Our November meeting was held in the main bar of the White Horse because of loss of heating throughout the hotel. Fortunately landlord Gary was able to get the bar up to a cosy temperature with temporary heaters.

            Our clarinet player, Graham Macpherson, was in Belgium on Remembrance Day duty, so we were able to welcome back former musician John Jacobsen.  Although we had a great session it was decided that the bar was hardly big enough for our regular meetings and the heating problem could be long-term, so we sought another venue. As you will have noticed in the 'Stop Press' of the last Beacon, we are now at the Beansheaf Hotel, on Malton Road. Host, Dan Faber, has made us most  welcome on our return to the venue where the Jazz Club was formed in 2000.

            We are based in the very comfortable and well appointed dining room. It can be closed off from other areas, but has easy access to the bars, so it is ideal for all ages. The acoustics are good, the carpark is large - it's a great venue. Now we are faced with the job of rebuilding audience numbers again. We hope that those members from the Kirkbymoorside area will continue to attend and that those Pickering-based members we lost on going to the White Horse will revive their interest.

            January's meeting was cancelled because of snow and ice, and of the really bad forecast for more of the same. We've never cancelled before, even when having to make last minute changes of venue, or in our early days with all the flooding and 'foot and mouth' problems. In the event, the weather wasn't quite as bad as predicted, but the decision had to be made early enough to get the message to members through the newspapers and radio. Our thinking was 'Better safe than sorry', but will this cancellation be bad for future attendance - we hope not!

            Ryedale Jazz Club always welcomes new and returning members to its 'second Wednesday of the month' sessions of traditional jazz. Come and enjoy yourselves at The Beansheaf.

            And for other jazz events in the area, watch out for publicity regarding: 4th Yorkshire Heritage Coast Jazz and Real Ale Festival, Staithes, 23rd to 25th April, and Pickering Jazz Festival, 26th to 31stJuly.

Wilson Hepplestone, Secretary.