Harrogate businessman Guy Tweedy has offered to pay for new trees on the Stray to replace the ones vandalised.

The Stray Ferret published a video last week showing teenagers ripping up two young trees.

They were part of a batch of 55 cherry trees paid for by Mr Tweedy to commemorate thalidomide victims, two babies and a local headteacher. They were planted six or seven years ago.

Mr Tweedy, who is also a thalidomide campaigner, has emailed Harrogate Borough Council offering to pay for replacement trees. He said:

“I wonder if whoever did this realises the significance of the trees and how upsetting it is to people.

“Sadly this is not the first time this has happened. How do we stop people from doing it? I don’t know what the answer is.”

Read more:

• Shocking video shows teens ripping up trees on Harrogate Stray
• Bentley on the Stray reignites parking debate

A Harrogate cricketer has smashed the record books by scoring an astonishing 441 for Yorkshire second XI.

Finlay Bean, 20, yesterday became the first triple centurion in Yorkshire’s second-team history in a match against Nottinghamshire.

By the time he was out today, he had compiled the highest score in Second X1 Championship history. He hit 52 fours and three sixes on the way to helping Yorkshire reach 814-7.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Bean, who plays for York Cricket Club, doesn’t currently have a contract with Yorkshire.

Second-team coach Tom Smith said:

“Finlay’s batted brilliantly.

“He’s been on the field for every single ball of the match, and it’s not just his skill that’s been impressive, it’s been his concentration levels as well.

“Personally, I’ve never seen 365 runs scored in a game before! It’s been outstanding.”

Read more:

• Harrogate rallies in search of missing dog Molly
• Ex-Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott escapes driving ban

Bean, like Knaresborough’s Jonny Tattersall, has been given a second chance at Yorkshire.

Born in Harrogate, he came through the Yorkshire age-groups and played academy and second-team cricket through to the end of 2020, also representing England under 19s.

Despite being offered an Academy contract, Bean left Headingley at the end of that season.

But, following some impressive league performances for York over the last two seasons, he has earned another shot with the county through second-team cricket in 2022.

Leisure facilities at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough have closed due to staff shortages.

The hall grounds are popular with families, offering a refreshment hut, two tennis courts, pitch and putt, a putting green and crazy golf.

But Harrogate Borough Council, which maintains the eighteenth century hall and grounds, is currently unable to staff the facilities.

A council spokesperson said:

“Unfortunately, due to staff shortages the refreshment hut at Conyngham Hall is currently closed.

“Due to this closure we are unable to provide refreshments, tennis and golf facilities.

“We are advertising for a games attendant and hope to resolve the situation as soon as we can.

“In the interim, the tennis courts will be open should anyone wish to play.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

James Monaghan at Conyngham Hall

Knaresborough resident James Monaghan, who often visits the grounds with his family, said many of the facilities had been kept open during covid and it was disappointing they weren’t available now. He added:

“But it is a good result if they are prepared to unlock the tennis courts in the meantime and it would be even better if they put the flags back on the golf course too.”

Read more:

• Secure woodland for dogs to play off-lead opens in Knaresborough
• New Dales bus service from Knaresborough and Harrogate

Golf at Conyngham Hall

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Independent funeral directors W Bowers has appointed two new funeral directors.

The firm, which was founded in 1945 by Billie and Josephine Bowers, has branches in Harrogate and Hampsthwaite.

New appointees Michael Primrose and Ella Benson are both from Harrogate.

Mr Primrose previously worked with the public in the construction sector.

Ms Benson has previous experience in the funeral industry and has also worked as a carer.

The company said in a statement:

“We are confident they will ensure the future of the company as we are committed to remain a family business bringing that personal and comforting support to all the clients we are honoured to serve.”

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy wins award

Samina Khan (centre) at the awards.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy has been recognised for its efforts providing the covid vaccine in Nidderdale.

The pharmacy has been a lifeline for people in Pateley Bridge who want to receive the vaccine but struggle to travel to other sites, such as Knaresborough and Ripon.

At the Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire Awards, the Pateley Bridge business was named team of the year.

Samina Khan, director of the pharmacy, was runner-up in the pharmacist of the year and the unsung hero categories. Ms Khan said:

“I really wanted us to win team of the year because it recognises everyone’s hard work setting up a covid clinic.”

The pharmacy is still providing covid vaccine clinics, with one scheduled today.

Members of a Harrogate choir were left devastated when they were dropped by Barry Manilow just hours before they were due to perform with him.

Love Pop Choir was all set to sing It’s A Miracle and Let Freedom Ring with the American superstar at the First Direct Arena on Saturday.

But about two hours before they were due on stage they were told they were no longer required due to a late change of schedule.

Barry came out and apologised but some singers were in tears at the news after spending four weeks rehearsing feverishly. Many of their friends and families had brought tickets especially for the occasion.

The choir members were allowed to go on stage straight after they received the news to sing their songs alone and received complimentary tickets to the show.

Lauren Elliott, who owns the choir, said:

“Everybody was devastated. They had put so much effort and work into it.

“People were really struggling to sing and in floods of tears so it wasn’t our best sound but I’m proud of everyone for being so brave and singing on that stage anyway.

“It’s a shame they never heard us beforehand because we sounded fab when we were all happy and excited. Maybe if they had they would have changed their minds.”

Ms Elliott has written to Barry’s team asking if he will make a contribution to a fundraising venture it’s doing for Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Read more:

• Could it be magic? Harrogate women to sing with Barry Manilow
• Video shows lorry crashing into Harrogate traffic light

The choir have been raising funds ahead of the British Transplant Games in Leeds next month. Saturday’s performance was due to be the climax of a 100 hours of fundraising singing.

Donations van be made here.

Tributes have been paid to celebrated Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam, who died yesterday.

Mr Neesam, who wrote some of the most authoritative books about Harrogate, died in the early hours of the morning on his 76th birthday.

He was a founder member of Harrogate Civic Society, whose chairman Stuart Holland described him as “an inspirational source of knowledge about our town”, adding.

“Always a gentleman in manner and appearance, Malcolm had an amazing way of recounting our history as a simple story.

“In his work with the civic society — originally the Harrogate Society — Malcolm was instrumental in establishing the listing of buildings in the town and establishing the first conservation area.

“He had an encyclopaedic memory of facts, people and places which made his presentations at meetings fascinating.

“As author of many books about the town, it was Wells and Swells, covering the golden age of Harrogate, 1842 to 1923,  that Malcolm will more recently be remembered for.

“Alongside his research and writing, Malcolm was the founder historian of the Harrogate brown plaque scheme, from presenting plaques on the Tewit Well and Magnesia Well in 1975 to a staggering 92 plaques around the town today.

“The Harrogate Civic Society will keep Malcolm’s name alive by continuing in his footsteps, celebrating our rich heritage and past.”

‘Chronicler of our town’

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones wrote on his Community News website that Mr Neesam made a “profound” contribution to the area. He added:

“As a historian he was the chronicler of our town, and nobody knew more.

“His knowledge had depth and breadth, and he was always so generous in helping others tapping into that well of understanding. Malcolm was also passionate about music, and again his knowledge was huge.

“He cared deeply for Harrogate, its past and its future, using his unparalleled knowledge to inform debate.

“I recall very fondly many long conversations about our area and shared musical interests. As a very near neighbour I would see him regularly, and always enjoyed doing so.

“Malcolm was a Harrogate hero. He leaves a body of work that is impressive and an area much the better for all he did. This is indeed sad news, but we should give thanks as we think about him.”

Freedom of the borough

Harrogate Borough Council awarded Mr Neesam the Freedom of the Borough in 1996 for his services as a historian.

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Malcolm had an enthusiasm and passion for the town and in 1996 was awarded the Freedom of the Borough for his services as historian of the town.

“On behalf of the borough council, I’d like to offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to Malcolm’s friends and family during this time.”

‘Forever Mr Harrogate’

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association and a friend of Mr Neesam, said:

“We will all be the poorer for the loss of Malcolm, ‘Mr Harrogate’, as he has been called. A true Harrogatonian who had a wealth of knowledge about our beautiful town and its history.

“He had a deep and abiding passion for this town and Malcolm knew more about our wonderful Stray, its origins and history, than anyone else. We will miss his knowledge and wisdom immensely.

“He will never be forgotten but be forever Mr Harrogate.”

The Harrogate district’s visitor economy has yet to recover to pre-covid levels last year, according to figures released yesterday.

The figures show the district attracted 6.47 million visitor numbers, generating an impact of £606 million, in 2019.

In 2020 — when covid struck — visitor numbers crashed to 2.81 million, generating an impact of £279 million, which was a 54 per cent decrease.

Last year, which began with another lockdown but gradually saw the economy open up again, there were more than four million visitor numbers, with an estimated economic impact of £457million, according to the data from Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body Destination Harrogate.

Destination Harrogate calculated the figures using data that measures the economic impact of visits to the district and hotel performance.

Gemma Rio

Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, said the figures painted “a positive picture for the recovery of the visitor economy in the Harrogate district”, adding:

“Our destination management plan targets a full recovery of the visitor economy by 2023 and an increase in its value to £836.7 million by 2030.

“With some exciting events and marketing campaigns planned, together with a continued appetite for collaboration across the district, I’m confident that we will continue to see these figures move in the right direction for the rest of 2022 and beyond.”

Data from 2019 shows that on average an overnight visitor stayed 3.3 days and generated £316 for the local economy. In 2021, this rose to 3.5 days and £344.

Read more:

• Harrogate tourism body makes health and wellbeing top priority
• Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam dies

According to Destination Harrogate, the 2022 peak season has got off to a “healthy start”, with figures indicating that in March, April and May, hotels were largely fuller and seeing a greater level of revenue per available room than they were in 2019.

Cllr Stanley Lumley

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:

“This is a really positive start to Harrogate’s visitor economy, ahead of the summer season.”

The Crown Hotel

Dan Siddle, general manager of Harrogate’s Crown Hotel and chair of Harrogate Hotel & Tourism Association, said:

“After such a tough period for the hospitality industry, it is wonderful to be enjoying some positivity with increasing occupancy levels across the hotels in Harrogate, and we welcome the work of Destination Harrogate to support this.

“Whilst not yet out of the woods, with challenges still in recruitment and staffing, we look forward to a busy summer season and welcoming visitors new and old to our hotels.”

Harrogate Borough Council is pushing ahead with proposals to build a new plant nursery as a replacement for its Harlow Hill site, which will become new housing.

However, the council has refused to reveal its preferred location for the new nursery.

Around 60 homes are set to be built at the existing site, which was allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 two years ago, although a planning application has yet to be submitted.

The plans have previously been met with anger from residents who objected to the closure of the Harlow Hill nursery where thousands of plants are grown each year for the district’s award-winning gardens.

In March, the Stray Ferret revealed two proposals for the site.

£50,000 consultants’ fee

Councillor Sam Gibbs, the council’s new cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, has this week signed off £50,000 for “in-depth professional advice,” site surveys and other works to progress the replacement nursery plans.

A council spokesperson said these proposals are in the early stages and that it wanted to see whether the unnamed preferred site is “viable”.

The spokesperson said:

“To ensure we can continue to deliver and develop the award winning floral displays for which the Harrogate district is well known for and attracts thousands of visitors every year, alternative locations are now being explored.

“Following a successful bid for funding, the council has commissioned consultants to look at master planning and delivery options for the site with a focus on achieving innovative, quality design.

“The development will not be progressed in advance of certainty regarding the relocation of the nursery.”

Read more:

• Harlow Hill and Pannal Ash residents bracing themselves for ’15 years of disruption’
• Plans for housing at Harlow Nurseries emerge

The spokesperson also said the housing plans will include “a range of private and affordable homes”.

The council previously spent another £50,000 on a “professional site appraisal” for the new nursery plans after holding a consultation on the future of the Harlow Hill site

One resident responded to the survey to say:

“I hope this nursery is not going to close. Don’t ruin anything with more houses please.”

Another said:

“It would be a very, very sad day if the site was sold off for housing.”

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove was the main speaker at today’s opening day of the Local Government Association annual conference in Harrogate.

The three-day gathering, which is the biggest event on the local government calendar, has brought about 1,500 delegates to Harrogate.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Lisa Nandy, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Levelling Up, are among tomorrow’s listed speakers.

Michael Gove, waiting to go on stage.

Mr Gove used the occasion to announce the government will move to two-year funding settlements for local authorities and will create an Office for Local Government, which will scrutinise councils’ performance.

But the event, which will see break-out events take place at some hotels, is also an opportunity to showcase Harrogate.

Shortly before Mr Gove’s speech, Cllr Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader, took to the stage for a five-minute plenary speech in which he implored delegates to “take the opportunity to see why Harrogate is such a great place to live, work and keep visiting”.

Cllr Graham Swift promotes the Harrogate district.

Cllr Swift added:

“We want your visit to Harrogate to be extraordinary. We hope you’ll join us by enjoying the god given joys of our town.”

Mr Gove took the time afterwards to meet Cllr Victoria Oldham, the Harrogate borough’s last mayor.

Michael Gove and Cllr Victoria Oldham, the Harrogate borough mayor.

The packed programme of events includes a 45-minute walking tour of Harrogate at 11.30am tomorrow led by members of Destination Harrogate, which is the council’s tourism organisation.

The Old Swan hotel will host a chief executives’ drinks reception tomorrow night while the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic will host dinners for the Labour and Liberal Democrats.

Tomorrow will also see Harrogate’s Royal Host the LGA LGBTQ+ disco.

Tonight, the Crown Hotel will host an event on local authority enterprises.

Delegates arriving today.

LGA chairman, Cllr James Jamieson told delegates today:

“What a pleasure it is to join together – in person – in such a beautiful, historic town. That has been voted a number of times “the happiest place to live in Britain”, and am sure this will rub off on us over the next few days.”

Read more:

• Big names in UK politics coming to Harrogate for conference
• Harrogate district MPs divided over Northern Ireland Protocol

Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam, who wrote some of the most loved and popular books about the town, has died.

Mr Neesam, whose most recent book Wells and Swells: The Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa 1842-1923, was published in April, had been ill with cancer for a long time.

He died in the early hours of this morning, on his 76th birthday.

Mr Neesam was born in a nursing home on Ripon Road in Harrogate and grew up in the town.

He spent most of his working life as a librarian and archivist but writing and Harrogate were his enduring passions.

He was commissioned in 1973 to write a guide to children’s science fiction called Into Space, which proved to be the start of his writing career.

His most important works were Harrogate Great Chronicle 1332-1841 and Wells and Swells, which took up the town’s story after 1841, but he wrote numerous other books about the town and some of its most famous businesses.

Mr Neesam, who did not marry, has bequeathed his enormous collection of papers, which he stored in a room at his home, to the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate.

We will be publishing an obituary about Mr Neesam as well as an article containing tributes.

Read more:

• Harrogate Club honours local historian Malcolm Neesam
• Malcolm Neesam History: The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade, Valley Gardens