Neighbourhood news from around Craven

Austwick Derek and Celia Coultherd, 015242 51215 Women’s Institute: Edward Ogden was the guest speaker at Austwick WI’s first meeting of 2015. He talked about his career in auctioneering in a lively and passionate manner. Twenty two members attended a most enjoyable post-Christmas lunch at The Traddock later in the week. The next meeting on February 12 is members’ night.

Afternoon Fellowship: The Austwick Afternoon Fellowship Group will meet in the parish hall at 1.30pm on Wednesday. The speaker will be Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, who will give a talk entitled The Work of the Moorland Association.

Church news: On Sunday, there will be a united service with Holy Communion at Austwick Church at 10.30am with Bishop James. Holy Communion is held in Austwick Church every Wednesday at 10.30am.

Austwick Entertains: Austwick Parish Hall presents Austwick Entertains on Saturday at 7.30pm. It is a showcase of local talent including the school orchestra, church choir and many other acts. Tickets are £8 for adults, £4 for children or £20 for families (two adults and up to three children). The price includes a drink and nibbles with a bar available all evening. Tickets are available from Crossleigh Stores or phone Sue Sharples on 015242 51375.

Barnoldswick History Society: Barnoldswick History Society is inviting residents to learn about the Stirling Bomber Aircraft in World War II through an illustrated talk by John Read. This will be held at 7.30pm next Thursday, January 29, in Barnoldswick Library. Admission for non-members is £3 for adults and £1.50 for juniors.

Rotary Club: A dog taken to a Salford Quays broadcasting studio was refused entry by security because it didn’t have a pass, even though it was to appear on television that afternoon. The story was told to Barnoldswick and Earby Rotarians by the Rev Chris Cheeseman, of Burnley, who became involved in radio broadcasting while serving as a Methodist minister in Devon. He later worked at Pebble Mill in Birmingham and in Manchester. After retiring from the ministry through ill health, he took on roles as an extra in television dramas and films. He appeared in Heartbeat and The Royal and was in a crowd scene in Les Miserables.

Bolton Abbey Priory Church: The services this Sunday are 8am Communion (said), 10.30am Sung Eucharist and 4.30pm Evening Prayer. Each Wednesday, there is a Communion Service at 10am. All services are BCP.

Choral evensong: A Choral Evensong will be held next Sunday, February 1, at 4.30pm to celebrate Candlemas.

Help for Sudan: Last year, the Priory Church raised £11,550 for the Sudan Church Association through the sale of postcards and stamps. It is still a base for collecting postcards and stamps. When cutting stamps off letters (not postcards) please make sure that you cut round the postmark leaving plenty of room. Only pictorial stamps are worth anything. Postcards are only saleable with the stamp on so please never cut stamps from postcards. If you have either of these, they can be left in the Priory Church at any time or contact the church office on 01756 710238.

Wednesday Nighters: The first meeting of the new season will be on Wednesday at 7.30pm in Bolton Abbey Village Hall. John Sheard will give his new, illustrated talk, Bolton Abbey Estate and the Devonshire Family. All are welcome.

Bradley Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369 Film Club: The Film Club’s theme for the spring term is Family Favourites. Following on from Star Wars last week, there will be a screening of Aladdin (U) in the school hall at 6pm on Monday. Admission is free and children under 16 should be accompanied. Refreshments, including popcorn, will be available. There is also a loop system.

Pub quiz: The Slaters Arms will hold its next quiz night on Wednesday.

School news: Class one were the winners of last week’s Walk to School, with 96 per cent of pupils either walking or parking and striding to school.

Yoga: Sue Hartley runs a yoga class in the village hall on Tuesdays from 7.15pm to 8.15pm and Ann Berry has a Friday session from 10am to 11.15am. The cost is £5 per class and participants are asked to bring a yoga/exercise mat if possible. For information, contact Sue on 01535 631897 or Ann on 01756 791796.

Burnsall Ed Williams, 01756 720335 Inter Village Challenge: The first round results in the Inter Village University Challenge were: Linton 105, Burnsall 195; Barden 205, Appletreewick 80; Skyreholme 315, Hartlington 120; Thorpe 95, Hebden 320. The semi finals will take place tomorrow with Burnsall against Barden at 7.30pm and Skyreholme vs Hebden at 8.30pm. The final will be on Friday, February 6, starting at 7pm, followed by sandwiches and chips. There will also be a Wales vs England at 8pm. All are welcome either to support your village team or to watch.

Clapham Rory-Joe Daniels, 015242 51135 Community Shop: There will be a meeting in Clapham Village Hall on Saturday, between 10am and noon, for anyone interested in volunteering to be part of Clapham’s Community Shop. All are welcome whether you have already volunteered to help or if you just want to find out more. For more information, contact Sue Mann on 015242 51792 or email sm.newby@btinternet.com Coniston Cold St Peter’s: On Sunday, the church will hold a BCP Communion from 9.30am.

Young Farmers: Last Tuesday night, Coniston Cold Young Farmers joined fellow clubs Rathmell, Burton and Lawkland for the Settle District YFC bingo night. The event was held at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club at Settle. The caller for the evening was district chairman James Bolland and the teller was Lucy Nowell. The members played six games and had a raffle. James Bolland gave the vote of thanks.

Cononley Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872 St John’s: Sadly, last Sunday’s service had to be cancelled due to the black ice which had enveloped the village and beyond. This Sunday, there will be a service of Holy Communion at 11am, led by the vicar, the Rev John Peet.

Earby David Hartley, 01282 842617 Earby Gardeners: There will be a meeting of the Gardeners Committee, to which anyone interested is invited, at 7pm next Thursday, January 29, in the New Road Community Centre. All gardeners are reminded that the spring bulb show is on Saturday, March 21.

Community centre: The quarterly meeting of the Community Association will take place at 2pm on Monday in the boardroom of the New Road Community Centre. Affiliated groups are respectfully reminded of their contractual obligation to be represented and the association looks forward to hearing their views.

St Peter’s: To celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there will be a united service in Earby this Sunday, which St Peter’s is hosting at 10.30am. The preacher will be the Rev Paul Reily from the Scargill Community. St Peter’s is looking forward to welcoming worshippers from other churches. As this is the fourth Sunday in the month, there will also be a Songs of Praise service at 4pm followed by a sandwich tea provided by the church. There is no charge, but donations are invited.

Embsay-with-Eastby Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197 Embsay churches: On Sunday, St Mary’s Church will hold a Parish Communion at 9.30am and, at 4pm, there will be a joint churches’ service for Christian Unity at Holy Trinity, Skipton. On Tuesday, St Mary’s will celebrate Holy Communion at 10.30am and will be open between 2pm and 4pm for tea, coffee and cakes. The Methodist Church’s Sunday morning service at 10.30am will be led by the Rev Mollie Greenwood. The church will be open on Monday between 2pm and 3.30pm for anyone seeking a quiet place for thought.

Ballroom dancing: The next ballroom dancing session in the village hall will be tonight between 6.30pm and 10pm.

Over 50s: The Over 50s Forum will meet today in the village hall. The guests will be the Skipton and Embsay Ukelele Group which is planning an hour of music and songs. If you would like a lift, give Wilf Chatwin a call on 793308.

Police surgery: PCSO Ruth Pearson’s next Samuel Taylor drop-in surgery will be tomorrow between 2pm and 3pm.

Parish council: Residents are being encouraged to consider becoming a parish councillor in the May 2015 elections. There are eight seats to fill on Embsay-with-Eastby Parish Council and it is anticipated that at least five of the current members will not seek re-election. There are serious implications if candidates do not come forward. If more than eight candidates submit a nomination form by the deadline date, then a formal election will be held on Thursday, May 7. If between three and eight valid candidates come forward, then those persons will automatically be elected without a ballot and any remaining vacancies can be filled by co-option at a later date. If there are fewer that three nominations, then a parish council cannot be formed and Craven District Council will have the authority to appoint its own members to manage the council. Political party affiliation is not required as parish councillors sit as independent members. Information about becoming a councillor, including the nominations process, can be obtained from Craven District Council’s Elections Team on 01756 706224 or email elections.cravendc.gov.uk. Alternatively contact the parish clerk at 01282 850 851or email at embsay.clerk@tiscali.co.uk Farnhill and Kildwick Joyce Wood, 01535 635880 St Andrew’s: On Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am and 10am. Each Wednesday there is a service of Holy Communion at 9.30am in the parish rooms.

Village Pump: The over 50s group meets in the lower hall at Farnhill Methodist Church on Wednesday from 2pm to 3.30pm. Visitors and new members welcome.

Beetle drive: A beetle drive will be held tomorrow at 7pm in the Kildwick and Farnhill Institute. Tickets are £3 for adults or £5 for families (two adults and two children) which includes tea and biscuits.

Primary school: The swimmers from Kildwick CE VC Primary School won the South Craven Swimming Gala for the first time, beating their closest rivals by an amazing 20 points. The footballers also did well. They went to York last Saturday to represent the Craven area in the North Yorkshire finals. The competition had attracted more than 250 primary schools from North Yorkshire and they were one of only nine teams to make it through to York. Unfortunately in York they lost on goal difference.

Parish council: Farnhill Parish Council was told that Cononley members had agreed to meet to discuss issues at Cononley Crossroads and the possibility of having a traffic island. Kildwick was due to discuss the issue at its meeting last week. Farnhill members had mixed opinions, but the majority thought that although a traffic island would not resolve the whole issue, it would be better than nothing. They stated that signage would be needed on all approaches to the island to slow the traffic. County Councillor Patrick Mulligan stated that the justification behind the proposal was that people did not feel safe to cross the road and they wanted a refuge. The clerk is to arrange a meeting suitable for all parties. District councillor Pat Fairbank said that at Craven’s last full council meeting Richard Foster was elected as the new leader and Patrick Mulligan as deputy leader. She also reported that the select committee had discussed the possible closure of the police cells in Skipton. This would mean prisoners would have to be taken to Harrogate which would involve the use of a vehicle and two to three police officers. On being released, the prisoners would possibly have to find their own way back. Members were told the cells in Skipton were not up to standard and their closure would save £172,000 per year. Cllr Fairbank also gave an update on the refuse collection and stated that CDC was carrying out a consultation on the use of collection points for the bins. Cllr Mulligan reported that the Police Commissioner was working with the Community Safety Partnership on creating reforms for the treatment of the mentally ill, with them being taken to a place of safety rather than taken to the cells. He also spoke about the recent consultation on the reorganisation of library services across North Yorkshire. The seven districts would each have one core library in their main town, staffed by a combination of paid staff and volunteers and would support and advise other libraries in the district. The next level would be hybrid libraries which would be for large and busy libraries. The cost of the premises and one member of staff would be met by NYCC and they would rely on volunteers for the remainder of staff. The third level would be community libraries which would be run by volunteers with assistance and possibly some financial help from the council. He stated that due to continued cuts in budget and the success of community-run services, the aim of NYCC was to devolve more services, including community transport and youth services. The council considered a request to rent a piece of land behind 36 Main Street and resolved that it would grant permission subject to a contract being signed. It was agreed that the remainder of the rental agreements would be reviewed as they became due for payment. Cllr R Bramley reported that there were no issues of concern at the play area. Cllr M Scarffe has supplied a specification for the work on the path and steps at the Arbour and the clerk is to get some quotes for the work. The clerk is also to write and remind the builder that carried out the work at Craglands that the work to the track still needs completing. The clerk provided a revised budget account with the amendments agreed last month and it was resolved to accept it as final. The parish council also resolved to set the precept at £13,050, which is a reduction of £200 on last year. Because the tax base has been reduced this year, this will work out at the same amount per property (based on a Band D property) as last year. Cllr J Waring is to prepare an article for the website for next month on the procedure for getting children into the school at Kildwick. The parish council granted approval for Cllr M Scarffe to get the council strimmer and the lawnmower serviced. Proposals to erect a light near the bridge at Bucklar Hill will be discussed at next month’s meeting on Tuesday, February 3, at 7.30pm in Kildwick and Farnhill Institute.

Gargrave Sally Jennings, 01756 748098 Coffee morning: There will be a coffee morning in the village hall between 10am and noon on Saturday.

St Andrew’s: On Sunday, the church will hold a BCP communion at 8am and morning prayer at 10.45am.

Flea market: The first flea market of 2015 will take place on Sunday in Gargrave Village Hall. The doors will be open from 10am and there will be the normal vast array of stalls selling antiques, bric a brac, collectibles and crafts. Entrance is 50p and there are refreshments available until close of play at 4pm.

Hall bingo: The next bingo session will take place in the village hall annexe from 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Workshop: A free workshop will take place on Wednesday between 7pm and 9pm at Crossgates Health, The Barn, North Street, Gargrave. There will be three half-hour demonstrations showing the benefits of using various machines. To book, call in or ring 01756 749901.

Soup Luncheon: Gargrave NSPCC Committee invites you to its homemade soup luncheon in the village hall on Saturday, February 7, between 11.30am and 2pm. The entrance fee is £7.50 and this will include soup, cheese and biscuits, homemade cake and tea or coffee. There will also be a raffle and tickets are available from Poppyfields Florist, committee members or you can pay on the door.

Bowling Club: Gargrave Bowling Club will hold its annual general meeting in the Masons Arms from 8pm on Wednesday. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Giggleswick Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 Theatre performance: The Engineer Theatre Collective will visit the Richard Whiteley Theatre on February 3 to perform Run at 7.30pm. The story follows four investment bank interns chasing a career in the city and is inspired by the true story of Moritz Erhardt, a 21-year-old intern who died after working 72 hours straight at his post in London. It is suitable for youngsters aged from 14. For ticket details, contact 01729 893180.

Parish council: A large proportion of this month’s parish council meeting was taken up by discussions about the reserved matters planning application for the development of seven houses off Raines Road in Giggleswick. Members discussed the scheme’s appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Fifteen parishioners attended the meeting to raise 16 points of concern. The two main areas of concern were the road layout and the boundary at the south west side of the development. They said the road appeared to indicate further development and the boundary should be a continuous dry stone wall (without a fence) instead of the proposed hedge. The council agreed with most of the parishioners’ points and added that there should be a pavement from the mini roundabout along Raines Road into the development. The next meeting will be held on February 10 at 7.30pm in the parish room.

Gisburn Young Farmers: Gisburn Young Farmers’ first meeting of 2015 was a night of pig judging - by kind permission of Michael and Diane Cornthwaite. This was a different meet for members - many had never taken part in this category of judging, and everyone came away with new knowledge. Considering lack of experience with these animals, everyone managed to secure a high score. Next week’s meeting is a games night at Bowland High School.

Grassington Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Coffee morning: The Pantoloons will hold a coffee morning in Church House on Saturday from 9.30am.

Horticultural Society: The chairman of Grassington and District Horticultural Society, Philip Johnson, welcomed more than 40 members to the 37th annual general meeting in the Octagon. He reviewed the past year of activities and fundraising and reported a slight loss from the two shows and some reduction in membership. He said the quality of speakers had been excellent and the two trips - to Kelverdale Gardens in Ripon and Lotherton Hall near Leeds - had been very enjoyable. He thanked the organisers. Treasurer Jane Ringrose said membership was down from 111 to 90, but the shows had attracted a record number of entries. Secretary Andrea Howard said suggestions for new venues would be welcome. Officers elected were: chairman, Philip Johnson; secretary, Andrea Howard; treasurer, Jane Ringrose; auditor, Philip Sugden; show secretary, Hilary Hobson; assistant show secretary, Anne Sugden; speaker secretary, Karen Darwin; assistant speaker secretary, Angela Beetham; visit organisers, Viv Tywang and Mary Vineall; committee members, Michael Cunningham, David Hobson and Peter Wright.

Friendship Club: David and Pat will be guest speakers at today’s meeting of Grassington Friendship Club. They will pose the question Who Knows Where? Next Thursday, January 29, Sheila Bloomfield will talk about the landscape, people and wildlife of Uganda. The club meets in Church House at 2.15pm.

Library service: Consultations over the future of North Yorkshire Library service are in progress until Sunday, February 8, and questionnaires are available in Grassington. The county council’s budget has fallen dramatically, with the library service having to find further savings of £1.6 million. This could affect the library at Grassington Hub where there is a danger of losing librarian Andrea Howard. Local people are being asked to support her continued presence by filling in the questionnaire, which is available from the Hub or from the North Yorkshire County Council website.

Hellifield Ken Leak, 01729 850845 Age Concern: Age Concern will meet in the Social Club from 10am tomorrow. There will be entertainment from the Craven Sing-A-Long Group. New members and friends are welcome.

Coffee morning: Saturday’s coffee morning in the institute will be a fundraiser for the churchyard. It will start at 10am and will include refreshments and stalls plus raffle. The coffee morning next Saturday, January 31, will raise money for the Blind and the Deaf. All are welcome.

Drop in: A drop-in is held at the Wesley Centre, on Haw Grove, every Thursday from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Refreshments, including homemade light lunches, will be available from noon to 1.30pm. Visitors will be able to use the computers and internet.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235 St Oswald’s: The church will hold a service of common worship on Sunday at 10.30am. A service of Candlemas will be held at St Oswald’s next Sunday, February 1, at 3pm. It will include hymns and evening prayer.

Ingleton Sue Brown, 015242 41835 Women’s Institute: Vice-president Marilyn Shaw welcomed Ingleborough WI members to their January meeting and wished everyone a happy New Year. A jumble sale will be held next Saturday, January 31. Arrangements were made for the presentation lunch to be held at Ireby Green Farm Cafe next Thursday, January 29. Speaker Ken Green, the gardener at Hornby Castle, was introduced. He spoke on Gardening for Wildlife and showed some very interesting slides. He was thanked by Sue Brown. Later Mr Green judged the competition for A Picture of a Garden Bird, declaring Lynne Woodburn the winner, Grace McGonnigal second and Sue Fitzsimmons third. The February speaker will be Dr Robin Mcllveen on Climate Change - Past, Present and Future. The competition will be for a letter opener.

Folk fundraiser: The Ingleton Folk Festival fundraising weekend will take place on Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28. On the Friday evening, from about 7pm, there will be an open session and singaround in the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Main Street, and all are welcome. There will be no admission charge. On the Saturday, two Hiring Fairs will take place. The first one will run from noon to 6pm in the Wheatsheaf Hotel and the second one is in the Ex-Servicemen’s Club from 7pm to midnight. Again, these are free admission. Guest performers include: FiddLyn Man Doris, The 3 Jayz, Peter Taylor, The Well Dressed Gentlemen, Jack Pybus, Didikai, Bandersnatch, Karin Grandal-Park and Rosie Clegg, The Ginjammers, Zeke Deighton, Brillig, Strings and Swings, Lowtown Blues, Celia Ketchell, Martin Francis and Paul Morris, Dogwatch, Amy Rose Atkinson, Bill Adair, Nick Brooker, Errol and Lesley Kirkpatrick, Dogwood Rose, and a host of unaccompanied singers. All are welcome.

Jumble sale: Operation Homeguard - which organises the annual 1940s weekend - will hold a jumble sale in the community centre on Saturday. It will run from 2pm to 4pm and admission is 20p.

Scottish dancing: The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society will hold a dance in Ingleborough Community Centre on Saturday from 7pm. For more information, contact Robert Rushton on 015242 41451.

Kelbrook St Mary’s: There will be no service at St Mary’s Church on Sunday.

Langcliffe Helen Jarvis, 01729 825303 Church news: On Sunday, St John’s will hold a service, with Holy Communion, at 9am. Canon David and Mrs Elizabeth Towers are moving later this month and are wished every happiness in their new home. They have done so much for the community and will be greatly missed. Canon Towers plans to return occasionally and help at the church. A beautiful altar frontal has been made by Elizabeth as a leaving gift. The embroidery is all her own work. Call in to see it - the church is open from 10am to 4pm. Please support the Food Bank. The box is in the back of the church.

Whist drive: There will be a whist drive in aid of church funds tomorrow at 7pm. Admission is £2, including supper. There will also be a raffle.

Lawkland Young Farmers: Young farmers met at Austwick Parish Hall for stick and handbag judging by Graham Taylor and Ruthie Woodhouse. Results were: junior girls - 1 Georgia Mason-Thornton, 2 (joint) Annie Parker and Laura Murfin, 3 Keira Allen; junior boys - 1 James Clapham, 2 Philip Cockett, 3 Charlie Metcalfe. This week, members met at Settle Rugby Club for district bingo and next week’s meeting is hedging and walling practice at Austwick Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

Long Preston Heather Thomas-Smith, 01729 840113 Village pantomime: Rehearsals are well advanced for the village pantomime, Wot, No Maypole? - a Gledshaw and Robert Hill production, with a hint of a clue to the story in its title. The pantomime will be held in Long Preston Village Hall on February 19, 20 and 21, with two performances on the Saturday. Tickets will be on sale at Long Preston Post Office from the beginning of February.

Rathmell Elaine Illingworth, 01729 840087 Thursday Club: Twenty five members will share cars and meet up for lunch at 12.30pm at The Vicarage Tea Rooms, Tosside, today.

New Year walk: North Craven Strollers - the Settle-based walking for health group - will undertake a walk in Rathmell on Wednesday. Meet in the village car park at 1.45pm. Light refreshments will be served in the Reading Room after the walk. For more information, contact 01729 824537 or email ncravenstrollers@yahoo.co.uk Settle Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639 U3A talk: Jean Robinson will give an illustrated talk on Skipton’s Raikes Road Burial Ground restoration project to Settle U3A when it meets in Victoria Hall today at 2pm. Everyone is welcome.

Pool friends: The Friends of Settle Swimming Pool 200 Club are reminded that renewals for 2015 are due before the end of January. The first draw will take place in February. Payments can be left at the pool or 1 Bridgend Cottages, Settle, BD24 9JN, for the attention of Julie Smith. Please advise if you do not wish to renew.

SAOS Juniors: The Settle Amateur Operatic Society Junior Section will recommence its sessions at the Old Court House, on Station Road, on Mondays at 6.15pm. The group is open to seven to 18 year olds and is currently rehearsing for its production of The Wizard of Oz at Victoria Hall on March 26 and 27. All are welcome.

Lynch Syndrome: A huge thank you goes to everyone who attended the event at Settle Rugby Club on January 10 in memory of Kirsten and helped to raise £1,060 for Lynch Syndrome. Special thanks go to The Moonbeams and Angie Da Silva for the night of great music.

Strollers: The North Craven Strollers meet on Wednesdays at 1.30pm from Millennium Gardens near Booths car park in Settle. For out of town walks, the group meets at the usual place and shares cars. Settle-based walks last between 60 and 90 minutes. On Wednesday, there will be an out-of-town walk around around Rathmell. The strolls are free, easy and gentle, aimed at people trying to get fitter, or recovering from operations or illnesses, or not wanting to go as far as they might have done in the past. There are also saunters, designed for those who would like 20 to 30 minutes in the fresh air, but with no pressure to go further. For more details contact 01729 824537 or ncravenstrollers@yahoo.co.uk Guided walks: The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line have organised a walk on Saturday, which takes in two dales and three viaducts. This is an 11-mile moderately strenuous walk departing from Dent at 10.16am and ending at Ribblehead. Next Saturday, January 31, there will be an 11-mile moderately strenuous walk from Long Preston to Settle leaving Long Preston at 9.45am. Booking in advance is not required but it is essential to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink and to be correctly equipped. For further details, contact walksinfo@settle-carlisle.com.

Victoria Hall: After a brief break, the Victoria Hall starts its new season on Sunday, with the return of the Swing Commanders. They are Europe’s number one Western Swing quintet and will recreate the cream of music from a bygone era. Next Saturday, January 31, you are invited to a Burns Night Supper, with haggis, neeps and tatties, tea, coffee and shortbread, and songs and poems performed by Bill Adair, one of Scotland’s finest singer/songwriters and acapella harmony group Pandora’s Handbag. For details and tickets, contact 01729 825718 Folk Club: Please note that there has been a change of plan to this month’s Three Peaks Folk Club and the event is not as shown on the website. The club will meet at Settle Social Club on Saturday at 8.30pm for a singaround with floor singers and musicians.

Film night: The Ribblesdale Area Moving Picture Show will hold its next film showing at Victoria Hall on Wednesday at 7.45pm. Admission is £5. The film is The Lunchbox, which is in Hindi and English with subtitles, and tells the story of love over a mixed up lunch delivery.

Gardening Club: The Settle and District Gardening Club will meet at Townhead Court on Wednesday at 2pm. The speaker will be Hannah Wilson and her topic is Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park. Members are reminded to bring their £12 annual subscription. Visitors are welcome at a cost of £3.

Craft workshop: There will be a craft workshop next Friday, January 30, for those wishing to start an art journal. The course costs £45, including all materials, and will cover basic techniques for creating an art journal. For details, email Jakibogg@tiscali.co.uk or ring 07875 699172.

Women’s Institute: Settle WI will meet at 2pm on Wednesday, February 4, when the speaker will be Susie Hart, who has set up craft workshops in Tanzania to provide employment for disabled people who would otherwise be shunned. Please bring any donations of craft materials, buttons, etc (but not knitting wool) for use in these workshops. The competition is for a piece of jewellery. Please note that this meeting will be at St John’s Hall.

Table top sale: The Scouts are organising a table top sale at the drill hall on February 7. The event is being arranged to raise funds to assist with the project to improve accessibility to the hall. Anyone wishing to book a stall should contact 07454 346509.

Music at Poppies: There are two musical events lined up for February at Poppies tea rooms. The first on February 7 sees the return of local group The Moonbeams, who will showcase their new album, Watching Wildlife. The second on February 28 is the debut of singer/songwriter Becky Mills at Poppies. For details, contact 07932 182293.

Silsden Linda Berry, 01535 654643 Local history: Silsden Local History Group resumes its winter sessions on Monday evening when member Eric Waddington will give a talk on fairground heritage and his own experiences of growing up in a fairground family. The meeting, which is open to all, will be held at Silsden Methodist Church, where doors open at 7pm for refreshments and a 7.20pm start. The following afternoon, the group’s monthly research session begins at 2pm at Silsden Town Hall, when anyone interested in family or local history is invited to bring along their queries or to share in the growing Silsden archive of books, artefacts, maps, photographs and memorabilia.

Slimming classes: Slimming World classes at St James’ Church Hall have a change of timing. The classes will be held at 5.30pm and 7.30pm. The class at the town hall in the morning remains the same. Contact Ann on 07935 417214 for more information.

Skipton Friendship Group: The Friendship Group will hold its first talk of the year on Tuesday when Robert Whitehead will speak on Haworth to Gawthorpe Hall. Special events towards the end of 2014 included a coffee morning at the Washburn Heritage Centre and Christmas lunch at Skipton Golf Club. For further information, visit skiptonfriendshipgroup.org.uk Craven Naturalists: Last Monday, Craven Naturalists’ and Scientific Association held its recorders’ evening. Pat Wherity started his talk on meteorology by showing dramatic pictures of the storms experienced in 2014, plus one of Tan Hill with the Aurora Borealis behind. He then showed how the temperatures during the year had been mainly above average. During this time, the “jet stream” was further south giving very poor weather to the near continent. He cited the Tour de France which had good weather here but poor weather once the cyclists returned to France. Sheila Clark then gave an account of the birds seen by various members during the year. During the summer, Ring Ouzels were seen on a number of occasions though these are not as numerous as previously. Also fewer in number were swifts over Skipton though the Mute swans on the canal continue to do well, raising many young. Zoology and botany recorder Michael Ingham started by mentioning coloured butterflies on an allotment in Skipton where they appeared less numerous than usual. He mentioned frogs which were seen in March which was a month earlier than previously. A discussion took place about various plants found on the disused railway line near Broughton. These included orchids such as Twayblade, Common Spotted and Frog. It was suggested that the lack of Frog and Bee orchids, once fairly common here, might be due to the growth of stronger grasses and other undergrowth. Finally Roger Martlew, the archaeology recorder, gave a comprehensive description of work carried out during the year. He started by describing Neolithic earthworks near Threshfield, one of which was only found using ‘geophys’ equipment and staff provided by Vienna University. Finds of a more recent date including re-investigating a dig near Arncliffe where a body was found previously. Because the bones had been lost, a single tooth was used to help determine the age of the burial which agreed with Anglo Saxon goods found previously. He finished by showing work that had been carried out at the lime works at Threshfield Quarry where removal of debris has uncovered the base of the kilns and the draw holes. Future plans for the whole of the site were explained with the main quarry area to be left to naturally regenerate. The next meeting, on Monday, is Walking through Flowers in the Balkans, given by Richard Hargreaves. It will take place in the Swadford Centre at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome for an admission fee of £2. For details, ring 01535 642180.

Holy Trinity: To conclude the Week of Christian Unity, a special service for the town will be held at 4pm on Sunday at Holy Trinity Church. Sunday is also designated as World Leprosy Day in a bid to raise awareness of the disease, which is curable but still affects millions in the poorest areas of the world. Everyone is welcome to attend the weekly Sunday services of Holy Communion at 8am and Parish Communion at 9.45am, both led by the Rector, the Rev Veronica James and her team. Evensong at 5pm will resume next Sunday. Don’t forget Toddle into Church every Tuesday afternoon between 2pm and 3pm, which is especially organised to be fun for babies to five year olds and their parents, or carers. If you live alone and are finding winter days rather dispiriting, then make a note for your diary for next Thursday. Happy Hour from 11am to noon in the Church Refectory will bring together a cheerful group of folk who all live alone and welcome the chance of a get-together every month.

Oddfellows: Saturday is Burns Night at the Three Links Club. For £2.50, visitors can enjoy entertainment from a piper and a fiddler and a supper of Haggis, Tatties and Neeps. Next Saturday, January 31, is Open Mic Night. If you have a talent to share, come along and enjoy the fun from 8pm. There will also be a Ritual Lodge meeting next Saturday at 1pm.

Retired Men’s Forum: Tony Birkett gave the concluding part of his talk, The Rise of the Medieval Cathedrals. Taking in the years 1150 to about 1450, he showed examples of ribbed vaulting, pointed arches and flying buttresses, as can be seen at York Minster as well as Ripon, Durham and Lincoln Cathedrals. Next week, Dr Chris Wright will give a talk entitled Kit Calvert of Hawes Cheese.

History Society: On Thursday, the society held its annual social evening. Food and drinks were accompanied by an entertaining variety of talks and presentations, including David Langham’s digitised photographs of his ancestor’s military service in Mesopotamia. The next meeting is tonight at 7.30pm in the Swadford Centre when Gillian Waters will talk on The Siege of Skipton Castle.

Sutton-in-Craven Thornton in Lonsdale Paula Kendall, 015242 42390 Rosemary Hartley, 015242 42207 Thank you: Liz and Roger Neale, of Bank House, Westhouse, would like to thank all who supported their Oxfam fundraising day in November. It raised £160. Thanks also go to everyone who contributed to the envelopes collected for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Pie and peas: All are welcome at a pie and peas supper in Westhouse Village Hall tomorrow from 7.30pm. The speaker will be Yorkshire farmer John Dawson. Admission is £3 for adults and £2 for under 16s.

Parish council: The parish council will meet in Westhouse Village Hall on Monday at 7pm.

Upper Wharfedale Sheila Denby, 01756 752605 Link thanks: Thanks have been extended to Sue Cullen and Mary Hurst, who have bundled together copies of Upper Wharfedale’s Link magazine for distribution. They have now stepped down and are succeeded by Shirley Whitham and Barbara Westerman.

Licensing date: The Rev James Theodosius, the new priest in charge of the upper dale parishes, is expected to be licensed at St Mary’s Church, Kettlewell, on Sunday, May 3. This is the early May bank holiday weekend.

Film night: The brilliant documentary film, Beyond The Edge, will be shown in Amerdale Hall, Arncliffe, on Wednesday at 7.30pm. This is the story of the historic adventure of how Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary tackled the ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Advance tickets are £4.50 for adults and £2.50 for under 16s and admission on the door is 50p more.

Call My Bluff: An amusing wine tasting evening, Call My Bluff, will be held in Cracoe Village Hall next Friday, January 30, from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £17.50 and are available from Edwin Page on 752852. Proceeds are for St Peter’s Church, Rylstone.

Wigglesworth Community Centre: Zumba classes are held every Thursday at 7.30pm. The lending library is open whenever the hall is open. Come and have a browse at the large selection of books, magazines and jigsaws. Handmade greetings cards are always available, made by members of the craft group and the proceeds go towards the running of the hall. The hall is available for private functions. The craft group meets on Monday and the focus will be card making. Please bring small sharp-pointed scissors if you can. If you don’t fancy making cards, you can always do your own project or perhaps try out rugmaking. Whist and dominoes is on Wednesday and the following Saturday, January 31, at 7.30pm. Can anyone help on the Saturday please? Tickets for the one-man play, Old Herbaceous, are on sale at £10. There will be a bar open from 7pm. This play is not just for gardeners as it is an endearing story set in an old greenhouse and centres on the relationship between manservant and Lady Charteris of the Manor House.