This column has been written for the Stray Ferret by Dr Terry Bramall CBE. The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation is based in Harrogate and has been for many years one of the UK’s largest donors to the Prince’s Trust.

I first met the Prince of Wales some thirty years ago when he came to Durham to open a small housing estate for the Durham Aged Miners Housing Association. He was charming, interested and engaging and made the occasion very memorable.

Nearly 20 years later when my colleagues and I had sold our company, my wife Liz and I formed our philanthropic foundation. We were determined to make a difference and thought quickest way to get results was to offer change to young people and the best deliverers for that purpose was the Prince’s Trust.

Within 18 months we were one of its biggest supporters.

During the last 15 years we met and observed the King many times. We found out why the Prince’s Trust was so successful. He took an intimate interest in assembling the right people to work with, visiting their offices and meeting the youngsters who join the programmes that they offer. Its impact on the lives of some of our most vulnerable young people has been profound and we have witnessed that. Normally when royalty make visits they don’t spend long in one place. My wife and I visited an annual Trust prize giving one year at the Odeon, Leicester Square. The now King sat on the stage all afternoon, shaking hands and congratulating all the nominees from around the country. This was truly an example of his devotion to his causes and beliefs.

Up to now, he has been, at times, a controversial figure. That is principally because he has been before his time. I think of his bringing quality design to individual housing, housing estates and villages. In farming he was promoting growing our food organically. Behind his ideas, his aim was to improve the health of people and the planet. Today we realise that the controversy arose because he recognised the benefits before the majority and, as Prince of Wales, he could fight for these causes.

As King, of course, he can’t because he now has a constitutional role working much more closely with Parliament.

I know he recognises this and I look forward to him establishing himself and bringing his dedication to service that I have experienced through being associated with the Princes’ Trust.

I know he will be relinquishing his leadership role of the Trust and consequently we will not meet as we have but I believe he will be a very worthy King.

Read More: 

• Column: The Herculean responsibility of inheriting a role at a young age
• Column: I discovered the close personal interest Charles takes in those charities he is involved with

Changes to bin collections across the Harrogate district have been confirmed for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Harrogate Borough Council has announced that all collections will take place a day later than usual from the day of the funeral which is being marked with a bank holiday on Monday 19 September.

This will affect garden waste, refuse and recycling collections, and all household waste recycling centres will also close on Monday.

The date changes for bin collections are as follows:

• Monday 19 September will be Tuesday 20 September
• Tuesday 20 September will be Wednesday 21 September
• Wednesday 21 September will be Thursday 22 September
• Thursday 22 September will be Friday 23 September
• Friday 23 September will be Saturday 24 September

Normal collections will then resume on Monday 26 September.

Meanwhile, all council-run leisure centres in the Harrogate district will also close on Monday “to allow the team to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” the council said.

Customer services for both the borough council and North Yorkshire County Council will also be unavailable on this day when Harrogate’s Civic Centre will close.

Anyone who needs to get in touch with the borough council in an emergency should call 01423 556300.

Read more:

• Ripon hornblower holds two-minute silence for The Queen
• The makers of Ripon’s royal miles of bunting
• The Queen’s funeral: Harrogate district arrangements for Monday

One of the largest Women’s Institute groups in the district has celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

Knaresborough WI is the biggest of the town’s seven WI groups and is the only one that meets in the afternoon.

Yesterday it held a tea party to celebrate but also used the event to commemorate the Queen and pay tribute to her. The Queen herself was the longest serving member of the Sandringham WI.

Christine Keane was the first president of the Knaresborough WI back in September 2012:

“There appeared in our local supermarket an advertisement which said the Federation would like to start a new WI in Knaresborough in the afternoon which was quite a new thing as traditionally they’re always in the evening.

I had just retired and I went along to a meeting. There were only 8 of us there and none of us knew anything about how to run one or how they worked.

“Fortunately we grew quite rapidly in that first year and we got better at it as our experience grew.”

Christine said being a part of the WI has given her to much:

“Friendship, love, support and education. I’ve learned so much. There are so many opportunities that you wouldn’t get in any other organisation to do things”

Read More: 

• Queen’s coffin drape supplied by royal flag makers in Knaresborough
• The Queen’s funeral to be televised at Ripon Cathedral

Over the years the Knaresborough WI grew so large it had to move to its current home of The Hub at St John the Baptist Church.

It now has a membership of 65 and is the second largest in the North Yorkshire West Federation, which is based in Ripon.

Maddy Willmott the current president said:

“Being an afternoon WI we are geared to older members but we take on any age and do have some younger members. We are never short of people and currently we have a waiting list.

We meet, we chat, we drink tea! Tea is the stalwart of the WI. We have a very successful book group, we have a craft group  and a walking group.

“We try to keep up with the times and adapt.”

The Stray Ferret asked both Christine and Maddy who would be their dream WI speaker — the answers …Gyles Brandreth and King Charles III.

Knaresborough WI is one of the largest in the district

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

The district’s hospitality businesses are deciding whether or not to open on Monday 19 – the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.

Alyson Griffiths the manager of the  Prince of Wales in Starbeck told the Stray Ferret that the pub would stay open. The decision was taken by its operators the Craft Union Pub Company yesterday. Ms Griffiths said the idea was to be somewhere for people who lived alone to congregate and watch the service.

The Queen’s Head in Kettlesing said it would close during day but open again at 6pm.

Bettys of Harrogate has said its cafe tearooms will be shut on Monday 19.

The government has designated the day of the funeral as a Bank Holiday but left organisations to decide for themselves if they’ll stay open and give employees a day off . It has said

“The government cannot interfere in existing contractual arrangements between employers and workers. However, we would expect that many workers will be able to take the day off on the bank holiday.

“We also expect employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take the day of the funeral off work.”

Read More:

• Rural Harrogate has worst internet connections in county
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate business announces first Chinese Board of Directors

Beauty therapists, The Treatment Rooms in Harrogate are celebrating after winning an award.

The salon on Mayfield Grove won Best Beauty Treatments in the Yorkshire category of the  England’s Business Awards. They now go through to the finals in Birmingham in November.

Celebrating on their Instagram account Alex Smith said:

We couldn’t all be there last night…however I am so proud of my fabulous, talented & hard working team!!

Every one of my team shows so much care & attention to detail with every customer who walks through our door & this goes to show!!

The “coffin drape” that covers the Queen’s coffin as it journeys through Scotland to Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral this afternoon has been made by a small team of specialist flag makers in Knaresborough.

Flying Colours in Knaresborough has a royal warrant and has been supplying flags to the royal household for more than 15 years.

It’s managing director Andy Ormrod, told the Stray Ferret that because the Queen had died in Scotland a specific drape was used:

“The drape is the Royal Standard for use in Scotland and it is not a flag.  Its has been made with hemmed borders with no clips or ropes so it can’t  be raised on a flag pole.

“The drapes were completed last year — the Royal Family is very organised and work well in advance. “

The drape is 12 ft by 6 ft in dimension and made of heavy ceremonial flag fabric — a mix of polyester and polyester cotton.

Each drape takes up to 50 hours of work and is made by one person in the 18-strong team so there is a consistency of stitch work.

Mr Ormrod said his team was immensely proud of its work but there is a muted atmosphere in the workshop

“It’s incredibly strange. We’ve had Brexit, then covid, then we lost Boris and Liz Truss was with the Queen one day and then this. It’s gut wrenching and we are bitterly sad.

“But then everyone around the world is looking at the wonderful work she’s done.

“We have the best royal family and it’s amazing watching all the protocol. We’re very proud to be involved.”

Tomorrow the coffin will leave Scotland for England and the drape will be changed to the Royal Standard of HM The Queen.

The Scottish standard that sits on the top left and bottom right of the Royal Standard is for use in Scotland.

The Royal Standard for HM The Queen has the three lions on the top left and bottom right.

Read More: 

• Floral tributes to Queen increase at Harrogate war memorial
• Proclamations of King Charles III made in Harrogate and Ripon
• Column: The Herculean responsibility of inheriting a role at a young age

A man from Harrogate is ‘running the date’ with an extra mile everyday to raise money for fund set up in memory of his close friend.

Darren West, from Bilton, started with one mile on September 1 and will build up to running 30 miles on the last day of the month.

He is fundraising for the Alastair Mackenzie Fund, set up by his wife Christina after Alastair took his own life.

The fund works with local groups to ‘raise awareness of suicide prevention and improve the mental health resources available to those in need.’

Mr West and Alastair Mackenzie started as work colleagues but became good friends. When Alastair died, he said it was “absolutely devastating.”

Mr West first saw the idea for the challenge on social media.

After having taken a break from running, he thought it would be able to get back into the sport. He said:

“I thought, that’d be doable. I’d quite fancy that.”

Read more

• Ripon dad hosting charity Tractor Fest
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Initially going to run for fun, Christina Mackenzie asked if he would do it to raise money for the fund.

She is managing the fundraising whilst Mr West focuses on the challenge.

Work and the school run means that Mr West usually has to run in the early hours of the morning.

However, he says that he does not mind it:

“I don’t really get much of a chance in the day to run so I actually run on a morning. I’m not a very good sleeper so my running time normally varies between 1am in the morning and 6am.”

He manages to get some sleep back through power naps during the day.

Here is your traffic and travel update for Monday September 12 – sponsored by HACs.

Road :

Ripon Road – multi-way lights in the New Park area of Harrogate as Yorkshire Water carries out essential work this week.

Oakdale and Kent Road in the Duchy – road closures and diversions in this area from today until September 23 for gas main replacement work.

Just outside the district Sutton Bank on the A170 between Helmsley and Thirsk is set to undergo an extensive maintenance programme.

Due to the scale of the scheme, a full road closure will be in place from until 7pm on Sunday, 2 October.

Bus Cancellations

The following bus services are cancelled today – go to the transdev website for updates

The 1A
Aspin to Harrogate 8.06am

The 1C
Carmires to Starbeck 9.16am
Carimires to Harrogate 6.59am
Harrogate to Carmires 8.51am

#The 7
Weatherby to Harrogate 6.50am
Harrogate to Leeds 7.25am
Leeds to Harrogate 9.25am

#The36
Starbeck to Leeds 6.23am
Leeds to Harrogate 7.40am, 8.55am, 9.55am, 10.25am, 11.55am
Harrogate to Leeds 7.35am, 9am, 9.25am, 10.55am

Rail 

Rail services are running to time this morning on the Harrogate line. Check for further updates with Northern Rail. 

Planned strike action for the 15 and 17 September has been suspended due to the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

Belzona which manufactures polymeric repair and protection systems and has a base on Claro road in Harrogate, has announced the appointments of Charli Yu Walton as Corporate Development Director (China) and Fred Lu as Technical Director (China).

The appointments follow the creation of Belzona Molecular Technology (Nanjing) Ltd in 2019 and mark a significant next step in the company’s international expansion strategy.

Mrs Walton originally from Harbin, China, joined the company’s Harrogate-based marketing team in 2011.  She will be responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies to consolidate and accelerate Belzona’s growth plans in China.

Speaking of her new appointment, Mrs Walton said:

“I am delighted and proud to be appointed to the first Board of Directors of Belzona’s new Chinese company. China has, for many years, been a significant market for Belzona and the formation of the new company demonstrates Belzona’s commitment to growth in the region.

“Through our great brands, products, and distributorships, we bring cutting-edge solutions to our customers in China. We have set an exciting growth agenda for our brands, where innovation, digital marketing excellence, sustainability and collaboration play a crucial role.”

Mr Lu will continue to lead Chinese business from the technical perspective and will head up the development of Belzona’s training programme and technical service support in the region.

He said:

“I am proud to be a member of the Belzona family and am honoured to take on this new role. Belzona has unrivalled experience and expertise globally. Our new Company is a technical hub, providing extensive and customised training programmes to our Distributors and customers in China.

I will keep working hard and do my best to ensure that we achieve our goals and fulfil our great potential in the Chinese market.”

Belzona’s technical support centres based in Harrogate (UK), Miami (USA), Chonburi (Thailand), Ontario (Canada), and now Jiangsu, provide a worldwide presence, enabling the organisation to support its customer and distributor network.

Read More:

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• Business Breakfast: Transport leader to meet Harrogate businesses

Knaresborough Business Park goes carbon negative 

Rabbit Hill Business Park in Knaresborough has announced that it is now a carbon negative business.

The park has been mapping its carbon footprint to develop and improve its carbon reduction strategy and has been working with Mark Thwaite from CarbonNow on an audit.

The report highlighted:

“Rabbit Hill has already made great strides to reduce their carbon footprint, for example using solar panels. Our report reflects the excellent work that they have done and acts as a benchmark so that they can continue to set their fine example as a beacon for other low carbon businesses.

“Rabbit Hill has also invested in sources that contribute to offsetting carbon. They have a solar panel grid on their premises from which they sell generated electricity back to the grid and onto their clients. They also have a very well landscaped site, with trees and hedges that contribute to carbon sequestration.”

Richard Kay, MD of Rabbit Hill Park, said:

“Working with Mark has been very inciteful. We now have several strategies to help reduce our carbon footprint even further, which we will implement over the next 12 months. I would recommend the services of Mark’s team at www.carbonnow.co.uk and get your carbon mapping journey started.”

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by the Chair of The Royal Hall Restoration Trust, Russell M Davidson. 

There is huge national grief at the passing of a much loved Queen, yet as the mourning period gradually passes, thoughts will increasingly turn to her successor.

The Royal Hall Restoration Trust has been privileged to have the new King, in his capacity of Prince of Wales, as its patron for some fifteen years. I had twice met the Prince before I got involved in the trust, but those meetings were at formal events and while he was affable and friendly, I had no knowledge about Charles beyond the ups and downs one reads in the press, including the negative stuff following the death of Diana.

It was not until I met Charles again, with my predecessor, the late Lilian Mina, at the 2008 reopening of the refurbished Royal Hall that I first saw the kindness of the man. Lilian was gravely ill and had difficulty standing and walking, yet the Prince never left her side, helping her up and down stairs, while constantly letting her hold onto his arm for support. I succeeded as Chair of the trust after Lilian’s death and the trustees set about a range of further projects. I discovered the close personal interest Charles takes in those charities he is involved with.

It is not just a case of having a grand name on the notepaper – in contrast, regular contact is maintained with each charity via the private secretaries. The relationship is very much a ‘How can we help you?’ one. When the trust needed assistance developing a future project for the rear of the Royal Hall, we sent our initial designs to the Prince and were immediately invited to visit his architectural foundation in London. We discovered an impressive set-up, housing a school training young woodworkers and designers (beautiful examples of work on display) and were greeted by a friendly American architect who had led the scheme to restore Dumfries House and who provided further expert help without charge. I learned from him that Charles personally, and regularly, reviews the work undertaken by each of his charities and draws on his extensive contacts to find ways of making useful introductions to assist.

He must work incredibly hard, for our trust is only one of many that he is patron of.  We learned that the drawings and letters we sent, via the private secretaries, were actually looked at and discussed by him. Suggestions as to how to alter the presumably not so liked aspects of our designs were made so very tactfully too! And when we have asked for a visit to help with fundraising, there have always been efforts to find a diary slot, difficult though his schedule makes that. We have never had a ‘no’.

It is evident the new King cares passionately about our country, its community and the environment, both built and natural. I am confident, based on my personal experience of dealing with him as patron, that Charles will prove to be a good and kindly King.

Read More: 

• ‘Fondly’ remembering the Queen’s visits to the Harrogate district
• Harrogate ceremony to mark proclamation of King Charles III on Sunday

The district’s churches have been open with books of condolence for people to sign. Tomorrow prayers for Her Majesty The Queen, the new King and the Royal Family will be held across the district. Some parishes have changed their normal orders of service.

Sunday 11th September 

Ripon Cathedral

The cathedral will be open throughout the day for people to sign the book of condolences and pray.

8am – Holy Communion

9.30am – Morning Prayer

10.30am – Eucharist with the Bishop of Ripon. The service will include prayers for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III

3.30pm – Choral Evensong to mark the death of the sovereign Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Cathedral open until 7pm

A book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate

Harrogate

St Peter’s Church  

A book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church on Cambridge Street in the town centre.

8.30am Holy Communion

9.30am Family Communion

11.00am Choral Matins

4.15pm Stepping Stones Service

6.30pm Choral Evensong

St John’s Church on Bilton Lane is open between 9am and 5pm today for “people to be quiet, reflect and pray as they remember and give thanks for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Knaresborough 

Read more

• LIVE: Bells to toll at midday across the district to mark the Queen’s death

Pateley Bridge

A book of condolences has been open at St Cuthbert’s Church in Pateley Bridge.

Vicar Darryl Hall invited people to “feel free to light a candle and say a prayer.”

Prayer stations in Holy Trinity Dacre Banks, St Jude’s Hartwith, Christ Church Darley and St Saviour’s Thornthwaite have been set up where people can light a candle reflect, remember and pray.

Sunday Services:

9:30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Dacre Banks

11am Holy Communion at St Saviour’s, Thornthwaite

6:30pm Holy Communion at Christ Church, Darley

Boroughbridge

St Andrew’s

A parish-wide service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen will be held at St Andrew’s on Sunday, September 18 at 10am.

Roecliffe Church and St James’s 

Both churches, as well as St Mary’s in Dunsforth and St Andrew’s in Aldborough, will remain open as much as possible during the week for people to visit and to sign books of condolence.

Masham

Healey, Masham North Stainley, Well with Snape and West Tanfield 

There are changes to the services for 11 September to enable communities to pray and reflect on her life, reign and contribution to our nation and to pray for the new monarch, King Charles III and all the family.

8.00am         Masham                        BCP Holy Communion
9.30am         West Tanfield               Simple service of Prayer and Reflection remembering her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
10.45am       Masham                         Baptism
11.30am       Masham                        Simple service of Prayer and Reflection remembering her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
10.45pm       Snape                             Holy Communion
4.00pm                                                 Telephone Service
6.30pm        Healey                           Evensong