Neighbourhood news from across Craven

Field Society: At the last meeting of the Austwick Field and Local History Society, Paul Cochrane gave an outstanding presentation on the geology around Austwick and Crummackdale. Although not an easy subject, it was made interesting and understandable by Paul’s excellent diagrams and explanations mixed with a good sense of humour. There is not a meeting in December and the next meeting is on January 21 when a film on the History of Yorkshire, 17th Century to Today, will be shown.

Church news: There will be a united service at Austwick Church for advent on Sunday at 10.30am. There will be a night of mulled wine, a choir and carols at Harden Coach House by kind invitation of Jo Wilson next Friday, December 5, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

Bolton Abbey Priory Church: Sunday’s services at the Priory Church are 8am Communion (said) and 10.30am Sung Eucharist. The preacher will be the Rev Rachel Wood, local ministry development officer in the Diocese of Newcastle. The church will also hold an Advent carol service at 4.30pm. Each Wednesday, there is a communion service at 10am. All services are BCP.

Wednesday Nighters: The Wednesday Nighters will hold their Christmas dinner in Bolton Abbey Village Hall on Wednesday. Tickets are £12 each from Barbara Pickersgill on 01756 710630.

Choir concert: Honley Male Voice Choir will give a Christmas concert in the Priory next Friday, December 5, at 7.15pm. Tickets are £10 each and available from 01756 718155 or the Church Office on 01756 710238.

Bradley Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369 Family Day: There will be a Family Day meeting at 7.30pm tonight in the village hall meeting room. Any local organisations applying for funds from this year’s show should email asymonds2013@gmail.com Christmas sale: The Yorkshire Dales Flower Co will hold a Christmas sale in the village hall on Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Christmas wreaths and table arrangements will be available to buy and order. There will also be planted arrangements, Christmas decorations, gifts, organic skin care products and home baked dog treats. Complimentary tea/coffee and mince pies will be available.

Neighbourhood Plan: Bradley residents have until 6pm on Monday to complete and return their questionnaires giving their views on the draft Neighbourhood Plan. Completed questionnaires should be posted in the sealed box in Bradley village shop.

Film Club: Bradley Film Club will show Laura’s Star (U certificate) in the school hall on Tuesday, starting at 6pm. This animated film is about a little girl who sees a star falling from the sky. Admission is free and children under 16 should be accompanied. There is free popcorn for anyone who writes a review on the film club website.

School news: Classes three and five were joint winners of Walk to School last week, with 92 per cent of children either walking or parking and striding to school.

Yoga: Sue Hartley runs a yoga class in the village hall on Tuesdays from 7.15pm and Ann Berry has a Friday session from 10am. The cost is £5 per class and participants are asked to bring a yoga/exercise mat. For information, contact Sue on 01535 631897 or Ann on 01756 791796.

Clapham Rory-Joe Daniels, 015252 51135 Cave Santa: Father Christmas will be busy working in his grotto at Clapham’s Ingleborough Cave where you can visit him on the three weekends running up to Christmas (December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21). The grotto is open from 11am to 4pm and the cost is £7 for children (including present) and £5 for adults. Limited transport will be provided (weather permitting) from the Lakeside at the start of the Nature Trail and from the cave. There is access for single width pushchair in the cave. For more information, ring 015242 51242 or visit ingleboroughcave.co.uk Primary school: Lady Anne Clifford swished into the school hall complete with farthingale and silk bodice to begin the exciting drama about her life in the early 17th century. The children learned about how she was not allowed to inherit the Clifford Estates in Craven and Westmorland because she had been born a woman and her life-long battle to get what was rightly hers. During the workshop provided by Kendal Community Theatre, the children explored themes of justice and some even dressed up as 17th century people.

Church news: On Sunday, transport will be provided to the Advent service at Ripon Cathedral, which will include carols, preaching and a procession. It will leave at 3.30pm, please sign the list in church if you wish to attend. There will be a night of mulled wine, choir and carols at Harden Coach House, Austwick, by kind invitation of Jo Wilson next Friday, December 5, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

Coniston Cold St Peter’s: On Sunday, St Peter’s will hold an evening service at 4pm.

Young Farmers: Last Tuesday Coniston Cold Young Farmers met at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club at Settle for an evening of rugby training. Ribblesdale stalwarts Mark Throup and Chris Wallbank put the members through their paces. Next week’s meeting is a Christmas crafts night at Coniston.

Cononley Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872 Arts and crafts: Thanks go to everyone who turned up to the arts and crafts event, and to all the helpers, soup-makers and cake-bakers, for making it a really good start to the Christmas season. Many of the old favourites were there plus a few new local craftsmen and women to add to the variety of products on offer.

St John’s: On Sunday, St John’s Church will hold a Holy Communion at 11am and there will be an Advent procession in Bradford Cathedral at 4pm. On Monday, South Craven Walking Group will use St John’s Church for refreshments from 11am to noon.

Cowling Moonrakers: The local history group continued its indexing of archives for easier retrieval of information. It is anticipated that the task will be completed next month. The group then heard about a new local history book about the boundaries of Sutton Township. Some new artefacts given by a parishioner were passed round for examination. Further progress was made on planning the group’s meetings programme for 2015. The meeting ended with two members offering to inquire about two history-related group visits. The next meeting will take place in the Bancroft Room at St Andrew’s Church next Thursday, December 4, at 7.30pm. For more information, contact 01535 637352.

Anniversary weekend: St Andrew’s will celebrate its 49th anniversary this weekend. The festivities with start with a musical rendezvous on Saturday and this year’s entertainment includes soloists, an accordion player, pianist, comic anecdotes and a singalong. Lunches will be served between noon and 1pm. Entertainment will continue till 3pm. On Sunday - St Andrew’s Day - an anniversary service will be held at 10.30am, led by Rev Barbara Walls.

Companions: Cowling Companions are asked to give their names no later than Sunday for the Christmas lunch. This will be at Cowling Village Hall on December 13, from12.30pm. Please state if you are a vegetarian. Call 01535 632023.

Draughton Jane Markham, 01756 711305 Tea party: The next afternoon tea party will be held in the village hall on Monday, starting at 2.30pm.

St Augustine’s Church: There is no service on Sunday (the fifth Sunday in the month).

Earby David Hartley, 01282 842617 St Peter’s: Sue Haggan will be preacher at the 10.30am service on Sunday. The church is holding a Christmas afternoon tea on Tuesday, December 9. Come along at 2.30pm to chat, with the food being served from 3pm. There will be no charge, but there will be a plate for donations. All are welcome. Please contact David and Hazel Edmondson on 843064 if you would like to attend. The next games evening for all ages will be on Monday, December 15, from 7pm.

Advent Hope: There will be a service of Advent Hope at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Barnoldswick, at 6pm next Sunday, December 7. The service will reflect on the theme of hope through stories from Christian Aid partners in Kenya about maternal health and the traditional Advent stories. Advent Hope is part of Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal. For every pound given between now and February, the UK Government will give a pound more up to £5 million.

Churches Together: Anyone interested in helping with the Earby to Bethlehem event is invited to a meeting at the community centre at 2pm tomorrow. Rosemary Biggin is producing the event, which will take place on Sunday, December 14, at 5pm. She can be contacted on 842618 Gardeners Club: Earby and District Gardeners will hold their Christmas social and beetle drive on Tuesday, December 9, at 7.30pm in the Coffee Bar of the New Road Community Centre.

Embsay with Eastby Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197 Embsay churches: Sunday is the start of Advent and St Mary’s Church will hold a communion service at 9.30am. The Methodist Chapel’s 10.30am service will be led by W Murfit. On Tuesday, St Mary’s will hold a service of Holy Communion at 10.30am and, from 2pm to 4pm the church will be open for tea, coffee, home-baking and conversation.

Panto thanks: Embsay Players would like to thank everybody who took part or supported this year’s pantomime, making it such a rip-roaring success.

Flower Club: Embsay-with-Eastby Flower Club invites everyone to Tinseltime - its open Christmas meeting - which will be held in Embsay Village Hall on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Linda Hardman, from the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies, will give a demonstration.

Farnhill and Kildwick Joyce Wood, 01535 635880 St Andrew’s: On Saturday, the St Andrew’s Fair will take place from 10am to noon in the church and parish rooms. On Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am and at 10am and a candlelit Advent carol service at 6pm. On Monday at 7.30pm, the church will celebrate its Patron Saint with a Patronal Festival Eucharist at which the guest preacher will be The Venerable David Lee, the Archdeacon of Bradford.

Village Pump: The over 50s group will meet in the lower hall at Farnhill Methodist Church from 2pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday.

Trust talk: There will be a talk about the work of the Gambian Schools Trust in the lower hall at Farnhill Methodist Church next Thursday, December 4, at 7pm. The talk will be given by Linda and David Gunn who regularly visit the Gambia. The talk will be followed by supper.

Party evening: A Christmas Party Evening will be staged in the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute in aid of institute funds next Friday, December 5. The evening will begin with a pie and peas supper at 7pm and there will be music from Jim on the organ, with a singalong and party dances. Tickets, priced at £7.50, are available from Joyce on 01535 635880 or Jill on 01535 633620.

Annual meeting: Kildwick and Farnhill Institute will hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, December 9, starting at 7.30pm.

Parish council: Joyce Wood informed Farnhill Parish Council of a musical evening which is to take place in Kildwick/ Farnhill Institute next Friday, December 5, at 7pm, and said she hoped the public would support the event. Darren Griffiths, the team leader for traffic engineering at NYCC, has informed the parish council that the estimated cost for the proposed crossing at Cononley Crossroads would be about £16,000 and it was finalising details to pass to the local area office for comment. Cononley Parish Council has stated it is happy to work together as a joint venture. NYCC Highways has informed the parish council of reductions to be made in the highway grass-cutting service. The county council as a highway authority has a statutory duty to cut grass for safety reasons, for example where grass impedes visibility at junctions. The majority of grass currently funded, however, is cut for amenity or aesthetic reasons and is therefore a discretionary service. Due to cutbacks in its budget from March 2015, it intends to stop funding for grass-cutting where it is not required for safety reasons. Urban roads will see a significant change - the area cut in Farnhill will be reduced from 323 square metres to 16.15 square metres. County and district councillor Patrick Mulligan reported that proposals had been put forward for changes to regulations regarding the licensing of taxis. The proposals suggest a loosening of the regulations to allow personal use of the taxis at weekends or when not on duty. He also informed the parish council of changes in the collection of refuse. Those affected will be notified beforehand. Cllr Mulligan also reported that Craven District Council was inviting Community Grant applications for between £100 and £2,000. It has a budget of £16,000, of which £10,000 is still available. The parish council has agreed to contribute towards the cost of repairing the damaged wall at the Peggy Wilson Trust Playing Field. The cost is to be split equally between Farnhill Parish Council, Kildwick Parish Meeting and the School. Craven District Council has informed the parish council that on its most recent visit to 5 Bucklar Hill there was no evidence of any outstanding issue or breach of the extant enforcement notice and the investigation would now be closed. With regards to No 3, the land was not untidy enough to consider any enforcement action. Plans to erect a Christmas tree on the Canal and River Trust’s land have suffered a setback over installation of electrics. The situation is unlikely to be resolved for this year but the clerk is to inform the Canal and Rivers Trust that it would still like to go ahead for future years. The yearly inspection of the play area has been carried out by ROSPA and there are no items causing immediate concern. The parish council is working to a plan for the Arbour which includes keeping the grass at a sensible level. The intention is to have an area that attracts wildlife, but is easy to maintain. The next stage is to decide what action is needed with the steps which form part of a path up through the Arbour and the handrail at the top of the path. This will be an agenda item for the December meeting. Also to be discussed is next year’s budget. The council thanked Cllr R Bramley for the excellent job he had done with the new website and Graham Taylor from the history group for the help he has provided. The next meeting will be held in the institute on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Gargrave Sally Jennings, 01756 748098 Coffee morning: A coffee morning will take place in the village hall between 10am and noon on Saturday. All proceeds will go towards the pantomime production of Aladdin during February 2015.

Library draw: The community library’s November draw will take place about 11.30am on Saturday at the pantomime coffee morning in the village hall.

Quiz night: A quiz night will be staged at the village hall on Saturday from 8pm. Quiz master Steve has compiled a fun quiz covering almost every subject, including a picture round. Each team can be up to four people and children are welcome. The entry fee is £5 per person which will include a pie and peas supper or a vegetarian option and is payable on the door. The quiz begins at 8pm. The winning team will be presented with a trophy and treats. There will also be consolation prizes for the runners-up.

Flea market: There will be a flea market on Sunday at Gargrave Village Hall. The doors will be open from 10am and there will be the normal vast array of stalls. Entrance is 50p and refreshments will be available.

St Andrew’s: On Sunday, St Andrew’s will hold a BCP Communion from 8am followed, at 10.45am, by Morning Prayer.

Lights switch-on: The village Christmas lights will be switched on at the Summerseat on Sunday at 4pm. It will be followed by mince pies, mulled wine and carol singing in the church.

Parish council: The parish council will meet in the annex of the village hall on Monday from 7.15pm.

Craft fair: There will be a Christmas craft fair in the village hall next Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7. It will be an ideal opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts. The hall will be full of stalls. Admission is free and homemade refreshments will be available. Many of the stallholders will be working on their creations. The event will be open from 10am to 4pm each day.

Giggleswick Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 Festive Fantasia: Octameron and Phoenix Strings will come together at Richard Whiteley Theatre to perform a Festive Fantasia next Saturday, December 6. Tickets cost £10 and are available via Cave and Crag and Settle Music.

Langcliffe Singers: The group invites everyone to a seasonal concert, Christmas with Langcliffe Singers, at St Alkelda’s Church on Saturday, December 13, at 7.30pm. There will be readings and carols along with mince pies and mulled wine. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Settle Music, Bentham Post Office and Cave and Crag.

Theatre events: Students from Giggleswick School will present A View from the Bridge at the Richard Whiteley Theatre. Arthur Miller’s acclaimed play exposes the myth behind the great American dream. Performances begin at 7.30pm. Next Thursday, December 4, the theatre will show a live broadcast of the Old Vic’s production of The Crucible at 7.30pm. Next Friday, December 5, the Gigg Lecture series continues with Alex Hibbert’s story of a winter spent with Eskimos. The event starts at 7pm. Tickets are available from 01729 893180.

Primary school: Class three pupils worked hard to plan, advertise, organise and run a Superheroes for Pudsey event and have all been presented with a special certificate in recognition of their efforts. They were well supported by the rest of the school community and raised a record £335 for Children in Need. Craig Eccleston has been appointed as parent governor, replacing James Mundell, who left in August. Congratulations go to class one pupils who behaved so well during their recent visit to Settle Library. Later this year, they hope to return to the library which will soon be relocated to its new building in Limestone View. Pupils will be taking part in Christmas lights switch-on in Settle on Saturday by singing on stage between 3.30pm and 3.45pm.

Gisburn Young Farmers: Gisburn Young Famers met at Bob Lancaster’s for an evening of beef store judging. It was a new experience for many members. However, all had a successful score and learnt some new skills. Next week’s meeting is bingo at the Festival Hall, Gisburn.

Glusburn Women’s Institute: The speaker at the November meeting of Glusburn and Cross Hills WI was Yorkshire’s own baker, Mike Armstrong. He shared his amazing festive recipes, giving a brief history on the origins of each. After the demonstrations, everyone was given some fresh yeast to try the recipes at home. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday at 7.45pm at Glusburn Institute. This is the Christmas celebration. Any ladies who might be interested in joining the WI will find a friendly welcome.

Grassington Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Christian Aid: The Christian Aid group will serve homemade soup and mince pies at the Congregational Church on Saturday from 10am. It coincides with the start of the village’s Dickensian Festival.

Foot clinic: L and J Ramsden will hold a foot clinic in the ladies room at the front of the town hall tomorrow from 10am to 2pm. Chiropodist Jim Ramsden is hoping to make this a regular service.

Grassington Players: Grassington Players will present an evening of entertainment in the town hall on Saturday to coincide with the Dickensian Festival. Tickets are available from The Hub on 752222.

Chocolate tombola: Grassington in Bloom will be fundraising during the Dickensian Festival. It will hold a chocolate tombola stall in Main Street on the second Saturday, December 6. Donations can be left at the Flower Loft.

Coffee morning: Gills Top - the Anchor home in Scar Street - will hold a Christmas coffee morning next Friday, December 5, from 10.30am.

Hospice stall: The Wharfedale Support Group for Manorlands Hospice will hold a tombola stall on the square at the Dickensian Festival next Saturday, December 6. Gifts for the stall would be appreciated.

Friendship Club: Grassington Friendship Club will welcome Sheila Bloomfield to its meeting in Church House today at 2.15pm. She will talk about travelling in Tajikstan. Next Thursday, December 4, Charles and Angela Knowles will give tips on how to prepare for Christmas.

Dickensian coffee: Coffee will be served at Church House on the three Dickensian Saturdays - November 29 and December 5 and 13 - from 10am to 4.30pm. Proceeds will go to St Michael’s Church, Linton, Martin House Children’s Hospice and the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ebola Crisis Appeal.

Garden talk: Maureen Little, garden designer, beekeeper, herb enthusiast and writer, will be guest speaker at the Grassington and District Horticultural Society when it meets in the Octagon Theatre next Thursday, December 4, at 7.30pm. She will talk about growing and using culinary herbs.

Hellifield Ken Leak, 01729 850845 Lights switch-on: Hellifield’s Christmas Lights will be switched on tomorrow at 6.30pm. There will be refreshments in the village institute afterwards.

Santa visits: Santa will be bringing his sleigh to Hellifield next Tuesday and Friday. Both journeys will start at 5.30pm. He will be accompanied by his elves from Settle Rotary Club.

Age Concern: Val Baulard and Friends will entertain at Age Concern tomorrow from 10am at Hellifield House.

Coffee morning: Hellifield Youth will host a coffee morning in the institute on Saturday from 10am. It will include stalls, refreshments and tombola. There will be no youth group meeting tomorrow.

Christmas concert: There will be a Christmas concert in the institute next Friday, December 5, at 7.30pm. It will feature singing duo Ian and Jane, who will include seasonal music for all ages. There will also be a Hellifield Christmas Carol and a Christmas-style buffet, Christmas quiz and raffle. Children are welcome. Tickets are £7.50 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

Question Time: Hellifield Area Allotments and Gardens Association will stage a Gardeners’ Question Time on Tuesday. The event will take place in the Yorke Room at Hellifield Village Institute at 7.30pm and will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Entrance is £1 for members and £2 for non-members. For more information, contact 01729 850886 or email david.j.gooch@btinternet.com Horton-in-Ribblesdale Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235 St Oswald’s: There will be a service of Holy Communion with laying on of hands at St Oswald’s Church on Sunday at 10.30am.

Ingleton Sue Brown, 015242 41835 Rural association: Ingleton Rural Community Association has agreed to support the next stage of building a plinth for the mosaic, which is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the community centre. North Yorkshire will supply the bricks. It was also agreed to invite Lorraine Sullivan to a meeting to speak about the defibrillator. The chairman said he had found polystyrene in the paper recycling bin in the car park, which would contaminate the whole bin load. He asked people to be more aware of this. Skipton Building Society had awarded a grant of £500 to the swimming pool. The quiz at the Working Men’s Club raised £355 and £200 has been received from the Bull Land Charity. Future events for the pool are a fashion show at the centre tomorrow and a Christmas draw next Thursday, December 4, at the centre’s bingo night. The bingo organisers are asking for prizes and helpers. A committee has been formed regarding the regeneration of the village centre and the first meeting will be on December 11 at 5.30pm. The pantomime jumble sale is on December 13. There will be a late night shopping event next Friday, December 5, and the parade will be at the grotto at 6pm. This year’s theme is Frozen. There was a good attendance at St Mary’s Remembrance Day service and £269.95 was raised for the British Legion. The Bodyshop afternoon made £164.40 for the church roof fund. Old People’s Welfare Christmas party is on Friday, December 12. Ingleton Methodist Church will provide a meal for people on their own on Christmas Day and anyone in need is asked to get in touch. The winners of the 200 Club were Eunice Johnston, who wins £20, Doreen Wells (£10) and Sheila Richards, Kath Close and Thelma Yates (£5 each).

Lawkland Young Farmers: Young Farmers met at Austwick Parish Hall for their annual whist and dominoes drive. Results were: whist, ladies - M Gwinell; men - S Hogg; dominoes, adults - S Taylor; children - M Taylor. Next week’s meeting is novelty judging at Austwick Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

Long Preston Heather Thomas-Smith, 01729 840113 Santa visits: Santa will be bringing his sleigh, accompanied by his elves from the Rotary Club of Settle, to Long Preston on Monday, starting at the Settle end of the village at 5.30pm.

Christmas fair: The Long Preston Village Hall Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday from 10am to noon. There will be coffee and mince pies plus lots of stalls with Christmas wares. Admission is £1.

Rathmell Elaine Illingworth, 01729 840087 Christmas fair: The Reading Room will hold a Christmas Fair on Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Entry is free and there will be a small charge for coffee/tea and mince pies. There will be a variety of stalls, a tombola and guess the number of reindeer droppings in a jar.

Young Farmers: Twenty five members met at Rathmell Primary School for a chocolate night and a quiz. This was enjoyed by all. Members were reminded of the whist and domino drive at Wigglesworth Community Centre on Monday at 7.30pm.

Settle Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 November fair: The Friends of Settle Primary School will hold their annual November Fair tomorrow between 6.30pm and 8pm. Admission is free and there will be a range of stalls and games.

Christmas lunch: Volunteers are still needed to help with this year’s Christmas Day event in Settle. Assistance is required with the planning, food preparation, cooking and serving and arranging transport. To volunteer contact Judith on 01729 822138. The community Christmas lunch and tea will be held in St John’s Hall from 11.45am to 4.45pm. To reserve a place, contact 01729 822138.

Moveable Feast: Linton Court Gallery has unveiled its new winter exhibition, A Moveable Feast, featuring paintings, drawings, original prints, sculptures and ceramics. It will run until December 20.

Victoria Hall: November’s programme ends with a concert by Martyn Joseph tomorrow. Settle’s newest theatre group, Take 2, will stage The Witch that Nicked Christmas on December 3, 4 and 5. This is a family show featuring local young people. The First Sunday Folk on December 7 will welcome Bernard Wrigley, the Bolton Bullfrog and also known as Barry Clegg from Emmerdale. Chorus Natus Est will hold a Come and Sing workshop of Handel’s Messiah on December 14. The workshop will run from noon to 6pm with an evening performance at 7pm. Jazz singer Clare Teal rounds off the season with a Festive Fiesta Jing-Jing-a-ling on December 19.

Guided walks: The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line will lead a nine-mile circular walk on Saturday, departing from Appleby at 10.47. For further details, contact walksinfo@settle-carlisle.com.

Settle Orchestra: Settle Orchestra’s second autumn concert will take place at at Christ Church, Skipton, on Saturday at 7.30pm. The programme will include works by Ravel, Poulenc and Bizet. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Cave and Crag, Settle, Settle Music, Skipton Camera Centre or by phoning 01729 825806 The Folly: To coincide with Settle’s Lights switch-on on Saturday, there will be Christmas Fun in The Folly from 1.30pm to 4 pm. This year the theme is making games. There will also be Christmas-card making and a “golden” tree for visitors to decorate. Children should be accompanied and a donation of 50p is requested to cover costs. Next Saturday, December 6, a Yuletide event is being held from 10am to noon with mulled wine and mince pies. Admission is £3.50 and this will provide a final opportunity to see this year’s exhibitions.

Palestine fundraiser: The Three Peaks for Palestine group is holding a fundraiser for Medical Aid for Palestine on Saturday from 10am to 3.30pm at Settle’s Quaker Meeting House. On offer will be morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea, along with Palestinian products, hand-printed Christmas cards and jewellery.

Switch-on: This year’s Christmas Lights switch on will take place on Saturday in Settle Market Place. There will be a grotto for Santa Claus, live entertainment, charity stalls, reindeer and fireworks. There will also be a live grand draw with top prize of £500. The event will run from 3pm to 5.15pm and will be followed by a family disco.

All sorts market: There will be an all sorts market in Victoria Hall on Saturday, from 9.30am to 4pm. Stalls are currently available; please contact 017239 823867 for further details.

Band concert: The annual concert by Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band at Holy Ascension Church will take place on Sunday at 7.30pm. Admission is £6 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Women’s Institute: Members will meet on Wednesday in the Catholic Church Hall for a talk on Bags of Difference. There will be a raffle for a Christmas hamper.

Charity dance: The Christmas charity dance will take place next Saturday, December 6, at St Mary and St Michael Parish Hall. The dance will run from 8pm to 11.30pm. There will be a Jacob’s Join supper and all proceeds will go to Macmillan Cancer Care. The annual New Year’s Eve Charity Dance will take place at the Victoria Hall on December 31 from 8pm. Again, there will be a Jacob’s Join supper and all proceeds will go to support Victoria Hall. For further information, contact 01729 82325.

Settle Sessions: Next Friday, December 5, there will be a seasonal Settle Sessions at The Folly with guest Ann Pilling. The prize-winning children’s author and poet will explain how she came to create an anthology of poems to aid the Hawes Church Restoration Fund. To add to the festive feel, there will also be a selection of favourite Christmas poems. The evening will also encompass the annual meeting and reception, to which the public are welcome. The reception begins at 6.30pm followed by the entertainment at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from 01729 823305.

Parish church: The parish church is hosting a Christmas Tree Festival. Businesses, charities and clubs have been invited to place a decorated tree in the church. It is hoped that the decorations will be themed to reflect the donors’ interests. The festival will run next Saturday, December 6, from 10am to 3pm and next Sunday, December 7, from noon to 3pm and at the same times the following weekend. There are also community musical events taking place in church on these weekends too. Next Sunday, at 6.30pm, there is the annual joint choirs/music groups carol concert and on Sunday, December 14, at 6.30pm there will be the service of nine lessons and carols with Cantores Salicium. For more information, contact Margaret Roberts on 01729 822848. The church thanks everyone who brought along food to the harvest services. It was given to local, needy folk, the Skipton Food Bank and The Children’s Society’s Hand in Hand project in Keighley. Donations at the church’s Harvest Lunch totalled £155 and this was sent to Medecins sans Frontieres’ Ebola Appeal.

Community carols: This year’s community carol concert will take place at Settle Parish Church next Sunday, December 7, at 6.30pm. The programme will contain items by Settle Amateur Operatic Society, Settle Voices, Settle College, Settle Primary School, Langcliffe Singers, Octameron, Giggleswick and Settle Junior Band and organists Graham Toft and Paul Fisher.

Coffee morning: Settle Amateur Operatic Society invites everyone to a Christmas coffee morning at The Old Court House on Station Road on Saturday, December 13, from 10am to 12.30pm.

Pool friends: The November draw of the Friends of Settle Swimming Pool 200 Club took place at J W Garnett Electrical and was drawn by Rachel Garnett. The winners were: No 36, Mr and Mrs J Read, £50; No 135, Althea Shevell, £30; No 99, Mary Preston, £20. The Christmas Prize draw of £500, £300 and £200 will be drawn live at the Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday.

Silsden Linda Berry, 01535 654643 Civic Society: The Civic Society will meet in the Methodist Church next Thursday, December 4, when Dr George Ingle will give an illustrated talk entitled Trouble at’ Mill. Doors open at 7pm and the talk starts at 7.30pm.

Annual meeting: Silsden Sports Club will hold its annual meeting next Thursday, December 4, at 7pm in the function room. Anyone wishing to add anything to the agenda must notify the secretary, Peter Hanson, today at the latest. He can be contacted at 9 Windgate, Silsden, BD20 0LG or email peter.hanson12@hotmail.co.uk Christmas market: This Sunday will see the annual Christmas Market organised by the gala committee. Running from 10am to 4pm, it will include both indoor and outdoor stalls in the town hall and the streets around Briggate and the Punchbowl. After the market closes people can gather at the memorial gardens for the official lighting of the Silsden Christmas tree.

Young Farmers: Silsden with Skipton YFC met in Skipton for a ghost walk. The meeting was enjoyed by all. Members also competed in a public speaking competition with many individuals getting placed and the club coming second overall.

Skipton Oddfellows: Local band Paisley Rehab will perform at the Three Links Club on Saturday. The local group supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind will hold a quiz on Monday. The monthly fish and chip bingo session will be held on Tuesday from noon. Join the Oddfellows for their usual quiz night at 9pm next Thursday, December 4, and Frank’s fun quiz night next Saturday, December 6. There are still a few tickets available for the trip to Salford Quays on Tuesday, December 16. For more information, contact 01756 798022.

Camera Club: Two members provided an excellent and varied evening when Peter Sharp showed pictures of a trip to China with a journey part way up the Yangtze River. Mike Breeze, in complete contrast, showed how the canal system in England changed from one to the other particularly in locks and bridges. He concluded with photos of theatres around the country including the Winter Gardens at Morecambe.

Retired Men’s Forum: Emeritus professor of forensic pharmacology Mike Green described how he had led a team investigating the disappearance of the Hull trawler Gaul, which had sunk with all hands in the Barents Sea off the coast of Russia in 1974. In spite of many conspiracy theories, he and his team had concluded that the sinking was a tragic accident caused by bad weather, faults in the ship’s design, poor maintenance and an inexperienced crew. Next week, Mr G Budd will speak about The Cape Victoria Falls.

Gardeners Club: An informal annual general meeting followed by cheese and biscuits and quizzes marked the end of the summer season. Officers elected were: president, Rex Geldard; chairman, Ken Bullock; membership secretary, Carole Whitaker assisted by Martin Whitaker; treasurer, Sylvia Hodgkinson; and secretary, Sarah Trafford assisted by Jenny Pratt. The annual membership fee remains at £5 and admission to meetings £1.50. Meetings will resume on Wednesday, January 21, at 7.30pm in the Soroptimist Rooms when Margaret Wooler will present Colour Throughout the Year.

Lacemakers: Fifteen members attended the November meeting. Several ladies helped at the National Lace Guild stand at Harrogate. There will not be a December meeting as the Guild will hold its Christmas lunch at Copper Dragon Bistro. The next meeting will be at Christ Church, Skipton, on Thursday, January 15, from 10am to 3.30pm.

Navy news: The Skipton and District Royal Naval Association is seeking a new chairman as the present postholder is not seeking re-election due to ill health. On Friday, the standard of the branch was on parade at Carleton School when pupils paid tribute to those who had supported King and Country during the Great War. All 139 pupils took part in the commemorations, which included a fanfare by the bugles of the Royal British Legion Band. A tree was planted, with the ceremony attended by the mayor of Skipton and the chairman of Craven District Council. The association will next meet at the RAFA headquarters on Shortbank Road on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Speakers Club: The evening began with a thought-provoking speech by the club president Simon Thompson, titled Do we really mean what we say? This was an opportunity for Simon to practise his speech in readiness for the area competition later this month. Jethro Martin followed with an informative speech on killer whales. The final speech of the evening was given by Jane Reas who questioned the intentions of those who volunteered to work abroad. The evening was rounded off by a lively topics session. The next meeting is at the Soroptimists Rooms, Otley Street, on Monday from 7.45pm.

Sutton-in-Craven Christmas fair: A Christmas fair will be held in the village hall on Saturday at 10am. There will be lots of stalls, refreshments will be served and Father Christmas will in attendance.

United service: On Sunday, there will be a United Benefice Holy Communion at Christ Church, Lothersdale, at 10.30am. There will be no service at St Thomas’.

Art Club: Sutton Art Club will meet on Wednesday at 7pm when Susan Ross will lead a practical session on portraiture in the community centre, North Street. Visitors are welcome and admission is £2.50.

Thornton-in-Lonsdale Paula Kendall and Rosemary Hartley, 015242 42207 Shoebox appeal: Westhouse Methodist Church sent more than 80 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child. A huge thank you goes to those who filled a box or gave a donation. The boxes are now on their way to children in Romania.

Coffee cash: The recent coffee morning hosted by Westhouse Village Hall committee raised £184.70 for Lynch Syndrome UK.

Christingle service: There will be a Christingle service in aid of the Children’s Society at St Oswald’s Church next Sunday, December 7, at 4pm.

Family dominoes: All are welcome at the Christmas family dominoes on Friday, December 12, at 7.30pm at Westhouse Village Hall. The ticket price of £2 includes entrance, mince pies, mulled wine and soft drinks.

Crafty crackers: St Oswald’s Church invites all to their Crafty Christmas Crackers on Saturday, December 13, from 10.30am to noon. It is a free event for all ages with light lunch to follow. All children must be supervised.

Tosside Hall dance: The next dance with accordionist Denis Westmorland will take place next Saturday, December 6, at 8pm. Admission is £6.

Band concert: The popular Slaidburn Silver Band will perform its Christmas concert next Sunday, December 7, at 2.30pm. Admission is £4.

Upper Wharfedale Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Wreath-making: A Christmas wreath-making evening in support of St Oswald’s Church, Arncliffe, will be held on Friday, December 12. Basics will be provided but participants should take along greenery and extra decorations. To book a place, call 770269 or email patsy.campbell@littondale.com United service: There will only be one service for the Upper Wharfedale benefice to celebrate Advent on Sunday. It will be held at St Mary’s, Kettlewell, and will be led by the Rev Rod Geddes.

Indoor bowls: Indoor bowling continues at Kettlewell Village Hall each Wednesday. Sessions start at 1.30pm.

Wigglesworth Community centre: Whist and dominoes will be played on Saturday and, on Monday, the Young Farmers are organising a drive. It will start at 7.30pm . The ladies’ Christmas dinner will be held at the Plough on Wednesday and there will be a Christmas wreath-making event on Monday, December 8, at 7.30pm. On Wednesday, December 17, there will be the Meet and Eat Christmas party and a Christmas-themed quiz. The Village Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 21, and the pantomime, Mother Goose, will be staged on Sunday, January 4.