Harrogate District Hospital has now discharged 125 coronavirus patients but has reported another death.
It is an increase of seven recoveries compared to last week’s figures.
The hospital also recorded another death. The patient died yesterday and was reported with 83 deaths across England’s hospitals.
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#teamHDFT pic.twitter.com/flcPqmiiTF
— Harrogate NHS FT (@HarrogateNHSFT) June 11, 2020
Patients were aged between 26 and 102 years old and all had known underlying health conditions.
This latest death at Harrogate District Hospital takes its total number up to 73 deaths.
French firm gets approval for Harrogate Water takeoverThe UK competition watchdog has given a French food firm the green light for its proposed takeover of Harrogate Water.
Danone said it planned to acquire a majority stake in Harrogate Water back in February but it was subject to approval.
The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has now cleared the anticipated takeover for an undisclosed fee.
Harrogate Water’s current majority shareholders, the Cain family, will remain as minority shareholders under the deal.
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Last year Harrogate Water recorded sales of more than £21 million. It will now join Danone’s other water brand Evian and Volvic.
Harrogate Spring Water is the original British water brand, with a spa history dating back to 1571. It was first bottled in 1740.
James Pearson, Managing Director, Danone Waters UK & Ireland, said:
“I am thrilled to welcome Harrogate Water to the Danone family. This move will expand our offering in the UK and help to meet growing demand in sparkling water and on-the-go consumption.”
James Cain OBE, Harrogate Water CEO, said:
Black Lives Matter: Newby Hall uncovers links to slave trade“We are delighted to have found the right partner to take Harrogate Water forward on its journey, while respecting and celebrating our history and heritage. Danone and Harrogate Water have a shared ethos and approach to community and sustainability.”
Newby Hall has uncovered its connections to the slave trade, leading its current owners to say that we must “recognise, take serious note and learn” from the past.
It is the first time that the Compton family, who are current residents, have spoken publicly about Newby Hall’s links to slavery and follows in the footsteps of many stately homes in England.
The family made the announcement after The Stray Ferret pointed out that the Weddell family, of which the Compton family are direct descendants, invested in the South Sea Company.
Richard Compton has updated the history page on Newby Hall’s website to detail its connections to the slave trade and highlight its work with the BAME community.
“It is known that the South Sea Company had significant financial involvement with the slave trade. It is not known to what extent this contributed to Thomas Weddell’s wealth but we do know that what was acceptable in the 1700s is abhorrent now.
“Newby is a modern and inclusive business and we have supported the BAME community. There is lots more we can do and post-Covid we look forward to renewing our links. The past is something we cannot change. We need to recognise it, take serious note and learn.”
“BLM” has been left near the war memorial in Harrogate.
The Newby Hall revelation comes in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and a wave of protests around the world. The Black Lives Matter movement believes systemic racism dates back to the slave trade.
Read more on this story
- Meet the new Black Lives Matter group in Harrogate
- See what happened at the Black Lives Matter protest
What is the South Sea Company?
South Sea Company was a public-private corporation that supplied slaves to the islands in the “South Seas” and South America.
Some historians estimate that the company set out to transport just over 34,000 slaves but around 4,000 slaves died on the voyage.
Others found that investors ended up with substantial returns if they got out before the “South Sea Bubble” burst in 1720. Thomas Weddell was one of those investors.
Thomas Weddell was the great-uncle of William Weddell and left him with a legacy that Thomas used to buy Newby Hall.
No plans for a review into Harrogate’s past
This week, a statue of Queen Victoria in Leeds has been sprayed with graffiti relating referring to slavery and Leeds City Council has said it is reviewing its statues. However, Harrogate Borough Council said that it has no plans to launch such a review.
The Queen Victoria statue in central Harrogate
Many councils in England are reviewing their memorials after protesters in Bristol toppled the Edward Colston statue and dropped it in the harbour.
There has also been pressure on other authorities and organisations to remove statues of people with links to the slave trade, such as Cecil Rhodes, whose statue in Oxford has drawn criticism because of his links with imperialism and colonialism.
One coronavirus death at Harrogate hospital with six more in care homesHarrogate District Hospital has reported one coronavirus death and care homes have recorded six more deaths in a week.
The death at the hospital happened yesterday and was reported with a total of 88 in England’s hospitals.
Patients were aged between 43 and 102 years old. Three patients, who were aged between 53 and 87, had no known underlying health conditions.
Up to May 29, care homes have recorded 78 coronavirus deaths. It’s an increase of six deaths from the previous week’s figures in care homes.
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Up to June 10, the hospital has reported 72 deaths. So, even with the lag in data of ten days, care homes have reported more deaths.
On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.
Nidderdale Llamas living it up in lockdownNidderdale Llamas has adapted to lockdown with virtual treks and birthday llama greetings.
The animal centre will not be able to open along with zoos and safari parks next week and the owners are still looking at July 4 as the earliest date possible.
Suzanne Benson, the owner of Nidderdale Llamas, told the Stray Ferret that she will be reducing its visitors, rotating llamas regularly for natural sanitation, and putting up more signage.
She added that her business has been hit hard by the lockdown but said she was hopeful that customers will return when they open.
Nidderdale Llamas is preparing to open.
Harrogate District Hospital has reported one more coronavirus death, taking the trust’s total up to 71.
The person died yesterday and was recorded with 129 in total across England’s hospitals.
Patients were aged between 26 and 100 years old.
Read more on this story
- When the Harrogate NHS Trust projected an £11 million shortfall
- Harrogate Hospital’s chief executive has opened about how his staff have been subject to racist abuse
Three patients, who were aged between 78 and 93, had no known underlying health conditions.
On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.
Harrogate hospital boss opens up about racist abuse at the trustHarrogate Hospital’s chief executive has opened about how his staff have been subject to racist abuse at work, as well as his own experiences.
Steve Russell said examples of different treatments exist in the UK “and, if we are honest, here at [the hospital.]”
He made the announcement to colleagues on the day of George Floyd’s funeral.
The Harrogate NHSFT chief executive spoke about the different examples of treatment towards BAME staff.
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- How a Harrogate group set up a Black Lives Matter movement
- See what happened when Harrogate held its own silent protest
He said patients have refused treatment from BAME staff. Risk assessors have singled them out because “people like them live in crowded houses.” They have also been subject to criticism for spending time at work following religious pursuits, he added.
Steve Russell also opened up about his own experience of racism at the hospital and when he was younger:
“When my appointment was announced and my picture was shared some people ‘well, he doesn’t look like a Steve.’
“My dad being asked on a bus ‘where he got me from,’ being told in school that I should get back on my banana boat, and to this day I appear to regularly end up being one of the people randomly selected for a search at airports and events.”
Harrogate NHSFT’s board of directors has committed to stamping our racism and promoting equality at the trust.
The trust said it was taking action but added that “there is always more we can do.”
Yorkshire Tea goes viral with Black Lives Matter tweetSteve added: “George’s murder has ignited a call for the end to racism and injustice across the world. If it is to be more than just a call, we have to look at ourselves, not at others. We are all part of the solution to end this. It is no longer good enough for us to be neutral in this. I want to clearly say that, here at HDFT, Black Lives Matter.”
Yorkshire Tea went viral last night with a Black Lives Matter (BLM) tweet after responding to a right-wing commentator.
Laura Towler said that she was “dead chuffed that Yorkshire Tea [had] not supported BLM.”
The brand, which is owned by Harrogate-based Bettys and Taylor Group, rebuked her:
“Please don’t buy our tea again.
“We’re taking some time to educate ourselves and plan proper action before we post. We stand against racism.”
Read more:
- How a Harrogate group set up a Black Lives Matter movement
- See what happened when Harrogate held its own silent protest
Other tea brands like PG Tips and Teapigs got involved with the row by showing #solidaritea with Yorkshire Tea.
PG Tips added: “If you are boycotting teas that stand against racism, you’re going to have to find two new tea brands now.”
Please don't buy our tea again.
We're taking some time to educate ourselves and plan proper action before we post. We stand against racism.
#BlackLivesMatter— Yorkshire Tea (@YorkshireTea) June 8, 2020
So far, Yorkshire Tea’s response has been retweeted nearly 12,000 times with around 6,000 responses.
Many of the people responding praised the tea brands for its stance but some condemned them for “virtue signalling.”
Advocacy group Hope Not Hate has previously named Laura Towler, who is from Yorkshire, among a list of influential and “racist alt-right” YouTubers.
No coronavirus deaths as Harrogate total cases pass 300 markHarrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths but the number of cases in the district is at over 300 since the start of the pandemic.
Statistics from the government’s coronavirus tracker show that there have been 308 confirmed cases of the virus in the Harrogate district. North Yorkshire as a whole has confirmed 1,320 cases of coronavirus.
The hospital has, so far, recorded 70 deaths where the patient has tested positive for COVID-19.
Read more on this story:
- Why the clock is ticking on NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber
- When the Harrogate NHS Trust projected an £11 million shortfall
On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.
The number of deaths and discharges as well as a further 72 who have died in care homes accounts for the majority of cases in the area.
Independent Harrogate ‘very disappointed’ as parking charges restartA group representing independent businesses in Harrogate has voiced its disappointment over the restarting of parking charges.
William Woods, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said he had previously told the council to help retailers by delaying the reintroduction of charges.
He said that free parking would make a “huge difference” to businesses in Harrogate. Many of which are reopening for the first time on June 15, the same time charges come back into force.
“We wanted a grace period to help businesses to get back on their feet. We need to do all we can to get visitors back into the town centre. I thought that free parking would send a strong message.”
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Since the start of the lockdown enforcement officers have only targeted dangerous and obtrusive parking but that will change on June 15.
The measures will come into force for both on-street and off-street parking. North Yorkshire County Council is urging people to exercise social distancing when parking and paying to park.
Harrogate BID response to parking charges
Harrogate BID has been more welcoming to the reintroduction of parking charges but said that the change needed to be communicated well.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair, said: “I can see why the County Council is doing this, as it will ensure there is turnover in spaces when shops reopen, but it needs to be communicated loud and clear, so no one is caught unaware. We need to ensure that at the same time traffic wardens are back patrolling the streets, the town’s car parks are re-opened and properly signposted.”