Doug Allan issued the first email to around 150 village contacts on 4 April 2020. It was an attempt to help circulate information about Covid, the restrictions and how important services – health and everyday needs – could be accessed. The introductory message stated:
“I hope that you are keeping well and keeping safe during these unprecedented times. I have brought together a few bits and pieces that might be of interest to you whilst we are all in isolation and lockdown.
There are other ways of keeping in touch but I think email communication might prove to be a useful additional method of spreading information, advice and news. There are about 150 villagers on this system so it has a significant reach. Ask your friends and neighbours in our two villages if they are recipients and if they aren’t, but would like to be, get them to drop me an email asking to be added to the circulation.
Unless there’s disagreement, I would suggest a weekly message might be beneficial.”
So, the Sunday Email was born and, with the exception of one weekend at Christmas 2020, has been issued every Sunday since then. The number on the circulation has continued to increase and in November 2023 had reached around 330 direct recipients, with lots of copies distributed further afield by residents of Topcliffe and Asenby.
Sign up to the Sunday Email here (opens in new page): Sunday Email