Organ recitals at the Minster: Sat 1 – 29 August

The summer organ recitals will take place each Saturday evening from 1 August to 29 August, allowing visitors to hear some of the country’s most talented organists play in the cathedral’s stunning Quire.

Guest and resident organists will perform a range of pieces, from Bach to contemporary compositions by Francis Jackson and Francis Pott.

Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster, explained: “The summer recitals are a unique opportunity each year to hear the Minster’s organ in the evening, when the building is quiet and listeners can enjoy the atmospheric surroundings and the magnificent sound of the instrument being used to its full potential by internationally acclaimed musicians.”

The organists are:
1 August – Francesca Massey, Sub-Organist of Durham Cathedral

8 August – John Scott Whiteley, Organist Emeritus of York Minster

15 August – Daniel Cook, Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey

22 August – Peter Wright, Organist and Director of Music at Southwark Cathedral

29 August – Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster

For full details of the programme for each recital visit www.yorkminster.org.

The recitals are part of a busy year of music at York Minster which includes two York Minster Choir Christmas Carol Concerts and a performance of Handel’s Messiah in December.

The recitals start at 7pm and tickets cost £8.

To book, visit www.yorkminster.org or call York Minster’s Box Office on 01904 557208

10 new Police special constables ready for action

A beauty therapist, football referee and mortgage advisor are among the latest recruits to join North Yorkshire Police’s Special Constabulary.

Our latest group of new Special Constables were welcomed to North Yorkshire Police on Thursday evening (30 July 2015) at an attestation ceremony held at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court.

The attestation – which is when the officers are sworn in and given their warrant cards – followed the volunteer officers’ intensive, initial training period of three months.

(more…)

Bus service changes from Sunday

Significant changes to many of York’s bus services come into force on Sunday

Change Date	Service No.	Operator	Brief summary of changes
01/08/15	44	Transdev (Unibus)	Revised route: University (Hes. East Interchange) – York Station – Hamilton Drive – Acomb
02/08/15	1	First	Minor timetable changes.
02/08/15	4	First	Revised route: Acomb – Foxwood – City Centre – Tang Hall – Osbaldwick – University (Heslington East)
02/08/15	5 5A	First	Revised route: Strensall – York – Poppleton Road – Beckfield Lane – Acomb
02/08/15	6	First	Revised route: Clifton Moor – City Centre (Station Rd).
02/08/15	10	First	Revised route: Poppleton – Leeman Rd – City Centre – Stamford Bridge
02/08/15	10	Transdev	Revised route: Poppleton – Leeman Rd – City Centre – Stamford Bridge
02/08/15	12 14	First	Minor timetable changes.
02/08/15	13 13A	First	Cancelled.
02/08/15	13	ConnexionsBuses	Copmanthorpe to Haxby (West Nooks) via City Centre.
02/08/15	66	First	New route: York Station – York Sport Village via University (Heslington Hall).
02/08/15	HB1	Transdev	Cancelled.
02/08/15	HB1	First	University of York – York Hospital.
23/08/15	CB2	Transdev	Cancelled.
30/08/15	944	Coastliner	New route: Crossgates – Tadcaster – York College
21/09/15	56	First	New route: University of York – City Centre circular.
28/09/15	UB1	Transdev	Cancelled.
28/09/15	UB1	First	University of York campus shuttle service

UPDATE Art Gallery to press ahead with plans to charge everyone £7-50 entry charge

50% discount on season ticket agreed for YorkCard holders

UPDATE: A trust spokesman has now said that “people with an existing York Card -including one bought today – would still be able to gain free admission to the Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum tomorrow and until the card expired. Cards bought after today will not give the same benefits”.

A Press Release has confirmed that the YMT plans to charge residents £7.50 for entry to the Art Gallery from tomorrow, but they will offer all York Card holders 50% off the standard price of the annual “YMT Card”. That means that a YMT card will cost residents £11 (£10 with a direct debit)

Children under 16 continue to have free entry. There is also a discount (to £4) for some claimants*.

In doing so the YMT will be in breech of the terms of the lease they hold on the Art Gallery and Castle Museum.

In our view they would have been wiser to continue to offer YorkCard holders free entry at least until the Council had considered the matter further at their September meeting (see UPDATE above)

The YMT has not said whether it will make refunds to those YorkCard holders who had purchased season tickets before the latest discount was announced.

* Access tickets: up to 50% discount for visitors aged 17-24 or in receipt of Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income–based Job seeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Income Support. Evidence may be required.

The York Council has not yet said when, or even if, it will commence legal proceedings to enforce the lease restriction

Cllr Nigel Ayre comments:

“It is surprising that the York Museums Trust has pushed on with its proposals. On Wednesday there was cross-party support for the charging plans to be halted ahead of further discussions taking place.

“However, I am pleased to see that following my decision last night the Trust has at least offered a 50% discount to York Card holders for the annual pass. This is a step in the right direction and an example of the further concessions we have been pushing for. It hopefully does give us a platform for further dialogue going forward.”

NB. The York Museums Trust is also seeking to appoint new Trustees. However intersted individuals only have until tomorrow (1st August) to submit their CVs