Neighbourhood news from across Craven

Bentham Coffee thanks: Bentham Agricultural Society wishes to thank everyone who supported its annual coffee morning in Bentham Town Hall, which raised £367. At the annual general meeting, officers elected were: chairman, John Dawson; secretary, Val Lawson; and treasurer, Jillian Ashton. The 16th annual quiz will be held in the town hall on February 13 and the annual show will take place at Bentham Auction Mart on Saturday, September 5.

Bolton Abbey Priory Church: The services on Sunday are 8am Communion (said), 10.30am Sung Eucharist and 4.30pm Evening Prayer. On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Liquid Family Service at 9.15am and, last Sunday, all children went home with Advent stockings. The next one is on January 4. Each Wednesday, there is a communion service at 10am. All services are BCP.

Christmas services: On Sunday, there will be a Roaming Carols event, starting at 3pm at the Bolton Abbey Post Office. Participants will then roam down to the church, singing as they go and finishing round the Priory Christmas tree. The event is suitable for all the family. Next Sunday, December 21, there will be a service of Lessons and Carols at 4.30pm and, on Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle service at 4pm and the First Eucharist of Christmas at 11.30pm. The Christmas Day services include an 8am Holy Communion and a 10am Festal Eucharist.

Bradley Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369 Christmas workshop: There will be a Christmas workshop in the Methodist Church schoolroom tomorrow from 3.30pm to 5pm. Activities will include crafts, baking, junk modelling, tattoos and tree decorations. Father Christmas will also make a special appearance. Refreshments, including mulled wine, will be available and there will be Christmas cakes and puddings on sale. Everyone is welcome.

Christmas post: Bradley School is offering a Christmas postal service. Stamps cost 10p and are available from the school office and the village shop. Cards can be posted either in the shop or in the postbox outside school. The post will be sorted by the older children and delivered by parents and their children. All money raised will go towards FOBS (Friends of Bradley School) fundraising.

Neighbourhood Plan: There has been an impressive response to the Bradley plan consultation document. Nearly 200 completed questionnaires were returned, representing more than 20 per cent of the adult population. The neighbourhood planning committee has now got a great deal of work to do collating and analysing the results. They will report back to the village early in the New Year with a meeting for all residents. The team is very grateful to Sandra at the village shop for looking after the ballot box and her enthusiastic support.

School news: Class three were winners of last week’s Walk to School, with every pupil either walking or parking and striding to school.

Parish council: There will be a parish council meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday in the village hall. This is an open meeting and residents are invited to attend.

Burnsall Ed Williams, 01756 720335 Fair thanks: The Parochial Church Council of St Wilfrid’s would like to thank everyone who helped or turned up to the Christmas fair in Burnsall Village Hall on Saturday. It was well attended and raised a magnificent £1,559 towards the Fabric Fund.

Coffee morning: Skipton Girls’ High School pupil Emily Rowley is holding a coffee morning on Sunday to help fund her trip to China with the school in June. It will take place at her home, Bridge House Farm, Hartlington, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Entrance will be £5 and there will be a raffle and cake stall (contributions welcome). Everyone is welcome.

Christmas fair: Burnsall School will hold a Christmas fair tomorrow from 3.30pm to 5pm. It will include Christmas crafts, baking and games. Everyone is welcome.

Clapham Rory-Joe Daniels, 015242 51135 Church news: Ongoing repair work at St James’ Church means services will not recommence in church until Sunday, January 25. But parishioners are urged in the meantime to check Clapham noticeboard for any special items of news and are welcome to attend services at one of the sister churches. The monthly Clapham Newsletter can be collected from Liz Mason’s home. A service of carols and lessons will take place at Newby Chapel on Sunday at 7pm.

Tea Time Vintage: A collection of curios, collectables and items created in Clapham will be available soon in what was previously the Outdoor Gear Shop, on Church Avenue. A wide variety of vintage and pre-loved items will be on sale as well as a selection of fresh plants and flowers. The shop will showcase handmade items made by talented, local people and will be run by village mum Tracy Bilton. Contact Tracy on 07917 198625 if you are interested in having your products sold in the shop.

Carol singing: The dates for carol singing in the local area are: Tuesday - Newby; Wednesday - Clapham; and Thursday - Keasden. All sessions start at 6.30pm. On Monday, December 22, there will be carols and mulled wine at the Traddock in Austwick from 6.30pm. All are welcome.

Coniston Cold St Peter’s: On Sunday, St Peter’s will hold a Holy Communion service at 9.30am.

Young Farmers: Last Tuesday, Coniston Cold Young Farmers met at The Richard Tottie Memorial Hall for a Christmas crafts evening. The judges were Michelle Pickles and her daughter, Madeline, from Coniston Cold. Members had one hour to create a festive masterpiece. Results were: juniors - 1 Megan Walton, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Charlotte Lancaster; intermediates - 1 Cameron Walton; seniors - 1 Will Throup. A business meeting followed and Liam Wallbank gave the vote of thanks. Next week’s meeting is the annual whist drive at Coniston at 7.30pm with a raffle and Jacob’s Join supper.

Cononley Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872 St John’s: The church will hold a coffee morning in the village institute on Saturday from 10.30am to 1pm. Attractions include bacon butties, a cake stall, raffle and tombola. On Sunday, there will be a service of Holy Communion at 11am, led by the vicar, the Rev John Peet. At 2.30pm, the Cononley Singers will lead a service of music and readings. No tickets are required and there will be a retiring collection. The House Group will meet on Tuesday at 7.30pm at 46 Skipton Road. Next Sunday, December 21, will see the annual Christingle Service at 4pm.

Cowling Nostalgia afternoon: A nostalgia afternoon will be staged at St Andrew’s Methodist Church on Sunday. Starting at 2pm, it will include an old fashioned slide show featuring more than 70 slides taken by the late David Hoyle, which turned up recently, still in good condition. These include Ickornshaw Chapel Centenary in 1976, the late Norman Binns senior with his horse brass collections, galas, Carr Head garden parties, local views and people. Visitors are invited to bring their own slides to share or anything of local interest. Refreshments will be available.

Draughton Jane Markham, 01756 711305 Parish council: The council will meet on Wednesday. The notices are published this week on the noticeboards and on the village website - draughton.org All are welcome.

St Augustine’s Church: This Sunday, the third in Advent, the church will hold a service of Morning Prayer at 9.30am. The carol service will be held next Sunday, December 21, at 5pm (there will be no morning service on that day). The family service of nine lessons and carols will be followed by refreshments in the village hall. Everyone is welcome.

Earby David Hartley, 01282 842617 St Peter’s: The preacher for this Sunday’s 10:30am service at St Peter’s Methodist Church is Hazel Edmondson. The church will hold a carol service at 10.30am next Sunday, December 21. It will be led by the Rev David Edmondson. The next games evening with refreshments for all ages will be on Monday. Come along from 7pm to play dominoes, cards and pool. St Peter’s will hold a 10.30am service on Christmas Day and a Watchnight service on New Year’s Eve at 11.30pm. This will preceded by a social gathering with food and folk dancing from 9pm. All are welcome.

Eastburn Methodist Church: The church will host the village carol service at 6pm on Sunday. It will be led by the Rev Saidu Kanu and there will be songs by Eastburn School Choir as well as readings by different members of the village community. Come early for a seat as last year the hall was packed with more than 100 people.

Embsay with Eastby Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197 Parish council: A major planning application will be considered by Embsay-with-Eastby Parish Council at tonight’s meeting, which begins at 7.30pm in Embsay Village Hall. The planning application is for an additional residential development of 12 houses which will provide an extension to a previously approved housing site on land off Shires Lane. Residents are invited to attend the meeting and express their concerns during the public participation portion of the agenda.

Embsay churches: St Mary’s held its Christmas Fair on Saturday and the PCC would like to thank everybody who helped with the organisation or came along to enjoy the occasion. This Sunday, the church will hold a family communion at 9.30am. On Tuesday there will be a service of Holy Communion at 10.30am. The Methodist Chapel’s 10.30am service on Sunday will be led by Maggie Patchett. Every Tuesday morning, the Methodist Church Hall hosts a variety of table-top games. All are welcome. Don’t forget Smiley Faces toddler praise takes place between 1.45pm and 3.15pm every Friday in term-time. There are lots of toys, crafts, a Bible story, singing, juice, tea, coffee and time to chat.

Men’s Lunch: The monthly Pie Lunch will take place at 12.30pm today in the supper room in Embsay Village Hall. All are welcome. The cost is £3, which includes an entertaining talk. To help with the catering, ring 07834 713735 or 01535 634588 to book your pie.

Village Agent: Embsay-with-Eastby’s Village Agent, Maxine Bentley, will hold her next drop-in surgery in the village hall tomorrow between 2pm and 3pm. You can come along and speak to Maxine then or make an appointment for her to visit you at home.

Film night: The next film night in the village hall will be on Wednesday at 7.30pm when Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye, will be screened. This is an opportunity to see one of the best examples of the musicals coming out of America in the 1950s. Admission at the door is £4, which includes mulled wine and biscuits. Everyone is welcome.

Farnhill and Kildwick Joyce Wood, 01535 635880 St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am and 10am. On Sunday at 4pm, the Cross Hills and District Fellowship of Churches will present a Christmas Nativity Pageant in Sutton village and park. The Christmas carol service by candlelight will take place at 4pm next Sunday, December 21. Children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, wise men or nativity animals and be part of the tableau.

Farnhill Methodists: The Christmas coffee morning will be held on Saturday from 10am to 11.30am. Coffee and mince pies will be served and there will be various stalls.

Village Pump: The over 50s group will meet in the lower hall at Farnhill Methodist Church on Wednesday from 2pm to 3.30pm. This will be the last meeting of the year. It will start again on January 7 when the group will hold its New Year party.

Gargrave Sally Jennings, 01756 748098 Ballroom dance: Tomorrow’s ballroom dance will be hosted by Elizabeth Harrison from 8pm in the village hall. Entry is £6.50 per person and this includes a home-made plated supper along with a cup of tea. There will also be a raffle and all proceeds will be donated to the village hall.

Coffee morning: A coffee morning will be held in the village hall between 10am and noon on Saturday. All proceeds will be donated to the pantomime section at the village hall.

Flea market: The next flea market will take place on Sunday between 10am and 4pm in the village hall. Entry is 50p and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

St Andrew’s: On Sunday, there will be BCP Communion from 8am followed by Morning Prayer at 10.45am. There will also be a nativity service at the church which will commence at 4pm. On Wednesday, Gargrave Primary School will hold a carol service from 6pm in the church.

Neighbourhood Plan: Neighbourhood Plan meeting will take place on Wednesday from 7.30pm in committee room one at the village hall.

Christmas bingo: A Christmas bingo session will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday in the annex of the village hall.

Film night: Gargrave and Malhamdale Community Library will show the classic film White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, in the village hall next Friday, December 19. Seating will be cafe-style so feel free to bring your own refreshments and help turn the evening into a Christmas party. The doors open at 7pm with the film starting at 7.30pm. Admission is £5.

Giggleswick Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 Langcliffe Singers: The group invites you to join its members for a seasonal concert, Christmas with Langcliffe Singers, at St Alkelda’s Church on Saturday 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.

Richard Whiteley Theatre: On Sunday, the theatre will show a live broadcast of the Old Vic’s production of The Crucible. It starts at 2.30pm and tickets are available from 01729 893180.

Music and words: Giggleswick School will hold its popular Music and Words for Christmas celebrations tonight and tomorrow. The concerts will take place in the school chapel at 7.30pm. To check ticket availability, ring 01729 893180 or visit 01729 893180.

Santa visits: Santa will visit The Mains from 5.30pm on Tuesday before heading to Stackhouse. He will be accompanied by members of Settle Rotary Club.

Gisburn Young Farmers: Gisburn Young Farmers visited Mr Wrathall’s farm for a night of dairy judging. An impressive talk from the master judge gave members plenty of knowledge of what to look for. The judging was based on positive comments only. The results were: junior boys - Levi Wrathall; junior girls - Annabelle Robinson; intermediate boys - 1 Fred Wrathall; intermediate girls - 1 Lauren Heaton. Next week’s meeting is potter painting at Clitheroe.

Grassington Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Christian Aid: The local Christian Aid group raised £803 at the Congregational Church on the first Dickensian Saturday. Thanks go to everyone who supported the event.

Friendship Club: Today’s speaker at the Grassington Friendship Club will be BBC news correspondent Chris Mason. The club will meet at Church House at 2.15pm. Next Thursday, December 18, members will enjoy a Christmas dinner at the Gamekeepers Inn, Threshfield.

Dickensian coffee: The last of the three Dickensian coffee mornings will take place in Church House on Saturday from 10am. The event - which will run into the afternoon - will include mince pies and teas. Proceeds will be shared between St Michael’s Church, Linton, Martin House Children’s Hospice and the Ebola Crisis Appeal.

Final coffee: The final Saturday coffee morning of the year will take place next weekend, December 20, when the proceeds will be donated to Leukaemia and Melanoma Research. It will start at 10am.

Pilots Group: The Pilots youth group, which meets at Grassington Congregational Church, thanks everyone who has helped over the past term. It will restart on Friday, January 9.

Coffee morning: A recent coffee morning in Church House raised £557 for St Peter’s Church, Rylstone, and Children in Need.

Carol service: Grassington Methodist Church will hold a carol service next Sunday, December 21, at 6pm. The congregation will sing traditional and modern carols and seasonal refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome.

Hebden Victoria Benn, 01756 751795 Christmas fair: Hebden residents are being urged to support the Burnsall School Christmas fair, which takes place tomorrow from 3.30pm to 5pm. It will include Christmas crafts, baking and games. Everyone is welcome.

Hellifield Ken Leak, 01729 850845 Coffee morning: The recent coffee morning at the Wesley Centre, raised £348, of which £226 was donated to the Ebola Appeal. This week’s coffee morning in the institute will be on behalf of the church. It will start at 10am and entry is free.

Women’s Institute: The WI will enjoy a Christmas meal at the Black Horse next Thursday, December 18, at 7pm for 7.15pm. Ring 851860 before Saturday to book.

Youth Club: There will be no youth club until further notice. Volunteers are needed once a month to assist.

Carol service: The Methodist Church will hold its carol service next Sunday, December 21, starting at 2pm. It will be conducted by Sue Vardy.

200 Club: The winners of the 200 Club’s December draw are: No 171, £100, Janette McGeoch; No 84, £50, Pat Newton; No 193, £20, Joy Orwell; and No 118, £10, Kay Cook Margrett.

Village carols: The village carol service will be held in St Aidan’s Church on Sunday from 6.30pm. All are welcome.

Book Club: The Book Club meets tonight in Hellifield House when members will discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. New members and friends are welcome.

Garden questions: The Hellifield Area Allotments and Gardens Association hosted a Gardeners’ Question Time last Tuesday. Club root, mildew on Michaelmas Daisies and growing nerenes were just some of the questions fired at panel members Rex Geldard, chairman of Skipton Gardeners’ Club, and Andrew Shaw, of Garden Makers in Wigglesworth. The concluding message from the panel was that people shouldn’t believe all they read in books and should enjoy their gardening! Mince pies and mulled wine followed. Everyone won a prize on the raffle. The next event is a coffee morning on Saturday, January 17.

Age Concern: Tomorrow’s meeting of Age Concern in Hellifield House includes entertainment from singers Stan Gray and Jane Jones. It will start at 10am and new members and friends are welcome.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235.

Parish party: The annual Christmas Parish Party will take place in the village hall tomorrow. Doors open at 7pm and a buffet supper will be served from 7.30pm. Admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Entertainment will be provided by Kelly and the Buskers and Sharon Selman.

Gun Club: Members of Penyghent Gun Club met at High Birkwith Farm by kind permission of Mr and Mrs A Morphet and family. The shoot was a 30-bird sporting layout. E Sharpe and R Carr were the marshals. R Bold was the winner with 25 kills, A McLernon and R Carr were in joint second position with 21 kills and E Sharpe was third with 20 kills but he claimed victory when he won the ten-bird pool shoot section after the main competition. The next members’ shoot is in Horton Quarry next Sunday, December 21, at 1pm when the Andrew Chapman Memorial Cup will be contested. Subscriptions will be due at this event.

Santa visits: Santa arrives in the village on Monday courtesy of Settle Rotary Club. The visit starts at 5.30pm and the sleigh will then travel down to Stainforth.

Ingleton Sue Brown, 015242 41835 Parish council: PC Ridler reported on changes in staffing structure in the police and it was agreed to organise a parish meeting jointly with surrounding parish councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The issues of a motorhome parked on the community centre car park and of a caravan parked in New Village were raised and the officer took a note of these matters. A member of the public asked when the repairs to the play area netting would be done and it was confirmed that the ropes had been delivered and the work had been commissioned. Cllr Macauley complained about the brevity of notice for consultation on disabled parking charges recently introduced by North Yorkshire County Council and discussion followed on whether these charges should be imposed. He also spoke of the problem of rats in his area and members expressed concern that Craven District Council no longer took responsibility for pest control. Cllr Lis will pursue this matter. New charges for disposal of building rubble were discussed and it was agreed that Cllr Macauley should write a letter voicing the council’s objections. The chairman was pleased to report the felling of the Corsican Pine. The subject of the ivy encircling many of the trees was raised and it was agreed to instruct a contractor to cut the ivy around the trunks subject to a limit of £200. The chairman reported that nine new strings of Christmas lights were needed. It was agreed that in future these lights should be tested well before Christmas so that a proper assessment of options could be made. The chairman reported that three quotes were being obtained for a circular plinth for the mosaic being produced commemorating the community centre. The chairman told members that he had heard from Barclays Bank informing him of the closure of the local branch and offering to attend the next council meeting which was agreed to by members. The clerk informed the meeting that she had been contacted by NatWest who intended to visit weekly with their mobile branch and members agreed that it would be best sited in the Square on Fridays.

Jumble sale: Ingleton Theatre Group will hold a jumble sale in the Ingleborough Community Centre on Saturday. The event starts at 2pm and admission is 20p.

Christmas party: Ingleton and Thornton Old People’s Welfare will hold its Christmas party in the community centre tomorrow from 5pm. For more information, call Liz Culshaw on 015242 41647.

Kelbrook St Mary’s: On Sunday, the church will hold a communion service at 11am and, on Tuesday, St Mary’s Church Choir will celebrate with Carols for Christmas at 6.30pm. All are welcome.

Langcliffe Helen Jarvis, 01729 825303 Defibrillator course: An excellent refresher course was attended by about 20 of the village defibrillator team. It included video footage and practical tasks. The trainer, Kate Preston, was to be congratulated on her presentation.

Coffee morning: A very successful coffee morning was held at the institute on Saturday. There were stalls raising money for the institute itself, the church, Cystic Fibrosis and other charities. Eric Parker, institute chairman, was delighted with the turnout. The total amount raised will be published next week. The main hamper raffle was won by Ann Milner, with the smaller hamper going to Kirsten Bulloch. The cake weighed 3lb 14.5oz and was won by Barbara Fiorato, who guessed 3lb 15oz. The giraffe was won by Ian Johnson who correctly guessed that its name was Gerald! Dave and Kate Croll want to thank everyone who supported them in their fundraising.

Lawkland Young Farmers: Lawkland Young Farmers met at Austwick Parish Hall for novelty judging. Thanks go to Margaret Hird for judging. Results were: mince pies, junior girls - 1 Georgia Mason-Thornton, 2 Laura Murfin, 3 (joint) Abby White and Becky Allen; junior boys - 1 Luke Harrison, 2 Henry Garnett, 3 James Mason-Thornton; advent calendar, junior girls - 1 Laura Murfin, 2 (joint) Abby White and Georgia Mason-Thornton; junior boys - 1 Sam Morphet, 2 Charlie Parker, 3 Philip Cocket. Next week’s meeting is decorating a chocolate log at Austwick Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

Long Preston Heather Thomas-Smith, 01729 840113 200 Club: The December draw winners are Mrs N Proctor, Mr K McBride, Mr Grant, Mrs Cook-Margrett, Mrs Rodgers, Mrs Elspeth Palmer and Mr C Ward. The next Village Hall 200 Club draw will be in January.

Permanent memorial: On Saturday night a permanent memorial to the men from Long Preston who died in the First World War was placed in the Village Hall. The unveiling was followed by a screening of War Horse. This was a themed evening, attended by about 50 people. The events formed part of the group’s First World War project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Salterforth Women’s Institute: Salterforth WI Committee played host to senior citizens in Salterforth. The annual event, funded by the village hall committee from money raised from Salterforth Fun Day in the summer, is a welcome start to the Christmas festivities. A delicious three-course Christmas lunch, cooked by the WI ladies was served, followed by entertainment by Malcolm Gent, a veteran of musical theatre, who sang and acted songs from the shows, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Tea and coffee with mince pies followed, and a raffle was drawn. If the luncheon is to continue in the future, the institute hopes more local senior citizens will support the event.

Settle Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 U3A talk: Stanley Walmsley will give a talk, Christmas with Bells On, at the next meeting of Settle U3A. And he will demonstrate the art of handbell ringing - with possibly some audience participation. The meeting will take place at Victoria Hall today at 10.30am, with coffee available from 10am. Visitors are welcome for a £1 admission charge.

Christmas lunch: Volunteers are still needed to help with this year’s Christmas Day lunch and tea in St John’s Hall. Assistance is required with food preparation, cooking, serving, transport to and from the event and assistance with the planning. The event will run from 11.45am to 4.45pm and is open to all ages at the cost of £10. To reserve a place or to volunteer, contact 01729 822138. Reservations are taken up to the last moment.

Gallery on the Green: This year sees a return of the popular Three Kings tableau to the phone box gallery. This will run until January 17 and is a wonderful sight. The tableau was created by Jeanne Carr and Veronica Allsop with the stained glass effect panels created by Settle Flagmakers. There will be treats available for young visitors and everyone is invited to leave a Christmas card for display in the rack.

Victoria Hall: Sunday offers an opportunity to join in and sing when Chorus Natus Est hold a Come and Sing workshop of Handel’s Messiah. The workshop runs from noon to 6pm with an evening performance at 7pm. The talented jazz singer Clare Teal spreads seasonal cheer with a Festive Fiesta Jing-Jing-a-ling next Friday, December 19. The following day, Chris Newman and Maire Ni, will bring a celtic feel to Christmas with their music show, Celtic Christmas Strings, featuring harp and guitar. Pendle Productions will perform a matinee of the pantomime Dick Whittington at 2.30pm next Sunday, December 21. Tickets are bookable via 01729 825718.

Parish Church: Holy Ascension is hosting a Christmas Tree Festival. Local 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 be open on Saturday from10am to 3pm and Sunday from noon to 3pm. Seasonal refreshments will be available. On Sunday at 6.30pm, the church will host a service of Nine Lessons and Carols with Cantores Salicium. A children’s choir from Settle Primary School will also take part.

Coffee morning: Settle Amateur Operatic Society invite you to a Christmas coffee morning at The Old Court House on Station Road on Saturday between 10am and 12.30pm. All are welcome.

Kwezana link: Pupils at Kwezana were delighted to report that Miss Mbatani is back from hospital and recovering at home. The Kwezana pupils have recently finished their exams and will be moving up to their new classes after the Christmas break. Before then, however, they will be harvesting the crops in the school garden. The work of the gardener is sponsored by ChipMonks nursery school in Giggleswick and the food from the garden plays an important part in providing meals across the school.

Women’s Institute: At the December meeting, Chris and Ed Mitchell gave an illustrated talk about Bags of Difference and members were able to view a large range of colourful bags made in Kisiizi in Africa and sold in order to help with tuition fees for orphans in that area. The WI will have a Christmas tree with handmade decorations at the Christmas Tree Festival at Settle Parish Church on Saturday and Sunday. Please come along and support this event. The annual subscription for 2015 is £36. Please pay at the January meeting. At the next meeting at 2pm on Wednesday, January 7, Heather Slater will give a talk entitled My Life in Indonesia, and the competition will be for A Christmas Photo. Please note that this meeting will be at the Catholic Church Hall.

Santa visits: Santa be in Booth’s store on the next two Saturdays between 10am and 4pm. On weekday evenings from 5.30pm, Santa’s sleigh will visit the surrounding villages. He will be at Langcliffe tonight, Horton and Stainforth on Monday, the Mains in Giggleswick and Stackhouse on Tuesday, Duke Street and Cammock Lane on Wednesday and Townhead, Duke Street, Church Street and Kings Mill next Thursday.

Taster session: There will be a mindfulness taster session at St Mary and St Michael Church Hall on Monday at 6.30pm. This two hour session will look at ways of exploring simple mindfulness practices. For further details, contact 07803 721135. A new series of courses will commence in January.

Christmas crafts: The National Trust is holding a Christmas craft session at Friends Meeting House on Tuesday between 1.30pm and 4pm. There will be an opportunity to make a Christmas wreath or a table centre decoration. All materials will be provided but participants are invited to bring along their own decorations and baubles to incorporate into their design. The cost for a wreath will be £10, a table decoration will be £7 or both together will be £15. The price will include a drink and sweet treat. For further details or to reserve a place. contact 01729 830416.

Settle Stories: The Settle Stories team invite you to join them in their offices in the town hall on Wednesday for mince pies and punch. Drop in between 2pm and 5pm to share your festival highlights and find out more about future plans. All are welcome.

Tearoom concert: Next Saturday, December 20, Poppies will welcome The Sessionistas. They will play acoustic songs and tunes from a varied repertoire, accompanied by guitar, banjo, accordion, ukulele, mandolin and fiddle. December 27 sees the very welcome return of Ben Avison, playing alongside Sam Laurence. This Christmas music night is in aid of Bentham Pet Rescue. Tickets are priced at £7 and are available from Poppies Tea Room. Both concerts start at 7.30pm.

Charity dance: The annual New Year’s Eve Charity Dance will this year take place at the Victoria Hall from 8pm to midnight. There will be a Jacob’s Join supper and all proceeds will go to support Victoria Hall. For further information, contact 01729 823259 or 824038.

Pool draw: The Friends of Settle Swimming Pool have announced the winners of their 200 Club Christmas draw. which took place at the Settle lights switch-on. The first prize of £500 was won by No 198 Carole Clarkson, the second prize of £300 went to No 129 Onyx Ralph and the third prize of £200 was scooped by No 20 Olwyn Bolger.

Silsden Linda Berry, 01535 654643 Walking nativity: For the first time, Silsden Churches Together group is going to attempt a walking nativity next Sunday, December 21. Mary, Joseph and a donkey (real not a toy) plus a few shepherds and kings will call in at the pubs in town to see if there is room at the Inn. They will start at Mount Carmel House at 2pm and everyone is welcome to join the procession, which will take between 60 and 90 minutes. No costumes are needed.

Scout post: Don’t forget the Scout post – there are boxes and stamps are available at several shops throughout the town, including Twiggs Newsagents and Aireview Stores.

Christmas coffee: Our Lady of Mount Carmel will hold a Christmas coffee morning on Saturday from 9.30am to noon. On offer will be cakes, a tombola, bottles and a raffle. The church’s regular Sunday morning mass has been held at different times but is now settled at 10.15am.

History Group: The History Group’s next meeting, which is open to all, will be on Monday, December 22. This will be an informal get-together on a Christmas theme and will include a quiz, the story of Christmas Past in Silsden and festive refreshments.

Footpaths group: After 20 years of service to the community, Silsden Footpaths Group has been disbanded. Membership this year had fallen to less than half a dozen, due to increasing age and bereavement, but the group has left behind an admirable record of achievement in the local countryside. As well as organising regular walks along local routes, the group, headed by Clarrie Gallagher, was actively involved in footpath clearance and signage and some years ago published a series of walks leaflets in handy wallets, which were sold in local shops and encouraged many people to step out over fields and moors for the first time.The group also devised the 13-mile Silsden Circuit walk, which remains a popular distance route today. A selection of other walks, brought together by Jack Pollard, now appear on the internet as Jack’s Walks Around Silsden. Members were also vigilant about blocked stiles and other obstacles, and did much to preserve the environment that they loved. The group’s remaining funds have been distributed to local charities.

Tenant sought: The committee of the Smith Teal Homes for the Aged at Silsden is inviting applications from prospective tenants for one of their bungalows which has become vacant. The accommodation, which is suitable for either a single person or a couple, is part of a small complex which was built and opened in 1965, as a result of a bequest by the late local benefactor and chapel stalwart Smith Teal. Elderly applicants must have lived in Silsden for over ten years and be able to demonstrate a need for this form of single-level but independent living. Letters of application should be sent to the Smith Teal Trust secretary, Eastburn House Farm, Green Lane, Eastburn, Keighley BD20 8PT to arrive no later than Wednesday.

Young Farmers: Silsden with Skipton YFC met at Draughton Village Hall for a club quiz, organised by Holly Ellison and Hattie Preece. On Monday, the club will meet at Napiers Restaurant for a Christmas meal.

Skipton Holy Trinity: Holy Trinity Church will, once again, host Carols in the Churchyard at 4pm on Sunday, a fitting close to the town’s Medieval Market. Consequently, there will be no 5pm Evensong. Earlier, the day’s services will start with Early Eucharist at 8am and the rector, the Rev Veronica James, will preach at the Parish Eucharist at 9.45am. Lesley Higson will lead Morning Prayer at St Augustine’s, Draughton, at 9.30am. The annual Ermysted’s Founder’s Day service will take place at 11am on Saturday and, to celebrate its new start, Skipton Academy will hold a candlelit carol service on Wednesday evening. A number of local primary schools will also hold their carol services during the coming week.

Retired Men’s Forum: Geoff Budd described a rail journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Victoria Falls. He highlighted the poverty in the shanty towns, the laws and the legacies of Cecil Rhodes and Dr Livingstone. Next week - the last meeting before Christmas - Stuart James will speak about a trip to Peru.

Navy news: At the December meeting of Skipton and District Royal Naval Association, the president expressed surprise that the organisers of the wreath-laying on Remembrance Sunday seemed to be in total ignorance of the order of precedence. After the loyal toast and Nelson’s Prayer, the meeting closed with light refreshments and Christmas cake with cheese. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 6.

Steeton Methodist Church: Steeton Methodist Church will hold a Christmas coffee morning on Saturday from 10am to noon. There will be the usual homemade cake stall and a raffle for a Christmas hamper. Entrance is £1.50, which includes coffee or tea and a mince pie or biscuit. Come along and bring a friend. The 10.30am service on Sunday will be led by the Rev Kenneth Beardsley. There is a Junior Church at the same time as the service. Everyone is welcome.

Sutton-in-Craven Outdoor nativity: An outdoor nativity will take place on Sunday at 4pm, starting at the Bay Horse pub and wending its way to the park. The service will be followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Baptist Church.

Pantomime: The Green Hut Theatre Company is staging its annual pantomime at the village hall. This year’s offering is Dick Whittington and the show runs until Saturday, with performances at 7.15pm. There is also a matinee at 2.15pm on Saturday.

Upper Wharfedale Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Link editor: Ron Fletcher, editor of Upper Wharfedale’s Link magazine, is to retire shortly - and so far no-one has come forward to take on the job. Copies of the magazine are put through the letterbox of every property within the 100 square mile benefice. Anyone willing to take on the job should contact Ron on 07796 356904 or email ronflet@supanet.com School news: A beetle drive, arranged by Cracoe School and held in the village hall, raised £500 towards improvements to the class one play area. The event attracted more than 100 people and included a Jacob’s Join supper.

Local history: Norrie Earl was guest speaker at Cracoe Local History Group. She spoke about the Poor Law and, in particular, the Skipton Poor House (the former Raikeswood Hospital). This week’s speaker was Isobel Stirk, who gave a talk on Charles Dickens.

Luncheon Club: Kettlewell Luncheon Club will hold its Christmas meal next Thursday, December 18, at 12.30pm. Those wishing to attend should give their name to Mrs A Staniforth on 761171 by noon on Monday.

Delivery service: The Littondale Christmas card delivery service is operating again. Cards must be delivered to Carr Farm, Arncliffe, by Monday for distribution to local residents. There is a charge of 10p per card and all proceeds will go to St Oswald’s Church, Arncliffe.

Wigglesworth Community centre: The Meet and Eat group will hold its Christmas lunch on Wednesday, with party games afterwards. Also the quiz takes place the same day, with a Christmas theme. The Village Christmas Party will take place next Sunday, December 21, from 4pm and will include a Jacob’s Join.