Harrogate teenager wins double gold at world swimming event

A Harrogate teenager, who is already a British champion, took home two gold medals at a world swimming event last week.

Gabriel Shepherd, 15, represented England in the World School Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and took home eight medals in total.

He came first in the 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle.

Gabriel also competed in four relay races — winning two more gold medals and two silver.

The Harrogate Grammar School pupil was also awarded male swimmer of the competition.

The event is for athletes under the age of 15, and included over 2,000 contestants from 44 countries.

Gabriel also achieved huge success at the British Summer Championships in July.

He took home another two gold medals for 100m freestyle, with a time of 51:47 seconds, and 200m freestyle (1:54:18 seconds).

Following this, he is now the fastest 15-year-old 100m freestyle swimmer from Yorkshire of all time and the third fastest in the UK for his age group.

The championships is an invite-only event, based on rankings following a qualifying period in which the nation’s top swimmers compete.

Andrew Shepherd, Gabriel’s father, told the Stray Ferret:

“Gabe has had some great success in his speed swimming.

“Although we had our summer holidays in between these events, he had to train every day to maintain his fitness.”

Gabriel began his swimming career at the age of nine and trained at Harrogate District Swimming Club until last year.

He now trains at the City of Leeds Swim Club — one of England’s six national performance centres.

Mr Shepherd said:

“He now trains seven times per week in Leeds, getting up at 4am to train in the mornings before school and leaving 10 minutes before the bell to train after school.”

Gabriel will join the Swim England national youth development pathway next year.

Read more:

 

Ripon boys aged 6 and 8 climb Ben Nevis for air ambulance

Two young brothers from Ripon have climbed the highest mountain in the UK to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Tommy and Sid Terry tackled Ben Nevis this month with their father, Stewart — raising £1,100 in total.

According to grandmother, Dianne, the boys initially chose to climb the mountain as they ‘wanted a challenge’, but their mother decided to set up a charity fundraiser while they were climbing.

The boys’ mother, Emma, set up a donation post on Facebook to raise money for the air ambulance.

It was chosen following a collision at Fountains C of E Primary school, where a classmate of the boys was airlifted to hospital in June this year.

The six-year-old suffered serious leg injuries in the incident.

Dianne said:

“I know a lot of people climb Ben Nevis, but not many six and eight-year-olds can say they have.

“Our goal was to raise £1,000 and we’ve done over that – we’re so proud of them.”

The trio completed the hike in nine hours and were cheered on by groups at the summit.

The brothers were invited to RAF Topcliffe, where the air ambulance in based, last Saturday to look at the helicopters in return for their efforts.

Dianne said:

“The pilot who airlifted their friend after the collision actually came to RAF Topcliffe on his day off to personally speak to the boys and show them the inside of the helicopter.

“The air ambulance was then called out, so also they also got to see it take off.”

The child involved in the collision also joined the Terry brothers at RAF Topcliffe.

Read more:

 

Children’s presenter George Webster to sign books on return to Washburn

Children’s television presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant George Webster is to return to a heritage centre near Harrogate where he used to volunteer.

George volunteered as a teenager at Washburn Heritage Centre before rising to fame and becoming the first ever CBeebies presenter with Down’s syndrome.

He will return for a question and answer session and sign copies of his new autobiography ‘This is Me!’.

The picture book aims to teach children that “each one of us is different, just like pebbles at the seaside”.

George will talk about growing up and his rapid rise to success.

He spoke about Down’s syndrome in a video for BBC Bitesize in 2021. He also competed in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, and became an ambassador for the learning disability charity Mencap.

George volunteered at the centre when he was at school.

Washburn Heritage Centre was established in 2011 following an extension to Fewston Church and is used as a hub to promote the Washburn Valley.

It is run by volunteers who host frequent workshops, courses and talks, as well as a tea room on weekends.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 23, from 2pm – 4pm.

Children and adults are welcome and will be able to receive signed copies of George’s book.

Tickets start from £8.

Read more:

 

Harrogate’s John Shackleton, 85, seeks co-drivers for final ambulance mission

An 85-year-old Harrogate man is on the hunt for two co-drivers to join him on an epic journey to deliver an ambulance to Georgia.

John Shackleton has bought and stocked 35 ambulances over the last 30 years to provide emergency vehicles and medical equipment to humanitarian organisations in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Now, he’s looking for two co-drivers to join him on his final journey to the Georgian border.

He joked:

“I did actually have two co-drivers lined up; one was my grandson who was offered a gig with his band in New York, which he couldn’t turn down, and the other selfishly had a heart attack!”

Mr Shackleton told the Stray Ferret his only criteria was “to be reasonably good drivers and to be easy going like me – after all, we do live in the ambulance together”.

He plans to deliver the ambulance to a small organisation building a hospice on a farm on the Georgian and Russian border.

It has been praying for an ambulance for years, according to Mr Shackleton.

He added:

“I’m happy to stop and see some sights or landmarks, but people do need to understand that this isn’t a jolly.

“This is humanitarian work — you have to put the hours in.”

Two-week mission

Mr Shackleton anticipates the journey will take anywhere from one week to 10 days to complete. The team will stay in Georgia for about two days before hitchhiking to the nearest international airport to return home.

He said:

“I chop and sell firewood to raise money to buy the ambulances.

“I have one ready to go in Amsterdam – which the co-drivers would also join me in picking up before embarking on the journey – but I have to confirm my passengers before I can collect it.

“It’s a process that takes a couple of days as I set up beds for the co-drivers and areas to carry the food and medical within the ambulance.”

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. He said:

“I imagine it will be my last journey — it’s hard to raise the money. But I said my recent few trips would each be my last and that didn’t end up being the case, so it’s a bit of a pinch of salt situation!

“However, I have just been given an order to quit the garage I am using to store my logs, and without somewhere to store the logs I will have to stop selling and that is my main income for the next ambulance.

“I know storage is very hard to find, but it’s worth a try if anyone reading has an empty garage to help me store my logs.”

Mr Shackleton is hoping to leave for Georgia in the next two weeks and is urgently encouraging those that are interested in joining him on the journey to get in touch.

People can register their interest by emailing johnshackleton@aidtoeasterneurope.co.uk or calling 01423 871255.

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

Read more:

 

The Stray Ferret Business Awards to make its return in 2024

Not even an amber weather warning could stop the Stray Ferret Business Awards in March, with a turnout of nearly 400 people and many smiling faces, we’re looking forward to doing it all again in 2024.

Following the success of our inaugural event, the Stray Ferret Business Awards will be making its return next year – and we’re ready to receive your entries!

Sponsored by local financial advisers Prosperis, the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 will take place in the Pavilions of Harrogate on Thursday, March 14.

The awards ceremony will recognise businesses of all sectors and sizes to highlight the best and brightest in the Harrogate district’s business community – including Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Masham and Nidderdale.

The black-tie event will include our all-important awards ceremony, a special Winner’s Lounge sponsored by LCF Law and entertainment throughout the evening

Whether you’ve seen significant business growth, place sustainability at the centre of your core values, or provide great progression for your employees, our awards will shine a light on excellent organisations and individuals.

There are 10 award categories to enter:

Emma Harris, Commercial Manager of the Stray Ferret, said:

“We were blown away by the success of our inaugural Business Awards ceremony earlier this year and hope the 2024 event will not disappoint.

“The Stray Ferret Business Awards highlights businesses that are making a difference in the community, as well as those who have overcome adversity and are going strong.

“We can’t wait to see the entries.

“It is entirely free to enter and the Stray Ferret will showcase the fantastic work of all finalists and winners, so we encourage you to put your business forward today.

“The Harrogate district may be a small part of the world, but includes hugely successful businesses with talented individuals who we believe deserve to be recognised.”

Entries are now open.

*There are still a small number of sponsorship opportunities available, so don’t miss out on showcasing your business to the district ahead of and on the night of the awards ceremony.

For more information on the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024, contact advertising@thestrayferret.co.uk .

Harrogate nursery Kids Planet ‘requires improvement’, says Ofsted

Kids Planet nursery in Harrogate has received a ‘requires improvement’ rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.

A government inspector said in a report published this week that “teaching is variable and inconsistent for children who attend”.

The report said “staff who work with babies understand how to meet their needs” but added “some children with special educations needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not supported effectively”.

It added:

“Babies explore sensory activities in the garden. Older children use the wooden trail to practise balancing and jumping. However, during times when toddlers and preschool children share the garden, some staff do not supervise them effectively or engage them in learning.

“Support for emerging SEND is inconsistent. For example, staff who work with toddlers have identified areas of potential delay in some children’s learning. However, they have not completed any assessments or created targeted plans to help them make good progress.”

The report said Kids Planet must “improve staff deployment outdoors, specifically when children of different age groups share the space, to ensure children are well supervised at all times”.

It must also “ensure every child has a key person who provides tailored and purposeful learning experiences which meet their individual needs”.

However, the inspector did note that “staff consistently promote children’s good behaviour and help them to develop their social skills” and that “children are well mannered and kind to each other”.

Staff were also found to be ‘good role models.’

In response to the report, Clare Roberts, chief executive of Kids Planet Nurseries, said:

“As part of our continued approach to embedding best practice within our nurseries, we strive to build engaging, everyday environments for all our children at Kids Planet, whilst empowering the new and existing team to develop their own skills relevant to this.

“We take reassurance that the Ofsted inspector acknowledged this, alongside the excellent relationship staff have with babies and the effective safeguarding in practice, supported by knowledgeable staff.

“We continue to work with all parties to ensure we retain the best quality of care and positive feedback received from parents.”

The inspection, which took place on July 21, was the first one since 2018.

This year’s inspection saw the nursery, which was formerly known as Sunbeams, downgraded from a previous ‘good’ rating.

Kids Planet bought the nursery from Sunbeams Ltd in January of this year.

The nursery is one of 165 Kids Planet nurseries in the UK.

Read more:

 

‘High value’ items stolen in Harrogate shop burglary

Cash, high-value clothing and accessories have been stolen in a shop burglary in Harrogate town centre.

North Yorkshire Police said today the theft occurred after 5pm on Thursday, August 24 and before 10am on Friday, August 25 at an address on Montpellier Parade.

Criminals entered the property through a fire door.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses and information.

The force said in a statement:

“We are now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about anyone acting suspiciously in the area, or anyone seen with branded denim-coloured clothing and leather handbags.

“If you have been offered anything of this nature for sale, officers would be keen to speak with you.”

Anyone with CCTV footage of anything suspicious between the times stated that covers Montpellier Parade/Mews/Street/Hill/Square is urged to get in touch.

You can email kirsty.greenbank@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask for PC Greenbank 1188.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass on information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230161091.

Read more:

 

Grammy-winning DJ Calvin Harris spotted by fans at Wetherby Services

One of the biggest names in music, Calvin Harris, was spotted by fans in a motorway service station near Harrogate this week.

Livvy Elder and her friends had stopped at Wetherby Services on their way back to Newcastle following a weekend of raving at Creamfields festival.

Her boyfriend claimed he saw someone ‘in a red flannel shirt that resembled Calvin Harris’ in the male toilets, according to Livvy, but the group agreed ‘the world’s biggest DJ would never be in Wetherby’.

Much to their surprise, Calvin Harris appeared in front of them moments later after buying a coffee at Pret A Manger.

Livvy told the Stray Ferret:

“We were laughing away and ended up sitting down outside of Pret, expecting to be proven right that it wasn’t him, but other people started to talk and chatter away and we noticed that it actually was him!

“The biggest Dj in the world was just a metre away from us.

The group had watched the Scottish DJ headline the festival just two nights prior to meeting him.

Livvy continued:

“My friend was the one to ask him for a photo and told him we were sorry for disturbing him for a photo, but he was the kindest man so humble – he said it was no problem at all.”

“He even said I looked super cosy  —  I was totally wiped out from the festival and was in my pyjamas and Newcastle football shirt for the drive home.

“I was absolutely mortified to meet the biggest DJ looking like that.

“It totally topped off our weekend and was a moment we will never forget!”

Calvin Harris boasts an impressive 11 million followers on Instagram and 65.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

He now has an annual residency at one of the largest clubs in the world, Ushuaia, Ibiza, and has had 11 UK No.1 songs.

Read more:

 

Police warn of spate of sneak-in burglaries in Ripon

People living in the Harrogate district, particularly in Ripon, have been urged to keep doors and ground floor windows locked following a spate of sneak-in burglaries.

A message on North Yorkshire Community Messaging said three incidents had been reported in Ripon over the last few days.

A sneak-in burglary occurs when a door or window has not been locked and an offender chances their luck by trying handles or windows to gain entry.

If they find something to be unlocked, they sneak in and steal items.

Alison Swan, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Please be sure to secure doors and ground floor windows particularly at night, also consider locking doors during the day especially if you are in rear gardens where you are not able to monitor your front door.”

Read more:

 

Vandals smash windows of 15 buses in Tockwith in £100,000 attack

The windows of 15 buses have been smashed in an attack causing £100,000 of damage in Tockwith.

North Yorkshire Police said yesterday the incident occurred at Tockwith Airfield, on Southfield Lane between 10pm – 9am on the evening of Monday, August 21.

Police are now appealing for witnesses and information.

The force said in a statement:

“We’re now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we’re appealing for information from anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the surrounding area at the time of the incident and/or if anyone has any CCTV.”

The runways of the former airfield, which was previously RAF Marston Moor, are now used for driving education courses and specialist training.

Connexions Buses, which is located on Southfield Lane in the village, told the Stray Ferret none of its vehicles were damaged in the incident.

It also posted on Facebook “the companies that it involved have worked very hard to replace almost all of them already”.

The companies have not been named.

Police urged anyone with information to email chloe.winter-atkinson@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask for Chloe Winter-Atkinson.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230158082.

Read more: