A Conservative peer from Harrogate has criticised the government’s Rwanda bill for creating a “legal fiction” that would “diminish our international reputation”,

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill aims to override international law by saying Rwanda is a safe country where illegal migrants can be sent to have their asylum and human rights claims assessed.

Local Conservative MPs Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, have both voted to support the Bill.

But Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate spoke out against it during a debate in the House of Lords on Monday.

He said:

“The Bill, as it stands, risks entangling us in a complex web of ethical and legal dilemmas that could diminish our international reputation, betray our duty to the genuine asylum seekers, undermine the rule of law and place our courts in an exceedingly difficult position. It risks creating a legislative or legal fiction.

“Let us be clear: the European Court of Human Rights is not a foreign court; it is a shared court.

“The UK was instrumental in its establishment and has significantly contributed to its jurisprudence. A British judge sits on the court and British lawyers are involved in its administration.”

The lawyer, who as Timothy Kirkhope served as an MP for Yorkshire and the Humber and an MEP for Leeds North East, added the bill “would place the UK in direct violation of its treaty obligations”, adding:

“How can the UK continue to be a global advocate for the rule of law—as many others have said—and honouring international commitments if this happens?”

“I am not alone in being perplexed by the inconsistencies that this policy and this Bill will introduce.”

Read more:

• MPs Watch: Rwanda bill, Post Office scandal and rough sleeping in Harrogate
• Andrew Jones MP hits back after Lib Dem rival Tom Gordon attacks schools funding

Lord Kirkhope said the government had many tools to deal with the issue and “we simply need to know which tools to use and how to deploy them better”.

He went on to praise the government for reducing the number of small boat crossings by 36% compared to 2022 and said the number of staff working on asylum cases had “increased significantly, and 112,000 asylum cases were processed in 2023, the most in any year since 2002”.

Last year’s deal with France had “greatly enhanced co-operation”, he said, adding.

“All these tools—and a number of others—have been, and will continue to be, more effective in stopping the boats than these Rwanda proposals. The government should focus on these instead, and I believe the country would be grateful.

“My remarks today stem from a deep sense of regret and disappointment in witnessing how we have become embroiled in what can be described only as an unhealthy obsession with Rwanda.

“This fixation appears to be an attempt to satisfy certain factions and individuals, who seem to possess neither the depth of understanding nor the nuanced appreciation of the complexities involved in asylum and immigration matters.

“For them, nothing will be enough.”

This article is sponsored by Holident Dental Hospital

Holident’s Dr Tonguç Kavasoğlu will be in Harrogate on the weekend of Saturday, February 3, and Sunday, February 4, to offer free advice to anyone considering treatment overseas – from extractions and cosmetic work to surgery including full implants, crowns and veneers.

Appointments to meet Dr Tonguç can be arranged in advance by emailing info@holident.com, via Facebook Messenger or by sending a WhatsApp message to (0090) 5426 148 703. Any advance bookings made during Dr Tonguç’s visit to Harrogate will qualify for a 10% discount.

All-on-4 treatment is one of the most intricate and modern procedures available and offers patients a lifelong dental solution, improving confidence in both their smile and in what they can eat. However, the long-term success of the procedure can rely on the expertise of the professional.

Michael Heath, Before and After his treatment with Holident

Michael Heath made the journey to Holident in Fethiye and was delighted to share his experience:

Why did you choose Holident?

“A friend was a pateint quite a few years ago and gave a personal recommendation but I also did some research online and all the reviews I read on Holident were positive. The cost was reasonable and travelling isn’t something that bothers me so I made an appointment for a consultation and took it from there.”

When you first arrived, how did it make you feel?

“My first impression was how smart and hygienic the hospital was – even in the lobby. I was made to feel welcome and everything was explained to me thoroughly in advance. The treatment rooms and equipment were all spotless and looked new. It really did feel like I had the best of everything.”

How long did it take? How was the treatment procedure?

“I’d chosen to have extensive reconstruction work down on both my upper and lower jaw so I visited Holident a few times within a year. However, it was well worth it and the attention to detail was amazing. My new teeth were shaped to look authentic and I was even advised against choosing anything too dazzling as it wouldn’t look natural.”

How do you feel with your new teeth?

“It’s been great. I feel a lot more confident and my family and friends have commented on how much better I look. Personally, I was satisfied with the time taken for extensive treatment but also with the payment terms which were flexible and therefore even more affordable.”

If you would like to follow in Michael’s footsteps or know more about treatment available at Holident why not make that appointment to see Dr Tonguç? It’s worth every mile for your best smile!

Please be aware meetings in Harrogate won’t include clinical examinations. The aim is to offer potential patients sound advice on affordable dental care with Holident.

More information about the Holident Dental Hospital and the expert team can be found at www.holident.com.

This story is sponsored by Lovett Care.

A stunning new purpose-built care home is set to open on Wetherby Road in Harrogate this month. Fairfax Manor will provide high-quality residential, dementia and respite care, 24 hours a day.

The new home, from award-winning care provider Lovett Care, also has an enviable range of truly exceptional facilities, including a café, bistro, library, orangery, beauty salon, private dining room and bar – placing it in the top rank of care homes in the region. The home has 90 fully-furnished en suite rooms with outdoor space provided by balconies, patio areas and landscaped gardens for all to enjoy. 

One of the lounges at Fairfax Manor.

The home have recruited an activities team who will promote a healthy lifestyle and positive wellbeing all year round. Their holistic approach to care and support will ensure the team provides a full and varied activities programme that meets the needs of everyone who lives in the home. The dedicated team will arrange daily supported sessions and activities to ensure everyone benefits from life at Fairfax Manor.

Lovett Care also employs two people to lead activities seven days a week, including morning exercises, an art club, trips out in the minibus, and a lot more – all tailored to the residents’ needs.

General Manager Gillian Allatt said: 

“We know the key to a successful home is down to the individuals who work there.

“We have recruited an exceptional team who have been selected for their individual qualities but most importantly their dedication to wanting to make a difference. I truly have a team who cares.

“I am looking forward to welcoming our new residents to Fairfax Manor as that is when it truly becomes a home. The unrivalled facilities have all been thoughtfully designed and will offer an exceptionally high standard of living yet with a homely feel. My team will be on hand 24 hours a day to provide the very best care and support, enabling our residents to enjoy their next chapter.”

The landscaped gardens will have plenty of beautiful seating areas.

Lovett Care already operates nine homes across the North West and north Wales, supporting more than 500 residents. Fairfax Manor will be its first east of the Pennines. 

The company employs more than 700 people, and a further 100 or more will be employed in the new Harrogate care home, which is located within a mile of the town centre. The home will be a welcome addition to the local area with the growing demand for elderly care and support. 

You can find more details about Lovett Care on the company website, lovettcare.co.uk. 

To register your interest in one of the fabulous rooms at Fairfax Manor, contact us here.

Councillors today voted to recommend awarding a civic honour to Harrogate-born England footballer Rachel Daly.

Rachel’s first club — Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — launched a petition this year in conjunction with the Stray Ferret calling on North Yorkshire Council to officially recognise their former player.

The council has done nothing to mark Rachel’s achievements, which include winning Euro 2022, playing in the World Cup final and winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award this year.

The petition received more than the required 500 signatures to make it eligible for debate at the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, which met today.

The petition was introduced by John Plummer, the editor of the Stray Ferret, who said:

“It’s difficult to think of anyone in North Yorkshire who has achieved more in recent years or done more to put Harrogate on the map.

“It is time for the council to wake up and realise Rachel Daly is a local superstar who should be celebrated — and honour our home-grown Lioness.”

Mr Plummer said it was “inconceivable that the council would not be falling over backwards to honour, say, Harry Kane if he was from Harrogate”, and it would “raise uncomfortable questions about the council, whose ruling executive is 80% male” if it denied recognition for Rachel, particularly as councillors had set a precedent by renaming Ripon leisure centre after Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher, who grew up in the city.

Rachel Daly on the pitch named after her at Killinghall Moor Community Park.

The petition suggested renaming Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre but Mr Plummer said the council was welcome to come up with an alternative “but it has to be meaningful and on a scale befitting her accomplishments”.

Cllr Michael Schofield, an Independent who represents Harlow and St George’s, said he had spoken to Rachel, who used to visit the Shepherd’s Dog pub he runs, and she had indicated that although she appreciated the support she didn’t feel naming the leisure centre after her was appropriate.

Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said he felt others, including Harrogate’s Paralympic powerlifter Charlotte McGuinness, had an equal right to be recognised.

The council currently has nothing in place for bestowing civic honours.

The 13-person Liberal Democrat-controlled committee voted in favour of recommending the council “develops a civic honours-type scheme for the council and that Rachel Daly’s achievements are recognised through the new scheme”.

Cllr Peter Lacey, a Liberal Democrat who represents Coppice Valley and Duchy, said he hoped the matter could be dealt with swiftly.

Area constituency committees are advisory bodies to the council. It is now up to the council’s Conservative-controlled executive to decide whether to act on its recommendations.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ranked 10th best player in world
• Football pitch in Killinghall named after local Lioness Rachel Daly

A scheme to help prevent slips, trips and falls among older people is coming to Darley this month. 

One of the most common causes of falls are loose, worn or backless slippers. North Yorkshire Council’s slipper socials aim to tackle the issue by handing out free pairs of rubber-soled slippers through the library service.  

The slippers are wide fitting to make it easier for people with restricted mobility to get them on and off. They have a Velcro fastener, so will not slip off. 

Read more

• Chief medical officer Chris Whitty learns about ageing in Darley and Harrogate
• Old Birstwith telephone box transformed into children’s library

On Thursday, November 30, the library service will join community group Nidderdale Plus to take slippers to Darley Methodist Church as part of a celebration of the International Day of Older Persons.

The event, which runs from 10am to noon, will also feature a “coffee and connect” session to help people get online. Representatives will be available from North Yorkshire Police, IDAS, Home Instead, the public health team, Carers’ Resource, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Sport. 

Cllr Simon Myers, executive member for libraries at the council, said:

“Slipper socials are another fantastic initiative that sees libraries at the heart of their communities helping people to take care of their health and wellbeing, which helps to reduce pressure on health and emergency services.” 

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

Masham-based brewer T&R Theakston is to make its Old Peculier ale available in the United States for the first time in ten years. 

The ale has a strong following in the US after first being shipped there in 1976, and at one point was the third most imported British beer, with around 40 pallets exported every month. But the company stopped shipping to the States in 2013 due to the massive growth of foreign imported beers and the domestic craft scene.

Simon Theakston, joint managing director of T&R Theakston, said:

“With the market now settling down and the tried-and-tested imported beer brands coming once again to the fore, now is exactly the right time to return to a much admired and very enthusiastic consumer market once again.”  

Believed to have been first brewed in the early 19th century, Theakston Old Peculier is the most recognisable brand of the family-run company which has been brewing in Masham for almost 200 years.

The brewery is working with New York importer and wholesaler Iron Horse Beverages to reintroduce Old Peculier to the US market with a view to expanding its footprint in the coming years. Exports are to restart this month when the first consignment of kegs, 440ml cans and bottles arrive in New York State to be distributed throughout the Eastern Seaboard. 

Mr Theakston added:

“We are looking forward to reconnecting with loyal Old Peculier fans throughout the US, whilst introducing our rich brewing heritage to a new audience of ale lovers.”

New finance director at Northern 

Train operator Northern has appointed Richard Hinds as its finance director. 

A former CFO of global tech distributor Exertis, Mr Hinds has also held senior roles with Flogas Britain Plc and Speedy Hire Plc. In his new role, he will oversee a broad range of corporate services. 

Northern, the UK’s second largest train operator, runs Harrogate and Knaresborough stations and provides local passenger train services. 

Mr Hinds said:

“I’m looking forward to working with the team at Northern and contributing to our vision to make a positive impact for the North, getting our customers where they need to be, safely, affordably and on time.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Estate agent’s award win puts firm in top 3%
• Business Breakfast: LNER orders cleaner new trains
• Business Breakfast: Growth Hub hires Harrogate district business advisers

A charity that supports visually impaired people across the Harrogate district has received the highest honour for voluntary groups in the UK.  

Vision Support Harrogate District has been given the King’s Award for Voluntary Services, the equivalent of an MBE that recognises the country’s most inspiring volunteer-led groups.  

Tanya Stimpson, the charity’s director of services, said everyone was “delighted and overwhelmed” to receive the award. 

She said:

“Such a prestigious award recognises the dedication of our charity’s volunteers and the positive impact they have on our community. Some have been with us for 20, 30 and even 40 years. They give so freely their skills and experience, time, friendship and support; without them our charity would not exist.”

Vision Support Harrogate District offers practical services as well as emotional support, friendship and kindness to help visually impaired people live a full and independent life.  

Among its long-serving volunteers is Ann Routledge, 85, who described the King’s Award as “wonderful news”. 

She said:

“It just means everything to us. We are the only charity in the district for visually impaired people and this award is about recognising how much work we do.” 

Volunteer Jerry, third from left, with his bowling group members

Ripon volunteer John with retired volunteers Doreen, right, and Joan.

Vision Support Harrogate District helps people develop new skills and take part in a range of social and wellbeing activities, both at a drop-in centre in Harrogate as well as satellite meetings in Ripon and Pateley Bridge. It also offers a helpline, telephone befriending service and home visits. 

Helen McGrath joined as a member when she lost her sight suddenly nine years ago at the age of 42. She now volunteers for the charity, using her experience to help others. She said:

“I’d be lost without this place. What they have done for me is immeasurable.

“It’s very hard to be told you’re losing your sight; you can feel like your life has come to an end. But coming here made me feel like my life had restarted on a much more positive path.” 

Val Pilkington, 75, worked at the charity before becoming a full-time volunteer along with her husband Steven when she retired around ten years ago. She said:

“Support is the big word; the members and the volunteers all support each other. It’s just like a family, everybody pulls together and it’s very rewarding indeed.” 

Read more

• Ripon Vision Support receives £7,000 boost from mayor’s charity appeal
• 36 community groups in Harrogate district awarded £92,000

Tanya added:

“Throughout Vision Support Harrogate District’s 102 years of service, volunteers have led the charity and provide lifelong educational, social and wellbeing services and activities to those in our community who have sight loss. We will display this award with pride, remembering devoted volunteers past and present.” 

Sculptures made by members of Vision Support Harrogate District will form part of an art exhibition at St Peter’s Church from November 21 to 26.

Two Harrogate community organisations have received £3,000 in funding after winning a photography competition showcasing their work.

Artizan International won the Our People category and the 1st Pannal Scout Group the Our Place category of the amateur photography competition, which was run by the Two Ridings Community Foundation in conjunction with North Yorkshire’s High Sheriff Clare Granger.

Artizan International’s Harrogate cafe supports adults with learning disabilities by providing real-life working experience, a sense of confidence and self-esteem.

Liz Cluderay from Artizan said:

“We were delighted to win first place and the funding is very well timed as we need to replace key pieces of equipment such as a dishwasher and under counter fridges and freezer.”

The 1st Pannal Scout Group is planning to use their prize money to gain match funding for the refurbishment of the Scout Hall, which is used by their 80 children and young people as well as the whole community.

A number of other Harrogate groups were also highly commended in the competition and will receive a small amount of funding. They are Dancing for Wellbeing which runs ‘Keep Dancing’ sessions at Oatlands Community Centre, Harrogate Clothes Bank, New Beginnings Peer Support, and Open Country, which helps disabled people access and enjoy the countryside.

The Artizan Cafe in Harrogate

Two Ridings helps individuals and businesses across North and East Yorkshire to invest in and support small local charities and community groups by turning their donations into funding.

The winners of the competition were announced at a Photography Exhibition & Showcase in the ballroom of Allerton Castle. The event gave local business leaders, friends and supporters of Two Ridings the opportunity to view the impact of community organisations through 16 photographs, and to hear the stories behind the images.

Read more

• 23 Harrogate district community groups awarded £55,000
• Council to bid for government funding to progress Harrogate social housing schemes

Two Ridings chief executive Celia McKeon praised Two Ridings’ donors and supporters for enabling the foundation to channel resources direct to the front line, where it makes a difference.

She said:

“The work everyone here does is the humble, selfless work of people acting out of love. Some of the people supported by this work are often failed by our institutions. And yet they are centred in these images. And that is because they are centred in the work of the organisations.

“This work is transformational. It changes people’s lives. This everyday extraordinary work is the power of community action, and it enriches all our lives. We must not take it for granted.”

Sixteen cash prizes were handed out on the night, including to the photography competition runners-up Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue, Chopsticks in Northallerton that supports adults with disabilities to develop new skills in a workshop environment, the Walled Garden Whitby, and York-based Shine 21 which supports families who have a child with Down’s Syndrome.

Two Ridings recently launched a Cost of Living Crisis Fund appeal, to help support community organisations that offer a lifeline to people in need. Make a donation here.

Carved oak furniture by the renowned Yorkshire craftsman Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson is to go up for auction in Ripon next week.

The items include pieces from the early days of the renowned Mouseman workshop in Kilburn, near Thirsk.

Central to the collection is an oak dressing chest from around 1930 to 1940, which is expected to reach between £4,000 and £6,000. It has two short drawers over two long drawers and is topped with a moulded mirror. Both the mirror and chest carry Thompson’s signature mouse carvings.

From the same era is a stand-alone oak dressing table mirror of exceptional colour quality which carries a guide price of £1,000 to £1,500. Another stand-out lot is a set of eight impressive oak panel-back dining chairs, each with the carved mouse signature, that has been valued between £2,000 and £3,000.

The pieces will be included in a Fine Art & Antiques Sale at Elstob Auctioneers on Wednesday, November 8.

Director David Elstob said:

“The work of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson has always been popular, particularly in the North of England, and we are lucky to have these highly sought-after pieces from his workshop in this sale.

“Quality English oak furniture is widely seen as a good investment at the moment so we are hoping to see a great deal of interest in these pieces.”

Read more

• Ripon man auctions 255 bottles of whisky for Falklands veterans
• Successful Ripon business built on the art of furniture restoration

Robert Thompson (1876-1955) was part of the 1920s revival of craftsmanship inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. His style was characterised by a carved mouse on almost every piece, thought to have come about during a conversation about “being as poor as a church mouse”.

His furniture business in Kilburn is still run today by his descendants.

Elstob’s November Fine Art & Antiques Sale comprises more than 700 lots including a stunning Chinese huanghauli and hongmu ‘cracked-ice’ console table adorned with butterfly handles, a remarkable 19th century bronze figure of Hercules, and a large number of pieces by French designer René Lalique.