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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.