Ripon singer serenades couple’s romantic Harrogate engagement

A Ripon musician serenaded a couple during a surprise marriage proposal outside The Blues Bar in Harrogate last Friday.

Singer and guitarist Freddie Cleary was asked by Conor Walsh, the soon-to-be-groom from Newcastle, to be a part of a secret proposal during a weekend trip to Harrogate with his now fiancé, Ashley.

Conor took to social media to find a singer who could pose as a busker and then perform Ashley’s favourite song while he got down on one knee.

Freddie, who is well known locally, told the Stray Ferret:

“Last month I saw a post from Conor on Facebook asking for a busker.

“He was planning an engagement proposal and wanted it to be in Harrogate.

“He had never been to the town before and wanted to see if he could hire a ‘busker’ to just be playing random songs and, as they arrived, to play a specific song on request, Waiting for Superman by Daughtry, which has a special meaning to both him and Ashley.”

Conor Walsh pops the question outside the Blues Bar. Pic: LS Photography.

Freddie said he helped Conor choose a location in the town, adding it was a “no brainer” to select the Blues Bar on Montpellier Parade bar, a live music venue where he regularly performs.

Noticing Freddie being photographed while performing outside the bar as they arrived, Ashley said she “just assumed he was having promo pictures taken”.

She told the Stray Ferret she was then left “completely speechless” when Freddie played the song and Conor got down on one knee. She said:

“We’re not the type of people that care about aesthetics, so it was just the perfect engagement.

“It was just us listening to live music – which we always like to do – and I didn’t even realise anyone was watching until they started cheering.

“I couldn’t have asked for it to have been better.”

Pic: LS Photography.

The couple also said they were so impressed by Freddie they have already planned for him to be part of their wedding day.

They had not visited Harrogate before the engagement, they said, but added it now holds a “special place in our hearts”.

Read more:

Rituals opens on Harrogate’s James Street

Well-known home and body care brand Rituals opened its doors in Harrogate today.

The store, which took over the last empty unit on James Street formerly occupied by Ernest Jones, opened amid plans to launch 25 stores across the UK and Ireland this year, of which Harrogate is one of the first.

This will add to more than 60 existing stores and concessions in the country.

The Dutch brand, which launched in 2000, sells a range of bath and shower products, skincare, fragrances and home accessories, including candles and diffusers.

A spokesperson for Rituals today told the Stray Ferret:

“The closest stores were Leeds and York, which is at the designer outlet. We wanted to open a full-priced store here because it’s a luxury but affordable brand.

“It’s a boutique-style store which really fits Harrogate.”

The Harrogate store employs seven people and took around three weeks to renovate, another spokesperson said.

People can also expect male grooming products, make up and even a hand spa at the new shop.

Rituals Harrogate will be open seven days a week, from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

On Saturday, it will be open 9am to 6pm, and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday.

Read more:

Health leaders urge people to get measles vaccine as cases rise in North Yorkshire

Health leaders have urged North Yorkshire people to get vaccinated against measles after a rise in cases locally.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab is given in two doses to young children and babies. The first is administered at just 12 months, followed by a second at around three or four years old, before starting school.

However, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for meeting health needs and managing NHS spend locally, said in a press release today about one in 10 children in our area were at risk of measles because they have not had both doses of the vaccine by the age of five.

This means there will be three children who are not fully vaccinated in the average reception class, it added.

Louise Wallace, director of public health at North Yorkshire Council, said:

“Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness and, in some children, can be very serious, leading to hospitalisation and tragically even death in rare cases.

“People in certain at-risk groups including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles.”

The ICB also said vaccination rates were “significantly lower” among gypsy and traveller communities, recent migrants and university students in York and North Yorkshire.

More than 99% of people who have two doses of the MMR vaccine will be protected against measles and rubella, the press release said, adding the vaccine also provided protection against mumps, which can be “very painful with complications including inflammation of the ovaries, testicles and, in rare cases, the pancreas”.

Reminders have been sent to parents and guardians with children aged one to five who are missing either their first or second MMR vaccination.

The ICB is now expanding this reminder to parents of children aged six to 11-years-old, who also require either one or both doses of the vaccination.

Read more:

Merger of three Ripon doctors’ surgeries to be discussed this weekend

An open morning is being held this weekend to discuss plans to merge three Ripon doctors’ surgeries.

North House Surgery has proposed to merge with Park Street Surgery and Ripon Spa Surgery on July 1, 2024.

North House Surgery patients can give their views online here or attend the open morning at the practice on North Street from 10.30am to noon. Park Street Surgery and Ripon Spa Surgery will also be holding open mornings at the same time for their own patients.

In a post about the move online, North House Surgery said there were four main reasons behind the merger: better patient care, making it easier to recruit and retain staff, creating a stronger voice for patients and benefiting from economies of scale.

The move would bring together 12 GP partners, seven salaried GPs and 24 other clinical staff catering for 24,000 patients.

The surgery post adding:

“By pooling resources from across all three practices, we will be able to create a larger team of specialist staff and clinicians to care for our patients, and provide all patients registered in Ripon with the same high standard of care.

“We strongly believe that a larger practice will enable us to better recruit and retain talented staff.

“Also, by sharing the vast amount of experience that all three practices have in training medical students and junior GPs, we can expand the training opportunities that we can offer to an even wider range of medical professionals. This will help us continue to attract high calibre clinicians and secure the long-term provision of GP services for the city and surrounding villages.”

Park Street surgery, Ripon. Via Park Street Facebook

Pic: Park Street Surgery Facebook.

A spokesperson for North House Surgery today told the Stray Ferret the plans were “not set in stone” and, if approved, all three practices would still remain open and operate under one name.

The spokesperson added they “could not comment at the moment” on how the individual practices would operate thereafter.

The surgery also said online:

“We recognise that this merger will reduce the number of practices that a patient can register at in Ripon from three practices to one.

“However, we believe that the benefits outlined above outweigh this reduction. The choice of which GP a patient can make an appointment with will also increase to 19.”

The practice said it will “let people know what patients said via posters around the surgery” after Friday, March 15.

Ripon Spa Surgery. Credit: Visit Ripon.

Read more:

Grane Coffee and Bakery opens in Harrogate

The newest addition to Harrogate‘s coffee shop scene opened its doors today.

Grane Coffee and Bakery, located on Station Parade in a unit formerly occupied by The Chocolate Works, serves a range of coffee, tea, baked goods and sandwiches.

Owner Rod Hardman previously told the Stray Ferret it would be “arguably the coolest and most stylish boutique bakery” the town has to offer.

Following a £150,000 refurbishment, Mr Hardman today said he has brought to life the “sleek Scandinavian-style shop” he hoped for, adding:

“We were working 16-to-18-hour days to turn it around.

“I wanted a cool looking shop and I think we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve.”

Grane is Mr Hardman’s first hospitality venture, after previously working in fashion for the likes of Flannels and Hugo Boss.

The shop features a £10,000 coffee machine, which Mr Hardman said was shipped over from Naples, as well as a mural of fashion brands he previously worked with or sold.

When asked why he opened the shop, he said:

“When I worked in fashion, the number one question we’d always get asked when serving customers was, ‘where can we find a nice coffee round here?’, and we never had a good one to recommend.

“I felt there was a lack of good quality coffee, so that’s what we’re bringing.”

A wide range of ingredients and foods are also on offer to buy at Grane.

These include a variety of pastas, including Dolce & Gabbana pasta, Italian sauces, Asian condiments, and sweet treats, such as chocolate and flavoured popcorn.

Mr Hardman, who is originally from Leeds but now lives in Masham, added:

“I feel people don’t really talk in coffee shops anymore. I wanted to inspire them while they’re here.

“People can order a coffee and then shop for different produce, like the tomato sauces for example, and when they sit down they can feel inspired to cook a delicious meal using them that evening.”

Mr Hardman said the reception to his venture had so far been “unreal”:

“We had 25 customers within the first hour and a half – it has been unreal.

“On Sunday, when we were here at around midnight, a lady and her daughter were crossing the road, and I heard the daughter say ‘how cool does that look?’ and pointed at the shop”

Grane Coffee and Bakery is open Tuesday to Sunday.

The coffee shop and store opens at 8am — with the bakery opening at 9am — until 5pm.

Read more:

Knaresborough man campaigns against Harrogate firefighter cuts

A Knaresborough man has launched a campaign to stop four firefighters stationed in Harrogate losing their jobs in April.

Neil Smith, 55, said “people’s lives are at risk” because of the cuts, which will see the number of nighttime fire engines based in Harrogate from two to one.

The job losses, which are expected to save £210,000, are part of plans by Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, to put greater emphasis on fire prevention.

The Stray Ferret revealed the news earlier this month, which prompted Mr Smith to set up the Facebook group Community Action Group Harrogate/Knaresborough/Ripon in the hope of rallying others who opposed the changes.

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret he had a meeting scheduled with Ms Metcalfe next month.

He said:

“I want to know where her head is at. She is putting people’s lives at risk doing this.

“There were several fire engines at the scene following the incident at Bettys this week, one even from Tadcaster, so what will we do in those kinds of situations when there’s less firemen and less fire engines?”

Mr Smith also said he was considering a protest outside Harrogate Fire Station to “make a stance” against the decision. He added:

“The Facebook group currently has 82 members, which is good, but I want to get to 100 before putting the idea of a protest forward.

“Nothing is planned yet but I won’t be holding back.”

He said new housing developments in the area could “bring thousands of new residents and an increased demand for the fire service”. He added:

“I’m doing this because I feel there is going to be a lack of services.

“This is the power of the people. I strongly urge people to get behind me on this.”

The Stray Ferret revealed in 2022 that Ms Metcalfe planned to shed frontline firefighting jobs as part of her 2022 to 2025 Risk and Resource model, which outlined how the service would deploy its resources.

Scarborough is also due to lose four firefighters next year, which will save another £215,000.

A further seven posts for what are described as “operational staffing reserves” will also be lost in April 2025, saving a further £375,000.

The changes at Harrogate Fire Station

Harrogate Fire Station currently has one fire engine, which can respond to all callouts, and a smaller tactical response vehicle – both of which operate day and night.

The tactical response vehicle is set to be replaced by a bigger fire engine. However, it will only be crewed during the day.

The Risk and Resource Model claims more fires happen during the day, and having two fire engines means Harrogate will have better protection at key times.

However, the second vehicle won’t be staffed between 10pm and 9am, which could put greater dependence on on-call firefighters in places like Knaresborough.

 Read more:

Business Breakfast: The Harlow in Harrogate appoints clinical lead

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Don’t miss out and click here to book your tickets now for the awards night on March 14 2024. 

The Harlow, a therapy clinic in Harrogate, has appointed a new clinical lead.

Psychotherapeutic counsellor Hannah Woodruff previously worked at crisis support text service Shout.

Ms Woodruff, who is taking over from psychotherapeutic counsellor Marianne Downie, said:

“My vision for The Harlow is to continue to build a strong team of psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches, and allied health professionals so we can provide exactly the right individualised support for you.

“I am also keen to provide these services to people who would not normally be able to access them as I strongly believe everyone deserves the best possible care.”

Ms Woodruff also said she was passionate about making mental health support accessible from a young age.

Harrogate Ladies’ College in top school guide

Harrogate Ladies’ College has been named among the top 10 independent schools in the north.

The guide rates the top performing secondary schools based on post-pandemic exam results.

The school’s principal, Sylvia Brett, said:

“Re-entering the regional top 10 list is a noteworthy accomplishment and shows that we are making significant strides in academic excellence.”

LNER receives top employer status

LNER, which operates trains between Harrogate and London King’s Cross, has been named a UK top employer by the Top Employers institute.

This is the fifth year the firm has received the recognition.

Claire Ansley, LNER people director, said:

“To have now won this award for five years in row is a wonderful achievement.”

 Read more:

Harrogate industrial site Millennium Park for sale at £1 million

A 1.32-acre commercial and industrial site in Harrogate has been put on the market for offers in the region of £1 million.

Millennium Park, on Claro Road, currently has a single-storey office building with stores, as well as an adjoining single storey workshop building.

It is next to Howarth Timber & Building Supplies and a Dulux Decorator Centre.

Leeds-based commercial property firm Walker Singleton, which is listing the site, anticipates the existing buildings would be demolished as part of a wholesale redevelopment.

A site plan of Millennium Park, which is entered from Claro Road.

Paul Diakiw, director at Walker Singleton, said:

“Millennium Park is anticipated to be a popular site due to its good location and strong commercial and investment appeal.

“It is a rare proposition in Harrogate and will inevitably be of interest to developers for industrial and commercial development, albeit there is also likely to be interest from owner-occupiers for continued use as a yard and who may look to utilise the existing buildings.”

Read more:

How well are Harrogate and Knaresborough’s new leisure centres doing?

New leisure centres opened in Harrogate and Knaresborough late last year.

Now that both have been operating for some time, the Stray Ferret set out to discover how well they’re doing.

The centres were part of a £47.9 million investment into local leisure provision by Brimhams Active, which Harrogate Borough Council set up to run leisure services.

Brimhams is now owned by North Yorkshire Council, which plans to abolish it and bring leisure services back under direct control.

Harrogate exceeds target

Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre has exceeded its membership target in the months since it reopened, North Yorkshire Council said.

The leisure centre, which was formerly known as the Hydro, re-opened its doors in September following an 18-month transformation.

The £13.5 million refurbishment at Harrogate included creating a 400-square metre fitness centre, a new sauna and steam room, improved reception and café areas, as well as an overhaul of the existing spin, leisure and swimming facilities.

The Jennyfields site also boasts three swimming pools: a 25-metre lane pool, a diving pool and a children’s pool. But the refurbishment wasn’t plain sailing and ended up £1.5 million over budget – so has it paid off?

A spokesperson for the council told the Stray Ferret the membership target for Harrogate, up to January 2024, was 2,060. It currently has 3,079 members  – more than 1,000 above target.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive member for culture, arts and housing, said he was “in awe” of the site’s success so far:

“People are very impressed from what I’ve been told.

“A lot of people I know have moved over from private gyms and they’re really taken by it. But we do have to keep it up.

“I’m in awe of the staff and the management at both sites. I find the public sector surprisingly visionary. I’m the luckiest portfolio holder in the country.”

Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre’s pool.

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre opened its doors in December. It was built on the former Knaresborough Pool site and cost £17.5 million.

Work began in April 2022 and the centre was originally due to open in summer last year, but the opening date was repeatedly delayed until last month.

Although it is early days, so far it has not had the same success as Harrogate.

The council membership target was 1,400, but so far there have been 1,164 sign ups.

Cllr Myers attributed the shortfall to opening during the Christmas period:

“The Christmas period goals aren’t getting fit – unless someone is very virtuous – but levels are certainly picking up.”

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre’s immersive spin studio.

The Knaresborough site offers a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool and slide, and a 60-station fitness suite.

Like Harrogate, it also boasts a sauna and steam room, a café, a group cycling studio and a studio for fitness classes.

Cllr Myers said:

“The building is so good — that did my heart good. What an achievement it is.

“Brimhams has brilliant staff. The ethos is really good. They’re very welcoming and know how to engage with people in all abilities.

“I take it from being at both places, I think people have been so blown away by the result of public investment in public facilities.

“We want to deliver the best experience in the same way the private sector can – we need to look at what marvellous space have been created. Every bit of the building earns its keep.”

Cllr Myers also said 500 people visit the leisure centres in Harrogate and Knaresborough each day.

Starbeck Baths and Ripon leisure centre

The Stray Ferret also wanted to know what plans, if any, are in place for Starbeck Baths, which has long been under the spotlight as the council’s next potential project.

We asked what the success of both Harrogate and Knaresborough would mean for the future of the Starbeck site, to which Mr Myers responded:

“At the moment it’s in the very early stages.

“I know some residents would really like an answer – especially since it’s been a bit of an unknown for a while — but we will try and get on with it. It’s a huge piece of work.

“It’s against a backdrop of difficult times in public finances. But we do know in the pounds we invest in leisure, we save money elsewhere for NHS, for example.

“I think we can justify investment into leisure and wellness even in the most cynical of financial times.”

The Stray Ferret has also closely followed the saga surrounding Ripon Leisure Centre.

The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre has not only faced the most bumps – or holes – in the road, but also the biggest expenditure of the three.

Although the site officially reopened in March 2022, Ripon residents are yet to see the full transformation.

An article last week reported the original budget for the project awarded to contractor Willmott Dixon in November 2019 was £10.2 million and it was scheduled for delivery in 17 months.

But £18 million and more than four years later, members are still using a temporary gym in the car park and attending fitness classes at Hugh Ripley Hall in the city centre.

Read more:

Business Breakfast: Harrogate wealth management firm rebrands

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Don’t miss out and click here to book your tickets now for the awards night on March 14 2024. 

Cardale Asset Management has been rebranded by Titan Wealth Group.

The Harrogate firm, now known as Titan Private Wealth, offers equity based investment services and provides portfolio management to private clients, pension schemes, charities and corporates.

Mark Puleikis, chief executive at Titan Private Wealth, said:

“This is an exciting new chapter for the team.

“Thanks to Titan Wealth’s support, we will accelerate our growth and continue to operate a dynamic business model, ensuring we can move quickly to maximise opportunities for our clients.”

York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub offers start-up advice

York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub has partnered with Lifted Ventures to bring start-ups and early-stage businesses advice.

North Yorkshire Stars will offer workshops and virtual events on business plans, legal advice and funding to help local businesses better prepare for investment.

Simon Middleton, delivery manager for the Growth Hub, said:

“If you’re a business owner and you want to raise finance but you’re unsure where to go or what information you should prepare, these workshops are for you. We look forward to hearing from you.”

Harrogate accountant publishes first novel

Tom Rhodes, a partner at accountancy firm Lithgow Perkins, has published his first novel.

The Awakening of Speros is a fantasy tale aimed at teenagers and young adults.

The former Rossett School pupil said:

“Writing is an escapism for me. It’s about as far removed from accountancy as possible.

“I really enjoy my day job, but I also love escaping into a different world with my writing.

“I tend to write fantasy because I like that you can make up your own rules and get lost in what you want to happen in your story.”

It is available to buy now as an E-book on Amazon or in Castlegate Books in Knaresborough.

Read more: