Police alerted after travellers set up camp at Ashville College

A group of traveller families has set up camp on Ashville College’s sports field off Yew Tree Lane in Harrogate.

The independent fee-paying school said is was alerted at 9.00pm last night to their arrival and that police have attended the scene.

In a statement the school said it was working closely with the police to remove the travellers and their vehicles as soon as possible.

This not the first time travellers have pitched up on Ashville’s sports fields. In August 2021 travellers parked on the school’s land and demanded money to leave. They left only to return weeks later. The school then started legal proceedings against them before they eventually departed.

Today Ashville College said:

“Naturally, our priority is to ensure the safety of our pupils and to minimise disruption to normal School life. We have taken a number of precautionary measures today including postponing home sports fixtures and ensuring close supervision of our boarders as they move around the campus.

“All parents were contacted on Friday evening and we will continue to update them as we monitor the situation.

“We are grateful to our families for their understanding, and praise our staff for making every reasonable effort to prevent the break-in. The continued vigilance of our staff and supervision of pupils on-site is of paramount importance”.

 

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Business Breakfast: IDR Law announces multi-million pound investment

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate based IDR Law has announced a £3.25 million growth capital investment from BGF – one of the largest growth capital investors in the UK.

IDR Law is the only UK law firm to specialise solely in the resolution of contentious wills, probate and trust disputes. The majority of the firm’s work is generated by referrals.

The firm’s IDR Network (IDRN) launched last year provides members with an online referral and support space for contentious issues, along with extensive training,  general resources and commentaries.

The deal will allow IDR Law to invest in talent and legal tech, as well as expanding its office network to the Midlands, North East and London.

Martin Holdsworth, founder and CEO of IDR Law, said:

“By its nature, our work is very emotive, so it’s crucial for us to deliver the best possible service to referrers and clients, which is reflected in our exceptional client and referrer NPS scores. We have identified opportunities for significant growth, but we will only take on cases where we genuinely believe we can help someone reach their goals. BGF understood what we are looking to achieve and that it’s essential we continue to do this in the right way.

“Our business is built on strong foundations because of our focus on our people and culture.  From day one, we were set up to work remotely so we could offer our lawyers the opportunity to work flexibly with paid overtime and a healthy balance between work and home. Because of this, we’ve been able to attract the best talent with a 20-strong team based across the UK with 90% of our workforce made up of women. It’s also the most productive and engaged team I’ve experienced working with.”

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New Executive Chef at Swinton Park

Ruth Hansom has been appointed Executive Chef at Swinton Park Hotel near Masham.

Ruth who has worked at The Ritz, The Ledbury and L’Enclume said her aim is to ensure Swinton achieves five star status in the next 12-18 months.

She said:

“I am thrilled to be joining the team on the at Swinton Estate as Executive Chef.  I am excited to showcase the best of Yorkshire’s produce, from the Estate’s own walled garden to the surrounding farms and producers.”

Ruth has redesigned the restaurant kitchens with between 50% and 80% of the food served in the hotel’s Samuel’s restaurant sourced from the Switnon estate.

Dame Susan Cunliffe-Lister, owner of Swinton, said

“We are delighted to welcome Ruth to Swinton Estate as our new executive chef.

“Her vision and enthusiasm for both the food and the process of delivering it – from kitchen design to creating a happy and fulfilled catering team, really stand out.  We are sure she’ll be a huge asset to all of the dining experiences we offer at the Swinton Estate.”

Ruth Hansom, Executive Chef, Swinton Park

Business Breakfast: Staff welfare is focus of Stray Ferret networking event

The next Stray Ferret Business Club will focus on staff wellbeing and work culture.

The lunch at Manahatta on June 29 will hear a talk from Rebecca Gosling, HR Lead for LCF Law in Harrogate. The firm was recently named by the Sunday Times as one of the UK’s best places to work. 

The aim of the monthly Stray Ferret Business Club events is to network, share knowledge and business ideas.

Rebecca said:

“Creating a culture of wellbeing in the workplace is not just a luxury, it underpins our HR strategy.

“We are delighted with our achievement in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work accolade. This is a reflection of our focus on our people and culture.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to share LCF’s wellbeing focus with like – minded professionals.”

Tickets for the lunch are available here.

Cycling store focuses on women riders

Specialized Concept cycling store in Harrogate is to become the first store outside London to stock MAAP clothing.

Specialized said it was keen to support the growing number of women riders – 40% of the MAAP range in store will be women’s cycling apparel.

Assistant manager Felix Geldart said

“We see MAAP as a premium brand and I think it will represent a lot of the riders that we have coming into the shop.

“We’re having more of a focus on women than we have done previously – over the past few years we’ve seen more groups and avenues for women to get involved in cycling.”

Specialized is supporting the inaugural 2023 Women Race North Road Race league, across the North East, North West and Yorkshire.

The store is hosting a series of activities this weekend to celebrate MAAP’s arrival.

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Harrogate dance store to close its doors and sell online only

The Adage dance store in Harrogate is to close its shop and only on selling online.

The specialist shop which sells clothing and footwear for different types of dance opened on Cheltenham Parade eight years ago.

The owners said in a post on their Facebook page that they had recently had to review how the store operated due to the rising cost of utilities, stock and a change in customer shopping habits.

They also said the arrival later this year of a new baby for one of the team played a part in the decision.

The statement said that “after careful consideration” they had taken the decision to move to becoming an online retailer only and would miss their in-person relationship with customers.

The store which fits pointe shoes for ballet dancing said their fitter would offer a new service visiting dance schools to fit on-site from January next year.

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Starbeck residents encouraged to apply for community grants

Residents of Starbeck have been invited to apply for grant funding to help enhance where they live.

Applications for the Starbeck Community Small Grants Fund opened this week.

A fund of £300,000 was created in 1992 following an agreement with the developers of the Morrisons supermarket in Hookstone Chase. Interest from the fund has enabled annual grants to be given out.

The grants are distributed by North Yorkshire Council for the benefit of residents.

Two funding categories are available, with grants of up to £200 for individuals and up to £1,000 for community groups.

In 2022, six awards were made. Time Together received gardening tools and seeds, St Andrew’s Church got a new cooker, Harrogate Hawks rugby team was successful in getting money for storage and equipment, Claro Enterprises received lighting for a community workshop, Starbeck Library received a new tea and coffee machine and new Christmas lights were purchased for Starbeck.

Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division on North Yorkshire Council and sits on the grants panel, said:

“Starbeck residents take great pride in their community and grants like this help to further improve the area in which they live.

“I would encourage people to once again make the most of this opportunity and submit their applications for funding as soon as possible.”

The deadline for applications is 4.30pm on Monday, July 24. Full details and how to apply can be found by visiting the NYC website.  

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Business Breakfast: From apprentice to partner at Lithgow Perkins

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Two new partners have been appointed at Harrogate accountancy firm Lithgow Perkins, a decade after they joined as apprentices.

Tom Rhodes joined the firm in 2012 after completing his A Levels at Rossett School, while Tom Lowry, a former student of St Aidan’s and Rossett schools, joined a year later after changing tack part way through a sports degree.  Both progressed through their training and a series of demanding industry exams to become fully qualified chartered accountants in 2020 and 2018 respectively.

Their latest promotion will see them work alongside current partners to help develop the firm’s services and grow its client base. They will also help train the five apprentices currently at the firm.

Tom Rhodes said:

“We’re delighted to be recognised with this promotion which is the culmination of a lot of years of hard work. Lithgow Perkins is a great place to work and we’re very grateful for all the support we’ve had from everyone as we’ve developed our careers in accountancy.”

Tom Lowry added:

“Over the past ten years, we’ve been given some great opportunities to expand our knowledge and skills across all areas of accountancy, as well as developing the softer skills needed for client-facing work. We’re looking forward to helping strengthen and grow Lithgow Perkins for the future by taking a proactive and innovative approach that will add value for our clients.”

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Harrogate hotel’s art helps hospital charity

Harrogate’s Cedar Court Hotel has displayed two paintings by local artist Jos Haigh’s- both purchased from Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity‘s art event held in February.

The Exclusive Art Event took place at Cedar Court Hotel and raised in excess of £4,000 for HHCC.

The paintings, Falling (below pictured left) and Forever ( right) continue to raise money for the charity through a featured QR code that encourages guests to donate to HHCC.

All donations to HHCC go towards enhancing the facilities and environment for patients, their families and colleagues across the whole of the trust.

Wayne Topley, Managing Director at Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate said

“Cedar Court Harrogate was very proud to host the charity auction and very pleased to see such a positive response and turn out for the event.

“We went as hosts, but when we saw the quality of what was on offer at the event we soon became customers.”

“We refurbished our lounge last summer and still had left a couple of key spaces in the area for additional artwork, but up to that evening we had not been able to find the perfect fit.

“The quality of Jos Haigh’s collection of work and of course the opportunity to further support HHCC, made the entries into the auction for the two canvas’s a very easy decision.

“The two paintings ‘Falling’ and ‘Forever’ now sit very favourably in our lounge area, and we receive positive feedback on them daily.”

Harrogate and Ripon beekeepers urge public to report swarming bees

The Harrogate and Ripon Beekeepers Association has called on the public to get in touch if they come across a swarm of honey bees so they can be safely collected.

Now is the time of year when honey bees can swarm in search of a new home. During a swarm, thousands of bees can be found clustering on gates or in trees and hedges.

Diane Pritchard from the association told the Stray Ferret why the bees swarm. He said:

“A swarm happens when a colony gets busy and crowded. The old queen will leave with about half the bees to start a new colony. Before the old queen leaves the bees that stay have made a new queen.

“There can be up to 20,000 bees in a swarm but it’s normally around 5,000 to 10,000 bees.

“It can look quite alarming but unless you start to swat it they are not dangerous. They’re not being defensive they are looking for a new home.”

The Harrogate and Ripon association has 400 members and covers all Harrogate postcodes, as well as Skipton, Northallerton and Leeds. Each year, its members collect around a hundred swarms.

The association’s Swarm Team has two people at the end of phone line and, when a swarm is reported, the nearest beekeeper will don a bee suit and take specialist equipment to pick it up. The service is free.

If the swam is in a tree the beekeepers knock the branch or cut it down and let the swarm fall into a box. The box is then opened near an empty hive which the bees generally colonise.

A branch full of swarming bees is placed next to an empty hive

Honey bees have had a rough time in recent years with disease and pesticides impacting bee numbers.

More recently the bees have been threatened by a new foreign predator that has made its way to the UK – the Asian hornet, which eats pollinators such as bees.

Diane said:

“Honey bees have a much better chance of survival if they are looked after by a beekeeper rather than living in the wild. Diseases and pesticides are always a threat.

“We’ve had three confirmed sighting of Asian hornets in the UK this year – one in Newcastle. The aim of all the associations is to raise awareness of the Asian hornet so if you think you see one, please report it.”

The association’s Swarm Search co-ordinator can be contacted on 07471 784210.

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The Dishforth man who launched a Yorkshire watch company in lockdown

When Dishforth resident Simon Hebb met Chris Holder on their regular train commute from North Yorkshire to London, they discovered a shared passion for watches.

Then in 2020, during lockdown, the two made a decision to launch their own watch company in Yorkshire and The Winton Watch Company was born.

Simon Hebb told the Stray Ferret:

“During lockdown we both stopped travelling and spent more and more time at home.

“I ended up going down an internet worm hole and came across an opportunity to establish our own watch brand at sensible prices.

“It was bit of fun and it’s turned into something more than that.”

Chris Holder and Simon Hebb, founders of The Winton Watch Company

Winton watches began retailing in March 2021. It took time to get the first batch made.

The company currently has four models with a fifth titanium watch due to be launched later this year. The watches are all named after unsung British pioneers including Alexander Winton – a British engineer who was an early car maker in the US.

The watches are automatic, designed in Yarm and hand assembled in Switzerland using off the shelf Swiss watch parts.

Mr Hebb says he wants the watches to be worn and enjoyed – not locked away as an investment. The current models range from £585.00 to £850.00.

Mr Hebb said:

“Establishing a watch brand in England is a challenge. Winton’s aim is to stay small and exclusive – many of the best known watch brands sell millions of watches which erodes exclusivity.”

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The two men are currently focusing on building the Winton brand and selling the watches online.

The one retail outlet where they can be seen is in in Harrogate at the Jewellery Exchange in the Victoria Centre.  Mr Hebb said they wanted a physical presence  “where people can look and feel them.”

John Kirkland who runs the Jewellery Exchange said:

“The Jewellery Exchange is proud to be nominated as a northern stockist and service centre for the Winton Watch Company and sole distributor for their range in Harrogate, Ripon and the surrounding area.

“We look forward to showing this new and exciting British brand’s range of Swiss made exclusive watches to our new and existing clients”

Public asked to “think” before dialling 999 after increased demand

North Yorkshire Police have asked people to “stop and think” before dialling 999 for non-emergencies after a significant increase in demand over the past two days.

The force said a combination of good weather, the start of half term and an influx in visitors to the county have resulted in a rise in calls to its control room.

The advice is to call 999 for an emergency and for non-emergency matters contact the police  through its website or call 101.

If someone accidentally dials 999, the advice is to stay on the line. In a “pocket dial” situation the force said its 999 operator will pass the call to the control room.  The call handlers will then ring the number back to establish whether it is a genuine emergency.

Superintendent Fiona Willey,  head of customer contact said:

“The staff in our Force Control Room are working extremely hard to deal with the increased demand.

“The sunny weather will inevitably lead to more calls so we’re urging the public to consider if their call is necessary and if it’s a non-urgent matter, could it wait until after the weekend.

“It’s also important that members of the public consider which service they need. There are many agencies out there that can offer help and support.

“If it is a genuine emergency then we are here to help. Our staff are trained to triage every call through a threat, risk and harm assessment which leads to that call being prioritised accordingly.”

Further details on how to contact us can be found here. 

Bishop Monkton WW2 veteran gets military surprise on 100th birthday

An army veteran from Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, has received a military-themed surprise on his 100th birthday to thank him for his service during the Second World War.

Family and friends of Ernest Tindall laid on afternoon tea at the local village pub, the Masons Arms, to mark his 100th birthday.

Unknown to Ernest, they had also organised for a group of veterans to join the celebrations and to help him relive his military exploits.

Ernest’s wartime story

Ernest was just 18 when he joined the Army in 1941.

In May 1944 he was involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino, a crucial encounter as the Allies pushed north into Italy towards the end of the Second World War. In December of that year, he was injured in a grenade attack and taken prisoner.

He spent the remainder of the war in a prisoner of war camp in Austria. Ernest served with the 5th Northamptonshire Regiment, now part of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Ernest was one of 10 children, eight of whom served in and survived the Second World War. Ernie is the last of his siblings still alive.

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At this birthday tea, several ex-servicemen living in the village got together to add a military flavour to the celebrations.

A military historian from the nearby Army Foundation College in Harrogate gave a short talk about the campaigns Ernest was involved in.

The veterans also organised military memorabilia be brought to the celebration, including a new Royal Anglian beret for Ernest.