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.

APPLETON-LE-MOORS

Tea, Chat and History - This month’s Tea, Chat and History session held in the village hall was well attended and the rolling slide show encouraged a great deal of discussion. Everybody appreciated the homemade cakes and tea provided by Shirley Brooke. The next Tea, Chat and History meeting will be at 2pm on Monday, March 6.

History Group - The annual meeting of the History Group will be held in the village hall on Wednesday, March 7 at 7.30pm.

BROMPTON-BY-SAWDON

Gardening Club - Alexandra Farmer gave a talk on Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary at Brompton and District Garden Club’s first meeting of the year in the village hall on Wednesday, January 31. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 28 when Helen Jones will give a talk called A Camera in the Garden. In March, John Plant who will speak about how he designed and created a garden from an existing paddock using many unusual trees and shrubs. The club’s annual plant sale will be held the following month when Paul Robinson will also give tips on dealing with diseases and pests. There will be a social evening and plant swap in a member’s garden in June. The same month Jonathan Hill will give a talk called Lawns – Who Needs Them?’. In July, Martin Walker will talk about setting up a patio allotment and in September, Mike Kinnes will give tips on building ponds. August will see members preparing exhibits for the annual show which will be held in Sawdon. October’s speaker, Peter Walker’s talk is called Love at First Bite. The annual general meeting and social evening with a Christmas theme will be held in November. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. Annual membership brings a bonus of a member’s discount of 10 per cent off trees, shrubs and plants at a variety of local garden centres. For membership inquiries phone secretary Fema Barnes on 01723 850761.

Ecology report - Minutes of the last meeting of the parish council highlight that the villages of Brompton and Sawdon are developing into important areas for conservation. An ecologist has visited the Butts and submitted a report to the council confirming the presence of water voles, which are a protected species, in the drain, stream and ditch. The council has been advised not to put gabions on the bank side and that soft engineering options must be used in order for the voles habitat to be protected. In order to protect the wildlife, the report also recommended less grass cutting and a buffer zone of 2 metres of uncut grass to protect the bank sides. A pair of kingfishers has been seen going to the drain and there have also been sightings of owls. The ecologist will to come back in spring when the water level is lower and to see if there are any white claw crayfish present, another rare species. He will also be asked to check the drain on Malpas for water voles and a second survey done to see how that habitat needs to be managed. The next village newsletter will ask for ideas and opinions from the village residents and local children about a proposal to install some small playground items on the Butts. The Spinney and Dew Pond at Sawdon were the other conservation areas under discussion. The full draft minutes are displayed on the village noticeboards.

Local History Society - Gordon Clitheroe spoke about the Changing Face of Pickering at the Local History Society meeting on Wednesday, February 7. Gordon, who is involved with the Beck Isle Museum, has seen many changes in Pickering and has amassed a huge collection of old photographs, many of which he has published in his five books. During the evening, he showed us photographs of blacksmiths, gas works, cattle markets, fire stations and houses which have all vanished. The next meeting is in the village hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 7 when Trevor Pearson will speak about the Scarborough Society’s survey in Raincliffe Woods and its excavation on Castle Hill, Brompton. Copies of the report of the excavation will be available.

Church - Messy Church will take place on Saturday at Hutton Buscel Village Hall from 4pm to 5.30pm. It is a fun, activity-based way for children to discover the Christian story and is open to families from local villages. There is no charge but donations are welcome and all youngsters should be accompanied by an adult. The service at All Saints on Sunday is Communion at 9.30am, following which coffee will be served.

Community lunch - The next Village Ventures community lunch will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at 12.30pm.

Council meeting - The parish council will meet in Brompton Village Hall on Monday, February 19 at 7.30pm.

BULMER

Bridge club - The meeting on Thursday, February 8 was won by Sheila Briske and Jane Bartlett with 67.9 per cent. Second were Anne and John Prest whon scored 62.5 per cent.

FARNDALE

Farewell event - The time has come to bid goodbye to the old village hall at Church Houses before it is closed for rebuilding. A farewell party will take place on Sunday at 3.30pm with an afternoon of fun and games for children and adults, followed by a bring and share buffet tea at 5pm. After tea there will be an evening of games, including dominoes and whist with entertainment from local musicians. If anyone would like to support the rebuilding project you may do o via the online donation site https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/farndalevillagehall The new hall is expected to be completed in the autumn.

GILLING EAST

Jewish perspective - John Barnett, a Messianic jew who read theology at Oxford University is to give a talk called Are You Satisfied With Your Life? in the village hall on Saturday, February 24 at 7.30pm. It has been organised by the Holy Cross Church and after the talk members of the audience will be able to ask John questions. He has taught how to study the Bible from a Hebrew perspective for more than 20 years. John runs Abigail Trust and has written many booklets to promote the study of the Bible. Refreshments will be available on the night.

HELMSLEY

Trek talk - The latest meeting of Helmsley Ladies unchon Club was held on Wednesday, February 7 at the Pheasant Hotel Harome, and was attended by 42 members and two guests. The president introduced speaker Jane Barrow who talked about her way to deal with her mid-life crisis. She decided to go on treks to raise money for charities that were close to her heart. Among the places she visited were Nepal, Petra and the Grand Canyon. Jane is going on another trek this year and her charity will be St Martins Hospice. Anyone wishing to join the club or require information should phone 01439 770010.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE

Library bike ride - Kirkbymoorside Community Library volunteer Geoff Strangwood is planning to mark the first year of community libraries by doing a sponsored cycle ride of about 60 miles between all the local libraries on Sunday, April 1. Starting at Kirkbymoorside library at 9am, then onto Helmsley library, followed by the libraries at Malton, Norton, Derwent Valley Bridge, Pickering and finishing back at Kirkbymoorside. If any local businesses or individuals are interested in sponsoring Geoff, they should phone or call into the library at Kirkbymoorside.

Messy Church - There will be a meeting if Messy Church in the Methodist Church on Monday, February 19 from 4pm to 6pm.

Club act - Darren Knight will provide the live entertainment at the Moorside Bar & Club on Saturday at 8.30pm.

Band concert - Kirkbymoorside Brass Band’s next concert in the Memorial Hall is on Sunday, March 11 at 7.30pm. It will feature the senior, community and junior bands with a preview of the national area test piece Odyssey. Tickets are £5 and are available from JRA Computer Services, Summit Bakery or email bandmanager@kirkbyband.co.uk

Lent Lunches - Churches Together in Kirkbymoorside will be hosting a series of lunches during Lent on the theme The Seven Last Words from the Cross. Reflections will be led by different speakers followed by a soup lunch. The lunches will be held at noon at the Methodist Church. The dates and groups are Tuesday, February 20, Friends’; Tuesday, February 27, All Saints; Tuesday, March 6, Methodist; and Tuesday, March 13, Roman Catholic. All donations will go to Water Aid.

Domino drive - The bowling club’s monthly domino drive in the club house is on Saturday at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

All Saints - Members of the parochial church council will met at All Saints church on Monday, February 19 at 7.30pm. The retiring collection of £284.60 taken at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols has been sent to Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Book Group - Robert Harris’ book Munich will be discussed by the book group in the library on Monday, February 5 from 2pm to 3pm. New members are welcome and if you would like a copy of the book phone or text 07800 764753 and leave a message and someone will get back to you.

LOCKTON

Domino drive - There will be a domino drive held in the village hall on Monday, February 19 at 7.30pm.

MALTON

Bridge club - The first round of Malton Bridge Club’s handicap pairs competition was won by Richard Hazlerigg and Bryan Hone with 70.5 per cent. Second were Mike Jackson and Rob Ashdown with 64.9 per cent with with Graham Burgess and Jonathan Allison third with 60.2 per cent. In the Yorkshire League, Malton A lost 15-5 to the leaders Leeds A, while Malton B were defeated 13-7 by Wakefield B.

MARTON AND NORMANBY

Author’s talk - Local published author Jane Lovering gave a two-hour talk in the village hall on Saturday about her life, her animals, her writing methods and her novels which are all set in Yorkshire. She was the winner of the best Romantic Novel in 2012 and has now been shortlisted for two of her books in the Romantic Comedy Awards in March. The next evening event, to help boost the on-going village hall refurbishment will be a whisky tasting on Saturday, March 3.

MIDDLETON

Jumble sale - There will be a jumble sale in the village hall on Saturday at 10am.

Lacemakers - Members of Pickering Lacemakers will meet the village hall on Saturday from 10m to 3pm.

NAWTON

Eyes down - The first of two bingo sessions in the village hall to raise funds for the maintenance of the Beckett Recreation Ground will be held on Saturday at 7.30pm with the second on Saturday, March 17. Any donations of a prize would be most welcome, please contact either Chris Rymer or Gordon Harrison.

NEWTON-UPON-RAWCLIFFE

Bird talk - Richard Baines, the turtle dove project officer of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority’s turtle dove project officer will give a talk in the village hall on Thursday, February 22 at 7.30pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be served after the meeting.

Craft and chat - There will be a Craft and Chat session in the village hall on Thursday, March 1, starting at 7pm. Admission is £2 which includes tea or coffee and biscuits.

Willow weaving - Andrea Firth is running a willow weaving workshop in the village hall on Sunday, March 4 from 10am to 4pm. The cost will be £35 per person. Tea or coffee will be provided, but anyone attending is asked to take their own lunch. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to phone Penny Wicks on 01751 474268 or email penny.wicks@googlemail.com

PICKERING

Bridge club - The second session of handicapped pairs was won by Madeleine Webber and Beryl Bramall with 59.5 per cent. second were Sue Hardman and Dorothy Cordery with 59.25 per cent with Gill Hardcastle and Sue Preston third with 55.78 per cent.

Global prayers - The service for this year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held at Potter Hill Methodist Church, on Friday, March 2 at 2pm. A rehearsal will be held at the church this Friday at 2pm. The service has been prepared by the women of Suriname and is called All God’s Creation is Very Good. It will be led by the Rev Ruth Duck and representatives from different denominations in the town will be taking part. Everyone is welcome to join in and be part of the wave of prayer encircling the globe, starting as the sun rises over Samoa, continuing as it makes its way around the earth and ending 36 hours later as the sun sets over America Samoa. Refreshments will be served at the close.

Museum activities - Beck Isle Museum is now open each day from 10am to 4pm until the end of November with last admissions at 3pm.

Carers cuppa - There will be a meeting of the Carers Cuppa and Wellbeing Group at the Friends’ Meeting House on Thursday, February 21 from 10am to noon. It is a chance to call in for a chat and a cuppa and meet new people. All carers are welcome.

Domino drive - There will be a domino drive organised by Pickering Cricket Club at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane on Thursday, March 1 at 7.30pm. 

Jazz festival - The sixth Ryedale Festival of Traditional Jazz which will be held from Sunday, July 22 to Saturday, July 28. If tickets are bought before Thursday, May 31 they cost £5 for the Sunday Spirituals concert and £50 for the Monday to Saturday concerts. Individual tickets for any of the Monday to Saturday concerts cost £10. After May 31 prices increase to £12 and £60 respectively. To purchase tickets, send a cheque made payable to Ryedale Jazz Society with a stamp addressed envelope stating what tickets you require to Amy Ward, 51 Roman Avenue South, Stamford Bridge, York YO41 1LS or phone 01759 371583.

Yorkshire castles - WEA tutor Dr Robert Wright is to run a day school on Saturday called Yorkshire Castles of the Norman Conquest. The fee is £25 for the session which will run from 10am to 4pm. For details of the date and booking, phone Jim Howie on 01751 475659 or email jpearsonhowie@gmail.com

Family history - Ryedale Family History Group are offering free one to one sessions at the library on Tuesday, February 27. The session is for anyone wishing to trace their ancestry and is either not sure where to start or needing some help to progress. The session times are 10.30am, noon and 1.30pm. Anyone interested should book a place in advance at the library in person or telephone 01609 533624. The sessions have to be pre-booked at the library and are not walk in sessions.

Movie - The film Paddington 2, It Takes a Bear to Catch a Thief, will be screened at the Kirk Theatre on Wednesday, March 7 at 2.30pm at 7.30pm. Admission is £7.50 with concessions £6. Tickets are available from the booking office, which is open on Tuesdays from 11am to 1pm, phone 01751 474833 or email: www.kirktheatre.co.uk

Musical Memories - The RVS Hungate Centre is the venue for Musical Memories on Monday, February 26 from 11am to noon. The aim is to provide sessions where people can meet up with friends, old and new, to share in singing songs together, with the added benefit of a biscuit with a cuppa. A minimum voluntary contribution of £3 per person to include refreshments is requested

Super draw - Last week’s Pickering Town Football Club’s super draw was won by Jim Hodgson of Pickering with the numbers 3, 11 and 37. This week’s draw will be for £75. The February monthly consolation prize draw saw three winners, who shared the £50 prize. They are Dave Cleaver, Colin Dunning and John McClaren. Their numbers were 3 and 11.

Quiz night - The Bay Horse, Market Place, will host a general knowledge quiz in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance at 7.30pm.

RILLINGTON

Quiz time - Eight teams playing for £60 in prize money took part in Jennie’s quiz in the Fleece Inn. The winners with were Honeymooners with Team @ the Bar second. Mike’s Team were third and also won the £15 jackpot and the Sunday night quiz when the jackpot was won by Team @ the Bar. The next quiz at the Fleece will be on Friday, February 23.

RYEDALE

Parkinson’s Support - The February meeting of Ryedale Parkinson’s Support Group was held in Trinity Methodist Church, Norton, when Rose Crawley, volunteer co-ordinator for Yorkshire and Humberside Parkinson’s UK, was the speaker. She talked about the help that can be given to groups and individuals suffering from Parkinson's through membership of the society and local groups. The next group meeting is on Thursday, March 8 when a volunteer from Malton Museum will give a talk called Every Object Tells a Story. New members are welcome and more information about the group can be obtained from Gill, phone 07794 439356 or Liz, phone 01653 694251.

Transport AGM - The annual general meeting of Ryedale Community Transport will take place on Wednesday, February 28 in Hovingham Village Hall at 11.30am. Refreshments will be provided after the meeting.

SEAMER

Methodists - The service on Sunday was organised by Amanda Clayton. The organist was Doreen Lawson, the welcomer was Margaret Harris and the vestry steward was Allan Dunnington. Margaret Neave took the offering. The theme of Mandy’s service was The Fruits of the Spirit and using visual aids she chose hymns and bible readings that related to each of the nine fruits which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. The bible readings were given by Denise Earnshaw, Bob Jackman, Margaret Neave, Sheila Gray and Bert Blower. A sketch was performed by Tina Greenley and Eileen Burn and several hymns were performed by the Singing for Fun Group. Mandy sang a solo called Fruit of the Spirit which she had written. The service this Sunday at 10.30am will be taken by Rev Mary Jackman and Holy Communion will be observed.

St Martin's - The Vicar, Andrew Moreland, led both morning services and spoke about the Transfiguration of Jesus from Mark 9. The disciples witness the amazing and awe-inspiring sight of Jesus glorified on the mountain and it reminds them that he is indeed God and they can have absolute faith in him. When we get to know Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes us to be more and more like him and we have the privilege of reflecting God's glory to others. At the 9.30am service, Jean Donovan led the intercessions and assisted with the chalice, Edna Burton accompanied the hymns and Frances Simons gave the reading. Jim Baird and Elizabeth Chapman were the sides people and Lucy Haycock and Janet Lamb served refreshments after the service. At the modern service at 11.00am, Richard Fuller led the sung worship with Chloe Proctor and John Taylor. Mary Otway read, Jo Taylor was the sidesperson and Andrew served refreshments after the service. The monthly Word and Worship service, now at 6.30pm, was well-attended. John Grice led the sung worship with Sue Grice and John Taylor. Jean Donovan led a time of open prayer focussing principally on the renewal of our nation.

SINNINGTON

People’s Guild - The Sinnington People’s Guild had a visit from student Jac Thomas on Tuesday, February 6. In 2016, Jac, with fellow pupils from Ryedale and Malton schools went to Peru. His talk covered the visit which lasted four weeks to assist four village communities with various building projects, including making bricks, helping in the schools and building cow sheds and other buildings. They experienced Peruvian life in the villages, making friends and joining in with the independence day celebrations. The students concluded with a trek to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Jac was welcomed and thanked by Jill Simpson who was also the pianist. Tea and biscuits were served. The next meeting on Tuesday, February 20 at 7.15pm will be a musical evening to be given by Men of Staithes. Supper will be served. There is no charge but a collection will be taken for charity.

THORNTON-LE-DALE

Bridge club - Enid Watson and Tim Johnson won the competition on Monday, February 5 with 56.3 per cent. Second place with 55.6 per cent were Pat and George Donnor.

WESTOW

Table top - There will be a table top stall in aid of Westow cricket club between noon and 3pm this Saturday and Sunday. Items include curtains, vases, ornaments, pictures and candles and much more. Tea, coffee and home baking will be available to purchase, also in aid of the cricket club.

Join the fun - Active Tuesday starts in Westow Cricket Club’s pavilion next week between 7pm and 8.30pm. People can go along and dance, join in the games or just take a seat, listen to music or sing along. There is no need to book. Entry is £1 to cover the hire of the pavilion. There will be tea, coffee for sale. For more details phone Julie Price on 01653 618214.

WOMBLETON

Jumble sale -There will be a jumble sale to raise funds for the village hall on Saturday, February 24 in the hall.

Domino drive - A domino drive will be held in the village hall on Saturday, February 24 at 7.30pm. It is £1.50 to play includes tea and biscuits.

WI REPORT

Snainton - The second meeting of the branch’s 100th year took place on Tuesday, February 6 when president Angela Howgate welcomed 33 members and two visitors. Lunch had been enjoyed at Betton Farm on Thursday, February 2. There are numerous forthcoming events being organised including the spring group meeting on Thursday, March 22 in Ebberston, the fracking information evening in Helmsley on Monday, March 26, the Anglo-Indian lunch in Ebberston on Thursday, May10. Some members had expressed on interest on an Italian holiday which will be going ahead. The Snainton darts team are through to the finals on Saturday, March 3 at Nawton Pavilion. The evening’s speaker was Paul Worsley QC who gave an insight into his career with Tales from the Bar. He judged the flapjack competition which was won by Linda Stockill. Second was Anne Pilgrim Green with Bridget Hardy third. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6 at 7.30pm in the village hall when speaker Katie Purcell will attend with her medic alert dog.