Opening Times
Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm
Tel: 01845 421 015
Opening Times
Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm
Tel: 01845 421 015
The Thirsk Weekly News is a family-owned paper for Thirsk and the surrounding area
Covid-19 strikes. It was a dismal list of cancellations. The Ritz cinema, Rural Arts groups, the University of the Third Age groups, church services, and now churches themselves have to be closed, in an almighty effort to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Closed signs posted on shop doors, and now the shops that are open are controlling how many customers can come in at a time.
Thirsk Tourist Information has closed its doors but is running a phone enquiry service on 522755 between 10am and 3pm daily except Sundays, so, you can still access their mine of information. Their website is also alive and full of information. Take a glance at the market place on their webcam. You can make out the tape preventing people from congregating and sitting on the seats and round the clock tower.
Meanwhile Community Works are already under pressure from responding to local needs made worse by the virus situation and are providing many more food parcels than usual along with packed lunches for children of school age. They are relying on donations of food and money from the community, but if you can’t get out or go to church and put a few tins in a box, how can you help? If you can make a financial donation any sum no matter how small (or large !) will be most welcome.....
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As you are probably already aware, next month starts the anniversary of the Ritz Volunteer Groups 25 years of keeping Thirsk's cinema open.
Times change and in the current situation of course, the cinema as all others, has had to temporarily close it's doors.
It's important that we hear of good news stories, especially in these very trying times - and with this in mind the Ritz can help!
One of the cinema volunteers, Treasurer and web-master Martin Unné, has come up with a novel solution to keep interest in the cinema - an online cinematic quiz! Simply visit www.ritzcinema.co.uk and follow the link. Martin says "I hope to give a few moments of amusement to anyone who is presently stuck inside.....
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Staff and residents at Hambleton Grange in Thirsk have been sharing their advice and special memories about raising their children this Mother’s Day. Courtney Woodall, a care assistant at the home and also pregnant with her first child, has been charmed by the wise words of wisdom from the ladies prior to giving birth later this year.
Resident, Sue Sherwood was born in 1945 and has two children. She spent her life working in childcare and wanted to reassure Courtney that although new mums can be under a lot of pressure, your instincts will always prevail. She said, ‘New mothers need to find a routine and things that work for them and their babies and just try to stick to that – you will never do everything right first time but motherhood is all about learning and trial and error. Stick with it and be patient’.
Linzi Williams, Lifestyle Manager at Hambleton Grange, reiterated Sue’s words, adding ‘It is hard being a new mum, but so rewarding and every mum should be proud of themselves. I have tried to teach my children to stand up for what they believe in and I hope that is something they take with them all the way through their lives.....
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Thirsk arts charity Rural Arts is bidding to bag a cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative, which sees grants of £2000, £1000 and £500 awarded to local community projects.
Rural Arts is one of three groups in the region that has been shortlisted to receive the cash award, and shoppers are being invited to head along to Thirsk’s Tesco branch to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.
The grant will allow the charity to provide intergenerational arts and crafts activities bringing local children and older people together. These activities will help to reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing as well as strengthen the community in the area.
Director and CEO Max May says:
“We’re so pleased to be chosen as a Bags of Help cause. The funds will be used to run activities right on the store’s doorstep, at our arts centre just over the road. Please do consider dropping a blue coin in our slot as you shop.....
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This week's paper will be in the shops Friday 27th March 2020 due to a mechanical breakdown.
Another step forward in the life of this fine building took place last week at the Annual General Meeting of the Lambert League of Friends (they have dropped the word “Hospital” from their name.
League members have seen disappointment, struggle, and then a light at the end of the tunnel. Now they are planning for its new life under the aegis of Herriot Hospice Homecare, with four hospice beds and associated services in a refurbished building saved for the community by Hambleton District Council. “We’ve come from nothing to where we are now in a few years,” said League Secretary Liz Waller, adding “that building means so much to people born and bred in Thirsk.” They never stopped in their efforts.
So what is the plan? Herriot Hospice Homecare will take over the building from the Council and will be responsible for bringing it back into use. They will raise the money for that. The Lambert League of Friends will continue as a separate charity, and they will provide the money for the beds and patient care. They have just made a payment of £140,000 to Herriot, and will transfer the rest of their reserve in due course.....
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Last year I wrote about the life-long gratitude of a Sunderland man, Jim Pearson for the love he was shown in a moment of world crisis by a Sowerby couple. Jim came to Blue Row in September 1939 as a 6-year old evacuee, and was taken in by Alfred and Annie Wright. They looked after him with care and love. Alf was a ploughman and for Jim walking the fields with Alf was a new and amazing experience. Jim went to the local infant school, one of the memories he took back with him to Sunderland.
When he retired after a career as a chartered electrical engineer, Jim took the time and trouble to find out what had become of Alf and Annie. He found that they were buried in an unmarked grave in St Oswald’s churchyard....
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Against all the odds, Thirsk 10 took place at the weekend, and the gratitude of runners was palapable! There were 960 finishers, seeming to find the new course to their liking and the weather was kind, though wind in places was a factor. Graham Rush of Leeds City AC won the event in a time of 51.44 - not bad for 10 miles - just 24 seconds ahead of Jonathan Johnson of Rotherham. We were pleased to welcome back Olympian Aly Dixon of Sunderland Strollers, 20th finisher, who won the ladies event in a time of 57.07 with Rachel Friend of Leeds City 2nd lady in 58.19. Tyne Bridge Harriers won the Men's Team prize, with Harrogate Harriers second. Stainland Lions RC were 1st Ladies Team amd Knaresborough Striders 2nd. The only wheelchair athlete was Tiaan Bosch of City of York AC who went round the course in 43.31. The Norman Smith Trophy for men not attached to a club and living in the YO7 postcode area was Greg MacDonald, a name familiar to club members, and the ladies winner was Laura Wood. About 30 or so children and adults entered the Fun Run....
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In2Hockey Yorkshire championship
Thirsk were first up, against a strong Ben Rhydding side. The girls found themselves 1-0 down and never really threatened the opposing goal. After a forthright team talk Thirsk were much improved in their next game against Driffield, but despite a flurry of short corners, superbly injected by Rachel, were unable to force our way through and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
The third game brought the first goals of the tournament with Maise and Lilly both slotting home to deliver a 2-0 win against Doncaster. Results elsewhere meant Thirsk were tied joint second with Driffield with nothing to separate them. Penalty flicks were therefore used to determine who went through to the semis. Thankfully Thirsk prevailed thanks to a save from Tilly on the final flick....
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This year to celebrate World Book Day the children and staff of Thirsk Community Primary were asked to design a t-shirt based on their favourite book....
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Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers Clare Tempest and Lorraine Hiles are currently in training for the 40th London Marathon at the end of April 2020. They are raising money for Herriot Hospice Homecare and the money they raise will help to fund the refurbishment of the Lambert Hospital in Thirsk to provide a hospice for patients and families in the Hambleton and Richmondshire area. This will be Clare’s 9th marathon and Lorraine’s 1st....
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World Book Day celebrations at Thirsk Community Primary School were boosted by a donation from Taylor Wimpey.
The school received £500 from the homebuilder in support of the national event which took place on Thursday 5th March.
Now in its 23rd year, World Book Day aims to encourage children of all ages to enjoy and appreciate the pleasures of reading.
Mr R Chandler, Headteacher at Thirsk Community Primary School said: “World Book Day is a fantastic initiative which really encourages children to develop their reading....
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The Friends of Thirsk School presented a record breaking night for the school on Friday with an amazing £7,000 being raised for the school. This was in large part due to the amazing business leaders of the community who donated generous prizes and sponsored races and horses. This was also the finale for The Apprentice Challenge where teams of year 11 and 12 students competed to raise the most money. Led by their excellent mentors, teams visited board rooms, produced online shops, made fliers and blagged their way to truly impressive incomes. The fourth placed team made more than the whole event last year and the winning team raised over £2,000....
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The toddler group at East Thirsk Community Hall have good reason to be jolly – they have received a grant of over £173,000 from the Reaching Communities Lottery to keep them running and cover costs for the next five years.
In the middle of a very excited group of kids and mums I spoke to Gareth Dadd, the Deputy Leader of North Yorkshire County Council and a keen supporter of the project. “It’s absolutely fantastic news, not just for the Thirsk area but the grant allows the group to expand and offer comradeship to Sowerby and the surrounding villages.”
One of the trustees of the Community Association, Nina Teagle, recalled setting up her first play group 54 years ago. “It was in a place with no nursery classes. I wanted the best for them,” she said. Watching today’s children, she added “it’s lovely to see them all playing happily away and the mums having a chat....
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Ladies 3 travelled away again this week to play Huddersfield 1s on yet another wild and windy Saturday. With just 11 players again and the adaptable Ellie stepping in to play goalie at short notice we took to the pitch just as the hail started. Luckily this was short lived and we settled in to the match passing the ball around and making some good attempts on goal forcing their goalie into some some great saves as Bev repeatedly put on the pressure.
Huddersfield had an equal amount of play, testing our backs and goalie with a number of short corners and running play through our midfield which saw them eventually take the lead before the half time whistle. We continued in the second half to press forward, with some strong passing play between our midfielders and forwards down the wings and had a number of opportunities - a close miss from Bev and an awful miss-hit from Jane, however the Huddersfield defence were well organized and gave us little space or time....
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Races are falling victim to the weather on a regular basis just now, and the latest casualty was the NYSD cross country event which should have been held at Croft on Sunday. The course was waterlogged, which was especially disappointing as it should have been a club championship event.
The previous weekend was more successful as the Holme House Prison 5k Trail did go ahead - outside the prison! It was the latest race in the Muddy Roads 5k series, and 17 Harriers were among the 219 finishers on a multi-terrain course including pavement right round the exterior of the prison, squelchy grass, mud or ankle deep water depending on your preference, and decent trails....
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