HERE 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.

ACKLAM

Carol singing - From 6pm on Christmas Eve, the village and any visitors are invited to sing carols in Acklam Village Hall. There will be the usual visit from Santa.

Church service - On Christmas Day there will be the Parish Holy Communion (Traditional) in the Church of St John the Baptist in Acklam at 9am.

APPLETON-LE-MOORS

Christ Church - A service will take place at 10am on Christmas Day.

Reading Room - A festive evening will take place in the Reading Room on Sunday, December 23. Get ready for Christmas with Tim Burton’s animated dark fantasy, The Nightmare Before Christmas, a dash of Morecambe & Wise Christmas Special and washed down with wine and mince pies. Doors open 7.30pm.

BROMPTON-BY-SAWDON

Village Hall - The monthly Village Venture Community lunch was held last week, brought forward to the second Wednesday, as is now traditional at Christmas time. It was very well attended. Brian Glaves contributed the roast turkey and pigs in blankets, volunteers provided quiche, salads and pudding and the meal culminated in a Christmas cake made by Jackie Grey ensuring that everyone had a superb meal. The finale was provided by pupils from Brompton and Sawdon Community Primary School with teachers Miss Wade and Mrs Martin. The children sang a selection of Christmas songs with great verve, including doing their own introductions.

Church - The Miniature Christmas trees are still filling All Saints with a glow of Advent festivity. The church is open during daylight hours and visitors are welcome to go in. There is no service on Sunday, December 23, but instead there is a Benefice Service at Wykeham at 11am. On Christmas Day, the service at Brompton is at 11am. It will be a family communion led by the Vicar Rev Stuart Hill.

FARNDALE

Calendar – The 2019 Farndale Calendar in aid of Farndale Village Hall are still available from: BATA, Kirkbymoorside, Feversham Arms Inn, Farndale & Lion Inn, Blakey cost £6. All proceeds go to the hall.

Crib Service – There will be a Crib Service at 4pm on December 24 in St Mary’s Church, Farndale. This service is especially suitable for younger children but all are most welcome. The service lasts approximately 30 minutes and if children have a soft toy animal of the kind that may be found in the stable perhaps bring them along too.

Service – The annual St Mary’s Church Christmas Communion service will be held at 7.30pm on December 24. The service will be followed by refreshments.

Quiz and Carols - There will be community carols followed by a fun general knowledge quiz, with question master Mick Stanley, at The Feversham Arms Inn, Farndale, at 8pm, on December 24.

GREAT EDSTONE

Church - On Christmas Day evening the church will be open for anyone who wishes to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

HOVINGHAM

Market - Hovingham Village Christmas market was held last Saturday and though cold there was no rain or snow and there was an excellent number of visitors. All stalls did well and Hel’s Bowls, though doubling the amount of homemade soup that she normally brings, had sold out by noon. Guest stalls included Ann’s Bunting, Kevin Bradshaw with paintings and Bree’s Herbal Teas. Swinton Brass Band were in fine form and Ellie, the donkey sold-out of mistletoe, which was in aid of Parkinson’s UK. There is no market in January and the next one will be Saturday, February 2.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE

Bridge Club - The result from December 11 were North/South winners were Gill and Trevor Hardcastle with 60.1 per cent and second place Pat Hainsworth and Angela Smith with 59.4 per cent. East/West winners were Mary Mortonson and Graeme Matthew with 54.4 per cent and in second place Frank and Eileen Hayward with 53.2 per cent.

Coffee morning - All Saints Church coffee morning is on Saturday, January 5 in church from 9.30am.

Postage Stamps - Please save your used postage stamps and help charities. Maureen Rolph is happy to collect your stamps in Kirkbymoorside and Nawton and will forward these to Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, RNIB, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Cancer Research. Email Maureen at maureenrolphnews@talktalk.net or phone 07732 271749.

Christmas tree festival - Kirkbymoorside Methodist Church Community Christmas Tree Festival takes place until December, Sunday 23. Times to view are Wednesday, December 19, to Saturday, December 22, from 10am to 3pm; Sunday, December 23, 2pm to 4pm. Entry to the festival is free but donations are welcome for Kirkbymoorside Junior Band and Ryedale Special Families. Light refreshments will be available.

Sturdy Court - There will be a domino drive at Sturdy Court on Monday, December 31, at 7.30pm.

Moorside Bar & Club - Saturday night entertainment takes place on December 22 with Time is Tight at 8pm. Phone 01751 432086.

All Saints - Members of the junior church will take part in the crib service on Christmas Eve at 5pm. Kirkbymoorside Primary School choir will be joining the service.

Concert - Kirkbymoorside brass band Christmas carol concert is on Sunday, December 23, at 7.30pm, in the memorial hall.

Amnesty International - The Kirkbymoorside group meet at the home of Chrissie in Kirkbymoorside on Tuesday, January 8, at 2pm. The group wish to thank those who have donated to Amnesty this last year.

Social Evening - A big thank you to Adam Collier, who hosted a social evening at Sturdy Court. A great total of £170 was raised for Adam’s choice which was the children’s ward at a Leeds hospital.

Domino event - The Bar Harrison Memorial Trophy 5 & 3s Pairs KO will be held Friday, December 28, at the Moorside Bar and Club. 7.45pm registration for 8pm start. All pairs wishing to enter please add your names to the entry form at the venue or phone Mark Harrison on 07968 570084.

KIRKDALE

Services - December 23, 4pm, Carol Services (Nine Lessons & Carols). Admission by free ticket, available by post from Julia Maynard, The Old Forge, Pockley, York, YO62 7TE. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Also, please give your phone number in case it is necessary to contact you. In the event that bad weather makes access to St Gregory’s Minster too difficult, the services will be held at St Hilda’s Church, Beadlam. December 24, 11.30pm, Midnight Sung Eucharist. There is no other service at St Gregory’s on Christmas Day, but there will be a Christmas Communion Service at St Hilda’s, Beadlam, at 9.30am.

MALTON

Appeal - Ryedale Foodbank is appealing for people to donate tinned sponge puddings, tinned solid meat, tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, UHT milk and juice, cleaning products (washing up liquids, cloths), toilet rolls, hats, scarves, gloves and hot water bottles. Items can be left at St Leonard & St Mary’s RC Church and are delivered to the foodbank on a regular basis. There have been collections at St Leonard & St Mary’s RC Church, Malton, for flowers to decorate the church at Christmas. The plan is to decorate the church on Saturday, December 22 at 9.30am.

NORTON

Bethel Methodist Church - On Saturday, December 22, from 1pm to 3pm, meet friends over tea and biscuits and view the collection of nativity pictures. This will be followed at 3pm by carols. The Family Carol Service will be held on Sunday, December 23, at 3.30pm. An offering will be taken for Action For Children. All are welcome to this service, which will be followed by tea in the schoolroom.

NUNNINGTON

Carols - Come and join in the carols around the Christmas tree on Saturday, December 22, outside the village hall, at 4.30pm, followed by drinks and mince pies in the village hall. Pop-up pub to follow from 7pm to 11pm.

PICKERING

Family Cinema - The next family cinema will be on Saturday, January 5, at 6.30pm, and the film will be Sherlock Gnomes. Admission is free - donations towards costs are welcome. Doors open at 6pm and the film starts at 6.30pm. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. The tuck shop will be open in the foyer and during the interval. In February, when the major redevelopment work has started on the main hall and ancillary rooms at Pickering Methodist Church, the Family Cinema will move to a temporary home in the Memorial Hall. For details, phone 01751 472249.

SEAMER

St Martin’s Church - The Rev Richard Firth presided and preached at the 9.30am service of Holy Communion. During the service the children enjoyed a Christmas party and later joining with the youngsters from the 11am service for a party lunch. Kieron Middleton gave a bible reading and led the prayers. Edna Burton accompanied the hymns on the piano and Sue Johnson and Enid Plevey were sidespersons, and Clare Firth served refreshments. The Christmas services take place on - Saturday, December 22: Carols by Candlelight at 4pm; Monday, December 24: Christingle Service at 4pm; Holy Communion for Christmas Night at 11.30pm.

SHERBURN

Football Club Letters Draw - The letters drawn on December 16 were C H Z. As there was no winner the prize fund next week will be £360.

St Hilda’s Church - There will be the celebration of Holy Communion on Sunday, December 23, at 9am, when the Rev Joe Kinsella will officiate. The usual Children’s Christmas Nativity is on Christmas Eve at 2pm. St Hilda’s will also be hosting

the Benefice Midnight Mass, with the service commencing at 11pm.

Methodist news - Your kind donations for coffee at the Tuesday coffee morning continue to be given to the Chapel kitchen funds. The café-style service on Sunday was led by the worship team. Opening worship was led by Chris Cade with prayers by Sandra Cade. The Advent Liturgy, including the lighting of the candles was by Jean Brown and Liz Aconley. The Bible Readings were by Liz Aconley and Luke Heron. We made a rather different Christmas to do list remembering that although the practical side of things had to be done our spiritual preparations were more important. Next Sunday at 10.30am will be the carol service with Holy Communion led by Minister Rev Dr Kevin Ridd. On Christmas Eve, at 5.15pm, the church be showing the short Christmas film, It’s A Boy. On Christmas Day at 10am (note the slightly earlier time) there will be a service led by Christine Fenwick for all the family to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus.

Quiz - The last quiz night of the year will be held at the sports club on Sunday, December 23, at 8pm. Teams of up to five people and only £1 per person to take part.

Party - A family Christmas party will be held on December 22, from 3pm to 6pm, at the sports club. Emma’s disco, party games and prizes for the best fancy dress. Buffet tea. Free entry. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Draw - Christmas draw squares are now on sale at the sports club bar for £1 per square.

SINNINGTON

People’s Guild - On December 11, during the carols evening, Sue Galley and Jill Simpson led the Sinnington People’s Guild to assemble a nativity tableau. Gilbert Dobson sang the first verse of “ once in royal David’s city”, then as the nativity story unfolded, guild members placed the appropriate figures around the crib as favourite carols were sung. John Woodmancey was the pianist. Tea and mince pies were served. The Guild has a Christmas break so the next meeting on Tuesday, January 8, at 7.15pm, will be a members night.

THORNTON-LE-DALE

Bridge Club - The result from December 10 were in first place Barry Smith and Bob Wardell with 65.3 per cent; In second place Pat and George Donnor with 59.7 per cent.

WOMBLETON

Domino drive - A domino drive takes place in the village hall on Saturday, December 29. £1.50 to play, including tea and biscuits. Domino drives are held every last Saturday of the month and every first Wednesday of the month.

Film - The next film to be shown in the village hall will be a matinee on Sunday, December 30, at 2pm showing Finding Your Feet.

WI MEETINGS

Snainton - On Tuesday, December 4, members met for their last meeting of their 100th celebratory year. With 45 members attending, it began with Heather Harris accompanying the singing of Jingle Bells and Once In Royal David’s City. The tables were set out very festively with candles and Christmas tablecloths. Angela Howgate then introduced the speaker who was John Atkinson, along with his wife, who brought a good selection of wines for our wine tasting evening. The hostesses provided tasty savouries to be nibbled with the wine and later cakes were served with cups of tea. The competition was a scarf, gloves or hat which would be later donated to the Rainbow Centre in Scarborough. There was a large number to be judged but third place went to Margaret Lee, second place was Marcia Squibb, with the winner Sharon McDade. The large raffle was a great success which raised more than £100 for the Breakfast Club. The generous members also donated toiletries and foodstuff for the Rainbow Centre. Members thank everyone involved with Snainton WI for a very memorable year. Everyone has worked so hard and they would also like to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2019. The next meeting is on Tuesday, January 8, at 7.30pm, in Snainton Village Hall.

Thornton-le-Dale - The December meeting welcomed Frances Langley who gave a short talk on the advantages and disadvantages of “incorporation” for the federation. Wine and nibbles were served by two jolly elves Pauline Closier and Wendy Scoble along with their helpers. This merry band then delivered a fun packed evening consisting of a Christmas-themed Pictionary and a cracker making contest. A mini pantomime of Cinderella and a pass the parcel game then took place. The evening concluded with a totally chaotic rendering of the Twelve Days Of Christmas among much laughter. Thanks were given to all who helped in the festivities.