Monthly Archives: January 2012
IF YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO CROCHET YOUR OWN BUNTING . . .
If you thought Gayle Mill was just a sawmill – albeit a beautifully-restored, 19th Century sawmill with a fascinating history – think again. It is a working mill, but as its new spring activity programme shows, it is so much more. Opportunities abound to be creative: glove-making, nest box building, even book-binding are just some of the things on the agenda. You can make a tassel or a farm gate – or, if the mood grabs you, a Valentine’s card. And if you want to know how to care for your silver candlesticks, you can ask an expert from the Bowes Museum. Samantha Belcher, Heritage Education and Training Co-ordinator at the mill, presents a varied and exciting programme. And the bunting? Read on . . . Read the rest of this entry
COFFEE MORNING – LIFTS TO CHANGE OF VENUE
Another fantastic coffee morning at 10.00am this Saturday, 4 February, in aid of St Oswald’s Church. Please note, though, that it’s not in Askrigg village hall any more but at Bainbridge Methodist Chapel. Because of the change of venue, there will be shuttle cars going from outside St Oswald’s from 10.00am to 11.15 am if you need a lift – and you’ll be brought back. This is always a popular, jolly and well-supported event, but it needs YOU and your friends to make it a success. Please come along. And if you can help in any way Heather Hodgson on 650109 would love to hear from you. Setting up, making cakes, serving tea and coffee, manning stalls, contributing books or raffle prizes, and helping to clear up afterwards – please support Heather and her team by doing whatever you can. It promises to be a lovely morning – with sunshine!
THE LONG GOODBYE
Ian and Linda
Michael Blanch
With four churches to cover over quite a wide area, the farewell festivities of the two curates, Ian Robinson and Michael Blanch, were never going to be a fleeting affair. Congregations will get chance to say their own goodbyes at a series of services throughout the morning of their last day in Wensleydale, Sunday 29 January. At each venue there’ll be a short service of thanksgiving, and food. Here’s the programme – with appropriate meals (all following the service):
- Start at St Margaret and St John, Hardraw, at 9.00am for breakfast
- On to St Margaret’s in Hawes at 10.30am – morning coffee
- St Matthew’s Stalling Busk around 12 noon for soup and bread, and finally
- St Oswald’s, Askrigg, at 1.30pm-ish for pudding.
LOW MILL CAN WEATHER THE ECONOMIC STORM
Jane and Terry (Head of Centre) Hailwood were delighted to welcome Bette Cannell, Chair of the friends' committee.
Low Mill Outdoor Centre can weather the storm of financial cuts, the economic downturn, and funding reductions for the clients who use the service. That was the message from Terry Hailwood, head of centre, to guests at the recent annual open evening. Despite the harsh economic climate which is now affecting occupancy – down to 39 per cent in 2011 from 48 per cent the previous year – there was a strong feeling among those attending that there’s enough goodwill and enthusiasm to ensure the continued success of Low Mill as it goes into its 36th year. Read the rest of this entry
WI WORKS WONDERS WITH WINTER LUNCH
Could anybody but the WI produce a three-course meal – including roast turkey and all the trimmings, plum pudding and two other choices of dessert – for 60 people, from a tiny kitchen in a village hall in under two hours? In case you’re wondering the answer’s no. Bainbridge WI worked their yearly miracle this week when pensioners living alone, and over 80s with partners, were treated (literally – everything’s free, including the wine) to this fantastic post-Christmas lunch in Askrigg Village Hall.
Turkeys, stuffing, bread sauce, and desserts are prepared in members’ homes and brought to the venue, but the three servings of vegetables plus potatoes, sausages in bacon, rum sauce for the Christmas pudding, and turkey gravy are all made on the spot.
Every lunch was piping hot and – as far as anyone could tell – there were no complaints. Far from it: the recipients were delighted and expressed their thanks time and again to all the members who cooked, served, decorated the tables, washed up – oh yes: and ran the (free) raffle. Money for the lunch is raised throughout the year with a series of paid-for (£4) soup and sweet lunches in Bainbridge or Askrigg. And there’s always enough cash raised to donate a substantial sum to a local good cause as well.
Below are pictures of this fantastic day. Because I don’t know everyone’s name I’ve left all names out – except those of the helpers.
Too many cooks? Not in this case . . . Joan, Sue, Christine, Jean, Betty, Doreen, Anne and Mary cooked up a feast
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- Anne Harrison – all ready for the big carve-up.
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- Too many cooks? Not in this case . . . Joan, Sue, Christine, Jean, Betty (?) Anne and Mary cooked up a feast
SINGING GROUP STARTS A NEW YEAR
Askrigg Ladies’ Singing Group (pictured, above, at the pre-Christmas concert in aid of the British Heart Foundation) goes from strength to strength. Led by Diana Hartley they enter what will be their third year of singing for pleasure when the fortnightly sessions start again on Monday 9 January at 7.30pm in the back room of the village hall. Sessions last just over an hour and there are refreshments afterwards.
All ladies are welcome, you don’t need to be able to read music, and you don’t need to sing like a nightingale: you just need to enjoy the music. There are occasional concerts and services, but nobody feels obliged to perform publicly. Some enjoy it, others simply like to attend the Monday night practices, have a good sing and a chat, and go home. But one thing’s for sure: everybody loves it. It started with 10 people, and now there are well over 40.
*Bookings this year so far include
- Friday 24 February at 7.30pm, Carlton Chapel for the Coverdale Fellowship. All welcome.
- Saturday 3 March at 7.30pm, entertainment after the sausage and mash supper in Askrigg Village Hall in aid of hall funds.
- Tuesday 20 March at 7.30pm for Gayle Fellowship.
- Sunday 7 May Bainbridge Chapel anniversary.
GETTING TO KNOW LOW MILL
Want to learn more about the unique Low Mill Outdoor Centre at the west end of Askrigg? About the past year’s activities, the awards, the adventures enjoyed by youngsters who might otherwise not get the opportunity? Or perhaps about the role of the friends of Low Mill, who do so much to ensure its continued success? You can do exactly this, and enjoy a hot supper, at the centre’s annual open evening next Wednesday, 11 January. There’ll be reports from head of centre, Terry Hailwood, from the chair of the management committee and a presentation from the Friends. Everybody welcome, and there’s no charge for the supper. But as it’s a registered charity with restricted funds, a donation – though not solicited – would be very much appreciated. The evening will start at 7.00pm and end around 9.00pm. If you’d like to go please contact Sally on 650432 or email her at sally@lowmill.com
JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
Some of us are old enough to remember the Coronation, never mind the Silver and Golden Jubilees. Even so, the idea of celebrating 60 years of the Queen’s reign comes as a bit of a shock to the system. But that’s precisely what we’ll all be doing later this year and the parish council wants to know how you want the village to mark this unique event.
To this end, they are holding an open meeting on Thursday 12 January at 7.00pm in the back room of the village hall.
Everyone’s welcome so do come along with your ideas. I shall be contributing a 25-foot long Union Jack tablecloth I bought for the Royal Wedding having misread the label and thought it was 2.5 metres . . .
Betsy Everett
