Ice & Snow

The recent cold weather has been a challenge for most people, and we should thank those that have helped to clear roads and paths in the village. Although Topcliffe experienced the lowest temperature ever recorded in Yorkshire on the early morning of Friday 3rd December 2010, at -19 °C, Arkendale was not far behind at -17 °C

[Gavin Holman - 6 December 2010]

Broadband

Faster Broadband: residents of Knaresborough were recently encouraged to vote for faster broadband. If we are not careful in the villages we are going to miss out on this wonderful opportunity to upgrade our system. This is what the BT website says about the Copgrove exchange: "Sorry but your exchange is not eligible to win the Race to Infinity as it has fewer than 1000 premises. We still want to get you involved so please go to VOTE NOW to express your interest. If 75% of your exchange registers, BT will engage with your community to see what we can do in your area. "

The percentage of votes received so far are 10 out of a possible 573 which represents 1.75%. It was hoped to bring faster broadband to rural areas and in such areas the population is always very spread out and sparse compared to that of the towns. Please vote and show BT that, even though our numbers are small, our need for this facility is just as important as it is in the cities and towns. In fact at the present time our broadband speed is already much less than that found in some other areas and Copgrove exchange is in dire need of upgrading.

To vote, please visit the BT Race to Infinity website.

[Sarah Shipman - 14 November 2010]

Arkendale Wine Society

The first meeting of the society got off to a great start with a tasting of 9 different wines!

Our second meeting is on Thursday December 16th at 7.45pm when we will taste a variety of wines all ideal for Christmas drinking. The wines will be presented by members of the Community Hall committee.

The Society is for those who enjoy wine and want to learn more in a relaxed setting. The cost is £10.50 per head payable on the evening.

It is important to let Alan Stokes know if you intend coming - we have to make sure we have enough wine and nibbles!!! 'phone 340517 or e-mail topo@ajstokes.plus.com

The January meeting will be on Thursday 20th with Nick Chadwick from Winearray.

[Alan Stokes, 14 November 2010]

Allerton Quarry incinerator

The decision as to whether or not to award AmeyCespa the contract to build the incinerator is to be made by 72 County Councilors at NYCC on the 15th December. If you feel strongly that this incinerator should not be built, if for no other reason than the financial implication that such a project would have on the council tax payers, then there is something that you can do. There are 500 parish councils who could influence the County Councilors to vote against the project but they all need contacting by phone to ask them to help with the cause. Volunteers are urgently needed to assist with this. It will involve looking on the NYCC website to find the telephone number of the Chair, and then phoning the respective lady or gentleman to ask them to explain the position. If you feel you can help and welcome the opportunity to do something positive to prevent the building of the incinerator, please contact Mr Peter Topham, the Chairman of Arkendale, Clareton and Coneythorpe Parish Council who will be coordinating the phone calls and putting together a format for the phone calls. His email address is: peterandcarole.topham@btinternet.com.

[Sarah Shipman - 10 November 2010]

Church Fund-Raising

We arrived in the market-place to set up our stall at 8am, quietly confident that we would have plenty of time to arrange all the produce, but to our surprise there were already customers waiting to buy. It was a beautiful sunny day for the event and we had sold out by 11.30am. The grand total of £296 was raised for Church funds. Thank you to all who provided cakes and/or produce, to those who served on the day and to all who spent money at the stall. Our next fund-raising event is a Soup 'n Sweet on Saturday, 23rd October, from 12 noon to 2pm in Arkendale Community Hall. Please put the date in your diaries.

[Sarah Shipman - 1 September 2010]

Blue Bell French Evening

The French evening that had to be postponed recently took place instead last Friday and was enjoyed by many. Some were brave enough to dress up in good Allo Allo fashion, French music set the tone, and a very varied buffet was laid on by Natalie, Ken and Linda. I sink it is fair to say zat a good time was 'ad by all. There are plans afoot for other theme evenings so watch this space.

[Sarah Shipman - 1 September 2010]

Allerton Waste Recovery Park

A special meeting of the Parish Council was held on 26 July 2010 at which the main topic for discussion was the Allerton Waste Recovery Park project. The Council have sent in a response to the scoping opinion request and some of their main points are summarised as follows:

1. Why is such a controversial scheme of £1.4bn proposed when cut backs are being implemented elsewhere? Will it be necessary for the developer to incinerate large amounts of commercial and industrial waste because of a shortfall in levels of household waste?
   
   
2. Will the contract terms and conditions be varied in future to allow waste from further afield to be brought to the site, because shipping waste in from other counties will obviously have a massive environmental impact on the road network and surrounding areas?
   
   
3. More details on alternative technologies that avoid incineration are requested and evidence of what those alternative technologies are and what they could achieve.
   
   
4. The original planning permission for the quarry was only granted on the clear commitment that the land would be restored and landscaped in 2018. If such a planning requirement can be removed, could any planning requirements associated with this development also similarly be removed in future? What restrictions will be put in place to prevent future industrial enlargement and development of the site and ribbon development along the A168?
   
   
5. Allerton Castle (Grade 1), Allerton Folly (Grade 2) and Allerton Park and Garden (Grade 2) are all in the immediate surrounding district.
   
   
6. What will be predicted noise levels, particularly at night as the incinerator is planned to be in operation 24 hours a day?
   
   
7. With regard to light pollution, what measures would be taken to avoid any dome effect?
   
   
8. What implications will there be for the health of the residents of Clareton because of increased magnetic levels from electricity generated going through to the Coneythorpe sub station less than 10 metres from residences?
   
   
9. Has consideration been given to the predicted extra 120 vehicle movements a day, particularly at the time of the Great Yorkshire Show and with the new hotel development at Flaxby? What analysis of the carbon footprint of construction machines, trucks, employees' vehicles etc has been made?
   
   
10. What will happen to the bottom ash if it is deemed not suitable to be used as aggregate? Will it be landfilled, which completely floors the argument for incineration?
    
    
11. The report claims that only 1,200 people live in this "sparsely populated" area and this figure needs clarification; according to the 2001 Census, the parishes of Marton cum Grafton and Great Ouseburn both have populations of over 500, Whixley over 700, and Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton Parish Council a population of nearly 400 Will this development have an adverse impact on the farming economy and more general rural economy locally? Will it affect house prices and drive people from local villages?
    
    
12. There is concern that this scheme is being promoted as recycling most of what it receives, and that this will give residents of North Yorkshire the belief that they do not have to bother to recycle their own household waste for kerbside? What other measures are going to be taken to improve overall recycling rates in North Yorkshire?

Clay Pigeon Shoot

Over £650 was raised for the Church at the recent Clay Pigeon Shoot kindly organised by Mr Jeremy Green. It was a highly successful event, helped by a very pleasant evening weather-wise. The Church is grateful to Knaresborough Gun Club who hosted the event and for the generosity of its members and visitors. The raffle, thanks to many very generous donations, was indeed the 'massive' one that had been advertised, and I have never seen so many prizes in a Church raffle before.

[Sarah Shipman - 17 June 2010]

Marie-Curie 'Blooming Great Tea Party'

Mrs Mountain and her three daughters hosted their tea party last Saturday in Arkendale. They would like to thank all who helped or supported them either beforehand or on the day, and gave so generously. Clearly a great deal of work had gone into the event and it sounds as though a good time was had by all. There was tea and cakes, live music, 2 artists with displays, and a live auction. The splendid sum of over £2,500 was raised in just 3 hours and I am told that money is still coming in! What a wonderful effort on behalf of the Mountain family for a truly worthwhile cause. Marie-Curie Cancer Care provides nursing care and support to terminally ill people in our neighbourhood and it is wonderful that there are young people like the Mountain girls who are prepared to give of their time and efforts to help such vital work. Well done indeed, and I am told that we must all be ready for another similar event sometime in the future.

[Sarah Shipman - 17 June 2010]

Brides Revisited

The weather over the bank holiday could so easily have dampened people's spirits, particularly when a hailstorm swept across the countryside, but morale was high in Arkendale for Brides Revisited.

The older wedding dresses from the 19th and first half of the 20th century were displayed in the church and a visitor's comment 'a lovely display in a lovely setting' summed up what we all felt. Another visitor spoke of 'hidden gems' and indeed the wide range of dresses was remarkable: one dress was so fine that it could be passed through a wedding ring, another post-war dress had nursery-rhyme designs on (perhaps the only material available with coupons!), and a silk velvet dress from the 19th century had a long brocade train and rope tassels dipped in silver, tarnished over the years but still very impressive.

The second half of the exhibition was held in the new community hall with dresses from 1958 onwards, ranging from bri-nylon bride and bridesmaid dresses to a much more modern dress which reflected Victorian fashion.

It was a pleasure for visitors and stewards alike to reminisce and reflect on their own wedding attire and special day. Refreshments were on sale in the hall and Mrs Lyn Hopwood, from whose collection the dresses came, was present throughout the three days to talk to visitors.

The village is extremely grateful to her for such a magnificent display and we do appreciate all her hard work and time. Thanks must also go to both Eileen Houseman and Jean Cox who shouldered most of the responsibility for the organisation in the village leading up to and during the exhibition; it is thanks to them that everything ran so smoothly during the weekend.

It was altogether a very enjoyable event and was successful in raising money for both the hall and the church. However, the lasting impression of the weekend is not just the remarkable collection that we were privileged to have in our midst but the camaraderie and togetherness of the community. Villagers made cakes and scones, rallied round to do car-parking duty, refreshment duty and stewarding, the church organist played the organ during two afternoons and nobody let us down; to maintain that level of commitment over three whole days from such a small community, and with such good humour, is quite remarkable and the hall committee and the church PCC are very grateful for everyone's contribution. It is this very special community spirit that makes living in a village so rewarding.

[Sarah Shipman - 10 June 2010]

Parish Council - May 2010

Parish Council: The Annual Parish Meeting of the Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton Parish Council was held on Tuesday, May 18 and the following points of interest were raised: Coun John Watson (NYCC) gave an update on the issue of the waste incinerator at Allerton Park Quarry. There will be an announcement of the preferred bidder in the first week of June, followed by debates at NYCC and HBC, all the usual planning stages and then possibly a judicial review.

This will be a £1billion contract, and if it goes ahead it will process 450,000 tonnes of domestic waste each year from all over North Yorkshire, via sorting, anaerobic digestion and incineration.

Alternative suggestions for waste disposal were also discussed. The Parish Council will be kept informed of developments at each stage of the planning as the quarry falls within our parish.

Gavin Holman, who is responsible for the Arkendale website, confirmed that all minutes of Parish Council meetings from many years ago are now available on a CD, with extracts on the website, and people are very welcome to contact him via the website if they are interested in reading any of these.

Requests were made to look into the following:- a replacement Neighbourhood Watch sign on Shortshill Lane, new village signs perhaps using old millstones, and for overhead electric cables to be put underground. Concern was also expressed about the lack of fast broadband in the village.

The chairman of the Parish Council then asked for suggestions for projects for a new 'participatory budgeting' fund of up to £2,000; all suggestions need to be given to the Parish Councillors before June 30 after which a special meeting will be held to discuss how best to proceed.

The next Annual Parish Meeting was confirmed for Tuesday, May 10, 2011 and the meeting closed at 8.50pm after which the annual meeting of the Council was held.

Peter Topham was elected as chairman and he will also be the Village Hall Representative; Dave Smith was elected as Vice-Chairman and he will represent the Council at the Police Liaison Group. The accounts and statements of balances for the past financial year were approved.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, September 20 at 7.30pm and all residents are very welcome to attend.

[Sarah Shipman - 28 May 2010]

London Marathon Sponsorship

On April 25th Simon York from Arkendale will be running in the London Marathon to raise money for the children's renal unit, Ward 15, at St James Hospital in Leeds.

If anyone would like to sponsor Simon he has a sponsor form at Scotton Garage in Lingerfield, and there is also one at the back of the church in Arkendale.

Any support is much appreciated.

Arkendale 10K Run 2010

350 runners gathered at Sunnyside Farm for the start of the 10k Run on Sunday, 28th March. A brisk cold wind and some very muddy areas added to the difficulty of the course but the runners bravely overcame these conditions. Awaiting them at the barn at the end of the race were a wide selection of home-baked cakes, barbecued hotdogs and beef burgers and a selection of drinks, hot and cold. We are again grateful to Taylors who supplied the tablecloths and bunting for the refreshment area. Above all, however, many thanks go to Steve and his team for organising the event, and to the Houseman family for the use of their property; all of them did a great deal of work behind the scenes to make the day such a success and their contributions must not be underestimated. Also many thanks to all of you who gave your time on the day to help out and who contributed food to sell. The whole event was a huge success, raising £665 for church funds from the refreshments - and it has certainly become a very important day in the Arkendale calendar.

See: Arkendale 10k 2010 Gallery for a selection of pictures from the run and the some of the stalwart helpers who served refreshments, hot dogs and burgers.

A list of the winners can be found on www.musttriharder.net

[Sarah Shipman - 29 March 2010]

Historical Parish Minutes

The minutes book for the Arkendale Parish Council, covering meetings from the first one in 1894, through to May 1996, was recently been rediscovered. Although there is a gap in the record between 1953 and 1971, it gives a unique insight into the life of the village over the years.

The book itself will be given for safe keeping to the North Yorkshire Archives at Northallerton, but the entries have been scanned, and the digitised pages stored on CD for access by today's villagers and researchers.

Anyone wanting further information, or a copy of the CD should contact Gavin Holman - gavin@ibew.co.uk

See: Arkendale Parish Council Minutes - 1894 - 1996

[Gavin Holman - 11 March 2010]

Parish Council - February 2010

The Parish Council were very pleased to welcome Cllr John Watson (NYCC), Cllr Anthony Alton (HBC) and Mr James Malcolm from the Highways Department (NYCC) at their meeting held on 16th February. Full minutes of the meeting will be displayed on the village notice boards but the following points may be of particular interest:

Cllr Anthony Alton (Harrogate Borough Council) confirmed that there would be no increase in the Council Tax demanded by Harrogate Borough Council next year and that recycling collections of garden waste are to be extended.

Cllr John Watson (North Yorkshire County Council) informed members that the Council Tax set by NYCC is going up by 2.9% next year – 0.4% of this is because there is a legacy of £20 million in costs for repairs to the roads after the very bad winter. He also advised that the timetable on the Waste Incinerator plans at Allerton Quarry is slightly delayed again, and that the final planning decisions will not be taken by NYCC until next year (2011).

Mr James Malcolm (Highways) discussed the problems caused to the road system by the winter weather. In particular potholes are a problem, but he said that there will be further funding in the next year for strengthening and improving the roads.

The matter of a new bench seat is be discussed at the Annual Parish Meeting, before a decision about is finally made, and it was also decided that the Parish Council would like to adopt the Pay Phone kiosk at Arkendale

The poor condition of some road signs was noted and it was agreed that the Clerk should request that the sign opposite The Bluebell public house should be replaced, and that the 'children crossing' sign opposite the church gate should be moved to the other side of the road, where it would be more helpful..

The next meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday 18th May 2010, immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting which is a meeting which parishioners are encouraged to attend; it provides a very useful opportunity for important issues and concerns to be raised.

[Sarah Shipman - 28 February 2010]

Bicycle Thieves

This is a message from North Yorkshire Police.

There has recently been an increase in bicycle theft in the Harrogate area. We urge all residents to keep bikes out of sight and safely secured. Remember that the security of any shed or outbuilding must reflect the value of its contents. Please keep your bicycles safe. If you have valuable items stored in a shed it is advisable to update your security.

[Cynthia Strong - 20 February 2010]

Potholes

As a result of recent bad weather, there are some very large potholes appearing in the roads. If you are an internet user you can contact North Yorkshire Council on the following website: www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=42 and click on 'Report' for a brief form on which to explain where the particular potholes are. If you do not have access to the internet please contact your local parish councillors so that they can make the report on your behalf.

[Sarah Shipman - 26th January 2010]

2009

Christmas

At the time of writing this, it has just stopped snowing and the countryside looks particularly beautiful with the sun going down through the trees and casting a yellow glow over the snow-covered fields. However such weather brings with it hazards for motorists and pedestrians alike, and, however much we may secretly wish for a white Christmas, common sense prevails and I hope that conditions will improve for all of you to reach your destinations safely over the Christmas period. May I take this opportunity of wishing everyone who reads this column a very blessed and joyful Christmas.

Times of Church services are available here on the website, and there is something for everyone. If you would like to know more please telephone or email Sarah Shipman.

In a week's time Christmas will all be over for another year and we will be looking back over the past year and forward to 2010 Here in Arkendale it has been a very exciting year with the completion of the new Community Hall, and the committee are working hard to ensure that in the new year the hall will be used and enjoyed by a wide variety of organisations. May I take this opportunity to ask you to spread the word about the wonderful facilities we now have, and bookings can be made through Mrs Caroline Houseman tel:340240.

Arkendale WI will hold their first meeting of the new year there at 7.30pm on the 6th January and new members will be very welcome. May I please remind current members that the subscriptions will be due that night and we are also asked to bring a tombola prize.

So at the start of a new decade and with a new hall, Arkendale and the surrounding villages have much to look forward to. May I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2010.

[Sarah Shipman - 20th December 2009]

Coneythorpe Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree was erected on the green on Sunday 13th December. Supplied by Thorpe Trees, it is one of the looked forward events in the village. Let the festivities begin!

Community Hall AGM

The AGM was held last week but it was attended by no members of the public other than committee members. In future years it will continue to be held during the last week in November ( a change from the past) . The chairman, Alan Stokes, reported that 2009 had been a momentous year for the villages and the committee because all the previous year's endeavours have resulted in the building of the new community hall at a cost less than 5.0% over that originally budgeted. The accounts are currently with the auditor.It was noted that bookings for the new hall were going well and users were happy with the facilities offered; Caroline Houseman is in charge of bookings and she can be contacted on tel: 01423 340240.

[Sarah Shipman - 5th December 2009]

Quiz Night

Last week the Quiz Night at the BlueBell in Arkendale was well attended and there was a great deal of laughter and fun throughout the evening. The food was very good with sumptuous cakes and unlimited tea and coffee, coutesy of Ken, the landlord. Many thanks to him and his team for their generosity and also to all who were involved in compiling and delivering what was an extremely entertaining quiz. In the region of £200 was raised for Church funds.

[Sarah Shipman - 25th October 2009]

Pampered Chefs

Over 30 people attended the Pampered Chef evening on Wednesday and the event succesfully raised over £200. This was a superb effort, particularly considering that there has been so much happening in the village in the last few weeks for which local people have been asked to make contributions. There are no fixed dates as yet for any other events this year but please watch the events page for details as they emerge.

[Sarah Shipman - 16th October 2009]

The Community Hall is Open!

The communities of Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Clareton, Flaxby and Ferrensby woke up last Saturday with a sense of excitement and disbelief After so many years of hoping for a new hall it was hard to believe that the dream had, at last, been realised. During the morning, there were last-minute preparations to be done but soon the new hall, bedecked with bunting and flowers, was ready for the grand opening. The only aspect of the day out of the control of the committee was the weather, and no-one could have anticipated what a wonderful sunny day we would all enjoy so late in September.

Click here for pictures of the opening day

At 1.30pm, the first of two sets of morris dancers entertained in the Blue Bell car park; they were a group of ladies from Knaresborough, and their dancing was a fitting start to the celebrations, after which Alan Stokes, chairman of the committee, made a speech in which he looked back over the years. Canon Peter Midwood then blessed the new hall and all those who would use it and everyone said the Lord's Prayer before the actual opening ceremony.

The committee had always wanted this day to be a truly community occasion and this was symbolised very poignantly by the cutting of the ribbon being performed by the oldest member of the community, Mrs Emily Houseman, 95, with the youngest, Joshua Taylor, aged five days. Although Joshua slept through the whole proceedings, there will be plenty of photographs to remind him of the part he played in what was a very historic occasion.

Well over 300 people passed through the hall at some point in the afternoon. There was wine and soft drinks, plates of cakes, and a chance to view the hall inside and out, to reminisce with pictures of days gone by in the old Nissen hut, and to catch up with old friends and memories of village events. One lady came who had been born many years before in the Blue Bell, others came who had lived in the village and moved on.

Further entertainment from Ripon City Morris Dancers, soprano vocalist Ione Cumming, Kathryn Howe and her newly-formed children's choir, Trevor Rowe and Jo Smith was enjoyed throughout the afternoon.

On Sunday, a special service of celebration for the new hall was held at Arkendale Church. Canon Peter Midwood and chairman Alan Stokes led the well attended service, which was a fitting end to what was an exceptionally happy weekend for everyone involved.

Everybody involved with the project to build the new community hall, and organising the celebrations on the opening day should be congratulated on a superb job done, the benefit of which will be enjoyed by the local communities for years to come.

[Sarah Shipman/Gavin Holman - 2nd October 2009]

The big day has arrived

As a result of donations from the Big Lottery Fund, WREN and other donors, and very hard work by members of the villages, the Arkendale Community Hall is, at the time of writing, nearing completion. We are therefore very happy to be able to issue an open invitation to everybody who lives in the villages of Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Ferrensby, Clareton and Flaxby, and indeed to anyone else who has been connected with any of those villages in the past. The grand opening ceremony of Arkendale Community Hall is to take place this weekend on Saturday, 26th September from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. During that time there will be Morris dancing, live entertainment from Ione Cumming and a newly-formed children's choir, a chance to see the history of the old hall, and a chance to have a good look round the new one. The cutting of the ribbon ceremony will be performed at 2pm. Please take this opportunity to meet up with old friends and make this event a really memorable community occasion.

[Sarah Shipman - 19th September 2009]

Special Service

On Sunday, 27th September at 6pm there will be a special service of celebration in Arkendale Church. With the new community hall in the forefront of our minds that weekend, the service will be a service of praise and thanksgiving, focussing very much on the future and all that is good in all the villages that the new hall will serve.

[Sarah Shipman - 4th September 2009]

Cake Stall

The cake stall in Knaresborough market on Wednesday, 26th February, raised about £260 for Arkendale Church funds. Thank you to all who contributed cakes, produce and preserves for the stall and to all who supported us on the day. A particular thank you to those who braved the pouring rain to set up the stall and sell the wares. It was not the sunny weather we had hoped for but, despite that, good humour and laughter prevailed.

[Sarah Shipman - 4th September 2009]

Farming

There has been some publicity in the press recently from people who have complained about the tractors on our country roads. Yes indeed, at this time of year, we are regularly held up by farming vehicles 'chugging' along, sometimes covering our windscreens with bits of straw, and sometimes leaving a good supply of sods of earth in the middle of the road.

However I wish to come to the defence of the drivers of those farm vehicles. We live next to a farm and have seen first hand over the last few weeks how hard our farmers work day and night to bring in the harvest. Theirs is no 9 to 5 job; they are up with the sound of the cockerels and still working non-stop when we're putting our lights on in our homes.

In Arkendale we are proud to have working farms in our community and proud of our farmers. At a time when farming faces so many bureaucratic obstacles and difficulties with climate change, a little inconvenience on the roads at the farmers' busiest time of the year is a small price for the rest of us to pay for the benfits we all enjoy as a result of the dedication and hard work of farmers both in Arkendale and elsewhere.

[Sarah Shipman - 23rd August 2009]

Community Hall

There has been much activity at the new hall during the past week and the building is in its final stages of completion. The kichen equipment has been installed, utilities connected and furniture ordered. The new hall will be almost completely finished by the end of the month if all goes to plan.

The hall committee are preparing for the grand opening on the afternoon of September 26th which will be here very soon. While we feel very excited about this new venture, it is also useful to remind ourselves that the day to day running of the hall is going to incur certain costs which will be covered by some letting but also by continued fund raising. Therefore the donor plaque scheme for raising funds will continue both now and beyond the opening date.

[23rd August 2009]

New Community Hall Grand Opening

A date has been fixed for the Grand Opening; the festivities will be on the afternoon of Saturday, 26th September. More details will be given as soon as they are available but, in the meantime, please put the date in your diaries because it promises to be a 'real village occasion'!

Arkendale, Coneythorpe, Clareton Parish Council

A meeting of the Parish Council was held on July 22nd at 7.30pm in Arkendale Church and the following points of interest are taken from the draft minutes:

Mr Peter Thorndyke has resigned from his position as Parish Clerk and he was thanked for all his hard work over the last five years. The appointment of Mrs Zillah Hopps to replace him was approved by the Council.

Under 'Planning' an email was received from County Councillor John Watson, saying that the timescale for the incinerator planning application has slipped by three months. A decision upon the 'preferred partner' (ie the successful bidder) will not be made until at least September, because the discussions with the two finalists are taking much longer than expected. This should not be seen as a precursor to the cancellation of the whole project. A planning application will probably be submitted in March 2010 and a decision made in March 2011.

Under general village maintenance, it was agreed that a new leaflet that has been issued by Harrogate regarding dog fouling and the law should be delivered to every property in Coneythorpe and Arkendale. The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Tuesday, 15th September in Arkendale Church at 7.30pm. We would encourage members of the villages to attend. In the meantime all details for the Parish Council are on the website or on the village notice boards.

New Hall Fundraising

The new hall is progressing well but funds are still needed for equipment inside, for example chairs and tables, crockery, kitchen equipment.

Thanks to all who came and supported the Arkendale Garden party where a record £730 profit was made for community hall funds. The Committee are as always very grateful to all those who helped make the afternoon a success, especially Sue for offering to let us hold the event in such a splendid garden, Ruth and Rob for masterminding the lovely food and organising the tombola and also to The Bandits for wonderful entertainment all afternoon.
Many villagers lent a hand, by offering delicious salads, washing strawberries and also by helping to move furniture to and from the garden. At this very busy time for the trustees and committee with the hall rebuilding project, it was wonderful to see such support.

Annual Village Assembly 2009

Minutes of the Annual Village Assembly for Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton held in Arkendale Parish Church on May 27 2009.

There were four Parish Councillors present, the Parish Clerk, 16 members of the public and our Harrogate Councillor, Anthony Alton and our NYCC Councillor, John Watson.

The Chairman, Peter Topham, gave his annual report on the activities in the parishes during the past year and this can be viewed on the notice board and on the Arkendale web-site.

Alan Stokes, chairman of the village hall committee talked about the new hall being built that was now very noticeable on its site next to the Bluebell Inn. He said that the builder had indicated that the building would be ready for handing over the keys to the committee by mid August this year. It would then need to be fitted out internally with such items as blinds, cutlery, and furniture, hand dryers, kitchen equipment etc. There is sufficient funding in place to cover all the costs but fundraising must continue to ensure there will be adequate reserves available. He emphasised that this would be a 'community hall' not a commercial venture, but it will be hired out to various organisations such as educational groups

Jane Watson, the Coordinator of the Coneythorpe & Clareton neighbourhood watch scheme described the way the organisation operated using telephones, e-mail and personal contact and said that it was useful not just as a crime fighting tool but also providing pastoral care in that it meant that people were kept in touch with each other. It was noted that Arkendale had a similar scheme run by Jane Hartley and Cynthia Strong.

Gavin Holman gave a brief talk about the new Arkendale web site, requesting comments and criticism. The site is open to all local organisations to post minutes of their meetings, details of forthcoming events etc. The site also contains details about the village and its amenities. There are plans to link it to the Coneythorpe web site too.

Coun John Watson provided some very useful information about the proposed waste incinerator at Allerton Park, the full details of which can be found on both the notice board and the web-site. This is a matter which is of great concern to the villagers and meetings have already been held to discuss it. However Coun Watson felt that the time for protest groups and Parish Councils (if they decide to object) to become really active is when the Planning Application is actually submitted at the end of September 2009 when the precise details of the proposed site will be available.

Dog Fouling

There are some dog-owners who are exercising their pets in the village without using poop scoops; the results are particularly unpleasant on grassy verges where children could be running around. Please ensure that you clear up after your dog at all times where others could be walking.

Village Spring Clean

Thank you to those people who turned out last Saturday for the Arkendale village spring-clean. It proved to be a much easier job than usual which may well be due to two factors: the vigilance of the residents and also the relatively new litter bins in the village which, according to Harrogate Borough Council, are regularly used.

10K Run - 29th March 2009

Arkendale Church raised £730 from the sale of refreshments and the barbecue at the 10K run. Thanks to everyone who baked or came to help on the day.

[Jean Cox]

Village Hall - 20th March 2009

Although most of the work so far has been done by people living in the villages of Arkendale and Coneythorpe, it is hoped that those living in other villages too, like Ferensby, will want to join us and benefit from all that the hall will have to offer.

Once it is built other talents and expertise will be needed, and if you feel you would like to offer some help with the hall when it is built, please contact the Chairman, Alan Stokes, on 01423 340517.

In the meantime, fund-raising goes on so that the hall can be equipped to the highest standards, and the next event is detailed below. Please give support in every way you can.

Church Services

Next Sunday is Mothering Sunday and there will be a village service for all ages in Arkendale Church at 9.30am. The Sunday School will be taking part, and there will be coffee after the service.

The 10km Run

On the following Sunday, March 29, there will be no service at Arkendale because many of the congregation are involved in one way or another with the 10km. Both the Church and the Village Hall Committee will be busy at this event, and volunteers are urgently needed to help both groups.

The Hall Committee is running a tombola stall and need plenty of good prizes; please pass these to Caroline Houseman (01423 340240) or Alan Stokes above.

The Church will be feeding both runners and their families (and anyone from the village who would like to come and join in the fun afterwards) with drinks and cakes and their usual hot dogs and beefburgers from the barbeque.

If you can bake some buns or muffins, give some much-needed assistance with the catering on the day, or help to sweep out the barn the day before and set out tables and chairs in the morning, please contact me (Sarah Shipman, 01423 340515).

All this activity will take place at Sunnyside Farm and all offers of help will be much appreciated, however small.

[Knaresborough Post]

Arkendale's £250,000 hall gets under way - 13th March 2009

A ceremony held on Monday morning to mark the occasion saw the Village Hall Committee joined by Edward, Lord Mowbray, local residents and Martin Gallon, of Blue House Construction, who has supported the committee throughout.

Alan Stokes, Chairman of the Committee said: "We asked Edward, Lord Mowbray, as we wanted someone who had an interest in the community. He fulfils this and is often in the village. "We equally wished to demonstrate a wider interest than just Arkendale in that the aim is for the new village hall to serve villages around Arkendale such as Coneythorpe, Clareton, Ferrensby and Flaxby."

The old hall was recently demolished after 87 years and after a great deal of hard work say the Committee, everything was in place to go ahead with the £250,000 project.

"We were awarded a grant of £173,000 from the Big Lottery Awards for All Fund three years ago which covered early architect and professional fees," explained Alan. "We also received £50,000 from WREN. Without their help, the project would not have been possible at all. Other smaller grants have been received and ongoing fundraising events make up the balance."

Work is expected to be completed by early summer.

Alan added: "The community has been very loyal in supporting the fund-raising events for the hall in the past, however fund-raising needs to go on as the new hall will require furniture and kitchen equipment etc so events will be ongoing to raise funds for these.

The first fundraising event will be the Arkendale 10k Run at Sunnyside Farm on Sunday, March 29 at 11am. A family day out; there will be a barbecue, refreshments and tombola. Donations of prizes to Caroline Houseman or any other member of the committee.

[Knaresborough Post]

Church News - 27th February 2009

May I thank everyone who attended the event, those who donated prizes and/or cakes, all who helped on the day and also those who kindly sent donations because they couldn't attend in person.

Last, but not least, may I thank Taylors of Harrogate who donated samples of some of the teas for tasting.

The next event for Church funds will be the 10km Arkendale run on Sunday March 29. As has happened for the past two years, the Church members will be providing refreshments for runners, families and friends at Sunnyside farm. There will be a well-stocked barbecue and cakes and drinks. Please put the date in your diaries.

The service at church on Sunday, March 1 will be a Village Service at 9.30am.

Parish Council Meeting - 4th February 2009

Due to the resignation of one of the Parish Councillors because of pressure of work, an advertisement has been put on the village notice board for a replacement councillor. If anyone is interested in filling the vacancy, please contact the Clerk of the Council, Mr Peter Thorndyke or the Chairman, Mr Peter Topham.

Routine business was discussed before Coun Watson reported on the energy waste scheme proposed for North Yorkshire.

He said that an EEC directive made it essential to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from 65% to 10%. Accordingly, North Yorkshire County Council have received bids from various companies to build and run a central incineration plant in this county.

Although three sites are being considered in Thirsk, Selby and Allerton Park Quarry, the latter is very likely to become the preferred site. Coun Watson estimates that they will need a building about 100 feet tall and a chimney 200 feet tall, but the building would be built at the bottom of the quarry. It is therefore not possible to determine how much of an eyesore it would be but some part of it would definitely be visible from the Coneythorpe to Arkendale Road.

Concerns were expressed about the amount of extra traffic that such a project would generate, especially along the A59, thereby exacerbating the problem at the Flaxby junction. Also concerns were voiced about the possibility of noxious emissions from the chimney although assurances have been given that modern technology has overcome this potential problem.

The project is still in its very early stages of discussion and Coun Watson has promised to keep the Parish Council informed of various developments.

The issue of dog fouling was discussed again and Harrogate Borough Council leaflets on the topic are to be distributed round the villages of Arkendale and Coneythorpe.

The matter of rodent infestation at Clareton was also discussed. The situation has improved due to the intervention of Tim Canaver of HBC but the problem of rats on the roadside still needs to be addressed.

The Clerk has been asked to look into the cost of a commercially prepared and maintained website for the village of Arkendale.

The date of the next meeting will be March 25. If there are any matters that the public would like to be brought up at this meeting, please pass them on to any of the Councillors or the Clerk.

W.I. Meeting - 4th February 2009

An invitation had been received from Roecliffe WI, inviting our members to a talk to be given by the Mouseman of Kilburn on February 13 at 8pm, cost £3. Five members will attend.

Attention was drawn to the questionnaire in the January issue of the WI Life magazine concerning the way forward for the organisation during the next 50 years.

Eileen gave details of the group meeting to be held at Coronation Hall on Tuesday, February 17 when the curator from the museum in York would speak about Victorian Costume.

Jean introduced Tony Brown who spoke about his trip to the Arctic. He had begun his journey from Svalbard which was as far north as it was possible to go. We learnt about the different types of ice and saw wonderful cloud formations above the snow covered mountains. The sky had been blue nearly all of the time he was there and this was reflected in the sea. He quoted from a poem written by a soldier during the first world war - Diamond Light on Snow - and how true looking at the wonderful photographs he had taken mostly from the boat they stayed on. Especially fascinating were the pictures of a female polar bear unaware that all her movements were being filmed.

Diane gave the vote of thanks and supper was served by Pat and Maureen.

Our next meeting will be held on March 4 when Pat Dunnill will show members how to make an article using beads. Visitors are most welcome to attend our meetings which begin at 7.30 pm.

2009
27-Jan-09	Church News - A very enjoyable coffee morning was held last Saturday at the home of Mr and Mrs Horner, and over £200 was raised for Church funds. This was the second of a series of events to be held throughout the year which, as well as raising much needed funds, have proved very successful social events too. Watch this space for news of the next one. The service on Sunday will be a Village Service at 9.30am. On Monday, February 2 at 7.30pm, a special Candlemas service is to be held in Ripon cathedral when anything up to 5,000 candles will light up the inside of the building. I am told that it is a very moving service and everyone is welcome. However if you want a good seat an early arrival is recommended. Wednesday, February 4 is a busy evening for the village. Arkendale WI meets at 7.30pm in Minskip Village Hall and the Parish Council meet in Arkendale Church at 8pm. I was talking to someone today who lives in a village in which their Parish Council is not active. We are extremely fortunate to have both an active Parish Council and a flourishing WI but both rely on support from the residents. Newcomers and those who have lived in the village for a long time are very welcome at either of these meetings.
16-Jan-09	Church News - There will be a coffee morning at Bryan Lodge on Saturday, January 24 from 10.30am till noon with a raffle and cake stall. Donations of prizes or cakes to Margaret and Jim Horner will be very much appreciated. All proceeds are for Church funds and everyone is welcome. The service on Sunday will be Evensong at 4pm. Village Hall - The AGM was opened by Chairman, Alan Stokes on Monday, January 12. He began by giving a resume of what had happened over the past year, resulting in the awarding of the grants from WREN and the Big Lottery Fund which will ensure that the dream of a new hall can be realised. He then explained that there have been some delays in starting the work due to the need to clarify certain legal points and sort out the deeds etc; 'final negotiations' are still ongoing but the project is going in the right direction. Those present were aware of how much very demanding work both Alan Stokes and the secretary, Peter Thorndyke, have been involved in and the latter were thanked profusely for all they had done and continue to do. It was made clear that fund-raising still needs to continue and please watch this space for news of special fund-raising events. The AGM was follwed by a committee meeting where further issues were addressed. A starting date for the project has not yet been set but a great deal of hard work is being done behind the scenes to ensure that work will commence as soon as possible. We are very fortunate to have in our village such a dedicated village hall committee; those of us not personally involved owe them a real debt of gratitude for all their efforts and I hope that we will show our appreciation by attending future events and giving them the support they deserve.
9-Jan-09	Church Services - Holy Communion at 8.30am on Sunday, January 11 at St Bartholomew's. A date for the diary is Sunday, January 18 when there will be the Confirmation Service for the Benefice. This will be held in Farnham Church at 10am and will be the only service that Sunday. WI - The first meeting of the New Year was due to be held on Wednesday, January 7 at 7.30pm in Minskip Hall. Visitors are very welcome to attend any of the meetings and there is always a good supper to round off the evening. Village Hall - New village hall annual meeting - there has been a slight delay in the starting of the building project due to offices having been closed over Christmas and the New Year and people being on holiday. It is hoped however that very soon work will commence on the site and from that point on there will be regular updates. In the meantime, the Village Hall annual meeting will be held in Arkendale Church at 7.30pm on Monday, January 12. At this meeting, there will be an opportunity to catch up with the latest news. It is hoped that as many people as possible from the villages will come to support the committee.
2008
19-Dec-08	Christmas started in Arkendale on Thursday evening when the Sunday School went carol-singing round part of the village. It was a very cold evening, but warm, home-made sausage rolls at the start put everyone in the mood. The children enjoyed themselves and the singing put everyone in a festive mood. There is a slight change in the arrangements for Christmas services at Arkendale this year and the dates are as follows: Sunday, December 21, 9.30am Eucharist Service; Wednesday, December 24, 5pm Crib Service. This has proved an extremely popular service in the past for all ages and a lovely way to start the festivities on Christmas Eve. This year the Sunday School will be taking part and during the service the crib will be set up in the Church. Thursday, Christmas Day, 9.30am Eucharist Service; Saturday, December 27, noon Baptism; Sunday, December 28, 6pm; Annual Carol Service of lessons and carols by candlelight followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the church. Also on Sunday, December 28, at 10am, there will be a United Eucharist Service for the whole Benefice at Copgrove Church for anyone who wishes to take communion. Visitors are very welcome to all the services.
2-Dec-08	Church - The sherry and mince pie evening last Friday at the home of Mr and Mrs Houseman proved to be a very enjoyable social event; it was well-attended and nearly £300 was raised for church funds. The next event will be a coffee morning at the home of Mr and Mrs Horner on Saturday, January 24. Please note the change of time for the village service on Sunday at Arkendale; it will start at the new time of 9.30am. Village Hall - Since the offer of two very generous grants from WREN and the Big Lottery Fund, the Arkendale village hall committee has been working hard to finalise plans for the start of the building project. The whole process has been a very complex one but help has been forthcoming from many quarters which is greatly appreciated. A slight delay has followed the offer of the grants due to legal problems over missing deeds which needed sorting out, but all is back on track for construction work to begin very soon, with a view to opening the building in the first part of 2009. A fence has already been erected around the site and excitement is mounting. Although the weather is not as crucial when building a log construction, nevertheless we hope for milder days during the next few months so that work can progress according to plan. There will be regular updates of progress but hopefully the site will soon speak for itself. There will be many opportunities in the future to mention those who have played a very important part in this whole project, but it is fitting to make mention of Mr Alan Stokes (Chair) and his team at this point because their very hard and dedicated work will continue behind the scenes as the building progresses. If anyone feels that they can help with any free publicity at the various stages, perhaps articles in local magazines or photos, please contact Alan on 01423 340517. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing the forlorn site of the previous building soon transformed into a site worthy of the new build.
24-Nov-08	Church Services and Activities - There will be a Benefice Service at Scotton Church at 10am and there will be no service at Arkendale this week. Tonight, Friday, November 28, Mr and Mrs Houseman are hosting a "Sherry and Mincepie" evening at Holgate Bridge Farm at 7.30pm. Proceeds are for the Church. Parish Council - There was a very good attendance at the parish council meeting on Wednesday, November 19. Chairman, Mr Peter Topham, welcomed everyone and explained that under his chairmanship, members of the public will have ample opportunity to participate in discussions and that no major decisions will be made without full consultation of those who live in the villages of Arkendale Clareton and Coneythorpe. Matters arising at the meeting of particular interest were as follows:- The precept will be the same this year as last year and it is hoped that the parish council may be able to use some of it to help equip the new hall. Moves are to be made to apply for a further grant to buy a vehicle activated speed device for Moor Lane. The Council is still very concerned that measures should be taken to prevent speeding before someone is seriously hurt. Two new rubbish bins have been situated in Arkendale. The problem of dog faeces in the villages of Coneythorpe and Arkendale was discussed and leaflets are to be distributed in both villages to raise awareness of the problem. Dog walkers are asked to pick up the offending items. They can be placed in the rubbish bins in Arkendale provided that they are wrapped up first. Mr Topham made it very clear that previous discussions about making Arkendale into a conservation area were only exploratory. The majority of people are not in favour of such a move and the matter has now been dropped. Concern was expressed about the cars parked on Coneythorpe village green also an infestation of rats at Clareton due to a pile of rotting grain. The Clerk of the Council has been instructed to make the necessary enquiries to have both of these problems rectified. The next meeting will be on February 4 in Arkendale Church. It is hoped that there will be as good an attendance at this meeting as there was at the last one.
14-Nov-08	Parish Council: The next Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 19 at 7.30pm in the Church at Arkendale. The councillors are there to represent this community and it is important that they hear your views on the local issues. The meeting is open to the public and your attendance will be welcomed. Church Services: The Sunday service this weekend will be a Eucharist service at 9.45am. Please note that the Evensong service next week, Sunday, November 23 will be at the new winter time of 4pm. Dates for the Diary: There will be a "Sherry and Mince pies" evening at the home of Mr and Mrs Houseman (Holgate Bridge Farm) on Friday, November 28 in aid of Church funds. The more the merrier!
24-Oct-08	Sunday Service: There is an important change to the Sunday service this week. Instead of the usual Evensong service in Arkendale Church this coming Sunday, October 26, there is an open invitation to the whole Benefice to attend sung Evensong at the Cathedral in Ripon at 5.30pm at which our Rector, Canon Peter Midwood, will be preaching. Gift Day: Thank you to all who gave gifts to the church last Saturday; the grand sum of £1,072 was donated. There was a very relaxed atmosphere in the church and we were treated to singing by Linda with Gillian on the organ and some impromptu music on the Northumberland pipes and the guitar from our Rector, Canon Peter.
17-Oct-08	A small piece of Scandinavia is on its way to Arkendale, after the Big Lottery Fund pledged £173,000 towards the construction of a new community building. Arkendale Memorial Hall's ambitious project involves the replacement of a recently demolished, 87-year-old village hall with a modern timber, eco-friendly structure imported from sustainable sources in Finland. The local community has secured a slice of the Big Lottery Fund's Community Buildings programme, which has made awards worth £2.7m for bricks and mortar investments across England. Peter Thorndyke, secretary to the Village Hall Committee, said: "We're delighted to have been awarded this grant from the Big Lottery Fund, and also a grant from WREN, which will allow us to build a new village hall that everyone can be proud of. Arkendale has been without a communal hall for some time and has had no focal point in which various interest groups could meet, socialise, hold educational sessions and bring together all the different sectors of the community. Our hall will be built in Arkendale, but will offer facilities to residents across the local area." Caroline James, Big Lottery Fund Head of the Yorkshire and Humberside region, said: "Arkendale Memorial Hall will be a fantastic asset to this rural community. Buildings like this really are at the centre of daily life." Arkendale's village hall will be environmentally friendly both inside and out. It is to be built from laminated logs and will also include a range of energy saving features. Although only a temporary measure, the local pub, The Blue Bell, is not the most suitable base for the village's Sunday School, said the committee. A new building, complete with fitted kitchen and social room, will also offer a venue for a range of other social events
7-Oct-08	The New Village Hall - It is a great joy to write this article. Rarely do we have exciting news to share, but this week the news is really thrilling. As you will doubtless have read elsewhere, or heard on the grapevine, the Big Lottery Fund and WREN have awarded us enough money to build the new hall. The contractors will be Blue House Construction Ltd, who specialise in Scandinavian buildings, and many more details will become available little by little; there is still much work to be done behind the scenes before we will see anything visible happening in the village. None of this would have been possible without the very hard work of the village hall committee, past and present, but a particular special thank you must go to the present chairman, Alan Stokes, and secretary, Peter Thorndyke, who have successfully worked through each stage of the lottery bid. Fliers are being delivered round Arkendale and neighbouring villages to keep you all informed, and committee members are urgently needed from other villages so that everyone is truly represented. If you are willing to sit on the committee, please contact Peter Thorndyke on 01423 340671. Thank you too to all of you who have faithfully supported fund-raising events in the past. Please do continue to do so because more fund-raising will be needed to equip the hall to a high standard. The dream is coming true and we look forward to very exciting times ahead. Church Services - This year has been a terribly difficult time for farmers; combine harvesters have been stuck in fields, peas ploughed back into the soil because they have rotted in the wet weather and corn driers have had to work overtime. The farmers will be very much in our minds at this year's Harvest Festival Service which will be celebrated at Arkendale Church at 6pm on Sunday, October 12. This is a change from our normal time and we hope that it will suit plenty of people. The Sunday School will take part in the service which will be suitable for all ages. There will be coffee and cake served after the service. Please bring your friends along. Arkendale Church Gift Day - The Church will be holding a Gift Day on Saturday, October 18 from 10am to noon. It will be preceded by a said Eucharist service at 9.15am. The costs of keeping a village church open are rising rapidly like everything else and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet financially. Rural churches are in very real danger of closure but we are doing all we can to try to avoid this happening in Arkendale. If you feel you would like to contribute towards the upkeep of the church, please pop along on Saturday morning or if you would just like to join us for coffee, you will very welcome. The church is the church for the whole village, for weekly events as well as for celebrations and special services, and everybody is welcome at any time. There will be coffee and biscuits served in church (no charge) on Saturday during which, from 10.45am - 11am, Linda from the Blue Bell and Gillian the organist, will be providing a short musical interlude. There will also be a representative from the Sunday School showing the sort of activities that the children do. Please support the church if you feel you can.
1-Sep-08	Parish Council - The Parish Council for Arkendale, Coneythorpe and Clareton met on August 27 at Arkendale Church and the meeting was attended by two members of the public. The following matters were discussed:- There is still concern about speeding through the villages and different measures to combat this are being considered. The Clerk is writing to request that the Borough Council be responsible for at least one official 'clean-up' in the villages each year. At present, litter in the hedgerows and footpaths is picked up by volunteers from the villages. The Clerk is also going to write to BT expressing concern at the slow broadband link in the villages. It seems unfair that we are not able to enjoy the same level of service that is enjoyed by those living in the towns, when we all pay the same amount for it. It was discussed whether or not Arkendale should become a conservation area like Coneythorpe. The Parish Council have no views either way at present but would welcome opinions on the subject. If anyone has any thoughts for or against, please pass these on to your local Parish Councillors or to the Clerk of the Council. Names of the Councillors are on the village notice board opposite the BlueBell Inn. The date of the next meeting is November 19. If anyone has any matters that they would like to be discussed at this meeting, again please contact the Clerk or any of the Councillors. Cake Stall - The Church cake stall proved a great success with over £300 being raised for Church funds. Thank you to all who contributed or helped on the day. Two Dates for the Diary - There will be a coffee morning for all five parishes at the Rectory in Staveley on Saturday, September 13 from 10am until noon. The money raised is to help towards the rising cost of the annual away day to Parceval Hall which will be held on May 15 next year.
22-Aug-08	Church cake and produce stall: The stall will be held in Knaresborough market on the morning of Wednesday, August 27, however the venue that has been used in previous years has been changed. The charity stall has been resited and is now to be found on the side near the Halifax Bank towards the end of the row. WI: Arkendale WI enjoyed a very pleasant evening at the home of the vice president, Mrs Vivienne Glover for their August meeting. The next meeting will be in Minskip Hall again on September 3 at 7.30pm. Visitors will be very welcome. Church Services: On Sunday, August 24, the service in Arkendale Church will be Evensong at 6pm taken by Brian Shipman.
4-Jul-08	Farm Concert: On Saturday the concert at Sunnyside Farm proved a huge success. An estimated 200 people or more attended and, despite the cool breeze and lack of sunshine, it was a most enjoyable event. The final amount raised for the new village hall is as yet unknown but, because of the generosity of all involved, it will probably run into four figures. The committee wishes to thank the Housemans for the loan of their land, Judith Howe who organised the entertainment, and, last but not least, those who participated in the concert; the standard of entertainment was very high and their time and talents were greatly appreciated by all. More events will follow in aid of the rebuilding fund so please watch this space for details. A reminder that at 9.45am on Sunday the Toy Service will be held in Arkendale Church. All are welcome.
20-Jun-08	A fine programme of activities is planned for Arkendale WI over the coming summer months so take out your diaries ladies! At Minskip Village Hall on Wednesday, July 2, Eunice Cransfield is to tell us about "Science in a Shopping Basket." Later in the month on Sunday, July 20, it is the annual Aldborough and Boroughbridge Show. As always this promises to be a great day out for all the family with the usual WI marquee for tea, coffee and cakes. On August 6, there is to be a Garden Party at Rowangarth, Arkendale Road, Ferrensby. All are welcome, just bring along your favourite savoury, salad or sweet dish for a Pot Luck Supper. The time is half an hour earlier than usual, 7pm to take advantage of the evening sunlight. Arrangements are in hand to hold the supper indoors in the unusual event of the weather being inclement. Andy Barton is making a return visit to the WI on Wednesday, September 3, in order to demonstrate the Making of Willow Lanterns. Do join us and have a try for yourself. Anyone wishing to join the WI for the remainder of 2008 can pay the subscription for 2009 immediately and thus enjoy the benefits of 15 months subscription for the price of 12 months. Good to see a bargain in these days of rising prices. If you would like further information about any of the above activities then please call our President, Jean Stokes on 01423 340517.
13-May-08	Firefighters spent more than four hours putting out a blaze in a row of terraced cottages in Arkendale, near Knaresborough on Tuesday evening. Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge attended after a call came through just after 10pm. Six fire engines and a turntable ladder were needed to extinguish the fire which is believed to have started in the attic of one of the cottages. Watch Manager, Ted Wilkinson from Knaresborough Fire Station said: "Older properties don't have firewalls between the attics and with four cottages, we had to make sure the fire didn't spread between the buildings. "We were there at least four hours to put out the fire and make sure everything was safe. "Nobody was injured in the blaze and several residents spent the night in alternative accommodation at local hotels." Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire.
2007
28-Apr-07	Quiz & Hot Pot Night - A big "thank you" to all who made up the fantastic turnout for the most recent Village Hall fundraiser on Saturday 28th April. The Quiz & Hot Pot supper evening was a huge success with the "Hassells, Hartleys and Cornes" coming out on top after a stewards enquiry! Thanks to all who took part and to all who worked hard to provide a wonderful meal and refreshments. A special mention and thanks also to Tim Braithwaite for his role as the esteemed quizmaster.
14-Apr-07	Arkendale Cleanup Weekend - takes place on 14th & 15th April - Volunteers Wanted! - click here to learn more....
9-Apr-07	Quiz and Hot Pot Supper Night in aid of the Village Hall fund - will take place at the Minskip Village Hall on 28th April 2007 - click here to learn more....
9-Apr-07	Per Una Fashion Show - will take place at the Staveley Primary School on 4th May 2007 - click here to learn more....
30-Jan-07	Village Hall Fundraising Event - "Everything beginning with S" - Many thanks to Kamamica for a wonderful evening of entertainment, and thanks also to Mr Jackson for letting us use Loftus Hill for the event. Thanks also to all raffle and auction donors and to all of you who generously provided canapes for the tables. We are pleased to announce that the event raised £2400 for our building fund.
16-Jan-07	Hair Night at Watkins Wright - Wednesday 7th February at 7-9 pm - Free make over for 1 lucky person! All proceeds to St. Bartholomew's Church - click here to learn more....