A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium in Octon on Thursday December 3 for Mrs Eileen Hood, of ‘Shires’, The Horseshoe, Driffield (formerly of Octon Grange), who died in Scarborough Hospital on Saturday 21 November. She was aged 87 years.

The service was conducted by the Rev Glyn Owen, a tribute was given by Patrick Tasker (grandson), a poem was read by William Lamb (friend), Go Now in Peace was sung by Marie Rutherford (sister-in-law) and the organist was Dick Robinson.

Eileen was born in Hull on 10 February, 1928, the first child of Jessie and Arthur Conner, Manor Farm, Thwing, later of Swaythorpe.

She was joined by siblings Joan, Jim, Mick and Hazel. She attended Thwing Primary School and then Rose Lea, near Selby.

She later went to All Saints College at Pannel, near Harrogate to study the Truby King methods of Nursery Nursing. She enjoyed taking the children for happy holidays on Filey sands.

After returning home to East Yorkshire she worked at home. She joined the Young Farmers and she was an active member, travelling with a group to Norbrek.

She met her husband to be Lawrence Hood at a dance at the Spa in Bridlington and they married in Thwing Church on 4 May, 1954.

They moved into Octon Grange where Lawrence farmed with his brother Dennis. She joined a large family and over the years became very dear to the Hood clan.

They went on to have three children – Allister, Fay and Diana and Eileen supported them in good times and bad.

Eileen enjoyed helping with the show cattle and her efforts were recognised when she was asked to judge the ‘Bob Rickatson Memorial Award’ for the best handler in the Cattle Championships at Royal Smithfield on two occasions and made her family very proud.

In 1990 she followed her father onto the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Council. When the showing days were over she was a sheep steward for many years.

She was thrilled to have her memories from 70 years attending the Great Yorkshire Show published in the Yorkshire Post as part of their 150 years celebrations.

She was very involved in fundraising for many charities and organisations, including Kings Mill School and Riding for the Disabled. She only stopped her weekly sessions at Riding for the Disabled when she reached 70.

She loved her grandchildren Louenna, Oliver, Patrick, Harry, Dominic and Ben and she was always involved in their lives and proud of their achievements.

Sadly in 1997, Lawrence died.

She elected to move to The Horseshoe in Driffield where she made many new and very good friends.

She was a member of the Ladies Luncheon Club and the U3A and enjoyed going to her Art classes. She also enjoyed jigsaws and knitting.

Family Mourners: Allister & Anne Hood, Andrew & Fay Grace also rep Diana Hood, Louenna Hood, Oliver Hood, Harry Hood, Lily Gibbs, Benedict Hood, Patrick Tasker, Charlotte Palfreeman, Dominic Tasker, Chris & Emily McGregor also rep Lucy & Amy Grace, Hazel Conner,Jim Conner, Jacky, Mick & Paula Conner, Freda Kempson, Derek & Sandra Hood, John & Marie Rutherfoord, Graham & Ann Pickup, Ivy Hood, Ivor & Christine Stevens, Michael & Amanda Conner, Barry & Denise Goodwin, Christine Stather, Neil & Lesley Kempson, Sonja Greaves, Andrew Towse, Brenton Towse, Tracey Mortimer also rep David, Alice & Max, Andrea Barnes also rep Martin, Emily & Isobel, Andrew Conner, Emma Whatling, Charlotte Ross, Kieran Sellars, Muriel Kirkwood, Robert Kirkwood, Bessie Clappison, Paul Clappison, Nanette Harrison, Derek & Shirley Peacock.

Others present: Mrs J Cummings, Eileen Shipley, Kath Burdass rep Russell & Pearl Burdass, Mr & Mrs N Robson, Joyce Parkin rep Roger Parkin &Ted Hutchinson, Fenella Gilliat rep Ian, Joan Thompson, Mrs Ann Beal, Ruth Pearson, William Dove, Henry & Jenny Watson rep David Watson, Mr & Mrs D Lamplough & Mr & Mrs M White, Mrs T Maggs rep Mr Ian Maggs, Peter Crossley, Mike Burdass, John & Ruth Ezard rep the family, Arnold Park, Colin Buckton rep Margaret, Julian Hopwood rep the family & Royal Smithfield Club, Shirley Crane, John & Jean Harrison, Frederick & Jane Fairburn rep Brian Leadley, Philip & Shirley Hughes, Betty Taylor rep Jo Taylor, Maureen Burgess rep Roy, Mary Burdass, Mr & Mrs C Overfield, Katy Burdass rep Tim, Alec Taylor, Gwynneth & Keith Clark rep Yorkshire Agriculture Society, Joanne Leason rep Mr Bill Bentley, Jenny Welburn rep Janet Borman, David & Barbara Gilliat rep Driffield Ladies Lunch, Mr Colin Roe, Norman Colley rep Barbara, Jean Kitching, Susan Ward, Brenda Thornton, Anneliese Hebden, Mr & Mrs I Patterson, Carolyn Drury rep Roz Los & Margaret Snowden, Kathleen Clark rep Brian, Mary Witty rep family, Terry & Enid Milner, Joyce Marson, Mrs Pat Stephenson, Di White, Miss S Norman rep Mrs M Norman & Mrs A Waslin, Peter & Sylvia Richmond rep Karen & Lizzie, Annette Harrison, Francis Richardson, Mr D Slack, Richard & Angela Theakston rep family, Mrs James Legard, Rob & Carol Farrow, Dave Lilley, Kathy Snook, Claudia Cooper, Jerome Harforth, Jackie Thompson rep Emma Cowley, Evelyn Bayfield Brown, Thelma Lovel, Joan Hardy rep Richard, Janet McNay, Caroline Marson rep Andrew, Julie Scruton rep Julia Thomas, Steven Stubbings, Jackie Burton rep Chris, Ann Southwick rep John, Susan Southwick, Sue & Ron Ingram, William & Jill Lamb rep Mrs Mavis Bulmer, Stephen & Jane Calvert, June & Mike Sellars, Ruth Webster rep Patrick Webster, Joe Webster & Stewart Harrison, Jo Frend rep Chris & Shirley Coleman, Mary Ramsay, Christine Clappison, Christine Waind rep Marion Kirkwood, Fiona Lees rep Wilf Ward Family Trust, Ruth Watts rep Innisfail, Walkington, Simon Plater, Sharon Hart & Becky Clarkson all rep Wilf Ward Family Trust, Sallie Warters, Cathryn & Gary Scott, Mrs M E Kirkwood, Hayley Thurlow rep The White House, Maggie Howatt rep The White House, Bryony Sedman rep the White House,Liz Clark, Mary Clark, Janet Eastwood, Elaine, Ian Forbes, Kath Grace, Edward Jackson, Yvonne Johnston, Dick Robinson, Henry Sutton.

A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium on Friday 4 December for Mrs Enid Jones, of Londesborough Road, Cranswick, who died in Hospital on Friday 20 November. She was aged 87 years.

The service was conducted by the Rev John McNaughton and the organist was Mr Peter Maw.

Enid was born on the 5 February, 1928, in Bath, Somerset. After three or four years she moved with her parents to Langwith, near Mansfield. She attended the local primary school and in 1939 became a pupil at the Central Selective School for Girls at Shirebrook. During her younger years she was taught to play the piano and later to play the organ in the local Church at Whaley Thorns.

At a young age she elected to be a pen pal and started communicating with Nadine. They have corresponded and phoned regularly to this day and Nadine now lives in Colarado Springs.

After leaving school in 1943 Enid became school secretary to the headmaster in two local schools and worked evenings and weekends as an usherette at Langwith Cinema.

She later found a clerical job in a firm in Mansfield where she worked until her marriage to Cyril on the 23 August, 1952. Owing to Cyril being promoted to chief clerk at Boston Locomotive Depot they moved to that area and bought a house in Wyberton and later moved to Woodside, nearer Boston Town. During this time Enid worked for a chemist in his office on clerical duties.

In 1968 Cyril was transferred to Immingham and they moved to Habrough, a village nearby where Enid found work in a chemical company – Laporte Synres and later worked as a library assistant in Immingham,

In 1973 Cyril was promoted to Hull Maintenance Engineers office and they moved to Leconfield for one year before moving to Hutton Cranswick. Enid found a clerical position in the East Yorkshire Council highways department in Driffield and retired from there in June 1989.

Enid had many interests including music, films, reading Book Club issues received on a regular basis. She enjoyed holidays in Great Britain and abroad. She also enjoyed motor racing, knitting and cooking.

She was fully active until August 2012 when she fractured her left femur and was wheelchair bound requiring full time care until she died.

Chief Mourners: Cyril Jones (husband), Audrey Wardman (sister in law), Margaret & Don Seals (sister in law & husband), Ian & Judith Jones (brother in law & wife), John Fullarton (brother in law), Rachael & Gary Smith, Clair & John Cowan (nieces & husbands), Elizabeth Jones (niece) also rep Monica Jones (sister in law), Lisa Bessa (niece) also rep Julian Bessa (husband), Helen Gibson (niece) also rep Tim Gibson (husband), Andrew Seals (nephew) also rep Tracy Seals (wife), Peter & Coral Seals, David & Michelle Jones (nephews & wives), Tim Wardman (nephew) also rep Neal & John Wardman.

Others present: Alan Clark, Julie Hardy, Zoe Gill, Keith & Marilyn Benfell, Mr & Mrs M & V McKnight rep Richard Megginson, Mr H Hopkins rep Janet Hopkins, Margaret Collinson rep Mr & Mrs R Hooper, Judith & Graham Tock.

A teenager from Leconfield has landed a position with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, placing him among the country’s most talented musicians.

Harry Kneeshaw, 15, who attends Pocklington School, will join the orchestra as a first violin for 2016.

He said: “I’m really excited to be part of the orchestra, because we will play some amazing music in fantastic concert halls with brilliant conductors. I will receive orchestral tuition from some of the country’s top musicians and meet like-minded teenagers from all over the UK.”

When you join the Racegoers’ Club, you are sent a nice badge and a nice membership booklet full of nice admission discounts for all the racecourses.

At Christmas time, you can send off for a nice Racegoers’ Club diary and an even nicer Racegoers’ Club calendar. You can even go on nice stable tours and join nice owners’ clubs.

It is an undeniably nice and noble organisation, boasting thousands of contented members.

But strip away the veneer of smashing, great niceness and do you find the teeth and the nous to fight for those members when the voices and views of racegoers need to be heard? And if not, why not?

The question is raised in the wake of the decision to run next year’s Grand National at tea-time. At 5.15 pm to be exact, in a bid to increase its TV audience and raise its profile.

The announcement released a tidal wave of media coverage, opinion and PR guff, but not one mention of the consideration of racegoers. Not one mention of the logistical problems that will be caused by extending the meeting to 6.10 pm (the time of the final race) for the thousands who make the annual pilgrimage to Liverpool from all corners of the country by train on Grand National Day. Not one mention of how tricky it can be to get home by train from that part of the country on a Saturday night. One celebrated columnist reckoned racegoers wouldn’t even notice the new start time. Cocooned in his ivory-tower of a Press box, how would he know?

For all I know, the Racegoers’ Club might well have been involved in consultations with Aintree and might well be beavering away behind the scenes on any number of issues that smother our sport. If so, I apologise. Conversely, the Racegoers’ Club might argue that its role is not that of a pressure group or lobby organisation. But if that’s the case, then who does steer the racegoers’ ship on racing’s rough sea of change?

When tracks erect music-concert stages that block the view of racing, who sings the complaints of racegoers?

When courses charge £5 for racecards, as Sandown did on Tingle Creek day two weeks ago, who publishes the gripes of racegoers?

When tracks omit fences or hurdles because of low sun, reducing to farce races they have studied, paid to watch and paid to bet on, who jumps up and down on behalf of racegoers?

When courses offer late discounts for meetings after loyal regulars have already bought their tickets at full price, who balances the books for racegoers?

When tracks insist on telling us how to dress when we attend meetings, who wears the trousers for racegoers?

To most of the stakeholders in the sport, namely the BHA and RCA officials, the owners, the trainers, the jockeys, the bookmakers, the media, these might seem trivial grievances barely worth entertaining.

But they are the grievances of an army of enthusiasts without whom racing would quickly pull up lame. Whether they be supporters of their small, local track or dedicated purists who trek the length and breadth of the country following the sport they love.

Let’s just consider Grand National Day 2016 for the train traveller in a little more detail. They have chosen rail to avoid the traffic chaos and so they can have a drink or two. By the time the last race has run, they must wend and weave their way out of the course and cross the road to join the enormous queues for trains from Aintree station back to the city. After a 20-minute journey to Liverpool Central, they face a ten-minute walk to the main rail hub at Lime Street.

I would estimate that even if things go to plan, it will be around 7.30 before they get there. The last train from Lime Street to London on a Saturday night is 7.48 pm. Miss that and you don’t get home until the next morning. And that’s to the country’s capital city. Imagine how inflated such problems are if your destination is a more obscure city or town.

The Tea-Time Grand National threatens to force racegoers to leave after the big race and miss the last, or stay overnight on Merseyside. In other words, refrain from getting your money’s worth (a decent ticket costs £99) or fork out the extortionate prices charged by hotels on such a big day.

The tea-time experiment may well achieve its laudable aims. It may well multiply Channel 4 viewing figures, bump up bookmakers’ turnover and send interest in the race soaring through the roof.

However, it is also symptomatic of a disconcerting trend that ignores the views of racegoers and takes their support for granted. There should be a body, a structure or a formula that enables racegoers to contribute. Now that really would be nice.

New columnist Kevin Sinfield charts his transition from rugby league legend into rugby union regular in the first of his weekly columns.

Being nominated for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year has been really humbling and I am honoured to be representing rugby league on the shortlist of nominees for the main award.

I go to Belfast on Sunday night with no expectations but delighted to be part of the 12 nominees. I will be amongst a group of tremendous friends in the Rhinos squad.

I am looking forward to spending some time with the lads and carrying on those friendships and enjoying each others’ company.

It was a bit hectic at the end of the season as I immediately switched to life at Yorkshire Carnegie so this will be a good opportunity to enjoy a night out with the Rhinos lads and reflect on what we achieved in 2015.

I would like to thank everyone who has sent me their best wishes following my nomination and I hope I can do you all proud on Sunday.

I knew it was going to take time to adjust to rugby union. I knew I would have some frustrations during these early months but the big concern for me was whether I could replicate the buzz that I got from playing rugby league and I have to say I really enjoyed the game on Sunday against London Scottish at Scarborough, and that buzz is still there, which means a lot to me.

That is the reason why I want to go out there every weekend but I know I still have lots to learn. I am making small steps every day in training and getting better and better.

The lads have been fantastic with me and I could not wish to be part of a better rugby union group of players than my team-mates at Yorkshire Carnegie.

They have supported and guided me and that has been very humbling. The coaching staff have been brilliant with me too and, whilst it has not been an easy transition, I have to say I would have been disappointed if it had been easy.

Having been with Yorkshire Carnegie for nearly two months, I am finding my routine now as a rugby union player and certainly how to pace myself in the games.

Through the repetition in training, things are coming more natural for me and my understanding of the game is improving with every training session.

I am really enthused about what is in front of me, especially playing over the Christmas period, which is not something I have ever done as a professional.

With the Rhinos, we play a friendly fixture at Headingley on Boxing Day each year but I haven’t always been involved in those games and, by their nature, they are not as intense as when there are league points at stake.

To be able to play around Christmas and New Year is something that is new for me, especially as it will be a challenging period for us with two tough games.

This week we play the return game at London Scottish. Our preparations this week will be helped by the fact that we had a look at them last week and have played against them on Sunday.

There is less analysis to do but we will pick the bones out of the first game before going down there on Saturday and trying to replicate that performance.

I have no doubt (head coach) Bryan Redpath will highlight areas where we need to be better and we will work on that this week before looking forward to the trip down there.

I think our young players have been some of our best performers this season. Taylor Prell has been outstanding in recent weeks and young Max Wright has really stepped up this level.

Everyone knows the quality that our hooker Jack Walker possesses whilst Josh Bainbridge and Jack Barnard having given the coaches some headaches with their performances. I think it is great when you get a good mix of exciting young players and experienced senior players within a squad.

Someone like Dean Schofield really set the standard on Sunday at Scarborough with his performance playing a full 80 minutes. It is a pleasure to play alongside him, I know his history in the game and to be around him and see how he performed on Sunday was great. If we can keep hold of those young lads it certainly bodes well for Yorkshire Carnegie when you combine their talent with the likes of Dean, Chris Jones and Chris Pilgrim, the future does look bright.

I was delighted that Yorkshire Carnegie got back to winning ways on Sunday with our win over London Scottish in the British & Irish Cup at Scarborough.

First and foremost, we produced a great team performance, which was exactly what we needed on the back of three losses.

It was important that we got a win but more importantly that we played well as a team. Competition for places at the minute is really strong and it was vital that, coming into the Christmas period, we start to build some momentum.

It was great to be at Scarborough. I had never been to Silver Royd before.

The set-up was fantastic and everyone was so welcoming. Considering the amount of rain and bad weather we have had in recent weeks, the pitch was in really good shape and that made a great day all round.

I am very happy with how we played on Sunday and I think that is the bench mark for us going forward. If we can hit that standard most weeks, we will not be far off by the end of the season.

Last Sunday’s game at Scarborough was part of the club’s policy of playing home Cup games on the road at clubs around Yorkshire. The facilities and the people at Scarborough were brilliant.

It was a great exercise all round and I am fully behind the club’s policy of taking these games on the road to encourage people to come and watch the team.

We are trying to spark people’s interest in Yorkshire Carnegie and Sunday’s game was a great indication of how important it can be to take these games out into the rugby union community in the county.

To see a decent crowd, including so many locals, coming to support Yorkshire Carnegie was important. I would like to think some of those fans from Scarborough will come down to Headingley Carnegie later in the year to support the boys.

I am really looking forward to a busy weekend. First and foremost we have Saturday’s clash with London Scottish. Gameday is always the best day of the week for me.

It will be a huge challenge to play the same team twice in a week but I haven’t played at London Scottish before so there is certainly a freshness there for me.

If we can get the job done on Saturday it will set things up nicely for Sunday.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that England international Jonny Bairstow has signed a new three-year contract, which will keep him at Headingley until at least December 2018.

Bairstow, who is currently on the winter tour of South Africa with England will be hoping to cement his place in the Test side when the first Test gets underway in Durban on Boxing Day, had his best season with the bat accumulating 1108 Championship runs at an average of 92.33. During the Championship winning campaign, the combative right-hander scored five centuries including a career best of 219 not out against Durham at Chester-le-Street in June.

“I’m delighted to be signing a new contract with Yorkshire,” said Bairstow, who is currently preparing for England’s two-day tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI in Potchefstroom, which gets underway later today.

“We had a tremendous season in Championship cricket lifting the title for a second successive season.

It is great to be part of a culture where winning and being successful is at the heart of what drives the team on.

“The players are determined more than ever to ensure that we continue to set the benchmark high.

“It is an exciting time to be part of Yorkshire and England cricket and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of both teams.

“From an England point of view, I’m enjoying being part of the national set up and preparing well here in South Africa ahead of the opening Test Match in Durban on Boxing Day.”

Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon is delighted that the 26-year-old has committed his long-term future to Headingley.

“It is great news that Jonny has signed on. He has been a big part of our success in the last few years. As we all know, he is an extremely talented cricketer.

“He is maturing and is an integral part of what we do. His best years are yet to come. I have great admiration for Jonny and his talents. I hope that he can fulfil his full potential in the coming seasons.

“The next phase for him will be to achieve consistency in his performances with England. He has a great chance in South Africa to fulfil his goals against one of the best seam attacks in the world.

“We’ll all be watching on hoping he and the other Yorkshire lads succeed.”

Meanwhile, two Academy products – Jared Warner and Mathew Waite - have signed junior professional contracts until December 2017.

Seam bowler Warner, who celebrated his 19th birthday last month, is currently in Sri Lanka with the England under 19s squad. The Wakefield-born quick is highly regarded by the Yorkshire set-up and impressed for the Second XI last term.

Waite, a talented all-rounder who will turn 20 on Christmas Eve, captained the Yorkshire Academy to Yorkshire League Cup and the Black Sheep Champions Trophy success in the summer, has already been involved in the senior set-up. He made his NatWest T20 Blast debut in July against Northamptonshire Steelbacks and has played four matches for the White Rose County in white ball cricket.

“Both Jared and Matthew deserve the recognition of earning a junior professional contract,” added Moxon.

“We expect them to progress even further over the next few years. Our objective is for them to be prepared and ready to step up to the senior side as and when they are called upon.

“They are both eager to succeed and are tremendous prospects for the future.

“Jared brings pace. He is a genuinely quick bowler and Matthew is a good quality all-rounder. Both performed well in Second XI and were part of the successful Academy side that dominated the Yorkshire League and the Champions Trophy competitions.”

Waite has been given squad number six and Warner squad number 45.

JONNY BAIRSTOW pledged his future to Yorkshire for the next three years and then outlined his desire to cement his place as England’s first-choice Test wicketkeeper.

The talented batsman has put pen to paper on a new contract that will keep him at Headingley until at least December 2018.

And as he prepared for the opening game of England’s tour of South Africa today, Bairstow spoke positively of keeping his spot behind the stumps.

“I’ve only kept in three Test matches, so it’s an exciting time for me personally being able to hopefully press home the position,” said Bairstow, who is set to start the four-match series on Boxing Day after head coach Trevor Bayliss gave him the green light to retain the gloves over Jos Buttler.

“Having the confidence of the captain and coach going into the warm-up games, and hopefully the first Test, is something I can take on, be relaxed about and enjoy.

“That’s when I play my best cricket, and hopefully I’ll be able to do that not only in the warm-up games but going into the series.”

Bayliss’s support is a big boost for Bairstow, who has played as a specialist batsman in 17 of his 20 Tests.

Buttler was dropped for England’s last Test, against Pakistan in Sharjah, after a torrid run only to return to form in the subsequent one-day series.

“There’s always healthy competition,” said Bairstow, who hopes to get off to a good start in the first of two three-day warm-up matches against a South African Invitational XI in Potchefstroom.

“Jos has played some fantastic stuff in one-day cricket and Test cricket, so the competition for places is there.

“Hopefully, it will drive us on to become better players and better people.”

Bairstow is confident he can cope with the twin challenges of batting and keeping, which he has done so well at Yorkshire.

He is also relishing going head-to-head with the likes of South Africa batsman-wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.

“It’s going to be a learning curve,” he said. “I’ve been keeping wicket and batting at five for Yorkshire for six or seven years now, so it’s not something I envisage affecting me in terms of fatigue or anything like that.

“You want to do as well as you can against the best, and obviously comparing yourself to someone like AB is going to be a fantastic challenge, and if I do come out being the better of the batsmen-wicketkeepers or wicketkeeper-batsmen – whichever way you want to look at it – then I will have had a very good tour.”

What Bairstow would give to reproduce the stardust he sprinkled on the English summer.

The 26-year-old scored 1,108 runs at an average of 92 to help Yorkshire to their second successive County Championship title, and he had no hesitation in penning a new deal.

“I’m delighted to have signed a new contract with Yorkshire,” he said.

“We had a tremendous season in Championship cricket, and it’s great to be part of a culture where winning and being successful is at the heart of what drives the team on.

“The players are determined more than ever to ensure that we continue to set the benchmark high.

“It is an exciting time to be a part of Yorkshire and England cricket, and I look forward to contributing to the success of both teams.”

Bairstow’s delight is shared by director of cricket Martyn Moxon, who is thrilled the player has committed his future.

“It is great news that Jonny has signed on,” said Moxon.

“He has been a big part of our success in the last few years and, as we all know, he is an extremely talented cricketer.

“He is maturing all the time, and he is an integral part of what we do.

“His best years are yet to come, and I have great admiration for Jonny and his talents.”

Moxon added: “The next phase for him will be to achieve consistency in his performances with England.

“He has a great chance in South Africa to fulfil his goals against one of the best seam attacks in the world.

“We’ll all be watching on hoping he and the other Yorkshire lads succeed.”

Yorkshire have also handed deals to two of their Academy products.

Seam bowler Jared Warner, who turned 19 last month, and all-rounder Matthew Waite, who turns 20 on Christmas Eve, have signed junior professional contracts until December 2017.

Warner is currently in Sri Lanka with England U-19s, while Waite has played four first team games.

Racing pundit Tony McCormick from.irishbigracetrends.com presents his weekly column, and this week has a look at a couple of races that have produced winners over the last month.

The Class Two Bruton Mares Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton, over two miles five-and-a-half furlongs, on November 7 has produced six winners since Lily Waugh passed the post winning by 13 lengths. The winner went on to take the final race of the ‘International’ meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday winning at a healthy 6/1.

The runner up at Wincanton, David Pipe’s, Lady Of Longstone went on to beat 11 rivals at Kempton over three miles and half a furlong at 11/1, while the fourth place Morello Royale took the Listed OLBG Mares Hurdle at the end of November for trainer Colin Tizzard, again at a decent price of 6/1.

The Kings Theatre mare challenged for the lead before the last, as Aiden Coleman pushed out his mount to win by two lengths.

Tara Mist, who finished third at Wincanton has been beaten in a Class Two contest since, as has the fifth place Double Silver, who was pulled up at Doncaster recently when trying three miles for the first time. This was clearly too far for the Silver Patriarch mare, who should be seen best at Ludlow, running between two miles five furlongs and two miles seven furlongs.

Kalane, who fell in the Wincanton race, beat three rivals by 31 lengths as the Kalanisi mare bounced back to form for trainer Charlie Longsdon. The six-year-old was thought good enough to run at the Punchestown Festival last season in the Group One, finishing behind the mighty Annie Power and Analifet. Her trainer clearly has high hopes for his mare and would deserve a second look if jockey Noel Fehily gets to take the ride.

The seven-year-old was pulled up in the Mares Handicap at Wincanton but won next time up at Ascot in late November as the Desert King mare came home alone, leaving her seven rivals 12 lengths behind. She should be followed on good or good to soft ground and possibly running in Class Three or below contests.

Nine runs have produced six wins producing a profit of 31 points. Three of the 10 runners at Wincanton have yet to race again.

The 10-year-old Titch Strider may be past her best right now, but six-year-old Miss Sassypants could regain the winning thread by running between two miles and two-and-a-half miles and in a Class Four or below contest.

It must be said, that the mare’s two National Hunt hurdle wins have come with a rating of 105/106. The Hernando mare is currently rated 116 but will come down following her last run.

Bondi Mist is another yet to run, but the six-year-old doesn’t look in love with the game at the moment and could be best left alone.

To summarise, Lady Of Longstone, good or good to soft ground, running within 30 days of last win, preferably at Worcester and rated no higher than 120.

Morello Royale, running over two mile five furlongs and appearing within 30 days of its last run, for this improving type.

Miss Sassypants running between two and two-and-a-half miles and in a Class 4Fouror below contest. Lily Waugh and Kalane are the classy mares to take out of the race and could be aiming for some dizzy heights during the spring.

St Helen’s Farm, the UK’s leading supplier of goats’ milk products, has announced a partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust that will see it fund a wildlife viewing point at one of the Trust’s flagship nature reserves.

The new installation point will overlook the reedbed lagoon at North Cave Wetlands, which is home to a vast array of wetland bird species including avocets, shelducks and insects such as dragonflies and a variety of butterflies.

The partnership has developed after the dairy joined the Trust as a Corporate Member earlier in the year.

The dairy, which is part of the Kavli Trust, makes regular donations to local good causes and the St Helen’s Farm team were keen to be involved in a tangible project that would help people enjoy and appreciate local wildlife. The company is proud of its farming roots and a philosophy which seeks to look after the environment. St Helen’s Farm is home to over 63 different species of living on its land including deer, stoats and barn owls.

Support for the Trust is also being promoted across the latest print run of over 1 million milk cartons appearing on shelves in all major retailers over the coming weeks to help spread the word about how the trust works.

St Helen’s Farm marketing manager, Vicky Unwin said: “We are delighted to be working with the Trust on something so close to our heart and can’t wait for the building to begin. We also know that this link will resonate with the interests of our consumers too.

“It is great to be involved with a project that is physically going to leave a St Helen’s Farm legacy at this very special site and enhance the wildlife experience for the thousands of people that visit each year.”

Jono Leadley, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Director of Development said: “North Cave Wetlands is a fantastic nature reserve which attracts people from across Yorkshire to see spectacular wildlife such as avocets and kingfishers.”

Considering his recent form and the manner he won his previous race, I was slightly surprised to see the Paul Nicholls-trained four- year-old return at odds of 7-1.

I was delighted to see my three tips last weekend run so well, Old Guard and Sego Success (4-1) both won, with Buywise running a creditable fourth. His jumping was slightly off but he’s definitely a horse to keep backing with confidence though.

With the festive season upon us that can only mean two things, Santa Claus and the King George VI Chase on boxing day.

The strength and depth of the race is overwhelming, there’s so much talent.

Cue Card looked exceptional in both his outings this season, he firmly put Silviniaco Conti in his place at Haydock last time.

Smad Place looked a completely different horse last season in the Hennessy Gold Cup and will be an obvious danger if in similar form.

Horse racing is all about opinions and in my opinion Don Cossack is the best bet.

When AP McCoy rode him to victory in last year’s Melling Chase at the Aintree festival, he spoke very highly about the eight-year-old after the race and he gave the impression that this is a special horse.

Watching him this season confirms that, he has won his races with lots of ease and authority and you get the impression that more is to come, 11-4 is a fair price.

On to Ascot this Saturday and it is a good quality card to get stuck into.

The last three races of the day are the ones to concentrate on.

The 2.25 Long Walk Hurdle is a race that revolves around how good Saphir Du Rheu will be going back to hurdles from chasing.

I think he is a better hurdler than a chaser and he gets my vote.

The Sodexo Silver cup at 3.00 looks a very competitive handicap on paper.

Richard Johnson earmarked Fingal Bay as ‘a winner waiting to happen’ after his defeat in the Hennessy Gold Cup last month.

Considering i tipped him for that race, i was disappointed he didn’t win but was left with impression he will improve for next time.

Currently 13-2 in the betting, i can guarantee he will start the race shorter than that and he must have a big chance with the team going so well.

The final race is the Ladbroke Hurdle and if you watched Renneti in his last start, you will understand why i am sweet on this Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old.

He came from out the back last time in a race won by Old Guard.

That form is strong, 10-1 is too big and he must have a chance under Ruby Walsh.

I would like to wish you all a merry christmas and all the best for 2016.

Wally’s Wagers

Ascot, 2.15 Saphir Du Rheu 7-4,

3.00 Fingal Bay 13-2

3.35 Renneti 10-1.

An East Yorkshire farm machinery importer has further consolidated his partnership with Polish manufacturing giant, Unia, by launching its Atlas Seedbed Cultivator in the UK.

Market Weighton-based Manterra Ltd is the sole UK importer for Unia Group, Central Europe’s leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery and the Cultivator is the latest addition to Manterra’s growing range.

The Atlas Seedbed Cultivator is available in a range of 3 to 10m widths and features semi-mounted axles, three levelling boards, a front roller, heavy rear duplex Crosskill roller, two rows of tines and the options of wheel track eradicators and a mounting system for a seed drill.

Of the launch, Manterra founder, farmer and agronomist Andrew Manfield said: “Unia is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of Cultivators and the Atlas is a simple yet versatile machine with a strong frame that is designed to work hard and offers outstanding value for money.”

Prices range from £6,950 for the 3m version to £24,950 for the 10m version.

Manterra Ltd was established by farmer and agronomist, Andrew Manfield in 2011 and has its foundations in a farming business that was established at the beginning of the last century.

Manterra is also an authorised reseller for Trimble precision agriculture products and Duport spoke wheel injectors. In addition, Manterra is the key technology supplier to the Stockbridge Technology Centre Tru-Nject project that has secured Innovate UK funding for a three year trial to commercialise innovative soil nutrient mapping technology that has the potential to revolutionise farming practices.

Bridlington 3rds travelled to Driffield 4ths on Saturday with a very strong side, and came away with a convincing 56-0 derby win.

Boosted by the late availability of Tom Benninger in the backs, their superiority showed immediately. From the first scrum, it was clear that the Brid pack would dominate the game.

A scrum taken against the head brought the Brid backs into play. Micheal Clayton drove forward right to the line and off-loaded to Marc Chapman who scored in the corner.

From the dropped restart, Brid again won the scrum and fed Clayton. He again made the hard yards and passed to Eddie Morrell. He could not make the line but Robin Shepherdson was on hand to take the pass and score. Tom Milnes converted.

Shepherdson got his second soon after from another surge from the pack, Milnes again converting to make it 19-0.

Driffield put together a few passages of play and got into their opponents’ 22. The ball was spilled and Benninger picked it up and ran 70 metres through the defence to score. Milnes again converted.

Just before half-time, Benninger set off again. This time he was stopped but Tom Harwood was right with him to receive the scoring pass.

The second half started the same as the first with Brid driving forward. A penalty conceded on the Driffield five-metre line was tapped quickly and passed. Eventually it reached Jordan Goodman who scored his first try in only his second game.

Clayton scored next after a good break by Morrell to take the score to 41-0.

Still commanding at the front, the Brid forwards took a maul over the Driffield line and Milnes was awarded a try.

It was inevitable that another score was coming. Forwards pushing Driffield back made the platform for the backs to be released.

The ball came to Jeremy Garnett who made no mistake in scoring his first try for Brid to take them over the half-century mark

Garnett also had a hand in the final try when he passed to Benninger.

Although under the cosh for the whole game, Driffield never gave up and deserve respect for playing 100 percent, knowing they were light in a number of positions.

Man of the match was awarded to Tom Harwood for his support play throughout the game.

Back at Dukes Park, Bridlington 2nds took on Driffield’s third team, but were beaten 22-0.

This Saturday, Bridlington second and third team players are combining for an away fixture against Hornsea’s first team,

Squad: Robin Shepherdson, Matty Faulkner, Mark Floyd, Aaron Baker, Billy Carter, Michael Ridsdale, Tom Harwood, Joe Franks, Ian Winterbottom, Tom Kemp, Jake Cooper, Michael Nugent, Scott Stevens, Nigel Cloherty, Josh Raynor, Connor Williamson, Tom Milnes, Louis Cunliffe, Tom Bennett, Micheal Clayton, Sam Wragg, Lee Warley, Wayne Atkinson.

Meet at 12:30pm for a 2:15pm kick-off.

Former super middleweight world champion Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch is heading for Scarborough in 2016.

The Nottingham man, who retired after knocking out rival George Groves in sensational fashion at Wembley Stadium in 2014, only endured two defeats in a sparkling 35-fight career during which he collected the WBC, WBA and IBF super middleweight titles.

Froch will discuss his career as a four-time world champion at The Spa’s Theatre on Saturday April 30.

Froch is the second sporting legend to visit The Spa in the New Year with Paul Gascoigne at the venue on 11 March for an ‘Evening with..’ show which is close to a sell-out.

Tickets are priced at £30, with VIP tickets at £60 and are available from The Spa’s on 01723 821888.

Driffield RUFC’s director of rugby Patrick Burdass managed to take some positives from Saturday’s North One East defeat to Alnwick.

The Woldsmen slipped to an 18-0 loss at Kelleythorpe, but youngsters Will Brigham and Kyle Turner – the latest prospects off the club’s production line – made their first team debuts.

“Obviously the defeat was disappointing and our recent form has not been great, but it is important to look at the bigger picture,” Burdass told the Driffield Times & Post.

“If you’re only taking into consideration Saturday’s scoreline, then of course there isn’t a lot to be pleased about, but the fact that Will Brigham and Kyle Turner have made their first team debuts is brilliant and bodes well for the future.

“These are lads who have come through the junior sides here at Driffield, learned the game and progressed through the Colts to the seconds, and now they have their chance at first-team level.

“It’s fantastic to see the young guys coming through the age groups all the way to the first XV. This is exactly what we want to see happening, and long may it continue.”

Fly-half Brigham and flanker Turner, both 17, lined up alongside forwards Felix Nellen and Harrison Dodds for Saturday’s clash, taking the total number of players involved in the match aged 18 years of age or younger to four.

“It’s a great reward for all of the junior coaches at the club, who can see their hard work paying off when the youngsters they’ve worked with make it into the first team,” Burdass added.

“It shows that our junior system is working exactly as it should do.

“Will, did very well on Saturday in extremely difficult conditions.

“He was up against a very good number 10, yet he wasn’t phased, had a good game and ended up being named man of the match.

“The experience of playing in these games for the first team will be of huge benefit to the likes of Will and Kyle and will help with their development.”

Reflecting on his side’s overall performance on the day, Burdass accepted that the better team won the match.

“I can’t fault the effort or commitment from our players, it was a case of fine margins on Saturday, but Alnwick had that little bit more quality in a couple of key positions,” he continued.

“We did a lot right, we had to defend for long periods in the first half, and did so brilliantly to restrict them to a 3-0 lead at half-time.

“Unfortunately we switched off after the break and they got a try to take a 10-0 lead, and it’s a long way back from there when the playing conditions are as difficult as they were with all the rain.

“In the end, the better side won, and although we weren’t quite good enough, we weren’t a million miles away.”

After a break of four weeks without any matches Driffield under-15s travelled to Scarborough and grabbed a powerful 55-5 victory.

Historically, Driffield have always performed well against Scarborough and this meeting was no exception.

Driffield welcomed debut players Cowell, Bortoft and Thacker into their side.

Straight from the start Driffield took the initiative as Morrison started the scoring with a try only two minutes after kick-off.

Scarborough won the ball at the restart but Driffield quickly turned it over and passed down the line to Morrison who ran a superb individual try in from his own 10m line. He added the conversion to bring the score to 12-0.

A break for injury put a stop to the frenetic pace and the match restarted quietly.

After a few minutes though Driffield gained momentum and once again took control. A home line-out was stolen by Carr and Cowell set up an attack with a strong run.

Scarborough were unable to cope with Driffield’s fast-moving forwards and Mason ran a try in from the 22. The conversion was by Morrison.

Driffield kept the pressure on and again proved too strong for the home side. The ball was kept in the Scarborough half and good ball recycling ended in a try for captain Sam Tonks, converted by Morrison.

On-form Morrison scored his hat-trick try soon afterwards which he converted bringing the score to 33-0.

Driffield dominated in all areas, including the line-out. Wilson caught the Scarborough throw-in and the ball was quickly moved down the line. Inside-centre Stephenson spotted a gap in the Scarborough defence and ran in for a try.

At the end of the first half Driffield continued to play fast-paced rugby. Mason added another try following a strong run through the persistent Scarborough defence. The conversion by Napier made the half-time score 45-0.

After the break the buoyant Scarborough team came out with determination. Their positive attitude was rewarded with a try shortly after kick-off.

Driffield soon took hold of the game again with Tom Carr running through numerous defenders from outside the Scarborough 22 to score a fantastic try to the delight of the crowd t0 make the score 50-5.

The final try went to Driffield when star man Gregor Napier stepped inside his defender to score the points and make it 55-5.

Andrew Gale believes England are being asked to succeed at next year’s Twenty20 World Cup despite the fact there is no quality franchise competition in this country for their players to gain vital skills and exposure.

The Yorkshire captain said the national team will be expected to perform at the tournament in India next Spring even though there is no equivalent in England of the Indian Premier League or the Australian Big Bash.

Gale, who wants an EPL to help pull in the crowds and prevent English cricket being left behind, said he sympathised with the England players.

“Some of those players don’t actually play that much Twenty20 cricket,” he said. “A lot of them are not actually playing in the current English competition, the T20 Blast, and yet they’re expected to perform in the next World Cup.

“Unless you’re a specialist like Eoin Morgan and you can go to the IPL, how do you ever get better at T20?

“Everyone would benefit from an EPL – we’d see more money coming into the game, bigger crowds, and the England players would be tested against the best players in the world – and we’re probably getting left behind a bit.”

Gale would scrap the T20 Blast in its present form and replace it with an EPL of 10 franchises who would operate in a set window during the season at Test grounds such as Headingley.

He said cash from the competition could be split among the 18 counties, who could contest a scaled-down T20 tournament at outgrounds such as Scarborough to help aspiring players reach franchise standard.

“The EPL would replace the Blast, but I’d have some sort of T20 competition on at the same time in the background,” said Gale.

“Otherwise, how would you ever develop players to get into that franchise system?

“It could be a scaled-down Blast with fewer fixtures – say six or eight per team – and perhaps regionalised and played at outgrounds.

“With some counties merging for the purposes of the EPL, you’d have a lot of players sat around for three weeks during the season otherwise.”

Gale is open-minded to the idea of Yorkshire merging with another county to create a franchise.

“I don’t think you’d have Yorkshire merging with Lancashire, because you’d want to play at established Test grounds,” he said.

“It might be more realistic for Yorkshire and Durham to merge, for example, but the point is, a franchise system would work as a spectacle.

“Some might say, ‘Would people drive from Durham to watch a franchise game at Headingley?’

“I think they would, because if you had the likes of de Villiers, Dhoni, Starc and Johnson playing, you’d think, ‘You know what, I’ll drive two hours to go and watch that, it’s going to be a right spectacle with a full house there’.”

The prospect of an EPL has long bubbled in the background.

The Indian and Australian versions clearly benefit from big crowds, good weather, and, in the Australian case, free-to-air television coverage, but Gale sees no reason why an English tournament could not compete.

“The bottom line is, if you got the big names coming here, the likes of your Dhonis, your Kholis and your de Villiers, that’s going to fill the ground at Headingley, and the cricket would be of excellent standard,” he said.

“It would be just as good, if not better, than the Big Bash, for example, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t work.

“The big problem at the moment with the Blast is that it’s spread out and you can’t get overseas players to commit for four or five months, and the key is getting the international players.

“At the minute, I don’t think there’s the money there and with the time period, it just doesn’t sit right, but if the rest of the world saw it as a quality competition, people would be going, ‘I want to go and play in the EPL’.”

Gale admitted he “probably wouldn’t get a gig” in an EPL, but he has put his name forward for the Pakistan Super League, which takes place in February, along with county teammates Adil Rashid, David Willey and Tim Bresnan.

Although by no means certain that any of them will be hired by the five franchises, who will contest games in Dubai and Sharjah, Gale thought he would give it a go.

“It’s a bit of a wild card,” he said. “My agent said, ‘Why don’t you put yourself forward?’, and I said, ‘Well, no one’s really going to pick me. I scored short of 300 runs last year in Twenty20.’

“I didn’t tear it up like some players, but I didn’t do that badly, and it all depends on availability whether I get picked or not.

“But, if I do, it’s a fantastic opportunity because I’m not the captain of Yorkshire in the one-day stuff anymore, so I’ve got to put my name in the hat for a place in the side.

“If I could do well, I could take that form into the season and give Leesy (one-day captain Alex Lees) and Dizzy (first-team coach Jason Gillespie) a headache, because I still want to play white-ball cricket for Yorkshire.”

Gillespie today lead Adelaide Strikers for the first time as they open their Big Bash campaign at home to Melbourne Stars.

Rashid is in the Adelaide squad, while ex-Yorkshire all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is in the Melbourne ranks.

Here's a list of our hand-picked Christmas gifts from each of our region's top clubs.

LEEDS UNITED - LUFC snowman toy - £6.30

https://www.lufc.talent-sport.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/product.aspx?group1=Christmas&group2=*EMPTY&group3=*EMPTY&group4=*EMPTY&product=XMAS40ANY

HULL CITY - Tigers Elf Christmas Jumper - £27.99

http://www.tigerleisure.com/christmas/gifts-for-men/1497_elf-christmas-jumper.html

MIDDLESBROUGH - Adult Boro Santa Suit - £30

http://www.mfcofficialdirect.co.uk/menswear/sweats-and-knitwear/2779_adult-santa-suit-jumper.html

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Wednesday Christmas Reindeer - £8

http://shop.sheffieldwednesday.co.uk/retail-product.aspx?deptId=360&prodId=4165

SHEFFIELD UNITED - Supersoft Blades Onesie - £30

http://www.sufcdirect.co.uk/xmas/xmas/2114_Supersoft-Onesie.html

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN - Huddersfield Christmas Baubles - £9

http://www.htafcmegastore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=_133_275&product_id=1850

ROTHERHAM UNITED - Rotherham United Penguin Christmas Jumper - £29.99

http://www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk/retail-product.aspx?deptId=111&prodId=716

BARNSLEY FC - Barnsley FC Wrapping Paper - £4

http://www.barnsleyfcdirect.co.uk/christmas-gifts/christmas/608_barnsley-fc-wrapping-paper.html

BRADFORD CITY - Bradford City Kids Mascot Hat - £11

http://bantams.clubstore.co.uk/bc-7426-kids-mascot-hat

DONCASTER ROVERS - Doncaster Rovers Bronx Bobble Hat - £10

http://rovers.clubstore.co.uk/dr-7332-3d-bronx-hat

YORK CITY - York City 2016 Calendar - £8

http://ycfc.clubstore.co.uk/yc-7633-2016-calendar?utm_source=Web&utm_medium=Splash&utm_campaign=Calendar2016

A funeral service was held at All Saints’ Parish Church, Driffield on Tuesday December 8, for Mr Alan Richard Ellis, of Driffield, who died suddenly, but peacefully in Hull Royal Infirmary on November 26. He was aged 71 years.

The service was conducted by the Rev Robert Amos and the organist was Mr Steven Westaway.

Alan was born in Eastgate North, Driffield, to Margery and Arthur Ellis. He was the fifth child of 11 with siblings Colin, Jean, Peggy, Ronnie, Sally, Chris, Norman, Susie, Valerie and Sandra. Whilst still at school he used to do a paper round with his dad and helped with the gardening.

After leaving school he worked at Beards farm in Garton, later going to Egg Packers in Driffield. His dream was to be a jockey at Malton stables but he was offered a job as a stable lad, the conditions were harsh and the pay was poor so he packed his bags and left. He got a job at Chesney Farm, Wansford Road, delivering milk until Mr Towse retired in 1979 and he went to work for Mrs Moss in the building trade.

On a weekend Alan and his lifelong friend Peter Boddy worked at the Rex Club.

All the family would gather there and they would have a good time. Alan loved to dance, especially the jive.

He later started working for himself and he built many properties in Driffield and around Cranswick, Garton and Kilham.

On retirement he spent most days with his great pal John Duggleby.

He had many hobbies – he enjoyed playing snooker at the Rec, playing pool and dominoes for Driffield teams, he loved a day at the races. He also liked dancing and walking and enjoyed a good night out.

He met his partner, Jenny, late in life but they had many happy times together.

Alan was a Driffield character and he enjoyed life to the full, he loved people and enjoyed the simple pleasures in life.

He will be greatly missed.

Family Mourners: Norman and Marilyn Ellis (brother and sister in law), Sandra and Peter Balmforth, Sally and Michael Martin (sisters and brothers in law), Chris Ellis (brother), Susie Proudlock, Jean Peacock, Valerie Warcup, Peggy Rugg (sisters), Ronnie Ellis, Colin Ellis (Brothers), Jenny Welburn (partner), Helen Ellis and David Kell (niece and partner), Martin Ellis and Amy Morrison, Mark Ellis and Susie Bannister (nephews and partners), Angie Ready , Katie Brooks (nieces ), Robin Ellis (nephew), Kevin Taylor and Sandra (nephew and partner), Andrew Taylor (nephew), Cassandra Blakeston, Jenny Appleby (nieces), Mike Rugg (nephew), Craig Ellis (nephew ) also rep Steven Hardcastle (Norman Ellis Paint and Body), Luke Taylor (great nephew), Jessica Taylor, Zoe Ellis, Brogan Ellis (great nieces), Christine Ellis (cousin), Audrey Hodgson (cousin), John and Gail Duggleby.

Others present: Barrie and Irene Ellis, Brenda Dobson rep Audrey Hudson, Julian Noble, Norman and Rita Flintoft, Liz Warkup, Maurice Kellington rep Robert Cowton, Pete and Sue Boddy rep Ann and Kelvin Boddy, Ruth Marshall, Ashley Elliott, John and Delia Dean, Jean Noble rep Bernard, Barbara Braithwaite rep Don Braithwaite, Brian Leech, Margaret Thurley rep Joyce Dales, Linda Mills and Elaine Hobson,Andrea Brady, Dennis Thompson, Ted Elvidge rep Mary and Paul, Richard Wiles rep Margaret Wiles and John Robson.

Julie Elvidge rep The Limes, Bill Kitching, Brenda Moore, Denise Waddington rep Dennis, Brian Brown, Chris Hara rep Gill, Stuart Barker rep Vanessa, Peter Woodmansey rep Jennifer David Shields, Malcolm Kennedy rep Margaret Pearson and John Fleming, Paul and Mandy Blakeston, Trevor and Maureen Woodward, Mrs Susan Thompson rep Mr and Mrs S Newall, Philip Hourd, Mr C Sedman rep the family, Maggie Good, Terry Hoggarth rep Phil and Janet Woodcock and Derek and Angela Knaggs, Steve and Pam Woodcock rep Driffield Cricket Club, Sheila and Mike Hara, Jenny Thurlow, Ian and Rose Cawley, Chris Slater rep the family, Alan Reynolds rep Jane, Liam Duggleby rep the family.

Alistair McIlroy,Keith Dudding rep Brenda, Mr and Mrs P Nalton, Paul and Sheila Woodmansey rep Driffield Homing Society, Val and Jim McIlroy rep Frazer, Adrian Cockerill, Glen Cockerill, Pete Addy, Cliff and Lynn Duggleby rep Vigo Jenson, John Booth rep Mary, Helen Parker, Walter Wilkinson, Mary Mabbett rep Robert and Marke, Dulcie Wright rep Chris, Marlene Edgar, Keith Howe rep Susan, Christine Trowhill, Sandra and Richard Ambler, Alan Stainton, Jean Cook, Maurice Peacock rep Roy and Kath Cornwell, Richard Sharp rep Cynthia, Mona and Peter Strangeway, Christopher Leggott, Valerie Wood-Townend, Stan Bird rep the family, Mick Foster rep Mick Barker, Gill Kyle, Rita and George Riggs rep The Bell Hotel, Peter Earl, Pete Edgar, David Lundy, Patricia Pudsey rep Adrian, Pauline Deeth, David Cawthorn rep Barbara Vincent, Keith Thompson and John and Sandie Hall, Derek Hobson rep Elaine, Richard Sabiston, Jim Sterriker, Wendy Simpson, Jo Cox, Pat Grant, Kevin Hairsine,Ken Cousins, Andy Hussey.

Johnny Taylor rep Michael Duggleby, Nigel Newland, Sam Duggleby, Stephen and Jane Calvert, Victor Boddy rep Pauline Boddy, Richard Harper rep Chris and Di Dean, Mark Easingwood rep Alan Easingwood and Lynn Barber, Mr J Barker rep Sandra, Wayne, Jason and Gavin, Peter Jackson rep Mrs A Jackson, David Mawer, Michael and Sheila Ward, Pete Schofield rep Steve Briggs, Frank Meek, John Ellis, Mike Schofield, Jill and Mike Campbell rep Irene and Dave Hanson, Jim Sampson rep Mary, Paul Hornby, Norman and Patrick Wiltshire, Malcolm Syme, Tony and Chris Rugg, Gary Ringrose rep Driffield Homing Society, Ross Weekes rep Rob and Elaine Leason.

John Schofield, Molly Middewood, Les Artley rep Cath and Steve Briggs, Ian Turner, John Hallett rep Jean Clark and Sandra Maxwell, Judy Thompson, George Hodgson, Brenda and Les Pinkney, Mrs Brenda Pymm, Peter Barr, Steve and Shellie Barr, Don Raine, David Atkinson, Dave Sissons, Kenneth Allen, Martin Mason, Dave Foster,Malcolm Lewis.

A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium on Wednesday December 9 forMrs Shirley Elizabeth Hughes, of Brook Street, Driffield, who died at home on November 27. She was aged 80 years.

The service was conducted by David Keating.

Shirley was born in Driffield on August 22, 1935, to parents Beatrice and Edwin Petch.

The family home was on York Road and Shirley was one of nine children in a very happy family: a loving sister to the late Derek, Maurice, Cynthia, Ann and David and to Barbara, Val and Brian. She attended the local school and left school at the age of 14.

Her first job was as a cook at the East Riding General Hospital. She loved working there and was a wonderful cook and baker. She carried on working there for several years and, during that time, she met her husband-to-be, Tommy Hughes, who was doing his National Service in the RAF, based in Driffield. They married on March 15, 1958, at Driffield Parish Church.

After their marriage they lived on New Road. Tommy had decided to stay in the Air Force and they kept in touch with lots of letters. They went on to have two daughters, Liz and Linda.

They later moved to Brook Street and Tommy left the RAF and began a new career as a postman.

As the girls got older, Shirley started work part time as a hairdresser in The Limes Residential Home. She really enjoyed working there. She had lots of little part-time jobs mainly as a cleaner and making some good friends. She later went back to full time work at Vertex Optical, polishing lenses in the surfacing department and she stayed there until retirement.

She was over the moon when her grandchildren , Alex and Sam, arrived and loved them dearly.

Shirley loved her dogs –Libby, a Yorkshire Terrier, and then Bailey, a Jack Russell.

After Tommy retired, they enjoyed visiting Liz and Mick in Cyprus as well as carrying on their love of ballroom and sequence dancing. Shirley and Tommy shared many holidays together all over the world as well as exciting cruises round the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and a cruise up to Norway to see the Northern Lights.

Shirley also enjoyed going to the Leisure Centre on Bridlington Road where she enjoyed dance exercise, swimming, badminton, cricket, netball, bums and tums, zumba and yoga. She also enjoyed walking the dogs every day, watching the soaps on TV and was an avid reader.

She will be greatly missed.

Family mourners: Tommy Hughes (husband), Linda Shipley (daughter), Elizabeth and Mick Leigh (daughter and son in law), Alex and Sam Shipley (grandsons), Leslie Shipley, Valerie and Billy Balfour (sister and brother in law) also rep Brian Petch (brother), Audrey Petch (sister in law), Susan Petch (niece).

Others present: Kath Hood rep Karen Ringrose, Jackie Flintoft rep Di Lawson, Sarah Wadsworth rep David Wadsworth, Kathleen Hodsgon, Shirley Agnew, Meg Richardson, Ruth Waters, Myrtle Wadsworth, Kim Dervey, Tracey and Adrian Bennison, Audrey Hudson rep Line Dancing at the Sports Centre, Angela Edeson rep Barbara Harrison, David Fifield, Matthew Nelson rep Driffield Leisure Centre, Mrs T Healeyrep Mr and Mrs Melvyn Healey, Tim and Jackie Storey rep the family, Kyle Storey, Mavis Crawforth, Andrew and Shelley Porter, June Hall.

The Northern Lights made a rare appearance over Yorkshire last night, from the Wolds to Whitby.

The aurora borealis are caused by energetic particles from the Sun being pulled into the atmosphere by the Earth’s magnetic field and hitting atoms in the atmosphere, causing light to be given off.

The phenomenon was spotted by people in Whitby, Scarborough, Ganton, Pocklington and Thixendale and even seen further south in England, such was the strength of the display.

This image, sent to us by Mark Tissington, was taken from Ganton at around 7.05pm last night (Sun).

Mark, of Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society, said: “The image was an eight second exposure at ISO800 so the camera sees more detail and colour than the human eye (though it was visible as a greenish band and became brighter as our eyes got used to the dark).”

“Our members regularly monitor for aurorae and we were delighted to see this display just before Christmas.”

The lights were also seen over the Yorkshire Wolds by Lissa Alexandra Haines.

“My partner Stu and I have been trying to see them for years,” she said.

“I’ve even been to Iceland and Lapland to try and witness this natural phenomenon without any luck and when we found out that last night they were visible from our hometown of Pocklington we grabbed the camera and shot out to the highest point nearby which is Garrowby Hill by Givendale and around Thixendale.”

Stephen Bowden also sent us a photo of the northern lights visible over Jackson’s Bay in Scarborough, while sightings were also made up and down the coast, in Whitby and Filey.

The lights are usually seen further north towards the Arctic circle between October and March but there have been some great recent shows in Scotland.

Appearances over the Yorkshire coast are usually less common.