A number of care home residents sat and watched the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral this afternoon.

Care homes in Knaresborough and Harrogate sat to share their memories and remember Prince Philip.

The care homes said a number of their residents has spent this week thinking of Prince Philip and the royal family as they mourn.

At The Gatehouse, on Manor Road in Harrogate, the residents sat to watch the funeral on TV and the staff had put on an afternoon tea for them to enjoy.

Home manager, Adam Carling, said:

“Remembering Prince Philip here at The Gatehouse today. He was an amazing man and our residents remember him fondly. A sad day for all.”

Residents came together this afternoon to watch the funeral.

The staff decorated the room and organised an afternoon tea.

Read more:

• Image Gallery of Prince Philip on visits to the Harrogate district over the years.
• Bettys and Harlow Carr closed today for Prince Philip’s funeral.

At the Manor House care home in Knaresborough the residents also wanted to come together to watch the funeral.

A notice was put up during the week telling residents it would be shown on the TVs in the lounge.

Carer, Alison Morgan, said:

“Lots of our residents have admired the Royals through their lives and today is a very sad day for them, and how we hope the Queen and her family feel the warmth and love and wishes from the public and that in some small way it helps.”

Some residents at Knaresborough Manor watched the service privately in their rooms.

Others sat together in the lounge to watch the service.

The Cuttings, run by Harrogate Neighbours, in Harrogate also encouraged residents to sit together this afternoon to watch the funeral broadcast on TV.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:

“Staff and tenants came together to pay their respects to Prince Philip who had been part of their lives for many years. Everyone has a fond memory of a man who has given so much to this country and the commonwealth. Our thoughts are with the Her Majesty The Queen.”

Residents at The Cuttings sat in the lounge this afternoon to watch the broadcast.

Many of the Harrogate residents wanted to pay their respects today.

Victoria Shopping Centre has installed a wishing well for Saint Michael’s Hospice. They hope to raise £25,000 to support the hospice’s end of life care for the terminally ill.

The centre has raised £11,192 for Saint Michael’s and hope that the wishing well will encourage more shoppers to donate. Tony Collins, the hospice’s chief executive, says he is “delighted” with the initiative and the Victoria Centre’s support.

“We hope shoppers at the Centre enjoy making their wishes, particularly in the knowledge that their kind donations go directly to help local families living with terminal illness and bereavement. Each ‘wish’ will make a real difference to our work.”

The Hospice’s current running costs are around £6 million per year, which averages to £15,000 per day. It receives much of their funding through donations, fundraisers and sales from their eight Harrogate based charity shops.

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The Victoria Centre manager, James White, says they “couldn’t be happier” to support the hospice.

“Saint Michaels Hospice is a charity that we couldn’t be happier to support. Harrogate shoppers are well known for their generous contributions and compassion for others, so I’m sure this wishing well will be another success.It’s a fun way to donate to a highly worthy cause, as well as a great initiative to welcome back our shoppers to the centre.”

The well is located on the first floor, between Next and Toyland.

A cocaine and ketamine dealer from Harrogate has been jailed for 18 months today.

Callum McLachlan, 20, sold cocaine and ketamine – a tranquilizer notorious for inducing a trance-like state in users – on the streets of Harrogate.

In June 2019 his enterprise fell apart when police pulled over a Fiat Punto travelling between Harrogate Hill and the A61.

McLachlan was the driver and his 17-year-old girlfriend – a former boarding-school pupil whom we have chosen not to name – was in the front passenger seat. A third named man was in the back seat, said prosecutor Imran Khan.

Officers, noting a strong smell of cannabis inside the vehicle, searched the car and found 7g of ketamine inside McLachlan’s wallet. His girlfriend and the male passenger had small amounts of cannabis.

A roadside test revealed he had been drug-driving for which he subsequently received an 18-month driving ban.

McLachlan was arrested and taken into custody, where police found 18 wraps of cocaine and ketamine.

Officers searched a flat in the Dragon Road area where McLachlan and his girlfriend had been living together and found more drugs and £3,585 cash – the proceeds of his dealing. 

McLachlan, lately of Woodfield Road, Harrogate, was charged with six separate drug charges, including possess cocaine with intent to supply, cannabis possession, possessing ketamine with intent to supply, supplying ketamine, possessing MDMA and possessing criminal cash.

He pleaded guilty to all charges on the basis that he had been dealing within his own social circle.

His girlfriend – was charged with being concerned in the supply of ketamine. She initially denied this but later pleaded guilty on the basis that she acted as a conduit for her boyfriend.

Ismael Uddin, for McLachlan, claimed his young client was no “master criminal” despite having criminal convictions.

Mr Uddin said:

“He was living in a predominantly middle-class area…where he started dabbling in drugs.”

“He didn’t have a hard upbringing; there was nothing wrong with his life. He simply fell into the lifestyle he was in.”

He pointed to McLachlan’s “glowing references” from “everybody” who knew him, and he was in gainful employment.

Susannah Proctor, mitigating for McLachlan’s then girlfriend, said she had been “achieving (educationally) at a very high standard” until she met McLachlan.

The female defendant, now 20, had been at boarding school until the age of 16 and then enrolled at a college where she met and fell in love with McLachlan.

She failed her college course because of her relationship with her co-accused but was now back in full-time education in London.

Ms Proctor said:

“She is now doing extremely well (educationally).

“Her parents were obviously devastated by this offending. She has disappointed them in ways she could never have expected.”

She said the woman had “closed her eyes to the reality” of what her boyfriend had been up to, and the resulting court case had been an “awful” experience for her family.

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Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said there was no getting away from the fact that McLachlan was a “supplier and street-dealer” and must face justice to serve as a warning to others that “drugs wreck lives”.

The judge told McLachlan he was “going to keep (the jail sentence) as low as I can”.

“You were (supplying drugs) so you could live in your flat with your girlfriend and it’s thanks to you that she is here (in court).”

McLachlan was jailed for 18 months, he will serve half of the term behind bars before being released on licence.

Dealers peddling Class A substances can normally expect sentences of at least four years.

Mr Morris told McLachlan’s female co-defendant: 

“Were it not for the influence of the person you fell in love with, you wouldn’t be here. You need to have a long, hard think about where you are going in life and who you choose to spend time with.”

She was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours’ unpaid work.

The judge postponed financial-confiscation proceedings until September, when McLachlan will be stripped of the cash he made from his dealing enterprise. 

Ripon Cathedral and two churches in Knaresborough will be holding services this evening to allow congregations to offer their condolences.

Ripon Cathedral is holding a service of evensong at 6pm today to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The cathedral told its congregation, via Facebook, that the service will include a reflection from the Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson DL. The service will be sung by the lay clerks of the cathedral’s choir.

Prince Philip died last Friday, aged 99

The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner, will be attending.

The tenor bell will toll ahead of the service, half-muffled.

Guests will require a ticket, which can be booked here, and the cathedral asks everyone to be seated for 5.45pm.

Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle last Friday, aged 99.

During the period of mourning the cathedral has been open to visitors. People have been invited take a candle and a prayer card and sit in the cathedral to reflect.

Read more:

• Prayers were said for Prince Philip at Ripon Cathedral last weekend.
• Image Gallery: Prince Philip in the Harrogate district.

In Knaresborough, the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Goldsborough will be open for prayer vigils.

Due to covid restrictions the churches have said they will not be offering books of condolence.

All of this evening’s services will be held in line with coronavirus restrictions.

In North Yorkshire, 95% of families have secured their first choice of primary school for their child.

Today, many families will have breathed a sigh of relief after receiving news of where their child will attend primary school in September.

A total of 94.91% of families received a place at their first-choice school and 98% got one of their top three preferences.

One Stray Ferret reader said she was “over the moon” her daughter had been offered a place at their preferred school.

Another got in touch to say their child would also be starting at their first-choice school in the next academic year, but remarked that her child had grown up so fast as they still “seem too little”.

Similar high percentages were seen in March when older children received their high school places. Nine out of ten children in the county secured a place at their first-choice high school.

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Stuart Carlton, corporate director of children and young people’s services, said:

“We are pleased that so many families continue to gain the first preference from their choice of schools and that the percentage remains consistently high.

“As a local authority we work hard with all North Yorkshire schools to ensure they deliver the highest standards of education so that families who are not given first preferences can still send their children to good schools.

“We wish all children starting primary school in September all the best and hope they experience a happy and exciting start in their new schools.”

Nine coronavirus cases have been reported today in the Harrogate district by Public Health England.

Although the number remains low, there has been an increase in cases this week compared with last week.

The total since the start of the pandemic now stands at 7,617.

The district’s seven-day average rate of infection is now 20 per 100,000. This is below the county’s average of is 25 per 100,000 and the England average of 28.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital. The total since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

The hospital said today it has five inpatients with coronavirus.

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In other covid news, it has been revealed today that for 19 days in the summer, vaccinations will be suspended at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

This is to allow events, including the Great Yorkshire Show, to go ahead.

Traders at Harrogate Farmers’ Market reported good sales today when they returned after the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The market was held on Cambridge Street for the first time since January and featured 25 stalls selling everything from a hog roast to woollen blankets to vegetables.

The market, organised by Yorkshire Farmers’ Markets, is normally held on the second Thursday of each month but it moved this month to coincide with the reopening of shops.

The town centre was busy today, with people enjoying a walk around the shops and a coffee in the sun.

Ryan Jepson, who pitched his cheese stall at the top of the street, said sales were comparable with pre-covid levels:

“Today’s back to where it was before really. It’s good to be back here. Of course, the more markets that reopen the better for us.

“The town looks different with places closed now. As cafes open indoors it’ll get busier again. It’s interesting to see how different people are shopping, using card over cash, keeping away from the stall etc.”

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One of the outdoor market’s longest-serving traders, John Piercy, of Piercy’s Pork was also pleased with how it went:

“Yes it’s been really good today, a lot of our regulars are back. Every market we get fresh customers and I hope they all cotton on to our product and come back. People are wanting to support local now. It’s nice to be back out again.”

Fran Cawthorne, from Yorkshire Blankets, was happy to be outside again after moving to online sales over lockdown:

“It’s been quite busy — we’ve done alright, it’s been a good day. It’s nice to be back out and chatting to customers again.

“We love coming to Harrogate, people have been buying a lot of blankets from us today for when people are sat outside in beer gardens.”

Bettys’ Harlow Carr branch and RHS Harlow Carr have said they will close on Sunday as a mark of respect to Prince Philip.

Prince Philip’s funeral is due to take place at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, at 3pm on Saturday.

Bettys tweeted this morning its Harlow Carr branch and tea house will be closed all-day on Saturday.

Our Harlow Carr branch and Tea House will be closed on Saturday, along with @RHSHarlowCarr, as a mark of respect for the funeral of His Royal Highness Prince Philip.

— Bettys (@Bettys) April 15, 2021

RHS Harlow Carr will also be closed on the day.

Its gardens also closed on Friday last week when news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death was announced.

It said:

“As a royal charter charity, the closure is a mark of respect to our patron, HM The Queen, in line with traditions organisations like ours wish to follow.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience and are offering a refund or a chance to rebook and retail vouchers to visitors affected.”

Saturday afternoon’s sports fixtures are also affected.

Harrogate Town’s game on Saturday has been brought forward to 12.30pm in line with all professional fixtures.

The England and Wales Cricket is requesting local cricket to stop for an hour to pay their respects.

“We are asking all recreational cricket clubs across England and Wales to pause play between 3pm and 4pm next Saturday in order to pay their respects alongside observing the one minute silence at 3pm.”

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate has said there will be no official mark of respect but those officers that can will honour the minute’s silence during the service.

Read more:

• Image Gallery: When Prince Philip visited the Harrogate district.
• The Harrogate district pays tribute to Prince Philip. 

Harrogate Borough Council has opened a new 19-bed homeless centre in Starbeck, called Fern House.

Fern House’s bedrooms are all self-contained with en-suite bathrooms and kitchen facilities. Two of the rooms are fully accessible.

The site, on Spa Lane, cost £2.3 million to be built. It was funded from general funding into the house revenue account and a grant from Homes England.

The accommodation will also provide a support package for those finding themselves homeless. It will run alongside other hostels across the district in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

Fern House also provides laundry and kitchen facilities, a 24-hour reception desk, a large conference room and a meeting area.

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Emergency temporary shelters set up on Tower Street this winter

The council said that, in line with its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) requirements, part of the building will be used to provide temporary emergency accommodation for homeless people in extreme weather conditions.

Previously, the council also had shelters installed on the Tower Street car park, in Harrogate. But after nearly four months these were removed.

At the time, the council said the completion of Fern House was a reason the shelters were no longer necessary.

Masham residents have expressed frustration that one of the town’s play areas has remained closed for five months.

Tittlibottle Park, near the cricket ground, initially closed in November 2019 due to drainage issues.

By the time it had dried out, all playgrounds had closed due to covid.

It reopened in July last year, with a small section fenced off, but closed again in November and has stayed shut since due to the condition of the ground.

Flooding has caused the park to close intermittently a number of times in few years.

Local parents have accused Harrogate Borough Council of not doing enough to make it usable once again.

The play area sits on a flood plain for the River Ure and often collects water flowing from higher ground. It is also close to a handful of other drainage issues all of these are factors in the flooding.

This is not the first time the park has been unusable to locals.

The loss of this play area has been particularly keenly felt by the local community during lockdown.

Bronwen Thomas, a local parent, visited the park at least once a week with her three boys before it closed. She said they had played at the playground near The Oaks instead but added:.

“There are fewer facilities there though, and it is smaller and more exposed to the elements. More recently there has also been the issue of social distancing, which is much harder in the smaller space.

“I’d like to see the council engage more with the community to come up with a joint solution. Local people have invaluable knowledge of the site and its issues and may be able to provide insight that the council currently lacks.”

Another parent, Iain Burgess, has contacted Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, in the hope of finding a solution. He said:

“I have emailed Mr Cooper but his response didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. Unless something is done it will only keep happening. There needs to be action to keep it open.

“It’s such a shame, my son used to meet his friends there after school and now they have to go elsewhere. It’s incredibly frustrating that nothing is being done.”

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Masham Parish Council said it is in talks with Harrogate Borough Council to find a solution. But no confirmed reopening date has been given.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We are working with the land owner (Swinton Estate) and the leaseholder (Masham Town Council) to find a more permanent solution.

“The park is monitored regularly and will either open partially or fully depending on the current level of flooding, subject to any covid restrictions.”