Schoolchildren from Follifoot have helped to bury a time-capsule to mark 50 years since the Mackaness family bought Rudding Park. 

The capsule was placed in the ground alongside a time-capsule planted in 1997 to mark the 25th anniversary of the family’s ownership of the estate.  

Replicating the format from 1997, schoolchildren from Years 1-6 at Follifoot C of E Primary School were invited to enter a competition to create a piece of artwork which depicted a winter’s day in Follifoot. The winning entries would be included in the time-capsule, and this time round, the winners would also be invited to private cinema and pizza party. 

Seven winners, William, Imogen, Alex, Florence, Olive, Florence and Beatrice, were selected, and came along to see the time-capsule being planted.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said: 

“As a local business, we recognise the importance of reaching out to our local community. Children at the school helped us plant our first time-capsule in 1997 and we made a promise to invite the next generation of schoolchildren to help us mark the next 25 years, so to see that come to fruition is quite something.

“The children created some fantastic entries and it was very difficult to make a decision, however were delighted to welcome the winners to help us plant the time-capsule today.”  

Winning entries were placed inside the capsule, along with a number of Rudding Park branded items to reflect the times including: a face covering, Christmas bauble, a medal from the inaugural Rudding Park Race 10K, a silk scarf work by the reception team, and a copy of the Rudding Review – a newspaper with an overview of 2022.  

Rebecca Holland, headteacher at Follifoot Church of England Primary School, said:  

“We are extremely lucky to have Rudding Park on our door-step. They have generously supported the school with numerous fundraising activities over the years, so to be approached to involve the children one again in such an important milestone was an absolute thrill.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship and hope to be invited to plant a third time-capsule marking their 75th anniversary.”

Read more:

• Firefighters called to sauna fire at Rudding spa
• Rudding Park launches 10km trail race
• Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre celebrates 30th birthday

A Harrogate mum who set up a play and support group for neurodiverse children and their parents says the response has been “incredible”. 

Emily Yeates, whose three-year-old daughter Elsie is non-verbal and still awaiting a formal autism diagnosis, launched Neurodiverse Stay & Play to provide parents with a supportive environment and a chance to swap experiences. 

Emily said: 

“Being the parent of a non-neurotypical child can be quite isolating. Elsie can go from being calm one moment to having a meltdown the next. All people see is a ‘naughty child’, but actually, Elsie just doesn’t understand. 

“Birthday parties, meals out, and even soft-play areas have all become difficult – they’re too loud, there are too many people, or too many restrictions – so we don’t tend to take her to them any more. 

“It got to the point where I was isolating myself so much that I was struggling, and I wanted to find other parents in the same position.” 

The group held its first session on Saturday, and more are planned in the coming weeks. The two-hour-long events take place at Oatlands Community Centre and will initially be free; from April it will cost £4 a session, but remain free for members of local community network myLifePool.

Parents and children at the first Neurodiverse Stay & Play session enjoyed food and drink sponsored by The Harrogate Dog Walking and Pet Company.

Emily said: 

“Our first session was fully booked, and the feedback has been incredible. The Harrogate Dog Walking & Pet Company very generously sponsored the food and drink, and we’ve been contacted by speech and language therapists and even by North Yorkshire County Council about grants. It just goes to show how much this is needed in Harrogate.

“We offer an environment where there’s no judgement – if your child kicks off, we get it! – and where parents can just chat and offer each other moral support and understanding.”

The next sessions run by Neurodiverse Stay & Play will take place at Oatlands Community Centre on: 

• Tuesday, February 10 – 10-12 noon 
• Saturday, February 25 – 2-4pm 
• Thursday, March 9 – 10-12 noon 
• Sunday, March 19 – 10-12 noon 

To book in for a session, go to the Events page at myLifePool.

Read more:

• ‘Long waiting lists’ for child ADHD and autism in Harrogate, says MP
• Harrogate district autism charity celebrates 10th anniversary
• Harrogate Library to launch Lego club for children with autism and disabilities

A Harrogate pilates instructor will embark on a personal mission later this month to strike back at the cancer that saw her husband rushed to A&E, fighting for his life. 

Eugenie Keogh will hold a marathon 18-hour pilates session on Zoom from her studio at North Rigton, to raise awareness of the symptoms of leukaemia, a cancer of the blood which kills around 13 people every day in the UK. 

“The early diagnosis of leukaemia remains elusive because the symptoms are often overlooked, and the disease only diagnosed when a person ends up at A&E department struggling for life,” she said.

Eugenie’s husband Stephen was rushed to Harrogate A&E last summer with a combination of classic leukaemia symptoms: shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, a skin rash, an ulcerated mouth, frequent nose bleeds and night sweats. The couple were left “completely traumatised” when the aggressive blood cancer Acute Myloid Leukaemia (AML) was diagnosed.

In the weeks before, Stephen had sought medical help about individual symptoms, but these had not been linked or resulted in a blood test.

Eugenie said: “This resulted in a late diagnosis for Stephen, which is why I am supporting the campaign to raise awareness among GPs about blood cancer symptoms. The earlier the disease is spotted, the better the chance of effective treatment, prognosis and quality of life.”

Stephen has responded well to the treatment regime for AML and is now awaiting a bone marrow stem-cell transplant. 

“This is the only chance for me to achieve complete remission and hopefully a cure,” he said.

Eugenie Keogh is a qualified APPI instructor and operates one-to-one and Zoom online classes from her Body & Soul Pilates studio in North Rigton near Harrogate.

As well as raising awareness, Eugenie’s pilates marathon on Zoom on January 29 will also raise funds for Leukaemia UK, a charity that works to fund innovative research and support those affected by leukaemia blood cancers. Well-wishers can support her campaign at her Just Giving page.

Anyone making a donation will also be invited to keep Eugenie company by logging on at any time for any of the pilates sessions, which will start on the hour every hour from 6am, with the last session ending at midnight.

Read more:

• Starbeck woman, 67, takes on swimming charity challenge
• Harrogate girls to cut hair to raise funds for friend with leukaemia
• Harrogate district women undress for Calendar Girls revival

This story is sponsored by Slimming World.

A Harrogate slimmer is celebrating after reversing her liver disease by losing over a third of her body weight with Slimming World. 

Sylvia Skipper was told by doctors that her non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was off the scale, with a liver fat content of over 70%.  

“I was heading towards severe cirrhosis of the liver, which could lead to me needing a liver transplant,” said Sylvia. 

“The consultant explained the only legitimate way of improving or reversing this was by losing weight. I had struggled with so many diets in the past I had just about lost faith.” 

It was then that she turned to Slimming World, whose science-based healthy eating plan has helped thousands of people across the UK achieve their weight-loss goals without ever going on a diet.

“I vividly remember messaging Cate Pervana, who runs Slimming World groups in Harrogate, and sharing my health issues with her,” said Sylvia. 

“I had previously had thyroid cancer, so I struggled to control my metabolism and doubted my ability to lose weight. 

“But Cate gave me the reassurance I needed, and I joined Westcliffe Hall Harrogate Slimming World group.” 

Combining Slimming World’s no-hunger eating plan with its Body Magic physical activity programme, Sylvia soon started to see the weight fall off. Just over a year later, she has lost 6st 7.5lb – over 40 per cent of her original body weight – and is now down from a size 24 to a size 8. Even her feet have shrunk from a 6 to a 4 and she’s now proudly wearing her favourite pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, which had been stuck in her wardrobe for years. 

Sylvia Skipper combined Slimming World’s no-hunger eating plan with its Body Magic physical activity programme to lose weight.

“But the best news came this morning,” said Sylvia. “I now have less than 5% fat in my liver, I have completely reversed my liver disease, and I’ve been discharged. 

“I am so grateful to Cate and everyone at Slimming World for giving me all the support I needed. Getting healthy again has been my sole motivation on my weight-loss journey, and I feel on top of the world.”

Sylvia Skipper was in danger of needing a liver transplant, but with the help of Slimming World has stopped her liver disease in its tracks.

Slimming World in Harrogate and Knaresborough runs several groups, making it easier to find one to fit into your schedule. Cate Pervana runs groups in Harrogate, and Christine Husband runs them in Starbeck and Knaresborough.

Find out more: 

If you want 2023 to be the year you achieve your weight-loss goals, find out more about your local groups by calling Christine Husband (Starbeck and Knaresborough) on 07890 621324, or Cate Pervana (Harrogate) on 07834 897533. 

Alternatively, check out the Slimming World Harrogate and Knaresborough Facebook page here. 

Harrogate BID will welcome a new chair and deputy chair at its annual general meeting this afternoon (January 19). 

Dan Siddle, the general manager of the Crown Hotel, and Primark manager Andrea Thornborrow are replacing Sara Ferguson and Richard Wheeldon, who have led the business improvement district for almost three years. 

The pair will remain on the board, which is strengthened by a number of new directors who attended their first BID board meeting last week. 

They are Mike Patterson from Berwins Solicitors, Lyndsay Snodgrass from Verity Frearson estate agent, Ruth Burke-Kennedy from Bettys and Taylors, town centre commercial property owner Russell Davidson, and Mark Robson from the Harrogate town centre Marks & Spencer. 

Hotelier Dan, who joined the BID board in March 2021, said:

“I want to thank both Sara and Richard for the tremendous contributions they have made to Harrogate BID. Richard has been a part of the BID since the idea was first mooted back in 2017, and his knowledge is invaluable. 

“Whilst he’s standing down due to his retirement from Berwins, I’m delighted he’s agreed to remain on the board as a co-opted member. 

“Sara has been a superb Chair, and has done a wonderful job in steering the BID through some extremely challenging times, not least being the Covid pandemic. Under her stewardship, Harrogate BID has gone from strength to strength, and is making a real positive impact within the town centre. 

“I’m really passionate about Harrogate BID and the work it’s doing, and I’m looking forward to taking on the role of Chair, and building on Sara’s successes. I’m also delighted that Andrea, a longstanding BID member, is to be the new Deputy Chair.” 

Andrea, a BID board member since July 2019, said:

“I too want to place on the record our thanks to both Sara and Richard for their leadership over the last few years.

“2023 is an important year for Harrogate BID. We are in the process of creating a new business plan and are asking our members to help shape this.

“We have a great board, which has been further strengthened by the addition of four new members and one returning member, representing different town centre sectors.

“Harrogate BID was created to benefit the town centre, which it does on an almost daily basis, from deep-cleaning the streets and providing weekend entertainers, to funding improvement grants, powering the Christmas lights and boosting Harrogate’s floral offering.

“I’m looking forward to taking up my new role on the BID board, and helping Harrogate continue to be a great place to shop, eat, drink and do business.”

Harrogate BID’s annual general meeting will be held at 5.30pm on Thursday, January 19, at the Crown Hotel. All BID members are invited to attend. 

Further information about Harrogate BID can be found on its website here.

Read more:

• Council defends bid to create doomed investment zones in Harrogate district
• Business rates to reduce for majority of Harrogate firms, says BID
• Harrogate BID manager to remain in post

A Harrogate school is celebrating being selected for refurbishment after winning a place on a government scheme.

St Peter’s C of E Primary School, in the town centre, is one of 239 schools in the country to be chosen to be part of the School Rebuild or Refurbishment Programme.

St Peter’s is the only school in the Harrogate district to have been chosen under the scheme. Wetherby High School, which is in the City of Leeds district, will also receive funding.

School business manager Amanda Foster said:

“This is a beautiful Victorian building, but it’s never really had enough money to keep it in good condition. There’s water ingress, single-glazed windows, the roof has never been looked at, and the boiler is 51 years old.

“If they can make us watertight, replace our windows and get us a new boiler, we’ll be delighted, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

No figure has yet been put on the amount of funding that will be allocated to the school. The Department for Education will assess later this year what works need to be done and how much money will be awarded.

Headteacher Mr Paul Griffiths said:

‘We are delighted with this news. A huge amount of time and work goes into preparing these applications and we are delighted to have been successful.

“Since joining the school in September 2021, a number of improvements including new outdoor play facilities, a new nurture room and a new classroom have been successfully completed. We are thrilled that we will be able to continue to invest significantly in the building for the benefit of staff, children their families and the wider community.

“We look forward to keeping everyone updated with news of the scope and timing of the works as the year progresses.”

Built in 1883, St Peter’s was Harrogate’s first purpose-built hospital. The hospital was closed in 1932 and then bought a few years later and turned into a school.

Last year, the school, which has 267 pupils and is part of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, spent £280,000 on a major refurbishment project, which included removing external fire escapes, creating additional classrooms and a new outside play area.

Read more:

• Victorian primary school in Harrogate undergoes major revamp
• Ofsted paves way for new Harrogate school offering additional support
• Eligibility for free school meals in Harrogate district rises by 50% since pandemic

Anglers in Ripon are worried that three years’ work may have been flushed away following a sewage leak on the River Ure. 

The local fishing club, Ripon Piscatorial Association (RPA), has been implementing a three-year programme to restock the river with fish, but a cracked pipe at the end of December sent gallons of raw sewage into the Ure at Sharow, and the club says it may have jeopardised the project. 

Nathan Proctor, match secretary of the RPA, which owns about a mile of the southern river bank downstream of the ruptured pipe, said:

“Where this leak has happened is right where we’ve been putting fish in. Any fry that hatched out this last year will be struggling. 

“We put some roach in the week before Christmas, and we were due to put some barbel in this month. They’re not cheap. As a club we’ve had to spend a lot of money to make sure we keep our members, but if this has killed the fish, we can’t afford another three-year restocking programme. We won’t find out how serious it is until the summer, when water levels are lower.” 

Yorkshire Water said it had isolated the broken pipe, which lies five metres below ground, within 45 minutes of first being told of the problem on December 30, and that no sewage has been released from it since. 

The company has been transporting sewage from the pipe in tankers to Ripon Wastewater Treatment Works while it replaces the section of pipe, but both tanking and repairs at the site on Sharow Lane have been halted in recent days by flooding. 

James Thornborough, a retiree who lives nearby, said Yorkshire Water had failed to keep local residents and stakeholders notified of the dangers or developments arising from the incident. 

Mr Thornborough, who was formerly world head of crisis and emergency management for oil companies including BP and Petronas, said:

“This is a textbook example of how not to respond to an emergency.

“I would grade this as a Category 2 incident according to the Environment Agency’s rating system – meaning it’s significant – and yet there’s been no joined-up response. There’s been no information shared.” 

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“We have informed the Environment Agency of the situation, as required by law, but there is no mechanism in place for informing anyone else. That said, we will be in touch with the RPA. 

“If there was major pollution we would of course be in contact with them anyway, but this was minor, and the impact minimal.” 

Repair work on the pipe was expected before the weekend to last for a couple of weeks, but can now only resume once flood water levels have dropped enough to enable workers to access the site again. 

Read more:

• Ripon sewage leak: tree felled as repair work set to last two weeks
• Sewage discharged into River Ure near Ripon after pipe leaks
• Ripon angler among 57 fined in illegal fishing clampdown

A North Yorkshire auctioneers with offices in Harrogate sold a 1966 World Cup winner’s medal, shirt and squad cap today for a combined hammer price of £445,000.

The items originally belonged to Alan Ball, who at just 21 years old was the youngest and least experienced member of the legendary 1966 World Cup winning England team.  

His medal sold for £200,000 hammer, his red number 7 shirt fetched £130,000 and his cap sold for £115,000 at Tennants Auctioneers’ toys and models, sporting and fishing sale in Leyburn. 

Lancashire-born midfielder Alan Ball played for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton, and won 72 caps for England. He went on to manage several clubs, including Manchester City and Southampton.  He died in 2007.

Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winner’s medal.

Alan Ball’s shirt sold for £130,000

His cap fetched £115,000

Ball sold his medal and cap at auction in 2005, when they were purchased by the owner of Bolton Wanderers, businessman and philanthropist Edwin ‘Eddie’ Davies (1946-2018). 

From the same estate came a Pele match-worn Brazil shirt, worn during the first half of the famous Brazil v England 1970 World Cup match, which sold for £33,000.

Tennants Auctioneers’ sporting specialist, Kegan Harrison, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such fantastic results for the vendor, who has had a long-standing relationship with Tennants.  

“The 1966 World Cup victory will always be a golden moment in English sporting history, and we have been honoured to have handled the sale of these extraordinary items. It has been 56 years since that incredible match, but it is still very close to the hearts of all football fans.” 

Tennants Auctioneers is based at Leyburn, North Yorkshire and has an office on Montpellier Road in Harrogate, as well as in London.