IMAGE GALLERY: Harrogate runs the London Marathon

Today saw the VLM — the Virtual London Marathon. Here are some images of runners taking part in Harrogate – some kindly sent to us by the Harrogate Harriers. Did you run the VLM today and raise money for your nominated charity? If you did please share them with us and we’ll add them to this image gallery. contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Stephen Clegg

Tracy Iles finishing her Virtual London Marathon

Theresa Oldroyd on her VLM

Adam Prentis, chairman of Harrogate Harriers said:

“Today it was simply fantastic to see so many people coming out to support the incredible Virtual London Marathon runners around Harrogate. Some were Club runners, many were social runners, but all have continued to train really hard for months with the principle objective of raising thousands of pounds for their chosen charities. Congratulations to all who undertook the Marathon today. Really great effort.”

Debbie Songhurst at 23 mile point

Nicole Sutton from Ripon

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COLUMN: It’s easy to say now is not a good time for devolution

 

This political column is written by John Harris CBE. John is a former Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council and has been a Harrogate resident for the past 10 years. John is a supporter of One Yorkshire which campaigns for a single Yorkshire authority. 

What is going on? Doubt and uncertainty is growing about the devolution prospects for North Yorkshire and the English counties. Is this to be yet another government U turn?

County areas were to get executive mayors with devolved funds but with unitary local councils, Two tier local government is confusing, costly, and needs to be abolished. North Yorkshire needs a more efficient, effective and economic unitary council structure, ideally with Harrogate combined with York and Selby. The major functions lie with two existing bases (North Yorkshire County Council/York City Council) so the transition disruption to effect the government proposed change in 2022 can be overestimated. An Executive Mayor would focus new energy and investment – a step towards an eventual promised land of proper devolution with a One Yorkshire outcome.

Devolution is needed. The process was in place for North Yorkshire – it is so easy to say this is not ‘the right time’, finding reasons to put things off. North Yorkshire was offered this deal independently of the White Paper; will we lose out?

So what is going on?

Nationally, uncertainty and speculation about government intentions has grown as disquiet amongst conservative supporters has increased. Publication of the autumn devolution White Paper covering all English counties is rumoured to have been shelved:

Where is the formal government invitation to the nine North Yorkshire councils to propose, by September/early October, a new unitary structure? Although proposals have been worked up, the shire district council leaders say now is not the time for a major reorganisation – covid19 and Brexit. The County Council however argue that, as four fifths of local council expenditure is at county level, disruption would be minimised by their unitary proposal based on their existing base, achieving substantial cost savings.

It needs to happen as planned for 2022. My own guess – the hot money is on the government backing off; a North Yorkshire unitary would be a long odds each way bet.

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Next week Strayside Sunday with Paul Baverstock will return. 

23 more positive covid cases in Harrogate district

A further 23 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

Latest Public Health England figures take the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 1,094.

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These figures have come out later than usual due to a technical issue the government says is now resolved. A notice on the coronavirus statistics page added:

“This means the total reported over the coming days will include some additional cases from the period between September 24 and October 1.”

Yesterday North Yorkshire’s Local Resilience Forum, a partnership between public agencies, called for people to go home safely this weekend following the 10pm curfew at pubs and restaurants.

The forum made the call in an effort to avoid crowds in towns across the county.

Pictures from York last weekend showed crowds gathered in the city centre streets following the 10pm closures.

Police release footage of high speed chase through Knaresborough

North Yorkshire Police has released video of a high speed case through Knaresborough to catch a man on a stolen motorbike.

This week, Craig Hindson, from Ripon was jailed for 6 months and given a 15-month driving ban. The court had heard that he was driving like a “lunatic” of speeds of up to 80mph in built up areas to escape the police on an uninsured Kawasaki motorbike.

Police Chase

An image taken from the police video of the pursuit of Hindson

Sergeant Julian Pearson of North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group condemned Hindson’s dangerous driving, he said:

“Hindson showed no regard whatsoever for other people’s safety. Such dangerous riding won’t be tolerated in North Yorkshire and I hope he uses the time in the prison to reflect on his actions, the danger he put other road users in and the potential fatal consequences of riding at such speeds.”

Craig Hindson

During the chase, Hindson taunted the pursuing officer by slowing down and “waving with his hand, indicating to pull over” – only to drop down the gears and speed off again.

The video shows how the police vehicle managed to prevent Hindson pulling onto the A1 and instead the Kawasaki was forced into a dead-end, where it came to a halt and Hindson was arrested.

Number of covid cases in the Harrogate district rises to 919

Nine more people in the Harrogate district have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the latest daily figure by Public Health England.

The figure takes the total number of cases in the district to 919.

Despite the increase, Harrogate was not among the places in North Yorkshire has not been named as an ‘area of concern’ by Public Health England.

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Everywhere, Selby District Council and Scarborough Borough Council were identified as areas of concern due to a rise in coronavirus cases.

The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a group of organisations that coordinates the county’s response to coronavirus, said during the week it was concerned about rising infection rates in Harrogate.

But the town has so far been spared any extra measures amid rising concerns nationally about the increase in infections.

Harrogate Town sign defender Dan Jones and keeper Melvin Minter

Simon Weaver has bolstered his squad with two new signings ahead of Town’s first-ever League Two fixture at 3pm this afternoon.

Left sided defender Dan Jones has signed on a season long loan from Salford, keeper while Melvin Minter arrives on a short-term contract.

Jones, who can play at either centre back or left back spent two seasons at Barrow before the 25-year-old joined Salford last season, then being sent back to Holker Street on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Born in County Durham, the 6ft tall defender started his career at Hartlepool in the Football League, before spending time at Grimsby, Gateshead and Fylde before signing with Barrow at the start of the 2017/18 season.

During his time at Barrow Jones accumulated over 75 appearances for The Bluebirds, also making the 2018/19 National League Team of the Season.

Jones has also been involved with the England C team. He made his debut on 20th March 2018 when starting in a 3–2 away win over Wales.

On joining Harrogate Town, Jones said:

“I’m over the moon to finally get the deal done, speaking to the gaffer and to Thirs I couldn’t wait to get it done.

“Everything they’ve said, the way they portray the club and the lads I’m delighted to be involved.”

Jones is eligible for todays fixture against Southend and is hoping to add quality to the Town side:

“I want to play as many games as possible and help the lads as much as I can. I like to play left back as I like to get on the ball and get forward. I’m quite quick and like the battle of the one v one.”

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Goalkeeper Melvin Minter joins the Town squad with over 100 senior appearances under his belt.

The 25-year-old has played with semi-professional sides Hanwell Town, Harrow Borough, Whitehawk FC and most recently Kings Langley in the Southern Football League.

The London born keeper spent time at Brentford as a youngster, training with the first team and featuring for the U21 side before leaving at the start of the 2013/14 season.

Jones will wear the number three shirt for the 2020/21 season, while Minter will wear number 25.

 

History: The story behind Harrogate’s Spitfire plaque

This History is written for The Stray Ferret by Harrogate historian, Malcolm Neesam:

Eighty years ago this summer, the Battle of Britain was fought in the skies of southern England, when as is widely known, the immortal achievements of Spitfire pilots saved our nation. The cost in terms of pilots and planes lost to enemy action was formidable, and to try to compensate for planes destroyed in combat, the British Government started a campaign for communities throughout the land to raise funds to build more Spitfires.

The campaign was successful, but a few communities achieved so much that in 1941, the Government decided to recognise their efforts by awarding them a plaque, and Harrogate was one such community to receive one for its astounding success in raising the huge sum of £7,000.

For many years, the plaque was proudly displayed in the old Council Offices in Crescent Gardens, but by the 1970’s the metallic surface had begun to deteriorate, so it was removed and subsequently lost. Following a local history lecture by myself in which the plaque was described, one of the audience -who was the son of a Spitfire pilot trainer – suggested to me that the plaque should be restored, and efforts then began to either locate the lost original, or to create a replica to mark the eightieth anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Spitfire plaque

Thanks to a number of generous donors, Harrogate Civic Society, the assistance of Harrogate Borough Council’s Planning Office, and the kind co-operation of the Crown Hotel, a replica of the Spitfire plaque was obtained which was unveiled in a temporary location yesterday by The Lord Houghton of Richmond, GCB, CBE, DL, the retired Chief of the Defence Staff.

The unveiling was also in the presence of the Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Stuart Martin MBE and Mayoress April Martin, and also representatives from the Harrogate RAF Club.

Very soon the plaque will be fixed in a permanent position on the facade of the Crown Hotel, which during the War was occupied by the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

Malcolm Neesam:

Malcolm Neesam was born in Harrogate and graduated from the University of Leeds as a professional archivist and librarian. He subsequently worked in Hereford, Leeds, London and York where, for twenty-five years, he was North Yorkshire’s County Music and Audiovisual Librarian.  Malcolm is a much-published author. In 1996 Harrogate Borough Council awarded Malcolm the Freedom of the Borough for his services as the town’s historian.

 

LNER to increase train numbers on East Coast line from tomorrow

LNER is to increase the number of trains on its London to Scotland services from tomorrow. The train operator said it would add more than 1,600 seats for customers each weekday compared with the current timetable.

There will an additional 10 services on the London to Scotland line . The company says it is expecting more people to use the trains in the coming weeks and the extra services will help with social distancing.

LNER Managing Director, David Horne, said:

“The changes that we’re introducing from 7 September will increase our service levels from around 75 per cent up to 85 per cent of our pre-covid timetable, so it’s a significant step forward as we welcome more passengers back to our services

“These additional services will also provide a welcome boost to communities along our route, such as Peterborough, York and Newcastle, which are just some of the destinations set to benefit”

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LNER says it has continued to have extra cleaning on trains and at stations. People can only travel if they have reserved a seat to allow passengers to be spaced apart and it remains mandatory to wear a face mask.

LNER said it has supported research done by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) which found the risk of covid-19 infection being less than 0.01% on an average journey. Its analysis has shown the risk of contracting coronavirus while travelling by train is about 1 in 11,000 journeys.

Harrogate aspiring actor thrilled to hit his Drama School fundraising target

An aspiring actor from Harrogate has achieved his fundraising target to go to a prestigious drama school – with help from Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe.

Harry Pritchard needed to raise £13,799 in order to pay the fees for LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), where he won a place earlier this month for a year-long course.

The former Harrogate Grammar School student’s cause was given an incredible boost this week by actor Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winning actor not only shared Harry’s fundraiser, but donated £2,741 – almost enough to pay the deposit for the course by this Thursday’s deadline.

This morning Harry hit his target and tweeted his thanks

We’ve done it!! I still can’t believe it. There are so many people to thank but I have to say a massive thank you to  @russellcrowe and @TerryGeorge for everything over the past week and thank you to the 244 donors who have helped make my dream a reality.

Russell Crowe also tweeted his delight at Harry hitting his target:

Congratulations Harry.

Looking forward to hear of your success.

thank you to everyone who got involved and gave this young bloke a lift and a helping hand , you are all lovely and brilliant

Get Harry to LAMDA Drama School https://t.co/HigNzD6Hul

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 29, 2020

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Assaults on North Yorkshire police up 60% during lockdown
Assaults on police officers and police staff in North Yorkshire rose by almost 60% during lockdown.

The attacks include employees being punched in the head, bitten, spat and coughed at, kicked, scalded with hot water, head-butted and having their eyes gouged – all within the last few months.

Since lockdown began in March, 87 assaults against North Yorkshire Police officers and staff have been reported. During the same period in 2019, the number was 55. That’s a 58% rise.

In the last month alone, there have been 21 reported offences. The figures cover police officers, PCSOs, custody personnel, police staff, Special Constables and volunteers.

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Chief Constable Lisa Winward said the assaults showed a  “deplorable attitude to those who are making great sacrifices to serve their communities”:

“Throughout the pandemic, officers and staff across the force have being showing a level of commitment, diligence and professionalism that is nothing short of incredible.

“Some colleagues have made significant personal sacrifices so they can continue to serve the public, such as not living with their families. Many have put their own anxieties aside, as they face difficult or potentially dangerous situations head-on. All have stepped up to the mark to help deliver an exceptional level of policing, right across North Yorkshire.

“So these assaults reflect a deplorable attitude to those who are making a great sacrifice to serve their communities.

If you assault an emergency services worker, you will be dealt with robustly to the full extent of the law. It’s that simple.”

North Yorkshire Police Federation Secretary, PC Brad Jackson, said police officers and staff have played a very important role during the pandemic:

 “North Yorkshire Police Federation is incredibly proud of our members professional response and dedication to serving our public during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately we have continued to see incidents of abuse and violence against our officers.

“The Federation campaigned nationally for the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Offences) Act which carries a punishment of 12 months’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of an offence against police officers and emergency personnel.

“We urge the courts to do the right thing by using their full sentencing powers so that the law provides the deterrent and punitive effect it was intended to.