Full list of village organisations
Book Group The Book Group has been running since 2000. It has 15 members who take turns to select a book to be read and then host a meeting in their house when the book is discussed. Over 100 titles have been read since the group was formed. MEETINGS: Third Monday of each month. CONTACT: Alison Holley, Group Leader (677854).
Bowling Club
CLUB DETAILS: The Club was founded in the Spring of 2003. It has a six rink flat green and the game is played in accordance with EBA rules.The green is open at any time to suit members but particularly on Monday evenings from 6 to 8pm for club night and Wednesday mornings from 10 to 12 noon for beginners and newcomers. The club competes in the Dalesmans League,The Harrogate Ladies League, the Bateson Mixed Triples League and The York Private Members Club League.. In addition many friendly matches take place throughout the season against other clubs. These are usually on a Tuesday evening or at the weekend. The season usually starts in mid April and carries through to mid September
MEMBERSHIP: There are currently 68 members. New members are always welcome and newcomers to the game may 'have a go' before joining. Coaching is available and bowls and footwear can be borrowed from the club.
OFFICERS: Chairman - David Chapman (07527699494); Secretary - Sally Scott (07910204335); Treasurer - Bill Humphreys; Bowling Green Manager - Mervyn Beecroft; COMMITTEE: Team Captain Bateson League - Pete Darbyshire; Team Captain Dalesman League - Pete Darbyshire; Team Captain Harrogate Ladies League - Susie Whistler; Team Captain York Private Clubs League - Danny May; Safeguarding Officer - Emma Oates; Ladies Secretary - Susie Whistler.
Bridge Group
CONTACT: Ruth Dunn (01423 340664). The Group meets every Thursday at 2pm until 4pm at the Village Hall.
Cricket Club
CONTACT: Richard Giles (07970 621503)
Croquet Club
The club was founded by Richard Field in 2008 and now has about 60 members making it one of the largest croquet clubs in Yorkshire. The facilities include a clubhouse and two excellent lawns with an irrigation system all maintained by a detailed lawn management system. There is a full programme of relaxed social play, match play, competitions and social events. Play is available on every day of the week during the season, mid-April to mid-October.
The club is actively looking for new members of all ages and experiences including beginners.
Contacts: Secretary, Hilary Philpott (01765 676805 or 07885 501934) or Chair, Jack Upsall (01423 340694 or 07837 276798).
Tuesday morning Coffee Morning held in Methodist Schoolroom.
CONTACT: David Bray (677642).
Embroidery Group
Contact: Lesley Taylor (677664). Bishop Monkton Stitchers came into existence when a group of ladies met to undertake the task of embroidering kneelers for the church. They enjoyed doing it so much that they have continued meeting ever since. In this time they have produced several impressive montages now displayed at the Village Hall. New members are always welcome.
Entertainments Group
The Entertainments Group (BMEG) welcomes everyone in the village to have fun and take part, either on or off the stage. Over many years they have put on award-winning plays, music halls, revues, film nights, afternoon teas and their famous pantomimes which include young and old. The group is currenty dormant but hopes to resume if new members come forwardf. Contact: Martin Bethel, Secretary (676691)..
Football Club disbanded 2015
Friends of School The Friends of Bishop Monkton School (Friends) is a fund raising association. Its objective is to advance the education of the pupils by providing or assisting in the provision of facilities for education at the school. Anyone with an interest in the school, whether parents or members of the wider community, may join the Committee of Friends and each is entitled to attend meetings held each term. Management control and day-to-day running of the Association is vested in a Committee chaired by Ruth Abel.
DONATIONS: Funds are raised for specific projects agreed with the Headteacher. Past donations have financed the purchase of many much-needed items of equipment.
OFFICIALS: Chair: Rebecca Forsythe; Secretary: Sarah Pawson; Vice Secretary: Emma Hawkridge; Treasurer: Ashlea Costello.
To get involved or for details of upcoming events, please contact Rebecca Forsythe on 07533 336757.
Keep Fit Group
CONTACT: Pauline Beecroft (677668).
Ladies Group We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm (except August) in members' homes. We have interesting speakers, demonstrations, visit places of interest, nature walks and meals out. We are a very informal group and we welcome new members. OFFICERS: Chairman: Jane Taplin (677340); Treasurer: Lesley Taylor; Committee: Maureen Kinnear Janet Freer, Sue Moss.
Local History Group Researching into a wide range of historical aspects, events, buildings, people, records, maps, businesses, places of worship together with arranging a number (about 6 per year) of appropriate talks and visits. Annual membership is just £12.50. Most of this is displayed through our website, Bishop Monkton Yesterday - https://bmlhg.chessck.co.uk - click here CONTACT: Chris Bagnall (Chairman) 07860 664611
Community First Responders (CFR's), Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS)
The initial Life Savers Group was formed by Richard Field and Richard Houseman in 2008 using funds won in the Village of the Year competition to purchase a defibrillator and oxygen equipment. Currently YAS carry out interviews, DBS checks and request references prior to providing the initial training and ongoing support/training to CFR's. CFR's provide life-saving treatment to patients in the vital first few minutes of an emergency until the ambulance crew arrives. The role may involve providing vital reassurance to patients and their families, carrying out observations, administration of oxygen or in extreme cases they can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) which can potentially save a life. More information is available at https://www.yas.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/community-first-responders/
MEMBERSHIP: More volunteers are urgently required to join the village group so please contact us for more local information if required. CONTACT: Co-ordinator: Jonathan Beer (07766355314)
Methodist Church
The
Methodist
Church is a focus of worship for some 50 families from the village and neighbourhood and has a reputation as a welcoming community.
Typically 30 to 40 people will gather for Sunday worship at 10.45am, with up to 90 on special occasions. There is also a Junior Church. Children are always welcome to services.
MINISTER: The Rev. Sarah Caddell e-mail: sarah.cadell@methodist.org.uk
Vestry Stewards: Roger Baker 676238, David Bray 677642, Richard Houseman 677642
OFFICERS: Church Stewards: Angie Archbold 677834, Tim Abel 602605.
Bookings: Angie Archbold 677834.
Safe Guarding Officer: Roger Baker
(also see METHODIST CHURCH/Our services/officers).
Parish Council
The Council holds regular meetings at which matters of importance to the village are discussed. An annual meeting is held at the
Methodist Church School Room when all villagers are welcome to attend.
CHAIRMAN: Stephen Verrill
COUNCILLORS: Sheila Parsons, Tony Garnett, Dean Culshaw
CLERK: Sue Reid (07507 714782)
Parochial Church Council (PCC)
An organisation which deals with all sorts of matters affecting the Parish Church.
CONTACT: Lindy Wainwright (Secretary).
Primary School
Bishop Monkton School is a small primary school catering for children aged between four years and eleven years of age. The school is situated in the centre of Bishop Monkton. The school consists of a spacious main building which opened in 1970 and a state-of-the-art extension built in 2004. All classrooms have excellent ICT facilities including interactive whiteboards. The school has a large playing field to the rear of the building together with an enclosed wildlife garden and pond. To the front of the school are a grassed agility trail and a hard surface play area. The surroundings of the school are idyllic, offering a superb environment to enhance the children’s studies.
At present the school is organised into three classes:
Class 1 – Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
Class 2 – Year 3 and Year 4
Class 3 – Year 5 and Year 6
The school has a successful before and after school group named Quackers.
Quackers The Bishop Monkton Before and After School Club is run by a voluntary committee of school governors and provides wrap around childcare, offering fun and games for pupils at Bishop Monkton School and Puddleducks Pre-School. Quackers is managed by Katey Smithson assisted by Katie Jones and Fiona Verrill. CONTACT: 01765 677583 or admin@bishopmonkton.n-yorks.sch.uk or Katey Smithson on the Quackers. mobile: 07530 913494
St. John Baptist Parish Church The present church has provided a focal point for village worship for over 200 years. House for Duty Priest: Rev. Robb Wainwright. To arrange Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals please contact The Vicarage, Knaresborough Road, Bishop Monkton, Harrogate HG3 3QQ Tel: (01765) 676298 email:robbwainwright@gmail.com We would also like to hear of anyone in sickness or trouble so that arrangements can be made to visit. Church Wardens Ken Barker, Andrew Carruthers; PCC: Chair: Sue Short (01765 677496); PCC Secretary: Lindy Wainwright; PCC Treasurer: Maggie Wood (01765 677159); PCC Members: Sue Hargreaves, John Eden, James Hobson, Sheila Kindon, Kate Fenwick; Editor, Bishop Monkton Parish Magazine: John Eden.
Table Tennis Club: Bishop Monkton Table Tennis Club was founded by Richard Field and launched in January 2011. There are now eight groups playing every week (except Saturday) at the Village Hall as follows: Mondays 10am to 12 noon and 2 to 4pm; Tuesdays 2 to 4pm; Wednesdays, f0am to 12 noon.and 2 to 4pm;: Thursdays,10am to 12 noon; Fridays 10am to 12 noon, Sundays 7pm to 9pm. The club has 4 tables with 3 normally used for doubles play in the Village Hall. There is a concrete table on the edge of the playing field and this is available free for the public. MEMBERSHIP: Applications should be made to the Secretary preferably by using the link to a Membership Application Form on the Table Tennis page of this site (which then contains onwarding instructions) or using forma. Chairman:: Tony Essex (01423 887083); Treasurer: Mark Summerscales (01765 676185), Secretary: vacant at present - contact the Treasurer.;Group leaders: Lesley Wood (Monday am), Annabel Alton (Monday pm), Russell Gregory (Tuesday pm), Carole Minett (Wednesday am), Ken Fradley (Wednesday pm), John Lovel (Thursday am), Diane Jackson (Friday am) and Tim Walbank (Sunday). Membership Secretary: vacant at present, contact the Treasurer
Junior Table Tennis Club: Formed in late 2023 by Phil Alcock for ages say 6 to 14. They now have 2 sessions a week, Thursdays 5.30 to 7.00 and Sundays 5.30 to 7.00. The play and coaching use a structured programme 'TT Kidz', part of Table Tennis England. Two coaches are regularly in attendance. For further details contact Phil at bmjttc@gmail.com.
Tennis Club The Tennis Club was officially opened on 25 September 2010. Two tennis courts incorporating a multi-use games area were constructed in 2010 following award of grants and a highly successful fund raising campaign. MEMBERSHIP: Annual subscription now available for families, couples, individual adults and juniors. Contact: Jonathan Pimley on jonathanpimley@btinternet.com
Village Hall & Queen Elizabeth II Field Committee This is an elected Committee which has responsibility for the management of the Village Hall and Queen Elizabeth II Field. The Committee includes representatives from village clubs and organisations. CONTACTS: Gerald Shervington (Chairman) tel. 677482; Victoria Sargison (Treasurer); Lesley Shervington (Secretary). BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES: e-mail: bmvhbookings@hotmail.co.uk or 07413001473
Village Website (Bishop Monkton Today) The site was launched by Richard Field on 28 January 2005 on the day the new Village Hall was opened. Since then Richard has remained Editor with a flow of contributions from many villagers. Bishop Monkton Today has been developed into a site with over 30 sections and 100 pages to read and is updated most days at 8am and at intervals through the day. To date the site has attracted well over a million 'hits' in its 18 years of continuous operation. Richard receives valuable assistance from Pat Field (Assistant to the Editor), Martin Minett (Technical Advisor) and Colin Philpott who provides additional news contributions. Contact: Richard Field (editorbmtoday@aol.com). Tel. 01765 677795.
Women's Institute The WI has flourished in Bishop Monkton since 1927 when 12 ladies got together and decided to form a branch in the village. The first meetings were held in a room at the Mason's Arms. In 1928 the WI build its own hall at a cost of £550. During the Second World War 100 evacuees made use of the hall, and during the war years Saturday night dances were held and attended by by troops and airmen from Ripon, Wormald Green, Dishforth and Topcliffe. Over its 70 years, in addition to hosting hundreds of WI meetings, the hall has been a centre for a wide variety of village activities. WI members and their families worked tirelessly to raise funds to support and maintain it. The WI was a major contributor towards the building of the new Village Hall and Playing Field, contributing £145,000 from the sale of the old building when it was demolished. MEETINGS: Held at the Village Hall at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. There are speakers, demonstrations, hands-on craft demonstrations, outings and parties, and through the Federation, workshops, trips abroad, chance to debate important current issues, etc. and much, much more. MEMBERSHIP: New members are always welcome. Officers: President - Kate Fenwick - 01765 676261; Secretary - Karen Simpson - Bishopmonktonwi@gmail.com
Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association CONTACT: Kath Wilks (677718).
Note to Secretaries
Any changes should be sent to EditorBMToday@aol.com
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