A student from Harrogate who wants to work in Formula 1 has been granted a bursary worth up to £20,000 to help pursue a career in engineering.

Lenka Senešiová grew up in Slovakia and moved to the UK at 15 on a scholarship to attend Harrogate Ladies College.

She is now studying a master of engineering in computer science programme at the University of Aberdeen and has been named as one of 31 UK women students to receive an Amazon Future Engineer bursary.

The bursary, supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering, provides a financial support package of up to £20,000 to women students from low-income households..It aims to address under-representation of women in engineering and technology in higher education.

Ms Senešiová will also be matched with an industry mentor and provided with training and networking opportunities.

She said:

“It’s much more expensive to study here compared to my home country. Before receiving the news that I had been selected for the bursary, I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to continue my education here.

“Now I know I can focus on my studies and enjoy my university life without worrying about the financial side of things.”

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Teachers encouraged Ms Senešiová to explore STEM subjects, leading her to think about a future in engineering rather than in law.

She hopes to work as a race engineer, much like Hannah Schmitz, who is the chief strategist for Red Bull Racing.

She added:

“Seeing women like Hannah working in such a competitive industry and doing well is a real inspiration and gives me hope that I could achieve my dream job one day.”

The Amazon bursary supports female students to study computer science or related engineering courses at UK universities.

The awardees receive a package worth £5,000 per year, for up to four years of study, to cover expenses related to attending university, including tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs.

Harrogate’s former Viper Rooms has already attracted “significant interest from potential tenants”, according to landlord North Yorkshire County Council.

The nightclub, which was part of the historic Royal Baths, closed suddenly on Friday last week when bailiffs changed the locks.

Nightclub owner Paul Kinsey said on social media the landlord had repossessed the building after the two parties failed to agree a new lease and that 30 people had lost their jobs.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at the council, said in a statement last weekend it had acted “in the best interests of North Yorkshire’s taxpayers” but declined to elaborate.

The closure of the Viper Rooms means two of the four commercial units at the Royal Baths are now empty.

Asked about the council’s plans for the Royal Baths, Mr Fielding indicated all four units could be occupied soon. He said:

“Two of the four units which are overseen by ourselves are occupied by a JD Wetherspoon pub and the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant.

“A unit which did house the Viper Rooms has already attracted significant interest from potential tenants, while a new agreement for the final one is in the final stages of negotiations.

“We remain firmly committed to working constructively with tenants where this is in the interests of both local residents and businesses.”

Viper Rooms

Mr Fielding said North Yorkshire County Council inherited the terms of the Royal Baths lease when it bought the grade two listed building from Harrogate Borough Council for £9 million in 2018. He added:

“Among those conditions is Harrogate Borough Council continuing the lease arrangements on a peppercorn rent for two units, which are occupied by the Tourist Information Centre and the Turkish Baths.

“The significance of the visitor economy to Harrogate is well-documented, so both of these units serve important roles in providing information to visitors as well as housing a renowned attraction in the Turkish Baths.

“Alongside the units at the Royal Baths, there are various car parking arrangements at the site including a long-term lease to Harrogate Borough Council and some private arrangements that generate income.

Read more:

• Viper Rooms: council issues statement after repossessing Harrogate nightclub
• Harrogate nightclub Viper Rooms closes suddenly
• Questions raised as Harrogate Royal Baths loses £2.5m in value

Mr Fielding defended the council’s decision to repossess Viper Rooms. He said:

“We have tried hard to understand the difficulties all our tenants have experienced as a result of the covid pandemic and to offer them our support. This has, in turn, had an impact on our own finances.

“Residents and businesses here rightly expect us to ensure that every effort is made to protect public money and we have a duty to do just that.

“While we do not want to comment on individual cases, we must be fair and consistent and act in the best interests of the public who we serve.”

Mr Kinsey has said he does not wish to comment further at this stage.

It started with 134 participants on January 21, 2012 and now regularly attracts 300 to 400 people each week.

Harrogate Parkrun, which will take place for the 500th time on Saturday, has become a staple part of weekend life for many people.

It happens every Saturday on the Stray at 9am, except in extremely bad weather and during covid.

With its emphasis on fun and community, it has helped thousands of people get fit and have fun. Many non-runners attempting the couch to 5k challenge start by walking the route, then jogging parts of it and eventually running the entire distance.

The highest Harrogate Parkrun entry so far was 625 on March 2, 2019.

Parkruns have sprung up elsewhere in the Harrogate district at Fountains Abbey near Ripon and at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.

The last decade has also seen a flourishing of other informal local running groups, such as the Early Bird Running Crew, to help average people who might feel intimidated by joining a club enjoy the benefits of running.

Asked why it has become so popular, Mike Kaye, who regularly runs and volunteers as a marshal on the Stray, said:

“First of all it’s free. Secondly it has a big community feel. It’s also one of the best things for mental wellbeing.

“You don’t have to run Parkrun. You can just walk if you want to.”

There will be balloons and cake to mark this weekend’s milestone event.

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• Police urge drivers to ‘put their phones away’ after Ripon Snapchat death

North Yorkshire Police has said the “entirely avoidable” death of a Ripon man caused by an Amazon delivery driver on Snapchat shouold serve as a warning to motorists not to use their phones.

Daniaal Iqbal, 23, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at York Crown Court yesterday after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was running out of fuel and texting on Snapchat when he killed biker Peter Rushforth, 56, on on Kirkby Road near Ripon in September 2019.

Iqbal, of Toller Lane, Bradford, was on the second day of his new Amazon delivery job,

Speaking about the sentence handed to Iqbal, Detective Sergeant Kirsten Aldridge of North Yorkshire Police’s major collision investigation team, said;

“From the seconds after the collision which killed Mr Rushforth, Iqbal denied any responsibility for the collision – categorically stating he was not using his phone. However, our experienced digital forensic investigators found unquestionable evidence to challenge Daniaal Iqbal’s claims.

“This is yet another fatal collision caused by a driver who refused to listen to the warnings about the risk of using a mobile while driving and chose to blatantly disregard the law. Very sadly it’s Peter Rushforth who has paid the price for Daniaal Iqbal’s poor decision-making. To lose someone in a traffic collision is devastating. But to know that it was entirely avoidable and was caused by someone who believed sending a message was more important than their safety is galling.

“I hope the sentence handed to Daniaal Iqbal makes those drivers who may take that chance and use their mobile behind the wheel just stop and think for a moment. When you’re driving, please put your phone away – another person’s life could depend on it.”

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The group on Langcliffe Avenue

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“The first step in the Community Speed Watch process is to identify areas for the group to stand. Once approved, the group will receive training, and at that point they can either share equipment with other nearby groups or purchase their own equipment.

“Once fully trained, the group can deploy as often as they wish, although most groups deploy for an hour at a time, once or twice a week.

“Any vehicles found to be speeding will have their details taken down and sent to the North Yorkshire Police traffic bureau. Once verified, the registered keepers of those vehicles will receive warning letters. A police officer will attend the address of the registered keeper if they are ‘caught’ three times.

“We currently have about 88 groups taking part in the scheme across North Yorkshire. Since its inception in 2016, around 96% of all offences have been first offences – indicating that people who receive their first warning letter do take the advice on board and adjust their driving behaviour.”

Police stinger stops stolen Land Rover after high speed chase from Boroughbridge

Police arrested three men after a high speed chase from Boroughbridge to York in the early hours of this morning.

North Yorkshire Police was contacted at just after 2am this morning with concerns about a quad bike travelling on the A168 near Boroughbridge.

Officers investigated and said they noticed a Land Rover being driven suspiciously. The vehicle speeded off when police asked the driver to stop.

Police pursued the Land Rover on the A59 towards York while another police unit set up a stinger site on the A1237 at York. A police statement today said:

“All four tyres of the Land Rover were stung but it continued for a short time. It eventually lost control and crashed.

“Police also sighted an Audi in the same area that was acting suspiciously. Officers stopped the Audi and then established that it had been seen with the Land Rover earlier that night.

“The Land Rover was confirmed as stolen from an address along with two quad bikes.”

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A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for the police, dangerous driving, driving without a license or insurance and aggravated vehicle taking.

A 26-year-old man and a 28-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.

The 24-year-old man was charged with failing to stop for the police, dangerous driving, driving without a license or insurance and aggravated vehicle taking. He has been remanded in custody and recalled to prison.

The 26-year-old man and 28-year-old man currently remain in police custody and enquiries are continuing.

Thirty-three trees could be felled as part of the Royal Horticultural Society‘s plans to convert the former Harrogate Arms into a café.

The horticultural charity was granted planning and listed building consent in 2019 to convert the pub, which closed a decade ago, into a café.

But a new planning application was submitted this month to landscape the surrounding area to improve the view between RHS Garden Harlow Carr and the Harrogate Arms

The plans include diverting a public right of way and felling trees such as ash, sycamore and beech.

According to  an aboricultural impact statement submitted to Harrogate Borough Council to support the planning application, nine of the trees are classed as category B, 18 as category C and six as category U.

Category B trees are deemed to be of moderate quality with an estimated remaining life expectancy of at least 20 years; category C are said to be of low quality with an estimated remaining life expectancy of at least 10 years and category U trees are regarded as being in such poor condition that they cannot realistically be retained as living trees for longer than 10 years.

A spokeswoman for the RHS said:

“As part of our plans to re-establish the historic connection between the Harrogate Arms, Bath House and the garden it is necessary to remove 33 trees, primarily those that are of low quality, for example, young self-seeded trees, are in declining health or are suppressing other significant trees that we want to retain.

“Within the new landscape we will be replacing these with 37 new trees of equivalent amenity value as required by local planning policy plus an additional 45 trees, including beech, birch, hornbeam, oak and maple, providing a new generation of trees to enhance the landscape for years to come and making a long-term contribution to the habitat and natural character of the site.”

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Pleasure gardens

Originally built in 1844 by then-owner of the estate Henry Wright, the Harrogate Arms and the nearby Bath House were set in pleasure gardens which are now part of RHS Harlow Carr.

The RHS said in a statement “reconnecting the landscape to the buildings” represents an important link with the garden’s past and the local heritage of Harrogate as a spa town.

The Bath House now serves as an exhibition and event space within the garden, while the former hotel will be converted for use as an RHS-run café.  The statement added:

“A number of local stakeholders have been kept informed of the process, including the Harrogate Group of Ramblers, which has indicated no objection to the proposals to move the public right of way.

“The RHS has also collaborated with a local college to look at menu ideas for the new café, which will make use of fresh, seasonal produce from RHS Harlow Carr’s kitchen garden.”

Head of RHS Harlow Carr Liz Thwaite said:

“We are delighted to be at the final stage of seeking approval of our plans for the Harrogate Arms.

“This project has been a long time in the making, as we wanted to create something fresh and exciting for our visitors that celebrates our rich heritage.

“We hope that our members and visitors will lend their support to our application.”

The first blast of winter has left many Harrogate district people worried about the cost of staying warm.

We have therefore compiled information about warm spaces available in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon. If you know of any others in these places or in Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham let us know and we will add them. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

The information has been provided by community groups across the district.

Netmakers, formerly known as Harrogate Hub, is a movement of local churches working together to make a difference in the community.

Its website has details of the following places in Harrogate, Starbeck and Knaresborough offering, warm and welcoming safe places to go.

Information provided by Netmakers

Further details are available here on the Netmakers website.

The community benefit society Knaresborough Connectors has also devised details of warm spaces in Knaresborough. ]

Knaresborough Connectors’ list

More details of the locations, known as public living rooms, are available here.

Numerous public buildings in and around Ripon are throwing open their doors for free in Ripon each day, including Ripon Library and Allhallowgate Methodist Church.

Ripon Cathedral has compiled details here.

Wynn James, senior pastor of Life Destiny Church in Starbeck and trustee of Harrogate District Foodbank said:

“Our doors are open. We want our community to know that we are here to help. By working together across our area we hope to offer spaces in every corner of our community.

“I urge people to use the warm spaces and not to feel alone at this tough time.”

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Links to all of the organisations providing warm spaces, along with details of voluntary organisations that are at the forefront of the campaign to help people who are struggling this winter, are available on the Harrogate & District Community Action website.

Frances Elliot, chief executive of HADCA, said:

“Please do check out where to turn in your area, through churches or through other community organisations and encourage anyone you come across who feels reluctant about speaking up to do so, this particularly hard winter”

Harrogate ice cream seller John Taylor is in line for another industry award.

Mr Taylor, whose van is parked outside Victoria Shopping Centre most days from March to September, is one of the most familiar faces in Harrogate.

Besides selling in Harrogate town centre, he takes his van to events across the district and to the streets of Harrogate, Ripon and Boroughbridge during summer.

He has now been named in the final three in the mobiler of the year category at the  Ice Cream Alliance‘s Ice Cream and Artisan Food Show, which will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate in February.

The mobiler category recognises all aspects of running an ice cream van. Last year Mr Taylor scooped the gold award at the same event for the taste of his Mr Whippy ice cream but he thinks winning the mobiler category would top that.

Although the number of vans has decreased significantly in recent decades, Mr Taylor, who runs C and M Ices, said there were still about 3,000 to 4,000 operating and he was thrilled to be recognised in the top three by his trade association:

“This is our equivalent of the Oscars or the Premier League. It is the highest accolade you can win.”

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The three finalists will go in front of a five-person judging panel.

Harrogate born and bred Mr Taylor, whose family has been selling ice cream since 1889, said 2022 had been a better year due to the warm summer and he hoped to be back outside the Victoria Shopping Centre in spring. He added:

“The weather is our kingmaker. Whatever happens to the economy, and things like covid, if the weather is not good you can’t make a living.”

Pubs in the Harrogate district are set to be invaded by a group of scruffy urchins from Knaresborough this Christmas.

Knaresborough Mummers will perform five-minute plays at pubs around Knaresborough this Saturday before moving on to other parts of the district.

Mummers plays, which date back to the 1700s, were originally performed by peasants and beggars to make money at Christmas and Easter.

Knaresborough Mummers, which was founded in 1974 and performed annually prior to covid, donates proceeds from a whip-round at the end to charities.

They will give a version of the Blue Stots play, which is a Mummers play from the Vale of York traditionally presented by agricultural workers in tattered coats and dirty faces, with trousers tied at the knees to stop rats running up them.

Leader John Burrell said the 10-strong team was anxious to get back to playing in local hostelries again after a break due to covid.

He added re-establishing their 40-year-old tours had not been easy as some pubs have closed and others have changed into restaurants, but gradually a full programme of five tours was put together. Details of venues are here.

Mr Burrell, who used to run a folk music club in Knaresborough, said the group was keen to accept new members.

He said no experience was necessary besides “a sense of humour and not minding going into a pub and acting daft”. 

Money raised from this year’s plays will go to Jennyruth Workshops, Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group, Greatt North Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Martin House hospice.

Read more:

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• £405,000 campaign to restore public access to 41 acres of the old Knaresborough Forest