The annual book sale held at Baldersby St James last month raised a massive £5,000, which will be boosted to around £6,000 once gift aid is taken into account. The organisers have once again thanked everyone who helped make the event happen and all those who went along to support it. The funds raised will help keep the beautiful church in good condition.
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Cross Talk
The October issue of the church newsletter Cross Talk is now out. You can read it here.
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Chip & Dales
Paul and Karen will not be serving fish and chips in Topcliffe on Friday 9 October.
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Art classes
The following special one-off classes are planned and anyone interested in attending is invited to get in touch:
- Autumn Flora and fauna: Nature’s Table. Using water colours, acrylics, charcoal or pencil to create studies of local nature. Sutton Bank Nature Hub on Thursday 8 October, 10am ’til 1pm or 10am ’til 3pm. Only 10 places available. £60 pp.
- Paint and Relax with Monet! – Friday 16 October 6.30 to 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
- Paint a Glass Vase/Storm Lantern – create beautiful floral designs in gorgeous colours. Thursday 5 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
- Paint an autumn sunset with bright reflections and beautiful hues. Friday 6 November between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk Town Hall.
- Painting in Acrylics: Sparkly winter landscapes and fun festive scenes. Learn how to add silver and gold leaf to enhance your painting. Thursday 3 December between 10am and 1pm at Topcliffe Village Hall.
- Seasonal Special crafts experience: creating and painting baubles, paper Nordic stars and glass hanging tealights. Friday 4 December between 6.30 and 9.30pm at Thirsk town Hall. Only 15 spaces available. £45.
All classes are friendly and non-competitive, allowing participants to proceed at their own speed. For more information and to book classes online, go to https://rebeccajayneartist.co.uk/
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Following the success of the coffee morning on 26 September to raise funds to support the Tattler and Sunday Email, the Coffee Morning Team will be organising two more events this year to support local organisations. They are:
- Wednesday 28 October – 10.30am to 12 noon – to assist with the running costs of the Boccia Club, which provides exercise and coordination activities for elderly villagers.
- Saturday 5 December (date changed from 21 November to avoid a clash with a similar event being held at The Angel Inn) – between 10.30am and 12 noon – to raise funds for the Topcliffe-based Blue Cross animal shelter and re-homing centre.
The former Warm Hub team is discussing the idea of putting on occasional ‘winter warmer’ lunchtime get-togethers in the new year at which a delicious dish of homemade soup and sausage rolls will be served, along with coffee tea and biscuits. More details in due course.
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Topcliffe and Asenby residents are invited to a special Halloween party in the Village Hall on Saturday 31 October from 7pm for a night of fun and games, music and laughter. Children are welcome to attend, but only if accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian.
Everyone attending is asked to take along a sharing plate of spooky food and guests are asked to note that this is a Bring Your Own Drinks event. Some of the games will be charged at £1, so please have plenty of change if you can. It would be great to see your fancy dress outfits, but it is optional.
Tickets are just £2.50 per person and they’re available from Topcliffe Post Office or from Sheila Squires at Swaleside Holiday Park on 07803 008461. Any surplus funds will be shared equally between the Village Hall and the Blue Cross Rehoming Centre at Topcliffe.
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Flying Oysters at the Village Hall
The Flying Oysters will be returning to Topcliffe on Saturday 7 November. Organiser Doug Allan promises another fantastic evening of music and dancing, along with an excellent supper consisting of pie and peas and a pudding.
Expert raffle organiser, Chrissy Findlay, is organising the raffle at the event and is already bringing together a fantastic selection of prizes donated by local businesses and organisation.
All funds raised will help support the Village Hall. Tickets, priced £15, are now on sale at Topcliffe Post Office and from Doug Allan…and they are already selling fast!
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Christmas Fair in Topcliffe
The annual Christmas Fair at Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall will be held on Saturday 14 November between 10am and 1pm. All the available stalls have been allocated and there’ll be a wide selection of local traders and organisations hoping to tempt you to purchase Christmas and other items. The catering team will be putting on a Brunch with bacon rolls, cakes, tea, coffee and squashes. There’ll also be a raffle. All funds raised will go to the Village Hall fund.
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Auction Night to raise cash for Topcliffe School
The Friends of Topcliffe Schools are organising a grand auction to raise funds for Topcliffe CoE Primary School. It’s on Saturday 5 December between 6 and 10pm at Dalton Village Hall and it promises to be an amazing evening of entertainment, fun, food, music and fundraising. There’s some fantastic auction lots. Tickets, priced at £25 per person, include food and welcome drink, and are available from Amie on 07576 179 0009.
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The Ritz Cinema
- Bad Apples – to Thursday 8 October – no matinees.
- Heart of the Beast – Friday 9 to Thursday 15 October – no matinees.
- Sense & Sensibility – Friday 16 to Thursday 22 October – Matinee on Wednesday 21 October.
- Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom – Friday 23 to Thursday 29 October – matinees on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October.
- National Theatre Live: Golden Boy – Friday 6 November. 7.30pm
Evening shows start at 7.30pm. Matinees at 2.30pm.
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Coffee and Chat
Every Tuesday from 10am in the church at Baldersby St James. Please drop in to church for coffee and a feast of home-made scones and biscuits. Jigsaws always available to borrow.
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The Thirsk Friends of the Lambert Hospice
Friends of the Lambert Hospice are holding several fundraising lunches, with guest speakers, in partnership with The Angel Inn at Topcliffe.
- The autumn lunch will be on Thursday 8 October
- The winter lunch will be on Thursday 3 December.
Details, times and prices are at http://.www.thirskfriendsofthelamberthospice.org The funds are needed to support end of life and palliative care services in the area.
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Events at Rural Arts
Here is basic information about events coming up at The Old Courthouse in Thirsk. Check out the website for more details and booking information – http://www.ruralarts.org
Ceramic Pumpkins and Cider: Friday 9 October between 7 – 9pm. Celebrate the cosy charm of autumn with an evening of creativity, conversation and a warming glass of cider. In this workshop, you’ll hand-build your own unique ceramic pumpkin using clay, learning simple techniques to shape and decorate your design. 7pm – 9pm.
Bookmarked: Batty!: Saturday 10 October at 7.30pm. Have you got a wild side? Batty has, she dreams of running barefoot, wild swimming, of talking trees, strange animals and the scent of the seasons turning. In fact, she’s starting to wonder if she might be a witch.
Beautiful Botanicals: Collagraph Printing: Saturday 10 October between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Join York-based printmaker, Yvonne Hoggarth, for a creative and inspiring workshop making botanical prints using natural materials such as leaves, stems and seedheads.
Stained Glass Indoor Mosaic Plaque: Friday 16 October between 10.30am and 4.30pm. An exciting opportunity to work with stained glass to create a unique mosaic plaque (22cm sq) using the direct method for indoor display. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to expand their knowledge using this versatile material. Lots of colours to choose from.
Thirlby Art Group Exhibition: Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 October between 10am and 4pm. Free entry. Bringing together work from 15 artists, the exhibition presents an eclectic selection of paintings, art prints, linocuts, watercolours, pastels and more. With such a wide variety of styles, subjects and media on display, there is sure to be something to capture every visitor’s imagination. All works for sale.
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Thirsk Artisan Market
Sunday 18 October between 10am and 3pm. On the Market Place, Thirsk – an artisan market that wants to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunities to showcase and sell their handmade goods.
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Church supports RNLI
On Wednesday 21 October St John the Evangelist Church in Dalton will hold a coffee morning in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It will be at Dalton Village Hall between 10.30am and 12 noon. No set charge, but donations gratefully received.
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Thirsk Repair Cafe
Be greener by avoiding waste and save money by letting a team of dedicated and talented volunteers try to repair your broken or worn-out items. At Thirsk Library on Meadowfields. The cost is a voluntary donation. Saturday 24 October from 10am to 1pm, last repair 12.30pm.
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Concerts at Ripon Cathedral
- The Music of Adele by Candlelight – Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm.
- The Rozzers – Saturday 31 October at 7.30pm.
- Motown by Candlelight – Friday 27 November at 7.30pm.
- The Rat Pack – A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight – Friday 4 December at 7.30pm.
- G4 Christmas – Saturday 5 December at 7.30pm.
Book online at https://riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/
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Live comedy comes to Sessay Village Hall
The Laughing Pug Comedy Show is coming to Sessay Village Hall on Saturday 24 October with the brilliant Paul Tonkinson, Helen White, Fran Garrity & Chris Lumb. The show will start at 7pm (doors open from 6pm) and tickets are £15. There’ll be a fully licensed bar available on the night. Follow this link for tickets and further information:
Sessay Village Hall Comedy Night at Sessay Village Hall event tickets from TicketSource
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The Yorkshire Flea Market
At Thirsk Auction Mart on Sunday 25 October between 15am and 4pm. Around 100 dealers in antiques and vintage items. Free parking, cafe. See website for more details:
http://www.antiquesfairs.com/thirsk.html
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Family Pumpkin Night
Experience the magic of The Great Yorkshire Pumpkin Patch after dark! at Monk Park Farm on Sunday 25 October between 5.30 and 8.30pm. Enjoy evening farm admission, thousands of pumpkins, entertainment, carnival games, pumpkin carving and fantastic family photo opportunities. Delicious food and drinks available. Wrap up warm and enjoy an unforgettable autumn evening. Prices starting from £3pp. Tickets: online or on the door.
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Perfectly Spooky Halloween Ghost Walk
From the Clock Tower, Thirsk Market Place on Saturday 31 October at 6pm. Enjoy a wonderful autumn treat this Halloween and explore the old haunted streets of Thirsk and hear ancient tales of history and ghosts with the Historic Experiences team. A 75 minute tour of spooky places, legends and creepy tales. The tour is led by Tina, an archaeologist, tour producer and writer of over 30 years who is passionate about bringing
the past to life! After exploring Thirsk end the evening with a delicious hot chocolate at a historic location. Price £16.96.
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Dalton Christmas Fair
The village’s Christmas Fair will be held in the village hall on Saturday 28 November between 10am until 12 noon, a week earlier than our usual date. There will be various stalls, tombola, a visit from Santa for the children, and bacon butties on sale.
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Quiz answers
1. Alexandra Palace
2. Plymouth
3. Andross Castle
4. Free French
5. Fencing
6. Sarajevo
7. St Cecilia
8. Baritone
9. Distance
10. Edward the Confessor
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That’s all for this week. Keep safe and remain well.
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