Flora Grafton, Author at The Stray Ferret

Knaresborough father fights for autistic son to join twin brother at SEND school

A Knaresborough man has raised concerns following ongoing issues with North Yorkshire Council about his autistic son’s education.

Stephen Coe’s twin sons, Magnus and Felix, are both autistic and have been given an education, health and care plan (EHCP) – which supports those with special educational needs (SEND).

After completing mainstream primary school, Mr Coe hoped the 12-year-old twins would both be accepted into The Forest School, in Knaresborough, which only caters for those with special needs and an EHCP.

However, he was shocked to discover only Magnus had received a place.

Following an assessment of Felix’s standard assessment tests (SATs), North Yorkshire Council found him to only have mild learning difficulties and he was too able to attend a special educational needs and disabilities school, Mr Coe added.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Magnus was accepted into The Forest School, and he loves it.

“The council, however, told us that Felix is too able to attend Forest, despite his SATs results actually being worse than Magnus’s.”

Mr Coe also said the council suggested Felix would be able to attend King James’s School in Knaresborough, despite the school saying it could not cater to his needs.

“I have had to take unpaid leave from work to look after Felix, as I refuse to send him to a mainstream school that has said since October 2022 that they cannot meet his needs, following multiple assessments there – a decision that, we as parents, support.

“King James’s has been honest and fair throughout.”

The Forest School has since told Mr Coe that it is now full and could not give Felix a place.

Felix has been out of full-time education since July this year. Although his father is trying to provide him with sufficient at-home education, he added “quite frankly, I’m not a teacher.”

Mr Coe added:

“All I’m asking is for my son’s rights to be observed – he needs stability.

“Other than the staff King James’s, not one person that has made this decision for him, has even met him in person.”

The council awarded £700 in compensation for “mismanagement of process” following a complaint by Mr Coe but he is now escalating it to a tribunal.

He will face the local authorities next February.

North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret that “all SEND admissions follow the national requirements outlined in the SEND Code of Practice 2015.”

Knaresborough man set for third trip to South Pole

A Knaresborough man is set to embark on his third trip to the South Pole.

Gerald Draycott, who is originally from North Wales, previously worked at Menwith Hill before moving to The Hague and then back to Scriven to continue his work as a satellite engineer.

He was invited on a work trip by explorer, Robert Swan OBE, and was asked to install a satellite at the summit of the South Pole alongside 160 other people.

It was used to broadcast images and information of the Antarctic online and raise awareness of the significant environmental impacts the continent has on the world.

Mr Draycott added:

“We wanted people to understand the significant impact the Antarctic has on the rest of the environment.

“The animals and nature there, the ice caps and the O-Zone layer are all so important and, by installing the satellite, we could broadcast this back home for people to really understand.”

Those on the trip were broadcasting live on Facebook, calling families, and sharing images on social media to spread awareness thanks to the vessel, he added.

Mr Draycott and crew on the first expedition.

In January of this year, Mr Draycott was invited back to Antarctica by Mr Swan to complete a 70-mile trek to the South Pole.

The explorer had attempted the walk before but injured his hip 90 miles before the finish line, so invited a group to complete the walk with him.

Mr Draycott added:

“It was a 60 nautical mile trek — which is 70 regular miles — to the pole while pulling my sled.”

The trip took 10 days to complete and temperatures reached -33 degrees celsius.

“It was really overwhelming; you look out and see literally nothing but white.

“Your mind begins to play tricks on you because there’s just nothing to take your mind off what you’re doing.”

Gerald Draycott

His workplace, SES Satellite, sponsored his second trip to the summit.

“Because it’s so clear, you can see for about 25 miles ahead of you.

“We could see the pole and thought, ‘that’s not too bad’, but realised it was still another three days of walking away.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience though and it’s such a story to tell. You really find out who you are on a trip like that.”

Now, Mr Draycott is planning his third trip in 2025 and is looking for companies in the Harrogate district to sponsor the expedition.

He aims to walk 1,130km across 60 days from the Hercules Inlet coast to the South Pole.

The satellite connectivity means sponsors would get social media and online coverage along the way, and would be a great way to put something unique back into the area, he added.

Harrogate girl to represent Great Britain at European tennis final

A Harrogate girl will represent Great Britain at a European tennis final following her success in the county round.

Roberta Gaskell, 12, won the U12’s match at the Babolat Cup UK 2023 last month – a tournament she has won every year since she was 8 – and will compete in the final in 2024.

The Harrogate Grammar School pupil played against 15 others representing UK counties.

Roberta also received the opportunity to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca for one week.

In addition, she was awarded a 12-month sponsorship contract with Babolat UK Hardware and will be kitted out with rackets, strings and other equipment.

The dates of the training camp have not been confirmed yet, but Roberta’s mother said she will “hopefully get to meet Nadal”.

Mel Gaskell told the Stray Ferret:

“She was amazing at the county competition; she kept her cool and did so well.

“The ironic thing is I nearly didn’t take her to the tournament!”

Roberta will compete in the The Babolat Cup European Masters, which will take place at the All in Country Club, in Lyon. It will see players from the UK, Spain, Holland, Italy, France and Germany go head-to-head.

Her tennis career began when she was 5 at The Academy in Harrogate, which was taken over by David Lloyd in 2017.

Roberta now trains three times a week at Leeds Beckett University and is ranked 47th in the UK for her age, according to the Lawn Tennis Association.

Her mum added:

“She’s such a happy little soul and she’s loving tennis.

“We think of her like a little racehorse.”

Roberta helped her school tennis team reach the regional stage last week.

She also plays rugby and competes in tetrathlons, which involve shooting, swimming, running, and riding.

Plans submitted to convert Harrogate music studio into magic show venue

A planning application has been submitted to convert a former Harrogate music studio into an immersive magic show venue.

Magician Neil Bradley-Smith applied for a change of use of the Blue Sky Music Studio, on Mayfield Grove, which was previously occupied by a piano teacher.

Mr Bradley-Smith has proposed to turn the site into a “speakeasy-style” entertainment venue to perform live shows.

These would be ticketed events.

He told the Stray Ferret he provisionally took the lease on in August, but said he’d only commit to the property providing his planning application is successful.

He added:

“I’d like to partition the venue and make the first room an entirely interactive magic show.

“For example, I’d have a deck of cards stuck to the wall which would then be used in the show later on.

“Then, the other half of the venue would become a 1920s-style parlour where I’d perform traditional card tricks.”

The application, which was submitted to North Yorkshire Council in September, outlines the change of use from retail to sui generis, which means the use of the venue does not fall into a particular category due to it being unusual.

Mr Bradley-Smith said he was inspired by a friend who runs a similar venue in Durham, adding:

“It would be a new venture for me, but I’ve been thinking about it for around the last 5 years.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Charity Christmas shopping event to return to Hampsthwaite

A Christmas shopping event will be held in Hampsthwaite for another year to raise money for The Roddy Scott Foundation.

Lovingly Made in the Dales will make its return to the Harrogate village to showcase the work of local artisans and artists.

Guests can expect locally-made candles, jewellery, art and glass decorations, as well as a raffle and festive food and drinks.

The foundation is an educational charity that is dedicated to teaching English and providing career opportunities to the children of the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia.

Roddy Scott was a BBC journalist who was killed there while reporting on the second Chechen war – his family live near Pateley Bridge.

Founder Katie Andrew held the first event last Christmas raising £900 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

She said:

“It will be a fun evening to enjoy with friends, whilst doing your Christmas shopping, supporting local artists & makers, and the amazing charity, The Roddy Scott Foundation.”

Those that would like to be involved in showcasing their work can contact Katie on 0777 5630 260.

The event will take place in Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall on Thursday, December 7, from 6pm – 9pm.

Tickets, which can be bought by contacting Katie, cost £10 per adult and includes a glass of wine, nibbles and a raffle ticket.

Harrogate family to climb Kilimanjaro to raise money for local charity

A Harrogate family is preparing to climb Africa’s highest mountain in aid of a local charity.

Richard Pughe, who is a partner at Begbies Traynor Group, will take on the 19,340 ft climb next February alongside his wife Nikki Sutcliffe, his son and stepson, as well as his friend.

The family visited Artizan Café in Harrogate, which employs and supports 23 people with various disabilities, and was inspired by its “fantastic work”.

They then chose to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Artizan International.

Mr Pughe said:

“The passion and joy with which both the trainees and trainers work is incredible.

“They’re making a tremendous difference to people’s lives, both here in Harrogate with their café and creative workshop and through projects in Ecuador and Peru.

“We were looking to take on a fundraising challenge to mark a few different significant birthdays that are happening next year in our family, and we were so impressed by Artizan International that we wanted to help them.”

The family is training for the eight-day expedition across the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, as well as hiking in the French Alps this summer.

They hope to raise at least £1,500 for the charity.

Mr Pughe added:

“Without doubt, coping with the altitude and low oxygen levels will be the most challenging aspect of the climb.

“We are doing as many high-level walks as we can and all trying to increase our fitness in preparation for February’s trip.

“We want to raise as much money as possible for Artizan International and it would be brilliant if our expedition inspires people to sponsor us.”

The charity was launched in Harrogate in 2013 after founder, Susie Hart MBE, set up a social centre in Tanzania to support and employ local people with disabilities.

Ms Hart also said:

“We’re tremendously grateful to Richard, Nikki and family for choosing to support our work with differently-abled people locally and overseas in this way and the funds they raise will make a huge difference.

“We’ll be able to provide training and support that’s literally life-changing, for many more people with disabilities, thanks to their support. We’ll be cheering them on, all the way.”

Police commissioner rejects advice to delay appointment of chief constable

North Yorkshire’s police commissioner has rejected advice to delay the appointment of a new chief constable.

The current chief constable, Lisa Winward, announced last month she will retire on March 31, 2024.

As a result, members of North Yorkshire and York’s police, fire and crime panel, which met at City of York Council yesterday, urged Conservative commissioner Zoë Metcalfe to postpone the recruitment process for up to 15 months.

Ms Winward’s retirement will come just weeks before a new Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, who will take on police commissioner powers including the ability to appoint a chief constable, will be elected.

The panel felt the delay would ensure senior police officers had sufficient time to see eye-to-eye with the new mayor.

Ms Metcalfe, however, rejected the guidance today. She felt months of temporary leadership would not be in the public’s best interest.

She said:

“As the single elected individual with responsibility for the totality of policing and crime for York and North Yorkshire, I have a duty to ensure that the force has outstanding, inspirational long-term leadership to keep our communities safe and feeling safe.

“I was surprised that some panel members saw fit to substitute their preference, not just for my decision, but for the considered professional views of all national stakeholders with a remit for excellence in police leadership.

“It gives me no pleasure to say that the recommendations of those key national stakeholders outweigh the panel’s recommendation.

“I stand by my decision.”

Ms Metcalfe added:

“This is a crucial time for the programme of improvements for North Yorkshire Police.

“The role of chief constable of North Yorkshire Police is a terrific opportunity for an inspirational, visionary chief police officer.

“The process for selection will be open, rigorous, exciting and challenging – and will involve a broad range of local and national key partner organisations so that York and North Yorkshire can be sure that we have the very best of police leadership for our communities.”

The move comes as members of the panel raised concern that the selection of the chief constable would coincide with the election of the Mayor for York and North Yorkshire.

Cllr Lindsay Burr, who represents Malton, said it would be an incorrect decision for the public to appoint a chief constable when the force’s strategic direction had not been set by the incoming mayor.

Huby councillor and former police officer Malcolm Taylor said while moving ahead with recruiting a chief constable might be a good decision in the short-term, the appointment was a long-term role.

Meanwhile, Ms Metcalfe also rejected an option to appoint an interim chief constable earlier this month.

The Stray Ferret reported that the commissioner was also given alternatives, including appointing the deputy chief constable to role until after mayoral election, but turned down both options in favour of starting a recruitment process.

Harrogate’s John Shackleton, 85, to embark on 49th humanitarian trip today

A Harrogate man will begin his drive from Harrogate to Georgia today to deliver an ambulance on his 49th humanitarian trip.

John Shackleton, 85, has bought and stocked 36 ambulances over the last 30 years to provide emergency vehicles and vital medical equipment to humanitarian organisations in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Last month, Mr Shackleton appealed for co-drivers last month and has since been “inundated” with applications.

One passenger, a Harrogate man who works as a veterinary regional manager, finishes work at midday today and will venture straight to Georgia.

The other, who is from High Wycombe, is an army paramedic who took the opportunity while on leave.

Mr Shackleton told the Stray Ferret a Berlin-based film crew also contacted him to follow the 3,000-mile journey. The producers will be dropped off en route in Berlin.

The group plans to deliver the ambulance, that Mr Shackleton collected from Amsterdam earlier this week, to a small organisation building a hospice on a farm on the Georgian and Russian border.

He said the organisation has been “praying for an ambulance for years”.

When asked if this would be Mr Shackleton’s final mission, he added:

“Well, I’ve said my trips before would be my final one and I’m still going now.

“I had a heart attack – which I’m mending from very quickly – but I lost a lot of weight and, as I’m struggling to put it back on, it’s becoming difficult to chop the wood I sell to fund the ambulances.”

Mr Shackleton anticipates the journey will take around 10 days. He said:

“I’m not nervous about this trip – I don’t get nervous. If problems are there, I solve them. They’re there to be solved.

“It’s a waste of time to worry.”

Mr Shackleton began his humanitarian work after seeing news reports revealing the poor conditions of Romanian orphanages following the borders opening in 1990. He was joined by a team of volunteers to install flushing toilets and showers at the orphanage.

This time, the team will stay in Georgia for just under a week to help the organisation, before hitchhiking to the nearest international airport to return home.

Mr Shackleton and his co-drivers will depart from his Harrogate home at midday today.

Click here to find out more about John Shackleton’s previous trips.

Knaresborough man to deliver two fire engines to Ukraine this month

A Knaresborough man will drive to Ukraine later this month to deliver two fire engines.

Bob Frendt, who is in his 70s, began his humanitarian work just over 18 months ago after the war between Ukraine and Russia began.

He said:

“I saw it on the TV when it started and saw the conditions these people were living in.

“I said to my wife ‘I can’t just sit here; I need to do something to help’.”

He is now preparing to make his ninth trip to the city of Volodymyr.

The Mayor of Volodymyr requested Mr Frendt, who is a retired truck driver, to supply the community with a fire engine after the original one was taken for use in Kyiv.

Bob Frendt’s fire engine.

He has held several fundraising events to pay for the £24,000 fire engine, including quiz nights and choir concerts, but said he has not worked out the total amount raised yet.

A company also donated a second vehicle to Mr Frendt after hearing about his venture.

He will be joined by his wife Maureen and two other passengers along the way.

The group will set off on Friday, October 27 at 2pm, from Aldi car park in Knaresborough.

Police link Scotton collision to Knaresborough car theft

North Yorkshire Police believe a collision in Scotton could be linked to a recent car theft in Knaresborough.

Emergency services, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, were called to the incident, which happened on Market Flat Lane in Scotton at 6.17pm yesterday.

Fire crews found a 53-reg blue Land Rover Freelander on its roof on arrival.

A police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“The vehicle had overturned and two young men ran off into a nearby field, off Scotton Way.

“Despite ground searched and assistance from a police airplane, they have not yet been located.”

The force does not believe the men suffered serious injuries.

It added an investigation into the theft of the Land Rover Freelander in Knaresborough, which happened on Wednesday, October 11, has been linked to the collision.

The car is believed to have been stolen between 2pm and 6pm that day.

A spokesperson added:

“Witnesses or anyone with dash-cam or doorbell footage are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room.”

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference 12230193555 when providing details.

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