What kind of people would turn their backs on a drowning vicar? A town of thieves, perhaps?

The poor residents of Stillington have been accused on both counts on separate occasions - but, thankfully, not recently.

The 'town of thieves' label or 'stealing town' came from historian Thomas Gill in his 1853 history book. He stated that the town made its money by "robbing the king's forest of its deer, and the packman of their merchandise".

Much to everyone's relief, this was quickly disproved as, although the village does lie within what until 1630 was the Royal Forest of Galtres, the name Stillington is much older than both William the Conqueror and the forest laws which made it an offence to take deer.

Mind you, in the church of St Nicholas, above the chancel step, is the Royal Coat of Arms dated 1739. It was ordered by George II and is extremely rare, displayed only in churches where parishioners were of doubtful allegiance.

As for the drowning vicar tale, well the particular man-of-the-cloth in question was the famous novelist Laurence Sterne (of Tristram Shandy fame) who became vicar in 1745. Although revered in London literary circles and idolised by Parisian society, he never quite hit it off with the folks of Stillington.

One possible reason for this was that he never lived among his parishioners, but instead chose to reside in nearby Sutton-on-the-Forest.

Apparently, Sterne conducted the Sunday morning service at the Church of All Hallows, in Sutton-on-the-Forest, before walking across the meadows to conduct the afternoon service at St Nicholas. However, on one occasion, he failed to arrive at his afternoon appointment. It is said that his pointer had discovered a covey of partridges on the way and the dedicated vicar had returned home for his gun.

It was against such a background that the 'winter incident' took place. Despite the advice of residents, he persisted in skating on a village pond. When the ice broke under him, it is said all the parishioners turned their backs. Much to their disappointment, the vicar managed to save himself.

And so the tales go on.

Modern-day Stillington is a fascinating, thriving village, about half-way between York and Helmsley on the former Oswaldkirk toll road.

It boasts two pubs (The Bay Horse Inn and The White Bear Inn), an Indian restaurant and takeaway in what was The White Dog Inn. There's a post office and general store, garage and general store, fish-and-chip shop, motor engineers, boarding kennels and cattery, and antique and pine furniture suppliers. It also has a surgery and vets as well as its own monthly newsletter - the award-winning Stillington News, edited by Brenda Milburn.

It has a thriving sports and social club which organises a wide variety of events and activities as well as having first-class sporting facilities. The sports clubs in the village include football, ladies hockey, cricket, tennis, squash and bowling. It has an historic church and Methodist chapel as well as a primary school whose headmistress is Mrs Hilary Henderson.

Other groups include a classic car club, annual bonfire, gardening club, under-fives, WI, Pastoral Care Group, Stillington Charity, walking group, Happy Hours Club, parish council, neighbourhood watch group, Royal British Legion, craft group and village lunch club.

Stan and Jenny Nesbit have been in the village post office for 32 years, running it themselves for the past 20. Previously it was run by Stan's mother and step-father, Connie and Robert Barningham. Stan also used to have the local milk round.

"Stillington is a bit of a one-off," said Stan. "It's heading for a commuter village but at present it's still a working village. It's nice and quiet and the majority of people are very friendly."

Dennis Law, of Main Street, has lived in the village for 67 years. "I was born at Marton-in-the-Forest and I was three when I moved here," he recalled.

"I was a local builder but I've retired now. I went to the local school and left at 14. I also had an antique business for 28 years so I have got a living from the village all my life.

"I have had no inkling to move out, although I have had plenty of opportunities. I have always found that I can get my pleasure from the village."

A former parish council chairman Dennis has just retired as church warden after 25 years. He is currently president of the bowls club. His wife Muriel is in a sewing club, which has just completed a number of kneelers for St Nicholas' Church to mark the millennium.

Dennis continued: "We have got a good influx of new people that have come and mixed well in the village, spiritually in the church, and generally in the sports facilities.

One such newish couple is Janet and David Martin, of Halfway House, just outside Stillington, who moved to the area from Hertfordshire seven years ago, when David was relocated by what was formerly MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods).

"I would say it's the best move we ever made," said David, who is chairman of the gardening club and on the committee of the bowling club. "It's provided us with a quality of life infinitely better than what we had in Hertfordshire and people have been very welcoming and friendly."

Janet is in her third year as a member of the parochial church council. "Stillington is ideally located," she said. "We have York and all its facilities in one direction and the coast and the moors and dales are all within easy reach. If you are willing to join in, you are very welcome."

Christine Cookman, of High Street, has been a member of Hambleton District Council for two years. "It's a wonderful community village," she said. "We still have services like the post office, garages, primary school, transport, church, chapel and excellent sports facilities."

She has lived in the village for 28 years with her husband Graham and two boys, Ben and Tom, aged 20 and 13.

She explained that some of the current issues in the village included affordable housing for local people, improving the village green and speeding traffic through the village.

George Nicholls has had Stillington Garage and general stores for some 13 years. He moved to the village from Easingwold after doing a swap with the previous garage owner Jim Mandifield.

"He wanted to retire so I took over the garage and he took over my house in Easingwold and I paid him the difference," he explained.

A qualified motor engineer, George sells petrol as well as doing car repairs. His wife Christine works in the shop. They have two children - Adam, 22, and Victoria, 19.

Dianne Thurstans, of Pond Cottage, on the Brandsby Road out of the village, runs the Pond Cottage Antiques with her husband Chris. Established in 1970, it has built up an excellent reputation supplying good quality pine furniture, antiques and kitchenalia.

Step inside their showroom and you will find yourself in an Aladdin's Cave of country pine furniture and antique kitchen equipment. Next door, they have also set up a small motor museum, full of items related to the motor industry, including a replica Bugatti and Jaguar D-type, commercial Dinky toys, pedal cars and so on.

"Chris, who runs the Stillington Classic Car Club from here, set it up with my son Philip, who also works in our business," explained Dianne. "We always joke that the men can come in here and look round while the women spend the money next door!"

She said she liked Stillington because it has a bit of everything. "It's a lived-in village," she added.

Returning to the village's history, Sterne was not the only famous village resident. There was also George Russell MBE - the Lupin Man. Born in the village in 1857, and working most of his life as a gardener in York, he created the Russell Lupin. Slightly overawed by fame, he maintained that the work in developing it could be attributed to the humble bumble bee.

Updated: 12:20 Thursday, August 16, 2001