The former prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats has announced she will not stand for the party again in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Judith Rogerson, who won 20,287 votes to Conservative Andrew Jones‘s 29,962 in 2019, said she had been asked by “lots of people” whether she would make a second bid to be elected.
However, posting on Twitter this morning, she said:
“Lots of things have changed for me in the past 18 months. Last year I had to step back from politics after I needed major surgery for cancer.
“Happily I am fully recovered and 2022 has been much kinder with a wedding and, in the autumn, a new member of our family.
“As much as I would like to carry on as H&K’s PPC, I’ve had to recognise that it won’t be possible for me to give that important role the time and dedication it needs this time round.”
The local Liberal Democrat party said a selection process has begun to select a new PPC, decided by a vote of its members in the constituency.
The chosen candidate is expected to be announced by the end of the summer.
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Ms Rogerson added:
“I loved my time as H&K’s candidate and am proud of everything we achieved.
“We built up a strong team of campaigners, won some excellent council by-election victories and halved the Tory majority in 2019.
“Most recently the Lib Dems became the biggest council group within the constituency.
“Whoever is the candidate next time will be starting from a strong position and I will be supporting them all the way.”
In response to Ms Rogerson’s announcement, David Goode, constituency chairman for the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems, said:
“After some tough times, the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dem family are so pleased to see her happy and healthy and we thank her for all the hard work she invested in this constituency.
“Being a PPC takes up a huge amount of time and we fully support Judith’s decision to prioritise her family life. We wish her well for the exciting times ahead!
“We know our new PPC will continue to build on Judith’s achievements, as we continue to build momentum towards the next election…
“The local election results clearly showed that voters in Harrogate and Knaresborough have had enough of this government, with voters putting Boris’s Conservatives on notice.
“The Lib Dems will be campaigning for a win at the next general election, be that in the autumn, 2023 or early 2024.”
The Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency has been represented by Mr Jones since 2010, when he won the seat from retiring Lib Dem MP Phil Willis, who had previously had a majority of more than 10,000.
Then, the Conservative majority was just 1,039 over Claire Kelley of the Lib Dems. In 2015 and 2017, Mr Jones increased this to more than 16,000 and 18,000 respectively.
None of the other parties have confirmed who will represent them in any upcoming election. A date has yet to be set, but it will have to be held by December 2024 in line with the maximum five-year parliamentary term.
Business Breakfast: how to make the most of TikTokBusiness Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Secrets of TikTok success to be shared at Harrogate networking event
A business owner who uses TikTok for recruitment will be the guest speaker at a networking event next month.
Sally Bendtson, who runs Limelight HR, became a social media sensation with her entertaining videos during the first covid lockdown.
She has used them to raise the profile of her business and, most recently, even as part of her own recruitment.
She will be sharing the secrets of her TikTok success with Business Ladies around Harrogate (BLaH) on Friday, July 1.
The group meets at William and Victoria Restaurant on Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, at 11.50am on the first Friday of each month. The speaker’s presentation is followed by informal networking over a two-course lunch, finishing at 2.30pm.
Tickets are £30 per person. For more information, visit the BLaH website.
Harrogate colleagues climb Snowdon at sunrise for Yorkshire Cancer Research
A group of Harrogate colleagues have climbed Snowdon at sunrise to help raise funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
The employees from Belzona hiked up the highest mountain in Wales as part of their year-long fundraising for the charity.
Lily Alexander-Pike from the company said:
“We first suggested the idea to the team after one of our colleagues had done it and said how amazing it was.
“We had so much interest and everyone really got behind it, either taking part or donating. We were amazed to raise over £3,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Research in sponsorship.”
The team, which consisted of 28 people from design and manufacturing firm Belzona and two employees from Yorkshire Cancer Research, began their climb at 1am to reach the 1,085-metre peak for sunrise.
Lily added:
“It was surreal walking up in complete darkness, but when the sun rose the views were just incredible. The journey back down was like a completely different walk when you could see everything around you.”
Yorkshire Cancer Research was nominated as one of this year’s charities by Sarah Furber, a member of the finance department, because she has family members who have been affected by cancer.
The team has also organised a chocolate raffle, a cutest pet competition and more to add to its fundraising.
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Teens left in tears by Northern train guard’s ‘heavy-handed’ fine
The parents of three teenagers left “in tears” after being issued with a fine on a train journey have criticised the guard’s “heavy-handed” approach.
Freddie Fulford, 15, and his friends Evie and Oscar Bartle were travelling from Cattal to York on Saturday, June 3.
It was the first time the three had gone into York together and Freddie’s dad, Tony, said they were looking forward to a day out on their own.
“They jumped on the train with no tickets because it was in the station when they arrived.
“There is a ticket machine at the station, but they didn’t know you couldn’t pay on the train.”
Cattal Station
Once the guard realised the teens didn’t have tickets, he issued them with fines of £20 each. The teenagers said they were told in an “intimidating and frightening” way that the maximum penalty was three months in prison.
Upset by the fine and the threat of a criminal record, the teens called their parents from York station in tears.
Mr Fulford, who lives in Harrogate, said:
“They could have paid there and then or the guards could have said ‘buy at ticket on the app and we’ll come back in a minute’. It was just so heavy-handed.
“The obvious answer would have been to let them buy the tickets on the train and explain what they should do for next time.”
He said both families have submitted complaints and appealed against the fines. They had heard from other parents whose children had been fined for similar situations and had successfully appealed.
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Both sets of parents are in a position to pay the fines, he said, but he was concerned about other families who were not. He added:
“The main point is to stop it happening again.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Northern for a response to Mr Fulford’s concerns about their handling of the situation.
In response, Tony Baxter, regional director for Northern, said:
Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity“Customers have a duty to buy a ticket for travel before they board a train.
“They can do so in advance via our app and website or, if they wish to purchase at an un-staffed station, they can do so from one of the more than 600 ticket machines we have installed across the network – one of which is at Cattal station.
“Customers should arrive at the station in time to purchase their ticket before they travel. Anyone issued with a penalty fare has the right to appeal the decision to an independent appeal service.”
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity
A new head of fundraising has been appointed at a Harrogate counselling and training charity.
Kennie Cheung, whose experience includes time at Oxfam and a cancer charity in her native Hong Kong, joins Wellspring Training and Therapy in Starbeck.
Emily Fullarton, the executive director of Wellspring, said demand for mental health care had risen and was continuing to grow since the covid pandemic. She added:
“In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime. According to local research, many people in Harrogate assume because it is a ‘nice town’ people don’t struggle with these issues. That simply isn’t true.
“There is a huge demand in Harrogate for our services and it’s increasing. The NHS, which is responsible for mental health care, simply can’t cope.”
Wellspring offers affordable counselling from just £5 per hour to people who cannot afford to pay for private appointments and who face long waiting lists on the NHS.
Clients can have short-term support or a long-term course of sessions with a qualified counsellor, depending on their needs.
Kennie said:
“This is a dream job for me. The political situation in Hong Kong, combined with the fact that our son Samuel is studying at University of Leeds, meant that we wanted to relocate to England and, in particular, Yorkshire.
“Harrogate is the most wonderful town – and I count myself incredibly blessed to have found a job here, which is suited to my skills and which is so worthwhile. I look forward to making new friends and contacts here and to reach out to individuals and businesses who are keen to help such a brilliant mental health charity like Wellspring.”
Read more:
Great British Menu chef appointed at Ripon hotel
A leading Yorkshire chef has been appointed to lead the pan-Asian restaurant at Grantley Hall.
Samira Effa will be head chef at Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, joining the five-star hotel from TRUEfoods where she was a senior production chef.
She is widely known for competing in the 2019 and 2020 series of Great British Menu, showcasing Yorkshire produce as well as her love of diverse cooking techniques and flavours thanks to her Iranian mother and Nigerian father.
The Huddersfield-born chef said:
“I’m honoured for the opportunity and so excited to be joining the Bar & Restaurant EightyEight team and know that with my breadth of knowledge across the industry, I’m ready to showcase some exciting flavours and bring new ideas to the EightyEight menu.
“I’ve always had a passion for food and with my parents’ rich backgrounds, it was common for us at home to cook together using traditional Iranian and Nigerian recipes – both of which are bursting with flavour. I can’t wait to get stuck in at EightyEight and bring my own flair to the restaurant which I know is a popular spot for hotel guests and diners alike.”
Simon Crannage, executive head chef at Grantley Hall, added:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Samira to the Grantley Hall family and are very excited to see what she brings to Bar & Restaurant EightyEight.
“Samira has an exceptional culinary track record, along with having a genuine passion and love for food that I know will translate into her dishes for our diners to enjoy.”
Petanque players invited to sign up for return of charity tournament in Harrogate
A charity tournament with a friendly feel will return to Harrogate this summer.
The Saint Michael’s Cup sees teams of petanque players – from amateur to more experienced – compete to win the trophy and support the town’s hospice at the same time.
Teams of three can enter for a £20 donation to the hospice and will then be put in a group to play against others. The winner from each group will go into the knock-out rounds.
Although it marks 10 years since the first Saint Michael’s Cup was held in 2012, it has had a two-year gap thanks to covid. Organisers Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club are hoping there will be renewed enthusiasm for the simple yet competitive game.
Club chairman Nigel Clay said:
“We’re fortunate we still have support from Ellis Bates as our sponsor for the tournament. We’re looking forward to raising money for the hospice again, and hopefully meeting some new teams as well as those who’ve taken part before.”
The tournament will be launched next Sunday and run until September, when the finals will be held.
The new club headquarters in Oatlands
The launch will be part of the official opening of the club’s new base at Pannal Ash Junior Football Club (PAJFC) on the playing field next to Oatlands Junior School, off Hookstone Road. The event runs from 11am to 3pm, with the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Cllr Victoria Oldham, officially opening the new courts and kicking off the charity tournament.
Club members will be playing against a team from Leeds, offering visitors a chance to see how the game works, and there will be time for social play.
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While covid may have put a stop to the tournament for two years, the club has seen a rise in membership. As a game which lends itself to social distancing yet is sociable, petanque – also known as boules – was ideal for playing outdoors when covid restrictions allowed.
The launch of the new venue with its 10 courts adds to the existing four at the pierhead bouledrome on top of Montpellier Hill in Harrogate town centre. Club chairman Nigel Clay said:
“The pierhead is ideal for social play and small groups, but lacks facilities. We have been working for some time to find a larger venue to host full club events and competitions.
“Oatlands provides all we need in terms of facilities over the summer, when we will use it, and for PAJFC during the football season.”
For more information about the Saint Michael’s Cup tournament, visit the club website or call Nigel Clay on 07735 388359.
Public meeting next week over future of Woodfield schoolA public meeting will be held next week over the future of Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton.
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has vowed it will take parents’ views into consideration as part of a consultation over a possible closure of the school.
The authority has now confirmed the closure would take effect from December 31 this year.
It has announced three options for future school allocations: the Woodfield catchment area could become part of that of Grove Road or Bilton Grange primary schools, or it could be split or shared between the two other schools.
The meeting will take place at Woodfield school on Wednesday at 6pm.
Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, member for education and skills at NYCC, said:
“Woodfield Community Primary School governors, together with North Yorkshire County Council, have worked extremely hard to find a solution which would see the school remain open but, sadly, this has not produced any viable options.
“During the consultation we will listen to parents’ views; we will also review the opinions of other groups involved with the school. Everyone will be given the opportunity to contribute.”
NYCC said it would welcome any views on its proposals, or alternative plans being put forward. All contributions will be part of a formal review which will be considered by the council’s executive before a final decision is made.
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News about the consultation over the proposed closure was announced last month, ending months of speculation about the school’s future.
It followed its last Ofsted report labelling the school ‘inadequate’ in January 2020. Woodfield was then forced to try to find an academy to join.
Governors were in negotiations with nearby Grove Road Community Primary School, but a planned amalgamation to take effect from September fell through this year.
Woodfield’s governors said they had “exhausted all options” and were left with no choice but to consult over the closure.
Parents have protested to keep the school open.
As well as attending the meeting on Wednesday evening, parents can take part in the consultation on the council’s website.
Part of the consultation will include asking parents of current pupils to state their preference for an alternative school for their children to attend, either following any decision to close Woodfield, or sooner if they prefer.
A council spokesperson said:
“The overall intention will be to ensure fairness around the school transfer process in the event that a decision is ultimately taken to close the school.
“It will allow the local authority to apply consideration of admissions criteria to each request and avoid allocating places on a first-come, first-served basis.”
The authority said its admissions team is always happy to give advice to parents and can be contacted at schooladmissions@northyorks.gov.uk.
New Ofsted report finds ‘extremely happy’ children at Kirkby Malzeard Pre-SchoolA pre-school in a village near Ripon has been praised for the way it cares for and educates its pupils.
Kirkby Malzeard Pre-School was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in its latest inspection, which found children were well-behaved and had good manners.
Inspectors said their communication and language development was supported “exceptionally well”, with activities adapted for different ages and abilities. They said:
“Children are extremely happy and settled in the pre-school. On arrival, they are greeted enthusiastically by the warm and caring staff.
“Children know the routine well. They confidently hang up their coat, place their lunch boxes in the trolley and go to the bathroom to wash their hands before they go and play.
“Children feel safe and secure. They speak confidently to staff and initiate friendly conversations with peers.”
Ofsted visited the pre-school on May 4 and rated it ‘good’ in every area, maintaining the ranking from its previous inspection six years before.
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Inspectors recommended offering children more opportunities to build their independence at snack time, though they said the snacks provided were healthy and children had plenty of opportunities for outdoor play.
They also suggested improving the way staff find out from parents about children’s abilities when they begin pre-school, so they can “plan even more meaningful experiences from the start”.
With the eldest children about to begin primary school, the pre-school is preparing to welcome new pupils from September.
Early years lead Tracy Sidgwick said:
“We’re very happy with the report. We feel it’s a good, true reflection of our provision.
“The recommendations were just small tweaks we need to make and they’re easily done. In fact, pre-covid, they were done, but things have been a bit different and it has brought to our attention that we hadn’t reverted back to what we did before.”
Ms Sidgwick said she was especially pleased with the fact the inspectors had spoken to children at the pre-school, which she said gave a real feel for the setting, and with the positive comments given by parents.
The report said:
Plaque unveiled to Harrogate’s first publisher and postmaster“Parents are exceptionally happy with the care their children receive. They describe the pre-school as ‘phenomenal’, and that staff are ‘fantastic and always smiling’.
“They are happy with the communication they receive and say it is a ‘safe and happy environment’ for their children to be in.”
A plaque has been unveiled to commemorate an early founder of publishing in Harrogate.
Pickersgill Palliser established the town’s first printing press and founded the Harrogate Advertiser, as well as being the town’s first postmaster.
He launched the first List of Visitors to Harorgate Spa in 1834, and continued to publish the list in the Harrogate Advertiser after he founded it two years later.
In 1840, he published Palliser’s History and Directory of Harrogate.
Harrogate Civic Society has erected a plaque in his memory at 9 Royal Parade, his former home.
It was unveiled by the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Cllr Victoria Oldham, in an event organised by the building’s current owner, Janet Love, who has been researching Mr Palliser.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Civic Society said:
“In 1855, he purchased the land for 8 and 9 Royal Parade, directly opposite the Royal Pump Room entrance. We have the original handwritten deeds.
“He subsequently had the buildings erected as shops with fine period living accommodation above. He is recorded as living at 9 Royal Parade in the 1871 census and running the shop below as Low Harrogate Post Office.
“We are proud to remember him and to go on honouring Harrogate’s spa history as he did.”
For more information about local plaques, visit the dedicated Harrogate Civic Society plaques website.
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Flower power to flood Harrogate in summer competition
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Flower power to flood Harrogate in summer competition
Town centre shops are pulling out all the stops to take part in a floral competition organised by Harrogate BID.
The Floral Summer of Celebration will see the organisation work with Harrogate in Bloom to stage the contest after a two-year absence.
More than a dozen businesses have already signed up across five categories as they aim to live up to Harrogate’s reputation for floral excellence.
Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman said:
“Harrogate is famed as a floral town, and to mark this wonderful heritage we are staging a Floral Summer of Celebration.
“This will take place between July 15 and August 12, and will see the town centre become home to a floral trail featuring eight unique displays. There will also be an exhibition in Victoria Shopping Centre looking at different aspects of Harrogate’s floral history.
“Floral-themed shop windows will play a big part in this celebration, and we hope as many businesses as possible will participate in the competition.
“We already have more than a dozen businesses signed up, and with three weeks to go, I’m confident they will be joined by plenty more.
“The floral displays will be located across the town centre, and together with dozens of hanging baskets outside town centre businesses, the numerous flower beds maintained by Harrogate Borough Council, more than 200 barrier baskets funded by Harrogate BID, and some specially commissioned floral street art, Harrogate will be a blaze of colour and well worth a visit.”
The project is being supported by Harrogate Borough Council through the government’s Covid-19 business recovery funding.
There are three weeks left for businesses to sign up before judging takes place, with criteria including first impression, overall design, containers’ size and style, and condition of plants.
Read more:
Charity seeks sponsor to maintain vital minibus service
A sponsor is being sought for a vital transport service provided by a Harrogate charity.
Harrogate Skills for Living Centre (HS4LC) runs a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) to enable its service users and residents to get around.
With adaptable seating, it can carry up to two wheelchairs and was in use throughout the pandemic to ensure people could access important services.
Now, a partner is being sought to support the service, which costs £1,500 a month to lease, or to buy a new vehicle for around £35,000. It could carry the sponsor’s branding to show the company is supporting a local charity.
HS4LC CEO Hadyn Moorby-Davies said:
“The WAV is an absolute lifeline for our residents and other service users and frees them from reliance on public transport services.
“During the pandemic, it was the only way some of our residents could get out. Both our care homes use the WAV regularly both for local shopping trips and trips further afield, for instance out to the countryside and coast.
“The only downside is sharing it across services as the demand is always there. In reality we could do with two or even three!”
For more information about sponsoring the vehicle, contact HS4LC.
Until a partner is found, HS4LC continues fundraising to keep the minibus on the road. To donate, visit the JustGiving page.
Runners unite to volunteer for community through new Harrogate groupA new project is bringing together fitness, socialising and giving time to the community in Harrogate.
Community Fit will see a group of volunteers get together for a short, social run to a location where they will help out with a project for an hour before running back again.
Organisations to benefit could include charities, schools, community groups or environmental organisations.
Anna Glazier from HADCA said:
“Community Fit ticks all the boxes – being active, socialising, helping others – all of which can improve your sense of wellbeing.
“We aim to be accessible to people who may not yet be regularly active, as well as to committed runners who would like to incorporate something a little bit different into their weekly training.”
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Two trial events have already been held, which saw more than 16 hours of help given by volunteers to the Pinewoods Conservation Group and Artizan Cafe and Creative Space across two evenings.
The new project is a collaboration between North Yorkshire Spot and Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) which each have a member of staff dedicated to organising it. They said runners at the trial events loved the energy and enthusiasm of the group, as well as how much they could achieve in just an hour when working together.
The first meeting of the group takes place on Wednesday, June 15 at 5.45pm. The group will run around 1-2 miles from Community House on East Parade in Harrogate, returning by around 8pm after the work is complete.
New participants are welcome and do not have to be fast or experienced runners – the journeys will be at a social pace. To register to attend, visit the Community Fit website or find the group on Facebook or Instagram.