WELL done to Lothersdale Primary School pupils who have been busy over the last couple of weeks decorating and filling shoeboxes to support the Christmas Shoebox Appeal organised by the charity, Samaritan’s Purse. The shoeboxes will be sent abroad to be given to children who have been caught up in conflict and the children are very proud to have contributed to this worthwhile cause, says the school.

THE traffic enforcement officers, as they are now called, are a familiar site in around Craven now, but back in December, 1966, Skipton's first ever traffic warden - a Mr J H Tranter, from Cross Hills -was snapped by a Craven Herald photographer as he attached a parking ticket to a mini, parked in a haphazard way on Skipton High Street setts.

DAVID Mitchell, son of Dalesman, the late Bill Mitchell, will be signing copies of his book 'Bill Mitchell's Yorkshire' at The Folly, Settle, on Tuesday, November 29. The book contains a lifetime of memories of the journalist, former editor of The Dalesman and contributor to the Craven Herald. David, and other members of his family, will be at The Folly from 10am to 4pm, when tea, coffee and biscuits will be on sale, all in all, it promises to be a great Yorkshire day out for all the family - other books from Bill Mitchell's collection will be on sale, with proceeds going to the Folly.

CRAVEN may not have been the best place to view last week's Super Moon, what with all the heavy cloud, but there were some pretty impressive rainbows to be seen. Jenny Cornish took this picture of one in Skipton town centre.

THERE is something of a tradition for motorcycling in Craven, what with the Lampkin family filling the pages of the Craven Herald for several decades. Dougie Lampkin, who lives at Bell Busk, is 12 times world trials bike champion, and recently completed an entire lap of the 37 mile Isle of Man TT course on one wheel. Motorcycle insurance brokers, Carole Nash, believes motorcyclists often pass on their passion fr biking to their sons and daughters - and they are asking people to send in their pictures. The best pictures will be chosen by judges including two times World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea. The chosen winner will receive a brand new toy motorbike worth up to £150, just in time to ride around this Christmas.

Entries before December 2 should be shared at the website carolenash.com/news/1742-little-hell-raisers

HORSE riders from far and wide can always be sure of a festive welcome at Craven Country Ride, Coniston Cold come Christmas time. David Coates and the team are putting on a series of Christmas trail rides next month, and riders can be sure there will be plenty of Christmassy decorations on the obstacles to test the bravest of horses, and riders. The special five mile route will feature up to 25 obstacles, which are all optional. A warming 'stirrup cup' of mulled wine and homemade mince pie will be served up on route, a perfect antidote to the coldest of days, and at the end, there will be roast turkey and stuffing - served up in a bun. And not only all that, but riders will be a special Christmas rosette. Champion. Trail rides are due to take place on Sunday, December 4 and Sunday, December 11, with riders setting off between 10am and 12 midday. Cost of ride is £40, to book a place email info@cravencountryride.co.uk or telephone 01756 749300.

AS part of their studies of the English Civil War, year eight pupils at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton were given the opportunity to get their hands on some weaponry and clothing of the times. Historian Des Thomas visited the school and recreated the character of Colonel Granville Thomas. He explained the development and use of the equipment and weaponry on the battlefield and pupils were given the opportunity to handle some of the artefacts. The, outside thankfully, Mr Thomas demonstrated the use of a musket and fired a falconet - a light cannon.

A RELATIVE with a very old degu - a type of rodent - has at least on two occasions brought it back from near death by placing it on a warm hot water bottle after leaving it outdoors a bit too long into winter. A colleague, who has a whippet, tells me he will move heaven and earth to avoid going outside when it gets cold and wet, even with a warm coat on. Dr Hugh Stacey, of Vets4Pets, suggests a few simple measures to take with our pets now the colder days are with us. Dogs, for example, will be better seen in fog and dusk, if they have their own high-visibility coats. Dogs do love and need their walks - even comfort loving whippets - but they do need to be kept warm, and once they're back home, they need to be towelled off. Its a good idea to get reflective collars for cats, so they can be seen, and do move rabbits, and degus, into warmer accommodation.