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Tel: 01845 421 015
The Thirsk Weekly News is a family-owned paper for Thirsk and the surrounding area
27th November, 2020.
On a gloomy Monday afternoon, with a bitter wind blowing outside, the Prime Minister was in his home, self-isolating, and I was in mine listening to what he had to tell MPs about the present Coronavirus situation. Uplifted by the good news about vaccines, he used the metaphor of science as the cavalry, riding to our rescue. Rhetoric is one of his skills. I was thinking more of a ship in a storm, with the captain variously ordering the first mate to steer to port or to starboard and the crew to put on or take down the sails, some of which had been damaged in the storm. There is still no land in site.
Our Prime Monster who previously forecast that the crisis would be over by Christmas now confidently confirmed that it would not. By the time you read this we shall know our fate after Lockdown 2 ends on 2 December, to be replaced by a beefed-up version of the three tier system.
The news on vaccines is a ray of light, with three major suppliers offering successful products. December should see a massive new campaign to start delivering this protection. Track and Trace seems to have been a failure, certainly not the world-class system we were over-optimistically promised.
What do we want at Christmas? What do we deserve? We know the risk: being in touch with people risks picking up Covid-19 from them. December 25 is a midwinter feast to cheer us up. It should always ensure that no one needs to be lonely at a time when we are allowed a feast, and that means being able to meet in our homes and to invite in those who live alone....
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27th November, 2020.
When David Tervitt came to the club, he breezed in - an absolute bundle of energy! He was born and brought up in Scotland and an illness in his childhood left him in the disabled category, though this did not stop him running. In fact, his enthusiasm for the sport is second to none, and though his communication skills are poor, ladies in particular can expect a warm hug from him - or could, pre covid. When the club had sessions in Thirsk School, David could be relied on to operate the security system to let members into the school, which they appreciated, especially on a cold night, and he would be there for up to half an hour with his cheery welcome. Any club championship race would be sure to see David's name in the list of participants, and his times steadily improved. Road races, cross country, fell, he would have a go at them all, and fairly successfully at that. He was given the Members' Member award in 2019....
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27th November, 2020.
Pupils from a leading North Yorkshire school steamed ahead with a week of events to widen their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.
Cundall Manor School, based between Thirsk and Ripon, dedicated a week of events across the Prep school to help pupils develop their problem-solving skills through a range of fun tasks.
Over 100 pupils took part in a variety of tasks across the week. Pupils as young as 7 had to find solutions to challenges that encouraged critical thinking and teamwork. Some of the challenges included creating a lighthouse with integrated electrics, constructing a variety of buildings and bridges and coding....
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20th November, 2020.
The children of Thirsk Community Primary School have all settled back into school well and have been enjoying some exciting projects within school. I have attached a few pictures of some of our recent topic work, including year 3 and 4 who did a great experiment to investigate the effects of different drinks on a tooth like substance, using eggs!! They also created some wonderful t- shirt designs of the digestive system....
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20th November, 2020.
Armistice Day, and a familiar ceremony took place in the town centre, under the poppy-wreathed clock tower. This event bore a very close resemblance to its predecessors in happier years, much less affected by lockdown fears than many other local activities. There were, granted, fewer by-standers, but those who came solemnly heard the words of Rev Derek Simpson as he led prayers at this brief but special ceremony. “Let us rediscover who we are together as a community, as family, as a nation and indeed as human beings. The deepest and best truth is summed up in love given and received. We meet in the presence of God to remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives in world wars and conflicts past and present have been given and taken away, that all people may live in freedom, justice and peace....
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20th November, 2020.
Work gets underway this week on the new Hambleton crematorium on the outskirts of Thirsk.
The 22-acre site which will be named Maple Park, is close to both the A1 and A19 and will include a service hall to accommodate approximately 120 mourners plus additional room for standing. There will also be an entrance foyer, waiting lobby, offices and a family room.
As well as this, the single storey facility will include a wake facility and café with beautiful views out over the Hambleton hills. Once completed the site will also offer a memorial garden, meadows and a wooded area making it a calm and peaceful place for reflection or for scattering ashes.
Temporary access will be created for use throughout the build, to ensure the landscaping can mature as much as possible, ready for the opening....
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20th November, 2020.
Green’s Farm Supplies has been announced as the National SQP Awards 2020 Independent Store of the Year.
Chris Jeffery was given the award at a virtual event on Thursday afternoon (November 5).
Green's Farm Supplies, under the ownership of Chris and Kate Jeffery, has learnt that the most important criteria is offering good customer service. A well-known company in the community, Green’s customer service really helps it to stand out from the competition.
The National SQP Awards are staged annually by OvertheCounter magazine and Lewis Business Media to recognise excellence and best practice in the animal health and welfare industry.
This year’s event was held virtually as a direct reaction to the COVID-19 regulations and to keep registered animal health advisors, who are essential workers, safe in these challenging times....
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13th November, 2020.
I watched the Remembrance event from the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. It was strangely empty, as if we were watching a rehearsal; it is a very large space. It was touching to hear again the wartime song The White Cliffs of Dover, with its promise of “love and laughter, and peace ever after.” Dame Vera Lynn, who left us this year, called it “the patriotic one”. She recorded it in 1942 after it was first a hit in the USA. She sang it repeatedly while on service with troops abroad. In her autobiography she wrote: “The white cliffs of Dover were the last thing the boys saw as they were leaving. The song meant home to them. I never minded singing those songs for a moment.”
Sunday started cold, foggy, grey, hushed, the moisture dropping off the remaining leaves on the trees. Instead of the hundreds of people who have assembled in past years to mark Remembrance Sunday, only a scattered few came....
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13th November, 2020.
Usually at this time of year, a thousand or so runners would be assembling near Ripley Castle for the start of the Guy Fawkes 10, hosted by the man himself on a bicycle! This year, we had to be content with a virtual version, part of the Club Championship series, to be run over any of 3 or 4 days - where fog was an issue at times! The route was again along part of the Cleveland way with some return stretches on road, and once more 50+ people were involved, members and some guests. Matt Jones was on top of the tree this time, having so often finished runner up, and completed in a time of 1.12.01, with Stephan Tomaszewski again close behind, 2nd in 1.12.18. Evergreen Rob Burn came 3rd in 1.17.50, Paul Peacock, another who usually features high up in the results, 4th in 1.18.10, Gary Bastow 5th in 1.22.00, Gary Wilkinson 6th in 1.22.23, and equalling Alan Simpson with the same time, David Fawkes 8th in 1.25.30, 9th Brett Edgeworth in 1.28.09, and 10th Martyn Coy in 1.28.26. Other men involved were Andy Butcher....
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13th November, 2020.
Topcliffe CofE Academy in Topcliffe, Thirsk has received a Silver Award from national charity SAPERE P4C to mark its outstanding commitment to and progress in Philosophy for Children (P4C).
P4C is an approach to teaching and learning which, research has shown, enhances children’s thinking and communication skills, boosts their self-esteem, and improves their academic attainment.
The SAPERE P4C Silver Award celebrates the hard work of students and staff to develop critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinking across their school. Silver Award schools have made P4C a regular part of teaching and learning and philosophical thinking is integrated across the curriculum. The Silver Award is only given to schools which have shown outstanding commitment to and progress in P4C and which have met strict criteria for the award. It is the second level of SAPERE’s Award programme.
In P4C sessions, teachers use a stimulus, such as a picture book, video clip, or photograph, to help children to explore big philosophical concepts such as fairness, bravery, friendship, conflict and respect. Children are supported to create philosophical questions about the concepts....
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13th November, 2020.
It may not be part of the usual Wednesday curriculum plan, but a leading North Yorkshire School decided to mix things up this term through a unique triathlon.
As well as the triathlon, pupils had to show their artistic talents by decorating their wellington boots before racing in them. The pinnacle of the day was the coordinated welly wanging, in which pupils had to launch their boots as far as they could – with varying success.
Amanda Kirby is Headmistress at the school. She said: “Events like this really do bring out the best in our children and community and in these difficult times, we wanted to give our children something to really look forward to and enjoy.”
“We know that our pupils really love getting stuck into a task and something as simple as welly wanging can bring our pupils together. It was wonderful to hear their laughter and see the smiles on everyone’s faces.”
Pupils as young as four participated....
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As Halloween approaches, residents are coming up with creative ways to enjoy the season of scares while staying Covid-aware.
Villagers in Little Thirkleby near Thirsk decided to create a pumpkin trail where families decorate pumpkins and leave them on display outside their house for others to find.
Heidi Bielby and her two young children Elise and Harry have put extra effort into decorating their pumpkins this year.
She said: “We heard about alternative, safe ways to enjoy Halloween so the village came on board. Our pumpkin trail means we can still celebrate Halloween as a community and in the safest way possible.
“Elise and Harry come up with a different design for their pumpkin each year. They’re both into arts and crafts at home and love making things. With the ongoing pandemic they chose to do rainbow painted pumpkins to pay tribute to the NHS....
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Thirsk Rotary Club celebrated World Polio Day by planting another 4,000 purple crocus corms in support of the World Health Organisation’s END POLIO NOW campaign. This annual event sees areas planted in previous years at Sowerby Gateway, Carlton Miniott and Marage Road Thirsk extended by a further area at Marage Road. Sites in other parts of Thirsk and its surroundings will follow in future years....
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Generous pupils from a North Yorkshire School have raised over £1500 for Cancer Research after completing a series of fundraising activities.
Earlier this term, children from Cundall Manor School invited a local Cancer Research shop volunteer into school to present a cheque for £1526.20.
The school, hosted the fundraising event, Race for Life, prior to the Covid-19 outbreak with pupils as young as four and as old as 13 taking part in the race. The school joined together to take part in the fundraising that will aid the life-saving work of Cancer Research UK.
Louise Bessey, Head of Girls’ Games at Cundall Manor School, helped organise the event. She said: “I am really proud of all the children for raising so much money for a wonderful cause. Most of us know someone who has been affected by cancer and we all have our special reasons for taking part and wanting to help more people survive....
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There are displays of poppies on camouflage nets at Town End, St Oswald’s churchyard wall and the cascade on the town centre clock, but no poppy sellers this year. Thirsk Army Cadets from A Company Yorkshire (N&W) ACF are using their initiative to raise some money for the Poppy Appeal in a different way....
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