Harrogate International Festivals has awarded its prestigious crime novel award to Adrian McKinty for his book The Chain.
The Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year, hosted by Harrogate International Festivals, was awarded this evening to McKinty’s novel after the public and prize judges picked him out from a shortlist of six.
The author was close to giving up his writing career two years ago when his family was evicted from their home and he was working as an Uber driver and barman. McKinty was persuaded to give writing one final go, and he wrote his hugely successful novel The Chain.
His book has since been published in 36 countries with its movie rights sold in a seven figure deal. The plot centres around a chain of child abductions, where a child can only be released when its parent kidnaps another child.
Adrian McKinty was “gobsmacked” when he was announced as the winner of the prestigious award.
Adrian McKinty said:
“I am gobsmacked and delighted to win this award. Two years ago, I had given up on writing altogether and was working in a bar and driving an Uber, and so to go from that to this is just amazing. People think that you write a book and it will be an immediate bestseller. For twelve books, my experience was quite the opposite, but then I started this one.
“It was deliberately high concept, deliberately different to everything else I had written – and I was still convinced it wouldn’t go anywhere… but now look at this. It has been completely life changing.”
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The award marks the launch of the Harrogate International Festivals Weekender – a free virtual festival featuring performances and interviews with dozens of musicians and authors.
Adrian McKinty will receive £3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery.
No coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital for over a week
Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any coronavirus deaths for eight days.
It comes as NHS England confirms the total number of deaths in patients with coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital remains at 82, with no further fatalities in figures released today. The last reported death was on July 15.
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- Police say fines are a last minute resort for not wearing a face covering
- Police Federation say face coverings are impossible to enforce
The hospital normally reveals how many patients it has discharged on a Thursday but has not published any new figures today.
Nationally, 19 patients with Covid-19 have died, all aged between 35 and 89 and with underlying health conditions. Four of those were in the North East and Yorkshire.
Cafés in Harrogate say they won’t enforce face covering ruleCafé owners in Harrogate have told The Stray Ferret that they won’t be enforcing the new face coverings rule as it should be a “mark of respect” from the customer.
Guidance was released today about the wearing of face coverings, which saw a change for businesses offering a takeaway service.
The new guidelines state that coverings will be mandatory when buying takeaway food and drink but can be removed when seated at a table. However, the government has outlined that it is the responsibility of the individual to wear a face covering, with shops and cafés encouraged to enforce the rule where possible.
Read more:
- Police say fines are a last minute resort for not wearing a face covering
- Police Federation say face coverings are impossible to enforce
The owners of Bean and Bud on Commercial Street in Harrogate said that the new rules are “common sense”. Co-owner Helen Dolby told The Stray Ferret:
“If you’re coming in for a takeaway and there’s other customers around you, then as a mark of respect you should wear a mask but we wouldn’t enforce it. We deal with hundreds of customers a day, people just need to have a bit of common sense and a bit of respect.”
Owners of Bean and Bud, Phil and Helen Dolby.
Similarly, Dan Bell, the owner of Thug Sandwich Company on Albert Street, told The Stray Ferret that he believes the procedures he already has in place are enough but will follow guidelines and enforce the rule.
He said:
£100 fines for not wearing face masks ‘a last resort’, say police“People who are coming in are literally here for less than 60 seconds, they place their order and then they stand outside and I give them a shout when it’s ready. There’s very little risk of infection.
North Yorkshire Police says only “as a last resort” will officers issue £100 fines to people not wearing face masks in shops.
From tomorrow, it will become mandatory in shops to wear face masks or face coverings to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
NYP also urged the public not to call 999 to report people for not wearing a face mask. Instead, reports should be made online.
The Stray Ferret has published a list of local retailers selling face masks.
Superintendent Charlotte Bloxham, silver commander for the response to Covid-19, said:
“Since the new regulations were announced, we have been liaising with local retailers to explain how we will police these new regulations.
“Demand on our service is almost back to normal pre-coronavirus levels, so we have to prioritise where we deploy our officers.
“We will take a sensible approach to enforcement and hope people understand that we cannot attend every incident. To that end, please bear this in mind before reporting anyone for not wearing a face-covering.
“To help keep our phone lines free for urgent policing matters, we urge anyone who wishes to report a breach of the regulations, to do so via our online coronavirus reporting form which can be found on our website. Please only call if a situation escalates and your safety is threatened.”
Read more:
- Where can you buy a face mask in Harrogate?
-
‘Impossible’ to enforce face masks in Harrogate shops, says police federation
An Oxford University study found that face masks are effective in protecting the wearer from the virus as well as everyone around them.
Last week, the Stray Ferret spoke to Rob Bowles, chair of the North Yorkshire Police Federation who said issuing fines would be “impossible and impractical.”
Several retailers in Harrogate also said mandatory face coverings could put people off coming to the town.
Clare Nelson, manager at menswear shop Porters, said:
Harrogate Town says ‘thank you’ to fans with ticket price freeze“I would feel uncomfortable telling customers to wear a face covering. If a big group of lads were to walk in without them I don’t think I would be able to tell them to wear one. It might put people off coming into the shop. I don’t think we would be able to enforce this.”
Harrogate Town will freeze both matchday and season ticket prices next season, even if the club gets promoted to League Two.
The club said it wants to “reward loyal fans” who have been unable to watch their team play in person since March due to the lockdown.
An advanced standing matchday ticket price will remain at £16 for an adult and £12 for a concession. A standing adult season ticket will be £269 and a concession will be £189. A full price list is on the club’s website.
The English Football League and the National League are yet to announce when the 2020/2021 will begin — but last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for fans to return to sporting grounds from October, albeit at a reduced capacity.
Town is currently building a new stand at the CNG stadium which will increase the ground’s capacity to 5,000.
Harrogate Town will play Boreham Wood at the CNG Stadium at 2.30pm on Saturday with the winner going onto Wembley on August 2 for the chance to play in League Two next season. The game will be shown live on BT Sport.
The Stray Ferret will be reporting live from the CNG Stadium.
The winner will play the winner of Notts County vs Barnet which also takes place on Saturday.
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver said:
“Over the last 12 weeks club business has continued and that has involved preparations for the new campaign. Part of that work involved ticket pricing. I am really pleased that, together with the directors, we decided to freeze the prices for next season whether we are playing our football in the National League or the EFL.”
“The players and I wanted supporters to know how much we count on your following, we wanted to say thank you at this difficult time. We look forward to seeing you all at the ground in the near future.”
The announcement was welcomed by Jordan Ford of the Harrogate Town Supporters Club.
The club was criticised by fans last season for raising ticket prices after its promotion from the National League North.
Read more:
Jordan told The Stray Ferret that the ticket price freeze could attract more fans to the club.
He said:
Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate Climate Coalition“Credit to the club in identifying the mistakes which were made last season. Hopefully this decision will drive us forwards in expanding our supporters base.
“There’s a lot of potential for new supporters in the town, and by offering an affordable ticketing policy is a great way to attract this support. It would great if those supporters will be watching us in League Two.”
Environmental campaigner Malcolm Margolis has resigned from the Harrogate Climate Coalition because of a “lack of action” around climate change.
The group was formed at the beginning of this year after Harrogate Borough Council rejected calls to declare a climate emergency in 2019.
It brings together councillors as well as green groups and local businesses — with the aim of working together in the name of sustainability and helping the environment.
Mr Margolis was a member of the Coalition’s sustainable transport subgroup that was set up to look at cycling lanes and how to get people out of cars.
Mr Margolis said he wanted to group to be “not just another talking shop”.
He said:
“The Climate Coalition was set up in recognition of environmental emergency – but it doesn’t feel there’s a sense of urgency if you don’t have meetings for months.
“The environental emergency is an infinitly more serious problem than Covid-19. It’s absolutely central that we act with urgency. The scientists are telling us we need to act now.
“Cllr Haslam said he wants the group to bring about small quick wins that can make a difference at a local level – but if nothing happens for two months then you’re not going to have any quick wins.”
Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the chair of the subgroup Cllr Paul Haslam said the Climate Coalition was a “great leap forward” for the environment in the district but conceded that action hasn’t been as fast as he would have liked.
He said:
“I agree fully with Malcolm that people haven’t seen anything yet.
Cllr Haslam said after the second meeting of the group, it became clear the members wanted to be “more than just a talking shop — they wanted it to be effective”.
Read more:
Cllr Haslam said he has had meetings with senior figures in North Yorkshire County Council and has presented them with “every single idea” that the Climate Coalition has come up with.
The group will meet again next week.
He added:
Turkish Baths Harrogate considers cutting same sex sessions“I want to get us into positions so we are effective, so we don’t just generate the ideas but they get through so we can make changes quicker.”
Turkish Baths Harrogate is considering dropping single-sex sessions from its timetable.
Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the baths, said a timetable consisting entirely of mixed sessions would reflect “equality and balance”.
A spokesperson for the council told The Stray Ferret:
“We’re considering the removal of single sex sessions from the timetable at the Turkish Baths to reflect the increased spotlight on equality and balance across the world. This change would allow complete accessibility during the timetable for all genders. We see this as a positive development allowing greater access to all our customers and would allow us to fully, and fairly, consider all genders and orientations.”
This consultation comes at a time when there are debates about how transgender people use different facilities.
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The baths stopped male-only sessions back in 2011 in the wake of reports of “inappropriate behaviour,” only to bring them back five years later.
Now Turkish Baths Harrogate has launched an online survey to gauge the demand for single-sex sessions.
It is unclear when this new rule could come into place. The government has not yet given saunas or spa rooms the green light to reopen.
Councillors clash over free parking pledge for NHS workersNorth Yorkshire councillors clashed over a proposed pledge to encourage NHS hospital trusts to keep on-site parking free for staff.
Lib Dem Cllr Geoff Webber put forward a motion today to support free parking and claimed two Conservative councillors spoiled it.
Cllr Richard Cooper, also the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, put forward an amendment that removed all references to free parking.
The amendment instead said the council “supports and encourages measures which enable their staff to travel to and from work sustainably.”
Harrogate District Hospital confirmed that parking will remain free for staff, visitor and patients. The trust said that after national reports that the government planned to scrap it.
Read more:
- Parking at Harrogate hospital will remain free for NHS workers
- Harrogate District Hospital reports no further coronavirus deaths
The Department for Health and Social Care said in response to the speculation that free parking will be in place for staff “during the pandemic.” It did not make reassurances beyond that.
Cllr Geoff Webber hit out at Cllr Richard Cooper after the meeting today. He said:
“This is a typical Richard Cooper trick designed to spoil motions from any other party and a tactic he has used frequently on Harrogate Borough Council. I am disgusted at this sort of manipulation.”
It will now go to a scrutiny committee before going back to the council for a debate and vote. The Lib Dems said the outcome is a “foregone conclusion.”
The Stray Ferret approached Cllr Richard Cooper for a comment but received no reply by the time of publication.
Where can you buy a face mask in Harrogate?On Friday it will be mandatory to wear face coverings in shops and supermarkets.
So we have created a list of independent shops and individuals selling masks in Harrogate, both in-store and online.
Face coverings have been in high demand in the run-up to Friday. We hope our guide will make it easier for you to find one from a local supplier.
Just some of the designs available from nipNstitch.
Read more:
- North Yorkshire Police Federation say they can’t enforce face masks in shops
- Local company make 7,500 face masks
Harrogate tailors Golden Stitches told The Stray Ferret that it is currently selling over 40 coverings in store a day. Similarly, Harrogate based seamstress nipNstich received 200 orders online in less than 24 hours.
You can grab a face covering at the following places:
In-store
Dizzy Duck Harrogate, Albert St.
Georgies, West Park
Golden Stitches, Cheltenham Parade
Morgan Clare, Montpellier Gardens
Rose Velvet, Montpellier St.
Sophie Likes, Beulah St – www.sophielikes.com/face-masks
Sowa Polish Shop, Bower Road
The Luxe Company, West Park
Online
Aggie’s Craft Harrogate – Facebook “AggiesCraftHarrogate”
Bee and Duck – www.etsy.com/BeeandDuck
Boho Chic – https://www.bohochic.co.uk
CyclingShorts, Harrogate – www.cyclingshorts.uk.com/face-masks/ – Stray Ferret readers can use the code FERRET10 for 10% off online mask orders.
Face Masks Harrogate – Facebook “Face Masks Harrogate”, Instagram @facemasks_hgate, email facemasksharrogate@outlook.com
Fanni Loves Fufu – Facebook “Fanni Loves Fufu”, email jaynecarle2@gmail.com
Funky face masks Harrogate – Facebook Group
Handmade by Emily Jane – www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HandmadebyEmilyJane
Harrogate Sewers for Face Masks – Facebook Group
Jaime Wilson – Message on Facebook
nipNstitch – nipnstitch.co.uk, @nipNstitch on Facebook
We got U covered – Facebook “wegotucovered”, www.wegotucovered.co.uk
If you are selling face coverings and would like to be added to our list, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Face Masks Harrogate has 60 different patterns available to buy.
The Coach & Horses pub has had its licence to sell alcohol revoked after showing a “blatant disregard” for social distancing guidelines.
Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee met today to decide the pub’s fate after HBC officers and North Yorkshire Police reported customers drinking outside the pub and not observing social distancing over the weekend of May 30.
HBC committee members heard how landlord John Nelson and customers of the pub were “aggressive and abusive” towards HBC officials and police after being served with a prohibition order on May 31.
Mr Nelson’s lawyer Paddy Whur said his client “accepted he made a chronic error of judgement”.
He said Mr Nelson suffers from bipolar disorder but had not taken his medication for 10 days which “distinctly affected” his decision-making process during the weekend.
Mr Whur suggested that the pub’s licence be suspended until Mr Nelson steps down – which was rejected by councillors.
Read more:
- Harrogate pub could be shut down over lockdown breaches
- Harrogate pub owners said they followed government guidelines
- Why did the council serve The Coach and Horses with a prohibition notice?
Calling on the committee to revoke the licence, PC Jackie Allen from North Yorkshire Police said they received 44 complaints from the public about social distancing. She said it “seriously undermined licensing objectives and caused alarm and distress to the local community”.
PC Allen also questioned whether Mr Nelson was really suffering from mental health problems calling it a “smokescreen” and an “eleventh-hour attempt” to prevent punishment.
Resident Peter Whittington spoke to defend the pub. He said on Sunday May 31 he witnessed Coach and Horses customers observing social distancing. He said: “it’s a brilliant pub and we need places like that in Harrogate”.
Mr Whur said he met with Mr Nelson and his family last week which he described as being a “hugely emotional and sad” meeting.
He said his mental health condition was genuine and hoped that any decision would reflect his long-standing position in the community.
He said:
“He’s chronically embarrassed that this is in the public domain. He said he’s disappointed he’s wasted HBC’s licensing committee and the police’s time. He regrets it hugely.”
“He has been the licensee for 33 years at one of the oldest pubs in Harrogate – I hope this gives him some credibility that we won’t be assessed as putting up a smokescreen”.
“He’s suffering from a significant mental health problem and is on medication. I wouldn’t try and deceive the licensing committee on something as serious as this.”
Mr Nelson has 21 days to appeal the decision.