Family seeks answers after ex-Harrogate ICI woman’s death linked to asbestos

The family of a woman whose death is being linked to asbestos is trying to get in touch with her ex-work colleagues at the former ICI plant in Harrogate.

Cher Elizabeth Wray, who was known as Sharon Cooper until her marriage in 1990, died aged 63 from a lung cancer called mesothelioma — which is commonly associated with asbestos.

Ms Wray died in February 2019, leaving a husband, Michael, five children and seven grandchildren.

Before she died, she asked law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate how she had encountered asbestos.

Her family is now appealing to anyone who worked with her during her first job after school at the age of 16 to get in touch.

Ms Wray was a PA at ICI in Harrogate between 1971 and 1973.

ICI was one of the largest employers in Harrogate at the time. The company, which was founded in 1926, became defunct 14 years ago.

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Ms Wray started work at the plant when she left school at 16. She told Irwin Mitchell she was a PA but her role would see her move across the entire plant.

Dirt and dust

She recalled seeing colleagues undertaking maintenance on pipework and added that the pipes tended to be lagged. She said that the activity generated lots of dirt and dust.

Ms Wray left the company in 1973 when she had children. She did not return to work until 1986.

Her husband, Michael Wray, 68, said:

“Cher was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother and the entire family misses her so much every day.

“It was awful to see how mesothelioma affected her and we all still have so many questions about how this happened.

“She lived for her family and loved nothing better than spending time with them. That’s what made her the happiest.

“While time has moved on from Cher’s death, our family hasn’t. Occasions such as family birthdays are not the same without her.

“Still having so many questions about how she was exposed to asbestos makes her death even harder to try and come to terms with.

“We know nothing can make up for what’s happened but if we could at least have answers regarding Cher’s death at least we will be able to honour her memory.”

Office workers also affected by asbestos

Ian Toft, a partner at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Ms Wray’s family, said:

“This is sadly yet another case that highlights the huge impact that asbestos can have on individuals, often years after exposure may have taken place.

“Cher’s death at a young age from mesothelioma has left her family greatly upset and with many concerns about how she could have been exposed. It’s not just people in industrial jobs that contract mesothelioma.

“Sadly we see a number of office workers and those who worked in public buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices who fall victim to this disease.

“If anyone has information about the conditions Cher faced during her time as a PA at ICI it could make all the difference to her family being able to honour her memory.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Toft on 0113 218 6453 or email  ian.toft@irwinmitchell.com.

Nearly 200 sign petition supporting new Harrogate Tesco

A counter campaign has been launched in support of a new Tesco supermarket in Harrogate after a group of residents petitioned against the plans.

Tesco has applied to build the supermarket at the former gas works site on Skipton Road in a move which it said would create 100 new jobs.

The plans have been met with opposition from a group of residents who live on the nearby Electric Avenue and have gathered the support of almost 500 others as part of a ‘No To Tesco’ campaign.

But another petition has now been launched by residents who say there is a “significant need” for a new supermarket in the area.

Ann Lambert, who launched the second petition and has so far gathered more 100 signatures, said:

“There are thousands of homes on this side of Harrogate, the majority of which will travel at varying times across town to other supermarkets.

“The area is growing at a fast pace and it needs a supermarket that is close by and large enough to deal with the customers that are created from so much house building.”

Ms Lambert also said the 100 new jobs were much needed as she highlighted how Tesco has scaled back its plans after it was first granted planning permission for the site in 2012.

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These previous plans were never brought forward by the supermarket chain which has now proposed a smaller store.

Despite this, the group of residents living on Electric Avenue are still opposed to construction at the former gas works site which they say has become a home and feeding ground for animals including badgers, frogs, squirrels and hedgehogs.

Resident Jennifer Dance also criticised a public consultation carried out by Tesco and said there were further concerns over the potential impacts of the new store on people’s daily lives.

She previously said:

“I believe sites like this should be nurtured and cherished, not destroyed and replaced with concrete, steel and tarmac in the name of progress, prosperity and profit.”

Tesco has also acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and said all feedback would be taken onboard ahead of a decision on the plans from Harrogate Borough Council around April.

Residents can comment on the plans on the council’s website up until Sunday.

If approved, Tesco said the supermarket could open in 2023.

Former governors call for Boroughbridge sixth form to remain open

Three former governors of Boroughbridge High School have called for the potential closure of its sixth form to be stopped.

It comes as parents await the decision of the federated governing body of Boroughbridge High School and King James’s School in Knaresborough, which met last night.

The school held a consultation with staff, students, parents/carers and governors from mid-November to mid-December 2021. It asked for thoughts on the ‘suspension of the sixth form for up to two years’.

If the plan goes ahead then the sixth form will not reopen in September.

The Stray Ferret asked current chair Malcolm Dawson for the outcome of last night’s meeting but he declined to comment, saying parents would be notified first.

It is unclear when the results will be announced publicly.

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The consultation process and the decision itself has come under scrutiny in the last week.

Dr Ron Nixon, a former GP and one of the school’s founding governors, told the Stray Ferret:

“I just do not understand how this has happened. I do not like the smell of it. If it does close for two years then, realistically, what are the chances of it reopening?

“The closure of the sixth form would not only be a disaster for the school but also the wider community, which has grown rapidly over recent years.”

Brian Dooks, who served as a governor of Boroughbridge Primary School and Boroughbridge High School for nearly 20 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am disturbed and alarmed to learn that Boroughbridge High School could be about to lose its on-site sixth form.

“I was one of the governors who fought long and hard for the creation of the sixth form, which was attended by my two daughters.

“My former governors will take some serious persuading that it will not rapidly become a permanent solution to the detriment of generations of young people.

“In the last 10 years the Boroughbridge population has exploded. If there was justification for a sixth form in the 1990s, that must be true in 2022.”

Another former chair of governors, who asked not to be named, added:

“I just want the school to succeed. This was meant to be a consultation with parents but I am struggling to find parents who knew anything about it. They are angry.”

What’s your view of the proposed closure? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Long-awaited Otley Road cycle lane opens to safety concerns

The first phase of the much-anticipated cycle lane on Otley Road in Harrogate was completed today amid safety fears by a cycling campaign group.

North Yorkshire County Council has now completed the initial stretch from Harlow Moor Road to Arthurs Avenue. It is the first of three phases on Otley Road.

However, the junction with Harlow Moor Road has given Harrogate District Cycle Action group cause for concern.

Kevin Douglas, chairman of HDCA, told the Stray Ferret the cycle route was a “step forward” overall but the junction failed to meet safety standards:

“We can see that they have widened the junction for cars. It is great news for drivers but that was not the point of the scheme.

“In its current form I do not think it meets the minimum safety standards.

“The council is planning to widen the path at the junction by using land owned by Yorkshire Water which would improve the situation but until then it is too narrow.

“Overall I see this as a step forward. The sooner we have cycle lanes that connect houses on the edges of town with the town centre the better.”

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North Yorkshire County Council has been working closely with Mr Douglas and other local cycling groups as part of the consultation process.

Much of the route is shared with pedestrians.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, told the Stray Ferret:

“There has been some criticism about the fact that it is shared access with pedestrians and cyclists, but that has always been part of the design.

“I have had many conversations with Mr Douglas. He is concerned about the pinch point at the Harlow Moor Road junction but we are going to resolve the issue. It’s a fair assessment.

“We have reached an agreement with Yorkshire Water so we can widen that path. I cannot give a date on when those works will start.”

Construction of the second phase, from Cold Bath Road to Beech Grove, is due to start in April. There is still no timescale for phase three, which will connect to Cardale Park.

Mr Mackenzie also raised the prospect of eventually extending the cycle lane to Beckwithshaw. He told the Stray Ferret it would likely receive funding due to the number of housing planned for the area. Developers, as part of planning consent, would be expected to fund the route.

Inquest hears tributes to bikers killed in head-on collision in Masham

The families of two bikers who died in a head-on collision near Masham have paid tributes at a joint inquest into their deaths, which concluded today.

Paramedics certified Martin Ragg, who was from the Ripon area, and Michael ‘Mick’ Lynas, who was from the Thirsk area, dead at the scene of the collision on the A1608 on Sunday, April 25 in 2021.

Coroner Oliver Longstaff submitted written evidence and questioned a collision investigator from North Yorkshire Police at the inquest.

The inquest heard how the crash happened at a blind summit close to the Brymor Ice Cream parlour and that Mr Ragg had been attempting to overtake a car before he moved one and a half metres into the oncoming lane before the crash.

Both men died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Mr Longstaff said:

“The point of an inquest is not to apportion blame but to determine the facts which lead up to the deaths.

“On the balance of probabilities the collision happened in the northbound carriageway and Mr Ragg was on the wrong side of the road.

“What strikes me is, from listening to what both families have said, that these two men would have got on quite well and become good friends if they had ever met.

“I hope it is some comfort to know that they both died instantly while doing something they loved.”

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Tina Lynas, who was the wife of Mick Lynas, said:

“Mick was passionate about motorcycles — in fact, much to the shock of my mum, he picked me up for our first date on a motorcycle. He was a great rider and never a risk taker.

“He collected motorcycles and at the time of his passing he had 13 in his possession. On the day of the crash he went out with his daughter Eve on a separate bike to meet his friends in Masham. He was then going to see family in Middlesbrough.

“I was just getting to leave to meet him there when I took a call from Eve. Mick’s passing has left a huge hole in our hearts. He was a loving man, full of life. He was community driven and would do anything for anyone.”

‘Lives shattered in an instant’

Jayne Ragg, who was the wife of Martin Ragg, said:

“Our lives were shattered in an instant. Martin often left early for his trips and did not want to wake me up when he headed out. So I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.

“He had a fantastic sense of humour and he was a larger-than-life character who loved his family with all his heart.

“We have raised more than £7,000 for Brake, a road safety charity, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We also sent £2,000 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance separately.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Bus delays due to Killinghall temporary lights issues

The Harrogate Bus Company has revealed that its 36 service will be delayed this morning due to issues with the temporary lights in Killinghall.

Long queues either side of the village have been a regular sight since temporary traffic lights were installed on Monday but particularly from Ripley heading south.

Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.

That work was due to last until February 4. But residents say they had not been informed of further works due to take place from February 7 to 11.

The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

Inquest to explore how Harrogate boy, 16, died in adult homeless hostel

An inquest will investigate how a 16-year-old Harrogate schoolboy, who was exploited by county lines drug dealers and struggled with mental health issues, died in a homeless hostel for adults.

Benjamin Nelson-Roux, a student at St Aidan’s Church of England High School, died in Harrogate on April 8 2020. His body was found by his mother, Kate.

The North Yorkshire Coroner’s Office held a second pre-inquest review in Northallerton today to review the evidence ahead of a full inquest.

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Jon Heath, senior coroner for North Yorkshire, listened to submissions from lawyers acting on behalf of the family as well as the various agencies involved in the case. Mr Heath said:

“In the full inquest I must consider the risk to Benjamin and the responsibility Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council had for him.

“He was placed in this hostel because it was staffed 24 hours a day. The hostel is for adults. Benjamin was 16-years-old. He was deemed to be ‘at significant risk of death’ just two days before he died.”

Mr Heath revealed that he would call 23 witnesses at the full inquest, which is due to be heard over 12 days on a date to be determined before July.

What is being filmed at Crimple Valley viaduct?

Speculation has been mounting on social media after a photographer snapped pictures of a film crew in action at Crimple Valley viaduct yesterday.

James Forster, a wildlife photographer, set out to capture the wildlife in Crimple Valley when he spotted some unusual activity on the viaduct.

Pictures he shared with the Stray Ferret show a limousine, film crews with cameras and boom microphones as well as three actors preparing for the shoot.

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It is unclear what film or TV show the film crew is working on. There has been much excitement in Leeds where Samuel L Jackson has been filming a new Marvel series for Disney Plus but he is not thought to have headed north to Harrogate.

Mr Forster’s images on Twitter provoked comments that ITV has been filming Emmerdale in the area.

The Stray Ferret asked ITV whether it was filming Emmerdale in Harrogate but the broadcaster said it was unable to comment at this time.

The 31-arch viaduct is one of the most photographed structures in the Harrogate district.

‘Good’ rating for ‘caring and friendly’ Boroughbridge school

Ofsted has given Kirby Hill Church of England Primary School a ‘good’ rating for the first time since March 2011.

Inspectors published the report yesterday after a visit to the school last month. They rated the 120-pupil school ‘good’ in all areas. ‘Good’ is the second highest of four possible ratings, with ‘outstanding’ the best.

It follows two previous ‘requires improvement’ Ofsted ratings in 2016 and 2018.

Leaders at the school, the report says, have “galvanised the staff team and secured improvements to the quality of education and pupils’ behaviour.”

The report said:

“Pupils enjoy attending Kirby Hill Primary School. The school’s embedded Christian values help to foster pupils’ positive attitudes to learning and to caring relationships.

“Pupils have a strong understanding of diversity and celebrate other people’s differences.

“Pupils behave well in lessons and enjoy playing together at break times. They understand what bullying is but say that it does not happen in their school.

“The school is a caring and friendly place.”

Staff have won praise for the improvement.

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The report also praises the new curriculum at the school, which it describes as ambitious. It added that teachers explain new learning clearly and address misconceptions effectively.

Kirby Hill Church of England Primary School is about a mile from Boroughbridge.

Emma Lowe, headteacher, said:

“We are all delighted here at Kirby Hill that our hard work and dedication to improve standards has now formally been recognised by Ofsted.

“I am incredibly proud of the whole school community as everyone has played their part – but I am especially proud of our children.

“As always, our children were excellent ambassadors for our school during the inspection.

“They were able to talk confidently and passionately about their love of learning, their desire to challenge themselves and their ambitions for the future.

“I feel very lucky to be part of the Kirby Hill family and I look forward to continuing on our journey. Onwards and upwards – if you can believe it, you can achieve it!”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Heavy Killinghall traffic on fourth day of works

There are miles of tailbacks around Killinghall this morning, particularly for drivers heading southbound, on the fourth day of construction works.

Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.

The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.