Masham is the small town in the Harrogate district with a big reputation for beauty and beer.

Set in sumptuous Wensleydale, it is home to two major breweries — Theakston and Black Sheep.

The breweries, which boost the town’s economy and provide jobs, have been around so long it’s hard to imagine Masham without them. But the future at Black Sheep looked far from rosy a few years ago.

The company, which was founded by Paul Theakston in 1991 when he became the black sheep of the family by setting up a rival to the brewery created by his family in 1827, was running at a loss.

The chairman asked Charlene Lyons, who had set up her own consultancy at the age of 29 in 2007, if she would consider becoming chief executive.

Ms Lyons knew what she was getting into: her consultancy had been brought in to help Black Sheep in 2016 and she had joined the board in 2018. She says:

“It was a business that had not had much external objectivity. It had been making a loss for four or five years.”

Charlene Lyons

For Newcastle-born Ms Lyons, it was an appealing new challenge.

The daughter of a market trader, she grew up fiercely determined to be a successful businesswoman. She cut her teeth as a fashion buyer for Marks & Spencer in London and her career was flying but her dad’s sudden death when she was just 23 had a profound effect.

Gradually her mindset changed and by the time the top job at Black Sheep became available the prospect of working in the Dales appealed more than corporate city life.

Ms Lyons, who sleeps for just three or four hours a night, now enjoys the scenic commute to work from Leeds at 5.45am. She says:

“It’s the most beautiful drive to an incredible part of the world, for a business that is deep rooted in the most amazing heritage and culture.”

Future planning

There was plenty to occupy her mind on those early morning drives when she started the job. Weeks after becoming chief executive, covid struck.

Black Sheep was quick to respond, staging regular coronavirus planning meetings from January 2020, when much of the world was laughing it off.

As the situation worsened, the company instigated a raft of measures, such as improving its online shop, securing third party packaging to reduce its reliance on one supplier and alerting supermarkets to the availability of its products. Online sales increased from about £100,000 to £800,000 during the first covid year.

Black Sheep also offered a ‘brew to you’ delivery service, which involved delivering beer to the end of people’s drives and provided a local food delivery service in Masham. A future strategy team was set up to plan for life after covid. Ms Lyons said:

“So many businesses didn’t have the bandwidth to think about the future during covid.”

Ms Lyons’ bold and forward thinking approach helped the company recover at a time when covid had a devastating impact on the hospitality trade. Besides furlough, Black Sheep received no business rate freeze or grants despite the catastrophic impact of pub closures.

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• Continuing the best-known name in the Harrogate district

The latest annual accounts, for the financial year ending March 31, 2021, revealed the company made a profit of £1m but an operating loss of £1.1m due to exceptional items, such as redundancy payments.

Considering the circumstances, this was an impressive set of results. The accounts also reveal how much covid changed the business model. They state: “Our off trade business grew its turnover from £6,864,988 to £9,547,261, our on trade turnover was decimated, reducing from £9,838,810 to £2,245,457.”

The current strategy focuses on providing a direct route to market, rather than relying on third parties, and ‘owning Yorkshire’, which means getting its products in every pub, bar and other retail outlet selling beer in the county.

The brewery in Masham.

Black Sheep exports to 12 countries but overseas trade is a very small part of its business.

Its fresh approach to marketing is epitomised in its recent drink cask beer campaign, featuring comedian Maisie Adam, which aims to break down what Ms Lyons calls the “ridiculous stereotype” that only men aged over 55 drink cask beer.

Ms Lyons is rather tired of another cliché: that being a female chief executive in the world of beer is frowned upon.

“It’s not been an issue at all. The perception is more in the eye of the beholder. People always ask ‘what’s it like to be a CEO in a make dominated brewery?’ But in my experience everybody is taken at face value. It doesn’t occupy even a tiny bit of my thinking.”

Outside work she enjoys travel, food and wine. Being the mother of three sporty children, she also spends a lot of time driving them around.

Masham may seem a long way from corporate life but managing a team of 146 staff in such difficult time is no easy task, particularly when you throw in challenges like the cost of living crisis and rampant inflation.

But Ms Lyons looks back on the last two-and-a-half years at the helm with satisfaction.

“We’ve done an exceptional job. Many businesses have just folded.

“Hospitality has been one of the most affected sectors and we had no government support except furlough.

“You have two choices with challenges: slump your shoulders and let things overtake you or rally the troops and do something about it.”

More than 50 vintage and modern tractors are set to take to the streets of Nidderdale tomorrow.

The first Nidderdale Charity Tractor Road Run will start in Kirkby Malzeard at 10.30am and wind its way towards Middleham before heading back.

Masham, Grewelthorpe and Jerveulx will be among the places passed.

Ryan Atkinson, who is managing director of R&J Yorkshire’s Finest Farmers & Butchers in Kirkby Malzeard, is co-organising the event with Simon Dickinson.

The two men are both members of West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.

Mr Atkinson said:

“Both of us have a love of vintage tractors. We just wanted to put on an event and raise money for charity.”

About 50 tractors have signed up so far. Entries are welcome on the day for a cost of £15, of which £10 goes to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

People will gather for breakfast at R&J butchers from 8.30am before departing at 10.30am.

Families are welcome to watch the tractors set off and cheer them on around the route.

Tomorrow’s route

The 40-mile parade on public and private roads will take place over two legs, which are expected to last two hours each, with a stop at Brymor Ice Cream at Jervaulx in between.

R&J Butchers is providing hot dogs and drinks at the finish back in Kirkby Malzeard at about 4pm.

Read more:

• Record turnout for return of Knaresborough farmers’ tractor run
• Bid to convert Kirkby Malzeard pub rejected

A charity worker from Harrogate has set herself 20 fundraising challenges to mark her upcoming 20th anniversary with children’s hospice Martin House.

Mary Newbegin will have been employed in the care team at Martin House for two decades on August 1.

She has been busy this month and last ticking off the challenges, which have so far generated almost £2,000 for the organisation.

They range from completing 20 aerial yoga poses to walking The Ullswater Way to learning to crochet and paddle board.

One of the challenges, organising a yoga fundraising event, will take place at 10am tomorrow on the Stray, next to Oatlands Drive.

Learning the aerial yoga poses.

Ms Newbegin, who plans to retire next year, said:

“The idea evolved as I have in the past taken part in several fundraising events for Martin House.

“These have mostly been running, including the Great North run, which I’ve done about 12 times and on occasions three-legged, and the York Marathon.

“My knees no longer thank me for running so I was trying to think of something more creative as I really wanted to do something before I retire.

“I am excited about all my challenges but most anxious about those with heights involved as I’m not so good with heights.”

You can donate to the cause here.

Abseiling in Ilkley

Harrogate Town‘s pre-season gets underway tonight with what could be one of the largest crowds all year at the EnviroVent Stadium.

Sheffield Wednesday have sold all 600 away tickets for the match, which kicks off at 7pm.

Harrogate have sold 1,200 so far, meaning a 2,000-plus crowd is on the cards for what is the pick of Town’s pre-season friendlies.

Wednesday have won the league four times and the FA Cup on three occasions but have hit on hard times since falling out of the Premier League in 2000.

They are currently in League One of the English Football League, one ahead of Harrogate, but retain a large away following.

The Owls will provide a stern test in the heat for Simon Weaver’s new-look side.

Weaver said:

“Sheffield Wednesday will be a huge test. They were right up there in the league last season and almost got promoted via the playoffs. It’ll be good to welcome them, who are a huge club with rich history. It should be a good occasion.

“Everyone has been without football for a little while now so I’m sure the appetite is there and it’ll be a nice evening for a good game of football.”

Weaver added the squad had worked hard in pre-season training and “fitness levels are really high right now”.

The Suphurites have brought in eight players after fading badly last season following a strong start.

Read more:

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Academy player George Horbury has also been offered professional terms. Weaver said:

“The new players have settled in quite easily and have had a good laugh between themselves.

“They’re all becoming friends straight away which is great and what we need after making quite a few new signings.”

Tickets for tonight’s match are available here,

A sensory garden created purposefully for visually impaired people in Harrogate was officially opened today.

Spenceley Gardens on Station Parade in Harrogate was refurbished in a joint initiative between Harrogate Borough Council, RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Vision Support Harrogate District.

The gardens, which were originally created in 1973 after the land was gifted to the council by Alderman George Spenceley, has been planted with grasses and herbs to create a sensory area. Braille plaques have been installed to help visually impaired people identify the various plants.

Harrogate borough mayor, Councillor Victoria Oldham and deputy lord-lieutenant Simon Mackness opened the site today.

Councillor Sam Gibbs, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“I’m delighted to see Spenceley Gardens has been given a new lease of life. The Harrogate district is internationally recognised for its horticultural offering and this sensory garden perfectly complements that.”

The new garden was designed by Phil Keesing and planted by a team of horticulturists from RHS Harlow Carr with the support of students, following funding from local resident Patricia Swallow.

A new sign for the garden has also been designed and provided by Vision Support Harrogate.

Herbs in the garden include sage, rosemary, thyme and southernwood.

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Paul Cook, curator at RHS Garden Harlow Carr said:

“A key part of the RHS vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants and so we wanted to create a garden full of flowers, herbs and grasses that heighten the senses of smell, touch and sound to ensure the garden is a truly immersive experience for visually impaired people to enjoy.

Who was George Spenceley?

Nick, Julian and Adrian Spenceley, grandchildren of George Spenceley, said in a statement:

“Our grandfather, George Albert Spenceley is fondly remembered by all of us.

“His abiding loves were music and gardens and helped establish the Harrogate cultural scene after the war, inviting Sir John Barbirolli and the Halle Orchestra up to perform in the town.

“Setting up the sensory garden was typical of the warm-hearted, generous grandad we knew. He was to pass away just two years after the garden was established, so this was the last public act he performed.

“He would be delighted to see that they have now got a new lease of life.”

Police are searching for a Harrogate man accused of animal cruelty charges.

A court issued a warrant for the arrest of Charlie Nelson after he failed to turn up to face an animal welfare case.

Nelson, 28, is believed to be in the Harrogate area.

A North Yorkshire Police statement today said:

“Police are searching a number of locations in the area and are appealing for information from the public.”

The force urged anyone with information to dial 101, select option 1 and quote reference number 12210262539.

Alternatively, you can pass on information anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.

A Harrogate district woman has been found guilty of harassing her neighbours for almost a year.

Summer Sugar, 50, was found guilty of harassment by anti-social behaviour, including consistent noise nuisance, intense loud banging on walls for prolonged periods and playing loud music.

Sugar, of Masham, was also guilty of taking photos of her neighbours while they did work on their house and were in the garden, as well as making malicious complaints to Yorkshire Water about them blocking her drain, which turned out to be false.

The prosecution said the behaviour, which lasted from September 15, 2019 until August 25, 2020, caused the family next door “a severe amount of distress”.

Sugar was found guilty at North Yorkshire Magistrates Court, sitting in York, on Tuesday.

She was remanded on unconditional bail until July 26 when she will appear before York magistrates again.

Read more:

• Woman charged with attempted murder in Harrogate
• Concerns raised over ‘success’ of rural bus pilot scheme in Ripon and Masham

A sinkhole appeared this morning outside Harrogate Convention Centre on King’s Road.

Police and highways staff from North Yorkshire County Council have been on site ensuring vehicles and bikes can pass safely.

But the hole, which is about 50cm wide and a metre deep, is causing some delays in the area.

Traffic turning left at the end of Ripon Ripon is particularly affected.

The hole is in the right hand lane of King’s Road heading out of town so traffic is able to pass in the inside lane.

The hole could take a few days to repair.

The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire County Council for further details.

There were delays on the same stretch of road last week when a lorry broke down.

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A family firm formed in Harrogate 20 years ago, which now employs 45 staff, has been sold to a large international company.

Keith Swales founded civil engineering business S&B Utilities in 2002. Based at Kestia House in Lingerfield, near Scotton.

The firm has been acquired by Hargreaves Industrial Services, which is a subsidiary of international land, property and infrastructure development company Hargreaves Services.

The sum has not been disclosed.

Managing director Mr Swales, who is 77, and finance director Karen Cocker will exit the business. All other staff will be retained.

Kestia House

S&B Utilities, which constructs water projects and other civil engineering schemes, is a framework contractor with Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. It also works on military bases.

Locally, its projects have included undertaking structural concrete work for the Esplanade tower block in Harrogate and for the Tower Street car park.

Mr Swales, a civil engineer who worked for Yorkshire Water before setting up the company, said negotiations had taken eight months to complete. He added:

“We’ve been a family orientated business from day one and we believe the move to Hargreaves will enhance that.”

He thanked past and present employees for their help over the last 20 years.

Darren Swales, Will Griffin and Lee Swales will continue as directors of S&B Utilities and will be joined on the board by Sean Hager and John Samuel, who are directors of Hargreaves Industrial Services.

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Schools inspector Ofsted has praised Outwood Academy Ripon following a recent two-day visit.

Inspectors said pupils “know that learning is important and apply themselves diligently to their work” and were “supported by caring staff who know them well”.

Staff, they said, had “high expectations for pupils’ behaviour” and ensured a “calm environment as pupils move between lessons”.

Leaders, they added, operated an “ambitious curriculum”.

However, the 717-pupil school’s ‘outstanding’ rating, achieved at its last full inspection in 2016, is under threat.

Schools judged outstanding do not receive graded verdicts on their next inspection but if evidence of a change of grade is detected, as in this instance, a full inspection will usually follow within one or two years.

Ofsted said it planned to return because “the evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might not be as high if a full inspection were carried out now”.

Effective safeguarding

The report highlighted the range of extra-curricular clubs available, which include photography, music and Lego.

Safeguarding arrangement were described as “effective”. It said:

“Staff report their concerns swiftly and leaders take prompt action to ensure that pupils are kept safe.

“Leaders make timely referrals and draw on the expertise of wider safeguarding partners.

“Pupils are taught to understand the risks they may encounter and what they should do if they have any concerns.”

The report added the “great majority of pupils respect the school rules” but “a few
pupils do not consistently meet the high expectations set by leaders. Some parents are concerned by this”.

It praised teachers’ “strong subject knowledge” and passion for their their subjects.

Leaders, the report added, were “ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)”.

Read more:

• Ofsted praise for Harrogate school that ‘turns around’ teenagers’ lives
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But it said the support some pupils with SEND received was “variable” and some parents of pupils with SEND “are concerned about how well their child is doing”.

Bullying concerns

The report, based on a two-day assessment in May, also highlighted concerns about behaviour and bullying. It said:

“Some pupils hear derogatory language used by other pupils at school. Some pupils lack confidence that staff would take appropriate action if they raised a concern.

“Some staff and parents voiced similar concerns regarding the behaviour of a minority of pupils.

“Leaders recognise that there is work to do to ensure that all pupils demonstrate consistently high standards of behaviour, especially after the prolonged period of disruption to staffing caused by covid.

“Leaders have worked hard to support those who do not behave well. Although leaders have ensured that suspensions are now reducing, the number of internal exclusions remains too high.”

Will Pratt, principal of the school, said:

“I would like to thank our students for their commitment and engagement to our school not only during the inspection, but also over the challenging few years of disruption that they have faced.

“We would also like to thank parents and carers for your continued support. We would like to thank our staff who give such exceptional service to our school and thank our governing body for their challenge and support.

“We look forward to working together with you all in our pursuit of delivering an exceptionally high quality of education for our children.”