BAPTIST CHURCH: Our church was involved in three services on Sunday. Morning worship was led by David Thomas, with Paul Chapman reading the lessons. Reflecting on what St Paul said in a letter to the church at Corinth, the sermon dealt with Christian experience of being children of the Heavenly Father, subjects of king Jesus and members of the Body of Christ. It has been good that Sheila Sunderland has resumed playing the organ so soon after her cataract operation. We are very grateful to her. Then in the afternoon it was our turn to lead the service of the residents of Abbeyfield. This was done by Anne Wilkinson. Finally there was the evening united service of Churches Together in Ilkley, as the centrepiece of the week of prayer for Christian unity. It was held at the Sacred Heart church and led by their priest, the Rev Mgr Dr Kieran Heskin, who gave a very informative address outlining the history of the Catholic Church’s eventual participation in the ecumenical movement. Canon Pat Dearnsley, current president of Churches Together in Ilkley, led the prayers of intercession. Light refreshments were served afterwards, enabling informal fellowship. There will be short meetings for prayer meeting in the various churches from Monday through Thursday in the evenings with a final one on Friday morning at Christchurch.

ROTARY CLUB: Local charities are being invited to book a place on a table top sale in Ilkley. The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale is seeking local causes who would like to book a place for the event on Saturday, March 16, to get in touch. The sale will be held at Christchurch, in The Grove, between 2-4.30pm. Refreshments will also be available. Contact Bob Smith via e-mail at rsmith6pj@ btinternet.com to book a place. Tables can be hired for £10 each or £15 for two. The rotary club will be having two tables, one selling items including bric a brac and CDs and the other one selling second-hand jewellery.

INNER WHEEL CLUB: Beekeeping was the subject of speaker, and newest member, Val Ogden, at the January club meeting. Donning the requisite suit, boots and gloves she gave a fascinating insight into the year of a beekeeper, explaining how, if bees stop pollinating our plants, 60 per cent of our food will be lost. Bees are very social insects, the drones only have one function, to fertilise the queen and then they are kicked out of the hive. The workers, who are females, organise the hive and look after the queen. The weather plays a big part in the production of honey with the 40lbs collected from Val’s hives in 2011, drastically reduced to only 10lbs last year. Recounting various adventures experienced when rescuing bees which have swarmed, Val kept her audience well entertained.

OLICANA BRIDGE CLUB: Details of the winners for week ending January 21. Monday, January 14, eight tables. Winners: Mike Collier & Jacqui Farrar. Runners-up: Brian Davison & Di Roberts. Tuesday, January 15, ten tables. N/S winners: Judith Biles & Ian Rodger. E/W winners: Sue Stevens & Pam Bailey. Wednesday, January 16, morning, 11 tables. N/S winners: Margaret McKenzie & Janet Benson. E/W winners: Sandra North & Harriet Gill. Wednesday, January 16, four tables (no fear improvers) winners: Pat Baker & Heather Harvey. Runners-up: John Phillpotts & Margrit Bartlitt. Thursday, January 17, nine tables. N/S winners: Bruce Murray & Jean Beever. E/W winners: Di Roberts & Ian Jane. Friday, January 18, three tables. Winners: Pat Warnett & Di Roberts. Runners-up: David & Pamela Oglesby. Other club news: Carole Kelly and Geoff Kenyon have won the Yorkshire Pairs competition in Bradford, enabling them to represent Yorkshire in a national Inter-Counties event in June.