In defiance of Storm ARWEN the Christmas auction went ahead in The Coach House Inn on Saturday and even with a reduced attendance over previous years and thanks to the generosity of those who donated items for the auction and those who bid for them, over £2000 was raised for the Reading Room fund.

Thanks also to Sue Foster and Lorraine Dale for organising the event and, as always, to Dave Oakey and the team at the Coach House for hosting it so efficiently.

Great news – Father Christmas will be paying a second visit to Rosedale on Saturday 4 December!

All children in the dale are invited to an Xmas Party to meet him between 2.30 to 5pm at the Updale Reading Room. Please let Sam know the numbers and age of children from your family on 01751 417199 or 07786506222 as soon a possible.

Father Christmas and his elves are all double/booster jabbed, are now out of quarantine and planning to visit Rosedale Abbey around 4.30pm on Wednesday 1 December!

Please come along and welcome Santa and support the worthy causes sponsored by the Ryedale Lions Club.

This year and in lieu of the usual carols on the green with mulled cider and mince pies held in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Charlotte Tomlin played a medley of Christmas tunes on a wintery Christmas Eve to a small but appreciative audience in the village.

A reminder that you can donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance at the following link: https://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/support-us/donate/ and support this vital asset to our remote community in these stressful times.

A very Happy Christmas to all our readers and best wishes for a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Church Services at Rosedale Church

Sunday December 20^th: Morning Prayer at 9.15am.

After the service, the church will remain open for private prayer until 3pm, decorated, warm and lit, with CD carols playing and a church member in attendance.

We hope that people will feel very welcome to visit and, if they wish, to light a candle, perhaps in memory of a loved one they have lost this year or just to bring a gleam of light at this dark time.

Christmas Eve: Holy Communion of the Nativity at 10.00pm.

All are welcome. We are hoping that a mini-choir will be able to sing some carols in the service. There will be mulled wine and minced pies (served safely!) after the service.

Contact Revd David Haddon-Reece, 01751 417401, or Mrs Lorraine Dale, 417448.

Sadly, there will be no ‘Carols on The Green’ by the Christmas Tree this year. We send all donations raised to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and this year would ask that you continue to support this vital emergency service by making contributions either in local collecting boxes or online or by cheque – details of how to donate are at https://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/support-us/donate/

We hope to see you all next year, to enjoy hot mulled cider and mince pies while singing along to our favourite carols around the village Christmas Tree. In the meantime stay safe and well and have a great Christmas.

Sadly but as expected the famous (or should that be infamous!) Christmas auction will not take place this year in the Coach House Inn. Instead there is now a draw where punters can ‘buy’ squares in the Abbey Stores and the Coach House Inn. Proceeds will go towards Rosedale Community School, the church, the Reading Room and Rosedale Football Club.

Details of prizes and the date of the draw will be notified as soon as known. Your support is, as ever, strongly requested

Like the rest of us, Father Christmas has been working from home for the last few weeks – however, he and his Lion elves will be out and about before Christmas.

They had planned to visit Rosedale Abbey on Wednesday 9 December, but he has had to change his plans and will now call in to the village on Thursday 17 December at around 4.00pm.

Santa and his sleigh will arrive by the school gates opposite Abbey Stores and he looks forward to seeing as many children from the dale that afternoon – see you then!