Police have appealed for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was injured after a collision in Harrogate.
The incident happened on Otley Road near to Queens Road and West End Avenue at 4.45pm on Tuesday, December 12.
Officers said a black motor vehicle collided with a 14-year-old girl who was a pedestrian. Following the collision, the girl attended hospital for treatment.
The driver, who is described as aged between 60 and 70-years-old, bald and was wearing all black clothing did stop at the scene but didn’t leave any details.
A North Yorkshire Police statement added:
“Police are now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular, officers are appealing for information about anyone that witnessed the collision or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email paul.dixon@northyorkshire.police.uk You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Paul Dixon.
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230236668 when passing information.”
Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong to join Carlisle United
Harrogate Town’s Luke Armstrong will join Carlisle United on a permanent transfer.
Armstrong, 27, will sign for the Cumbrian side on January 1, 2024.
In a joint statement, both clubs said the striker will leave Harrogate with immediate effect and begin training with Carlisle pending the opening of the transfer window.
The statement said:
“Harrogate Town, Carlisle United and Luke Armstrong can each confirm they have all reached and completed an agreement for a permanent transfer on 1 January 2024.
“Having already successfully completed his medical at Brunton Park, Luke will now leave Town with immediate effect to begin training with United, pending the opening of the transfer window and transfer of his registration.”
The move comes as a planned transfer for Armstrong to join Wrexham in the summer fell through.
The English Football League rejected a a deadline day deal between the clubs for the 27-year-old after it said the Welsh side failed to submit paperwork on time.
Wrexham apologised to Harrogate after it was “unable to complete the transfer by the deadline”.
Armstrong, who scored 31 goals in 116 appearances for Harrogate, will now join Carlisle who currently sit in the bottom four of League One.
Pedestrian involved in collision near Starbeck trailer park
Emergency services were called out following a collision in Starbeck this morning.
The incident, which happened on Knaresborough Road near Shaws Trailer Park, happened at 7:45am.
North Yorkshire Police said a car and pedestrian were involved.
The force told the Stray Ferret:
“Police and ambulance are at the scene.
“Motorists are asked to avoid the area as road closures are in place and due to be there for some time.”
Officers said any further updates will be posted on North Yorkshire Police’s website and social media.
Boots pharmacy in Jennyfields to close next year
The Boots pharmacy inside the Co-op at Jennyfields in Harrogate is set to close next March.
The move comes after Walgreens Boots Alliance, its US-based parent company, announced the closure of 300 UK stores in an earnings call in June.
In a separate report, Boots said it will “consolidate a number of stores” in order to “concentrate its team members where they are needed”.
It added:
“[It will] focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment.”
The report also said the stores affected are “in close proximity” to other Boots sites.
The retailer declined to comment on the Harrogate store closure, however staff at the Jennyfields pharmacy told the Stray Ferret they have been “given options” about employment going forward.
Following the closure, the nearest Boots pharmacies will be in Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough Market Place, the St James’s Retail Park near Knaresborough and at Market Place West in Ripon.
The Co-Op at Jennyfields
Twenty UK stores, including four in Yorkshire, have already closed following the announcement.
Health leaders warn of potential North Yorkshire measles outbreak
North Yorkshire residents are being encouraged to keep up to date with their MMR vaccines amid fears of a measles outbreak.
The warning comes after rising cases of the disease in England.
A total of 149 cases of measles in England were recorded between 1 January and 30 September this year, a dramatic rise from 54 during the whole of 2022.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)
Jack Lewis, consultant in public health with the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said:
“Measles is more than just a rash. It is highly infectious and we’re seeing cases on the rise.
“If you are not protected and you have even a passing contact with someone who has measles, there’s every chance you will become infected too.
“There is no treatment or cure for measles, but the MMR vaccine offers excellent protection against this dangerous disease.”
Measles can feel like a cold at first. The disease is sometimes identified by spots in the mouth or a rash that appears a few days after falling ill.
In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis and pneumonia.
Measles is also particularly dangerous during pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth.
The MMR vaccine (or, measles, mumps and rubella) is given in two doses.
Children are typically given their first dose at one years old and their second at three years and four months.
However, Lewis urged adults who are not fully vaccinated to receive a dose too.
The NHS particularly encourages adults to check they’re vaccinated if they’re about to visit another country, begin university, or are hoping to get pregnant.
Patients can find out if they are fully vaccinated by contacting their GP.
Harrogate piano school celebrates 25 years with pupil concert
Harrogate-based piano school, Saphir Piano Studios, has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a pupil concert at the Wesley Centre on Oxford Street.
Julian and Nichola Saphir, who are directors of the studios as well as teachers, are both concert pianists and Royal College of Music alumni.
They moved to Harrogate from London in 1998 and have continued to build their full-time piano school ever since. They currently have more than 80 pupils.
Their December concert is a long-standing tradition but had not taken place since 2019 due to covid.
To celebrate their quarter of a century in Harrogate, the concert saw 34 pupils perform an eclectic programme of piano music on the Wesley Centre’s prestigious hand-crafted Yamaha CF-lllS concert grand piano, which has been played by some of the world’s most famous concert pianists, including Sir Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Marc-André Hamelin.
Among those taking part was five-year-old Grace Xiu, who is the studios’ youngest pupil.
Alongside the young performers were three of Saphir Piano Studios’ adult students, Moira Morgan, Alistair Duff and Phil Howarth, who treated the audience to music by Chopin and Robert Schumann.
One of the highlights was a six-handed piece by Rachmaninoff, performed by St. Aidan’s Church of England High School sixth formers Annabel Baxter, Krish Desha-Beerachee and Jack Brierley.
The concert was brought to a sparkling finale with the Saphirs themselves giving a duet performance of the ever-popular Christmas favourite, Sleigh Ride.
Julian and Nichola said:
“It’s very important to give each of our pupils the opportunity to play on a fine concert grand piano before a large audience. The atmosphere in the room is always so warm and enthusiastic.”
Stray Views: Harrogate hospital queues ‘very dangerous’ for cyclists
Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Being a local resident, I have no experience of trying to park in Harrogate hospital with the new system. However, I have lots of experience as a cyclist, trying to bypass the regularly huge queues of traffic that built up in both directions at certain times of the day on Lancaster Park Road, waiting to get in to the hospital car park – queues sometimes extending all the way to Knaresborough Road and Willaston Crescent.
Very dangerous – with queues of traffic on one side and parked cars on the other, cars suddenly moving out of the queuing traffic made it very dangerous for anyone, particularly a cyclist, trying to pass. Yes, I’ve had a few close shaves.
It also made it very difficult, sometimes impossible for a vehicle to bypass the queue – I have witnessed flashing ambulances that were delayed as they couldn’t get past the queuing traffic to get to the car park entrance.
Hazel Maxwell, Harrogate
Whilst I have absolutely no brief for North Yorkshire Council, perhaps an aspect of your story regarding what the Royal Baths is costing the taxpayer is a little misleading.
Yes when they purchased the legal interest it will have been the £9.5million, you quote. Any subsequent valuation whilst they own (hold) it (and local authorities are required to do them over a five year period on all categories of assets) will be at a point in time and a ‘book figure’. A true comparison can only be made when they actually sell their legal interest to a third party.
To arrive at the current book figure, they are required to take in a number of factors, to arrive at a valuation as at that point in time. It is conjecture therefore that it is actually costing the taxpayer money at this stage as the valuation is hypothetical and only if and when they sell their interest, can the true loss (or profit) be ascertained.
Other current losses, such as rental income and rates, are indeed losses that the taxpayer will need to pick up.
Bernard White, Ripon
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Meet the barbershop chorus promoting older men’s mental healthA Harrogate-based barbershop chorus is promoting wellbeing for older men.
The oldest member of Harrogate Harmony Barbershop Chorus (HHBC) is 92 and the youngest is 66.
Public relations officer Leo Niemiec believes the group can help men’s physical and mental health. He said:
“You cannot worry and sing at the same time.”
Men’s mental health is a pressing concern. In 2021, men made up 74% of suicide victims in England and Wales, according to figures release by the ONS.
A report by mental health charity Mind found that 40% of men regularly feel ‘worried or low’, and Age UK has suggested that 22% of older men have depression.
HHBC, who perform acapella in four-part harmony, rehearse every week at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate town centre.
The group will be performing at the Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate on Friday, February 2 at 11am.
The chorus is also offering a five-week singing course for men that will begin on Valentine’s Day (February 14). The full course costs £10 and no previous experience of singing is required. Applicants do not have to audition or be able to read music, and can find out more by emailing chairman@harrogateharmony.org.uk.
Harrogate Harmony Barbershop Chorus can be booked by emailing engagements@harrogateharmony.org.uk.
This week’s photograph was taken by Kevin Griffiths, capturing an early morning sunrise across the stray in Harrogate.
Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.
Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.
Some may find the word “triathlon” daunting and exhausting, but Jon Chamberlain disagrees.
The Harrogate Triathlon Club chairman has been in post two years, but has ambitions to broaden the club’s appeal.
The organisation boasts 160 members and an eclectic membership base, ranging from 70 year old athletes to those taking their first steps into the sport.
For Jon, the club is a family – but it could be more than that.
Jon moved to Harrogate from Leicester nine years ago.
He had first got a flavour of the town while based at the Army Foundation College during his time in the British Army as a physical training instructor.
After upping sticks and moving his life to North Yorkshire, he joined the Harrogate Triathlon Club.
He had initially started the sport in 2011, when he took on an event with his brother.
“There was a sprint triathlon in Stratford and I really enjoyed it. He didn’t enjoy it so much, so I decided to progress from there.”
Jon, who is 51, has gone onto the race the world and European triathlons in Venice and Ibiza in his age group.
The sport has fostered a community for Jon, which he enjoys on a weekly basis in Harrogate.
The club was founded in 2012 as a legacy of the London Olympics and is made up of 130 adults and 30 juniors.
It hosts fundraising events, training sessions and an annual triathlon at Ashville College – the next of which will be held in April 2024.
Jon took up the chairmanship in 2021 and oversees the running of the club.
For him, much of the enjoyment comes from facilitating the club for its members – some of whom have never run a triathlon before.
“The ethos of the club is bringing together like-minded people.
“We have a range of athletes who are very experienced, Great Britain level age group and compete in iron man distances. Then we have got members who have never done a triathlon in their life and just want to start out in doing swimming, biking or running.”
Some members of the club are athletic and compete at a high level – but not all of them.
Jon points to Dave Newby as an example of one of those people.
Dave came to club in late 2022 with an aim of losing weight and making new friends – both of which he achieved within 12 months.
“Dave has been on a massive journey and lost a considerable amount of weight. He’s a lot stronger, because we do a lot of fitness training in the club.
“He’s now swimming, biking and running on a regular basis.”
Jane Holmes and Dave Newby.
Last year, Dave completed four triathlons and various 5k,10k and 21k races. Now, he’s training to compete an ironman contest in Nottingham in May 2024.
On the other end of the scale, Jane Holmes is competing in world championships in her 70s.
Jane is described as an “inspiration” to members of the club, Jon says, and helps to coach youngsters starting out in triathlon.
She currently world champion after finishing first in the World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships in Hamburg this year.
She also finished first place in the World Duathlon in Ibiza and European Duathlon in Venice this year.
“She is a real high performer when it comes to age group representing her country.
“She competes in the 70-74 age group, which is incredible. If you look at many 70 to 74 year olds, you wouldn’t expect them to be competing for their country and winning those races.”
Jon has ambitions for the club in his time as chairman.
While there is no time limit on how long he can hold the post for, there are areas which he feels the club can improve.
Jon says part of the club’s strategy is to bring in younger athletes within the 20 to 45 age bracket, as well as female and disabled athletes.
But, perhaps the biggest challenge is to tackle the stigma of triathlon.
“Triathlon is sometimes a word that scares people.
“We don’t want to put that as a barrier. So we’re thinking of potentially rebranding into some multi-sports domain where people see us and they can do different sorts of events – not just triathlon.”
Another element is tackling the expense that comes with participating in triathlon.
“It can be seen as an expensive sport because potentially there is lots of gear to buy.
“You don’t need all the gear to start. If you’ve got a pair of trainers, goggles and a bike then that will do to get you going. There’s an endless list of things you can invest in, but you don’t need all that to start.
“The best thing is to just come along and try it.”
So, what does Jon want to achieve before he relinquishes his position as chairman?
Attracting a younger demographic is among the top priorities.
“It’s quite a challenge, because at that age people are busy doing other stuff.”
For Jon, the key will be maintaining the culture of the club and keeping it as the big family that attracted people to it in the first place.
While there is an ambition to attract more people to take up triathlon, he does not want to grow it “too big”.
“I think ultimately we want to keep the culture of the club. There’s a lot of clubs you go to where you feel like you’re the only one and you’re out of the clique.
“All the members are really supportive. The culture of the club is very social and very supportive. That’s something that we want to keep.”
If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.