John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Gallery: Huge crowds bask in sun at Knaresborough bed race

Knaresborough was a sea of colour and joy today as huge crowds turned out for the annual bed race.

The event was first staged in 1966 and appears to be going stronger than ever, judging by the turnout and enthusiasm displayed today.

Ninety teams of seven took part in the 2.4-mile route through the town, which culminated in crossing the River Nidd.

A team representing builders merchants GH Brooks stormed to victory in the men’s race once again, but were pushed close by Ripon Runners. It was the fourth time in succession GH Brooks has taken the title.

Ripon Runners, however, took first place in the women’s race.

Competition was equally fierce in the Best Dressed Team competition just before the race.

A team called The Rocketmen took the accolade for a Jurassic Park-themed bed that featured animatronics.

They then led the parade from the castle through town to Conyngham Hall where the race started and finished. The parade had only just got underway when it had to be temporarily halted due to a person falling ill.

Organised by Knaresborough Lions, a large army of volunteers helped to keep things running smoothly on a day of unbroken sun.

Here are some photos from the day.

The winning GH Brooks team

The Best Dressed Team award winner

Dad’s Army

The theme this year was ‘That’s Entertainment’

Having fun at the castle before the race

GH Brooks had two outstanding teams

Harrogate Symphony Orchestra patriotically-attired.

Ripon Runners gave another strong performance

Crossing the Nidd

One of the day’s most creative efforts

Hot Seat: The man bringing international artists to a village near Harrogate

In June every year, something close to a miracle occurs in a small village 11 miles from Harrogate.

Major names in the international arts world converge for 10 days on Aldborough — a beautiful and historic place but hardly known for capturing the zeitgeist.

For arts lovers, however, an annual pilgrimage to the Northern Aldborough Festival has become part of the summer arts scene. They park in fields, drink Pimm’s in a churchyard marquee and get to see the kind of names who usually appear in less soulful venues in Leeds or York.

The festival, which grew out of a fundraising initiative to restore the church organ in 1994, consistently attracts major international talent.

This year’s line-up, from June 15 to 24, includes the likes of South Korean pianist Sunwook Kim, TV historian Lucy Worsley, trumpeter Matilda Lloyd and a singing competition judged by a panel that includes Dame Felicity Lott.

Lucy Worsley is among those appearing this year. Credit Hay Festival / Paul Musso

Festival director Robert Ogden, who overseas the programme, is best known locally for running Ogden of Harrogate, the fifth generation family jewellery business on James Street.

But Mr Ogden has strong credentials in the arts world: a former chorister at Westminster Cathedral Choir School in London, he completed a choral scholarship at King’s College, Cambridge before forging a successful career as a countertenor, singing around the world in major productions alongside the likes of Jose Carreras.

Since he became festival director in 2010, the festival line-up has broadened and this year includes spoken word events and jazz as well as classical music and culminates with an outdoor pop music party and fireworks in the grounds of Aldborough Manor.

Mr Ogden says the change reflects his own wide tastes but also acknowledges “we can’t rely on our core audience”.

Robert Ogden

Festival planning is year-round but he takes a two-week break from the jewellery business to focus fully on the festival in the immediate run-up.

He says things are shaping up well this year ahead of Thursday’s opening night. Asked for his personal highlights, he cites Matilda Lloyd, the opening night Haydn opera double bill, Monteverdi’s Vespers and the new £7,000 singing competition. He says:

“Of all the things we have done in the last 15 years this competition is perhaps the most exciting. I’m certain at least one or two of the semi-finalists will be household names in the next few years.

“There’s nothing a festival wants to do more than to unveil and support new talent.”

How does he persuade occasionally temperamental artists to head to the eastern side of Boroughbridge? He says it’s a combination of the festival’s reputation, the St Andrew’s Church acoustics, the setting and the welcome. Aldborough, he says, is the “perfect chamber music space” and there is something undoubtedly magical about it.

St Andrew’s Church in Aldborough

Mr Ogden says he never feels the festival is in competition with the year-round Harrogate International Festivals and thinks there is scope for another local summer arts festival “if it’s marketed well”. Besides Ryedale Festival and Swaledale Festival, competition isn’t fierce.

But it isn’t an easy time in the arts world. Brexit, he says, has denied many emerging artists the opportunities he enjoyed to develop his craft in Europe. The cost of living crisis had had an impact on ticket prices, but Mr Ogden says Aldborough hasn’t made “any major price rises”.

Future festival ideas include live streaming, although digital connectivity in the village isn’t great, and recording music under the Northern Aldborough label.

He plans to stay at the heart of things, reporting to festival chairman Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred:

“As long as I feel I still have that creative urge and impetus I will aim to do it as long as they allow me to.”

What is his message for anyone thinking of attending, perhaps for the first time?

“Aldborough is not far to drive from Harrogate. It’s an oasis of calm, the acoustics are wonderful and the welcome is wonderful. Try something new.”

Further information on the Northern Aldborough Festival is available here.

FoI reveals Harrogate council spent nearly £3,000 on booze for staff party

Harrogate Borough Council spent almost £3,000 of taxpayers’ money on booze for a staff party, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The party was held to mark the abolition of the council at the end of March — even though nearly all staff transferred to the new North Yorkshire Council the following day on the same terms.

The Stray Ferret reported last month the party cost £14,910. But a full breakdown of the costs, including the amount spent on alcohol, was not known.

The FoI has now revealed the costs included £1,438 on beer, cider and lager, £630 on wine and £587 on spirits. Just £376 was spent on soft drinks.

The council also spent £4,745 on food, £450 on a DJ, £765 on event staff and £302 on decorations. A further £5,556 went on technical equipment for the event, which was held at the council-owned Harrogate Convention Centre on February 23.

The party was held at Harrogate Convention Centre.

The Stray Ferret was alerted to the party by an unnamed source who said they were “appalled, disgusted and downright annoyed that this amount was spent without the prior knowledge and consent of the people paying for it”.

Conor Holohan, media campaign manager of the pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added:

“Taxpayers will be shocked to find they were funding parties for council staff.

“While residents were struggling with the cost of living crisis, town hall officials were charging them for dinner and drinks.”

Final day parties

Seven district councils and North Yorkshire County Council were abolished on March 31 to make way for the new North Yorkshire Council.

Harrogate Borough Council’s final day staff party cost the most.

Scarborough was the next highest, spending £9,004, followed by Hambleton at £3,783. Ryedale awarded staff a £148 bonus and spent £3,001 on a party. North Yorkshire County Council did not spend anything.

Staff from the district councils, except the chief executives and a handful of others, transferred to North Yorkshire Council on April 1. It said in a statement:

“The new council for North Yorkshire did not play any part in sanctioning or organising any parties.

“For any further comment you will need to ask the district and borough council decision-makers who were in place at those councils at the time.”

Former Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper has declined to comment on council business since the authority was abolished.

Knaresborough bed race set for huge crowds and glorious weather

Thousands of people will flock to Knaresborough tomorrow for the town’s busiest day of the year.

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race will see 90 teams of seven tackle a 2.4-mile course through the town’s streets and river.

Knaresborough is looking resplendent with 48 Pride flags displayed to celebrate Pride month, and with the Met Office forecasting temperatures up to 26 degrees centigrade, the town will be buzzing.

People are being urged to bring cash as the limited number of cash machines in Knaresborough are likely to run out of money.

Knaresborough Lions, which organises the event, has arranged a free park and ride bus operated by Connexions from GSPK at Manse Lane and ALM at St James Business Park.

If you wish to park closer, King James’s School is offering £5 all day parking with money going to MacMillan Cancer Support.

Teams will gather at Knaresborough Castle in the morning to be judged for the Best Dressed Team award.

Whoever wins, leads the parade from the castle to Conyngham Hall at 1pm. Each team is allowed up to 20 supporters to parade with them in fancy dress.

The race gets underway at 3pm at Conyngham Hall.

Road closures will be staggered throughout the day, starting at 10.45am in Market Place and surrounding roads. The main A59 is due to close at 12.30pm and roads used for the route will be sealed off at 2.30pm.

Some routes could be closed until 6pm but most are expected to re-open sooner.

A diversion to Harrogate will be in place around Briggate/Calcutt/Forest Moor. Buses will use this route while the A59 is shut. Trains will still be running.

The annual bed race was first held in 1966. This year’s theme for the pre-race fancy-dress parade is “That’s Entertainment”.

Martin Brock, chairman of the bed race committee at organisers Knaresborough Lions, said preparation was a “massive undertaking”. He added:

“We could not put the race on without kind help from our sponsors, our volunteers, the local council and the local media.

“If we planned now to close down the fifth biggest town in North Yorkshire for a day, I doubt we would get permission. However, with the event in its 56th year, people will bend over backwards to help us get it on.

“Almost everyone you see working on the day will be a volunteer, from our divers, to the RayNet radio comms team, to many of the marshals, so give them a smile as you pass by.”

Man admits assault and having knuckleduster in Harrogate bar

A man has admitted assaulting two women and possessing a knuckleduster in Harrogate.

Adam Smith, 40, pleaded guilty to the charges at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

Smith, of Bunting Drive, Tockwith assaulted a named woman and a female police officer on The Ginnel on April 15 this year.

He also admitted having a knuckleduster in Manahatta, which is also on The Ginnel.

Magistrates gave Smith a community order, which required him to abstain from alcohol for 120 days and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was also fined £349.

Court documents said the defendant’s guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence.

CrossFit gym to open in Ripon

A CrossFit gym is set to open in Ripon.

Mick and Sarah Meegan, who currently run a smaller personal training and fitness studio in the city, will open the facility at Ripon Business Park, which is close to the canal.

The date is yet to be confirmed but the couple expect it to be early next month.

CrossFit Ripon will provide a functional training facility for Ripon, which the couple said the city currently lacked in comparison to nearby Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, York and Thirsk.

Mr Meegan, who is in the last year of 21 years of military service, said the gym would tackle obesity, mental health and wellbeing as well as get people into shape.

CrossFit, which involves constantly varied fitness routines, has grown hugely in popularity over the last 20 years.

The facilities tend to cost more than chain gyms but provide more classes and a more personalised approach, with community at the heart of activities.

Mr Meegan said:

“Ripon craves a fitness, mental health and wellbeing facility that caters inclusively for all the individual needs of our city, especially those suffering from social isolation and low self-esteem.

“The wide range of variety in terms of classes, one-to-one PT, apprenticeships for future PTs and fitness for kids classes is something Ripon needs as part of Ripon’s Neighbourhood Plan 2030 in-terms of health and well-being.

“Research shows there is somewhat a lower life expectancy in Minster and Moorside Wards than for the district. Child health concern regarding increase in obesity over early school years is considerably higher than in the district whereas for adults this is slightly higher than the district.

“Our new affiliated CrossFit gym will cater for all of the above, our community is absolutely paramount in terms of health and well-being. We are passionate to give Ripon what it’s craved for years and promote fitness is for life.”

Mr Meegan said the couple had battled for nine months to secure planning and many people have told them it won’t work. He said:

“Even when everything seemed against us we persevered and got planning approval. If you believe in something you take risks.”

Crowdfunder launched to keep Knaresborough partying

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to enable Knaresborough to stage free annual parties in the grounds of the town’s castle.

Party in the Castle will feature a live big screen broadcast of the Glastonbury festival on June 24. People are invited to turn up with a picnic and enjoy the sounds of the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Lizzo and Lewis Capaldi.

Organisers Knaresborough and District Chamber hopes the event will have a similar vibe — and good weather — to the free coronation party at the castle last month.

Chamber member Kelly Young said it will hopefully become an annual event. But she added although entry is free, funds need to be raised for the big screen and to cover other costs such as first aid and insurance.

The crowdfunder therefore aims to raise £2,000 and has already achieved about £1,400. Any surplus will be used on future events.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough East on North Yorkshire Council, has also applied to the council to allocate £2,500 of her Locality budget on the event. Each councillor receives an annual Locality budget of £10,000 to spend locally.

Party in the Castle will take place from 5pm to 11pm. Anyone wishing to support the crowdfunder can do so here.

Brew Bar owner opens new Harrogate coffee shop

The owner of Brew Bar has opened a new coffee shop in the centre of Harrogate.

Simon Somerville-Frost, who has operated his original venture on St Winifred’s Avenue since 2018, opened the new coffee shop on Royal Parade this week under the name &… Harrogate.

&… Harrogate provides lunch and brunch as well as a wide range of coffees, pastries and bakes. It plans to transition to also operate as an evening bar in the weeks ahead.

It took about nine weeks to transform the former Gron building, which closed last year.

Mr Somerville-Frost said &… Harrogate was designed to look and feel completely different to Brew Bar, which has established a reputation as a community coffee shop in the saints area of Harrogate.

Brew Bar

He said:

“We just decided to something totally different. It’s a completely different look from Brew Bar and a really nice space.

“It’s a natural evolution from Brew Bar. I didn’t want the space to look too ‘coffee shop’.We’ve gone for a quite darker aesthetic so we can transition easily into an evening bar.

“People feel comfortable in both environments and we are excited to get going.”

Boroughbridge Primary School celebrates 90th birthday

Boroughbridge Primary School has celebrated its 90th birthday with fun activities and a look back at history.

Years 1 and 2 learned about play time games from the past, such as hopscotch, drop the handkerchief and catch the flag.

Year 2 children looked at photographs of the past and went to see where they thought they were taken from and watched a film from 1933, Alice in Wonderland, and compared it to modern films.

Boroughbridge Primary School

Key stage 2 children took part in three different sessions: playground games from the 1930s, a music quiz to see how music has changed in the last 90 years and a history session exploring the old school logbooks, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Friends of Boroughbridge School organised tea, cake, hot dogs and an inflatable.

Former headteacher Mr Roberts, who was in charge when many parents were pupils, also attended and said he was delighted with how well the school is flourishing.

Boroughbridge Primary School

Year 5 teacher Ms Frampton was able to provide many historical photographs and school logbooks from past years.

Headteacher Emma Ryan said:

“The event was the perfect opportunity to involve the children within their history lessons and learn about our school and how much it has changed over the years.

“It was an absolute delight to welcome all our families into school to celebrate its 90th birthday.”

Call for speed bumps on Pateley Bridge High Street

Pateley Bridge Town Council is to investigate the possibility of installing speed bumps on High Street following a complaint by a resident.

The unnamed resident, who lives on Kings Court, wrote to the council calling for speed bumps at the top and bottom of the narrow street.

They said it would deter “speeding cyclists, motorbikes and boy racers”.

At their monthly meeting last night, town councillors agreed to look into the idea, although any final decision would be taken by North Yorkshire Council, which is the highways authority.

Andrew Murday, who is a town councillor and also the Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale on North Yorkshire Council, said he would look into the criteria for allowing speed bumps.

Cllr Mike Holt said the issue of speeding on High Street, which cyclists approach downhill in all directions, had been debated many times and speed bumps were the only realistic option, although he added the faded double yellow lines could be re-painted.

Cllr Neil Thompson said illegal parking on the street was the main problem, although it was mentioned that disabled people with Blue Badges were entitled to park on double yellow lines for up to three hours and this had to be taken into account.

Councillors agreed to consult on the idea before contacting North Yorkshire Council if the idea was viable.

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