Harrogate fitness instructor qualifies for Miss England

Harrogate personal trainer Chloe McEwen has been crowned Miss Yorkshire and is now set to compete in Miss England.

Chloe, 21, was chosen by the judges at The Earl of Doncaster Hotel last night. 

The level 3 fitness trainer hopes to use the title to inspire others facing mental health issues to embrace fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Photo of Chloe McEwen, who is entering the Miss Yorkshire beauty contest.

Chloe McEwen

At the age of 16, Chloe was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her weight soared by almost four stone during an eight-month spell in hospital.

But by embracing a healthier lifestyle, the former Rossett School pupil regained control of her life and now helps others to use fitness to overcome their problems.

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Specialist menopause clinic to open in Harrogate

A private hospital in Harrogate is to open a specialist menopause clinic in Harrogate next week.

The Duchy Hospital on Queens Road is providing the service in partnership with menopause website My Menopause Centre.

A free menopause workshop led by specialists Dr Clare Spencer and Dr Anna Greaves will take place at David Lloyd, Harrogate on Tuesday, October 12 — two days before the clinic opens to patients.

The workshop topics will include menopause transition stages and symptoms, preparing for and managing menopause and reframing attitudes.

Patients can book consultations directly with the hospital.

Michelle Eardley, executive director of the Duchy Hospital, said:

“Menopause is a challenging condition that affects thousands of women across North Yorkshire. Working with My Menopause Centre is part of our commitment to ensuring that patients across Harrogate and further afield have fast access to the services they need.”

Dr Clare Spencer, co-founder of My Menopause Centre, said the clinic will give women a holistic service as they transition through the perimenopause and menopause.

The Duchy Hospital, which is part of Circle Health Group, opened in 1959 and offers a range of inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital also supports patients from the NHS.

Circle Health Group, which acquired BMI Healthcare in January 2020, operates Britain’s largest network of independent hospitals.

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Harrogate’s Luke Richardson wins England’s Strongest Man

Harrogate strongman Luke Richardson won England’s Strongest Man yesterday to end his two-year injury nightmare.

Luke, 26, took the sport by storm when he won Europe’s Strongest Man at Allerton Castle near Knaresborough in 2020 and then finished ninth in the World’s Strongest Man in his first full season.

But at the 2021 World’s Strongest Man he suffered the first of what was to be a series of serious injuries to his biceps, knee and back that sidelined him and forced him to re-evaluate his approach.

Luke takes the England’s Strongest Man title. Pic: Giants Live

Talking about his career in a video with Giants Live, the company that runs the tour that qualifies strongmen for the World’s Strongest Man, he said:

“The last three years for me have easily been the toughest time I have had to go through in my life

“I went from having no injuries to having four in the last two years.”

Luke Richardson reflecting on the last two years. Pic: Giants Live

Luke went to Starbeck Community Primary School and Harrogate High School, said he had learned to live in the present and enjoy his success rather than constantly strive to be one of the greatest strongmen of all time.

He said he “felt no joy in winning those things which is ultimate failure because I was constantly looking at the next thing”.

His new mindset doesn’t appear to have hampered him as he proved at Doncaster yesterday by defeating Kane Francis and Paddy Haynes for the title of England’s Strongest Man, which qualifies him for Britain’s Strongest Man.

Luke trains at Absolute Fitness in Boroughbridge, which is owned by Giants Live owner and former top strongman Darren Sadler.

Doing the log lift at Absolute Fitness in Boroughbridge. Pic: Giants Live

New charity shop and cafe to open in Harrogate

A new charity shop and café is to open at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate next week.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is opening the shop and café at its new centre on Hornbeam Square West.

Income will fund services such as the charity’s health and wellbeing programme for people with cancer called Active Together, which will be available at the same centre from November.

Tony Graham, director of retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said:

“Our beautifully stocked shop will offer a unique experience where people can purchase high quality pre-loved fashion, accessories, home-ware, books and records.

“Thanks to supporters’ kind donations, the shop offers a range of desirable products – from vintage collectables and high-end labels to nearly-new fashion.”

The new Café Hornbeam

 

Staff and volunteers celebrate the opening of the shop and café.

The charity said its Café Hornbeam will serve healthy breakfasts as well as waffles, sandwiches and salads. Harrogate-based bakery Baltzersen’s will provide the pastries and cakes.

The shop will open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The café will open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

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Seven weeks of roadworks begin today in Harrogate

Seven weeks of roadworks are due to get underway in Harrogate town centre today.

Some of the main routes in town are likely to be subject to traffic lights and delays.

Parliament Street, Ripon Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road are among the roads affected.

The disruption will enable gas distributor Northern Gas Networks to replace metal pipes with plastic pipes.

Cold Bath Road could be the worst affected route, with “multiple lights” operating for five weeks.

The roadworks are the second phase of delayed works  that were “paused” a year ago.

Here’s what motorists can expect.

Crescent Road lane closure and traffic lights 

A lane closure will be introduced on Crescent Road and Ripon Road along with four-way lights at the junction of Crescent Road, Parliament Street, Ripon Road and Kings Road for two weeks. The existing lights will be bagged, and temporary traffic lights will be in operation from 7am to 7pm.

Montpellier Road (roundabout) & Montpellier Hill Lane closure

A lane closure will be implemented on Montpellier Road (roundabout) and Montpellier Hill Lane for two weeks.

Cold Bath Road traffic lights and parking suspensions

Multiple two and three-way lights will be introduced on Cold Bath Road for five weeks starting from Monday.

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Wellington Square Road closure

A road closure will be implemented on Wellington Square for two weeks.

Northern Gas Networks saud traffic lights will be manned seven days a week between 7am and 7pm “to ensure a smooth flow of traffic”.

Firefighters tackle Harrogate hospital fire, A1 crash and barn blaze

A toaster fire at Harrogate District Hospital proved to be just the start of an incident-packed day for local firefighters yesterday.

Crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to the hospital on Lancaster Park Road at 8am.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:

“The fire originated in an industrial rotating toaster, and caused 25% fire damage to the kitchen, and light smoke logging to a communal area.”

It proved to be the first of several call-outs yesterday.

Teen rescued from car

At 11.07am, firefighters from Boroughbridge and Ripon rushed to a single vehicle car crash at Skelton Road in Boroughbridge where a Peugout 206 had careered off the road.

Crews used an electric saw to get into the vehicle through the windscreen and free a female driver. who was described as “approximately 17” in the incident report. It added:

“The female was uninjured and left in the care of the air ambulance service.”

Two-car crash on A1

A1 at Boroughbridge

The A1 at Boroughbridge

At 12.14pm, crews from Ripon, Boroughbridge and Northallerton responded to reports of a Hyundai and an Audi colliding between junctions 48 and 49 on the northbound A1(M).

The incident report said:

“All occupants of the vehicles were out on arrival. The female driver of the Hyundai, aged approximately 40s, suffered superficial injuries only.

“The male driver, and female passenger of the Audi, both aged approximately 50s, were uninjured. Crews used a turfer winch to remove the vehicles to a safe location.”

Barn fire in Spofforth

At 1.59pm, Harrogate firefighters were back out again. This time they were joined by a crew from Wetherby to a barn fire at Park Lane in Spofforth.

Water bowsers from Tadcaster and Boroughbridge also responded.

The incident report said the barn, which measured about 40 metres by 20 metres, contained straw and the incident was still ongoing by late afternoon.

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International pianists heading to Harrogate for concert series

Two titans of the British classical music scene will perform in Harrogate as part of the new season of concerts at the Wesley Centre.

Pianists Sir Stephen Hough and Angela Hewitt headline the 29th season of events organised by Andrew Hitchen.

It will be Sir Stephen’s 10th appearance in Harrogate and Ms Hewitt’s third.

There will also be a sixth recital at the Wesley Centre by acclaimed French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. He is due to appear on February 12 — two days after Sir Stephen. Bach specialist Ms Hewitt will perform on April 13.

Besides pianists, the season also includes lieder, jazz and chamber music.

Last year’s average attendance was 15% up on the previous year, as people returned to live events after covid.

The schedule includes 10 lunchtime concerts, usually on the first Monday of the month, and two evening concerts.

The season begins tomorrow (Monday, October 2) when Elisabeth Brauß performs Schubert and Schumann.

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The rest of this season’s programme includes: 

November 6 — Leeds Lieder recital

December 4 — Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux and Joseph Havlet (violin and piano)

January 8 — Mithras Trio

February 5 — Beethoven and Brahms trio

February 10 — Sir Stephen Hough (piano)

February 12 — Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

March 4 — Jean-Paul Gasparian (piano)

April 13 — Angela Hewitt (piano)

May — to be confirmed

June 3 — Nicholas Daniel and Huw Watkins (oboe and piano)

July 1 — Richard Wetherall Trio (jazz)

 

Royal recognition for the American who saved Allerton Castle

Forty years ago, Allerton Castle near Knaresborough was in a dilapidated state.

The castle was built between 1848 and 1854 on the estate given to William Mauleverer, who came to England with William the Conqueror.

But when Dr Gerald Rolph bought it in 1983, the roof leaked and it was riddled with rot.

Dr Rolph, an American classic car enthusiast who made a fortune at the pioneering electronics company Tandy Corporation, had considered buying other great British homes but was drawn to Allerton’s Castle’s gothic revival style.

Today it is one of the finest buildings in the north of England. The Great Hall, with its balconies, staircase and hammer-beam ceiling, gives visitors an immediate sense of grandeur.

The Great Hall at Allerton Castle. Pic: Chris Chambers

Dr Rolph not only funded the renovation, but also travelled the world to find the beautiful artefacts that now fill the rooms.

Allerton Castle attracts visitors and wedding parties and has also hosted everything from film crews to Europe’s Strongest Man.

This week, Dr Rolph was awarded an OBE for services to historic preservation and conservation for his restoration of Allerton Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II awarded the honour but covid delayed the ceremony. Now aged 90, and unable to fly, he made a 13-day journey on board the Queen Elizabeth ship to receive the OBE off Jo Ropner, the lord-lieutenant of North Yorkshire, at her Camp Hill home near Bedale.

Dr Rolph with Jon B Wright, a trustee of his foundation.

Looking back at his first visit to Allerton, Dr Rolph told the Stray Ferret:

“It was in a derelict state. Virtually everything has had to be restored, including the roofing, the electrics system and the water system.”

In 2005, just as the restoration was almost complete, fire destroyed about a third of the castle. Undeterred, he simply redoubled his efforts.

In 2016, Dr Rolph gifted the castle, its contents, grounds and estate to the UK charity The Gerald Arthur Rolph Foundation for Historic Preservation and Education, which was formed to preserve Allerton Castle for English and world heritage.

Dr Rolph in Allerton Castle

Dr Rolph, a private man who visits England about three times a year, said the honour meant a lot but he was embarrassed to be catapulted into the limelight.

He said he enjoyed England’s beauty and way of life, but times were changing and the castle was a testament to the country’s heritage.

Did he have a message to local people who have regularly driven by Allerton Castle but perhaps never visited?

“The key thing is for you and your friends and relatives to come here. That’s why it has been preserved. We want you to come here and see Allerton Castle.”

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Knaresborough’s first pop-up shop to open tomorrow

Knaresborough’s first pop-up shop will open on the High Street tomorrow.

The former Sid Horner and Son unit will provide week-long premises for a wide range of businesses.

Clothing and accessories firm Martha and Bea will be the first to occupy the site tomorrow.

Jane Weston, who runs Martha and Bea, said the concept was perfect for small firms like hers that didn’t require full-time premises.

“Natalie and Rob Horner have done an absolutely amazing job with the shop.

“It’s a stunning and a fabulous addition to the High Street.”

Ms Horner said the pop-up was fully booked until the end of the year and will host a wide range of businesses selling items ranging from glass ornaments to lingeries and photographic images.

Asked about the striking design, she said:

“We just wanted to something eye-catching that was fresh and clean and the polka dots seemed to work well with the pop-up theme.”

Sid Horner and Son now operates from premises on Finkle Street.

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Harrogate and Ripon to provide more homes to Afghan refugees

More Afghan refugees are to be housed in Harrogate and Ripon following an urgent request from the Home Office.

North Yorkshire Council has approved the use of eight Ministry of Defence properties in the county — but also flagged up concerns about the pressure on its housing stock.

Six of the new homes are in Catterick and one each is in Harrogate and Ripon.

A council report cited humanitarian concerns as the reason for agreeing to the request and said eight properties “would be manageable in relation to school places, integration support and English language classes”.

But it added:

“Caution is necessary in relation to accommodating more than eight additional households.

“Existing housing pressures in the county need to be considered alongside the fact that North Yorkshire Council is responsible for finding move-on housing for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy households in the service family accommodation properties should they wish to stay in North Yorkshire.”

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The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which was implemented in April 2021, entitles Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK in Afghanistan and their partners and children to relocate to the UK.

The report said North Yorkshire had resettled 175 people from 45 Afghanistan households under the scheme since February 2021 and had also received over 1,300 Homes for Ukraine arrivals since spring 2022 , “some of whom are requiring move-on housing in the county following the end of their sponsorship period”.

Rachel Joyce, the council’s assistant chief executive local engagement, said:

“There are specific timelines for this process, however, the Ministry of Defence have identified eight properties in total in Harrogate, Ripon and Catterick Garrison which would provide safe and suitable accommodation for eligible Afghan refugee families.

“Families will be matched to the properties giving them the independence, space and privacy they require. It’s also a chance for them to integrate with the local community and play a part in community life.

“We are unable to reveal the exact addresses of the properties at this stage.”