Neighbourhood news

BARNOLDSWICK
St Andrew’s: At 7.30pm today is the first of five weekly Lent meetings. The 10.30am service on Sunday will be a joint service with the Baptist Church led by the Rev Norman Cumming. At 6pm the Rev David Edmondson will lead the Holy Communion service. A prayer hour will be held at 10am on Monday. The second week of the Lent course will take place at 7.30pm next Thursday, February 25, and the toddler group will meet at 9.30am next Friday, February 26.
History society: Thursday, February 25, is the date of the next meeting of Barnoldswick History Society when Harold Hoggarth will give an illustrated talk entitled Lost Villages, Bridges and Tramways. This starts at 7.30pm in Barnoldswick Library. Admission for non-members is £3 for adults and £1.50 for under 18s. Light refreshments are included.

BOLTON ABBEY
Priory Church: The services on Sunday are 8am Communion (said), 10.30am Sung Eucharist and 4.30pm Evening Prayer. On Wednesday there is a said communion service at 10am. All services are the Book of Common Prayer.
Concert series: This year’s Priory concert series starts on Friday, April 29, with a performance by the Peter Frank Jazz Band with Loretta. The Mavron Quartet will entertain on Friday, May 27, and the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus on Saturday, June 25. The final concert will take place on July 30 and will feature Angelorum. All concerts start at 7.30pm and a booking form is available from 01756 8710586. For more information, visit boltonpriory.org.uk or Facebook.com/priory.uk

BRADLEY: Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369
Parish council: The closing date for applications for the post of parish clerk to Bradleys Both Parish Council is 5pm tomorrow. Application packs can be found at bradleyvillage.org/pcjob.
School news: Pupils and the school community held a Zumbathon last week to raise funds for the NSPCC. Thanks go to everyone who supported the recent curry and bingo night, which raised £175 towards school funds. The Friends of Bradley School will hold a fashion show and shopping evening on Wednesday April 20, so keep the date in your diary – further details to follow. Airton Class (class one) celebrated Chinese New Year with various activities, including cooking a vegetable stir fry with egg noodles, baking Chinese moon cakes, investigating the Chinese zodiac and taking part in a traditional dragon dance.
Quiz night: The Slater’s Arms will hold its next quiz night on Wednesday.

BURNSALL: Ed Williams, 01756 720335
University Challenge: The final quiz of the Inter Village University Challenge took place in the Red Lion on Friday. The event was well supported, and thanks go to the Red Lion for supplying refreshments after the quiz. The Skyreholme team took an early lead but were then caught up by Appletreewick making the scores level at 135 each. Skyreholme then surged ahead, taking the lead and making the final score Appletreewick 195, Skyreholme 240. The trophy was awarded to the Skyreholme team and it will grace various mantelpieces in the village over the forthcoming year.

CARLETON
Coffee and cakes: The next Community Coffee and Cakes event will take place at The Swan Inn next Thursday, February 25, from 9am to 11.45am. This month, the proceeds will go to St Mary’s Church for its building repairs and maintenance.
Body Shop party: Next Thursday, February 25, The Swan Inn will host a Body Shop party from 7.30pm. Ten per cent of profits will go to the Carleton Recreation Ground Project.
Film night: A film night will be staged in the village hall next Saturday, February 27. This month’s film is The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG) - a feel-good movie packed with British stars. Doors and bar open at 7pm, with the film starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4 from the village shop or on the door.
Coffee Pot: The Coffee Pot at St Mary’s operates every Friday from 2pm to 4 pm. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate will be available with complimentary biscuits. Come for a friendly chat. All are welcome.
St Mary’s Church: On Sunday, there will be Bread, Wine and Worship at 11am. This is a more informal service with a short family communion and worship songs.
Carleton Playgroup: The playgroup meets in the village hall every Friday (term-time) from 9.30am to 11.30am. Stay and play for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The cost is £1 for under six months, £2 for those over six months and 50p per additional child.
Bingo night: A bingo night will be held at The Swan Inn on Wednesday at 8.30pm. Cash prizes will be available.

CLAPHAM: Rory-Joe Daniels, 015242 51135
Easter coffee: To celebrate Easter, Bentham Pet Rescue and Craven Cats Rescue will hold a coffee morning in Clapham Village Hall on Saturday, March 26, from 10am to noon. There will be a raffle, tombola and cake stall and homemade refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome.

CONISTON COLD
St Peter’s: On Sunday, the church will hold a Holy Communion service at 9.30am. The congregation will be joined by Bishop Hassan, from the Sudan, and there will be the second Lent sermon.
Young Farmers: Last Tuesday, members enjoyed a night of making pancakes at Coniston Cold and on Saturday, members excelled in the district hedging and walling competition held at Austwick and organised by Lawkland YFC. The local results were: indoor section, girls: decorated buns - 1 Megan Walton; buttonholes - 1 Hannah Saxby, 2 Gemma Darwin, 3 Alice Walton; picnic hamper - 2 Ellie Saxby; boys: decorated buns - 1 Thomas Darwin, 2 Sam Emmett, 3 Callum Walton; outdoor section, junior gapping - 3 William Beresford; junior walling - 1 Tom Panter, 2 Angus Walton, 3 Jack Pinder; senior walling - 1 and reserve overall waller Will Throup; most points indoor - 1 Coniston, most points overall - 1 Coniston. Next week’s meeting is a valuation evening at Pearson Farm Supplies at West Marton.

CONONLEY: Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872
St John’s: On Sunday, St John’s Church will hold an 11am morning service with baptism, led by the vicar, the Rev Dr John Peet. There will be a Lent Group meeting each Tuesday at 7.30pm. There will be a service of welcome for the new Archdeacon of Bradford, The Ven Dr Andy Jolley, at Bradford Cathedral at 2.30pm on Saturday. Ruby is now accepting tombola prizes for the coffee morning on March 19.
Musical mayhem: Calling all musicians who fancy themselves as performers. This year’s Musical Mayhem will be held next Saturday, February 27. Young adults and parents are invited along from 2pm to 5.30 pm and everyone else from 7pm in the evening. Come and see brilliant singing and playing, clog dancing and the Cononley Singers or join in the jamming session at the end of the evening - karaoke with guitars! Refreshments will be available. If you are going to perform, it would help to let Joan know on 630872 (leave a message) if you want to be on at a particular time. Piano, electronic piano and sound system, with microphone, are available.

DRAUGHTON: Jane Markham, 01756 711305
St Augustine’s Church: On Sunday, there will be a service of Holy Communion led by the Rector, the Rev Veronica James, starting at 11.15am. All are welcome.

EARBY: David Hartley, 01282 842617
St Peter’s: The service at 10.30am on Sunday will be led by the Rev David Edmondson and will include Holy Communion. On Tuesday there will be a church lunch at noon for 12.15pm. The next Songs of Praise service followed by tea will be held on Sunday, February 28. The gentle exercise class re-starts at 1.30pm on Monday, February 29.

EMBSAY-WITH-EASTBY: Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197
Embsay churches: On Sunday, the 10.30am service at the Methodist Chapel will be led by George Murray while the 9.30am service at St Mary’s will be a Family Communion and will be followed by coffee, tea, juice and biscuits. On Tuesday morning at St Mary’s there will be a quiet communion service. Smiley Faces - the toddler praise at St Mary’s - takes place on Fridays between 1.45pm and 3.15pm. Aimed at pre-school children and their parents, grandparents and carers, there are lots of toys, craft activities, singing, a Bible story, refreshments and above all a time for a chat.
Community Library: The regular knit and natter sessions for those who like to knit meets on Mondays between 2pm and 4pm. On Wednesdays between 2pm and 3pm, Story and Singing sessions are led by retired nursery school head Claire Toberman. Aimed at children under five, the sessions are free but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
School news: On Friday, February 5, the communication committee at Embsay Primary School led pupils and staff in a National Sign to Sing event in support of the SignHealth charity. The committee had led an assembly the week before telling the children about the charity and the decision was made to invite them to pay £1 come to school in their ‘home clothes’. The children raised over £180 for SignHealth, which supports vulnerable deaf children and adults in the United Kingdom and Ethiopia.
Collectors wanted: New volunteers are needed in Embsay and Eastby for the annual Christian Aid collection. Since last year’s collection, several volunteers have intimated that they would like to retire because of illness, declining years and in one case moving from the area to live nearer family. If anyone feels they could volunteer to help or would like more information, please ring Dorothy Rae on 794379.

FARNHILL AND KILDWICK: Joyce Wood, 01535 635880
StAndrew’s Church: On Sunday there will be a service of Holy Communion at 8.15am in the parish rooms and at 10am in the church. Each Wednesday there is a service of Holy Communion at 9.30am in the parish rooms and each Friday during Lent there will be a service of Stations of the Cross at 12.30pm. On Saturday, there will be a CMS/Jigsaw Kids Ministries fundraising coffee morning from 10am to noon in the parish rooms. Admission is free. Come and help raise funds for the Church Mission Society and Jigsaw Kids Ministries in Manila.
Farnhill Methodist: The Farnhill Methodists’ coffee morning on Saturday raised £70 for the Crohn’s Disease Society and £40 for the Gambia Schools Trust.
Village Pump: The Village Pump - the over 50s group - will meet in the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute on Wednesday from 2pm to 3.30pm. Visitors and new members are welcome.
Photo competition: After taking a break, Kildwick and Farnhill Institute has announced that it will be running a competition this year to select photographs for a 2017 calendar. Photographs of Farnhill or Kildwick villages (maximum three per person) can be emailed to institute@farnhill.co.uk. The closing date for entries is May 31. Further details of the competition can be found on the institute’s new website. Go to the Farnhill Village Portal, at farnhill.co.uk, click on the photograph of the institute, and then select the calendar page.

GARGRAVE: Sally Jennings, 01756 748098
Soup thanks: The Gargrave branch committee of the NSPCC would like to thank everyone who supported the soup lunch on Saturday, February 6. An amazing amount of £1,020 was raised for the charity. A special thanks goes to all those who helped on the day and for the cakes provided. The generous support by everyone was very much appreciated.
Art class: Weekly watercolour art classes are resuming again nearly every Thursday morning in the village hall annexe. They are aimed at every level of experience from beginners to those who need to perfect their painting techniques. More information can be obtained from Alison on 07743 007784.
Village panto: The Gargrave Village Hall Pantomime Group is putting on four performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, starting tonight at 7.15pm. There is a show tomorrow at 7.15pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.15pm and a final performance from 7.15pm. The panto, written by Peter Denver and featuring a cast of adults and children, will be directed by Anita Eccles. Tickets can be bought on the door for £6 for adults and £4 for concessions.
St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, there will be a BCP Holy Communion at 8am, which will be followed by a Sung Eucharist at 10.45am. The congregation will be be joined by Bishop Hassan, from the Sudan, and there will be the second Lent sermon on the Bishops’ course.
Hall bingo: The next bingo session is on Wednesday from 7.30pm in the village hall annexe. Entry is free and there are tea and biscuits served during the interval. Books are priced at 80p each and there are prizes for both a line and full house. There is also a flyer at the end of the evening with a cash prize on offer for a line, two lines and full house. Everyone is welcome.
Show dance: Gargrave Show is holding a New Year Buffet Dance next Friday, February 26, in Gargrave Village Hall from 7.30pm until midnight. A carving buffet will be followed by dancing to Dennis Westmoreland. There will be a bar and a raffle. Tickets cost £15 and can be reserved by calling 01756 749320.

GIGGLESWICK: Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639
Community Cinema: On Sunday, Community Cinemas will show The Good Dinosaur at the Richard Whiteley Theatre at 3.30pm (doors open 2.45pm). This is a PG certificate. For further information contact: 01729 893180
Open morning: Giggleswick Junior School will hold an open morning on Saturday, March 5, between 10am and noon. The school itself caters for children from three to 11 years providing outstanding care and education in both the Early Years department and Junior School. Children from the age of three months upwards are catered for at ChipMonks nursery. Families are invited to come along to meet the staff and find out more about what is on offer. To register to attend or simply find out further information contact 01729 893100.
Parish council: The council decided to support the national litter picking event Clean for the Queen as part of The Queen’s 90th birthday commemorations. The event will take place on Saturday, March 5, between 10am and noon and the council encourages as many parishioners as possible to turn up to help clean the village. This is a great opportunity to involve the parish community in developing pride in the parish’s appearance. Meeting point is the Middle Fellings at Harrison Playing Fields, by the bus stop, at 10am where a sack will be provided. The next meeting will be held on March 8, 7.30pm in the parish room.

GRASSINGTON: Sheila Denby, 01756 752605
Frugal lunches: Frugal lunches will be held at Church House, Grassington, every Wednesday in Lent to raise money for Christian Aid. They run from noon to 1.30pm and feature homemade soup, bread and cheese. Next week’s week has been organised by St Margaret Clitherow Church, Threshfield.
Tea dance: Following the success of its ballroom and Latin dance classes, Grassington Town Hall will stage its first tea dance on Sunday. The dance will be hosted by Jack and Betty Perry, who are IDTA accredited instructors, and will run from 2pm to 4pm. All are welcome and the £3 admission includes refreshments. Pay on the door and there is no need to book.
Hub coffee: The Grassington Hub will be fundraising at a coffee morning in Church House on Saturday from 9am. Donations will be gratefully received.
Bowling Club: Grassington and District Bowling Club held its delayed presentation evening for the 2015 Season at the Gamekeepers Inn, Long Ashes Park. Fifty two members and guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal before the awards were presented by chairwoman Pat Clarke. Trophy winners were Pat Metcalfe, Marilyn Roberts, Doug Green (two), Jean Rowley (two), Tony Carey, Don Curtin, and Brett Roberts. Mrs Paddy Smith was invited as guest of honour in recognition for all her devoted work as “our tea lady” and was presented with a bouquet of flowers.The club will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, March 8, at 7pm in the club’s pavilion. Members and prospective new members are welcome to attend and nominations for the committee are requested. Should anyone wish to raise any issues or put forward proposals, please contact the secretary Noel Hudson, 01756 751848, and they will be added to the agenda. The club is always on the look-out for new members. The season starts at the beginning of April and runs through to the end of September. Come along in the afternoons at 2pm. Refreshments are available to players and spectators. The club has also entered a team in the Skipton and District League Division Three and its first match is at home to Craven on Tuesday, April 12.
Coffee thanks: A Church House coffee morning, held last Saturday in aid of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Grass Wood reserve, raised £405. The organisers would like to thank all those who generously donated cakes, cash, or raffle prizes. They would also like to thank all those who turned out to provide support on an inclement morning.
Friendship Club: Ed and Brenda Williams will give a talk on Antarctica to Grassington Friendship Club when it meets at Church House next Thursday, February 25, at 2.15pm.

HELLIFIELD: Ken Leak, 01729 850845
Hellifield Walk: On Sunday, walkers are invited to meet in the car park at Ahernes at 1pm to take part in the first walk of the season around Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove. The walk will be led by Paul Emsley (851659) and will cover a moderate six-mile route. Please bring a drink plus suitable clothing. Accompanied children are welcome plus dogs on leads. The March issue of the Parish Magazine will include details of this year’s walks.

Age Concern: The Luncheon Club meets today at 11.15am at the Boars Head for the £6 meal. Please contact Ellen on 850864 if you wish to change your arrangements, by Wednesday noon prior to the Friday luncheon. New members are welcome.
Women’s Institute: The WI will meet in the institute tonight from 7.30pm. Lisa Milnor will give a talk called An Introduction to Mindfulness. Non members are welcome for a donation of £4. Full life membership is £37.50. This includes the WI Life Magazine. Tonight’s talk will be followed by the AGM and a bring and share supper.
Coffee morning: The Mothers’ Union will hold a coffee morning on Saturday from 10am. It will include stalls and raffle and everyone is welcome.

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE: Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235
Domino drive: A domino drive will be held at the Golden Lion, Horton-in-Ribblesdale tomorrow evening. Proceeds are in aid of the Helen Howard School of Dance trip to the Royal Albert Hall in London at Easter. The domino drive on March 18 will be in aid of Manorlands.
Church service: A joint service for the three Parishes of Horton, Stainforth and Langcliffe will be held at Stainforth Church on Sunday at 10.30am.
Parish council: Two new Councillors were welcomed to the monthly meeting of Horton-in-Ribblesdale Parish Council. It was encouraging to see some members of the public present. Participation will also be most welcome at a special public open meeting on Monday at 7.30pm in the village hall when the positive or negative benefits of Three Peaks events can be discussed. Councillors and a representative from the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Association will be in attendance. If you are unable to attend the meeting but have some views please call the clerk on 07799 682177. A planning application was received for an extension to the kitchen and outdoor seating area at Helwith Bridge Hotel. Councillors had no objections to the plan on condition that adequate advisory notices were placed around the outdoor seating area and that waste bins be provided to prevent pollution of the adjacent river. Community groups within the village are reminded that if they are arranging an event it can be advertised on the parish website, please contact the clerk on 07799 682177 or email clerk@hortoninribblesdale.org.uk. There is also information on hortoninribblesdale.org.uk about the Queen’s 90th Birthday beacons and a 20th anniversary event which will be hosted by Heart Research UK with an opportunity to promote a small group or business.
Whist drive: The monthly whist drive was held at the Golden Lion. Winners were: men - A Humphrey (sub), M Davis, S Hogg and S Airey (sub); ladies - D Pullen, M Davis, R Pearson and J Welch. The next whist drive will be held at the same venue on Tuesday, March 8, at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome, either experienced or novice players.
Gun Club: Members of Penyghent Gun Club held a members shoot in Horton Quarry by kind invitation of Hansons Aggregates. K Humphrey and R Carr were the marshals for the event. The competition for the Tower Bird Trophy was a 30-bird sporting layout. R Carr was the winner, second was K Humphrey and third was P Fox. The next members’ shoot will be held at High Birkwith Farm on March 13 at 1pm.

INGLETON: Sue Brown, 015252 41835
Panto fun: Ingleton Theatre Group pantomime, The Wizard of Oz, will be staged at the community centre from Wednesday to Saturday at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and children.
Women’s Institute: President Sue Brown welcomed members, visitors and two men to the February Ingleborough WI meeting. The recent jumble sale raised £688.64 after expenses were paid. As a result, £300 has been sent to the local flood relief and £300 to the refugee appeal. Beryl Brown was thanked for organising the jumble sale. Carol Mann asked members to sign a petition urging that farmers receive a fair price for their milk. Last year’s low prices forced 300 farmers to go out of business. Speaker Tanya St Pierre gave a talk and showed beautiful slides of hay meadows and cornfields and pointed out the difference between the two. Later she judged a competition for a small arrangement from a hedgerow. Connie Tooby came first, Grace McGonnigal second and third place went to Rita Middleton. Sue Brown thanked the speaker. The March meeting will be the birthday party and some members from the link institute at Hellifield will be attending. The entertainment will be Hapi Butterflies by Hilary Wood and friends.

LANGCLIFFE: Helen Jarvis, 01729 825303
Church news: Today, the Rev Stephen Dawson, Area Dean Ian Greenhalgh and Bishop Hassan of South Sudan will visit farms in and around Clapham. On Sunday, the three Parishes will come together for a joint service of Holy Communion at Stainforth. The preacher will be Hilary Young. Next Sunday, February 28, Holy Communion will be celebrated at St John’s at 9am. The church has announced provisional dates for a series of social and fundraising events. These include a beetle drive on April 8; an exhibition is planned for the weekend of HM the Queen’s official birthday which will celebrate 1926 and all that Jazz and a festival of Angels over the weekend beginning October 1.
Parish council: The celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s Official 90th Birthday will be one to remember and the parish council has asked Allan Evans to find out who would like to contribute to the musical side of the festivities. If you are interested email allan.evans@btinternet.com.

LAWKLAND
Young Farmers: Lawkland Young Farmers enjoyed a buttonhole demonstration by Ruthie Woodhouse. The results were: ladies’ buttonholes, junior girls - 1 Katie G, 2 Molly Taylor, 3 Kiera Allen; intermediate boys - 1 James Thornton; senior boys - 1 Chris Taylor; senior girls - 1 Laura M, 2 Helen Lawson; men’s buttonholes, junior girls - 1 Katie G, 2 Abbie Richards, 3 Olivia Robinson.

RATHMELL: Elaine Illingworth, 01729 840087
Country and western: Rathmell Reading Room will hold a country and western evening on Saturday at 7.30pm.
Young Farmers: Twenty three members of the Rathmell Young Farmers enjoyed a pancake night at Rathmell Reading Room. Congratulations go to all members who competed in the Settle District YFC Hedging and Walling Competition on Saturday. Results were: junior gapping – 1 Elliot Belt; indoor classes, decorated buns – 2 Charlotte Booth; buttonholes – 3 Jessica Sowerbutts; picnic hamper display – 1 Anna Booth; decorated 25 litre drum – 1 Jonathan Booth. Next week’s meeting is dairy judging at Wigglesworth Hall Farm at 7.15pm.

SETTLE: Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639
Pool draw: The Friends of Settle Swimming Pool have announced the February winners of its 200 club. The draw took place at Wholesome Bee and was overseen by Kath Hartley. The winners were: No 62, Elizabeth Towers, £50; No 91, Donna Ford, £30; and No 49, Mrs M Stocks, £20. All 200 numbers have now been sold and many thanks go to all members for their continuing support. The winners have been notified.
Guided walks: A severe landslip near Armathwaite has closed part of the Settle-Carlisle line. No trains are running between Carlisle and Appleby and an emergency timetable is in place for trains between Leeds and Appleby. The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line have, however, organised a walk using the Morecambe line on Saturday. This is a 12-mile strenuous walk from Clapham to Ribblehead, departing from Clapham at 9.33am. There will also be an 11-mile moderate walk from Gargrave to Hellifield on the same date, leaving Gargrave at 9.32am. No reservation is necessary but all participants should ensure that they are appropriately clothed, carry a packed lunch where required and have suitable footwear. For more details, email walksinfo@settle-carlisle.com
Victoria Hall: A Fistful of Spookies will be performing classics at the hall tomorrow. Saturday sees a musical treat when the Mark Nevin Band performs. Mark came to prominence in the late 80s as the founding member, guitarist and songwriter of Fairground Attraction. He went on to collaborate as co-writer to Morrissey, Kirsty MacColl and Lloyd Cole. On Sunday, Talking Stock Productions will stage the next chapter in the story of the life of retired cricket umpire and avowed socialist, Godfrey Shackleton, in Godfrey’s Last Love: Bring me Sunshine. Celebrating his lottery win with a lads’ trip to Morecambe, Godfrey bumps into a twinkly widow, Betty. For details and tickets, contact 01729 825718.
Bible study: Organised by Churches Together in Settle and District, the Lent bible study groups will meet at St John’s church on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. This year the material is inspired by the novel Les Miserables and is entitled Another Story Must Begin. All are welcome.
Big breakfast: The next Big Breakfast will take place on Saturday at 8.30am with tea and coffee available from 8.15am and the breakfast and talk over by 9.30am. The speaker will be Samantha Gill who worships at St Mary the Virgin, Ingleton, and who will talk about why she believes that it’s never too late to come to faith. Everyone is welcome. This month’s breakfast will take place at St Mary’s and St Michael’s Church Hall, Kirkgate, Settle. Please book your places by the end of today by contacting 01729 825285 or emailing edithd@abtsound.co.uk. Full English breakfast is £3.
Messy Church: This month’s Messy Church will take place at St John’s Methodist Church on Sunday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm and is open to all. There will be a chance for crafts, activities and celebration as well as a shared hot meal.
Gardening Club: Settle and District Gardening Club will take place on Wednesday at 2pm at Townhead Court. The speaker will be Matthew Smith on the topic of Tulips, past and present. Visitors are welcome for £3.
Amnesty International: There will be a further letter writing opportunity on Wednesday at Friends’ Meeting House, between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. You are invited to come along and support Amnesty International by writing a letter which may help to save someone’s life. There will be plenty of information available and help is on hand if required. For details contact 01729 268912.
St John’s Weekend: Having recently established itself in newly refurbished premises, St John’s Methodist Church is holding a celebration and thanksgiving next weekend, February 27 and 28. On Saturday, there will be open house from 10am to 4pm, with free refreshments and an opportunity to come along and view the premises, to find out more about the numerous community groups who already use the premises and to enjoy performances and demonstrations by some of those groups. All are welcome to come along and drop in throughout the day. Among those performing will be the Line Dancers from Settle Stompers and U3A Line dance group, Helen Howard School of Dance, members of Settle Orchestra, members of St John’s Church and the Scottish Country Dancers. There will also be yoga and tai chi demonstrations, spinning demonstration, messy church activity sessions, a bridge game marathon and a display of information by John Reid about bygone Settle and St John’s Church. On Sunday at 2.30pm, there will be a special service of thanksgiving which will be attended by many of those involved in the designing and re-fashioning of the premises.
Bilinguasing: BilinguaSing - an award-winning music, singing and movement class for parents, babies, toddler and pre-school children to learn Spanish or French together - is coming to Settle. There will be a Spanish session, entitled Ivamos, at Settle Library on March 1 between 4pm and 4.45pm and this will be suitable for five to 11 years olds. For more information, contact 07534 464567.
Prayer Day: The Women’s World Day of Prayer will take place on March 4 and a service will be held at St Mary and St Michael’s Church at 7.30pm. All are welcome. This year’s service has been prepared by the women of Cuba.
Handyperson needed: Settle Town Council is seeking a self-motivated person who cares about Settle and its public spaces to undertake general maintenance. For more details, email clerk@settletowncouncil.org.uk. The closing date is March 4, with the start date of April 1.

SILSDEN: Linda Berry, 01535 654643
Craft workshops: Community interest company Been Busy will hold a stained glass art workshop next Friday, February 26 from 10am to 2pm. Also coming up are a Mothers’ Day fresh flower gift workshop on Saturday, March 5, and spring flower themed workshops on Saturday, March 12, from 10am to noon and from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. There will be a taster day on Saturday, March 19, with various one-hour sessions between 10am and 3pm. For more details or to book, visit beenbusysilsden.com, email shop@beenbusysilsden.com, phone 01535 654668 or call into the shop at 56 Kirkgate.
History website: A new website for those interested in the history of Silsden has been launched, using text and photographs to bring the past to life. It has been developed by Silsden Local History Group and designed by member Adrian Brennan and there are ambitious plans for its future. The website was launched at the history group’s recent annual meeting, when chairman David Mason welcomed it as a great resource for the community. It contains not only details of the group’s many activities and publications but also lists the archive material on Silsden, which is growing rapidly. In the coming months, information from all the group’s research projects will be uploaded onto the site, along with additional photographs donated by local people. The website address is silsdenhistorygroup.co.uk. Popular speaker and author Ian Dewhirst will be the chief guest at the group’s Monday meeting when his topic will be Leisure during Victorian and Edwardian times. The meeting, held at the Methodist Church, is open to all, with doors opening at 7pm for a 7.20pm start. The group will also hold a local and family history research session on Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm in the back meeting room of the town hall. This will give access to the groups archived resources which include books, documents, maps and artefacts.
Fashion show: A fashion show will be held in Silsden Methodist Church next Saturday, February 27, at 2.30pm. This will feature models dressed by Kathryn, of Otley, in a wide range of adults and children’s clothing and accessories. Tickets are £5 from Twiggs, church members or on the door and include refreshments. All are welcome.
Sports Club: Following three recent break-ins at The Silsden Sports Club, the club has launched a “Just Giving” page to raise funds for the repairs and improvements to the security of the clubhouse. Donations can be made at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Silsdensportsclub. Chairman John Lohan has organised band nights to swell the funds, with the next on March 17 when a top local Irish band will help the Cobbydalers to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Information and tickets can be obtained from the club or via John on 01535 656753. Tickets are £5 each.

SKIPTON
Annual meeting: The Skipton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday. It will take place at the clubhouse on Moorview Way at 7pm and full and associate members are urged to attend.
Naturalists: Chris Freeman gave a talk on volcanoes to Craven Naturalists and Scientific Association. The next meeting on Monday, is Upland Birds of the Yorkshire Dales by Colin Straker. This takes place in the Swadford Centre at 7.30pm. For more details, call the secretary on 01535 642180. Visitors are welcome for an admission fee of £2.
History Society: Members of Skipton History Society were entertained by John Holroyd with slides entitled ‘Why Go Abroad?’ The format was a lightning tour around Great Britain, starting and finishing in John’s home village of Saltaire, which is now a much-visited World Heritage site. The tour included many of our most-loved and photogenic tourist area and buildings, and comparisons with similar and yet better-known and visited places abroad. The slides demonstrated the huge variety of attractions within the country, including the many ageless cathedrals and memories of our historical and industrial past. The next meeting is on Thursday, February 25, in the Swadford Centre at 7.30pm, when Chris Lunnon will give an illustrated talk on ‘The different styles of boundaries and boundary markers throughout Embsay and Eastby.’
Christ Church: On Sunday, Christ Church will hold a service of Holy Communion at 8am, followed by a Family Eucharist at 9.30am, and Evening Prayer at 6.30pm. Holy Communion will be celebrated at 9.30am on Wednesday, followed at 10.30am by Toddler Praise which will resume after half-term. All accompanied young children are welcome to this informal meeting in church, followed by play and refreshments in the church hall.
Retired Men’s Forum: Dr Ian Adams gave an illustrated talk on London’s Royal Palaces. He said Edward the Confessor had started the building of the Palace of Westminster in the 1050s and the Tower of London and Windsor Castle had continued under the Normans. Henry VIII’s reign saw the construction of Hampton Court while Buckingham House was converted into a palace during the reign of George IV. Next week, Ian Dewhurst will describe what life was like in the Home Front during World War One.
Esperanto Group: At the January meeting of Skipton Esperanto Group, members considered the New Year message from Mark Fettes, president of the international Esperanto association Working for Peace in a Warring World. As the basis of his message, he took the speech made by Zamenhof, the creator of the language, to the World Esperanto Congress in Geneva 110 years ago, about the role of this neutral international language in enabling people at least to talk together and to gain a better understanding of differing points of view. Such communication is seen as an indispensable first step towards the creation of a more tolerant and peaceful society. Recent messages from Esperantists in Japan, DRCongo, Madagascar and Argentina demonstrate that Esperanto works excellently as a relatively easy, and definitely equitable means of communication. The next meeting of the Esperanto Group is on Monday at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome. Information about the language, learning opportunities or local meetings is available from 01756 799912.
Holy Trinity: On Sunday, the day starts with Holy Communion at 8am followed by Parish Communion at 9.45am. The 5pm the Evening Service will be at Broughton Parish Church. On Tuesday, there will be the weekly Toddle into Church group for pre-school children and their parents or carers and on Wednesday there will a BCP service of Holy Communion at 10.45am and the Women’s Fellowship will hold their fortnightly gathering in the Vestry Rooms at 7.30pm. On Thursday, at 11am, there is Happy Hour in the Vestry Rooms for those living alone.
Easter Story: Internationally acclaimed author Bob Hartman will tell the Easter Story at Trinity Methodist Church Hall, Westmoreland Street, on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Bob’s storytelling includes Bible stories and traditional folk-tales from around the world, retold in his own inimitable style, with his own inventive stories. Tickets cost £5 each or three for £12 from Cornerstone Book Shop, Newmarket Street, tel 01756 793673 or email books@cornerstoneskipton.co.uk

THORNTON-IN-LONSDALE: Paula Kendall, 015242 42390 and Rosemary Hartley, 015242 42207
Lent services: The Lent series of services continues at St Oswald’s Church on Sunday at 9.30am with Carole Scott talking about Forgiveness. The first session of Lent course will take place at St Mary’s Church, Ingleton, tonight. There will be a simple meal at 6.30pm and a chance to meet with Bishop Hassan from 7.15pm.
Coffee morning: Westhouse Methodist Chapel will host a coffee morning on Wednesday at 10am. Donations for coffee and cake will be given to local charities.
Domino evening: Westhouse Village Hall will host a domino evening, with a pie and peas supper, next Friday, February 26, at 7.30pm. Admission is £3 for adults and £2.50 for children. All are welcome.

UPPER WHARFEDALE: Sheila Denby, 01756 752605
Women’s Institute: Kettlewell and District WI held a members’ night where old photographs were shared. The next meeting is on Tuesday, March 8, when John and Lorraine Taylor will give a talk entitled An Introduction to Alternative Therapies.
Family History: The next meeting of the Wharfedale Family History Group will take place at 2.30pm on Saturday at the Threshfield Village Institute. Glenda Hunter’s talk will be about The 18th Century Wonder of the North, Studley Royal.
Mobile library: The mobile library will be in Upper Wharfedale on Wednesday. It will be in Buckden car park from 10.30am to 12.30pm and in Kettlewell car park from 2pm to 4pm.
Whist drive: The next whist drive at Buckden Village Institute will take place on Wednesday. Doors open at 6.30pm, with the first hand being played at 7pm.
90th anniversary: Rylstone and District WI will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year. To start the celebrations, newly-elected president Victoria Fattorini has suggested the institute collects 90 cans of food to donate to the Salvation Army. The group’s monthly luncheon is today.

WIGGLESWORTH
Community Centre: The craft group will meet on Monday at 7.30pm; whist and dominoes will be played on Wednesday from 7.30pm and Craven Crafts will meet next Friday at 10am. Bacon butties will be served from 11am next Saturday.