community news and info

Kirkbymoorside is a small market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies 25 miles north of York midway between Pickering and Helmsley and has a population of approximately 3,000. This is a window into the life of the town and its people.

Event: A Fun Evening of Antiques - 18 September 2010

Kirkbymoorside Business Partnership present a 'Fun Evening of Antiques' with Steven Bruce FNAVA (Independent Fine Art Auctioneer & Valuer) on September 18th at the Memorial Hall.

Bring along an item to be valued and enjoy a pie and pea supper (provided by the George & Dragon Hotel). Doors open 6.30pm for first valuations - supper served at 8pm.

Tickets: £10 each includes supper and free valuation of one item. Steven will be pleased to offer valuations of additional items for a modest fee of £3 each.

For tickets and more information contact:
Jackie at Simpsons Stores 01751 431 854 or Paul at Summit Bookshop 01751 430033
or Ali at the Penny Bank Cafe 01751 432 606
Video: Kirkbymoorside Natural Health Centre

One of the original founder members, Julie Watson, talks about how Kirkbymoorside Natural Health Centre came into being and has developed, in just ten years, into a thriving practice for complementary therapies.

In the weeks ahead video interviews with the Moorsider are planned with all the practitioners who work in the centre.

Visit the Kirkbymoorside Natural Health Centre website

Complementary Therapy Books & DVDs
Play Rangers draw large numbers

Kirkbymoorside's play area was a sight to behold today as over 50 children and parents went to see what the Ryedale Play Rangers had on offer as part of their summer activity programme. Nobody was disappointed as a wide range of games and activities to suit all ages were facilitated by an excellent team of enthusiastic rangers. Numbers attending were certainly up from last year and doubtless there will be another day to remember when they return on August 20th for another two sessions - 10.30 - 12.30 and then 1.30 - 3.30.

Thank you to Ryedale District Council for providing this service and to the rangers who are spending their summer entertaining children across the district.
Kirkby garden party success, despite the rain

After a sunny morning everyone was hopeful that the promised showers wouldn't materialise and Jo Maxwell's fundraising garden party would remain dry. It wasn't to be but the rain, when it finally arrived, only added to what was a lovely afternoon spent in the Maxwell's lovely garden eating delicious cakes and drinking tea. Sheltering under umbrellas friends caught up on the latest news whilst children ran and played around the tables.

Jo's fantastic efforts and the generous contributions made by the guests saw a fantastic £225 raised in aid of the 'Wall Fund' which is aiming to sort out a major damp problem in the town's Methodist Chapel. You can keep an eye on progress with the fundraising appeal by checking out the display on the front of the Chapel. Well done Jo and her team of helpers.
Antique shop not to close says Tony
Despite letters to the Gazette & Herald, the second of which can be read here, Tony Everett, owner of Moorside Antiques is keen to let everyone know this is not the case. The rumours have almost certainly started because of Tony's planned move to the old dairy yard on the A170 (watch Tony's video outlining the project) but he wants to assure everyone that despite any new developments the shop will remain open, as will his wife's recently opened antiques shop on West End.
Video: Charlie Grumbley - Kirkbymoorside window cleaner and storyteller

One of Kirkbymoorside's most recognisable personalities, Charlie Grumbley, tells how he became a window cleaner, his thoughts on the town as a place to live and work and of his ongoing apprenticeship in the art of storytelling. Many thanks to Charlie for sharing his story with us.

If you would like to find out more about Storytelling try the following links:

The Society for Storytelling
National Storytelling Week (first week of Feb. every year)
The International School of Storytelling
Storytelling Books & DVDs
Tour Kirkbymoorside using Google Street View

View Larger Map
You can have some fun seeing the town via Google Street View - this is described by the company as 'being the last zoom layer on the map - when you've zoomed all the way in you find yourself virtually standing on the street'.

To move around just place your cursor over the top of the image and you'll see some arrows appear. Click on the direction you wish to go. You'll see bottom right another couple of small arrows, click on that and a little orange figure appears above a small map of the town - just move the figure to where you want to see an image and hey presto it appears. To get rid of that feature just click on the arrows again to minimize it - have a play around and spot some of the town's landmarks or even your home.

These images were all taken by a Google vehicle which moved around the town at some point (date anyone?) - find out more about Google Street View.
Kirkby historian Robin Butler's wartime recollections

Robin Butler recalls Second World War air raids in Kirkbymoorside

Robin gives a view of what it was like to host evacuees, his family took in a pair of evacuees whom, among other things had never eaten a boiled egg!

Listen to more recollections on the Ryedale Folk Museum blog.
Old Kirkby Slideshow

Grateful thanks to Robin Butler, town historian, for giving permission to reproduce these images.

For those wishing to discover more of the history of our town, view the 'Kirkbymoorside’s History Trail'. A booklet is also available from the Town Council Office and Summit Bookshop.

Yorkshire History Books & DVDs
Kirkbymoorside mayor, Coun Joe Coughlan, resigns over plans for new headquarters

Kirkbymoorside has been stunned by the resignation of its town mayor, Coun Joe Coughlan, who has quit in protest at the council’s decision to make its new headquarters in the former county library.

Coun Coughlan said later he could not support the spending of £175,000 on converting the historic building in Church Street, which is owned by the town authority.

“I don’t believe the decision, however well-intentioned, is in the best interests of the public in the present climate of spending cuts.”

He added: “It is a charming building but any scheme to convert it will be a challenge.”

His move follows a public protest at the town council’s meeting in June, when residents said the council could use the Dug Out, a room in the basement of the Memorial Hall for its administration and meetings.

Read more... (Source)
Call for an emergency public meeting
Michelle Sleightholme of West End DIY says:

Dear neighbours and fellow residents of Kirkbymoorside - please call at West End DIY as soon as possible and sign a petition that states:

"We the undersigned think the Kirkbymoorside Town Council should hold a Public Consultation to discuss their plans to borrow £182,000 and change the old Library into a Town Hall / Council Offices, before any work is carried out upon the library".

The petition will indicate to our councillors that the residents of Kirkbymoorside desire to hold a meeting to explain the need, plans and financing for the development and building's future.

"Our councillors do a great job and we need to support them by showing an interest in this plan".
Theatre: 'Wind in the Willows' comes to town

A new, full length, interactive, physical and musical theatre adaptation of the children’s classic is at Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall this Tues and Weds (27th and 28th July). Tickets are available from Summit Bookshop and the Penny Bank Cafe.

A family audience of fellow animals and friendly humans are invited to Toad Hall to see Ratty, Toad, Mole and Deazley the Weasel tell the tale - wellies, whiskers and waistcoats optional.

Wind in the Willows is the classic tale of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie, written in 1908 by Kenneth Grahame. The story is fast paced, fun, full of pathos and gentle humour.

An exciting new version of this family classic for school age animals and grown ups, with physical theatre and live music, from the acclaimed Ratatat Theatre Company.

A Recent Review by Charles Hutchinson (York Press)

Not to be confused with the imminent big summer production on York Theatre Royal’s specially reconfigured stage, this is one of those back-of-the-van touring shows that keeps the arts alive in the outer reaches.

If it is Thursday it must be Terrington Village Hall, where Ryedale company Ratatat has already played to 120 children in the afternoon. No time to rest on a hot, sticky day, inside hot, sticky costumes – a wool gilet for Ratty, a thick waistcoat and later a scarf for Toad – means the indefatigable Dominic Goodwin and his fellow actors are exuberantly greeting the early-evening audience like old friends (which indeed many are), selling raffle tickets and establishing their characters before show time. Read more ...

Show starts 6.30pm.
Event: Environment Group Cake and Plant Stall - Aug. 11th
Where: Kirkbymoorside Market near Penny Bank Cafe.

Cakes/buns/biscuits, plus plants, can be left with June Emerson at 8 Rivis Square on the 10th August, if she is not in they can be left round the back and a note put through the door.

Rivis Square is the cul-de-sac of new houses just up behind the Memorial Hall.

Contributions can also be brought along on the morning of the 11th, but early because the serious selling starts just before 9am!

All contributions very gratefully received.

If anyone would like to help out all morning or just for an hour (please say which hour), that would be great. Usually we pack up about 1.30pm because there are not many market shoppers after that.

Contact Helen on 01751 432751.

Find out more about Kirkbymoorside Environment Group.
Kirkby School end of year news 2010

We have come to the end of another really successful year; it does not seem two minutes since we were starting back to school in September trying to imagine what life would be like without Mrs Carnley. We have survived the year but it has been really lovely to see her every Tuesday, listening to children read and making sure singing standards are maintained.

Ofsted came to visit in February, we were expecting them this year but they did arrive ahead of schedule (our three years were up in July). But as you all saw in the report they were very pleased with what they saw and they left us a very challenging target which we will strive to achieve.

We opened the Enhanced Provision in January, we welcomed Cerys Jones, (Teacher in Charge), Veronica Cruise, (Specialist Teacher), Phillipa Biglin and Alison Greenwood (Advanced Teaching Assistants) and finally Rachel Monagahan (Admin. Assistant) on to the staff. They have all been working really hard and have made an excellent start in their new positions. Early reports from County are very positive. The team are now supporting a number of children across the locality.

On the subject of staffing we have a number of additions to the team in September. Miss Kerridge will be taking over the position of Year 4 teacher, (Mr Taylor left at Easter and is now Deputy Head at Thornton Dale School). Mrs Maxwell will be joining the teaching team in the Nursery and will be working alongside Mrs Gledhill. Mrs Smith, Mrs Fordham-Brown and Mrs Bell have been appointed as teaching assistants who will be joining the Foundation/ Key Stage 1 team. Mrs June Sleightholme will be leaving the school at the end of the term; she has been kitchen assistant here for nearly 26 years. Mrs Rosie Potter will be taking over her position and Mrs Tracey Hall will be filling Rosie's position.

School has continued to grow this year, we have a number of additional children joining school across most year groups. We will be starting in September with 40 new children in Nursery, hence the need to open Nursery in both morning and the afternoon. There will also be 24 new Reception children as well as a number of children joining in other year groups. We are expecting to start the year with approximately 195 children in main school. This has resulted in us needing to maintain mixed aged class structure. In September we will have:

Nursery - Mrs Gledhill & Mrs Maxwell
Reception/ Year 1 - Mrs Baldwin
Reception/ Year 1 - Ms Gray
Year 2 - Mrs Turnball
Year 2/3 - Mr Johnson
Year 3/4 - Miss Kerridge
Year 5 - Mrs Priestley
Year 6 - Mr Sleightholme

Enhanced Provision - Miss Jones, Mrs Cruise.

Life never stands still around here and as we move out of school on Friday the builders move in on Monday. Work is starting on the Children's Centre which is to be built down by the gate. We will hopefully have the major part of the ground works done before the children return in September, but the build will not be completed until December, so we will have disruption for a while down by the gate. The long term plan is build a new entrance way once the old canteen building has been demolished. You may have noticed that we have not filled our raised beds and kept the front garden as beautiful as usual, unfortunately these will disappear under the new build, but I am pleased to be able to tell you that they will be relocated, as will the maze. Please bear with us while we get this exciting project off the ground.

The children have enjoyed a number of visits out of school, both day visits and residential. To mention just a few, Year 4 went to Robin Hoods Bay with Mrs Shutt, Miss Clay and I in June, we had a really good time. I understand there are a number of families with children in Year 4 that are going to visit Robin Hoods Bay this summer holiday. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did. Make sure you get the children to play the Smugglers Game with you (but only if you are really fit!) Year 5 went to East Barnby with Mrs Priestley and Mr Middleton and Year 6 made their annual visit to Humphrey Head. I am happy to be able to report that everyone had a brilliant time. Mrs Turnball's class spent a very cold day at Ryedale Folk Museum in February (in the middle of Ofsted week!) dressed as Victorians. They spent the day learning about life at the turn of the century and what life would have been like for children then. Not many of them preferred the life of the Victorian children; the view seemed to be 'there were too many jobs to do!' The Cookery Club were invited to the Star at Harome for a morning; they had a brilliant time with Andrew Pern and a number of chefs making lunch in the kitchens. they were then treated to lunch in the gardens. The children have now invited Andrew Pern back to school (he has said he will come). History Club have been visiting Ryedale Folk Museum every week and have become quite the resident experts.

We try hard to keep our curriculum active, hands on and fun. We recently had a French day, where the day was spent learning new words, trying new foods and having a good time. The staff from Ryedale School helped us to make this a fun-filled day where we learnt lots. It was lovely to see so many parents and grandparents (Year 6) who came along to the French cafe.

Reception/ Year 1 really enjoyed the visit from the Animal Zoo, who came along to school and brought lots of animals for the children to hold and look at; it has certainly brought a new dimension to their topic on MINI BEASTS! Year 2 celebrated the end of their learning journey this week with an 'Ugly Bug Ball', the children were invited to a 'bush tucker' challenge involving eating slugs on lettuce, snails and butterflies all washed down with beetle juice, thankfully all of the edible kind!

Last week we had a whole week of all things scientific. Mr Johnson arranged a brilliant week of visitors to help the staff deliver lots of EUREKA moments. On Monday two classes visited the STEM fair (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Year 6 had a visit from the Geology Trust and Herbie the Carrot visited Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2, to help them understand about healthy eating. On Tuesday we had a 'sound' day and we had a visit from a drummer and several classes did drumming workshops. On Wednesday and Thursday we had a planetarium in school and Mrs Priestley gave all the children guided tours of the galaxy. On Thursday Andy Gamble came and did lots of fitness related activities as well as two staff from Ryedale School who did lots of exciting science with Year 5. The Science Bus also came on Thursday and spent the day working with the children on the topic of forces - we had rockets exploding everywhere. On Friday we had staff from Ryedale Folk Museum who set up all sorts of science challenges in the hall, as well as staff from the National Park who taught us all about diversity. At the same time we had a local chef teaching children about changes to materials - they made bread with him in the kitchen.

At the end of the week the staff were exhausted but the children had had a fantastic week, which made it all worthwhile. We would like to thank everyone who came along and made it so much FUN.

Our Parents Committee have had another fantastic year, they have made in the region of £12, 000 this year. Then money has been spent on a number of projects including new staging and stage lighting, money towards buses and swimming, the Christmas parties and pantomime and lots more. We have a number of projects planned for next term including buying a bike rack and more outdoor play equipment. The School Council have been consulting the children about what they would like and have produced an interesting list. THANK YOU to everyone who has supported these events, raising so much money is a massive achievement and we would like to thank Kay Fairweather, (Chair of Parents Committee) and her band of helpers for making this such a success.

At the end of this academic year we are saying goodbye to four governors who have served the school for a number of years. Mrs Towler has been a governor for so long she can't remember how long she has actually been one! We would like to say thank you to Mrs Towler, Mrs Lishman, Mrs Youngs and Mrs Berry for all their hard work and commitment over the years. We will be looking for new Governors to join the team in September.

We are ending the year in our traditional manner with our Year 6 children performing 'The Rocky Monster Show' to parents and friends. On the last day of term we will be sending them off in style at their final assembly. All 34 children in Year 6 will be starting Ryedale School in September. We send them with all of our best wishes.

Finally, I need to say a big a very BIG THANK YOU to all of the children who have made this year another one to remember.

Have a VERY HAPPY, SAFE HOLIDAY. I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday 2nd September.

Gill Hardacre - Head Teacher, Kirkbymoorside Community Primary School
Video: Creating a community opera

Kirkbymoorside residents Em Whitfield Brooks and Tim Brooks talk about their work as founders and directors of Ryedale Festival Community Opera and another local project Songbirds.

A singing group for young people, Songbirds is part of the Sarah Louise Ashworth School of Dance based at Kirbymoorside Memorial Hall. Consisting of two groups, Nightingales for ages 5-11 and Skylarks 12-18, it meets every Friday in the Dug Out at the Hall. There are places available - find out more by watching the video and via Sarah's website.

Excerpts from the Ryedale Festival Community Opera can be watched here.

Learn more about Em Whitfield Brooks.
Video: Kirkbymoorside piano & maths teacher

Local music and maths teacher, Chris Martin, talks about her work and how she feels Kirkbymoorside has changed for the better in recent years.

Chris can be contacted regarding piano and maths lessons via Minim Music.

Also read: Minim Music celebrate move with Open Day
Video: Local resident seeks answers

Gaile Stevens was present at the meeting of the town council when they made the decision to refurbish the old town library for council offices and a community meeting room. Here she presents the questions she would like answered.

How do you feel about this issue? Please click the comments link below or post your own video by contacting the editor. All views are very welcome.
Kirkby School Governors say farewell

An end of term celebratory tea and cakes at the Penny Bank Cafe for governors, hosted by head Gill Hardacre and deputy head Alison Priestley, provided the ideal opportunity to say thank you to Paula Berry, Val Lishman, Pam Towler and Petra Slangen who have all retired as governors.

Between them they have served the school for many years as governors and as well as words of thanks from Gill all received a magnificent bouquet of flowers. The school is always on the look out for individuals who wish to support the school as governors or members of the parents fundraising group. Please contact the school to find out about the opportunities to get involved.
Kirkby Mayor Joe Coughlan resigns

On Tuesday following the Town Council meeting the previous night Mayor Joe Coughlan tendered his resignation as a protest at the decision made by a majority of the councillors to refurbish the old library for use as offices for the Town Council and community meeting room. (Read the Agenda for this meeting)

The Mayor has explained his reasons in an interview with the Gazette & Herald and will post an interview here on his return from holiday.

Read a recent article about the library in the Gazette & Herald.

Over the next few weeks this issue will be covered in detail on this blog as all sides will be invited to post interviews. Residents of the town are welcome to post their comments on the blog either by clicking on the comments box underneath posts or by contacting the blog editor if they would like to post a video interview.

Street interviews will also be carried out and posted on the site in the days ahead.
Thank you Town Team
At a meeting of the Town Team last night, after a short presentation and Q&A about this new town blog, members decided unanimously to grant £250 towards promotional materials for the site.

All agreed this project has great potential to enhance awareness of all aspects of the town locally and beyond as well as providing an interactive forum for community involvement in town issues.

As a result of their very generous support business cards will now be ordered and distributed around the town.

If you manage a website do please consider placing a link to this site and let us know about yours so can look at reciprocating the favour.

Thanks again Town Team and good luck with your work within the town.