Free entry to Aldborough Roman site this weekend

The Aldborough Roman Town Site will be free for all residents in the YO51 postcode tomorrow.

The initiative agreed by The Friends of Roman Aldborough and English Heritage is to encourage locals to learn about the site on their doorsteps.

Two thousand years ago Aldborough was the most northerly regional capital in the Roman Empire. It was called Isurium Brigantum and was a major administrative and trading centre for the Romans.

This discovery has only been made in recent years as archaeologists from the University of Cambridge continue to delve into the area’s history.

As well as the vast Roman ruins, visitors can explore the recently updated museum on site. It includes the new analysis by the Cambridge team, as well as artefacts found during their digs.

Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, chairman of The Friends of Roman Aldborough (Fora), said:

“This offer is the result of collaboration between Fora and English Heritage, who have recently upgraded their museum at the site. These are exciting times as the importance of Aldborough In Roman times is only just starting to be understood in a new light and I highly recommend a visit to the site.”

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YO51 residents will need to book via the English Heritage website using the promotion code PASS21 and produce evidence of residence in the area on arrival.

Entry fees are usually £5.50 for adults and £3.30 for children aged five to 17, with family tickets available.

‘Predatory paedophile’ Knaresborough owner of Queen Ethelburga’s School jailed

A Knaresborough man and the owner of Queen Ethelburga’s School near York will go to prison for more than three years for two incidents of non-recent child sexual abuse.

Brian Richard Martin, 71, from Ferrensby near Knaresborough, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today following a retrial.

He was originally on trial in 2018 for sexually assaulting of a boy in the late 2000s. This trial also acquitted him of six other child sexual abuse offences.

At another retrial in 2019, he was found guilty of indecent assault on a girl in the early-to-mid-1990s.

Martin has been jailed for three years and three months and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Detective Sergeant Graeme Bevington, who led the North Yorkshire Police investigation, said:

“Despite significant investment being made in the school, all this served to do was to create an environment that Martin could exploit for his own sinister gains.

“He preyed on the vulnerability of the students and was able to manipulate circumstances which allowed him to sexually abuse two children who were boarding students.”

The police said his success in business meant he could buy the school and move it from Harrogate to the Thorpe Underwood Estate, where he living with his family.

DS Bevington added the school was supposed to be safe for young students but instead they were “harmed so significantly by someone in a position of trust”.

He praised the bravery of the victims who spoke out:

“They have had to give evidence in open court about the most vulnerable and traumatic experiences of their lives and re-live the dreadful abuse that was forced upon them many years ago when they were just children.

“The courage and conviction behind their evidence has led to Brian Martin being publicly exposed as the predatory paedophile that he really is.

“They have finally had justice for what they have had to endure for so long.”

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To seek advice and further support, or report child abuse, you can contact one of these organisations:

Masham school’s closing exhibition includes 100-year-old memories

Staff at Kell Bank Primary School in Masham are committed to going ahead with a memory exhibition to celebrate the school’s history, before it closes for good next month.

Governors and teachers wanted to bid farewell to the 200-year-old school, which will shut its doors on August 31, but coronavirus has meant the celebration has been delayed.

The exhibition will now be held from July 15 to 17 at Fearby Village Hall, just outside Masham, and will include photographs, old diary entries and poetry books some dating as far back as 1900.

A one-off ‘newspaper’ has been created to combine reports and images shared by past and current staff and pupils, such as 96-year-old Ivy l’Anson, pictured below as a pupil.

On July 22 – the day before the children break up for the summer – the school will host an open day, as well as a tree planting and the dedication of a bench on Fearby village green.

Ivy I’Anson

Ivy I’Anson is now 96 years old and has shared her memories of Kell Bank School in a one-off ‘newspaper’ created by staff

With only six remaining pupils, Kell Bank School was handed a permanent closure notice by North Yorkshire County Council.

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Laurie Hoyes, a school governor, said:

“The restrictions have set us back slightly but we are still really pleased with the exhibition we have put together.

“We’ve put together a ‘Kell Bank Times’, which people can pick up from the community centre or school. It’s 12 pages of memories including Ivy who’s 96 and our oldest living pupil. She’s shared her treasured memories with us.”

The organisers hope the exhibition and other events will help to highlight the school’s role in local people’s lives.

Residents wonder if Starbeck Baths will ever re-open

Residents are growing increasingly concerned that Starbeck Pool will not re-open as uncertainty surrounding its future drags on.

Other Harrogate Borough Council-run pools in the district have re-opened but the local authority is still unable to say when Starbeck Baths will do so.

Starbeck Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank and local resident Chris Watt are growing increasingly frustrated.

Both question why Ripon Spa Baths has reopened but Starbeck hasn’t when they argue both have similar space restrictions.

Mr Watt says he and other residents fear the council is “planning to break its promises to keep the pool in use”. He added:

“The council’s silence around the future of Starbeck Baths is very worrying. People are increasingly concerned.

“Facilities have re-opened in Ripon, which is in a similarly sized building to Starbeck. A great deal has been spent on repairs at Knaresborough Pool and staff have been found for every other pool in the area.

“Why is the council treating Starbeck people like the poor relations?”

Cllr Philip Broadbank and local resident Chris Watt at Starbeck Baths.

The pool has been closed since December despite the government allowing pools to reopen on April 12.

Harrogate Hydro and Nidderdale Leisure Centre in Pateley Bridge opened on April 12. Ripon Spa Baths opened a month later.

Knaresborough Pool has had new filters installed but is due to reopen this month.

Cllr Philip Broadbank said he did think Starbeck Baths would reopen but added:

“I can’t understand or accept that it’s remained closed when Ripon has reopened. The layouts are very similar.

“I get frustrated and keep raising it but the council tries to reassure me that the layouts are totally different. I’m not convinced.”

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The Stray Ferret asked the council when Starbeck Baths will reopen. A council spokeswoman said:

“Starbeck Baths remains an important facility amongst the leisure services we provide.

“Due to the unique layout of the building, and the government’s existing social distancing measures, we are currently unable to open the baths.

“We will have further news in the coming weeks of when the baths will reopen.”

Businesses and councils in Harrogate need to communicate better, says retail expert

Businesses and local authorities in Harrogate need to communicate better on the future of the town centre, a retail expert said today.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce invited Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, to talk at a zoom meeting about the challenges facing Harrogate high street.

Mr Goodacre, who lived in Harrogate for 15 years until 2013, said engagement with local authorities, congestion around the town centre and the need for a combined vision were the key challenges facing the town. He said:

“Independent retail is so important for town centres. I would call out to all local authorities to work with local businesses on their vision.”

Harrogate business owners William Woods and Lucy Gardiner both expressed anger at what they described as a lack of communication between businesses and the county and borough councils.

Mr Goodacre said he “shared their frustration”, adding:

“It’s about engagement: are businesses being engaged by the local authorities? Do they share a vision? I don’t understand the lack of communication because all the practices out there are very clear that it can’t be done in isolation. There has to be collaboration.

“It’s wrong, you’ve got to engage with businesses. Business just want to be involved and listened to.”

Some businesses are particularly concerned that their views haven’t been heard by local authorities promoting the Station Gateway project, which aims to improve cycling and pedestrian access to the town centre.

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Future of the high street

The need for a diverse high street was also discussed at the meeting.

Mr Goodacre said Harrogate’s range of retailers would help it stand out and encourage tourists to return after lockdown.

Looking further ahead, Mr Goodacre said trends towards online shopping, working from home and more leisure facilities on high streets mean Harrogate town centre will look very different in 10 years time.

He said:

“Harrogate has pockets of place like Cold Bath Road and Kings Road with their own identities. That diversity really works.

Eighteen chamber members attended the meeting, which was chaired by David Simister, chief executive of the chamber.

Two men taken to hospital after Starbeck car crash

Two men have been taken to hospital after a crash involving two cars in Starbeck.

It happened at about midday today at the junction of High Street and The Avenue.

A police officer at the scene told the Stray Ferret the crash occurred when a car on The Avenue pulled out onto High Street.

The officer added the male driver of one of the vehicles, and his male passenger, had been taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be serious.

A female driver of the other car did not require hospital, the officer said.

Traffic was heavy shortly after the incident but by 1pm it had returned to normal, with the damaged cars moved to the side of the road.

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Programme revealed for Harrogate’s crime writing festival

The full programme for the world’s largest crime writing festival, which will bring household names to Harrogate next month, has been revealed.

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will be held at the town’s Old Swan Hotel from July 22 to 25.

The hotel is synonymous with the genre because it is where Agatha Christie disappeared to in 1926.

This year’s lineup Pointless star Richard Osman, espionage expert Mick Herron, mystery maestro Elly Griffiths and fan favourite Ann Cleeves.

The winner of the crime novel of the year award will be revealed on July 22.

Panel discussions will take place on the following days on historical crime fiction, the rise of science and tech and the genius of Agatha Christie.

The programme has been curated by festival programming chair Ian Rankin, who said:

“After nearly a year-and-a-half of successive lockdowns and restrictions, it is going to be absolutely marvellous to be able to safely gather together and celebrate the genre that we all love so dearly.”

The past 18 months have been full of ups and downs for the festival industry. Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“It has been a real journey to bring this year’s festival to life – working in festivals during covid is not for the faint-hearted! Ian Rankin has brought together a killer line-up.

“We are so grateful and proud that – after so many challenges – we are at long last able to share this programme with the public.”

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Full Festival Programme:

Thursday, July 22

8pm – THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2021 AWARD CEREMONY

The shortlist includes Chris Whitaker with We Begin at The End, Rosamund Lupton with Three Hours, Elly Griffiths with The Lantern Men, Abir Mukherjee with Death in the East, Brian McGilloway with The Last Crossing and Trevor Wood with The Man on the Street.

Friday, July 23

9am – SPECIAL GUEST MICK HERRON INTERVIEWED BY N.J. COOPER

10.30am – GUNG-HO ACTION HERO

Join A.A. Dhand, Holly Watt, Simon Kernick, Steph Broadribb and Charles Cumming as they discuss the rise and fall of the gung-ho action man hero (and heroine). What is next for this well-worn and much beloved crime character?

12pm – HISTORICAL CRIME FICTION

Abir Mukherjee, Antonia Hodgson, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, S.G. MacLean and S.J. Parris join forces to discuss the future of historical crime fiction, taking Philip Kerr’s (alternative) history novels as a starting point.

2pm – PLANNERS VERSUS PANTSERS

Readers are often incredulous when certain crime writers say they do hardly any planning, preferring to see where a story and its characters takes them. Other authors absolutely need to know every twist and turn before starting to write. There are no hard and fast rules of course and this playful panel of Erin Kelly, Helen FitzGerald, Mark Edwards, Sarah Pinborough and Luca Veste will explore the merits and pitfalls of both routes.

3.30pm – WHO KILLED THE POLICE PROCEDURAL?

A panel of Mari Hannah, Olivia Kiernan, Parker Bilal, Will Dean and James Oswald will ask can the police procedural as we’ve known and loved it survive?

5pm – SPECIAL GUEST ANN CLEEVES INTERVIEWED BY STEPH MCGOVERN

8.30pm – SPECIAL GUESTS: CL TAYLOR AND CLARE MACKINTOSH IN CONVERSATION

10pm – TOP OF THE COPS

Elly Griffiths, Ian Rankin OBE, Mark Billingham, Martyn Waites and Abir Mukherjee to debate who’s ‘Top of the Cops’. Once they decide on a shortlist – the audience will crown the winner by show of hands. Who will it be? Marple or Columbo? Morse or Tennyson?

Saturday, July 24

9.00am – SPECIAL GUEST ELLY GRIFFITHS INTERVIEWED BY JOE HADDOW

10.30am – NAPOLEONS OF CRIME

Join C.J. Tudor, Craig Robertson, Liz Nugent, Luca Veste and Barry Forshaw as they consider what makes a great villain.

12.00pm – NEW BLOOD

Val McDermid’s sought-after New Blood panel returns on Saturday 24 July, with this year’s hotly-tipped debut authors including Anna Bailey, Greg Buchanan, Patricia Marques and Lara Thompson.

2.00pm – THE WRITING LIFE SCIENTIFIC

Panellists Fiona Erskine, Lin Anderson, Sarah Vaughan, Lesley Kelly and Professor Niamh Nic Daeid together explore the science behind a good crime novel, forensics to pathology.

3.30pm – WATCHING ME, WATCHING YOU, AHH HA

Join Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Louise Candlish, Matt Wesolowski and Mark Lawson as they explore the impact of new and rapidly evolving technology on the fiction we read.

5.00pm – PLEASURES AND PITFALLS OF THE SHORT STORY

We ask our panellists Cath Staincliff, Jane Casey, Stuart Neville, Susi Holliday and Ian Rankin to share their perspectives of the pleasures and pitfalls of the short story.

8.30pm – SPECIAL GUEST MARK BILLINGHAM INTERVIEWED BY IAN RANKIN

10.00pm – LATE QUIZ NIGHT: VAL MCDERMID AND MARK BILLINGHAM

Sunday, July 25

9.30am – CHRISTIE’S ENDURING ALLURE

We ask Ragnar Jonasson, Ruth Ware, Sarah Phelps, Stuart Turton and Elly Griffiths to discuss the highs and lows of the crime genre’s Grand Dame: Agatha Christie, who famously disappeared from the festival’s home, the Old Swan Hotel.

11.00am – THE POLITICS OF CRIME

Join Brian McGilloway, Doug Johnstone, George Alagiah, Sarah Vaughan and Alan Johnson as they explore the rise and rise of the political drama, asking if uncertain political landscapes increase the desire for Machiavellian novels?

12.30pm – SPECIAL GUEST RICHARD OSMAN INTERVIEWED BY MARK BILLINGHAM

Harrogate TV shop window smashed by bricks and boulders

Just a week after reopening due to a flood, a Harrogate shop has had its windows smashed by bricks and boulders.

The electrical goods store, Crampton & Moore, on Commercial Street is boarded up following the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Store manager Chris Johnson said he received a call at 2.15am on Saturday to say the glass had be smashed.

He said North Yorkshire Police called within 15 minutes about the incident.

The window pane needs replacing but thanks to metal grills behind it, nothing was stolen.

Smashed window and Crampton and Moore

The extent of the damage at the electrical shop.

Mr Johnson said:

“The whole thing was caught on CCTV. Luckily they didn’t get anything so it’s just a case of waiting for the repair this week.”

The shop had only reopened on Monday last week after the eight-week flood closure.

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The shop remains open, with the damaged section closed off to customers.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:

“A man in his 50s was promptly arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary following this incident. He’s been bailed while the investigation continues.”

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning. It’s Suzannah with you again this morning updating you every 15 minutes on how the transport links are near you.

These blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

Let us know if you experience any delays on 01423 276197.

9am – Full Update 

That’s it from me today. Leah will be back with you tomorrow morning.

Have a great day.

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The roads are starting to get busier but no traffic hotspots yet, keep checking in.

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7am – Full Update 

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The roads are still looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

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6.45am – Full Update 

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6.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

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Tools, oven and lawnmower found by police in back of Starbeck van

A lawnmower, an oven and power tools have been seized by police from the back of a van in Starbeck.

Road policing officers stopped the white Mercedes Sprinter van at 8.35pm on Friday.

According to a statement from North Yorkshire Police, the items “could not be accounted for” by the occupants of the van, who were from Leeds.

Police are now asking local residents to check if they’re missing any of the items.

Starbeck van loot

Two more of the items found in the van on Friday.

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Have you noticed anything missing or see something suspicious? You can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option1 and speak to the Force Control Room quoting reference number 12210146727.

Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.