HERE'S is all your latest Vale and Dale news. Find out what is happening in your neighbourhood, check out when your parish council meets or simply plan ahead with details of events taking place round the corner.

ALLERSTON

Flower festival - Churches Together in Allerston are organising a flower festival on the Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30. About 30 displays will be based on children’s books and there are plans to interpret both modern and classic stories in the parish church of St John the Evangelist and in the Methodist Chapel. The festival will be opened by the Venerable Richard Seed, founder of Martin House Children’s Hospice, at a reception on the evening of July 28 starting at 6.30pm in St John's Church. This will include a musical interlude and a light buffet with Prosecco. Tickets for the reception are £5 and are available from Mary Bell, phone 01723 859918, or Mary Kemp, phone 01723 859841. Displays in both church and chapel will be open for viewing on the Saturday between 10am and 5pm and on the Sunday between 10am and 4pm. At regular intervals on each day there will be readings from the chosen books and musical items. Refreshments will be available each day at both venues. The festival will close with a service in the Methodist Chapel on Sunday at 4.30pm led by the Rev Ruth Duck. Entry to the festival is free but donations will be gratefully received. Proceeds from the festival will be shared between the building maintenance funds of both church and chapel and Martin House Hospice which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

BROMPTON-BY-SAWDON

New boiler - The village hall is going to have a new heating boiler fitted in the week beginning, Monday, August 7. The present boiler is unreliable and the new one should improve the hall for users during cold weather. It will be installed outside and the removal of the old one will increase the space available in the kitchen. The hall will be closed from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 11 because of the work. The dates chosen for the job is when the booking level is at its lowest. All should be back in order for the Brompton and District Gardening Club Show at the hall on Sunday, August 13.

Church - There is a change to the normal schedule of services at All Saints this Sunday. As the vicar is not available the 9.30am service will be morning prayer taken by Dr Don Jones. There will still be coffee as usual afterwards.

BULMER

Bridge Club - The competition held on Thursday, July 6 was won by Michael and Val Allen with 68.3 per cent. Second were Jane Bartlett and Robin Garbutt with 67.5 per cent.

HELMSLEY

Outdoor theatre - The production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by the Three Inch Fools Company on Friday was successful. Just five actors represented the full cast of the comedy against the imposing backdrop of the castle. The actors took multiple parts spanning love-struck characters from all walks of society.

Local book - Shepherd of Another Flock is a recent book by David Willbourne looking back on his life as vicar of Helmsley. His daydream of cycling up Rievaulx Bank and subsequent reckless descent into Helmsley may evoke memories of the recent Tour de Yorkshire. Perhaps more bizarre is his lunchtime demonstration of Joseph Foord’s water races using mashed potato and gravy to explain how the 18th century agent of the estate harnessed springs and contours to bring water across hills.

News gathering – People are asked to supply their Helmsley news for the Vale & Dale column to the Oxfam shop. This task was formerly carried out by Doreen Wardle for many years. Short articles may be sent either by e-mail or by note by 11am on Friday. The shop email address is oxfamshopf0639@oxfam.org.uk Those who do not have access to email are welcome to submit articles to Pauline at Brookes News-from whom Oxfam shop manager Heather Milner or John Dean will collect at 11am on Fridays for typing and sending with the other items.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE

Camera club - Members talked about the work they have done this year at a Kirkbymoorside and District Camera Club meeting last Thursday. Some good images shown and some good tips given. The creative competition will be held on Thursday, August 3 at the Moorside Club & Bar.

Bridge club - At the latest game North/South winners were Graeme Matthew and Chris Baxter with 73 per cent. Margaret Ross and Tom Morton were second with 50 per cent. East/West winners were Bo and Tony Simpson on 59 per cent. Bob Wardell and Barry Smith were runners-up with 58 per cent. A well bid spade slam earned Play of the week for Robin Paige and Steve Lonsdale.

Garden party - The Kirkbymoorside support group for St Catherine's Hospice will host a garden party at West Lund Lane on Saturday, July 22 from 1pm to 3pm. Entry is free. There will be various stalls, cream teas, raffle and tombola.

Messy Church - There will be a session of Messy Church on Monday, July 17 from 4pm to 6pm in the Methodist church rooms.

Heritage Day - The History Group are holding a heritage day on Saturday, July 22. Events will include the launch of two new books. There will be a film show throughout the day with the last showing at 7.30pm. Many old photographs without names will be on display and it is hoped visitors will be able to identify some. There will be two guided walks around the town, plus displays of spinning, quilting and knitting.

Club party - There will be a garden party on Sunday, July 23 at the Moorside Club & Bar from 2pm to 5pm. Attractions include a bouncy castle, tombola, cake stall, penalty shootout, face painting, table top sales and Tombola. Light teas will be served throughout the afternoon.

Summer fair - All Saints Church summer fair will be on Saturday, July 29 in the Memorial Hall. There will be stalls selling jams, pickles, cakes, books, jigsaws, a bottle stall raffle and tombola. Donations of tombola prizes would be much appreciated. There will be a collection box in church or phone 01439 770031 to arrange collection from your home.

KIRKDALE

Gift day - St Gregory’s Minster, Kirkdale, and its daughter church, St Hilda’s, Beadlam, will be holding a gift day on Saturday. All are invited to St Hilda’s from 10.30am to 12.30pm or to St Gregory’s from 2pm to 4pm. There will be refreshments and a cake stall at both churches and guided tours of St. Gregory’s Minster in the afternoon. Anyone who cannot attend but would like to offer a contribution to support the churches can post a donation to the JCC treasurer, Brian Bartlett, Kirkdale Edge, High Lane, Beadlam, York, YO62 7SY. Cheques should be made payable to Kirkdale JCC. Donations can be taken to the churches or given to Gwen Wood at Starfitts Farm or to the Rev Andrew De Smet at the vicarage in Beadlam. Gift Aid forms are available in both churches. Maintaining the churches is an expensive business with churchyard grass cutting alone costing more than £2,000 last year.

LEVISHAM

Sixties Fest - There will be Elvis tribute act and Elvis exhibition, plus displays of 1960s vehicles, at Levisham Station on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23 as part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Sixties Fest. The event runs from noon to 4pm.

LOCKTON

Country show - The annual Saltersgate Farmers Hunt Country Show with Sports will be held at Saltersgate Bank Top on Saturday, July 29.

MIDDLETON

Lacemakers - There will be a meeting of the Pickering Lacemakers in the village hall on Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

Dementia Forward - Welcome Wednesday, organised by Dementia Forward, is held from 1pm to 3pm every Wednesday in the village hall. It is an opportunity to meet new friends, join in various activities and speak to a dementia advisor. The cost is £3 per person with refreshments provided.

NAWTON

Family fun day - The grand potato weigh-in will be held at 2pm on the summer family fun day on Sunday. There are prizes for the heaviest crop and single potato both for adults and children. The day’s activities will include a raffle, races, rounders and a barbecue.

PICKERING

Family cinema - The Lego Batman Movie was enjoyed at the family cinema at the Methodist Church last Saturday. The monthly family cinema will start again after the summer break on Saturday, September 16 at 6.30pm. For more information phone 01751 472249.

Fish show - Ryedale Aquarist Society held its annual open show at Kirkbymisperton Village Hall recently when 26 families from 11 aquatic societies displayed 254 exhibits that were spread over 41 classes. The best in show award was won by an Lo25 shown by Marc Taylor-Olsson of Ryedale Aquarist Society. The best exhibit was a pair of checker barbs shown by Bede Kerrigan of Stamps. The best goldfish exhibit was won by a Ryukin shown by Mike Kirkham of the Anabantoid of Great Britain. Twenty families brought along a variety of aquatic items for the well supported auction. Members of the Ryedale Aquatic Society were helped on the day by its friends from the 7NE YAAS and TTAA. The next meeting of the society will be held on Wednesday, July 19 at 7.30pm at the Potter Hill home of Sue and David Marshall. The society will hold its fun day on Sunday, July 23 at the Kirbymisperton Village Hall. Events will include talks by Steven Chester of Chester Zoo Aquarium and Dr David Pool of Fish Science.

Super draw - Nobody won the main prize of £750 in last week’s Pickering Town FC Super Draw. The numbers were 37, 2 and 36. This week’s draw will be for £825. The July monthly draw was also made last week. It was a rollover for £100 and won by Kerensa Gibson with the numbers 2 and 37.

Annual meeting - The annual general meeting of the Pickering Domino league will be held at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane, on Wednesday, July 19 at 8pm. All teams are invited to send a representative. The league needs new teams for the 2017-18 season, so anyone interested in submitting a team should go to the meeting, otherwise phone the secretary/treasurer on 07791 987645 so further details of the league and its rules can be sent out.

Rounders tournament - Ryedale Sports Club’s annual fun day will be held on Sunday, July 23 from 10am until late afternoon. One of the main events is the rounders tournament for which entries are now being accepted. A team consists of nine players. If it is a mixed team there should be no more than five male players. If you wish to enter a team, the entry fee is £30 per team, get in touch with John Ellis, 4 The Rise, Thornton-le-Dale, YO18 7TG or phone 07746426130 or email johnstevenellis@yahoo.co.uk Quiz - The Bay Horse, Market Place, will host a general knowledge quiz in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on Sunday, July 23 starting t 7.30pm.

Jazz festival - Tickets for the annual Ryedale Jazz Festival which will run from Sunday, July 23 to Saturday, July 29 are available. They cost £12 for Monday to Saturday concerts £12 or £60 for the whole six-day package. To obtain tickets and request a brochure, send a stamped addressed envelope to Amy Ward, 51 Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge, York YO41 1LS or email amyward70@hotmail.com Exhibition - Pickering and District Rotary Club are holding an art and photography exhibition in the Memorial Hall, between 10am to 5pm from Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, July 23. Entry is free.

Domino drive - Pickering Cricket Club will hold a domino drive at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane, at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 27.

Sixties Fest - Pickering will be rocking to the Sixties Fest on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23 with events held along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering to Grosmont. There will be live music in the main car park at Pickering Station from noon on Saturday and 11am on the Sunday, there will be exhibitions in the learning centre on Platform 2.

Farmers’ market - The town’s farmers’ market will be held in the Market Place on Thursday, July 20 from 8.30am.

RILLINGTON

Quiz time - Mike Williams will be hosting a general knowledge quiz in the Fleece Inn on Friday at 9pm. Admission £2 includes a hot supper and cash prizes. Honeymooners won Jennie’s Sunday night quiz at the Fleece and the jackpot was won by Gary’s Team.

Live music - The duo Twister will be playing music from the 1960s to present day at the Fleece Inn on Saturday from 9.30pm.

Bingo - A prize bingo for Malton Hospital will be held in Woodlands Community Centre on Wednesday July 19. Doors open at 6.45pm, with eyes down at 7.15pm.

SEAMER

Methodists - The service on Sunday was taken by Deacon Andrew Carter. The organist was Doreen Lawson, the vestry steward was Bob Jackman and the welcomer was Margaret Neave, who also took the collection. Bible readings were given by Eileen Burn, who read from Ecclesiastes, and Tina Greenley, who read from John’s gospel. Andrew’s sermon was based on the bible readings and he spoke of the difficulties of being a Christian as sometimes things can seem meaningless but he said God’s love is with everyone for all eternity. The preacher next week at 10.30am is the Rev Nigel Spencer and Holy Communion will be observed.

St Martin’s - The Rev Liz Kitching took both morning services at St Martin’s Church on Sunday. She presided at the 9.30am service of Holy Communion and the topic of her sermon was war and peace. Edna Burton gave the reading and accompanied the hymns, and Jean Donovan led the intercessions and assisted with the chalice. The sidespeople were Janet Lamb and Clare Firth. Clare also served refreshments with Elizabeth Chapman. At the all-age service at 11am Revd Kitching took as her theme the gospel story of the rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus but could not relinquish his wealth. To symbolise the intention to follow Jesus, the Rev Kitching gave the congregation an opportunity to go and mark their footprints on a large sheet of paper in front of the altar. The sung worship was led by John Grice with Sue Grice, Tim and Liz Cremer and John Taylor. Liz Cremer also acted as sidesperson and Wendy Haslam served refreshments after the service.

Lavender talk - Gill Tompkinson from Broomfleet will talk about growing lavender, pinks and carnations at a meeting of the Yorkshire Pelargonium & Geranium Society in Seamer and Irton Memorial Hall on Sunday, July 23 at 2pm. Further details are available from the secretary Ron Ward on 01723 355656. Ron is to stand down after 16 years in office and anyone wishing to take on the role should phone him.

SHERBURN

Community club - The Vegas Casino Company will be at the Sports and Community Club for a fun night of roulette and blackjack on Friday at 8pm. People can buy 30 chips for £10 to play at either table. The person with the most chips at the end of the night wins a cash prize. Free entry for all, including non- members. The annual fun day on Sunday, June 25 was well supported and funds are growing for the new children’s play area equipment.

Letters draw - The letters on Saturday in Sherburn FC’s weekly draw were B G T. There was no winner so the prize fund next week will be £120.

Messy Church - Youngsters met in the garden at Forge Villa for a picnic and to build Noah’s Ark. They found all the animals that were hiding in the garden and put them in the ark to save them when the floods came. The ark, which was just under 18ft long, was painted with a rainbow behind it. There is a scaled down version in the link window and it is hoped it will also to be put in place at the Tuesday coffee morning. Messy Church will be having a break during August but will meet again at Sherburn Chapel on Saturday, September 9 at 4.45pm. Children be accompanied by an adult.

Scanner cheque - Barbara Grice presented a cheque for £400 at the Tuesday coffee morning to surgery practice manager Hazel and nurse Erica to purchase a Doppler Scanner for the surgery. Erica explained what the scanner will be used for and how it was much needed by the practice. Coffee mornings are held each Tuesday from 10am to 11.30am.

St Hilda’ Church - The morning service was led by Barbara Grice who took the life of Jesus before he began his ministry as the theme. Sidespersons were Sue Mennell and Angela Holdsworth and music was supplied by Bill Hyndford on his guitar. The lesson from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 5 was read by Carol Stephenson and coffee was served at the close of the service by Jean Usher and helpers. The next service at St Hilda’s will be Holy Communion at 9am on Sunday, July 23 with the Rev Joe Kinsella officiating.

Methodist news - The Holy Communion service was led by Rev Denise Free who was assisted by Kim Canterbury, who also read the Bible reading from the book of Romans. The steward was Liz Aconley and the Old Testament lesson was read by Jean Brown. Chris Cade played the organ and the audio-visual equipment was operated by Christine Fenwick. Children made cards for Rev Denise as she will be leaving when she retires in the near future. Afterwards coffee and cake was enjoyed in the hall. The service on Sunday at 10.30am will be led by Rev Bob Whitfield.

Luncheon club - Members of the Senior Citizen Luncheon Club were invited for a meal by the 1st Sherburn Rainbows and Brownies. The girls greeted their guests and served them with a meal. Over coffee everyone played a ‘getting to know you’ game. The youngsters then entertained club members with two very lively actions songs. The Rainbows and Brownies have been working for their kindness badge and when asked by their leader afterwards if club members thought they deserved them the answer was a resounding yes.

THORNTON-LE-DALE

Ladies Group - Thornton-le-Dale Ladies Group held its annual concert in the Methodist Church which featured a performance by the Allerston Aloud Choir. A supper was served after the concert and a collection. It amounted to £294 and will be distributed at the end of the year to various charities. The monthly meeting was held on Thursday when the speaker was Jane Ashby who spoke about her great grandfather, George Piercy, who went to China as a missionary in1850. He was born at Levisham on February 27, 1829 and died in 1913 and is interred in the cemetery behind Hungate Chapel, Pickering, which is now the Kirk Theatre. There is no Ladies Group meeting in August.

Bridge Club - The competition held on Monday, July 3 was won by Bob and Gladys Thompson with 50 per cent. In second place with 48.8 per cent were Conny Tate-Smith and Aileen Fisher.

WOMBLETON

Domino drive - The next domino drive in the hall to raise funds for the village hall in on Saturday, July 29 at 7.30pm. It is £1.50 to play and includes tea and biscuits.

YCA - The next meeting of the Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association will be in the village hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, July 18.

WI REPORT

Appleton-le-Moors - Mrs Humphreys presided at the June meeting which was attended by14 members. Ryedale Show entries are coming along and members are looking forward to the event. The guest speaker was Kevin Hutchinson from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Together with his two volunteers, Judith and Paul, he gave an insight in the day-to-day work of the charity which operates two helicopters from the Humber to Whitby and the coast to just eastern side of the A1. At this month’s meeting Annie Austen-Meek will be showing how to make hanging baskets and window boxes from old tights and stockings.