Knaresborough’s Yorkshire Cancer Research shop reopening next week

Yorkshire Cancer Research is to reopen its shop in Knaresborough next week when covid restrictions ease.

The charity shop, on Market Place, will reopen on April 14 at 9am, two days after non-essential shops are allowed to trade again.

The shop helps the charity, which is based in Harrogate, raise funds for cancer research in Yorkshire. Its mission is for 2,000 more people to survive cancer every year in Yorkshire.

Covid measures, such as hand sanitisers, social distancing and PPE worn by staff and volunteers will operate.

The shop will start accepting donations once its reopened, by appointment only. The Harrogate donation centre is still closed for drop-offs.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said:

“Along with many other charities, we have experienced a significant loss of income during the coronavirus pandemic.

“To try to reduce this loss, we acted quickly to start selling donated goods online.

“We are thankful to all those who continued to support us by donating second-hand belongings and searching for bargains in our online marketplaces during lockdown.”

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The shop will be open Wednesday to Saturday between 9am and 4pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Yorkshire Cancer Research’s other shops in Northallerton and Tadcaster will also re-open.

Ripon firefighters rescue cat chased up tree by dog

A fire crew from Ripon rescued a cat that got stuck up a tree yesterday after being chased by a dog.

An RSPCA officer requested help after being unable to coax the eight-month-old moggy down.

The animal got stuck up the 20-foot high tree, on Spring Bank Close in Ripon, shortly before midday.

RSPCA officers at first advised the cat’s owners to use strong smelling food to encourage it to come down.

But when this didn’t work they came to help in person.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crew from Ripon used ladders and a machine-powered saw to retrieve the cat.

It was then returned to its owners unharmed.

It is the second time in recent weeks that firefighters have rescued a cat from a tree in Ripon.

Thanks to @NorthYorksFire Blue Watch for helping ARO Holgate rescue this #cat stuck up a tree in #Ripon, the cat had been chased up the tree by a dog. Thankfully he was unharmed & reunited with its grateful owner! @RSPCA_official 49 pic.twitter.com/mCNEn3XZTS

— RSPCA Frontline (@RSPCA_Frontline) April 5, 2021

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A spokesperson for the animal welfare charity said:

“We’re extremely pleased that this cat could be rescued and reunited with the owner.

“RSPCA officers are trained to use ladders, which they carry for rescues like this, however, in situations where they still are unable to reach the animals we may ask the fire service to help and they often use animal rescues as a vital training aid.

“The RSPCA can request the help of the fire and rescue service but it is entirely up to them whether or not to attend. Some crews use animal rescues for training but emergencies involving people will always take priority.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, I hope you enjoyed your bank holiday weekend. I am back this morning with updates every 15 minutes on the roads and rail links near you.

The live blogs, brought to you by The HACS Groups, aim to keep the Harrogate district moving.

Make sure to keep in touch via social media or email us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Have a lovely day.

9am – Full Update 

That’s it from me this morning, I’ll be back tomorrow morning.

Keep an eye on our site and social media for updates on the Ripon Road closure.

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8.45am – Full Update 

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7.30am – Full Update 

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7am – Full Update

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Roads are looking ok so far this morning, no traffic hotspots to just yet.

Be aware there is a road closure in place around Harrogate Convention Centre this morning, along Ripon Road, to remove the oxygen tanks from the Nightingale hospital.

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Harrogate entrepreneur sets up website to boost local hospitality

A 20-year-old woman from Harrogate has set up a business giving restaurants a platform to make a website and take bookings without paying commission.

Marina Prokoiosifi moved to Harrogate 4 years ago from Greece and has worked in hospitality since.

During her years in various restaurants Marina said she became aware of the huge amounts businesses would spend using commission-based platforms for bookings and takeaway orders.

After losing her job in December, Marina spent time working with a developer to set up the website Dinerly.

The platform allows restaurants to build their own website to use for orders and table bookings. They then pay a subscription fee each month, ranging for £25 to £65 a month. Marina says this makes it much cheaper than using other websites.

She already has two Harrogate restaurants signed up, Taverna and Doe Bakehouse.

Marina has dreams of having a 1,000 restaurants signed up in five year times.

She said:

“I thought why not make something that is easy and sleek to use. It also means restaurants have direct contact with their customers. I was always baffled why businesses had to use the big companies and pay lots of commission.”

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Since setting it up Marina said she has faced some hurdles. She said her lack of formal qualifications and young age has meant some businesses have “questioned” what she has proposed.

She added:

“People don’t always take me seriously. It’s been difficult at times but it’s been a learning curve.”

Marina now has a new job at a branding agency but will continue to work on the website as her “side hussle”. She said she is very passionate and will continue to build the platform and encourage other restaurants to sign up.

Harrogate Youth Festival heads online this evening

The Harrogate International Youth Festival will have a new look this year as it heads online tonight.

The festival’s ‘Big Night In’ will take place at 7.30pm.

It is the longest running International Youth Music and Performing Arts Festival in the UK holding an event each Easter weekend since 1973.

The official festival has been postponed until next year, when international travel resumes. The organisers couldn’t let the weekend go ahead without some form of celebration – so instead they arranged the virtual concert.

The festival organisers will bring regular participants together on Zoom to watch key moments of previous festivals.

Micheal Newby, former Harrogate Mayor, will be hosting the online show and introducing a variety of video footage of recent concerts involving local and international artists.

Mr Newby said:

“This really will be a jammed packed evening! We simply could not put everything in that we wanted to – but I think we’ve got a really good selection that we know our audiences will love to see.

“We can’t wait to be together again and perform at these amazing venues in our community – but until then, we wanted to celebrate these amazing schools, groups and colleges that have performed with us over the years and really look forward to a fantastic Festival year next year.”

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In previous years, the six night festival would start with marching bands parading through the Harrogate town centre. Shows would run in big venues such as the Royal Hall and Ripon Cathedral.

The festival aims to bring, primarily youth, choirs, orchestras and bands together from across the world to perform in Harrogate.

Stray Foodie recipes: The classic Easter Hot Cross Bun

Foodie Lockdown Recipes are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years.

“I’ll be bringing you some of my favourite recipes each week. I’d love to see how you make the recipes your own – let me know by using #StrayFoodie or tagging @thestrayferret in your social media posts.”

Good Friday is a day to eat Hot Cross Buns!

It is said that Monks baked Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday, hence the cross on this spiced bun as a symbol of the celebration of celebration.  It was also said that if you hung a Hot Cross Bun from your kitchen rafters on Good Friday the bread would remain fresh and mould free throughout the whole year.  The cross was supposed to expel bad spirits and people who shared a Hot Cross Bun were to enjoy a close friendship and bond for the forth coming year.

It was Elizabeth the 1st who decreed that Hot Cross Buns should only be sold on Good Friday and no other day.  While all this is superstition and legend, what is interesting is traditionally in this country high days and holidays are celebrated by spice in our food.  So considered a treat!

Unfortunately supermarkets have started making these ‘treats’ available all the year round so therefore a confusion has arisen over when we would like to eat them.  I would suggest by making them ourselves it adds a sense of occasion and enjoyment for the family on ‘the day’.

So at Easter we would expect to eat for Breakfast on Good Friday a freshly boiled chicken’s egg with onion skin in the water to turn the shell of the egg yellow and then paint a face on it followed by a warm Hot Cross Buns.  In your Hot Cross Bun you might like to put chocolate, marmalade or cheese to name but a few additives!

On Easter Saturday is a time to consume all those lovely chocolate eggs and great celebrations on the Easter Sunday with Simnel Cake – ‘Apostle Cake’.  This is a fruit cake with marzipan running through the centre and a ball of marzipan on top to represent an Apostle.  Please note, no icing!  (Icing is just for Christmas..)

But once again mixed spices run through all these food and by making your own you can determine how spicy you would like these delicious buns to be. Ginger, Mixed Spice, Cinnamon, Fennel Seeds, Nigella Seeds – get experimenting!

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You will need to make approx. 12 Buns

300g Strong Bread Flour

6g Table Salt

1 Teaspoon of Mixed Spice

300g Softened Butter

45g Soft Brown Sugar

Zest of 1 Lemon

5g Dried Yeast

1 Egg

100ml Warm Milk

25g Mixed Peel

50g Currents

Mix the dried yeast with the warm milk and allow to stand. Beat in the egg and sugar. Sieve in the flour, salt, mixed spice and add in the softened butter. Add the zest of lemon and sugar. Mix well.

Place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling film and prove for one hour after which add the currents and mixed peel.

Knock back and knead well. Make the mixture into 60g balls and put on a baking tray lined with silicone to prove.

When they start to prove mix 300g flour with 300g water and place in a piping bag and pipe a cross on the top each bun. Leave to continue proving until doubled in size. This proving time will depend on the warmth of your kitchen – it doesn’t need to be too hot!

Cook at 180c – 190c for 20 minutes.

Newby Hall and Gardens open today

Newby Hall and Gardens are set to reopen today after months of closure due to covid restrictions.

The gardens and adventure gardens will reopen alongside a new attraction – the enchanted wood trail.

Described as a “beautiful woodland walk”, the trail is for children and families to enjoy. Children can meet a number of woodland characters and even Titus the Troll along the way.

Unlike last year when Newby Hall missed out on the Easter holiday, this year it can take advantage of the easing of lockdown rules and reopen to the public.

However, the miniature train and the river boat cannot open until April 12. The restaurant is also only open for takeaways.

From May, it is hoped the house itself, the dollhouse and the teddy bears can be fully opened.

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Commercial director, Stuart Gill said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to open on time this year. We were so disappointed to not open as usual at Easter last year; we all look forward to opening and to not have that or even a prospective opening date was a huge blow.

“We hope to welcome visitors back with the stunning gardens and our enchanted wood trail, which should keep the children entertained!”

The enchanted wood trail runs from today until April 11 and tickets must be booked in advance here.

Missing Leeds man could be in Ripon area

Police are appealing for information about a 56-year-old missing man who it is thought could be in the Ripon area.

Ian Kowalczyk was last seen near his home in Stanningley, near Pudsey, just before 10am on Friday.

Mr Kowalczyk has links to North Stainley and it is thought he could have travelled there.

West Yorkshire Police described him as white, 5ft 11ins tall, slim build, with short brown hair that is starting to go grey.

He was last seen wearing a padded camouflage coat, blue jeans, and brown Sketchers trainers.

The man was driving a silver Kia Ceed, registration RJ12 HNK.

ian_kowalczyk_car

Ian Kowalczyk’s car

In an update released yesterday, Michael Herbert, of Leeds District CID said:

“Ian has been missing for five days now and we remain very concerned for his welfare and urgently need to find him.

“His family believe he could have travelled to the village of North Stainley where he has past connections. We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen him in that area or the silver Kia Ceed he is driving.

“We have no information to confirm that he is there and would still like to hear from anyone who has seen him or his car anywhere else since he went missing.”

Anyone with information can call Leeds District CID on 101 and quote reference number 2069 of March 26. Or use this online live chat.

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Ripon supermarket worker jailed for inappropriate videos of children

A paedophile who collected numerous sex videos involving children and encouraged a girl to expose her breasts on the internet has been jailed for nearly two years.

Timothy Cheesbrough, 35, from Ripon, trawled the internet for inappropriate pictures of children as young as four, York Crown Court heard.

He downloaded videos of children being raped and sexually abused and depraved movie clips featuring “erotic” dancing by a young girl, said prosecutor Julian Jones.

Cheesbrough, a supermarket worker, visited numerous websites, including one in which he used video technology to encourage a girl, aged between 12 and 13, to expose herself.

He first came to the attention of police in September 2018 after they were tipped off about illegal online activity linked to his computer IP address, mobile phone number and associated Yahoo email accounts with female usernames.

Police searched his flat on September 27 2018. Cheesbrough was initially arrested on suspicion of the possession and distribution of indecent images.

He refused to answer police questions but forensic analysis of his internet devices, including an iPhone, desktop computer and hard drive, revealed a collection of more than 170 illegal child images.

These covered of all levels of seriousness including 61 Category A images and videos – the worst kind of such material.

Prosecutor Mr Jones said some of the Category A videos were “particularly disturbing” and included girls between four and 12 years old being raped by adult males.

In one of the recorded videos – from a website frequented by like-minded individuals – Cheesbrough, and possibly others, urged a girl in a school uniform to expose an intimate part of her body.

Mr Jones said:

“The female remains unidentified.”

Cheesbrough, of Kirkgate, had used PowerPoint software to record the live-streamed video, added Mr Jones.

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The Ripon man admitted three counts of making indecent images and one of causing or inciting an under-age girl to engage in sexual activity.

Temitayo Dasaolu, Cheesbrough’s defence, said her client had embarked on his nefarious online activities after becoming socially isolated because he was working night shifts at the supermarket.

She said:

“He accepts he fell into this offending out of curiosity.”

She added Cheesbrough had mental health problems and had been extremely distressed since his arrest in 2018. He had since sought professional help and had been planning to set up his own electrician’s business.

Judge Sean Morris told Cheesbrough:

“You have fallen into the trap that the courts see often: of becoming addicted to surfing the internet looking for pornography, which has descended into actively seeking out (indecent images of children).

“It’s bad enough looking at illegal images of children, but when an adult male goes online and takes part in the incitement of a child to engage in indecent behaviour, that I’m afraid is so serious that it can only be met by an immediate prison sentence.”

“That child will soon realise that images of her are out there. What that will do to her mental health, one can only speculate.

“It was deliberately sought out (and) it would appear that that was a website where others were also observing or encouraging (the girl), and the images were recorded.”

Cheesbrough was jailed for 21 months, of which he will serve half behind bars before being released on licence.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order, which will last seven years and is designed primarily to curb his internet activities.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register, which forces him to notify the authorities about any change in his circumstances and whereabouts after he is released from prison.

Harrogate teen wins bronze at Para Powerlifting World Cup

A 19-year-old from Harrogate has won a bronze medal for Team GB at the Para Powerlifting World Cup.

Charlotte McGuiness was third in the women’s up to 50kg category with a bench press of 74kg.

The sports and exercise student’s performance has increased her chances of competing in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

Charlotte, who studies at Leeds Trinity University, said her passion for the sport began while studying at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate.

The event took place at the Wythenshawe Forum in Manchester without spectators and with covid measures in place over the weekend.

There were five competitors in the event. Besides Charlotte, there were lifters from Britain, Spain, Ukraine and Japan.

Charlotte McGuiness on the podium

Charlotte on the podium after receiving her bronze medal.

Charlotte trains four times a week, focusing on university work in the mornings. Due to lockdown she has had to setup a gym in her Harrogate home but continues to her sights high.

Charlotte now has her sights set on the World Powerlifting Championships in November.

She said:

“I was shocked when I won my medal, I only started two years ago and I’ve gone so far. It’s motivated me to keep going. The Paris Olympics are in three years time and that would be a dream,”

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Sarah Todd, sports development manager at Leeds Trinity University, said:

“I could not be prouder of Charlotte, to achieve a bronze medal at the World Cup at 19-years-old is incredible.

“She works so hard and is such a determined and focused young woman in her sport and her studies, so it is fantastic to see the hard work pay off with a medal.”