Neighbourhood news

BARNOLDSWICK:
Probus Club: Eighty-five members of West Craven Probus attended the annual luncheon, held at Rolls Royce Leisure Centre. Guest of honour was Michael Peckover and his wife from Barnoldswick Rotary Club and guest speaker was Ian Dewhurst MBE from Keighley, who told some hilarious yuletide stories. Chairman John Dodd thanked everyone for their support.
Rotary Club: Can lost villages, bridges and tramways come back to life? This was the question posed by lecturer Harold Hoggarth in a talk to Barnoldswick and Earby Rotarians. The answer is, seemingly not in the case of a tall trestle bridge and tramway across a valley which once carried 600 navvies, building materials (and sightseers) to the site of the construction of Walshaw Dean Reservoir near Hardcastle Crags. The bridge and track were dismantled, though the stone foundations can still be seen. Similarly, the railway to Stocks Reservoir with attendant workers’ village have long gone. Locally, Rainhall Rocks viaduct is still there but isn’t visible because it was filled in. A village called Stock near Barnoldswick has disappeared, as has the village of Singleton Thorpe which existed when the Fylde coast extended a mile further out to the sea.
St Andrew’s:Tomorrow from 9.30am to 11.30am a toddlers’ Christmas activity will be held in the Baptist Church. Meetings re-start on January 8. At 10.30am on Saturday, there will be Carols on the Square followed by refreshments in the Majestic Church. At 10.30am on Sunday, the preacher will be Mrs F Oliver and at 6pm the preacher will be the Rev Wilfred Robinson. On Monday, there will be a prayer hour in church from 10am, and then at 2pm on Tuesday, everyone is welcome to decorate the church for Christmas. At 10.30am on Wednesday all ages are invited to come to church to practise one or two songs for the Christingle family service, which will be held at 6pm on Christmas Eve. A Christmas Communion service will also be held on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm, and everyone is welcome to attend the Christmas Day family service at 9.30am.

BOLTON ABBEY:
Priory Church: The services on Sunday include 8am Communion (said) and 10.30am Sung Eucharist. At 4.30pm, there will be a Service of Lessons and Carols. On Wednesday there is a said communion service at 10am and, on Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle at 4pm and First Eucharist of Christmas at 11.30pm. On Christmas Day, there will be a Festal Eucharist at 10am. Parking for all these services is in the village car park, free of charge. Please feel free to drop your passengers off at the Priory and return to the car park via the north gate.

BRADLEY: Liz Zieboll, 01535 636369:
Christmas coffee: The Methodist Church will hold a Christmas coffee morning from 10am to noon tomorrow. This will be followed by a Christmas workshop in the Methodist schoolroom from 3.30pm to 5pm, where there will be Christmas crafts and a visit from Father Christmas. Entry is free and refreshments will be available.
Window exhibition: The Christmas Windows exhibition will be on view in the Methodist Church from tomorrow until January 3. Windows have been contributed by local clubs and the school. this year’s theme is Christmas Card.
Nativity Service: The Methodist Church will be holding a Nativity Service at 10.30am on Sunday, after which refreshments will be served.
School News: Last week’s Christmas Fair was a great success and raised around £900 and thanks go to everyone who contributed. Tokens are still being collected from promotional 500g tubs of Flora Original, Light and Buttery and can be handed in at the school office.
Women’s Institute: Twenty one members and four guests attended the December meeting to watch Susan Dobson give an interesting demonstration on Christmas wreaths.

CARLETON:
Yuletide celebrations: Yuletide on Swan Street will take place on Sunday from 6pm. There will be lots of winter warmers including mulled wine and hot chocolate, served with mince pies, and a barbecue with an Alpine theme. Carleton Ladies Choir will lead lots of Christmas singing and the Carleton Sisters will perform some 1940s Christmas classics. Both snow and Santa will arrive sometime during the festivities to greet the children.
St Mary’s Church: On Sunday, there will be Bread, Wine and Worship at 11am. This is an informal service with a short family communion and worship songs. The church will hold Candlelight Carol Service on Christmas Eve, starting at 6.30pm. The Church Choir will be supported by Carleton Ladies Choir who will also sing three Christmas Carols. Children will perform a Christmas Nativity. On Christmas morning there will be a service at 9.30am.
Big breakfast: The Big Christmas Breakfast will take place on Boxing Day, cooked by members of the Carleton Community Umbrella. Come along to Carleton Village Hall between 9am and 11am for a full English breakfast at the bargain price of £2.
Quiz Night: The Swan Inn will hold a Big Christmas Quiz on Wednesday, with an earlier start time of 8pm. Entry is £1.50, with a guaranteed £100 for the winning team. There will be a free supper.

CLAPHAM: Rory-Joe Daniels, 015242 51135:
Church news: On Sunday, there will be a service of carols and lessons at Keasden Church at 6.45pm.
Park Association: Clapham Park Association is looking for a new treasurer to help spread the load of managing the playpark. It is not a very onerous task and someone whose children use the playpark would be ideal. Current fundraising efforts are going well and Clapham Parish Council has covered the cost of the annual safety inspection. For more information, contact Tracey Bilton on 015242 51856.
Age UK: Clapham Age UK has suffered from a drop in membership and is looking for more people to join them, including younger, more recently retired members. The group meets in the village hall on the first Wednesday of every month at 11am. After the meeting, they go to the school for lunch. The following Thursday, the group uses the Age UK minibus to go for a day out. For more information, contact Brenda Pearce on 015242 51816.

CONISTON COLD:
St Peter’s: On Sunday, at 6pm, the Giggleswick and Settle Brass Band will play at the traditional carol service. It will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the village hall.
Young farmers: Last Tuesday, young farmers met for the annual whist drive held at Richard Tottie Memorial Hall. They were helped by Brian Wellock and John Hall and the drive was followed by a Jacob’s Join supper and a raffle. The results were: women - 1 Sue Throup, 2 Aimee Beresford, 3 Megan Walton; men - 1 Will Throup, 2 Simon Barker, 3 (tie) Robin Schofield and Cameron Szpittzer, low Will Beresford.

CONONLEY: Joan Nicholson, 01535 630872:
St John’s: On Sunday, St John’s Church will hold a Holy Communion at 11am and a Christingle service at 4pm. The coffee morning, held on December 5, raised £357 and thanks go to all who helped in any way.
Christmas concerts: Cononley Singers will be in action this weekend. Tickets are selling fast but still available for the concert at Christ Church, Skipton, tomorrow. They cost £7 for adults, £5 for concessions and free for under 12s free. And, on Saturday, the singers will perform at Cononley Village Institute and tickets costing £5 are available from Cononley Post Office, any choir member or on the door. Both start at 7.30pm. The choir’s recent performances at Bradford Cathedral and St John’s Church, Cononley, received enthusiastic applause. It will also be singing carols at Herriots Hotel, Skipton, from 1pm on Sunday and outside the New Inn, Cononley, on Wednesday from 6.30pm (indoors if wet!).

COWLING:
St Andrew’s: The candlelit carol service at St Andrew’s will be on Sunday at 6pm. All are welcome to come along to sing favourite carols and listen to new ones. Mince pies and drinks will be served after the service. The Christmas morning service will be at 10.30am and there will be a collection for Action for Children. And, on New Year’s Eve, there will be a social at 10pm with a Bring and Share Supper, followed by the Watchnight Service at 11.45pm.
Carol Singing: Everyone is welcome to join in the carol singing round Cowling village tomorrow. Meet at St Andrew’s for 6pm if you would like to sing or play an ‘outdoor’ instrument. Again, proceeds will be donated to Action for Children.
Holy Trinity: On Christmas Eve, Holy Trinity Church will hold a Christingle service at 4pm and Midnight Communion at 11.30pm.

CROSS HILLS:
Christmas services: All are welcome to South Craven Evangelical Church’s Christmas services. They include two on Sunday - a Christmas family service at Glusburn Primary School at 10.30am and a community carol service at Glusburn Institute at 6pm, featuring Keighley Salvation Army Community Brass Band, soloist Ceri Morgan and a Christmas message from Pastor Paul Gamston. On Christmas Day, there will be a morning service at the church at 10.30am.

DRAUGHTON: Jane Markham, 01756 711305:
Parish council: The parish council meets tomorrow at 6pm in the village hall.
St Augustine’s Church: On Sunday, the family carol service will be held at 5pm, with seasonal refreshments afterwards in the village hall.

EARBY: David Hartley, 01282 842617:
St Peter’s: The service at 10:30am on Sunday will be a carol service led by the Rev David Edmondson. On Christmas Day, the church will have a joint service at the Baptist premises at 9.30am. The church will also host a watchnight social and service on New Year’s Eve at St Peter’s. Please let David and Hazel know by ringing them 01282 843064 if you will be joining them for food and folk dancing from 9pm. Everyone is welcome to join them at 11.30pm to see in the New Year with praise and prayer. The next exercise class is on January 4.

EMBSAY-WITH-EASTBY: Andrew Wilson, 01756 790197:
Smiley Faces: Tomorrow sees the last of this year’s ‘Smiley Faces’ sessions for toddlers in St Mary’s Church. These meetings will resume in the New Year.
Christmas crafts: On Saturday, there will be a children’s Christmas crafts workshop in the Methodist Chapel from 10am to noon. A range of Christmas decorations will be made as well as Christingles.
Embsay churches: On Sunday, at St Mary’s, there will be a Christingle Communion service at 9.30am. At the Methodist Chapel, the 10.30am service will be led by Jim Hope and at 6pm, it will host a joint carol service, which will be followed by refreshments. On Tuesday, St Mary’s will hold a quiet Communion service at 10.30am. The church would like to thank everyone who has given so generously to the Gift Day Appeal. Money given this year has been earmarked for the roof repairs and for a new lawnmower.
Elm Tree Carols: Start your Christmas celebrations in the traditional Embsay way by singing carols and seasonal songs around the elm tree from 6pm on Christmas Eve. There will be a collection for charity.
Santa Specials: The steam railway will be running its final Santa Specials this weekend. Although most seats have been pre-booked, there is still some spare capacity on the seven-coach trains. Telephone the railway for details of availability and prices.
Parish council: Little visible progress has made in relation to the untaxed and seemingly abandoned vehicles in the car park (now three in number) but both Craven District Council and the DVLA have become involved with a view to their removal. The car park is a valuable asset to the village and its use should be respected. Lack of appropriate usage may lead to charges being imposed. There have been a number of incidents relating to a total disregard of the ‘No Parking’ double yellow lines in parts of the villages. Be warned, routine inspections are made within the parish and enforcement officers will not hesitate to impose penalties where appropriate. Further random speed checks throughout the village are scheduled for early in the New Year. The new Christmas lights on the Elm Tree have been welcomed by many and provide a bright feature. Two defibrillators has been now been delivered and await installation on the front of the village hall and on the roadside wall at Bower House Farm, 34 Barden Road, Eastby by a NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group preferred contractor. Training will be available when the installations are complete.
Community Library: The library will be closing for the Christmas and New Year holidays after the Saturday morning session. It will not reopen until January 7.

FARNHILL AND KILDWICK: Joyce Wood, 01535 635880:
St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am (in the parish rooms) and at 10am. At 4pm, the Christmas Carol Service by candlelight will take place and children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, kings or nativity animals. On Christmas Eve there will be a Crib Service at 4pm and the Midnight Communion will start at 11.30pm. On Christmas Day there will be services of Holy Communion at 8.15am and at 10am.
Methodist coffee: The Methodist Church coffee morning held in the institute last Saturday raised £206 for Children in Need.

GARGRAVE: Sally Jennings, 01756 748098:
Christian Mission: The recent Christian Mission coffee morning in Gargrave raised £755 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Community Library: On Saturday, between 10am and noon, there will be a joint coffee morning with the Women’s Institute in Gargrave Village Hall. This will be an action-packed event with a children’s corner, carol singing by the Gargrave Playground Association, the bumper draw for the 100 Club and a special visit by Father Christmas. There will also be a raffle for one of John Merrell’s paintings which has been donated by John’s family. The WI will be unveiling a plaque to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the WI.
Sequence Dance: The final modern sequence dance of the year is being held in the village hall from 7.30pm on Saturday. Entry is £4, which includes tea and biscuits.
St Andrew’s Church: On Sunday, there will be a traditional “said” BCP communion service at 8am, followed, at 10.45am, by a service of lessons and carols with the Stan Drew’s choir and lighting the fourth candle on the Advent Crown. On Christmas Eve at 4pm, there will the popular Christingle family service in church - in aid of the Children’s Society. Then at 11.30pm there will be a traditional Midnight Mass with carol singing.
Parish council: The parish council is reminding residents that the deadline for comments about Draft Neighbourhood Development Plan is Monday.Representation forms were put through everyone’s letter boxes at the beginning of November.

GIGGLESWICK: Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639:
Primary School: A big thank you goes to all who donated items for the toiletries stall and to those who came along to support St Alkelda’s Church Christmas Fair. Particular thanks go to the Sampson and Tither families who raised over £50 for church funds. Oliver and Dylan Sampson also raised £20 by making cards and running a lucky dip and a ‘bat the rat’ game. Melissa Tither also helped Santa in his grotto. Thank you also to everyone who braved the awful weather to support the pupils at the Settle lights switch-on. Congratulations go to pupils who took part in the first-ever badminton festival run through the sports partnership. The pupils showed very good sporting behaviour and Amy Lawson was awarded the North Craven Badminton year three/four girl Player of the Tournament. Year six pupil Mollie Howarth took part in the North-Central Area Accordion Championships in Bingley and performed really well. She was placed first in all three of her classes – an excellent achievement. Phoebe and Oscar Holliday-Gill, Gwen Finch and Hannah Chapman completed the five-kilometre Santa Fun Run in Skipton. Along with over 1,500 other Santas, they helped to raise money for charity. Thanks go to everyone who came along to the recent open morning. Last night, pupils were due to give their Christmas presentation. It involved a re-telling of the nativity story. The school is most grateful to Mrs Hewitt of High Paley Green Farm for her generous sponsorship of a series of citizenship books.
St Alkelda’s: St Alkelda’s will hold its traditional festival of lessons and carols on Sunday at 6.30pm.

GLUSBURN:
Festive film: Glusburn Institute Community and Arts Centre will get the festive season started tomorrow when Santa will arrive in his Grotto from 4pm. Children can enjoy meeting Santa, and a gift, while adults tuck into mince pies and mulled wine. At 5pm, the film Get Santa will be shown on the big screen. Please pre-book. The cost for Santa and the film is £4.50 for adults and £3.30 children and for the film only, £4 for adults and £2.50 for children. Contact 01535 630223 or visit gicac.org.uk.

GRASSINGTON: Sheila Denby, 01756 752605:
Carol service: The Methodist Church, on Chapel Street, will host a carol service on Sunday at 6pm. It will feature a choir that has been put together for the occasion.
Friendship Club: Edwin Page will be guest speaker at the January 7 meeting of Grassington Friendship Club. He will talk about Creatures of Our Time in Church House at 2.15pm.
Coffee morning: A coffee morning will be held in Church House on Saturday in support of the Leukaemia Society.

HEBDEN: Victoria Benn, 01756 751795:
Christmas service: There will a Christmas service in Hebden Methodist Church at 3pm on Sunday. The children will perform a nativity and there will be refreshments after the service.

HELLIFIELD: Ken Leak, 01729 850845:
Christmas party: There will be a children’s Christmas Party, courtesy of Hellifield Gala Committee, in the institute on Saturday from 4pm to 9pm. It will include games, fun, food and refreshments plus a visit by Father Christmas.
Women’s Institute: Hellifield WI will hold its Christmas meal in the institute from 7.15pm. Tickets for the event are on sale for £20 per person. The next meeting will be January 21 when the topic will be colours and the competition will be for a Piece of Cloth. February is the start of the new subscription year for members.
Coffee morning: Saturday’s coffee morning in the institute is a church event. It will include an Aunty Wainwright’s stall, raffle and refreshments. There will be free entry from 10am.

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE: Caroline Thompson, 01756 749235:
Whist drive: The monthly whist drive was held in the Golden Lion. Winners were: ladies - M Wellock, S Airey, M Davis and D Wood; gents - B Garnett, (sub), A Palmer (sub), M Davis and C Summersgill (sub). The next whist drive and the first of the New Year will be held on Tuesday, January 12.
Carol service: A carol service will be held at St Oswald’s Church on Sunday at 6.30pm.

INGLETON: Sue Brown, 015242 41835:
Parish council: The matter of vehicles parking on the pavement at Bank Top was raised at the December meeting of Ingleton Parish Council and the police officer present urged members to report any similar incidents to the police so that they could be acted upon at the time. A resident raised the issue of overnight parking of campervans in the Square. The clerk was instructed to check local bylaws to ascertain what powers the parish council would have regarding this. M Gudgeon from Horton Landscaping reported to the meeting his problems with health and staffing during the past season and told of the steps he had taken to avoid this next year. The flooding problems at Jenkins Beck were discussed and the clerk reported that she had been informed that three drains on Laundry Lane had been blocked and she would report this to Highways. Cllr Lis reminded members that sandbags were stored in the barn near the Wheatsheaf. Several members took keys for the barn and it was agreed that a notice would be posted on the website and noticeboards to this effect. There was a planning application to remove trees round the boundary wall of the Youth Hostel and members supported this. Cllr Metcalfe spoke of the poor state of the white line markings on the roads in the village and it was agreed that a strong letter of disapprobation should be sent to the chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council. The clerk took notes from councillors of several faulty street lights. It was felt, however, that the contractors should be regularly checking them.

KELBROOK:
St Mary’s: On Sunday, the church will hold Community Carols for Christmas at 5.30pm. All are welcome and the service will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies. On Christmas Eve, there will be a Christingle service at 5.30pm and, on Christmas Day, there will be a special communion at 10am.

LANGCLIFFE: Helen Jarvis, 01729 825303:
Church news: Winners of the St John’s Christmas hamper raffle were: 1 Jean Parsons, 2 Judith Allinson, 3 Helene Wiggin The cake weighed 3lb 12½ ozs (1.72 kg) and was won by Barbara Fiorato who guessed exactly the right weight. The hare’s name was Hamlet and was won by Veronica Brown. Many thanks go to everyone who supported the fundraising, especially everyone who donated hamper items and to Sue for making them look so good. The church stall raised a total of £143. On Sunday, there will be a Candlelit Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4pm, which will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies. On Christmas Eve, Holy Communion will begin at 11.30pm. On Sunday, December 27, there will a joint service of Holy Communion at 10.30am. The Church is open every day from 10am to 4pm.
Carol singing: The carol singers will be in action on Tuesday. There will be no collection, it is just for the joy of singing and entertaining others. All are welcome (please bring a torch or lantern) and meet at the war memorial at 6.30pm. On Christmas morning there is a lovely old tradition in Langcliffe of singing carols round the Village Tree. Everyone should meet at the war memorial at 9.30am.

LONG PRESTON: Heather Thomas-Smith, 01729 840113:
Tombola thanks: Thanks go to all those who donated gifts and helped out at the Long Preston and Hellifield Guides’ tombola. Despite such awful weather, they raised £220.
Cumbria donation: Your local correspondent Heather Thomas-Smith wishes all in Long Preston parish and the local area a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016. This year she will be donating to the flood funds for Cumbria instead of delivering her usual Christmas cards.

RATHMELL: Elaine Illingworth, 01729 840087:
Thursday Club: Twenty five members from the Thursday Club, wilI share cars and meet up for their Christmas party at the Craven Arms, Giggleswick, today, at 12.30pm. A wrong date was given last week.
Christmas party: The Village Christmas Party will be held at the Reading Room on Saturday at 7pm. It will include a three-course meal.

SETTLE: Gill O’Donnell, 01729 825639:
Christmas dinner: Last-minute bookings are still being taken for the annual Community Christmas Day Dinner and Tea in Settle. The event is open to all ages and costs £10 per head. It will take place in St John’s Hall between 11.45am and 4.45pm and places can be booked by contacting Judith on 01729 822138. Transport can be offered to those who require it.
Guided walks: There will be a guided walk to Stainforth Force and Catrigg Force arranged by Friends of Settle-Carlisle line on Saturday. This is a moderately strenuous walk, which will leave Settle at 9.50am. No reservation is necessary, but all participants should ensure that they are appropriately clothed, carry a packed lunch where required and have suitable footwear. For more details, email walksinfo@settle-carlisle.com.
Victoria Hall: Tomorrow, Belshazzars Feast return to Settle. Its Christmas show promises traditional folk music with a touch of classical and jazz, a bit of music hall thrown in for good measure and topped off with wry humour. On Saturday, Róisín Bán takes to the stage, playing predominantly traditional Irish music on fiddle, flute, melodeon and guitar. Then on Sunday, there is a treat for all the family when Pendle Productions stage their version of Jack and the Beanstalk at 2.30pm. For details and tickets of all events contact 01729 825718. The Victoria Emporium is open every Saturday with goods of all kinds on sale. Tables can be booked for £10 per head and are available to makers, crafters, cupboard clearers and all entrepreneurs, which means that there will be a different mix of items on sale each week. The emporium is open all morning through till 2.30pm. For details or to reserve a table email info@settlevictoriahall.org.uk .
Santa visits: Santa’s Sleigh will be visiting Townhead, Church Street, Duke Street and Kings Mill tomorrow, starting at 5pm. On Saturday, he will be at Booths supermarket from 10am to 4pm and hopes he will see you there.
Women’s Institute: After reminding members of the Christmas lunch at the Falcon and the poetry group meeting on the theme of Christmas, WI chairman Mary Hindle introduced talented Martin Lunn to talk about the scientific basis for the star of Bethlehem. An amazing quest followed; to dismiss or accept possible events which had to have happened near to Christ’s actual birthday (March 5BC). Comparisons of Chinese astrological observations, recorded over five thousand years and correlated with our changing calendar finally pointed to the big event being a Nova, which brightened the sky at that time for over 30 days. Following hearty applause the raffle for a Christmas hamper was won by Pauline Langford.
Christmas events: Churches Together in Settle and District invite you to join members fortwo special Christmas events. The first is a community carol singing session outside The Olde Naked Man at 11am on Saturday and the second is a Messy Church event at St John’s Hall on Sunday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. All are welcome.
Folk Club: The Three Peaks Folk Club will hold a one-off Christmas Special in Settle Social Club on Sunday from 8pm to midnight. The evening will be hosted by The Rustic Charmer and will feature a special appearance by the Holbeck Moor Mummers who are now in their 55th year. They will perform their famous hero combat death and resurrection drama - a production not for the fainthearted! - and will take up a collection for St Gemma’s Hospice. There will also be a guest appearance by first lady of folk, Miriam Backhouse. Admission is £5 and refreshments will be available.
Theatre trips: A trip from Settle is being arranged to see Billy Elliot, The Musical, at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford. The trip will be to the matinee performance on Thursday, May 19, and the price is £66. This includes a stalls seat, coach from Settle and gratuities. The closing date for reservations January 22. A trip is also being arranged to see Matthew Bourne’s ballet Sleeping Beauty at the Alhambra on Wednesday, February 24. This will be a matinee performance and the price is £40. Again, this includes stalls seat, coach and gratuities. For more information and payment details, telephone 01729 823978.
Poppy excursion: North Craven Age UK is organising a special trip to view the poppy wave sculpture at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park on January 6. The trip will also visit Whitley’s Garden Centre at Mirfield. The cost is £9. To reserve a place contact 01729 823066.
Addicted to Sheep: On Wednesday, January 13, The Ribblesdale Area Moving Picture Show (TRAMPS) will present a film, set in North Yorkshire, at the Victoria Hall. Addicted to Sheep is the story of a family’s quest to breed the perfect sheep and follows a year in the life of a tenant farmer and his family and captures the stunning stark beauty of the landscape and the hard graft required to survive. Tickets cost £5 on the door and the film starts at 7.45pm.

SILSDEN: Linda Berry, 01535 654643:
History Group: History and Christmas music will come together on Monday evening when the Local History Group holds its December meeting at the Methodist Church. The group is hosting a visit by the Jolly Wassailers, an assembly of singers from the Craven area who have researched the stories behind old Christmas carols originally sung around the streets and public houses in Victorian times. The event is open to all, at a charge of £2, and doors open at 7pm for a 7.20pm start. Seasonal refreshments will be served. The group has just published a new book, Silsden’s Story in the Great War. Recalled are Silsden’s welcome for Belgian refugees, the young soldier who returned from the dead to his family in Swartha and the Tufton Street pigeon fancier who led a secret operation in France. The book is available at Twiggs newsagent and the post office and costs £5.95.
Scouts post: The Scouts are back in town. Get your special scout postal stamps from Bradley’s Butchers, Aireview Stores, Knowles Estate Agents, Twiggs Newsagents and Cobbydale Stores. For 20p per stamp, you can have your Christmas cards delivered anywhere in Silsden until midday tomorrow which is the last posting time. Just make sure that the full address and postcode is on the envelope.
Christmas card: Everyone in Silsden should by now have received their Christmas card from the Churches Together group. This details all the festive activities and services that will be taking place at the three churches over the holiday period.

SKIPTON:
Oddfellows: On Saturday, Frank will host his Christmas Music Night Quiz at the Three Links Club. The club’s Christmas Party will be held next Thursday, Christmas Eve, and members are welcome to bring their own supper. The club will be open from 11am to 3pm on Christmas Day and closed on Boxing Day. Undercover will provide the entertainment on New Year’s Eve and there will be a mince pie and a tot of whisky for everyone at midnight (please bring your own supper).The club will be closed on New Year’s Day and will be open again for all its usual events from January 2.
Retired Men’s Forum: Committee member Stuart Powell spoke about the propensity in the United States of America for road signs with unusual messages such as Psalms Read Here and The Titanic was built by experts, the Ark by amateurs. The forum has now closed for the Christmas holiday and will re-convene on Tuesday, January 5, when Geoff Queen will give an illustrated talk entitled A Tour of Indo-China.
Christ Church: Tomorrow, Christ Church School holds its Christmas Service in church at 9.15am, and later at 7.30pm, the Cononley Singers will perform their Christmas concert, with profits donated to Christ Church funds. The Rev Ruth Harris will celebrate her first Family Eucharist at Christ Church on Sunday at 9.30am, following her institution as vicar of the United Benefice of Skipton Christ Church with St Mary, Carleton, on Monday. There will also be a service of Holy Communion at 8am. In the evening, at 6.30pm, Carols by Candlelight will be held in Christ Church featuring familiar carols for the congregation, and items for Christ Church Choir.
Holy Trinity: On Sunday, Holy Trinity will host a civic service for the Mayor of Skipton, Cllr Gordon Bell, at 3pm. It will be led by the rector, the Rev Veronica James. The day’s worship starts with 8am Holy Communion, followed by family communion at 9.45am. Morning prayer is said every weekday morning at 9am, with a Holy Communion at 10.45am on Wednesday. There will be a Christmas theme for pre-school children when they ‘Toddle into Church’ at 2pm on Tuesday.
Camera Club: The last meeting of the year was held last Tuesday and included a social evening. The winner of the first competition was Mike Breeze with Sandy Tod second and Liz Brazell third. The Christmas competition was won by Peter Normally and the winter one resulted in a tie between Keith Hillery and Peter Sharp.
History Society: David Turner gave an illustrated talk about the rise of Primitive Methodism in Skipton and Embsay to members of Skipton History Society. The Primitives emerged in about 1810 from a reaction to the Wesleyan drive towards respectability and centralisation. Led by a number of charismatic and revivalist evangelists, they established themselves as an alternative movement with their ‘field preaching’, especially among poorer people. The movement developed a strong presence in Embsay and the Union Chapel was erected there in 1822, but disputes often arose with other religious groups over the use of the chapel. Gradually the membership increased substantially in Skipton, and a number of chapels were built, culminating in a large building on Gargrave Road. Gradually Wesleyans and Primitives reconciled differences, and in 1932 they were reunited nationally to form the Methodist Union. The next meeting will be a members’ social evening on Thursday, January 14, in the Swadford Centre, starting at 7.30pm.

STAINFORTH:
Santa visits:There’s still time to catch Santa on his visits to The Knight’s Table at Knight Stainforth Caravan Park. He will be there on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 2pm. Children’s tickets cost £7.50, which includes a drink and a biscuit and the choice of gift from the toy stall.

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN:
St Thomas’s Church: On Sunday, the church will hold a Holy Communion, with children’s nativity, at 10.30am. On Christmas Eve, there will be a carol service at 6pm and a Midnight Communion at 11.30pm and, on Christmas Day, there will be a family communion at 10.30am.

STEETON:
Methodist Church: Steeton Methodist Church will hold a carol service on Sunday at 6pm. It will be led by the Rev Alan Raine and the Junior Church.

TOSSIDE:
Community hall: The Christmas dance with Alan Cookson is at the community hall tomorrow at 8pm. Admission is £6, which includes supper. The whist and domino drive with Christmas prizes is on Saturday at 7.30pm. Admission is £3.
Ugly Duckling: In conjunction with Spot-on Rural Touring, the Northumberland Theatre Company will present The Ugly Duckling pantomime at the community hall on Monday at 3pm. It is a reworking of Hans Christian Andersen’s story. Tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for children, with tea-time food included. For more information, contact Ann on 01729 840272.

UPPER WHARFEDALE: Sheila Denby, 01756 752605:
Successful year: The Hart Farm in Littondale has had another successful year, helping children to benefit from the therapeutic time spent with their animals. To help support its work, it is now selling 2016 calendars at £7.50, featuring unique pictures of the animals, as well as two children’s picture books at £6. For more information, visit hartanimals4kids.org.
Table donation: Amerdale Hall, Arncliffe, has received a full-sized table tennis table. This will be stored in the hall and will be available to use at the club rate of £5 a session. To book, contact Nigel Crapper on 01756 770094.
Hubberholme Church: A Christingle and crib service is held on Christmas Eve from 4pm. Later, at 11pm, the church will hold a candlelit midnight communion service.
Pocket Panto: Pocket Panto will perform Aladdin at Amerdale Hall, Arncliffe, on Sunday, January 3, at 1pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults.

WIGGLESWORTH:
Community Centre: This Saturday sees the last bacon butty morning of the year. Butties will be served from 11am to 1.30pm. On Sunday, the Village Christmas Party will take place from 4pm. Just turn up with a plate of something to share. Afterwards guests will wander down the village singing carols and ending up at the Plough. Pocket Panto will perform Aladdin on Sunday, January 3, starting at 6pm. Tickets are available from 01729 840794.