The much-loved ‘Light up a Life’ Christmas event organised by Saint Michael’s Hospice will go virtual this year to ensure local people can still remember their loved ones.

The event is held each year giving people the opportunity to dedicate a light to someone. This year the charity wanted the continue the tradition and ensure that people can still come together even thought they may be apart.

The charity is inviting people to watch the event as it is streamed online on Sunday, December 13 at 5pm.

People can donate to the charity and have a light placed on the virtual Christmas tree with a small message and picture if they wish.

Chief Executive of Saint Michael’s, Tony Collins, said:

“This year has truly been a year like no other and the changes made to our Light up a Life event reflect that, with the safety and the wellbeing of our community at the heart of our decision making.

“Each light will sparkle in tribute to a special person and will shine throughout the festive season as a symbol of hope and love.”

Read more:

• A fund offering a sustainable income for local charities has received a huge boost from Harrogate Borough Council. 
• A Harrogate group is helping to fundraise for Guide Dogs. 

The charity offers end of life care to people across the Harrogate district regardless of their diagnosis or place of care.

John Bickers (left) and his wife Doreen in 2004.

Melanie Fuller, from Harrogate, is tuning into this year’s online event to remember her Nan and Grandad. St Michael’s supported her family as her Nan, Doreen Bickers, passed away. She said her Grandad, John, was always grateful for the charity’s support. She said:

“Light Up A Life was such a comfort to my Grandad, and to us as a family. It gave him a time to remember and reflect, and feel near to her. Sadly my Grandad passed away this September.

“As such, it will now be an opportunity for us as a family remember them both. This year’s virtual event will be poignant for us, and we will be tuning in and reflecting on their lives.”

To dedicate a light on the tree, click here.

North Yorkshire’s first woman doctor, who spent much of her life in Harrogate, has been nominated for a county award.

Dr Laura Sobey Veale experienced strong opposition whilst pursuing a career in medicine during the 19th and 20th centuries but overcame this to make a considerable impact on the town.

She has been nominated for the county council’s Great North Yorkshire Sons and Daughters campaign.

The “pioneering woman”

Dr Veale was born in Hampsthwaite in 1867 and studied medicine in London. She later returned to North Yorkshire to work at the Hospital for Women and Children in Leeds.

In 1904 she came back to Harrogate and set up her GP practice on Victoria Avenue. She made history overcoming hostility and continued to pave the way for women’s health, establishing a maternity department at Harrogate hospital and infant welfare and antenatal clinics in the town.

Despite retiring in 1936, Dr Veale was still committed to the town. When there was a need in the Second World War Dr Veale came forward to organise the Harrogate Women’s Voluntary Service leading a campaign to collect scrap metal for the war effort.

Read more:

• Plans for a Knaresborough heritage hub are underway. 
• Plaque to commemorate Harrogate’s input in the Spitfire campaign is unveiled. 

Dr Paul Jennings from Harrogate Civic Society History Group, said:

“She deserves recognition as an important figure in the history of both medicine and feminism and a key figure in medical provision, especially for women and infants, in her native county and more particularly Harrogate.”

“It is as a pioneering woman in the medical profession and through her wider work for the community that she is so important to Harrogate.”

A brown plaque in memory of Dr Veale was unveiled in April 2017 at the site of her surgery. It was put in place to commemorate her contribution to the town and as an important figure of history for medicine and feminism.

Councillor Carl Les, said:

“During the current pandemic, it is important we recognise the hard work of all doctors and nurses across the country. Figures such as Dr Laura Veale are incredibly important to the county. She showed determination and dedication not to give up in difficult times.”

Winifred (left) and her sister Dorothy (right). Photograph: Yorkshire Museum of Farming.

Winifred Jacob Smith

Another Harrogate district nominee is Winifred Jacob Smith. Born in 1911 in Humberton, between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, Winifred went on the join the Women’s Land Army in 1939 with her sister Dorothy.

Winifred later became the organiser for the Women’s Land Army for the whole of Yorkshire. The ladies’ role was crucial for the war effort with many involved in intensive farm labour to feed the county.

Coming from a long established farming family, on her death in May 2003 Winifred bequeathed what was then Scriven Park to Harrogate Borough Council to be used by her local community. It was officially opened as Jacob Smith Park in 2008.

Details of how to cast votes for the award will be released on the county council’s social media soon.

A reptile rescue centre in Knaresborough has warned it may not survive until next year if income doesn’t increase.

The Knaresborough Exotic Rescue Centre has 50 animals in its care, with 45 waiting to find permanent homes. As well as a rescue centre it is also an education centre for students.

The centre’s owner, Daniel Holmes, said unless further donations or adoptions were forthcoming the centre may have to close. He said:

“We are really struggling to find the funds to keep the centre going. Of course we want to stay open to help the animals and to work with the students but we can only push so far.”

This snake is currently up for adoption at the centre.

It costs £1,800 per month to run the centre due to the amount of electricity needed for the reptile enclosures.

The centre has recently received a grant from North Yorkshire County Council for about £1,300, which has helped but Mr Holmes said more was needed.

He added the number of rescue animals taken on during lockdown had increased but the number of rehoming requests hadn’t matched this.

Mr Holmes has been rescuing reptiles for 12 years and is determined to keep going but said the pandemic could mean he has to close for good.

There are few other centres nearby offering the same services.

Read more:

• WATCH to see just a few of the reptiles the centre rescued during the first lockdown.
• Six-foot boa finds its forever home in Markington.

During the second lockdown the centre was open to take in and care for animals. Now it is open to visitors too. He added:

“I’m hoping now lockdown is over people will come in and donate. If we weren’t here half these snakes would be dumped.

“We desperately need donations. We don’t want to let anyone down.”

To donate to the centre, find them on Facebook here or send a donation via PayPal to krescue@hotmail.co.uk.

Many care homes in Harrogate have yet to recommence visits despite new government guidance.

The government issued new guidance after lockdown saying ‘care home managers are best placed to decide how visits should happen in their own setting in a way that meets the needs of their residents both individually and collectively’.

It also said it was issuing rapid covid tests to registered care homes during December for visitors to use. Each home should have enough to test up to two visitors per resident, twice a week by Christmas.

But right now many people are still unable to visit loved ones in the run-up to Christmas.

Judy Bass, from Harrogate, has only seen her father twice since March and one of those visits took place behind a window. Her father’s home is still not allowing indoor visits.

Ms Bass hoped the rapid test kits would allow her to visit but her father’s home has still not updated its guidance on visits.

She said:

“It is hard because I have no hope I will see him before Christmas and my dad loves this time of year. All the care home offers is window visits but I don’t want to be doing that because he will get upset.”

Judy said the care home probably found it “easier to say no” rather than go through the additional strain of testing, which would require visitors having to wait 30 minutes for results.

Read more:

• Planning is in place to demolish a care home on Wetherby Rd to replace it with a larger facility. 
• Local health bosses say they are ready to roll out the covid vaccine across the Harrogate district. 

Elsewhere in Harrogate, other care homes are planning to allow visits.

MHA a charity that runs 83 care homes in England, including Berwick Grange in Harrogate, has said it will allow visits under the new guidelines. But it has yet to receive the testing kits from government.

Allowing up to two visitors, per resident, to be tested twice a week, would significantly increase staff workload.

MHA chief executive, Sam Monaghan, said:

“It is a great step forward that the government has listened to residents and their families kept apart during the pandemic and is making tests available. But to do so without providing the resources necessary is reckless.

“To carry out the volume of tests now required in care homes, we will need at least one more administrative staff member per home. We are talking about a considerable additional workload. The effect will be that frontline staff will be even further stretched.”

Do you have a loved one living in a care home? Are you happy to talk about how the pandemic has impacted your visits? Please get in touch with us via contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Shoppers in Harrogate have spoken of their disappointment that Debenhams is to close after the company announced it was entering administration.

A failed deal with another major retailer means the company is set to enter liquidation.

The Harrogate store reopened yesterday offering shoppers their usual products at discounted prices.

But staff face uncertain futures as they await news of a confirmed closure date.  The demise of Debenhams came a day after Ripon’s only department store Wrens, announced it would not be opening again after lockdown.  

Shopper Rose Dykes was among those sad to see Debenhams go. She said:

“Debenhams has been here for a long, long time.

“I think it will be really missed in Harrogate.”

Rose says the store will be ‘missed’ in Harrogate.

Read more:

• Debenhams announces it is entering administration. 
• WATCH as Harrogate shoppers speak of their excitement to be able to head back to the high street yesterday. 

People in Harrogate spoke today of their relief about shops reopening after a month-long lockdown.

Today’s easing of covid restrictions allowed businesses to swing open their doors and there were plenty of eager shoppers there to support them.

A strong ‘shop local’ message has been pushed during the pandemic and it seems people in Harrogate today were keen to heed it and keep their high street shops alive.

Beryl Westerman said she was glad to be out again after staying inside for the past month:

“It’s lovely to come out and see people again.”

Beryl was glad to be back out and about again.

Read more:

• Knaresborough shop owners are “positive” as they reopen their doors today. 
• Wrens in Ripon is closing its doors for good. 

The pandemic has had a huge impact on some retailers.

Huge names such as Debenhams have fallen into administration following losses in trade. Some others won’t be opening their doors again.

The run-up to Christmas will be a crucial time for those that have survived the second lockdown.

The Christmas lights are up, the business owners are ready, now all Knaresborough needs is shoppers.

After a month of lockdown, Knaresborough’s shop owners say they need a huge boost to sales to cover the losses of two lockdowns.

The shopkeepers have been eager to reopen and are encouraging people to venture out and support their local high street.

The whole town is getting in the festive spirit. Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has helped to light up the town by installing 80 trees on the sides of buildings.

Shop owners have also been busy decorating their windows in an effort to encourage more shoppers to visit.

Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography.

Diane Watson, owner of Knitting Pretty on Castlegate, said they’re feeling apprehensive and excited to see what today brings.:

“I’ve been desperate to open but now it’s here I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what to expect, it’s a scary time. This is usually my busiest time of the year so missing out on some of it has really hit me. I have such loyal customers so I am hoping for the best.”

Gill Mitchell, owner of Stomp footwear on Market Place, said:

“I’m raring to go I’m just hoping we can stay open for January, we just have to embrace it while we can. As soon as Boris said we can reopen people have waited to see us properly in store. It’s coming alive here in Knaresborough so hopefully more people will come.”

Over lockdown, many shops have moved online to boost the gap in sales. Tracey Bell at Ruebury Flowers offered a delivery service to ensure she wasn’t losing her annual Christmas customers.

She said:

“This lockdown has been completely different, I’ve been busy with orders and trying to do what I can. I am nervous but that’s because it is a difficult time for everyone but everyone in Knaresborough is remaining positive so let’s hope for a good few weeks of trade.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s independent shops say they have to wait to see numbers of shoppers before opening late. 
• Knaresborough to lose its final bank next year. 

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has been offering local businesses advice on opening up following the lockdown on their social media and website. Its president, Steve Teggin, said:

“It’s so good we needed this. The town is looking great too and the shopkeepers are really making an effort this tear too, we all want people to come and visit. We have to be careful of course but we can’t wait to reopen.”

Staff at Debenhams in Harrogate face anxious futures in the wake of today’s news that the company is due to be wound-up.

Debenhams employs 12,000 staff overall and its department store on Parliament Street in Harrogate has been a local shopping institution.

Debenhams confirmed its Harrogate store will reopen tomorrow. All stores are due to continue trading until stock is cleared.

But the outlook is bleak for staff as the festive season approaches.

The retail giant, which was founded 242 years ago, has been in administration since April. The collapse of a possible deal with JD Sports means the business is now set to enter liquidation.

Many High Street stores were struggling even before the pandemic. The retail group Arcadia announced yesterday it had entered administration, and shops will be desperate for a Christmas boost when they re-open tomorrow.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s independent stores say they need to be assured shoppers will return before agreeing to open late. 
• Harrogate hotels are feeling hopeful following tier two announcement.

Free Sunday buses and free weekday parking after 3pm are being introduced this month to encourage shoppers to spend money in Harrogate’s shops this Christmas.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost the town centre, is behind both projects.

The ‘free after three’ parking initiative allows motorists to park in the Victoria car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays free of charge after 3pm.

It begins on Monday and will run until Christmas Eve.

The ‘Sunday Freeway’ initiative, which returns this year, gives people the chance to catch a free ride on one of Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses on a Sunday.

It includes the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 services, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre. The initiative will run through December and into the New Year.

The projects are part of the BID’s Harrogate at Christmas campaign, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses after a difficult year that has seen many closures.

Harrogate BID acting chairman Sara Ferguson said:

“Because of the lockdown, traders in the town have already lost a month’s worth of business and are playing catchup.

“Now we are coming out of the second lockdown, we are launching these two initiatives to bring people into town, via two different modes of transport.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s independent shops say they will wait to see how many shoppers return before opening late.
• Shops on Commercial Street have banded together to promote the street. 

The Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:

“It’s amazing news for our town – reducing emissions and congestion, while making it easier for everyone to support our local economy and get our town’s traders back on their feet.

“Harrogate’s businesses have had an incredibly tough year, with two lockdowns and continued restrictions impacting everyone. It’s now up to us all to support them as they re-open for the crucial run-up to Christmas by taking advantage of free travel.”

The coronavirus pandemic has badly affected the Guide Dog’s programme to train new dogs and the charity’s ability to raise money.

So the fundraising group of the Harrogate branch has combined with 400 other groups to support the ’12 Guide Dogs of Christmas’ event.

From today to December 12 the Guide Dogs charity will showcase a different dog online each day. The aim of the event is to fund twelve new life-changing guide dogs for those in the waiting list across the UK.

Within Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough there are five guide dog owners with a further four people waiting for their special companion. Funds raised from activities such as these go towards dog training.

In 2016 Kate Hammond, from Harrogate, was matched with her guide dog Sheba. She says the support from Guide Dogs and its local branches has meant her and Sheba “bonded very quickly”.

She said:

“Four and a half years ago I hardly ever left my home because my confidence had been shattered by my rapidly deteriorating vision.

“Then I was matched with Sheba. She has been an absolute life changer! Sheba quickly learnt my usual routes and we go for long walks every day with Sheba moving me out of the way of obstructions such as low hanging branches, wheelie bins and even puddles.

“Sheba has given me my independence back and with it a much, much happier life. I am eternally grateful to the Guide Dogs Charity for matching us together.”

This Christmas fundraiser will support owners across the UK.

During the pandemic, the Harrogate branch has adapted its services using online platforms to support its users. It says the pandemic will have a knock-on effect. It’s meant some people have to wait longer to get the right dog for them.

Nicola Ridgway, fundraising relationship manager for the Harrogate area, said:

“Fundraising groups have been unable to carry out the thousands of collections planned across the UK which could equate to a loss of £870,000 in 2020. That is why campaigns like our 12 Guide Dogs of Christmas which we are launching on the 1st December are so important to us right now and we are very grateful for any support people feel able to give to this.”

To support the appeal, click here.