Dozens of teachers from across North Yorkshire converged on Harrogate today for a rally.

The National Education Union, Britain’s largest teachers’ union, is holding strikes today and on Tuesday as part of its latest wave of industrial action.

The NEU has organised rallies across North Yorkshire on previous strike days but today’s was the first in Harrogate. Teachers from as far as Scarborough took part.

Those taking part near the war memorial told the Stray Ferret their main reason for striking was the “crisis” in education, which had left many schools struggling to get any applicants for some teaching posts.

Today’s strike comes after alll four teaching unions turned the latest government offer of a one-off payment of £1,000 and a 4.3% pay rise, as well as an increase in the starting salary for teachers in England to £30,000 a year by September.

Gary McVeigh-Kaye, the North Yorkshire branch secretary of the NEU who organised today’s rally, described the government offer as “an insult”.

The Department for Education described it as a “fair and reasonable offer”.

Read more:

• Striking teachers to hold Harrogate rally on Thursday
• About 500 Harrogate firms set for ballot on whether to keep BID

The Reverend Canon Anna Eltringham has been named as the new Bishop of Ripon this morning.

Downing Street announced at 10am the King had approved the nomination of Rev Canon Eltringham, who is currently team rector for Oxted, in the diocese of Southwark.

Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds introduced the new bishop immediately after the announcement to a gathering at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate.

The Bishop of Ripon is one of five episcopal area bishops in the Church of England Diocese of Leeds and has responsibility for a large area, including the Yorkshire Dales and the towns of Ripon, Harrogate, Settle, Skipton, Wetherby and Richmond.

The new bishop in Harrogate today

Revd Canon Eltringham’s consecration will take place on June 22 in York Minster. However, she will not fully take up the post until September.

She will succeed Helen-Ann Hartley, who left Ripon to become Bishop of Newcastle this year.

Before entering ministry, Revd Canon Eltringham worked in strategic marketing, including a role in Croydon Council.

Whilst increasingly involved in church, community and justice work, she discerned God’s call to ordained ministry, following in the footsteps of her father and previous generations in her family.

Revd Canon Eltringham grew up in the west country and studied business and anthropology at the University of Durham.

She plays the saxophone and is married to Nigel, with whom she has two daughters. They enjoy family trips out in her VW T25 campervan and visiting museums, galleries, arts events and the seaside.  She also likes creative writing, walks in the country and trying to up-cycle furniture.

She said:

“I have felt drawn back to the north of England for a number of years and have a strong sense of God’s call to this particular role.

“God has laid a number of things on my heart in recent times, including a passion for climate-care and justice; care for the wellbeing of clergy and all God’s people; a vision for a church that serves as much beyond as within its buildings; and children and young people at the heart of it all.”

‘Important rural area’

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds said of the appointment:

“I am delighted to welcome Revd Canon Anna Eltringham as the next Bishop of Ripon and to this important rural area that includes the world famous Yorkshire Dales.

“Our parishes and communities, big and small, will greet her with great warmth as her commitment to parish ministry and the environment will be evident from the word go.

“Anna’s pastoral care for clergy and lay leaders is evident from her previous work in the Diocese of Southwark and the wider church. She will greatly support our diocesan mission to encourage Christian confidence across the Ripon episcopal area and beyond.”

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Revd Canon Eltringham was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Southwark in 2008 and served her title at Holy Innocents in South Norwood.

She then joined the Oxted team ministry (four churches in Surrey) where since 2019 she has been team rector.

Since 2017 she has also been the Dean of Women’s Ministry, advocating for, and developing the ministry of lay and ordained women in the diocese and advising senior staff on such matters. Anna has also served as an honorary chaplain to the monarch since 2020.

The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York said:

“Revd Canon Anna’s enthusiasm and love for parish ministry and her ability to connect, having been an advocate for clergy well-being and serving as Dean of Women’s Ministry, will be a great blessing to the parishes and Diocese of Leeds.”

Businesses in Harrogate will begin voting on June 1 on whether to continue to fund services such as street cleaning and Christmas lights.

Currently 462 town centre businesses with a rateable value above £19,000 pay a levy to Harrogate Business Improvement District.

The BID spends the money on additional services to those provided by local authorities to attract footfall into the town centre.

But its first five-year term is ending and it will cease operating if a majority of businesses vote ‘no’ to another five-year term.

BID chief executive Matthew Chapman at last night’s event.

Last night Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, launched the organisation’s term two business plan at the Doubletree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

The plan reveals the BID is forecast to have £510,000 income a year — down on current £554,000 a year — because of a recent re-evaluation of rateable values on town centre businesses.

Mr Chapman said the BID, like many businesses, would have to “do more with less” but he maintained the organisation provided a valuable service through activities such as its street ranger Chris Ashby, street deep cleaning, Christmas lights, match-funded grants, street entertainment, targeted free parking and floral baskets and planters.

Street ranger Chris Ashby

Locally, Ripon, York, Leeds, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Bradford and Northallerton have bids although Knaresborough rejected one.

The business plan says:

“Harrogate BID is needed more than ever before and we ask you to please use your ballot paper to vote ‘yes’.”

Council to abstain in vote

However, the BID won’t be able to call on the local authority to support its bid — unlike five years ago.

Harrogate Borough Council previously used its block vote for businesses it ran to vote in favour of the BID.

But North Yorkshire Council, which replaced it this month, has said it will abstain.

Asked last night how he felt about this, Mr Chapman said:

“It’s a little disappointing but it could also be positive because it will be a true business vote.”

Mr Chapman added he wasn’t aware of any other councils that abstained in BID votes.

The ballot will run from June 1 to 28 and the result will be announced on June 29.

Read more:

• Harrogate BID to launch campaign for second term
• Crime commissioner’s office to move to Harrogate Police Station

A friendship bench has been installed at Follifoot Primary School to encourage pupils to support each other.

The bench provides a place where children can sit if they feel lonely or don’t have anyone to play with at playtime. Others see them and start up a friendship.

Friends of Follifoot School, a group of volunteer parents, presented the bench to the school playground this week.

Children elected on to the school council proposed the idea last year to promote friendship and kindness.

The friends group has now made it happen by using funds raised at its annual summer fair Follifête to buy the bench, which was crafted by Harrogate furniture company Harvey George.

The unveiling of the bench coincided with the last day on the committee of four members of the friends group. Laura Hartley, Vicky Hodgson, Claire Hartley and Sam Riley stepped down after fundraising for the school for five years. The bench was their parting gift to the children.

Read more:

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• Harrogate church saves £20,000 on clock repairs with can of duck oil

A new committee is now planning the next Follifête on July 9 at Follifoot Village Hall.

Ms Hartley, who was chair of the friends group, said:

“It was something the school council were really passionate about and we’re glad that we were able to bring their idea to life. We hope that the bench will see hundreds of friendships created over time.”

Headteacher Rebecca Holland said:

“I am sure the bench will be loved by Follifoot children for decades to come.”

Pic shows: Friends of Follifoot School present the bench to pupils. Back row L to R: Sophie Griffiths from Harvey George; Laura Hartley, chair of FOFS; Rebecca Holland, headteacher, Claire Hartley, Vicky Hodgson and Sam Riley from FOFS; middle row L to R: Lizzie, Annabelle, William; front row L to R: Elliot, Jessica, Florence, Jasper

Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to after an electric bike was stolen outside a Harrogate supermarket.

The incident happened at Aldi on Old Beck Road at about 3.10pm on Saturday, April 15.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today:

“The bike had been left secure outside the store. A man entered B&Q next door, then rode the bike away.

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise a man pictured on CCTV, as they believe he will have information that will help the investigation.”

A full length image of the wanted man.

Anyone with any information is asked to email joanne.fawectt@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 371 Joanne Fawcett.

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

Quote reference number 12230066912 when passing on information.

Read more:

• Harrogate Turkish Baths accused of discrimination for halving women-only sessions
• Harrogate church saves £20,000 on clock repairs with can of duck oil

Turkish Baths Harrogate has been accused of discriminating against women by halving the number of single-sex sessions.

From May, the baths will reduce the number of women-only and men-only weekly sessions from two each to one.

Staff have said in emails to customers it is a business decision based on low numbers at one of the men-only sessions.

They say the decision to cut one of the men-only sessions means it’s necessary to do the same with one women-only session to maintain fairness.

Consequently, the daytime session devoted exclusively to females will no longer exist — even though it is popular.

Regular customer Francine Holroyd said the decision was “fundamentally wrong” and unfair on women.

She said female-only sessions were consistently well attended and provided a safe space for women of all backgrounds.

Ms Holroyd said:

“I’m very worried for a lot of Muslim ladies and others like myself who go on their own and would not go to a mixed session. It is fundamentally wrong.

“I do believe it is discriminatory as it means there will only be an evening session available to women.  The Turkish Baths offers a safe place for women of all ethnic backgrounds to meet together and relax.

“If one of these sessions is removed it means that it reduces by 50% women’s access to spaces for women only. Women travel from all over Yorkshire to enjoy the Turkish Baths in a safe, female friendly environment.”

The Turkish baths on Parliament Street

Ms Holroyd, who is chair of governors at Harrogate Ladies’ College, said the loss of the daytime single-sex session would particularly affect women because, as they provide most childcare, they had more free time during the day to attend such things before school pick-up rather than in the evening. She added:

“Surely the decision should be a commercial one — i.e. the two ladies-only sessions are full so keep them.”

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Katie Summersall, Turkish Baths manager, said:

“Following a successful trial, a new operational model is set to be introduced at Turkish Baths Harrogate.

“From May 1, guests will be able to book a timeslot set for every 30 minutes and will be able to spend up to two hours in the baths. This will mean there will be less of a wait at the start and end of each session as guests will no longer all need to arrive and leave at the same time.

“Two single-sex sessions will also be removed (on Thursday and Friday), meaning more customers will be able to access the baths throughout the week.”

Nude ban remains

Ms Summersall also said the baths had “decided that swimwear will remain compulsory at all public sessions”.

Clothing-optional sessions ended last month after a complaint was made to police about “inappropriate behaviour”. No further details were released.

North Yorkshire Police said at the time enquiries were at an early stage and ongoing.

The Stray Ferret asked for an update. A police spokesperson said:

“There’s no update, enquiries are ongoing.”

Ripon firm Farmison & Co has begun hiring staff as it prepares to start trading again.

Employees at the premium meat retailer were made redundant when Farmison entered administration on April 6.

But a consortium led by former Asda chief executive Andy Clarke and Chilli Marketing founder Gareth Whittle acquired the company from the administrators on Monday.

Mr Clarke, who has been appointed executive chairman, told the Stray Ferret yesterday everything was moving “very quickly” and he hoped trading would recommence in weeks rather than months.

He said the new company had so far hired five staff, who all previously worked for Farmison.

They include Michelle Kennedy, who as chief operating officer will be in charge of day-to-day operations, commercial director Andy Cavanna and finance manager Liam Duggan.

Mr Clarke said Farmison employed almost 100 people at its peak and the ambition was to get back to that number but right now he could not give a precise figure on how many roles will be created. He said:

“A recruitment drive is underway and we have started contacting some old colleagues.

“I think it was a good business that ran itself out of petrol. Basically the cost base was too high.

“Fundamentally the model was good.”

Look out for a fuller interview with Mr Clarke this weekend.

Read more:

• Ripon firm Farmison to trade again after buyout completed
• Consortium submits bid to bring back Ripon firm Farmison

A church near Harrogate has saved itself a £20,000 repair bill for its clock — by using a can of duck oil.

Nidd Church spent £1,500 trying in vain to fix its erratic tower clock but it kept stopping after a day or two.

It was finally quoted £20,000 for the clock to be dismantled and taken to a workshop in Derby for repair.

The church feared the prohibitive cost spelled the end for the two train flatbed clock made by Potts of Leeds, which was installed as a prestige item to show Nidd’s importance in 1880.

The church, photographed by Jane Page

But Knaresborough man Martin Lightfoot, a former engineering lecturer who along with his wife Sue take monthly Mattins services at Nidd, wasn’t convinced.

He reckoned the difficult to reach pulleys needed oiling and volunteered to do the job himself.

A conventional 12ft ladder would not negotiate the tight spiral steps from the ground so Martin volunteered to go up to the clock level, above the pulleys, lie on his front and drip some duck oil through the floorboards and beams onto the pulleys.

The clock was installed in 1880.

Martin said:

“The clock mechanism looked OK but I was suspicious of the pulleys. They looked very dry.

“The clock seems OK now. I’m just hoping that it keeps going.”

The grade two listed Church of St Paul and St Margaret, which is adjacent to Nidd Hall, dates back to 1866.

David Andrews, treasurer, lay reader and organist at the church, said:

“For five weeks now the clock has run and kept good time. For how long we can’t tell, but it’s doing better than ever before.”

Read more:

• Plan approved to convert 150-year-old Harrogate church into house
• Blood testing to move from Harrogate to Knaresborough due to Sainsbury’s pharmacy closure

A Ripon man has been jailed for attacking three police officers at Harrogate Police Station.

Benjamin Donnelly, 36, admitted the offences when he appeared before magistrates in York yesterday.

He was jailed for 16 weeks because of the seriousness of the offences and his previous record.

Donnelly, of Somerset Row, pleaded guilty to assaulting the officers on Friday last week.

He also admitted assaulting a custody worker at the police station on Beckwith Head Road and was fined £300.

Following the case, a spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Assaults against police officers, staff and other emergency services will never be tolerated. We have a robust process in place for investigating offences and bringing those responsible to justice.

“If you assault an emergency services worker, you will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law, which will frequently end in a prison sentence. That’s how serious this offence is.”

Read more:

• Blood testing to move from Harrogate to Knaresborough due to Sainsbury’s pharmacy closure
• Health Secretary called upon to keep Ripon dental practice open

A Knaresborough doctor is one of only four UK people to have won an international placement in the United States.

Dr Joe Tay has been selected for a Harkness fellowship in health care policy and practice by the US-based Commonwealth Fund in 2023.

The fund, which was established in New York in 1918, aims to promote a high quality, affordable health care system for everyone.

Its fellowships provide opportunities for medical professionals committed to advancing health care policy and practice to spend a year in America.

Dr Tay, who currently works as the clinical director of Forward Leeds, the city’s alcohol and drug service, said:

“This is an incredible privilege for me, made possible partly due to the amazing work that Forward Leeds as an organisation undertakes in supporting people with their alcohol and drugs issues.

“I’m looking forward to learning and bringing back insights and experiences helpful to Yorkshire, and hopefully opportunities for national and international cooperation as well.”

Read more:

• Blood testing to move from Harrogate to Knaresborough due to Sainsbury’s pharmacy closure
• Mark Hunter wins contest to be Knaresborough’s next town crier