Police issue urgent appeal to find missing Harrogate woman

North Yorkshire Police has issued an urgent appealing for help finding a missing woman from Harrogate.

Sophie Rebecca Lambert, 22, was reported missing from her home in Starbeck at 10.10pm last night.

Sophie was last seen by her family at 7.20pm before she left the house.

A police statement this afternoon said:

“Concerns are growing for her welfare and extensive police searches are currently taking place in the Nidd Gorge area with assistance from search and rescue.”

Sophie went missing last night.

Sophie is described as white, aged in her early 20s, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.

She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.

It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms.

Police urged anyone who has seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph to call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.

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Starbeck stages its community day

Starbeck Community Day took place today to raise money for the annual Christmas lights appeal.

The free event, at Harrogate Railway AFC on Station View, included a range of stalls as well as a drinks bar.

There were also donkey rides and live performances from groups including Starbeck Dancing for Wellbeing.

The day also saw the crowning of the annual Starbeck community king and queen. The honours went to Ted Carman, 9, and Celeste Reid, 9.

(from left) Last year’s queen Kya-Mae Goodwin, 11 new queen Celeste Reid and new king Ted Carman.

It is one of four events held each year to raise funds for Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.

There is also an Easter fun day, a craft fair and nearly new sale and a Christmas fayre.

Organiser Chrissie Holmes said:

“We have to raise £8,000 a year to keep the lights going. They really brighten up Starbeck and the children love to see them walking to and from school on dark nights.”

Visitors could learn about the plans for Knaresborough Forest Park.

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School creates new mosaics with help from Harrogate charity

Four new mosaics have been installed outside a school in Harrogate thanks to a partnership with a local charity.

Artizan‘s members have created the mosaics to highlight Oatlands Junior School‘s values of equality and diversity, curiosity, and safety.

They have been placed around the school, with a fourth mosaic outside the arts studio designed to inspire imagination, creativity and exploration.

The four artworks were created children from the school and members of Artizan together, which benefitted both groups.

Hannah Alderson, the school’s art and design technology lead, said:

“This incredible project gave differently able mosaic artists the opportunity to become the trainer; showing children how to mosaic, which of course is a powerful situation for them both to experience.

“[It was] empowering for members of Artizan and a transformation of attitude for the children, seeing people with disabilities in a different light as confident and creative skilled artists.”

For more information about how Artizan can work with local schools, email Liz Cluderay.

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Harrogate sixth formers ‘twin’ toilet with Malawi school

A toilet in a Harrogate school has been twinned with one in Malawi thanks to an international project.

Rosset School sixth form has raised enough money to build a toilet block in a school in the African country, with support from Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District.

The toilet twinning scheme aims to increase access to safe facilities around the world, delivering better sanitation and improved quality of life. At Rossett, £240 was raised to sponsor the toilet block in Malawi.

Roger Keyworth, head of sixth form at the school, said:

“We would like to thank Harrogate & District Soroptimists for supporting our students with this initiative and for their partnership with our students and the wider sixth form throughout the year. I am very pleased that we were able to raise some money for this great cause.”

Sandra Frier, on behalf of Soroptimist International of Harrogate, said:

“We are delighted to have worked in partnership with Rossett School on the Sharing our Skills project and to have had the opportunity to work with the students throughout the year, supporting them to raise funds for Toilet Twinning.”

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Local democracy in North Yorkshire ‘destroyed’ by devolution, says peer

Devolution in North Yorkshire has made local government an “incoherent mess” and “destroyed” democracy, a Liberal Democrat peer has claimed.

Harrogate Borough Council was one of seven district authorities, along with North Yorkshire County Council, abolished on March 31 to pave the way for the new North Yorkshire Council.

The single-tier system has vastly reduced the number of councillors in North Yorkshire from almost 400 to 90.

A combined authority for York and North Yorkshire is due to be created next year, led by an elected mayor, as part of the UK government’s devolution agenda.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire said in a speech in the House of Lords on Thursday the structure of local government across England was now “an incoherent mess” and accused the government of “imposing mayors on places that did not want them”.

He added:

“I find what has happened recently in North Yorkshire the most appalling, and when I heard someone assure me that no councillor in North Yorkshire would need more than two hours to drive from the ward they represent to council meetings, it showed me just how far we have gone.

“Decent places such as Harrogate, Scarborough, Richmond and Craven, which had working district authorities and which represented real places, have been dismantled and they are now trying to set up very large town councils for them.

“We have the prospect of a mayor, somehow, for North Yorkshire and, incidentally, one for East Yorkshire. That is the effective destruction of local government and I really do not understand the rationale for it.”

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He contrasted the situation with Fenland District Council, where councillors represented far fewer people, and therefore had more time to deal with their issues.

Lord Saltaire said:

“After the next election, a reform of the way in which the governance of England is conducted at all levels is a vital part of what any new government must be. If we want to regain trust in politics and re-engage some of our citizens more, that is part of how we do it.

“Let us all recognise that we face a situation of deep popular disengagement and disillusionment with the democratic politics we have in this country.”

Old system ‘confusing and expensive’

Carl Les

Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, described the old two-tier system as “confusing, inefficient and expensive”. He added:

“Over half of the country is governed by unitary local government now. Where Lord Saltaire lives has been unitary for years.

“Yes, we no longer have 390 local councillors. Some might say that’s a good thing.”

Cllr Les said the council’s plans for “double devolution”, whereby powers would be handed down to local level, would ensure it was “not only the largest geographic council in the country but also the most local as well”.

 

Knaresborough’s king of the bed race celebrates win number 12

For most people, the Great Knaresborough Bed Race is all about fun and supporting good causes.

But for some, it’s also a highly competitive 2.4-mile mad dash across town and river while pushing a bed.

The elite teams train hard for the glory of arriving back at Conyngham House first and it’s doubtful whether anyone has had more success in the event’s 57-year history than Chris Miller, 41, who led the GH Brooks team to victory in 13 minutes and five seconds last week.

It was Chris’ 12th success in the race since he first took part in 2003, making him the Novak Djokovic of the bed race. He chalked up nine wins with Harrogate Harriers before having a break and landing three more with GH Brooks.

The GH Brooks team leading with Chris (left)

The GH Brooks team is on a four-race winning streak. Its reserve team even managed third, with Ripon Runners second in the men’s race and first in the women’s.

GH Brooks is a builders’ merchants in Harrogate and although the name conjures up images of guys in high vis jackets with jeans hanging down their backsides beating a load of runners, the truth is more prosaic.

They are the Harlem Globetrotters of the bed race — local running superstars hand-picked for the event thanks to the support of GH Brooks owner Andy Broadwith. Chris confesses:

“We are a team of ringers. We are all mates who race for local clubs.”

Chris represents Wharfedale Harriers, others run for Harrogate Harriers and Leeds City Athletic Club. But nothing on the track or fell compares with the bedlam of bed race, where tens of thousands of people line the midsummer streets.

Running for Wharfedale

He says:

“It’s just mad. When you come by the World’s End pub you are just hit by this wall of noise.”

Elite local runners are queueing up to be part of the GH Brooks success story but Chris, who by day is a scientist, is understandably reluctant to break up a winning team. John Young, with six race wins, is another major part of the success.

Don’t even think of applying if you can’t manage a five-minute mile — and not many can. To maintain that pace while pushing a bed up winding, undulating streets and swimming across the Nidd is extraordinary.

“You have to be a competitive standard because you’re only as fast as your slowest runner. You’ve got to be prepared to be hurt and then hurt again.

“Experience helps but it’s down to having six runners who are all of a similar standard.”

This year’s time was six seconds slower than last year, when GH Brooks became the first to dip below 13 minutes.

But Chris says it was the “hottest and hardest” bed race he’s done.

Winning with Harrogate Harriers

How long will he continue? A couple of years, he says, but admits bed race is addictive. He will send out the call after Christmas to see who wants to enter and doesn’t expect many refusals. He says:

“People say afterwards ‘I think this will be my last one’ but when it rolls round they want to do it again. There’s nothing like it.”

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Watch: Lime tree on Stray in Harrogate being felled

Four trees on the Stray in Harrogate are to be felled by North Yorkshire Council.

The trees, close to Beech Grove, are deemed to be in poor condition and pose a safety risk due to their proximity to the road.

Resident Chris Graville sent us this video of one of the trees being cut down.

Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways at the council, said:

“This lime tree is one of four along Beech Grove on the Stray which are in poor condition and are to be removed as they are deemed high risk due to their position next to the road.

“This work is in line with the national tree and woodland policy which ensures two trees are planted to replace every one cut down.

“This means we are sustaining and increasing the number of trees across the county.”

North Yorkshire Council took over responsibility for managing the Stray on April 1, when Harrogate Borough Council was abolished.

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Million pound house draw comes to Harrogate

A million pound farmhouse near Harrogate could be won for just £10 in a prize draw.

The American company Omaze today announced the 17th century property between Hampsthwaite and Birstwith, which also comes with a guest cottage, as its latest million pound prize draw.

The draws, which take place every two months, raise money for charities and Omaze keeps 20 per cent of net proceeds. The firm said it has raised £13.25 million for charities since its UK launch in 2020.

Omaze’s latest property in Nidderdale, which is its first in the Harrogate district, will generate funds for Blood Cancer UK.

The gardens of the house near Birstwith

The winner will receive £100,000 in cash as well as the farmhouse, which is estimated to have an annual rental value of almost £50,000.

Blood Cancer UK supporter, Celia Imrie, who starred in the film Calendar Girls, has backed the draw.

She was reunited with original Calendar Girls Tricia Stewart and Lynda Logan, as well as Lynda’s husband Terry, the famous calendar’s photographer – to mark the launch of Blood Cancer UK’s latest partnership with Omaze.

The Calendar Girls reunited to support the cause.

In a promotional video, Lynda joked:

“It’s only 10 minutes away from where I live so I’ll be popping round for a cup of sugar.”

The draw closes on July 30 for online entries and August 1 for postal entries.

James Oakes, chief international officer at Omaze, said:

“By offering this beautiful property, along with £100,000 in cash, we’re giving people the chance to live mortgage and rent free for the rest of their life – as well as raising money for charities whilst introducing them to brand new audiences.

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Labour names candidate for local by-election

Labour has selected 26-year-old Keir Mather to fight the Selby and Ainsty by-election, triggered by the resignation of Conservative MP Nigel Adams.

Oxford history and politics graduate Mr Mather is a former parliamentary researcher who works as a senior public affairs advisor at the Confederation of British Industry.

Mr Mather, who would become one of the youngest MPs, was born in Hull and grew up near Selby.

His candidacy was supported by the unions GMB and Unison.

Many villages close to Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, including Spofforth, Follifoot, Kirkby Overblow, Goldsborough, Little Ouseburn, Nun Monkton, Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton, will go to the polls on July 20.

The Conservatives, who will defend a 20,137 in the by-election on July 20, have named Michael Naughton as their candidate while the Greens have selected Arnold Warneken.

It is expected to be a close contest between the Tories and Labour, with political forecasting website Electoral Calculus predicting a 55% chance of Labour victory and a 45% chance of Conservative victory.

A by-election in Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency will also take place on the same date.

Mr Mather said:

“It is an honour to have been selected to fight to represent this brilliant constituency. Whilst the Conservatives are too distracted by their own chaos to deliver, the people of Selby and Ainsty have been left without a voice.

“We are facing the worst fall in living standards in a generation. Mortgages are up, our public services are broken, and the economy is stagnating.”

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Harrogate woman unveils art with final message from family killed in Holocaust

A Harrogate woman has unveiled a giant blanket embroidered with her family’s final message from the Holocaust.

Michelle Green’s grandparents, Gisela and Josef Schwarz, and her uncle Kurt were all killed in a Nazi concentration camp.

With the help of artist Laura Fisher, Michelle has created a piece of artwork to commemorate their communication to their family. She said:

“Holding the blanket felt like hugging the grandma I never met. I really didn’t expect to feel such strong emotions.

“The blanket dominates the room from floor to ceiling and it won’t let you ignore it. It makes you think about a telegram that was once written and had so much love poured into it – a last vestige of hope that a family could one day be together again.”

The Red Cross telegram was sent to Michelle’s aunt Aranka and was the last message they received from her family still in Nazi-occupied Vienna. Translated from German, it read:

“Dearest children,

“(I’m) very worried. Last message in March. Thank God we are well. Hope you are. Message from Papa (received).

“Millions of kisses also from your brother,

“Mama.”

The message was dated November 1943. Shortly afterwards, the family was betrayed by a Nazi informer.

They were held at Camp Malines until the following April before being herd onto a train to Auschwitz.

Michelle’s mother Lili managed to escape to the UK via Belgium and join her sister Aranka in London. They survived the Blitz before relocating to Harrogate after hearing it was “the most beautiful place in England”.

The sisters waited tables at Bettys tea rooms for a number of years, before starting their own business in 1948, the Manor Hotel, which they ran until 1971.

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Michelle, now 70, went on to be head of learning support at Ashville College in Harrogate. This experience taught her that hearing people speak isn’t necessarily enough to embed knowledge.

That understanding inspired her decision to make the blanket.

Artist Laura Fisher created the giant woven blanket as part of an artists’ residency at Holocaust Centre North in Huddersfield. It is on display at the centre until July 27, along with a number of other artworks as part of a free exhibition called Memorial Gestures.

It is open from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm.

Laura said:

 “When I first visited Holocaust Centre North, I was initially overwhelmed and the scale of the tragedy felt incomprehensible.

“I remember feeling a pit in my stomach, like nothing I could do would possibly be enough. How could I create art that would make those affected feel seen, cared about, witnessed?

“I hope the work I have created as part of Memorial Gestures helps others to understand the depths of what was lost during the Holocaust-what was stolen from families whose lives were irrevocably changed.”