HEADS was set up on an ad hoc basis in 1987 by Jan Turner and Jennifer Holmes.The primary aim was to raise funds for the Mother and Baby Unit at Northallerton Hospital when we became aware, through the experience of a new mother and baby in the village, of the urgent need for modern specialist equipment at the Hospital.On January 8th1988 HEADS gave their first ever performance of Cinderella in the Village Hall. Tickets were £1 and for the two performance nights the hall was full. At that time things were fairly rudimentary with the scenery comprising 2 painted boards propped up against the fireplace wall in what is now the meeting room. Changing took place in a small cramped lean to building and there was no theatre lighting or curtains. To say that everything was cobbled together is probably an understatement. Notwithstanding all the limitations of that first production everyone had a great time and funds were raised for the Mother and Baby Unit thus fulfilling the original intention. It is remarkable just how many of the original cast are still living locally: Miss Mckay, Brian Crowe, Adam Worsdale, Mabel Worsdale, David Lawrenson, Linda Wright and Muriel Blythman to mention but a few.Spurred on by success of Cinderella in the previous year, 1989’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk was a much more ambitious affair. Gone was the rudimentary scenery, we had a stage and curtains and the late John Hodgkins provided some home-made footlights. Another success and more funds raised and it seemed that no sooner had we finished one Panto than we were planning the next such was the enthusiasm. The annual Panto extravaganza continued apace. One memorable year Leyburn Amateur Dramatic Society could not provide a festive entertainment so the Cinema at Leyburn asked us to take our panto on the road to the bright lights of Leyburn (proper stage, lighting auditorium etc etc! ). We did two nights at Leyburn and were well received by the good people of that town for whom we performed our version of Babes in the Wood.t is truly amazing how many residents of the village take part in some way or other and how well supported it has been over the years which has enabled HEADS to support many local charities to the tune of many thousands of pounds.If you would like to be involved then do please come along or contact Jules Downes:
Places for worship and Lower Wensleydale News
•Hunton Methodist Church Contact: Rev Les Nevin Tel: 01748 823149, les.nevin@icloud.com•St. Patrick’s, Patrick Brompton, Church of England. Contact: Revd. Chris Lawton Tel: 01677 450 920. •Hauxwell Church•Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Leyburn Roman Catholic. Contact: Rev James Blenkinsopp, Email: jpblenk@outlook.com•Darlington Hebrew Congregation – Reform Synagogue•Darlington Jamia Mosque, 25 N Lodge Terrace, Darlington DL3 6LY. Tel: 07597 572901.•Humanist: North Yorkshire Humanists •For information about all the C of E churches in the area contact:
If you have an item of news or wish to announce an event to be considered for publication on this website let us know by sending your request to the Parish Council directly:Or for general enquiriesUse our contact form here:Have you visited the Hunton Village Facebook page where more news and views about the village and surrounding areas can be found.
HUNTON PARISH COUNCIL
Hunton North YorkshireHome pageContact Us here:E: enquiries@huntonpc.org
•Hunton Methodist Church Contact: Rev Les Nevin Tel: 01748 823149, les.nevin@icloud.com•St. Patrick’s, Patrick Brompton, Church of England. Contact: Revd. Chris Lawton Tel: 01677 450 920. •Hauxwell Church•Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Leyburn Roman Catholic. Contact: Rev James Blenkinsopp, Email: jpblenk@outlook.com•Darlington Hebrew Congregation – Reform Synagogue•Darlington Jamia Mosque, 25 N Lodge Terrace, Darlington DL3 6LY. Tel: 07597 572901.•Humanist: North Yorkshire Humanists •For information about all the C of E churches in the area contact:
News
Welcome to Hunton News
If you have an item of news or wish to announce an event to be considered for publication on this website let us know by sending your request to the Parish Council directly:Or for general enquiriesUse our contact form here:Have you visited the Hunton Village Facebook page where more news and views about the village and surrounding areas can be found.
HEADS was set up on an ad hoc basis in 1987 by Jan Turner and Jennifer Holmes.The primary aim was to raise funds for the Mother and Baby Unit at Northallerton Hospital when we became aware, through the experience of a new mother and baby in the village, of the urgent need for modern specialist equipment at the Hospital.On January 8th1988 HEADS gave their first ever performance of Cinderella in the Village Hall. Tickets were £1 and for the two performance nights the hall was full. At that time things were fairly rudimentary with the scenery comprising 2 painted boards propped up against the fireplace wall in what is now the meeting room. Changing took place in a small cramped lean to building and there was no theatre lighting or curtains. To say that everything was cobbled together is probably an understatement. Notwithstanding all the limitations of that first production everyone had a great time and funds were raised for the Mother and Baby Unit thus fulfilling the original intention. It is remarkable just how many of the original cast are still living locally: Miss Mckay, Brian Crowe, Adam Worsdale, Mabel Worsdale, David Lawrenson, Linda Wright and Muriel Blythman to mention but a few.Spurred on by success of Cinderella in the previous year, 1989’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk was a much more ambitious affair. Gone was the rudimentary scenery, we had a stage and curtains and the late John Hodgkins provided some home-made footlights. Another success and more funds raised and it seemed that no sooner had we finished one Panto than we were planning the next such was the enthusiasm. The annual Panto extravaganza continued apace. One memorable year Leyburn Amateur Dramatic Society could not provide a festive entertainment so the Cinema at Leyburn asked us to take our panto on the road to the bright lights of Leyburn (proper stage, lighting auditorium etc etc! ). We did two nights at Leyburn and were well received by the good people of that town for whom we performed our version of Babes in the Wood.t is truly amazing how many residents of the village take part in some way or other and how well supported it has been over the years which has enabled HEADS to support many local charities to the tune of many thousands of pounds.If you would like to be involved then do please come along or contact Jules Downes:
WOODLAND OPEN DAY SUNDAY
21st JUNE 1pm - 5pm
All are welcome to our annual Woodland Open Day at "Crossways" ( the last house in the village on Leyburn Road)Hunton Ladies Choir will be performing at 3pm and we are delighted to welcome Moth Man Mike and The Bee People who will tell you all about moths and bees.Tea, coffee, cakes and other goodies will be available and there will be many bargain plants for sale. Entrance is free but cash donations will be very welcome. All proceeds will be split between Hunton in Bloom, The Woodland Trust and The Barn Owl Trust.PLANTS AND CAKESIf you can supply any plants for the plant sale please drop them off in the week before the event. Please make sure they are labelled e.g. sticky label on the pot.We would be grateful for any donations of cakes and goodies from our village bakers, they can be brought along on the day.THANK YOU
HEADs would like to thank everyone for their support of their January 2026 pantomime
'Rapunzel - A Twisted Tale' .
£2,000 was shared between the following charities, organisations and village community
projects:-
•
Hunton Quoits Pitch
•
Alzheimers Society
•
Pendragon Community
Trust
•
Hunton School
•
Guide Dogs
•
La Cateau School
•
The Dales School
•
Sepsis UK
•
Yorkshire Air Ambulance
•
Hike for Hero's
If anyone would be interested
in joining HEADs for the next
pantomime, whether that's on
stage or as back stage crew
please contact Jules by email:
address:
jdownes67@btinternet.com
You can also follow us on Facebook!
Script Read throughs start early
September!
Hunton Parish councillors were
delighted when after over 4
years of lobbying and
campaigning a 20mph limit was
agreed for Hunton village. In
early 2022 the views of
residents of Hunton were
sought by the Parish Council
and an overwhelming majority
of the opinions received
supported a 20mph limit.
We successfully challenged the
original area covered by the
new limit and achieved
extensions along the Bedale
Road and Church Bank.
We continue to seek an
extension along the Leyburn
Road from the Pinfold to the
village boundary and
understand this is a concern for
those who live in the 13
properties affected.
The 20-mph limit will only
contribute to the safety of
villagers including children at
the school, those riding ponies /
horses / pushbikes and
vulnerable adults if it is
observed and adhered to.
We would like to take this
opportunity to urge all
motorists to observe the 20mph
limit and contribute to keeping
everyone in the village safe,
remember 20s plenty!
North Yorkshire CouncilThe council’s new customer number is:0300 131 2131.This number will go live on 1 April but will not be manned until day three – Monday 3 April – instead it will revert to the normal out-of-hours service. The phone lines and main customer access points will be open at the following times/days:*Please note the later opening every Wednesday to provide training time for customer service teamsOutside of this time, a customer out-of-hours service will be available via this phone number for those who need to access urgent help for social care, housing, registrar, Ryecare and trading standards. We will also have a situation message which can be turned on if required.
Clickfor a full information pack providing a background to the launch of the new council – North Yorkshire Council