Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 1025 of 1072

Women’s presidency handed over with broom

The Harrogate and District Soroptimists found a new way to handover presidency last week.

Social distancing has made it impossible for new president Sandra Frier to receive the chain of office given to her back in April. However, being able to meet in small groups in gardens has meant that the handover has finally taken place.

Immediate past presidents Sylvia Purser and Sue Williams passed the chain of office over to new president via a broom handle.

Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District work with other Soroptimist clubs and organisations globally to make a difference to the lives of women and girls.

Sandra Frier the new Club President has chosen the theme of people, partnership and the planet, with her chosen charity being ‘Just B’ and Saint Michaels Hospice.

Previous soroptimist presidents with new president

President Sandra Frier wearing chain in foreground with Sylvia Purse (Left) & Sue Williams (Right)

She said:

“Harrogate and District Soroptimists have a reputation for combining fun and friendship with hard work. Whilst some members have continued to work, others have worked together virtually to assist the community during these very difficult times.”

Some of their voluntary activities have included making scrubs with the Harrogate Scrubbers, providing pamper bags for NHS front-line staff and making laundry bags for Ripon Hospital.

Council “disappointed” over emergency cash for cycle lanes

North Yorkshire County Council said it remains committed to providing extra cycle and walk ways even though it said it was “disappointed” with the amount of money its been given by central government.

The county council bid for money from the Government’s “emergency active travel fund” to provide extra support for sustainable travel as part of the national recovery from coronavirus.

But the council was only allocated £133,000, half of the possible maximum available.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said:

“We have a long-standing commitment to active, sustainable travel, and that remains undimmed. The allocation from this first tranche of funding is disappointing, but we will learn from this bid and are determined to take full advantage of the next phase of funding and beyond”

Harrogate District Cycling Action gave us this statement:

It’s disappointing that NYCC has only received 50% of the Tranche 1 amount provisionally allocated to it (which was £266,000). It must be because the plans presented weren’t ambitious enough.

There’s an opportunity later in the summer to bid for a further £1,065,000, and we would like NYCC to work with us in developing the best possible bid. The recent Harrogate Congestion Survey showed 77% support for improved walking & cycling infrastructure. This is an opportunity to invest in it, and it’s vital it isn’t wasted.

The authority said it was planning to bid for the second wave of cash. Cllr Mackenzie said:

“Initial feedback from the Department for Transport indicates that the drive behind this first tranche of the fund is to enable people travelling on public transport, particularly those going to and from work, to instead cycle or walk.

This is primarily an issue for large urban areas which have much higher levels of this sort of public transport usage.. Presently, our main impetus is creating town centre spaces to enable social distancing.

“We await guidance on the requirements for the second phase, which is likely to see an emphasis on schemes identified through our local walking and cycling infrastructure plans, which will be more permanent measures.

30 runs, 30 days, 465 miles: Harrogate teenager crosses finish line

An 18-year-old student from Harrogate has staggered over the finish line of his monumental running challenge, completing 465 miles in 30 days and raising over £6,500 for mental health charity MIND.

Morgan Glazier, who is a student at Rossett School in Harrogate, decided to go on a run every day for 30 days (one mile on June 1, two on June 2… up to 30 on June 30).

The Stray Ferret spoke to Morgan just before he set off on his final 30-mile run this morning, and again later in the day as he crossed the finish line. He said:

“I am very, very sore, but that is to be expected after four back-to-back marathons. I have done the distance before but usually with a month’s recovery in between. I’m ready to sleep for a month now.”

The teenager should have been sitting his A levels this year, before enjoying a summer of celebrations for finishing school and turning 18. Instead, when the coronavirus put paid to his plans, he set himself the epic challenge.

Morgan’s mum was there at the finish line, having supported him throughout the challenge. She said:

“He’s been amazing, he started off on his own, he just sort of went off and did it and then the last couple of weeks I’ve been at the start and finish and just making sure he’s getting plenty to eat and drink! But he’s been cheery the whole way through, I really am proud of him.”

Morgan hopes his running will highlight the positive effects that running can have on mental health. He told the Stray Ferret that he chose MIND charity as It has helped so many people:

“I was diagnosed with OCD a couple of years ago, but I had been struggling for while before I got help. I want to raise awareness and encourage people not to be embarrassed. I Chose mind charity as i know they offer support to anyone struggling. I am running in memory of my uncle who died as a result of his mental health problems, and for everyone who suffers or has suffered from a mental illness.”

Morgan initially set out to raise £100 for Mind, and increased this to £5,000 as people across the district showed so much support. Today, as he crossed the line, the figure stood at £6,600 with donations still coming in.

To sponsor Morgan, click here.

18 year old Student Morgan Glazier running marathon

Morgan Glazier on the final day of his 465-mile challenge

Ten days without hospital covid deaths – but care home numbers rise again

There have been no new reported deaths related to coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital for the tenth day running.

The hospital’s total number of deaths remains at 80, as NHS England reports 37 new deaths across the country today.

Of those, five were in the North East and Yorkshire. Patients were aged between 48 and 94, and all but one, aged 80, had known underlying health conditions.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths in care homes across the Harrogate district has risen to 94.

The latest figure, released today, covers all deaths in care homes until June 19. It is up by 4 from the figures released last week, which showed 90 deaths had occurred up to June 12.

As well as care homes, the data also revealed that no Harrogate people with coronavirus died in their homes, at a hospice, or in other communal establishments during that week. The total number of deaths in those locations across the Harrogate district remains at seven.

MPs watch: litter picking and lost car keys

Every month the Stray Ferret has been trying to find out what our local MPs, Andrew Jones and Julian Smith, have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In June, the district began to emerge from lockdown so we wanted to know how active they have been during this critical period. We asked both Mr Jones and Mr Smith if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

So here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On June 24, Mr Jones voted against weekly coronavirus testing for NHS and social care staff.
In the House of Commons, Andrew Jones asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to clarify guidance for hospitality businesses. He said “councils should be encouraged” to use outdoor spaces to help hospitality businesses in Harrogate and Knaresborough survive.
Earlier in June, he asked health secretary Matt Hancock what steps are being taken to provide further coronavirus testing for BAME and vulnerable people.
He’s published two stories on his website, both about the closure of Stray FM. He said he has written to the owners of Bauer Media “seeking reassurances”. He does not say if he received a response.
One of Mr Jones’s nine tweets in June was that he found some car keys near to Tewit Well.
On June 26, Mr Jones spoke out against racist language on social media. He said: “This week I have been included in tweets using what I consider to be racist language. I have reported all the tweets and blocked both the users responsible. It isn’t acceptable; it won’t be overlooked.”
Litter on the Stray has been the talk of the town in June and Mr Jones took part in a photo where he collected litter with some Harrogate councillors.
He filmed a video for #PrideMonth expressing his support for the organisation Pride in Diversity.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith also voted against weekly coronavirus testing for NHS and social care staff.
In June, 40% of his original tweets related to Irish politics, despite the fact he was sacked as Northern Ireland secretary five months ago.
On Twitter, Mr Smith hailed the “stunning viewing numbers” of BBC drama The Salisbury Poisoning.
On June 26, he visited businesses in Ripon including Hambleton Brewery and the Little Ripon Bookshop to see how lockdown was affecting them.
A tweet of his went viral receiving over six thousand “likes” after he joked about his dismissal from government.
Speaking in a Commons debate he warned that businesses are still not prepared for the realities of Brexit. He said: “Many businesses haven’t realised the consequences of coming out of the single market and the customs union. We can start preparing them for that reality.”
On his Facebook page, he said he has “received an update” from Homes England on the Ripon Barracks site, but he didn’t elaborate to his constituents what this update was.
It is now almost six months since Mr Smith’s website was updated with any news.
Mr Smith has held telephone surgeries for his constituents throughout June.

Great Yorkshire Show goes virtual

The Great Yorkshire Show is going online for the first time in its history on July 14-16.

The show, that would normally welcome 130,000 visitors, was cancelled in March due to coronavirus. But it is now going virtual to offer three full days of entertaining video footage.

The organisers, Yorkshire Agricultural Society, are offering the performances, demonstrations and livestock visitors would expect from the traditional event.

Acts will include Yorkshire-based TV stunt performers Atkinson Action Horses, a cook off with top chefs and a Q&A session with stars of The Yorkshire Vet.

Soprano Lizzie Jones and the Leyburn Band will also perform. Viewers will also get a behind the scenes tour with the Olympic show jumper Graham Fletcher.

Charles Mills, Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show, said:

“While the coronavirus has caused the cancellation of our iconic annual event, we are determined that the show must go on, albeit in a different format this year.

“The Yorkshire Agricultural Society recognises that the Great Yorkshire Show offers a fantastic platform to celebrate and champion the very best of British agriculture and so we hope to achieve that virtually this year. There will be something for everyone to enjoy online over the show’s three days.”

Atkinson Action Horses performing at a previous Great Yorkshire Show.

The virtual show will see the return of well-loved performers but this time viewers can watch it from home.

The businesses who would have held trade stands can also be accessed by viewers. A comprehensive directory is available to encourage viewers to shops as well as watch the show.

A full schedule will be available on the Great Yorkshire Show website.

More charity shops re-open across the Harrogate district

Further charities with shops in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon have reopened their doors this week.

In Ripon, where nine different charities have retail outlets, The Salvation Army has reopened after being shut since March 23.

The Cancer Research UK shop, located on Market Place, is also back trading in the city, while its shops in Knaresborough Market Place and Oxford Street, Harrogate, have also reopened.

The reopenings follow news reported in The Stray Ferret of last week’s opening of St Vincent’s on Knaresborough High Street, which raises money to support the community work of the St Vincent de Paul charity.

Victoria Smith, manager of Ripon’s Salvation Army shop, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have introduced strict social distancing and hand hygiene arrangements and have also fitted a perspex screen at our counter. Just six people at a time are allowed in.”

Victoria added:

“It has felt like a long time since we had to go into lockdown and we look forward to welcoming back our customers and the people who have supported us in the past through the donation of items for sale.”

The Salvation Army, which has more than 400 shops across the country, is a pioneer, having opened its first shops in the 19th century to provide affordable clothing to people who otherwise could not afford them.

Cancer Research UK is a research and awareness charity formed in February 2002 through the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

The charity has 600 shops in the UK and Isle of Man and money raised through them is used to support its aim of reducing the number of cancer deaths.

Di Illingworth, who manages the Cancer Research UK Ripon shop (pictured above), said: “We are so pleased to be back. All charities rely heavily on the money raised through their retail outlets.”

Rudding Park volunteers pick up 400kg of rubbish

Furloughed staff at Rudding Park Hotel in Harrogate have been supporting a number of volunteering initiatives during lockdown.

One of the initiatives was a “Litter Pick Up Pop Up” in order to help Harrogate look its best for when lockdown restrictions are eased further. In 320 hours, the team collected 400kg of rubbish and walked 1,600,000 steps, equating to 640 miles.

This comes as the public raised concern over huge amounts of litter being left in beauty spots across the district as hot weather arrived and lockdown restrictions were eased.

Peter Banks, managing director at Rudding Park said:

“Whilst they are unable to work for Rudding Park during this time, they can volunteer and many were keen to do their bit in the community. When the time comes for hotels to reopen it’s going to be important for us to showcase our beautiful town to its absolute best, so we hope this will help in some small way.”

The volunteers also took part in another two initiatives including Hospitality Action, a service providing a helpline to retired hospitality workers, and Ripon Walled Garden, a charity which supports young children and adults with a learning disability.

Harrogate gym owner loses 65% of revenue over lockdown

Gyms in the Harrogate district have lost clients and money as they remain closed during the pandemic, one reported a 65% loss in revenue.

Indoor gyms are having to remain closed with no indication as to when they can reopen. Some local gyms have had to find new ways to adapt. Gym owners in the district have had to reduce their prices and move online or outdoors to continue to support their clients.

The workout sessions online or in local parks have proved popular with those clients who have missed their normal workout routines. But some are still wary that it may not return to normal for a while as clients regain confidence to return.

Innovate gym in Harrogate focuses on group sessions for women in the district, the owner Chris Lupton said:

“Due to only being able to provide online sessions we reduced our pricing to £50-60 so we lost about 65% in revenue. If it wasn’t for the job retention scheme people would have had to go or had their hours reduced.

“We are planning to continue online training as half of the clients said they want to have a mixture of gym and online classes in the future. I don’t think things will be normal for a year or so now so it’s necessary to find new ways to make money and work with clients.”

Ryan Tansley, owner of CrossFit Harrogate, has also moved his workouts online to maintain a section of his client base. He said:

“It was certainly not a good thing, we lost a few members after they were furloughed or worried about financial problems. But we still have to pay the rent so the government grant really helped.

“We’ve decided to halve the membership price as we know we can’t offer it all through our online programmes.”

Online workouts will have to continue as gym owners wait to hear when they can reopen.

Sarah Jordan owns Red Strength gym in Knaresborough, it specialises in personal training and decided to close entirely with all of the staff furloughed. She said:

“It’s been terrible, I’ve had to furlough everyone its been really difficult. We are completely closed, I am sure others are the same. Personally, I went to work in a care home for 6-8 weeks for extra income and to get a level of interaction but since outdoor PT has been allowed I’ve don’t that. Everybody is happy to train outdoors and its also brought a lot of new clients in too.”

Harrogate companies capitalise on CBD oil popularity

Two new companies have launched in Harrogate to capitalise on the growth of CDB oils, a cannabis-based health product for pain relief.

The Harrogate CBD Company was launched seven weeks ago by 24-year-old Harvey Radcliffe after he witnessed his mum suffer from severe arthritis. She was on an intensive course of steroids and painkillers, but they had stopped working.

To help his mum, Harvey suggested she gave CBD oils a try. She was sceptical at first, but he says it’s changed her life.

CBD products entered the UK market around five years ago and are usually taken in capsule form or as a spray. They are backed by the World Health Organisation who say it can be beneficial for people suffering from MS and cancer to insomnia and depression.

However, a study from the University of Nottingham, published in 2019 suggested there is “very weak evidence” that CBD can successfully treat many ailments, with the exception of seizures.

CBD products won’t get you “high” but they work by responding to natural cannabinoid receptors within your body. They are legal in the UK as long as any product contains less than 0.2% of the psychoactive substance THC.

Sellers must also ask the customer to check with their GP if it is safe for them to use them.

Harvey from the Harrogate CBD Company said he wants to overhaul the image of CBD oils away from “snake oil salesmen” who would sell the product out of suspect looking vape shops.

He said:

“Our branding is more about the health benefits so it looks like a mainstream product.

Every product on their website also includes analysis from a lab which includes exact information on where the product comes from and what’s in it.

He hopes his company can help more people like his mum.

He added:

“If you’re in pain then you will try something that makes your life better. Chronic pain is the worst type of pain.”

Launching this week, Harrogate Organics Company is a new wellness brand that will sell a range of health products, including CBD oils.

Known to be beneficial for mental health, owner Dan Simpson said lockdown is the perfect time to launch his new business.

He said:

“It’s no surprise that consumers are turning to CBD during these times as an alternative way to fulfil their wellbeing needs.

“It feels slightly odd launching a business during a global pandemic, but we truly believe that our brand couldn’t be any more relevant and needed right now.”

Russ Newman, runs the Grape Tree health food store in the Victoria Shopping Centre which sells a range of CBD oils.

He told the Stray Ferret that after CBD oils cleared up eczema on his shin he’s happy to “promote it to the hills.”

But is it a health fad? Mr Newman doesn’t think so, and he’s seen demand for it rocket in Harrogate as more people turn away from man-made pharmaceuticals to treat their ailments.

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