Miriam Margolyes on Harry Potter and returning to the stage in Harrogate

In the run-up to her appearance at Harrogate’s Royal Hall next weekend, Miriam Margolyes spoke to the Stray Ferret about her love of the town — and recalled some hilarious tales spanning 80 years.

Miriam is coming to Harrogate on October 17 to promote her memoir This Much is True. She will take to the stage at the Royal Hall for a conversation with BBC journalist Anna Wallace.

After over a year away from the stage, the actor is thrilled at the prospect of being in front of an audience again.

Our interview, which was held over Zoom whilst Miriam takes a break at her Italian home, was full of Miriam’s wonderful and wacky tales from growing up in Oxford to playing parts in huge productions like Harry Potter.

Talking about her book, which she wrote over five months in lockdown, she said:

“It is me talking, it’s all about me so if you don’t like me I would say don’t buy it!

“I’ve had a very interesting life because I’ve been to so many places and met so many different people so I think it makes for a good read.”

The BAFTA-award winning actress said the book had been a long time coming but lockdown gave her the chance to get stuck into writing.

It includes some of her favourite stories and also delves into the experiences that shaped her.

Dropping into her father’s strong Glaswegian accent, Miriam spoke of growing up in Oxford and going to “posh” school and her early career.

She recounts taking a phone call on the day of her mother’s funeral and finding out she was getting taken on by one of the top voice agents.

Not a huge Harry Potter fan

Since then Miriam has performed voiceovers in James and the Giant Peach, Babe and Cadbury’s adverts.

One of her most recognisable roles is Professor Sprout in Harry Potter. But she isn’t actually a huge Harry Potter fan. She said:

“It was a great part because it opened so many doors but I’m not really a particular fan of Harry Potter. I think they’re very good stories but it’s not the type of thing I read.”

Read more:

As well as acting on stage and screen, people know Miriam from numerous programmes tracking her travels across the globe, and her book recalls some of the more memorable moments.

‘Harrogate people know they have a jewel’

Speaking about what people can expect from the book, she added:

“I don’t think I need egging up: me as I am and the things that have happened to me are exciting enough.

“There are lots of funny things in it but there are also the serious parts of my life, it’s a fairly rounded portrait of a rather rounded woman!”

Harrogate will be the first stop of her tour. She said she was excited at the prospect of visiting the town once again:

“I love it and it’s a very attractive place. It’s very conscious of itself and it knows what it is and it likes what it is. They’re very confident, Harrogate people, they know they have a jewel.

“I know if people come to the Harrogate talk they will be entertained and have a good time.”

For information on the performance at the Royal Hall, click here.

Harrogate mum raises awareness of suicide prevention after son’s death

Since Pat Sowa’s son, Dom, died of suicide in 2017 she has dedicated her life to helping people who are struggling with their mental health.

The Sowa family has lived in Harrogate for 23 years. Dom, a student at Harrogate Grammar School, was just 17 when he died.

Mrs Sowa said friends described Dom as “giggly with the kindest heart”. He played the saxophone and loved to be outdoors.

Looking back, she says she could see he was struggling; he had been withdrawing from friends and saying he felt “very sad”. But she said without the training she’s had now she didn’t know how to ask the right questions and help.

“It breaks my heart that I didn’t know the signs. I always say ‘we do our best but when we know more we do better’.

“And it’s true. Instead of people crossing their fingers or depending on the system to take care of their loved ones, through training they have the skills to know what to do to help.”

Dom Sowa

After losing Dom, Mrs Sowa left her job as a primary school headteacher and trained as a mental health first aid trainer.

She now works with North Yorkshire County Council in its Headfirst programme, which offers free mental health and suicide prevention training for anyone living or working in North Yorkshire, alongside her other work.

She is determined for more people to train as mental health first aiders. She says it is important for anyone struggling to feel as if they have someone who is their safe space to talk to.

Her mantra is:

“Get trained, save lives and be kind.”

Losing Dom turned the family upside down and Ms Sowa finds her work to promote suicide prevention has helped her “work through the devastation”.

Read more:

Ms Sowa also works closely with Papyrus, a charity dedicated to the prevention of youth suicide. It offers a helpline to people, runs training programmes and campaigns to get people talking about mental health.

Next weekend, Ms Sowa will join Dom’s former school, Harrogate Grammar School, on its fourth Hopewalk. It is part of a Papyrus initiative that includes a month of walks across the country to get people out and talking about mental health.

The four-mile route around Fewston reservoir takes place on October 17 at 10am.

Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus, said:

“We would like to say a big thank you to Pat Sowa and all those who will we supporting the Hopewalk in memory of her son Dom.

“Every year Hopewalks raise awareness of suicide prevention and help us to continue giving hope to young people who are struggling with life.

“Generous fundraising and donations help to pay for potentially life-saving calls, texts and emails to our confidential HOPELINEUK service, which offers support and advice to young people and anyone who is worried about a young person who may be having thoughts of suicide.

“We believe that many young suicides are preventable and together we can all help to keep our communities suicide-safe.”

If you need support:

Harrogate district covid rate remains highest in North Yorkshire

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate remains the highest in North Yorkshire at 573 infections per 100,000 people.

The next highest in the county is Craven, at 480. The countywide average is 444 and the rate for England it is 348.

Public Health England today reported a further 156 cases in the Harrogate district, which takes the total since the pandemic began to 17,644.

Elsewhere, 129,408 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 120,863 have had a second dose.

Read more:

 

Young man dies in North Stainley after falling from ride-on mower

A young man died suddenly in North Stainley yesterday after reportedly falling from a ride-on mower.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the scene during the afternoon.

The man, in his 20s, from Northallerton, was certified dead at the scene.

A statement from North Yorkshire Police said:

“It is believed the man had fallen from a ride-on mower, and suffered serious injuries.

“Enquiries are ongoing, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Read more:

 

Birstwith Duck Race returns tomorrow

Birstwith Duck Race returns tomorrow after a five-year absence with around 1,000 toy ducks set to race to the finish line in this wacky village tradition.

The ducks will be dropped off Packhorse bridge, a village beauty spot, into the River Nidd and race downstream towards the finish line just before the weir.

The village tradition was first held in 2013 in conjunction with neighbouring Hampsthwaite but the course took over three hours to complete so the villages decided to do it independently instead.

But this will be the first one in Birstwith for five years.

The event starts at midday with tea, coffee and cake available in the show field, next to Kerry’s mill, and the ducks are due to be dropped at 2pm.

Organisers from Birstwith Horticultural Society and Birstwith in Bloom have said the ducks normally take about an hour to get to the finish line.

They added lots of tickets have been sold so they are expecting a few hundred people to visit.

Amy Howard, who sits on both committees, said:

“People have gone mad for the ducks, we haven’t had any village events for five years so I think everyone is excited to get out there again.

“It’ll be nice to welcome people back into the area.”

After the event, people are invited to The Station Hotel for food outside.

Read more:

 

Knaresborough pool proposal ‘environmental vandalism’, says campaigner

The leader of a Knaresborough group fighting to stop a new swimming pool being built on a green field has described the plans as “environmental vandalism of the highest order”.

David Hull set up Not on Fysche Field (Not Off) when Harrogate Borough Council proposed a new Knaresborough leisure centre and suggested it could be built on the park alongside the current site.

Mr Hull handed in a 600-name petition to the council last night opposing the plans and read a strongly worded statement.

He said:

“This proposal to build on Fysche field park has been a complete shambles from day one.

“Harrogate Borough Council have behaved in a totally selfish and arrogant fashion by deliberately withholding information and not being honest with the public.

“The people are speaking and need to be heard. They don’t want or need this environmentally destructive development on Fysche field.

“Building a brand new pool right next to a perfectly functioning one is environmental vandalism of the highest accord.”

Mr Hull’s petition calls for any new leisure centre to be built on the existing footprint rather than moving it onto the green field adjacent.

The council’s current favoured plan is to build the new leisure centre on the play area to the side of the leisure centre rather than the green space. But the threat to the park remains.

Read more:

During his presentation last night, Mr Hull read comments from individuals who he said supported the campaign. One questioned whether councillors were “getting rich” from this development.

This drew a strong rebuke from council leader Richard Cooper, who said councillors shouldn’t be “slighted or demeaned” in this way.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret today, Mr Hull said:

“We wanted to demonstrate that the community is not saying no to the development. We support a sensitive development but it needs to be sympathetic to the local area.”

Mr Hull added that greater transparency from the council would stop people holding so many negative opinions.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning it’s Suzannah back with you today. I’m here to give you all the road and rail updates you need this morning.

There are a few road closures and temporary lights in place across the district, make sure you check our lists in case you need to leave a few minutes earlier.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or are waiting for a delayed bus or train.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are getting busier in the usual spots but no hotspots just yet. If you see any delays or disruption, let me know.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet. Spotted something? Give me a call.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

 

Harrogate’s former Laura Ashley shop could become yoga studio

A boutique yoga and pilates studio has submitted plans to open in the former Laura Ashley shop on Harrogate’s James Street.

Ebru Evrim currently provides provides classes in Skipton and sells activewear clothing.

According to planning documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the owner wants to replicate the business in Harrogate town centre.

If approved, the plans would see the James Street unit converted into a retail and teaching space over three floors.

The two upper floors would be used as yoga and pilates studios and the activewear would be sold on the ground floor.

The company, which also arranges holidays, retreats and workshops, says on its website:

“The boutique brand founder and owner Ebru Evrim moved over from Istanbul in 2015, and began to teach ashtanga yoga and basic pilates as a freelancer in village halls and other local venues in Upper Wharfedale.”

The building, at 3 James Street, has been vacant for 12 months after Laura Ashley went into administration in March last year before going into partnership with Next.

The plans are currently under review by.

Read more:

 

Harrogate Grammar holds walk in memory of former pupil Dom Sowa

Harrogate Grammar School is inviting people to join a walk next week in memory of a student who died of suicide.

Dom Sowa died in 2017 aged 17.

The school is taking part in a month of walks in the UK called Hopewalk, which raises money in support of Papyrus — a charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

Harrogate Grammar, which has been supporting Hopewalk for the last four years, is holding a four-mile walk around Fewston reservoir on October 17 at 10am.

Read more:

It is inviting others to join in and help raise awareness of suicide prevention.

A map of the walk can be found here. The school is asking walkers to meet in the car park at point 1.

Knaresborough care home nurse suspended for lying about patient’s care

A woman working at a Knaresborough care home has been suspended from nursing for 12 months after lying to colleagues, police and at an inquest about the care of one of her patients.

Susan Nyakwangwa was caring for the patient at Thistle Hill Care Home in Knaresborough on February 26, 2016 when the patient’s health deteriorated, they were later admitted to hospital with pneumonia and died two days later.

Ms Nyakwngwa went before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) last week in a fitness to practise hearing, suspected of misconduct.

The hearing was told that she had failed to manage the patient’s deterioration appropriately, particularly over the time it took to contact Beech House GP Surgery.

Ms Nyakwangwa told two colleagues she had telephoned the surgery before 1pm, but at the hearing it was found she had not.

During an investigation for criminal neglect, which the police later dropped, in September 2016 Ms Nyakwangwa told officers she had called the surgery between 11am and before lunch.

She repeated this whilst giving oral evidence under oath at the Inquest into the death of the patient.

But it was found that Ms Nyakwangwa did not call the GP surgery until later in the afternoon, the first outgoing call to the practice was made at 14:04pm.

The panel found the registered nurse, with a 42-year career, to be dishonest and said her actions “fell far below the standards expected of a registered nurse”.

The hearing report spoke of case presenter, Alastair Kennedy:

“Mr Kennedy submitted that there is nothing to suggest that you appreciate the affect your actions had on the public, colleagues and the trust placed in the nursing profession.

“Mr Kennedy invited the panel to find that your fitness to practise as a registered nurse is currently impaired.”

Read more:

Ms Nyakwangwa was represented by Briony Molyneux who argued it had been a “single act of dishonesty” and the “only blip” in a long-standing nursing career.

She added:

“No harm was caused to Patient A as a result of your dishonest conduct, your actions were not pre-meditated and there was no sophisticated attempt to cover up your dishonesty.”

A statement from Thistle Hill said:

“At Thistle Hill care home the safety and wellbeing of our residents is of the utmost importance. The case in 2016 was an isolated incident involving a temporary member of staff and we took all immediate and appropriate action. We fully respect the decision made by the NMC and offer no further comment at this time.”

Ms Nyakwangwa has not worked recently due to personal health reasons.

The suspension period comes begins this month, at the end of the 12 months another panel will review the order.