Harrogate district author celebrates Deathday publication

A world where everyone’s life must end at the age of 90 is the setting for a Harrogate author’s first novel, due to be published next month. 

The action in Deathday, by Colin Philpott, takes place in England in 2045, where euthanasia is not just legal but compulsory, and where severe economic depression in the wake of “the Great Pandemic” and Brexit, a collapse in the care system and inter-generational conflict have changed attitudes to death and old age.  

Those people who still accept the law, plan for “Deathday parties”, while “evaders” try to escape abroad and “remainders” – people already over 90 who were spared at the time the law came in – live in colonies in rundown seaside resorts.

Meanwhile, the young King plots with politicians opposed to the laws which are enforced by the sinister National Age Regulation Authority. 

The novel, which is published by Fisher King Publishing, is set in several different parts of England, including Yorkshire, Northumberland, Greater Manchester, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and London, and includes scenes in Harrogate locations such as Brimham Rocks, the Royal Hall, and the Army Foundation College. 

Colin Philpott, who lives in Bishop Monkton, said:

“I was inspired to write this novel after witnessing the differing end-of-life experiences of members of my own family, and also my experience as a volunteer with a food delivery and befriending charity.

“I am not advocating compulsory euthanasia, but I do believe society needs to create a higher quality of life in old age and radically rethink our approach to end-of-life care.”  

Deathday is Colin Philpott’s first work of fiction. He has previously written three books about 20th-century history: A Place in History, which includes the stories of places in Britain touched by news events; Relics of the Reich, which examines how Germany has dealt with the buildings left by the Nazis; and Secret Wartime Britain, about hidden places in Britain that helped the war effort in the Second World War.  

Colin worked for the BBC for 25 years as a journalist and senior executive. Later he was director of the National Media Museum in Bradford. 

Rick Armstrong, managing director of Fisher King Publishing, said:

“We’re delighted to be publishing Colin Philpott’s debut novel. When I first read the manuscript, it was clear that the basis of the narrative is highly thought-provoking, tackling very pressing contemporary issues in an interesting and clever way.” 

Deathday will be published on April 24 and will be available in print and digital versions worldwide.

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MP seeks answers on Scotton solar farm

The Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough has written to an energy company to ask if it intends to go ahead with plans to build a huge solar farm on farmland north of Scotton. 

Andrew Jones was prompted into action by residents in Scotton, Farnham and Brearton who contacted him concerned about the lack of any information about the proposals. 

Sustainable energy company Gridserve is proposing to build the solar plant on an 88-hectare site belonging to Lawrence Moor Farm. 

Its plans envisage thousands of solar panels generating up to 49.9 megawatts of green energy that could power up to 14,000 homes. 

Gridserve, which is headquartered in Buckinghamshire, applied to Harrogate Borough Council for a scoping opinion to see if it felt a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

There were objections from nearby parish councils, the Harrogate Ramblers and the Harrogate and Dales Horse Riding Association, as well as the local Green Party, which opposes such developments on agricultural land. 

At the end of July 2021, Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that a detailed EIA would be required, but Gridserve has taken no action since. 

Mr Jones said:  

“I have been in touch with the council’s planning department and no planning application has been submitted since that date. From talking to many local people, I know that residents feel very much like the threat of an application is hanging over them.  No-one disputes the need for renewable energy. It is primarily the location and effect on agricultural land which is the issue. 

“I have therefore written to Gridserve to ask their intentions for the land. I hope, given the local opposition, that they will be reconsidering the plans, but I will let residents know the position when I receive a response.” 

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Underwater drone explorer aims to turn hobby into business

A Ripon man with a passion for underwater drones is hoping to turn his hobby into an income stream. 

Adam Makewell takes out with his waterproof ROVs (remote operated vehicles) on weekend dives with his son Cameron, 12, in Ripon Canal and the River Ure.

He says the technology has commercial potential he could explore:

“These ROVs are actually quite advanced pieces of kit – they can go down as deep as 100 metres – and could be very useful for all sorts of purposes.

I’ve already used them for mapping the river-bed with sonar, but they could be used for underwater archaeology, to monitor water quality, habitat health and reservoir walls, to check outer nets on fish farms, or inspect boats’ hulls below the waterline.

Putting in a qualified diver takes quite a bit of money; I could provide a quicker, cheaper option. If I could get enough work and make it pay, there’s nothing I’d rather do.” 

Picture of underwater drone enthusiast Adam Makewell on a riverbank in Ripon.

Adam Makewell on the riverbank with one of his ROVs.

In the meantime, Adam is continuing to explore more stretches of the River Ure with son Cameron, spurred on by the thought of what they may find. He said:

“I’ve already found all sorts down there – car keys, sunglasses, even some solar panels that had been blown off a barge in the marina.

And the wildlife is crazy – there’s so much more to see than you’d ever imagine when you look at a body of water: grayling, trout, roach, chub, crayfish and freshwater shrimp. There are a couple of large perch we’ve named Tom and Jerry, and a big pike we’ve called Gary! 

“We’ve also used the drone with a grabber to clear rubbish from the canal – so far we’ve removed over 50 bottles just from one stretch of the Ripon canal and three bin bags of cans and other rubbish.”

Photo of one of Adam Makewell's underwater drones with some of the bottles he's removed from the riverbed in Ripon.

One of Adam Makewell’s underwater drones with some of the bottles he’s removed from the riverbed in Ripon.

He added: 

“This started as a hobby during lockdown, but it’s becoming almost an obsession. Rather than sitting in the house wishing, I prefer to get out there and do it. If I can turn it into a job, I’ll never ‘work’ again.”

Screengrab of one of Adam Makewell's drones with its light on, searching below the water's surface.

The underwater drones are tethered and have a maximum range of 100m.

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Danish champion bartender opens dream restaurant in Harrogate

This story is sponsored by Jespers Bar & Kitchen.

Danish-born Jesper Callisen opened Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen on Station Parade with the aim of creating a unique, cosy space that offers quality delicious food and drink, with amazing service, that will ensure all guests are treated to a fantastic experience.

The venue that was previously run by Filmore & Union and Hustle & Co, now has a bar, with a sophisticated restaurant upstairs serving refined British fare with an international twist in the evenings. In the Spring/Summer there is also the opportunity to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining in the courtyard and pavement seating.

But even though the 36-year-old may seem relatively young to open a 90-cover restaurant staffed by 18 people, he’s no novice to the industry.

“I first became interested in hospitality at the age of four, when I watched my brother practising his bartending skills in the garden. At the age of 7, I started collecting miniature bottles of whisky. “I wanted to be the best bartender in the world. I didn’t quite get there , but my passion for the industry grew and I managed to become pretty good.”

Some of the cocktails and food available at Jesper's in Harrogate.

Some of the cocktails and food available at Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen in Harrogate.

Jesper has previously been crowned Denmark’s champion flair bartender three times consecutively and was ranked 8th in the world at the 2011 World Championships.

After opening Ofelia, a “wildly popular”  bar for the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen in 2008, he then took his skills around the world, living and working in the Caribbean, Brazil, France, Spain and the UK. He said:

“I love people and I have worked and studied incredibly hard to be able to have the opportunity to travel, work and experience the hospitality industry in many walks of life.”

“After qualifying as a sommelier, I moved to the Cayman Islands, where I was lucky enough to work with an exquisite amount of fine wines.

“I ran the biggest tasting room in the Caribbean, with over 80 wines available by the glass. That was where I honed my skills and learned how to give people an experience they don’t forget.

“We don’t have quite that many here, but we do have a great deal of specially selected fantastic wines at different price levels, and they’re all superb. We also have lots of unique tipples, including an 1899 vintage cognac – only one exists in the world.

“We strive to create a place that makes you feel good, where you are looked after and the service and product you receive are second to none. A lifetime of stories will come to show on your plate, in your drink and from the service you receive.”

Pictures of Jesper Callisen, outside his restaurant and serving wine at a tasting session.

As well as being a champion flare bartender, Jesper Callisen is a qualified sommelier and holds wine-tasting evenings.

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen marks the start of a long-awaited dream for Jesper, who runs it with his wife, Kelly. He said:

“We have been looking for the  perfect place to open something like this for  many years. We didn’t want to stay abroad and wanted to find a place where we call home. My wife, who has family that live in the surrounding area, loves the warmth and friendliness of Yorkshire people, so we came here. And she’s right about the people – they’ve made us feel very welcome.”

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen will be holding events throughout the year, including wine tastings, cocktail masterclasses, live music, themed dinners and lounge sessions, and soon, Jesper’s will be serving street food tapas for lunch and in the bar in the evenings. This will be in addition to the restaurant offering in the upstairs dining area.

“This restaurant means the world to us, and we are just so lucky to be able to share it with such a wonderful community. Some customers have already become friends.”

“This is absolutely what I want to do,” he says. “It started when I was four years old, and now we’re here.

Find out more:

Jesper’s Bar & Kitchen is open every day except Tuesdays; for opening times, visit the website, www.jespersbarandkitchen.co.uk.

To reserve a table or enquire about booking a private function, call 01423 552844 or book online.

 

Hundreds of job losses as Harrogate company goes under

As many as 450 people have lost their jobs after Harrogate telemarketing company Amvoc crashed into administration, leaving employees in shock today. 

Staff received an email at 10pm last night from chief executive Damian Brockway informing them all the company’s offices, in Harrogate, Leeds and Manchester, would close with immediate effect, citing “covid debts” as the cause. 

The email, seen by the Stray Ferret, said: 

“We have appointed administrators with immediate effect who will now be responsible for paying wages this week and all outstanding bonuses.

“I am gutted. Words fail me.

“Unfortunately our covid debts were too high and repayments not high enough. We have been issued with immediate request to pay all outstanding within seven days which is impossible.

“I cannot tell you how upset this makes me.”

The speed of the company’s demise surprised many – it was still advertising for new staff as recently as last week – and staff expressed their shock in social media posts. One said:

“I, as many others will be during this time, am now frantically looking for work. With huge overheads, a small child to support and a mortgage to pay, I am very concerned about the coming weeks.”

Mr Brockway set up Amvoc, the trading name of A Marketing Vocation Ltd, from a small office in Dacre in 2010. It sold telemarketing services, initially in the legal sector, and grew rapidly, moving first to Pateley Bridge and then to large offices at New York Mills near Summerbridge. 

It opened a new head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate in 2015, a facility in Leeds in 2018 and an office in Manchester in 2022.  It also had plans to expand to London.

Amvoc’s clients have included BP, Barclays, Virgin Media, Leeds Beckett University, and both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties. 

The company has been approached for comment. 

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£1.5m fund for voluntary organisations in North Yorkshire

Voluntary organisations that helped North Yorkshire communities during covid could benefit from a share of £1.5 million funding.

The funding will be available following the launch of the new North Yorkshire Council in just under four weeks, on April 1.

It will allow community and voluntary groups to increase their capacity to act as so-called “community anchors”. 

The funding, spread over the next three years, will be available to organisations to act as hubs for the public to access advice and support and to increase resilience in communities. 

The project is building on the work that was undertaken by all of the current eight councils in North Yorkshire, including Harrogate Borough Council, to develop close working relationships with a network of community and voluntary groups which were instrumental in providing support to residents during the pandemic. 

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for stronger communities, Cllr Greg White, said:

“Volunteers and community groups have always played a hugely important role in North Yorkshire, but their work came even more to the fore during the covid crisis. 

“These organisations became a trusted voice for communities and helped us to publicise key public health messages and provided support at a grassroots level by co-ordinating the delivery of food and other essential items while checking on the most vulnerable members of society.”

Community anchors

While the concept of community anchors has been employed elsewhere in the country, the scheme in North Yorkshire is thought to be among the biggest of its kind nationally. 

The vast swathes of rural North Yorkshire which are home to some of the most isolated communities in the country present significant challenges in ensuring that the 615,000 residents in the county are given the support and services that they need. 

Groups that are already established in North Yorkshire can apply for £15,000-a-year in funding to become a community anchor ahead of a deadline on March 20. 

To qualify for the funding, organisations need to be established in communities with an existing base where they are delivering services, while also demonstrating a proven track record that they are financially sustainable. 

The funding is being made available to broadly increase the capacity of the groups, rather than being targeted at a specific project, and to strengthen the resilience of communities to build on the solid foundations that developed during the pandemic. 

The investment would be available to finance a range of activities such as building partnerships with organisations including the council and health services and increasing their capacity to deliver physical and mental well-being programmes for communities. 

The money could also be employed to help develop projects such as community transport services, running social enterprises and delivering skills and education. 

The funding would also be potentially used to help communities to respond to emergencies, and improve people’s financial resilience, especially in relation to food and fuel. 

Nidderdale Plus and Ripon Community House

Groups which could apply for the funding and played a key role throughout the covid pandemic include Nidderdale Plus, the Upper Dales Community Partnership and the Grassington Hub as well as the Community Care Associations in Stokesley, Thirsk and Easingwold. 

Ripon Community House, which is based in part of the city’s old workhouse and celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, was another of the community support organisations established in the pandemic, and staff are due to apply for funding to become one of the new community anchors. 

The venue, which provides meeting rooms for the community as well as a food bank and activities such as chair-based exercise classes, currently houses a base for Harrogate Borough Council to offer services such as waste and housing, and this will continue with the launch of North Yorkshire Council. 

Ripon Community House’s chief officer, Suzanne Bowyer, said:

“The legacy of covid has meant that we have become a real trusted voice in the community, and people come to us for advice – if they don’t know which organisation to go to, then we can invariably help. 

“To have the chance to build on this work by becoming a community anchor is so important, and the launch of the new council in North Yorkshire will undoubtedly help ensure the public can access services even easier by knowing there is one single organisation to deal with.” 

Funding from the government has already been used for North Yorkshire’s voluntary sector as part of financial support provided nationally to help the country recover from the pandemic. 

However, the new funding is being provided via North Yorkshire County Council’s Stronger Communities Achieve Together programme and is aimed at supporting about 30 different organisations over a three-year period. 

North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough authorities will merge from April 1 to pave the way for a devolution deal, which is set to transfer decision-making powers and millions of pounds of funding from Westminster to local political leaders. 

The new council will retain a main office in each of the former district areas, supported by additional customer access points in public locations.

Information on how to apply for the community anchors project is available online on the county council’s website.

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Knaresborough head responds to Ofsted report

The headteacher of King James’s School in Knaresborough has responded to the publication of the school’s latest Ofsted report this week.

Government inspectors visited King James’s School for the first time in six years in January and, in a report published on Monday, rated it once again as ‘good’ – a status it has maintained for over 20 years. 

Ofsted described the 1,575-pupil school as a “caring environment where pupils learn well” with “a strong focus on ensuring that everyone feels welcome”. 

It said the “vast majority of pupils are keen and engage confidently in their learning” and bullying is rare. 

Headteacher Carl Sugden said:  

“The strong curriculum, the expertise of the teachers and the caring environment are highlighted in the report.” 

Mr Sugden also noted that King James’s, in common with other schools, was still dealing with the educational and social impact of the covid pandemic, adding:

“I believe the report reflects the hard work and commitment of the staff at King James’s. It also reflects well on our wonderful pupils, the vast majority of whom work hard, show great resilience and humour and reflect our community values.”

He added the school acknowledged the areas of improvement identified by Ofsted and was already addressing them. 

 Ofsted said more should be done to provide support for the weakest readers, and more opportunities should be provided for pupils to experience the world of work. 

Mr Sugden said:

“We agree with these priorities and had already started working on these before the inspectors arrived.” 

King James’s was founded in 1616 by a charter from King James I, and is the Harrogate district’s second-oldest secondary school, after Ripon Grammar School, which was founded in 1555.

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Six choirs to sing together at festival in Harrogate

Six choirs from across the Harrogate district and beyond will be joining forces – and voices – next weekend to perform together for the very first time. 

The Harrogate Community Choir Festival, at Harrogate Theatre on Saturday, March 18, will be hosted by the Stray Notes Choir and originated from an idea from the choir’s music director, Liz Linfoot. 

She said:  

“After a difficult couple of years when choirs were unable to rehearse together and weekly Zoom rehearsals were the norm, Harrogate choirs are once again thriving. This festival is intended as a celebration of singing, and the joy which comes from being part of a choir community.”

Image of flyer advertising the Harrogate Community Choir Festival.

The Harrogate Community Choir Festival will feature six local community choirs showcasing some of their favourite songs in a variety of different styles. They are: the Stray Notes, Harrogate Male Voice Choir, Knot Another Choir, Love Pop Choir, Rock Choir, and the Skipton Choir.

Each choir will perform a set of four or five songs and the evening will culminate in a final song with all the choirs and the audience singing together. 

Liz added:

“The benefits of singing as part of a group are wide-ranging and scientifically proven, including supporting mental and physical health and building community.

“From shower soloists to music-reading experienced choristers, and from rock to classical music, there is a warm welcome for everyone at a choir in Harrogate.”

The choirs will be raising funds for Wellspring Therapy and Training, this year’s chosen charity of The Stray Notes Choir. Based in Starbeck, Wellspring provides affordable psychological support to people in distress and promotes good mental health through training and education.

The Harrogate Community Choir Festival will be held at Harrogate Theatre at 7pm on Saturday, March 18. Tickets for the event cost £10 (children: £5) and are available online from Harrogate Theatre.

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Harrogate’s spectacular Egyptian artefacts go on loan to Swansea University

The Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate has sent more than 700 of its finest historical artefacts to Swansea University in a collaboration which should provide deep insights into ancient Egyptian history. 

The collection, which has not been fully researched for over a decade, is on loan for three years and will now be studied by experts at Swansea’s award-winning Egypt Centre. Swansea University is one of only a handful of UK universities to offer degrees in Egyptology. 

May Catt, visitor and cultural services manager at Destination Harrogate, said:

“This is a fantastic chance for us to be able to learn important information about our Egyptian collection and where it came from. We look forward to being able to share this with visitors of all ages, both digitally and through new exhibitions and displays. 

“We are fortunate to have such rare and exciting antiquities at the Royal Pump Room Museum and our project with Swansea University offers us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our museum’s cultural significance on an international platform. 

“We are particularly pleased to be involved with this exciting project this year, which marks the 70th birthday of the museum in Harrogate.” 

Harrogate’s Egyptian collection includes a spectacular coffin from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1000-700 BC); stone stelae; a large collection of pottery; amulets and shabtis (figurines used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices), as well as a renowned Anubis mask, which is the only one of its kind in the world. There are also several Etruscan mirrors and a large collection of cuneiform tablets, bricks, and cylinder seals.

Ken Griffin of Swansea University's Egypt Centre looking at a spectacular coffin from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1000-700 BC).

Ken Griffin of Swansea University’s Egypt Centre inspects a spectacular coffin from Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1000-700 BC).

The loan also offers an opportunity to learn more about the origins of Harrogate’s Egyptian antiquities, whilst raising the profile of the Royal Pump Room Museum. The objects were donated by two local collectors, Benjamin Kent and Harrogate jeweller James Roberts Ogden, whose great-great-grandsons still run Ogden of Harrogate on James Street. 

While Kent purchased his at auction, Ogden appears to have obtained his items straight from the source – he acted as an adviser to Howard Carter, who famously discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, creating a worldwide sensation. 

Egypt Centre curator Ken Griffin said the project, called Rediscovering Egypt, would provide an ideal opportunity for the collection to become better known to researchers. 

Dr Griffin said:  

“The Harrogate loan is a major coup and reflects Swansea University’s position as a leading institution for Egyptological research. Having the collection here will allow us to refresh the Egypt Centre’s displays, while also making the objects available to researchers from across the globe.

“And, in the year that the Egypt Centre celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is rather fitting that this loan is taking place now.”

Three shabtis (figurine used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices) of Seti I, including a faience example believed to be among the finest ever produced, are included in the loan from Harrogate to Swansea.

Three shabtis (funerary figurines) of Seti I, including a faience example believed to be among the finest ever produced, are included in the artefacts on loan.

The collection held permanently by Swansea University’s Egypt Centre is currently on public display online, and Harrogate’s Egyptian collection will be added to the site later this year, with photos and 3D models of the objects, to enable visitors, university students and staff to view the rare Egyptian items, while discoveries about the relics are made and shared.

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‘Britain’s biggest tractor run’ set to return to Harrogate district on Sunday

“Britain’s biggest tractor run” will snake along roads in the Harrogate district on Sunday, with up to 400 vehicles coming together in a festival of agricultural horsepower. 

Knaresborough Tractor Run lasts for 25 miles from the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate to Knaresborough, with a hog-roast lunch for drivers and sandwich van for spectators in Pateley Bridge. 

Participation costs £20 per driver and an extra £10 for each passenger, and all proceeds are donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Last year, the event raised £20,893. 

Tractor Run committee chairman and Ramsgill farmer Steven Brown urged anyone with a tractor, farmer or otherwise, to take part, and anyone without one to turn out to support the event. He said: 

“Come along and join in the fun. We reckon it’s the biggest tractor run in the UK, so the chances of seeing anything similar elsewhere are slim.

“The thing I always love is all the spectators lining the streets – the support from the public is tremendous. That’s what puts a smile on our faces.” 

Knaresborough Young Farmers tractor run

Tractor Run committee chairman Steven Brown says he doesn’t expect the event to clog the roads.

Knaresborough Tractor Run was first held in 2012 and has grown rapidly ever since.

This year’s event is due to begin at the showground at 9am.

Mr Brown said the route from Harrogate would take in Knaresborough, Staveley, Copgrove, Burton Leonard, Markington and Smelthouses, before arriving at Pateley Bridge showground, where prizes will be awarded for tractors in three categories: vintage, classics, and modern. 

After lunch, the parade of vehicles will head to Dacre Banks, Darley and Hampsthwaite, before returning to Knaresborough around 4pm. 

The line of tractors is expected to take about an hour to file past, but Mr Brown said motorists needn’t worry about blocked roads. He said: 

“We don’t tend to have tailbacks, because we’re never on one road for long enough. We try to head off across country a bit to avoid the main roads.” 

Tractor owners wishing to take part in Knaresborough Tractor Run can sign up online, or pay cash on the day. 

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