STAR potter and winner of television's Great Pottery Throw Down, Matthew Wilcock, will be at the Great Yorkshire Show today. The resident potter and teacher at Giggleswick School, has been at the show all week promoting the school, which is celebrating 40 years of being co-educational. He has produced a selection of pots, tea bowls and teapots, to display on the school's stand, where children can paint their own miniature pots. At the same time, adults, and perhaps prospective parents of children at the school, can find out about Giggleswick, while enjoying a complimentary drink. Matthew has just returned from the Bovey Tracey Contemporary Craft Festival where he exhibited work and gave pottery demonstrations.

MARIE Curie fundraisers will hold a Blooming Great Tea Party baking competition at St Andrew's Church, Skipton, next Saturday, July 23. The event will run from 10am to 4pm, with judging taking place between 11am and noon. There will be categories for cupcakes/traybakes, sponges and loafs, flans and tarts and "showstopper" cakes. Prizes will include afternoon tea for two at Herriots Hotel, Skipton, or Swinton Park Hotel, Masham, a meal for two at Skipton's Rendezvous Hotel and a gift donated by Home and Kitchen. Entry is £3 for each category and all the cakes will be sold to raise money for Marie Curie. For more information, contact Theresa Powell on 07764 159863 or skiptonfundraisinggroup@yahoo.com

YOUNG children across Craven are being invited to take part in a Roald Dahl-themed summer reading challenge. Libraries across North Yorkshire will be challenging young readers from four to 11 years old, to read six books over the school holidays. Called The Big Friendly Read, it is part of 100-year celebrations of the world's favourite storyteller with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate. It will feature some of Roald Dahl's best-loved characters and artwork of his principal illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake,and is aimed at encouraging reading on a giant scale. To take part in the challenge, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library. They will receive a collector’s folder and as they borrow and read at least six library books over the summer, they can collect six cards to complete their folder, together with other rewards. The cards feature original Quentin Blake illustrations and explore some of most popular themes in Roald Dahl’s books, such as invention, mischief and friendship. Children who complete the challenge will be awarded a certificate, a medal and a dazzling pair of rainbow glasses. The Big Friendly Read Summer Reading Challenge launches in libraries across North Yorkshire on Saturday and will run until Saturday, September, 10. To find out more, visit the website northyorks.gov.uk/bigfriendlyread.

IT seems that deputy editor Lindsey Moore needs her eyes testing. In the text for last week's bygone picture, she mistakenly read the date for the Hellifield Minors picture as 1968. The photograph was actually taken 20 years earlier - in 1948. Thank you to all the readers who took the time to point out the error.

A SUMMER club with a difference will take place in Settle over the school holidays. The difference is that it's in Spanish! Starting on July 26 and running every Tuesday from 9.30am to 10.30am, the club is aimed at four to 10 year olds and will take place in Settle Children's Centre (formerly a Settle Middle School building). No previous knowledge of the language is necessary. Places are limited, so early booking is essential. Contact 07534 464567 for details.

THE trustees of Skipton Temperance Hall are inviting applications from local charities and organisations. Applicants must either support the temperance caused in some way, help Craven residents in need, encourage a healthy lifestyle or help people with a drug or alcohol problems and who are involved in youth work. Written applications should be sent to Mr M Bray, 7 George Street, Carleton, Skipton, giving details of the organisation and enclosing a copy of the annual accounts. The closing date is September 6.

BOOK lovers are being urged by Oxfam to rummage among the shelves of its Skipton shop in High Street to find a hidden book by one of the country's most loved authors. "The only person who knows who the author is and where the book is secreted is me," said bookshop manager Dianne Fisher. "It should be fun for readers to scrutinise the shelves to see if they can find the signed copy - it will be their's for our standard price." The challenge is part of book month.

THE Skipton-based Sleep Council has come up with some invaluable tips to relieve the stress of UK brides and grooms in the run-up to their big day. "Organising a wedding can take its toll on couples which often leads to restless nights worrying about the event," says the council's Lisa Artis. "It can be a big financial strain on people combined with the anxiety of making sure everything is perfect and keeping friends and family happy." Her tips are getting a good night's kip (at least six hours); making sure you're comfy in bed; switching off your phone and iPad; avoiding a hen/stag night on the eve of your wedding; if you are staying in an hotel, anticipating what sort of conditions you'll be sleeping in ahead of time and packing accordingly; and adopting the same bedtime routine as you do at home.