Neighbourhood news from around Craven

Church news: On Sunday, Austwick Church will hold a Holy Communion at 9.30am and a carol service at 2pm while Eldroth Church will hold a carol service and nativity play at 7pm. This year’s theme is “what if”, showing just how miraculous the Christmas story is. It has been written produced and performed by the people of Eldroth and Lawkland and several local farmers will inevitably be typecast as shepherds. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served to add to the seasonal atmosphere.

Carol singing: On Monday, everyone is welcomed to the Traddock by kind invitation of the Reynolds family for carol singing in the car park followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the lounge from 6.30pm. Don’t forget a torch. And, on Tuesday, Lawkland Young Farmers, aided by the vicar, will sing carols around Austwick from 6.30pm.

Bolton Abbey Priory Church: The services on Sunday are 8am Communion (said),10.30am Sung Eucharist and 4.30pm a service of Lessons and Carols. Each Wednesday there is a communion service at 10am. All services are BCP. On Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle service at 4pm and the First Eucharist of Christmas at 11.30pm and on Christmas Day, there will be an 8am Holy Communion and 10am Festal Eucharist.

Bradley Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369 Coffee morning: The Methodist Church will be serving coffee and mince pies in the school room between 10am and 11.30am on Saturday. There will also be the opportunity to view the windows in the church, which have been decorated by various groups from the village. Everyone is welcome and Christmas craft activities will be available for children.

Church services: There will be a nativity play at the Methodist Church at 10.30am on Sunday and a carol service at 6pm - refreshments will be served after both services. On Christmas Day there will be a short family service - please bring a present to open. Everyone is welcome to come along to the services.

Theatre activity: Ribbon in the Sky Arts is holding a workshop for three to six year olds in the village hall on Monday, from 9.30am to 11.30am. The session includes Christmas stories, glittering craftwork and spinning snowflake dancing and circus skills. To book, contact Kat on ballerinakat@hotmail.com School news: Pupils enjoyed performing in their Christmas concerts last week. Class three also performed and filmed shadow puppet plays on the story of The Three Wise Men.

Coniston Cold St Peter’s Church: On Sunday, St Peter’s will hold a carol service on Sunday from 7pm. It will include music from the Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band and will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies at the village hall.

Cononley Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872 Christmas concerts: Cononley Singers will give a Christmas concert at Cononley Village Institute tomorrow at 7.30pm and at Christ Church, Skipton, on Saturday, also at 7.30pm. Tickets for both events are available from Cononley Post Office or on the door at Christ Church.

St John’s: The Cononley Singers gave an excellent performance last Sunday, when they attended St John’s Church for music and readings for Christmas, and there was a very good attendance. The retiring collection was split between the Ebola Appeal and the church refurbishment. Each received £76.91. This Sunday, there will be a Holy Communion at 11am and the annual Christingle service at 4pm at St John’s Church.

Cowling Christmas bequest: The James William Dawson Christmas Bequest will be administered to all residents aged 70 and over on Saturday from 10am to noon at St Andrew’s Methodist Church. This will probably be the last time for this event. Festive refreshments will be provided.

Carol singing: There will be carol singing around the village tomorrow and Monday. To take part, meet at St Andrew’s at 6pm. Everyone is welcome.

Candlelit service: On Sunday, St Andrew’s Methodist Church will hold a candlelit carol service with augmented choir, beginning at 6pm.

Christmas services: On Christmas Eve, Holy Trinity Church will hold a Christingle service at 4pm and a midnight communion at 11pm. On Christmas Day morning, St Andrew’s Methodist Church will hold a service at 10.30am and a collection will be taken for Action for Children.

New Year: On New Year’s Eve, St Andrew’s will hold a New Year Social will at 10.30pm and a service at 11.30pm.

Draughton Jane Markham, 01756 711305 Carol service: The traditional service of nine lessons and carols will be held at St Augustine’s Church on Sunday at 5pm. All are welcome to the service and to the village hall afterwards for refreshments. There will be no morning prayer. On Christmas morning, the rector, the Rev Veronica James, will lead a communion service at 11.15am. There will be no service at St Augustine’s on Sunday, December 28.

Earby David Hartley, 01282 842617 St Peter’s: The carol service at St Peter’s Methodist Church at 10.30am on Sunday will be led by the Rev David Edmondson. There will be a service at 10.30am on Christmas Day. The next Songs of Praise service will be at 4pm next Sunday, December 28. It will be followed by a sandwich tea provided by the church. There is no set charge, but there will be a plate for donations. On New Year’s Eve, the church will hold a Watchnight service at 11.30pm. This will preceded by a social gathering with food and folk dancing from 9pm. All are welcome, but for catering purposes please contact 01282 843064 if you wish to attend.

Eldroth Eldroth Church: A carols and nativity service will be held at Eldroth Church on Sunday from7pm.

Christmas dominoes: This family event will be held in the village hall on Monday, starting at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children. There will be tea and coffee, mulled wine and mince pies and lots of prizes to be won.

Embsay-with-Eastby Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197 Parish council: The 2015-2016 draft budget and precept were formally approved at the December meeting following detailed review by members. The budget for 2015-2016 amounts to £19,900 with a precept of £19,860. Both figures represent a 25 per cent increase over last year’s budget and precept. While the overall increase seems high, this will amount to an additional annual tax burden of £5.10 per Band D household or 10p per week. Members considered a major outline planning application for residential development of an additional 12 houses, which will provide an extension to a previously consented housing site on land off Shires Lane, Embsay. Residents who attended the meeting registered a number of concerns. Members objected to the principle and approach of the application and it was agreed that the views of residents should be incorporated into the parish council’s final submission. Members were informed about progress to fill two casual vacancies and considered action to recruit and appoint a new parish clerk. The future management of the nature reserve under the new parish council was addressed. Members also considered various aspects of a community defibrillator located at the village hall and it was agreed that information about possible sources of funding should be passed on to the new parish council for consideration. Several maintenance and road safety matters were considered. These included the installation of a generic memorial plaque at the Embsay War Memorial, the installation of setts at the recently created Skipton Road welcoming entrance to Embsay and a proposal to install a ‘speed table’ along East Lane, which was the subject of public consultation.

Embsay churches: Tomorrow will see the final Smiley Faces toddler praise of 2014. It will take place at St Mary’s between 1.45pm and 3.15pm. On Sunday, St Mary’s will hold a family communion at 9.30am and a Christmas carol service at 6pm. 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 Archie McAdam and at 6pm the congregation will join St Mary’s for a joint carol service.

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 speak to Maxine them or make an appointment for her to visit you at home.

Christmas dinner: The older people’s Christmas dinner took place at the Elm Tree public house and guests included village agent Maxine Bentley. The organisers would like to thank the Bolland and Colton Trust and Age UK for making the event possible and also Karen and her staff at the Elm Tree.

Charitable Trust: The Trustees of the Bolland and Colton Charitable Trust invite applications from residents in Embsay-with-Eastby for small grants for those who are in need, hardship or distress. Grants will be awarded only upon completion of an application form. For further information and/or an application form and general guidelines, email parish council clerk Robert Kandt at embsay.clerk@tiscali.co.uk Farnhill and Kildwick Joyce Wood, 01535 635880 St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am and at 10am. A carol service by candlelight will take place at 4pm and children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, wise men or nativity animals and be part of the tableau. On Christmas Eve, there will be a crib service at 4pm and Midnight Communion at 11.30pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a service of Holy Communion at 8.15am and a family communion at 10am.

Farnhill Methodists: On Sunday, the Christmas carol service will be held at 10.30am. The preacher will be Patricia Henny. At the Christmas fair on Saturday, £340 was raised for church funds and £8 for the Gambia Schools Trust. This year a total of £950 has been paid to the Gambia Schools Trust.

Institute party: The Musical Party Evening, held at Kildwick and Farnhill Institute on December 5, raised £190.30 for institute funds.

Parish council: The residents of 36 Main Street asked the parish council if it would consider renting them a plot of land at the rear of their property. It had been let on a previous occasion to earlier occupiers. The parish council did not have any immediate objections but stated it would consider the proposal at the next meeting. Darren Griffiths, the team leader for traffic engineering at NYCC, has provided a drawing for a proposed pedestrian refuge on the A629. He stated the work would cost about £16,000 but would have to wait until the beginning of the new financial year before implementation. He has requested the council’s views. Members said that more information was needed on the operation of the junction before a decision could be made. The clerk is to ask for the analysis reports which were promised after the public meeting in April and also a report on footage from the camera that was placed at the junction. It was agreed another meeting with Cononley Parish Council was needed and the views of Kildwick Parish Meeting should be sought. An article will also be placed on the website to enable any residents to put forward their comments. Craven is carrying out a review of the Register of Members’ Interest and has asked that all councillors inform them of any amendments. The parish council was informed that an extra £15 was required towards the cost of repairing the south facing wall at the Peggy Wilson Trust Playing Field due to a VAT charge being overlooked. The parish council resolved to pay the extra amount. Craven Community Safety Partnership is researching several options on how to deal with nuisance activities and will inform the parish council of the outcome. The Canal and River Trust has agreed to provide a licence at a cost of £100 to install a permanent feeder pillar to supply electric for the Christmas tree. Annual permission will then have to be sought, but the Canal and River Trust has said this will save on the estimated £1,000 cost of drawing up a permanent 12-year agreement. Unfortunately it will be too late for this Christmas. The yearly inspection of the play area has been carried out by ROSPA and there are no items causing immediate concern. A few issues were raised but these were marked as low risk. DTMS, which was employed to carry out clearance work at the Arbour, has confirmed that when the parish council and volunteers have finished they will clear away the debris. Members had agreed some time ago to follow Dr Canway’s report for the Arbour and it was pointed out the recent plan provided by the supplier for the plants was not in agreement with the earlier report. The next stage of work is to finish strimming the brambles, to plant the area on the left and to continue clearing the undergrowth from the middle section in preparation for some more planting. However, the big clumps of ivy will be left. The council has been informed that it may be able to get a grant from Craven District Council to go towards the cost of work needed to the path, steps and handrail for the path which goes up the middle of the Arbour. Cllr M Scarffe is to draw up a specification for the work and the clerk will get some quotes for the work. The builder working at Craglands has rectified some of the damage done at Arbour Top, but has not repaired the edges of the track which were broken away by the heavy vehicles, which he had agreed to repair. The clerk is to write and ask him to complete the work. The parish council discussed the draft budget account which was prepared by the clerk and put forward some adjustments. The clerk is to make the necessary amendments and pass around before the next meeting to reconsider before setting the precept. Members will also review rents and contracts at the next meeting on Tuesday, January 6. It will take place in Kildwick and Farnhill Institute at 7.30pm.

Gargrave Sally Jennings, 01756 748098 Film night: Gargrave and Malhamdale Community Library will show the classic film, White Christmas, in the village hall tomorrow. Seating will be cafe-style and guests are invited to bring their 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 on the door.

Sequence dance: The monthly modern sequence dance will be held in the village hall on Saturday, starting from 7.30pm. Entry is £4, which includes tea and biscuits, and everybody is welcome to attend.

St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, the church will hold a BCP communion service from 8am followed at 10.45am by a Sung Eucharist.

Indoor bowls: Over the Christmas period, there will be sessions in the village hall on Tuesdays, December 23 and 30, between 2pm and 4pm.

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

Giggleswick Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 Primary school: A huge thank you goes to everyone who organised or supported the chocolate tombola and family bingo night. Thanks also go to everyone who supported the pupils at the recent light switch-on in Settle. This was an excellent community event and supported by 66 per cent of pupils. Well done to Phoebe and Oscar Holliday-Gill, Gwen Finch, Jane Marshall and Emma Thompson for completing the five-kilometre Santa Fun Run in Skipton. Along with more than 1,500 other Santas, they helped to raise money for charity. The school has received an Amazing Attendance certificate from Pete Dwyer, corporate director of children and young people’s service, congratulating staff, pupils and parents on increasing attendance to 97.03 per cent for 2013-14. The school’s Christmas presentation took place in St Alkelda’s Church yesterday. It involved all pupils in a re-telling of the nativity story, with some additional parts written by class three pupils. A collection was taken, which will be donated to the children’s chosen charity.

St Alkelda’s: There will be a traditional festival of lessons and carols at St Alkelda’s on Sunday at 6.30pm. On Christmas Eve at 6.30pm, there will be a nativity service featuring children from Giggleswick Primary School. All are welcome at both services.

Parish council: Bus service 11 has started to operate to and from Settle through Giggleswick village. It goes along Raines Road, Bankwell Road and Church Street. The parish Christmas tree is installed at the junction of Church Street and Tems Beck near the village notice board and the lights are on. The council discussed the recommendations in the RoSPA report and decided to conduct some short-term resurfacing maintenance. It will then consult and budget for long-term resurfacing maintenance. The council also discussed the replacement and repair of some of its street lights. Two lamp posts are to be replaced in Kendalmans. The faulty light at Giggleswick Station, as well as fallen leaves on the steps and footpath, will be reported to Network Rail. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 13, at 7.30pm in the Parish Room (next to the vicarage).

Gisburn Young Farmers: Gisburn Young Farmers met at Clitheroe for a night of pottery painting. Everyone enjoyed the experience and came away with some enchanting ornaments that would make good Christmas presents. The next meeting - the last of 2014 - will take place at the Festival Hall and will include a Jacob’s Join supper and a quiz put together by two members.

Grassington Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Friendship Club: Members of Grassington Friendship Club will enjoy a Christmas dinner at the Gamekeepers Inn, Long Ashes, today. The New Year will begin with a meeting in Church House, Grassington, on January 8 from 2.15pm when Tim and Rosemary will conduct a singalong.

Nativity service: On Sunday, Grassington Congregational Church’s 10.30am service will include the annual nativity. All ages are welcome to share in the service. Dressing up is optional and this year’s theme Open Up.

WAGS meeting: The Grassington WAGS welcomed Julia Metcalfe, from the Flower Loft, as guest speaker. She demonstrated making Christmas wreaths and ornamental table decorations. Later in the week, members gathered again at the Congregational Church for a Christmas sale of cards, jewellery and aloe vera products.

Zumba returns: Zumba will return to Grassington Town Hall in the New Year. Sessions will take place on Tuesdays at 7pm, but a start date has yet to be announced. A zumba class will also begin at Threshfield Village Institute on Wednesdays from 10am, starting on January 7. Church House, Grassington, will offer zumba classes on Fridays from 10am, starting on January 9. For more information, ring 01274 585317.

Mothers’ Union: The January and February meetings of Linton Mothers’ Union will be held at Church House on the first Tuesdays of the month. Subscriptions of £19 are due by the end of February.

Coffee morning: Saturday’s coffee morning in Church House will be in aid of Leukaemia and Melanoma Research from 10am.

Church House: Julie Cuttriss-Steels will be taking over the bookings for Church House from this month. She can be contacted on 753046.

Hospice cash: Wharfedale supporters of Manorlands Hospice raised £640 with a tombola stall at the Grassington Dickensian Festival on December 6. Sincere thanks go to all who supported this charity.

Store carols: Members of Grassington Christian Aid will be singing carols in the foyer of Tesco in Skipton tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm. Everyone is invited to go along and “raise the roof in song”.

Nativity scene: Pop along to see the nativity scene at Grassington Methodist Church, Chapel Street, in the outdoor space near the church’s front door. A carol service will be held at the church on Sunday, to which all are invited.

Hellifield Ken Leak, 01729 850845 Age Concern: The Christmas lunch will take place at the Boars Head, Long Preston, tomorrow. Transport is being arranged. Contact Ellen on 850864 for more information. There will be no meetings on December 26 and January 2.

Parish magazine: The 2015 subscriptions for the St Aidan’s Parish Magazine are due by January 9. There is no increase in subscription charges, which remain at £6.50 for the year (ten issues).

Drop-in: The final Thursday Drop-In of the year will take place in the Wesley Centre, Haw Grove, today from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Homemade light lunches will be served from noon to 1.30pm and there will be a computer drop-in from noon to 2.30pm.

Street lights: The parish council is aware that some street lights may still be in need of repair. These issues are being addressed. The street light outside 12 Park Place has now been re-connected, but is still in need of ground repair and finishing (including tarmac work and the removal of the road sign).

Horton-in-Ribblesdale Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235 St Oswald’s: The church will hold a festival of lessons with carols on Sunday - the fourth of advent - at 6.30pm. The first communion of Christmas will be held on Christmas Eve at 10pm (which is midnight in Bethlehem). The service will last for 50 minutes so everyone can be home before midnight so they do not disturb Santa’s deliveries! There will be a Eucharist service on Christmas Day at St Peter’s Church, Stainforth, for the combined parishes of Horton, Stainforth and Langcliffe. There will be no bell ringing practice on Monday, but the bells will be rung before the service on Sunday at 6pm and at 9.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Whist drive: The monthly whist drive was held in the Golden Lion. The winners were: ladies - M Davis, A Humphrey, D Pullen and J Welch; gents - A Palmer (sub), V Jones (sub), S Hogg and MJ Davis. The next whist drive will be on January 13.

Ingleton Sue Brown, 015242 41835 Women’s Institute: Ingleborough WI held its annual meeting last week. Secretary Judith Christie gave a comprehensive resume of the year’s activities. Lynne Woodburn gave a satisfactory financial statement of her first year in office. Dorothy Baines was thanked for producing the choral contributions to this year’s carol service and was presented with a flowering plant. President Sue Brown thanked everyone for their support during the year. The president and committee were re-elected en masse with the addition of Carol Mann and Jinny Jerome. After a delicious Jacob Join’s supper, members played surprise dominoes. This year, the presentation meal will be a lunch at Ireby Green Farm Cafe on Thursday, January 29, at 12.30pm for 1pm. Members were reminded to take a gift in a jar. The January speaker will be Ken Green who will talk about Gardening for Wildlife and the competition will be for a photo of a garden bird. A jumble sale will be held on January 31 at the Ingleborough Community Centre. Susan Ellis thanked president Sue Brown for doing a splendid job as president for the past five years. Sue Brown said that this was to be her last year and members should think about her successor.

Kelbrook St Mary’s Church: On Sunday - the fourth of advent - there will be a morning worship at 11am. On Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle service at 5.30pm and Christmas Day will be marked with a communion service at 10am.

Langcliffe Helen Jarvis, 01729 825303 Coffee morning: The recent coffee morning raised just over £300 for the village institute.

Switch-on: The Langcliffe lights switch-on took place on Sunday. It was a very wet day, but the rain stopped to allow Father Christmas a dry visit to the tree where he distributed his gifts. Everyone then retired to the institute to enjoy a social evening.

Lawkland Young Farmers: Lawkland Young Farmers met at Austwick Parish Hall for Christmas card making. Thanks go to the Rev and Mrs Ian Greenhalgh for judging. Results were: junior girls - 1 Georgia Mason-Thornton, 2 Becky Allen, 3 Abbey Richards; junior boys - 1 James Mason-Thornton, 2 Harry Murfin, 3 Charlie Metcalfe; inter boys - 1 Robert Ogden. Next week’s meeting is carol singing, meeting at Austwick Parish Hall at 6.30pm Long Preston Heather Thomas-Smith, 01729 840113 Carol service: Long Preston Methodist Chapel will hold a carol service on Sunday at 11am. The preacher will be the Rev Roger Fox, of Skipton. Carols and readings will be followed by tea/coffee and mince pies. All are welcome.

St Mary’s: The church will host Carols by Candlelight – a traditional Christmas carol service for all the family - on Sunday at 6.30pm. Please bring your own candle in a jam jar! On Christmas Eve, there will be a family crib service at 4pm and a candlelit Holy Communion service at 7.30pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a communion for all the family at 10.30am.

Parish council: The next meeting of the Long Preston Parish Council will be held in Long Preston Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, January 8.

Lothersdale Over 60s: The Lothersdale Over 60s held their Christmas party last Wednesday. The group will now take a break until April.

Rathmell Elaine Illingworth, 01729 840087 Thursday Club: Thirty members and guests from Rathmell Thursday Club will meet up today at 12.30pm for a Christmas lunch at the Boars Head in Long Preston.

Christmas party: Rathmell village will hold its annual Christmas party in the Reading Rooms tomorrow at 7pm for 7.30pm. It will include a three-course meal and admission is £15, with any profits going to charity. Everyone is welcome.

Young Farmers: The club held its whist and domino drive recently and 25 members met at Rathmell Primary School to make Christmas wreaths and table decorations. Members also held their annual presentation night at Wigglesworth Community Centre. Prizes were presented by the club president, Jean Kayley, who congratulated the club on a very successful year. Winners were: most points in junior girls – Anna Booth; runner up – Jessica Sowerbutts; most points in junior boys – Tom Dean; runner up – Jack Mellin; attendance – Liam Halliday and Anna Booth.

Settle Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 Christmas lunch: The community Christmas Day lunch and tea will be held in St John’s Hall. The event will run from 11.45am to 4.45pm and is open to all ages at the cost of £10 per head. To reserve a place, please contact 01729 822138. Reservations are taken up to the last moment but obviously earlier booking helps the volunteers. There is still time to offer to help with this event as assistance is always required with food preparation, cooking and serving and arranging transport to and from the event.

Gallery on the Green: The popular Three Kings tableau is now on view in the phone box gallery. The tableau was created by Jeanne Carr and Veronica Allsop with the stained glass effect panels created by Settle Flagmakers. There are treats available for young visitors and everyone who visits is invited to leave a Christmas card for display in the rack. The exhibition will run until January 17.

Victoria Hall: Talented jazz singer Clare Teal spreads seasonal appeal with a Festive Fiesta Jing-Jing-a-ling” tomorrow. On Saturday, Chris Newman and Maire Ni bring a celtic feel to Christmas with their Christmas music show, Celtic Christmas Strings, featuring harp and guitar. Pendle Productions will perform its pantomime, Dick Whittington, at 2.30pm on Sunday. Tickets for all events are bookable via 01729 825718.

Kwezana link: Pupils at Kwezana have now broken up for the holidays but not before sending pictures of their garden harvest and exchanging Christmas greetings with pupils in Settle.

Women’s Institute: 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 will in Booth’s store on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. And tonight from 5.30pm, Santa’s sleigh will be visiting Townhead, Duke Street, Church Street and Kings Mill.

Community carols: There will be a chance to join in with community carol singing on Saturday at 11am. Please meet outside The Old Naked Man Cafe to sing some traditional carols for an hour. All are welcome.

Poppies Tearooms: On Saturday, Poppies will welcome The Sessionistas, who will play acoustic songs and tunes. Next Saturday, December 27, sees the very welcome return of Ben Avison, who will play alongside Sam Laurence. This Christmas music night is in aid of local charity, Bentham Pet Rescue. Tickets are priced at £7 and are available from Poppies Tea Room. The concerts start at 7.30pm and doors open at 7pm.

Folk Club: The Three Peaks Folk Club will celebrate the season in style on Saturday at Settle Social Club. There will be mince pies, sausage rolls, mulled wine and seasonal songs. Special guests Strid and The Holbeck Moor Mummers will also be joining in the festive knees up.

Messy Church: There will be a messy church gathering at St John’s Church Hall on Sunday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. It will have a Christmas theme, with a range of activities and a chance to celebrate as well as a shared meal. All are welcome.

Charity dance: The annual New Year’s Eve charity dance will take place at the Victoria Hall on Wednesday from 8pm through to after 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.

Silsden Linda Berry, 01535 654643 Walking nativity: For the first time, Silsden Churches Together group is going to attempt a walking nativity on Sunday. Mary, Joseph and a real donkey, plus a few shepherds and kings, will call in at the pubs in town to see if there is actually any room at the inn. They will start at Mount Carmel House at 2pm and you are all very welcome to join the procession. No costumes are needed just join in, have fun and sing a few carols. The event is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes.

Scout post: Don’t forget the Scout post – boxes and stamps are available at several shops throughout the town, including Twiggs Newsagents and Aireview Stores. There are bargain rates for addresses within Silsden and proceeds will help the community.

History Group: The History Group’s next meeting, which is open to all, will be on Monday. 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.

Skipton Camera Club: Skipton Camera Club’s recent open subject digital competition was won by Mike Breeze with Nic Robinson second and Russell Threadgold third. The Christmas competition involved two pictures from each member. The winter one was won by David Ward and the Christmas one by Nic Robinson.

Oddfellows: Frank will host his Christmas music quiz on Saturday from 8pm. Visitors are welcome. On Christmas Eve, the club will showcase its year and invites visitors to join with members from 7.30pm to enjoy a variety of entertainment and a free supper. The Beer House Boys will perform at the Three Links Club on New Year’s Eve from 8pm. Bring your own supper. This event is open to all and there will be a tot of whisky and a mince pie at midnight to toast the New Year. For more information, call 01756 798022.

Retired Men’s Forum: The forum is now closed for the Christmas holiday and will recommence on Tuesday, January 6, when Geoff Queen, from Kettlewell, will present a slide show entitled Rockies and Alaska - Wild West Wanderings.

Holy Trinity: This weekend’s services will follow the usual pattern - Early Eucharist at 8am, Parish Eucharist at 9.45am and Evensong at 5pm. There will be a Holy Communion on Christmas Eve at 10.45am and Christmas really begins later in the day, with the crib service at 4pm and the Nine Lessons and Carols at 7.30pm (you are advised to arrive in good time to secure a seat). There are two services on Christmas Day - 8am Early Eucharist and 9.30am Parish Eucharist. Normal service times apply on Sunday, December 28.

History Society: At the last meeting of Skipton and Craven Historical Society, Dr Mike Dixon spoke on the visit by Charles Darwin to Ilkley in the autumn of 1859, at the time of the publication of the Origin of Species. Troubled by ill-health, Darwin arrived at the Wells Hotel for a regime of cold baths and wet sheets, restricted diet and relaxation. He was then joined by his wife and children and stayed with them at North View House. His health fluctuated for much of his life and it is now assumed he was suffering from lactose intolerance. Dr Dixon’s talk was illustrated by pictures of Ilkley at the time of Darwin’s visit, when it was a humble rural settlement. The next lecture is on January 22 when Gillian Waters will speak on The Siege of Skipton Castle.

Steeton Methodist Church: Steeton Methodist Church raised £436 for church funds at its coffee morning on Saturday. Many thanks go to everyone who worked for and those who supported it. This Sunday at 10.30am there will be a family carol service and nativity which will be led by the Junior Church and the Rev Alan Raine. In the evening at 6pm, there will be a service of lessons and carols led by the Rev Rosemary Nash. Everyone is welcome. On Christmas Day, there will be a short service at 10.30am led by the Rev Alan Raine.

Sutton-in-Craven St Thomas’: The church will hold a Christingle Service on Sunday at 4pm. All are welcome.

Thornton-in-Lonsdale Paula Kendall, 015242 42390 Rosemary Hartley, 015242 42207 St Oswald’s: There will be a carol service at St Oswald’s Church on Sunday at 4pm. Refreshments will be served afterwards and all are welcome. On Christmas Day, there will be a communion service at 9.30am.

Tosside Christmas dance: The Christmas dance will be held at the community hall tomorrow. Music will be provided by Alan Cookson and the event will run from 8pm to midnight. Admission is £6, including supper.

Whist and dominoes: The Christmas whist and domino drive is on Saturday at 7.30pm. Admission is £3 including supper. There will be good prizes and everyone is welcome.

Upper Wharfedale Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Carol singing: Carol singing will take place in Littondale tomorrow, beginning at The Queens, Litton, at 8pm and the Falcon, Arncliffe, at 9.15pm. Carol sheets will be provided and a collection will be made for the Children’s Society. Everyone is welcome.

Help needed: St Mary’s Church, Conistone-with-Kilnsey, would appreciate help in decorating for Christmas on Saturday from 9.30am. Any donations of flowers or decorations in seasonal colours would be welcome.

Card deliveries: Steph Roe will deliver Christmas cards around Buckden, Hubberholme and Cray to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. Last year, she raised £165. Steph will deliver cards for 10p each and her services will be available up to December 22. She can be contacted on 01756 761024 or email her stephroe2904@googlemail.com Women’s Institute: Rylstone WI will next meet in Cracoe Village Hall on January 8 at 7.30pm when a representative from Birdcage, in Skipton High Street, will speak about the charity’s work to help victims of domestic abuse.

Pocket Panto: Pocket Panto will present Mother Goose at Amerdale Hall, Arncliffe, on Friday, January 2, at 6pm. Tickets are available from littondale.net Christingle: There will be a Christingle and crib service at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Hubberholme, on Christmas Eve at 4pm. A collection will be taken on behalf of the Children’s Society. St Michael’s will also hold a candlelit Midnight Communion at 11.30pm.

Indoor bowls: Indoor bowls will restart at Kettlewell Village Hall on Wednesdays from January 7.

Social gathering: Join friends old and new at the Bluebell Inn, Kettlewell, tonight at 8pm. Music will be provided by the Scargill Community.

Wigglesworth Community Centre: The Wigglesworth Christmas party starts at 4pm on Sunday. It is a Jacob’s Join meal so please bring a plate to share with friends. Soft drinks will provided and guests are invited to bring along something stronger if required. The party will end with the singing of Christmas carols through the village and end up at the Plough. Pocket Panto will present Mother Goose on Sunday, January 4, at 1pm.