HERE'S is all your latest Vale and Dale news. Find out what is happening in your neighbourhood, check out when your parish council meets or simply plan ahead with details of events taking place round the corner.

APPLETON-LE-MOORS

Tea, Chat & History - The last Tea, Chat & History session of 2017 was held in the village hall. The informal meeting included rolling slide shows which will now be a regular feature. Homemade cakes and tea were provided by Shirley Brooke. The next meeting will be at 2pm on Monday, January 8, which is a change of date.

Afternoon tea - The village hall will host an afternoon tea from 3.30pm on Saturday, December 30. Entry is £5 per head and there will be a raffle.

BROMPTON-BY-SAWDON

Church - The carol service at All Saints Church included Helen Wright’s sing along Nativity and the active participation of the congregation in The Twelve Days of Christmas. Bella Hargreaves and Ethan Shaw helped by hiding the nativity figures. Mary Jones provided mulled wine and mince pies. The next Christmas event will be a Walk around Nativity on Saturday at Hutton Buscel but involves everyone in the area who would like to take part. Participants should meet at St Mathew’s Church at 3.30pm dressed for outdoors. Children as angels, shepherds or kings can join in the scenes as they move around the area near the church finishing with refreshments. The service at All Saints on Sunday will be 9.30am Communion with coffee to follow.

BULMER

Bridge Club - Anne and John Prest won the meeting on Thursday, December 7 with 68.1 per cent. Runners-up with 63.5 per cent were Judith Porter and Brian Crowder.

CROPTON

Christmas services - The carol service at the church will be on Wednesday, December 20 at 7pm. Refreshments will be served at the end of the service. On Christmas Day, Morning Eucharist is at 10.30am.

FARNDALE

Calendars - Village calendars, priced at £6, are still available from the Feversham Arms Inn, Farndale, and the Lion Inn, Blakey. However, BATA Kirkbymoorside have now sold out of them.

HELMSLEY

Luncheon club - Helmsley Ladies Luncheon Club held its last meeting of the year at the Pheasant Hotel, Harome, on Wednesday, December 6. It was attended by 51 members, including five guests attended. After Christmas lunch one of the guests, Jean Dixon gave a talk about her work over many years fundraising with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and thanked the club for its donations. Carols were sung together with music provided by Anita and Roger who were then thanked by the president. Gifts were given from the bran tub at the close of the meeting. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, February 7 at the Pheasant Hotel. Any ladies wishing to join the club should phone 01439 770010.

HOVINGHAM

Christmas market - The village’s biggest Christmas Market, with just under 60 stalls, takes place on Saturday from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Christmas music will be provided by the Swinton and District Excelsior Brass Band and Ellie the donkey will be there, helping to sell mistletoe in aid of Parkinson UK. There will be a nativity trail for children with a treat for all those that get to the end. There will be a Nativity in Art exhibition showing pictures from the 7th to the 15th century. Father Christmas will be there with sweets and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust aim to recruit more members and volunteers. Guest stalls are the Artisan Fudge Company and Brassica and Beyond with pasta sauces. Fabulously Finished and the Little Somboon Kitchen will be making a return visit. The cafe will be run by Hovingham church in aid of the roof fund. The volunteer market manager is Tony Mathe.

KIRKBYMOORSIDE

Environment Group - When people arrive at the repair cafe they are each given a numbered ticket. This means that if they have to wait to have their item mended they know where they are in the queue. This leaves them free for coffee, cake and conversation. As members of the organising Environment Group don’t like wasting anything, the counterfoils were put into a hat. Phil Leverington at the Penny Bank Cafe drew out a number and donated a Penny Bank gift voucher to the winner. The counterfoils were then used to light a log fire. The next repair cafe will be on Saturday, January 20 from 10am to 2pm at the Moorside Room.

Bridge club - The latest game was the fifth and final round of the autumn handicap. North/South winners were Anne Avery and George Goodall with 59.6 per cent. Irene and Tim Smith were second on 58.9 per cent. Clarissa Napier and Christine Brett were top at East/West with 55.5 per cent, followed by Bo and Tony Simpson with 50.7 per cent. John Mortenson and Bob Price managed to hold onto their lead and won the competition with an average score of 56.2 per cent. Irene and Tim Smith were runners-up with 55.4 per cent. Clarissa Napier and Christine Brett just missed out on silverware in third spot with 54.7 per cent. Play of the week went to Margaret Ross and Tom Morton.

Christmas services - All Saints Church Christmas services are the service of nine lessons and carols on Thursday, December 21, Christmas Eve crib service at 5pm, midnight Communion at 11.30pm and on Christmas Day there will be Holy Communion at 8.00am and a family Christmas Communion at 10.30am. Advent Oasis will be held at All Saints on Wednesday, December 20 at 7pm.

Postage stamps - With Christmas just around the corner save your postage stamps for charity. Maureen Rolph will be happy to collect them from the town, Nawton and Beadlam and send them to four different charities. Phone her on 01751 432011 or email maureenrolphnews@talktalk.net

Messy church - There will be a session of Messy Church on Monday, December 18 at the Methodist church from 4pm to 6pm. Accompanied children are welcome. Activites include informal worship followed by a meal.

Christmas market - Some changes were made to the layout of the stalls at the Christmas market on Saturday, November 25 as the fair was in town. There were a record of more than 40 stalls and the town band played Christmas music. Father Christmas was kept busy in his grotto from noon until 2pm in the Dugout. There were activities for children in the library and face painting. Kirkbymoorside Town Council provided free parking in the car park. Plans are already in motion for next year to make the market even bigger and better.

Camera club - Kirkbymoorside and District Camera Club met at the Moorside Bar & Club, Shaw Drive, for the annual monochrome competition. The judge was John Devlin from the Gallery Photo Group in Middlesbrough. In the print section, Richard Burdon won the Bristow Trophy for his image, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. The runner-up was Martin Williams with Rush Hour. In the projected digital image section, Julie Cowdy won the Hailey Trophy for her image Roselilies on Velvet. Runner-up was Colin Dilcock with I Did It My Way. The next meeting is a social evening and small print competition on Thursday, December 21.

Domino drives - The bowling club’s monthly domino drive in the club house is on Saturday at 7.30pm. It will include the Christmas draw. The next domino drive at Sturdy Court is on Monday, December 18 at 7.30pm. It is £1.50 to play and includes tea and biscuits.

Moorside Bar & Club - Live entertainment will be provided by Brian Gibson at 8.30pm on Saturday.

Menzown - The next meeting is the Christmas dinner for members on Monday, December 18. There will be a meeting on Monday, January 8.

KIRKDALE

Carol service - The choir of St Gregory’s Minster led the carol service at Castle Howard on Friday, December 8. It was organised by the Friends of Castle Howard. All the tickets were sold well in advance. Readings were by members of the Castle Howard Staff, two choir members and Nicholas Howard. The address was given by the Rev Anne Freestone.

MALTON

Bridge club - The latest session of Malton Bridge Club’s positional pairs competition resulted in a close finish between the top four pairs. The winners were Anne Avery and Graeme Matthew ahead of Mike Jackson and Philip Mason. In third place were Derek Fox and Richard Hilton, just pipping Ed Robinson and Dave Massey. Mike and Philip have the overall lead, with Annette Jackson and Rob Ashdown lying second and Madge Allison and Tricia Pearce third. In the latest fixtures in the Yorkshire League, Malton A followed their previous two draws with a 12-8 win over Huddersfield A, while Malton B suffered a 20-0 defeat at the hands of Shelley.

NAWTON

Prize bingo - A Christmas prize bingo in aid of village hall funds will be held on Saturday in the hall at 7.30pm. There is no bingo in January.

NEWTON-ON-RAWCLIFFE

Carol service - There will be a carol service in the Methodist chapel, led by the choir, on Saturday at 7pm. There will be refreshments at the close.

Christmas events - The children’s Christmas party, organised by Newton and Stape Kids Fun Club, is in the hall on Friday, December 22 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

NORTON

Methodist news - There is the chance to meet friends for tea and biscuits at Bethel Methodist Church on Saturday at 2pm, followed at 3pm by Carols and Christingles. A Family Carol Service will be held at the church on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, at 3.30pm. An offering will be taken for Action For Children. After the service there will be afternoon tea in the schoolroom.

PICKERING

Christmas lunch - If anyone knows of any person, or themselves, who will be on their own on Christmas Day, there will be a Christmas Day lunch at the RVS Centre, Hungate. Anyone wishing to go, or if you know any person who would like to go, is asked to phone Daphne Bowes on 01751 475143. The same applies to any volunteer who would like to offer their help in any way. The deadline for names is Thursday, December 21.

Poppy appeal - The local annual Poppy Appeal fund raised £13,227.64 including £1,046.31 from the street collection during the war weekend.

Christmas cheer - A group of friends who regularly go on holiday together held their annual Christmas lunch at the Forest and Vale Hotel last week. A raffle raised £120 which has been sent to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A bottle of champagne was also raffled and raised £52 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Family cinema - An audience of children and parents enjoyed the film Despicable Me 3 at the family cinema at the Methodist Church on Saturday. The next family cinema will be on Saturday, January 6 at 6.30pm when Because of Winn-Dixie will be screened Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Doors open at 6pm and the tuck shop will be open in the foyer and at the interval. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. The family film A Christmas Star will be shown on Monday, December 18 at 2pm. There will be seasonal refreshments in the interval. For further details, phone 01751 472249.

Band’s concert - Stape Silver Band are busy rehearsing for its Christmas concert to be held at 2pm on Sunday at St Peter & St Paul’s Church. It is the 51st concert the band will perform in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research. The guest vocalist is Rachel Anderson. This month the band will be playing Christmas carols around the streets of Pickering, culminating on Saturday, December 23 in the market place from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Farmers’ market -The Christmas farmers’ market will be held in the market place on Thursday, December 21 from 8.30am onwards.

Officers elected - Ryedale Sports Club recently held its annual general meeting at its clubhouse when the following officers were elected – chairman, John Gascoigne; vice-chairman, Rob Wilkinson; secretary, Ed Wardman; treasurer, Ian Hutchison; and Ron Cosens and John Ellis. Each of the members’ clubs also send two representatives along to all meetings.

Pantomime - Pickering Musical Society’s pantomime Goldilocks and the Three Bears will run at the Kirk Theatre from Friday, January 12 to Saturday, January 20, with the exception of Monday, January 15. The show will start at 7.15pm with matinee performances at 2.15pm on Saturday, December 13 and 20. Phone 01751 474833 or log on to www.kirktheatre.co.uk for tickets.

New Year’s Eve - The Recreation Club’s New Year’s Eve evening which will include a supper and dancing to four-piece band playing soul, folk, dance, and modern music. Tickets cost £25 and are on sale at the club, phone 01751 473317, Dunnings Butchers Shop, Bridge Street, phone 01751 472627, or 0797 4205749.

Super draw - Last week’s Pickering Town Football Club’s Super Draw was won by Pickering’s Diane Owston. She won £975 with the numbers were 8, 4 and 20 This week’s draw will be for £75. To enter the draw costs £1 per week per entry, to join see any Pikes committee member or call at Dunning ButcherssShop, Bridge Street. The December monthly consolation prize draw also took place last Monday. There were two winners, Karen Bentham and Arthur Winzar, who will each receive £50. The next monthly consolation prize draw will be for £50 and will take place on Monday, January 1.

Quiz night - The Bay Horse, Market Place, will host a general knowledge quiz in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on Sunday, January 7 at 7.30pm.

Domino drive - Pickering Cricket Club will hold its New Year domino drive on Thursday, January 4, at 7.30pm at the Recreation Club, Mill Lane.

RIEVAULX

Methodist services - There will be a carol service in the Methodist Church on Sunday at 6.30pm. Seasonal refreshments will be served after the service. On Christmas Eve there will be worship at 6.30pm led by the Rev Jane Pickering and on New Year’s Eve there is all age worship at 10.30am.

RILLINGTON

Quiz - Jennie will be hosting her cash prize mega quiz in the Fleece Inn on Friday at 9pm. A hot supper will also be included in the £2 admission. Gary’s Team were the winners of Jennie’s Sunday night quiz.

Carol service - A carol service will be held in the church rooms on Sunday at 11am.

Bingo - The Christmas prize bingo in aid of Woodlands Community Centre will be held at the centre on Wednesday, December 20 with doors open at 6.45pm and eyes down at 7.15pm.

SEAMER

Methodists - The service on Sunday was taken by the Rev Jane Carter. Bert Blower was the vestry steward. The welcomer was Margaret Harris and Margaret Neave accompanied the singing on piano. Bert also took the offering. The service began with the second Advent candle being lit by Michael King and also the Advent prayers. Bible readings were given by Jan Blower who read from Mark’s gospel and Eileen Burn who read from Luke’s gospel. Jane’s sermon was based on the bible readings which foretold the coming and birth of John the Baptist who came to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. The preacher this Sunday at 10.30am is Dr Rev Kevin Ridd and Holy Communion will be observed. The carol service will be held on Saturday, December 23 at 4pm and will be followed by mince pies.

St Martin’s – The Rev Andrew Moreland led the 9.30am communion service and spoke about Isaiah 40, where God calls on his prophet Isaiah to speak tenderly to his people. Edna Burton accompanied the hymns and gave the Bible reading. Jean Donovan led the intercessions and assisted at communion. Sue Johnson was the sidesperson and Janet Lamb and Lucy Haycock served refreshments between the services. At the 11am service the Rev Andrew introduced the Christmas presentation by the Sunday Club. Esme Raettig and Holly Bland narrated the story of the nativity, and 14 children, invisible behind a screen, illustrated the action with figures they had drawn to use as puppets. The sung worship was led by Richard Fuller with Steve Raettig, John and Sue Grice and John Taylor. Elizabeth Bradley was the sidesperson. After the service, the Sunday Club hosted a party in the church room. St Martin’s annual service of lessons and carols by candlelight takes place on Saturday at 4pm.

SHERBURN

Defibrillator - A defibrillator, accessible to any member of the public, is situated outside the entrance to the Community and Sports Club. Free informal basic training is being offered to anyone who would like to know more about how to use the lifesaving equipment and perform basic CPR. Each session will last about an hour. Refreshments will be available. Sessions will be held on Thursdays, January 11, 18 and 25th at 7pm. To secure a place, email cresiaward@btinternet.com

Sup and sing - The East Riding pub will be hosting a sup and sing session nof carols on Monday, December 18 at 7pm.

Fancy dress football - The village’s annual charity fancy dress football match will be held on Boxing Day. Teams will meet at the East Riding at 10am for bacon butties and a photo shoot. After the match there will be a buffet and raffle with the proceeds for the air ambulance.

Christmas lunches - The Senior Citizen Luncheon Club will meet for its Christmas lunch on Wednesday, December 20 at 12.30pm for lunch at1pm. Anyone needed transport within the village, or have any questions. phone Christine on 01944 711294. The event is financed by Sherburn Parish Council. There will be a community Christmas Day lunch for everyone in the chapel hall at 2pm. Phone Ruth Heron on 01723 850514 for further details. A Christmas service will be held in the Methodist Church at 10am and a Christmas film at noon.

St Hilda’s - Sherburn C of E School will have its carol service at St Hilda’s Church on Thursday, December 21 at 9.30am. There will also be the service of lessons and carols at 7pm that day. Christmas Eve celebrations include a worship service at 9am and a family nativity at 2pm.

Methodist news - Jean Brown led the Bible Fellowship in the chapel hall last Monday. The Holy Communion service was led by Rev Dr Kevin Ridd, assisted by Jean Brown. Readers were Angela Magowan and Sandra Cade. The audio-visual equipment was operated by Liz Aconley and the organist was Chris Cade with Robin Magowan on guitar. Afterwards fellowship was enjoyed together in the hall. The worship this week will be an all age service at 10.30am to include a Christmas play. There will be a traditional carol service on Christmas Eve at 10.30am led by the worship team. The Christmas Day service at 10am will be led by Christine Fenwick and the worship team.

Community Club - The monthly quiz will be held at the Community & Sports Club on Sunday, December 17 at 8pm. Emma’s disco will he held on Saturday, December 23 from 3pm to 6pm. Admission is free but all children must be accompanied by an adult.

New Year’s Eve - Ashley James and Robert Smith will be performing acoustic covers from the 1960s to the current year at the East Riding pub from 9pm. Trilogy will be performing at the Community & Sports Club with the bar opening from 7pm to1am. Entry is free but children must be accompanied by an adult.

SINNINGTON

People’s Guild - Members of Sinnington People’s Guild met on Tuesday, December 5 when Dr Peter Hartrey gave an illustrated talk about his trek to central Nepal in 2011. It was a 16-day trek and he was helped and guided by five porters and two cooks. Stephen Ward, who chaired the meeting, thanked Peter and his wife, and Gilbert Dobson who played his accordian to accompany the hymn singing. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 19 when there will be a visit from Allerston Aloud in the Chapel at 7.15pm. It will be followed by supper.

STAMFORD BRIDGE

Poppy Appeal - The recent Poppy Appeal in the Stamford Bridge area raised a total of £7,669.93. The total for the area was made up as follows Stamford Bridge £3,383.38, Wilberfoss £729.62, Bishop Wilton, including church collection £385.46, Full Sutton industrial estate and prison £673.42, High and Low Catton, including church collection, £343.10, Bugthorpe and Skirpenbeck £438.54 and collections from other areas £1,716.41. Also collected earlier in the year, but not included above, was £747.70 from the inmates of Full Sutton prison and a further £197.64 from other sources, making a grand total of £8,615.27.

THORNTON-LE-DALE

Bridge Club - Pat and George Donnor won the meeting on Monday, December 4 with 57.7 per cent. In second place with 56.5 per cent were Barry Smith and Bob Wardell.

WOMBLETON

Carol service - A carol service will be held in the village hall on Sunday from 10am to 11.30am. Mince pies will be served.

Domino drive - A domino drive will be held on Saturday, December 30 in the village hall at 7.30pm. It is £1.50 to play and includes tea and biscuits.

WI REPORTS

Appleton-le-Moors - Mrs Humphreys presided at the branch’s annual general meeting in November in the Moors Inn. Mrs Humphreys was re-elected as president, with Mrs Grimshaw and Miss Dodgson staying as secretary and treasurer. Mrs Fields stepped down from the committee. Mrs Frank and Mrs Hurst remain on the committee and have been joined by new committee members Miss Frank and Mrs Hook. After the business part of the meeting, a pie supper was enjoyed.

Helmsley - The branch’s annual meeting on Thursday, November 23, was attended by 23 members. The committee and president for 2018 were elected. After the reading of the minutes and notices followed by the election, the secretary, Helen Robinson, gave an illustrated presentation about her visit to Stoney Creek, Ontario, the birthplace in 1897 of the WI. The joint winners of the award for the monthly competitions were Helen Robinson and Chris Small. This year the branch established an annual bursary to be spent on any course of an educational nature. The first winner was Moira Wood. Refreshments were served by Hazel Dunn and Sue Ormiston. This month members will attend the pantomime at Helmsley Arts Centre and a Christmas dinner at the Feathers Hotel. The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 25 when the founders of the Dragonfly School in India will talk about the work of the charity.

Snainton - The meeting on Tuesday, December 5 was attended by 42 members and three visitors. President Angela Howgate welcomed everyone who sang Once in Royal David’s City accompanied by Heather Harris playing the keyboard. Members were offered mulled wine on arrival and later were served tea and cakes. Audrey Ireland, Sue Lumb and Sue Shutt were thanked for making decorations for the WI Christmas tree in Brompton Church for the festival. Margot Newton was thanked for making the wreath and placing it at the War Memorial in Snainton on Armistice Day. The branch has received two letters of thanks for the donations to two local charities for money raised from the October harvest auction. Jane Harland demonstrated how to decorate a Christmas cake. The finished cake was later raffled and, along with a bring and buy stall, raised £240 during the evening for the homeless breakfast club in Scarborough. The competition of a handmade Christmas table decoration was won by Angela Howgate, second was Anne Hodkinson and third place went to Prue Butterworth. The next meeting will be a party night on Tuesday, January 9 in the village hall at 7.30pm. Members are to take a faith supper.