In brief: 11 of today's news snippets you may have missed

The city’s newly-established Community Centres Network will meet on Thursday 23 from 10-11.30am at The Gateway Centre in Acomb.

City of York Council established the network to offer practical support to the individuals and groups who give up their time to run community venues and hubs across the city.

The first meetings took place in July and August, and were attended by representatives of a number of community centres, and established a number of areas where they felt they would benefit from guidance, including finance and revenue, liabilities, building maintenance and filling in forms.

The October meeting is a general one, with no specific theme and the guest speaker is Wendy Neary of The Gateway Centre.

For information contact Karen.boardman@york.gov.uk

2) A CONVOY of Minis will be travelling from York to Bolton Abbey on Sunday.

Around 30 cars will set off from the York Mini dealership at 9.15am and head to the Billy Bob’s Diner/Parlour at Bolton Abbey.

People who witness the cars undertaking their journey are encouraged to tweet pictures using the hashtag #cooperminiconvoy

3) Dringhouses Dramatic Society is need of certain props for their production of Mike Leigh’s Abigail Party.

Duncan Savage, of Dringhouses Dramatic Society said: “This suburban situation comedy of manners is a satire on the aspirations and tastes of a new middle class, set in the 1970s, and we’ve had some difficulty sourcing some property items to dress the set for that period.

“To finish the job, we need a large picture of a print of any of Van Gogh’s flower pictures, which is essential to the action. We would welcome any offers to loan such an item for the week of the production.”

Abigail’s Party will run at Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, from October 23 to 25 at 7.30pm nightly, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Duncan can be contacted with prop offers at dsavage394@btinternet.com.

4) YOUNGSTERS at a York primary school have won a competition for the most pupils coming to school on a scooter.

Poppleton Ousebank School got 62 per cent of pupils to come to school on scooters on Scoot to School Day on Wednesday, October 15, as part of Walk to School Week. About 299 pupils travelled on their scooters, winning a scooter pod for pupils to park their vehicles in, worth £300.

Andrea Commins, deputy head at Poppleton Ousebank, said: “We are totally thrilled to have won the pod for our school. We look forward to having scooters as a regular form of transport.” school from now on.”

5) A CENTENARIAN who dedicated her life to caring for homeless animals and who inspired a character from a James Herriot novel has died, aged 101. Ann Lilly, known affectionately locally as Sister Lilly, was one of the first female radiographers in the north, and lived in Brompton, Northallerton, before moving to Mount Vale Nursing Home, in Northallerton, before she died peacefully on September 30.

Her funeral was at St Thomas’ Church, in Brompton, on Tuesday, October 14, which included a collection for the Sister Lilly Animal Foundation Trust and church funds.
 

6) CELBERITY manicurist Leighton Denny will be the guest of honour at Fenwick in York on Thursday. Denny, who has his own nail varnish range, will host a meet and greet shoppers evening at the York department store from 6 to 8pm.

Tickets cost £15, with £5 redeemable against purchases on the night, and include a glass of Prosecco and canapés on arrival and a signed copy of Denny’s book, How I Nailed It. Tickets from the store: telephone 01904 643322 ex 248.
 

7) THREE key organisations providing social care for people with sight loss and other disabilities are offering support staff jobs at an all-day jobs fair in York next week.

Jobseekers can drop into the event to meet staff and tenants from the Wilberforce Trust, United Response and Mencap for a discussion regarding the work and either be interviewed on the day or invited for further interviews.

The three York organisations are working in also collaborating not only in recruiting staff but also in developing training programmes with joint attendance from each organisation.

The fair runs from 8am to 8pm next Thursday at the Monkbar Hotel.

For further information, contact Marilyn Bentham, operations manager at the Wilberforce Trust on 01904 760037 or email enquiry@wilberforcetrust.org.uk.

8) WARTIME events are returning to an East Yorkshire village to give visitors a taste for the era.

The evening in Shiptonthorpe, on November 8, is open for all ages to come together, sing along to songs with the Weighton Waytes Choir, read poems and readings on November 8. Guests will also sit down to a two-course meal of wartime stew and apple crumble.

Alan Heaven, chairman of the project, said: “We’d like everyone to come along, share their photos and memories of life in the village across the two world wars and enjoy the fun.”

The event will be held in Shiptonthorpe Village Hall at 7pm on Saturday, November 8. Those wishing to buy the £7.50 tickets can contact Janet Miller on 01430 872276 or Sue Beadle on 07766 554574.

9) A TEAM from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service beat off competition from across the globe to be crowned WRO Trauma Challenge World Champions at the World Rescue Challenge 2014 in Gloucestershire.

Thirty international teams competed in scenarios, designed to challenge emergency service staff and raise awareness of the global problem of road death and injury.

10) YORK Breast Friends, a support group for women with breast cancer, are holding a special lingerie evening at the York NHS Hospital Sports and Social Club, Whitecross Rd, York on Thursday from 7-9pm.

11) THE Helmsley branch of the RNLI will hold a fundraising fish and chip supper and a talk by retired station mechanic from Whitby lifeboat station, Glenn Goodberry, at 7pm on Thursday at the Feathers Hotel in Helmsley.

Tickets, £10, can be bought from branch secretary Angela Butcher on 01439 771473.