thirsk&easingwold Quarterly Royal Mail distribution: 17,100 homes & businesses www.jkanorth.com/thirsk | Winter 2020

InFocus

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Update from Community Works Celebrating volunteers Community Works is making positive differences to many people’s lives thanks to its dedicated team of staff and volunteers. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the services that Community Works offers in our local community with many people who have benefitted from our services choosing to become volunteers. Recently we asked for volunteers to help deliver leaflets and 59 people offered to help. During the first 10 weeks of lockdown our staff and volunteers: • made 1587 welfare phone calls; • provided 720 pieces of information and advice; • helped over 1000 people; • provided 204 food parcels; • cooked 585 hot meals; • collected and delivered 389 lots of shopping. Ralph (right) is already a volunteer with Community Works has been helping with deliveries: “I offered to help out with prescription deliveries

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to housebound/ self-isolating individuals in and around Thirsk. As a result I benefitted in two ways: one by helping the community; and two by having something to occupy my time during lockdown.” We have lots of opportunities for volunteering with us at Community Works including: • Retail assistants in our furniture reuse shop; • Drivers and driver’s assistants delivering meals on wheels or furniture; • Befriending/ Support workers especially during Covid with shopping, prescriptions and library books; (normally this would include volunteers to help people to attend activities, to sit with vulnerable adults and disabled children and support

at our dementia day care like Pamela Smith seen pictured right.); • Bike mechanics for the bike project.

There is something for everyone and you will get the chance to make friends and a sense of humour is a must! If you are interested in working with us as a volunteer please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Community Works: admin@communityworks.uk or phone 01845 524494.

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inside

Mowbray Singers Concert BRAHMS ENGLISH REQUIEM

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St Oswald’s Church , Sowerby Was: 28 NOV 2020 POSTPONED UNTIL 2021.

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Secret Northallerton!

We find out about a new book covering the history of this North Yorkshire market town

Blue Cross Update

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Seasonal update from The Blue Cross near Thirsk

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02 local news: 06 local news: 08 local news 09

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local news

News from The Clock FEATURED

Secret Northallerton book FEATURED

Winter at Rural Arts Christmas in Thirsk

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Garden View

All about growing rhubarb this Winter

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garden view: FEATURED Rhubarb rhubarb!

FEATURED

Winter at Blue Cross FEATURED

Thirsk Rotary Update Advertiser Index

Welcome to the Winter issue Well here we are, November already. What a year it has been for all of us; we had all hoped that things would be looking more positive by now but, alas, it seems there are more difficult months ahead. As we head into this festive period, we may have to be distanced from those we love, but let us take cheer from our strong sense of community and the beautiful landscapes that surround us.

T: 01609 777401 www.jkanorth.com

I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in Spring. Best wishes,

Christine Campbell | Editor InFocus Magazines are published in good faith and the editors cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in reports or advertising in reports or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and advertisers appearing in the InFocus Magazines carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. AllPlease rights reserved. All information is mention InFocus infocus correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. InFocus Magazines cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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when contacting any of our advertisers

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Secret Northallerton Andrew Graham Stables

Today Northallerton is the county town of North Yorkshire, and its location - situated in James Herriot Country and between the two National Parks of the North Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales makes it a popular destination for visitors. As well as being a thriving market town today, it has a long and impressive history stretching back to Roman times. Northallerton suffered over the years from raids by the Scots and it was near to the town that English forces assembled in 1138 for the Battle of the Standard, a significant battle in the long-running conflict with the Scots. Although William I chose to base his army here in 1068, it was the powerful Bishops of Durham who made the town an important ecclesiastical administration centre and built a residence to take full advantage of its location on the main route between Durham and York. Northallerton’s

position on the Great North Road also meant that it became a stopping point for coaches between London and Scotland. It developed into a centre for trade and communications, something which continued with the arrival of the railways in the 1840s. In ‘Secret Northallerton’, author Andrew Graham Stables delves deep into the rich heritage of the town to uncover the stories and some lesser-known facts about the place, its people and events across the centuries. This book will explore the sites of the early history of the town and how this affects its layout today. It will reveal evidence of these early buildings and highlight some of the important and notable people who have contributed to the town’s history. Fully illustrated throughout, ‘Secret Northallerton’ will be of interest to residents, visitors and those with links to the town.

To purchase visit: www.amberley-books.com/secret-northallerton.html

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Winter at Rural Arts Get into the festive spirit of making or attend one of our fantastic winter events!

Tue 15th Dec (10am-4pm) £65 Come and weave your own beautiful willow sculpture for your garden.

Rural Arts, The Courthouse, Westgate, Thirsk, YO7 1QS Our new opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm

Get Hands on with Oils

Find out more and book online at www.ruralarts.org or email admin@ruralarts.org

ARTIST WORKSHOPS

Get inspired at one of our unique workshops ran by friendly and experienced artists. All workshops are suitable for beginners.

Fused Glass Decorations with David Teece Sat 5th Dec (10am-4pm) £65 Design and make your own glass panel landscape with clear and coloured fusible glass,

Wreath Making with Sorcha McCole Sat 12th Dec (2-4pm) £25 Use freshly cut and locally sourced foliage to weave a wreath perfect for your front door.

(6 week course) with Jennifer Cottis Mondays, 11th Jan – 15th Feb, £100 Learn how to mix colours, manipulate oil paints and create compositions.

Outdoor Mosaic Plaque with Sue Kershaw Sat 27th Feb (10am-4pm) £60 Make a plaque using vitreous glass and French porcelain to place in outside your home.

TASTE OF…

With all materials included and each workshop suitable for beginners, our Taste Of… sessions give the perfect introduction to a range of artistic styles and techniques. Wednesdays 10.30am12.30pm.

WORKSHOPS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

Edwina’s beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as the true talent of gentle folkAmericana.

This Christmas, support local businesses to help them still be here next year.

Crafty Tales Starting Tuesdays in Spring, ages 2-5 A weekly crafting and storytelling session run by professional theatre makers, Story Craft Theatre.

Art Club Thursdays, (4pm – 5.15pm), ages 6-16 Saturdays, (10am – 11.15am), ages 6-10 Saturdays, (11.30am – 12.45pm),

Missed out on tickets? Watch Edwina perform online through Facebook Live @RuralArtsNorthYorkshire on Thu 3rd Dec, 7.30pm (Pay As You Feel)

Christmas Lights Switch On

Wed 16th Dec, 2-4pm

Handpainting on wood

in the market place from 5pm on

(with Gouache), 27th Jan, £15

Sgraffito Platters

Friday 27th November

3rd Feb, £18

Celestial Collage 10th Feb, £12

Felted Forest Creatures 24th Feb, £15

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS

iPAD WORKSHOPS

Friendly and informative sessions with iPad expert Claire Ford.

So Christmas shopping is going to be difficult this year. Instead of boosting Amazon’s profit, you could ask friends and family for a voucher for a local business that might be struggling: bookshops, restaurants, salons, cinemas, craft stores, art venues, whatever you are into, so we can help them still be here next year. Join us for the:

Christmas Wreaths

Open Studio with The Arts Collective Tuesdays & Thursdays (Ceramics) and Friday (Printmaking), 10am – 3pm, £12 per session. For more info email: theartscollective1@gmail.com

Willow Stag Head with Wendy Bristow

atmosphere.

ages 11-16 £7.50 per session. A programme of arts, crafts and digital activities that changes each term to remain appealing and challenging!

February Half Term 10.30am-12pm, ages 5+ unless stated. Fancy joining in with your child? Book an extra space to create your own!

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Ceramics Wed 17th Feb, £6.50

Big Friendly Giant Dreamcatchers Thu 18th Feb, £4.50

One to Ones (30 min sessions), 27th Feb (1 - 4pm) £15

NT Live: War Horse Thu 10th Dec, 7pm, £8 - £10 This much-loved, iconic play is back! Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is a powerfully moving and phenomenally inventive drama.

See ‘Christmas in Thirsk’ on Facebook for further details.

EVENTS Christmas Makers Market Sat 28th November, 10am-4pm, free entry A showcase of contemporary art and craft produced by local makers and the perfect venue for Christmas shopping. Including ceramics, textiles, cards, gifts and jewellery. Drop by our cafe for some festive treats!

HEART AND CRAFT Free Art Café for Older People

Thursdays once a month, 10.30am-12.30pm. Booking essential (please visit our website or call us for dates) Enjoy a free creative activity in a friendly and relaxed

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PERFORMANCES AND SCREENINGS Edwina Hayes Fri 4th Dec, 8pm (doors: 7.30pm), £12 - £15

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GARDEN VIEW

Rhurarb Rhubarb Rhubarb is a reasonably easy trouble-free plant to grow. It is also a handsome plant, with large leaves and striking red stems, and who doesn’t love a rhubarb crumble? The trick is to choose the right spot. Ideally it needs to be planted in full sun but if your garden is very sheltered it will tolerate partial shade. Don’t plant it anywhere where it might be in the way, disturbed, or need to be moved from. Rhubarb has an extensive root system and prefers to stay put, for at least a decade, so give careful thought to the spot. Rhubarb dislikes wet soil, so make sure it’s well-drained. Dig in plenty of organic matter a month or so before planting. It’s generally easier and more productive to grow rhubarb from crowns (divided plants) rather than seed, and from now until Christmas is the perfect time to plant. Dig a hole a little wider than the rhubarb crown in your prepared ground. Plant so that the growing tip is about an inch /2.5 cm below the surface. Firm the soil well around the roots to removed air pockets. Water well and mulch with organic matter, avoiding the growing tip. During the growing season keep the area around the plant free of weeds and give an occasional good soaking in prolonged dry periods. Remove any flower heads that appear in the spring. Flowering

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will weaken the stems. If the crown rots, your soil was too wet, but following all the advice I’ve given earlier should prevent this happening! Harvest time is May until July, but rhubarb is a long-term investment so don’t harvest it during the first year. It needs that full first year of growth to establish a strong root system. Second year leave at least five strong stems when you harvest. After that you can leave three or four stems each time. You should get 2-3 crops per season. Remove only the largest stems when picking and wait till the leaves have fully opened. Pull gently from the base with a slight twist. The leaves are poisonous but can be safely composted. Once your rhubarb is established you might want to try a forced crop for sweeter more tender stems. Rhubarb is forced by growing it in the absence of light in a microclimate slightly warmer than the outside temperature. You can start forcing in January for best results. Remove dead leaves and weeds from around the crown and add a layer of straw or shredded paper to warm the emerging shoots and to protect them from frost. Then cover the crown with an upturned dustbin or large crock pot to cut out all the light. The rhubarb should be ready for harvesting 8 weeks later. Happy gardening. By Rachael Leverton

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Top tips for the Winter season If left outside cats may seek warmth in dangerous car engines, or get trapped somewhere without access to food and water. Make sure their catflap doesn’t become frozen over and stuck so they can’t get back in. It is a good idea to keep them inside when it gets really cold, make sure they have a litter tray to use indoors. Make sure pets are not left outdoors for too long, just like us they can develop hypothermia if they remain in the cold for long periods. Small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable and you may want to bring them inside if possible, or make sure they have extra bedding to keep them warm. Salt and grit can also be harmful to dogs and irritate their paws. After walks, wash their feet and make sure there is nothing stuck between their pads. Keep fur between pads trimmed to prevent ice-balls forming which can also be painful to them. Be very careful if it is icy outdoors and keep your dog on the lead if you may pass frozen water. Call for help but don’t go

Rotary Club of Thirsk - Update Whilst 2020 has been difficult for everybody, Thirsk Rotarians have been trying to continue with many of their projects in the community. Members, assisted by the ladies from Thirsk In Bloom have been tending to the flower displays in the town, doing the twice weekly early morning watering round, and recently stripped out the summer plants to provide a fine display of winter bulbs and pansies for the autumn/winter season. The annual crocus planting in support of the World Health Organisations ‘End Polio Now’ campaign has been extended and 4,000 crocus corns have been planted this year – something to look forward to in Spring! Help has been given to Community Works in various forms over the summer months

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after your dog if they do run onto ice, it can be extremely dangerous. For more information about the homeless pets looking for homes at Blue Cross in Thirsk visit www.bluecross.org.uk. The website also has lots of advice and more pet care tips.

and most recently a cheque was presented for £2,000 to help with office refurbishment to provide private meeting space and a computer area for general use. Thirsk Rotary Youth Trust continues, and is available to support young people in the YO7 area who are in need of tools or equipment to pursue apprenticeships or careers. For further information on this please contact: thirskrotary@btinternet.com We are really saddened that this year we will not be able to hold our annual Fireworks Display due to Covid-19 restrictions. So many children, and their families, look forward to this event, but we are hopeful that the Fireworks will be back next year. On a brighter note, Santa will have his usual Rotarian helpers again this year, and whilst our events will be more limited than normal,

families can look forward to Santa on his ‘sleigh’ visiting as many areas of Thirsk, Sowerby and Carlton Miniott as he can manage. Dates and times will be published on Thirsk Rotary Facebook. Whether we are helping out locally, taking part in national projects, or getting involved in the wider world, we do it because we believe in helping out. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. We are just a group of local people of all ages and from all backgrounds who believe in ‘putting a bit back’. And we have fun doing it. Rotary is open to everyone and we would

love more people to join us. If you could be interested in Rotary, please contact us on: thirskrotary@btinternet.com

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Low North Cowton Entercommon

Northallerton

Streetlam

Catterick

15,400 homes & businesses

Osmotherley

Leeming Bar

Over Silton

Landmoth

Knayton

South Kilvington

Pickhill Carlton Miniott

Thirsk

Felixkirk

Scawton

Sutton-underWhitestonecliffe

Sowerby

Baldersby

from only

Thirkleby

Kilburn Wass Coxwold

Dalton

£105!

of reasons to advertise with us...

Boltby

Maunby

1/4 Page

Nether Silton

Borrowby

Newby Wiske

thousands

Thimbleby

Northallerton Romanby

Bedale

Swainby

East Harlsey Danby Wiske Brompton

Great Fencote

There are

West Rounton

Dishforth

Crakehill

Yearsley

Thormanby

Skewsby

Raskelf

Christine

01609 777401 07742 595747 christine@jkanorth.com www.jkanorth.com

Humberton

1/8 Page

Index Art & Antiques Spectrum Framing & Gallery: p13 Attractions & Events Markets: p9 Builders & Contractors Maguire’s Roofing Services: p7 NYG Ltd: p11 Peter Cox Ltd: p11 Pickersgill Groundworks: p14 T. G & H Harper Builders Ltd: p10 Yorkshire Loft Ladders: p7 Carpets & Flooring Highfield TS: p1 Searles Carpets: p1 Christmas Trees Mill Farm: p1 Cleaning Highfield TS: p1 Dental Market Place Dentistry: p3 Smile Denture Clinic: p2

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Easingwold

Marton Abbey Farlington

Boroughbridge Aldwark

Tollerton

from only

Huby Sutton-onthe-Forest

When’s the next issue?

Thirsk & Easingwold

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Northallerton

17,100

Copy: 10th February 2021 Dist: w/c 8th March 2021

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Thirsk & Easingwold

Copy: 17th February 2021 Dist: w/c 15th March 2021

homes & businesses

£65!

York

Elderly Services St. Johns House: p4 Electrical Services Aerial Services York: p7 Electrocare: p14 Handy Andy: p14 Events Markets: p9 Finance & Legal Equinox Commercial Finance: p1 NFU Thirsk: p1 Firewood & Fuel Corners Warmers: p10 D & S Waring: p7 Funeral Services Dales of Thirsk Memorials: p5 Garages Station Autos: p13 Gardens & Outdoors BATA: p15 Black Dog Machinery: p14 Maple Ground & Vegetation Management: p11

Pickersgill Groundworks: p14 Gifts BATA: p15 Spectrum Framing & Gallery: p13 Healthcare & Wellbeing Amanda Haywood Foot Health: p3 Beauty Within: p3 Market Place Dentistry: p3 Smile Denture Clinic: p2 Home & Interiors Brian Jones Upholstery: p4 Dales of Thirsk: p5 Dream Doors: p5 Jody Gray Upholstery: p3 Searles Carpets: p1 Spectrum Framing & Gallery: p13 Insurance NFU Thirsk: p1 Kitchen & Bathrooms Dales of Thirsk: p5 Dream Doors: p5 Machinery Black Dog Machinery: p14

Memorials Dales of Thirsk: p5 Motoring Station Autos: p13 Pets & Animals Doggy Doos Grooming: p13 K9 Fields: p13 Vet On The Net: p16 Plumbing Johnsons Heating: p6 Property Maintenance Aerial Services York: p7 Handy Andy: p14 Maguire’s Roofing Services: p7 NYG Ltd: p11 Peter Cox Ltd: p11 T. G & H Harper Builders Ltd: p10 Yorkshire Loft Ladders: p7

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Removals Smart Removals & Storage: p4 Solar Power Peak Power Systems: p11 Sport & Leisure Venture Cycles: p9 Tree Care Maple Ground & Vegetation Management: p11 Vets Vet On The Net: p16 Windows NYG Ltd: p11 The Index is a free service offered to our customers. No responsibility can be held for errors or omissions. Multiple entries included on a space available basis

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