Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 204 of 1037

Government cannot be trusted to divert HS2 money to Harrogate, say Lib Dems

The government cannot be trusted to divert money from the scrapped HS2 project to Harrogate, say the town’s Liberal Democrats.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that the high speed rail link between Birmingham and Manchester would be cancelled. Only the new London Euston to Birmingham line will be built.

As a result, the Prime Minister’s Office published a list of projects which the £36 billion saved could be diverted to.

Initially, the list did not include Harrogate. However, on Thursday, it was updated and included £2.5 billion for transport projects for “14 rural counties, smaller cities, and towns outside the big city regions”.

It said:

“This new money could finance projects like more electric buses in Harrogate and better bus-rail interchange in Scarborough. “

No detail has been given on which buses this would refer to or how much it would cost.

In August, Transdev, which operates Harrogate Bus Company, placed a £21 million order for 39 new buses and to electrify its entire fleet locally.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the government’s list had already had “countless” revisions for projects which have already been in operation for years.

As a result, he added that the government could not be trusted to deliver the proposals.

Mr Gordon said:

“Any money or investment into Harrogate and Knaresborough would be hugely welcomed, and a relief after 13 years of neglect and the Conservatives taking our area for granted. Our area has missed out time and again on schemes like the levelling up fund and the towns fund.

“However, anyone who believes the Network North or the projects outlined in it will come to pass needs to give their head a shake.

“It would be too kind to even call this a plan drawn up on the back of fag packet.

“Since the publication of the document there have already been countless revisions and walking back of promised investment, and it included proposals for tramlines in Manchester that have been in operation for years, and plans to dual the A1 which the Conservatives have been promising since at least 2010.

“Why would anyone believe that this Conservative Government can deliver any of these projects, when these plans have been cobbled together off the back of another scrapped national infrastructure project that only a matter of weeks ago they were promising to deliver.”

Keane Duncan

However, Keane Duncan, Conservative Party mayoral candidate for York and North Yorkshire, described the proposals as a “turning point” for the government’s levelling up agenda.

Mr Duncan, who is also executive councillor for highways on North Yorkshire Council, said:

“The north does not stop at Manchester, and neither should transport investment.

“For too long the focus has been on the big cities, with areas like ours overlooked and left to fall behind.

“Rishi is turning this around and changing the way we deliver transport infrastructure to ensure people across the entire north can benefit.

“HS2’s costs have soared and it’s suffered delay after delay – proving a distraction from the investment we really need in York & North Yorkshire.

“The decision to scrap it and divert millions of extra investment into more pressing improvements here represents a turning point for our region.”

Harrogate doctor aims to ‘debunk the myth’ of penicillin allergy

A doctor at Harrogate District Hospital has set up a service to “debunk the myth” of penicillin allergy.

One in 10 people are currently diagnosed with a penicillin allergy but Dr Mike Wakefield, a respiratory consultant, said the true figure was thought to be closer to one in 100.

This meant people often received less effective antibiotics with greater side effects, he said.

Dr Wakefield said people diagnosed as penicillin allergic were more likely to die in the next year, require repeat prescriptions for antibiotics and contract superbugs. He said:

“Penicillin drugs which are used to kill bacteria are a vital part of the antimicrobial armoury.

“I’ve set up a service in the district to start challenging this by finding out more about why people have gained a label of penicillin allergic and when suitable given them a dose of penicillin under close observation.”

Dr Wakefield said many people were told they were allergic to penicillin in childhood and never challenged this. Sometimes this was because they experienced side effects when taking penicillin but side effects are common with all drugs and don’t necessarily indicate allergic reactions.

He added GPs sometimes found it safer to prescribe alternatives. Also, many people grow out of childhood allergies.

Dr Wakefield said his service aimed to debunk the myth that penicillin allergies were widespread.

Since starting in Harrogate a year ago he has completed a pilot study of de-labelling patients branded penicillin allergic.

He has given supervised amoxicillin or flucloxacillin penicillin tablets to patients with frequent chest infections whose medical history indicated they might not have a real penicillin allergy.

If patients didn’t have a reaction, he said they could take penicillin-based antibiotics for future infections.

Dr Wakefield said a combination of supervised tests and clinical tests meant the likeliness of a true allergy could be understood.

Besides his ad hoc trials at the hospital, Dr Wakefield provides a penicillin service at the Duchy Hospital in Harrogate. People can either be referred by their GP or book appointments.

The Harrogate open water swimmer set to take on the English Channel

Harrogate’s Millie Bell is addicted to swimming.

The 24-year-old open water swimmer has represented Great Britain at major competitions and now has her sights set on bigger achievements.

Next year, she will take on the English Channel – one of the major endurance tests for swimmers which spans 21 miles.

For Millie, the feat will be a big task, but it is also one that she feels she needs to do.

Starting out

Millie did not start out as an open water swimmer.

Instead, she used to run triathlon while studying at the University of York.

But, soon she was bitten by the swimming bug and never looked back.

The move was organic rather than by design. In 2018, the 24-year-old went to a beginners course at Blue Lagoon in Pontefract to test the waters.

She soon found the open water swimming addictive.

“I was pretty scared when I got in, but I soon got used to it.

“That was the start of everything. I fell in love with open water swimming, the community and everything that came with it.”

Millie swimming from Jersey to France as part of her English Channel training.

Races in open water swimming can range from one mile to marathon lengths of 10 miles.

The competitions are feats of endurance which test the patience and stamina of those who participate.

Millie competes in marathon races and her biggest feat has been Windermere Lake, which stretches for 10 miles and took her five hours to complete.

When asked why the lengths are so enticing for her, Millie said it boils down to her urge to test herself and push her body to the limit.

“I’ve always wanted to challenge myself and see what I’m capable of.”

Winning bronze

Millie’s development as a swimmer has been dramatic.

In January this year, she competed with Great Britain at the World Ice Swimming Championships in the French Alps.

She won a bronze medal in each of her three events.

“Going into it, I didn’t think I stood a chance of getting a medal.

“I swam my first race and I was really happy with my time. When I saw my results and that I’ve got a bronze, I was really quite emotional. I never thought that I would get to compete internationally, never mind get a podium.”

But, for Millie, the next challenge was always around the corner.

In fact, the set piece event is in August 2024 when she will take on the English Channel.

Taking on the channel

The idea to swim the channel has always been there for Millie.

She describes it as an “itch”, but did not fully explore the idea until 2021.

“I remember one day I bought this book about it. I was reading this book and it was about this crazy woman who swam through winter and swam for hours upon hours on end.

“I read a chapter of it and I went: ‘No, that’s crazy. I’m not doing that.’

“A couple of months later, I was looking on Facebook and there was this channel relay looking for people to join. I applied and thought that I wouldn’t get on. But then I got on and it started from there.”

Millie completed the channel relay, which sees swimmers compete in a team and swim for an hour at a time on the English Channel.

But she realised that she wanted to take on the full swim solo.

Last month, she went to Jersey as part of her training which saw her swim from the island to France which is 14 miles and took her seven hours and 22 minutes to finish.

“The distance for me was not too much of a problem. I knew I was capable of doing it because I had swam Windermere a couple of times and that’s 10 and a half miles.”

Millie swimming the channel relay in 2021.

The build up to the swim will test Millie’s body, but also her mind.

Much like other athletes who compete at the highest level, Millie has been working with a sports psychologist to help get her in correct mental state to swim the channel.

“For me, I doubt myself quite a lot.

“Sometimes when you get in the middle of a swim and you’re in the middle of the sea, you start to doubt yourself and you start to panic.

“He [the psychologist] helps me with ways to keep my focus. It’s really important is the mental side. It’s only this year that I have started to realise how important it is.”

She added that the mind can also wander during extended hours of swimming, including being bored.

“When you’re swimming for six or seven hours, what do you think about?

“If I can get my brain so that it doesn’t think about anything then that is absolutely perfect. But when you’re bored, you start to think about everything don’t you? You start to think: ‘Did I say this wrong earlier in the week?’

“Being bored makes me really anxious. Some people get really bored and just want to get out. So boredom can be a bit of an issue. But, for me, panicking is more of an issue.”

The list of channel swimmers stretches back as far as 1875, when Matthew Webb, an English swimmer and stuntman, became the first recorded person to complete it.

In 10 months time, Millie could join that list.

For her, completing the task would be an itch she could finally scratch.

“It’s probably one of the biggest things that I will do in my life.”

If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured in Sporting Spotlight, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

New café opens in Starbeck

A café in Starbeck has been refurbished, renamed and relaunched following a change of ownership.

The Munch Box – which was formerly the Little Way Café – opened its doors on Tuesday and sells a range of sandwiches and panini, with coffee sourced from Dancing Goat in York.

Owner Mel Lyons took over the lease on the Camwal Road property in August and has spent the last couple of months redecorating and re-equipping it. She told the Stray Ferret:

“I gutted the place, repainted it and laid a new floor, so it looks a lot brighter and lighter now. We’ve been pretty busy, and the customer base is building as more of the guys from the workshops along this street find out we’re here.”

Mel Lyons, owner of The Munch Box.

Mel is from Winchester, Hampshire, and only moved north at the end of October 2022. She previously spent several years managing coffee shops for Caffè Nero-owned chain Coffee #1, and then managing coach stations in Southampton and Bournemouth for National Express.

She moved north to be with her partner and says the change has been very positive. She said:

“I love Starbeck. It’s full of characters and has a real sense of community. It’s unpretentious – just a nice place to be.”

But she’s also having to navigate a few cultural differences when planning her menu. She said:

“I’m learning quickly. On my first day I made a huge tub of egg mayonnaise. That would have flown out the door down south, but no-one wants it here, so I’ve still got it!

“But breakfast is a much bigger deal up here. Bacon and sausage baps may not be health food, but they’re much tastier than some of the breakfasts I’ve seen.”

Harrogate’s famous diving club makes fresh start

Harrogate District Diving Club returned to Harrogate this week after more than three years of disruption caused by covid and the refurbishment of the Hydro.

The club has an enviable record of producing talent, including Olympic champion Jack Laugher. It also caters for people who want to dive for fun and runs DiveAbility sessions for children with additional needs.

But it has been a frustrating few years: the delayed re-opening of the Hydro meant club members had to travel to Shipley to practice, not knowing when they would be able to return to their home pool.

Numbers dwindled but the new look club returned to the newly named Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre last week.

A host of new appointments have been made, including Albany Thompson, from Leeds Diving Club, as head coach.

Albany Thompson

New chair Mandy Ward said:

“It’s a brand new start to build the club back up. It’s been a difficult period but the investment in the leisure centre means diving in Harrogate has been secured for at least another 20 years.

“Now we need to get more people aware of it and help the club grow.”

Chloe Blackburn prepares to dive.

The pool, which is run by Brimhams Active, a leisure company controlled by North Yorkshire Council, has a one-metre board, a five-metre board and two three-metre boards.

Many local divers have achieved national coaching positions around the world but Ms Ward said anyone aged six or above who can swim and isn’t afraid of deep water was welcome to join.

For more details email diveharrogate@gmail.com

Interview with Maisie Adam: The Harrogate-born comedian talks Frank’s Fund and more

Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town. You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com

“It’s been a mad old time!” says Maisie, as we settle in for a chinwag. Harrogate-born Maisie most certainly has been busy, taking the comedy world by storm with appearances on everything from 8 Out of 10 Cats, to QI, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and the iconic Live at the Apollo. I’ve been following Maisie’s career since her first gigs, and it’s a delight to catch up with her in advance of her hosting the Frank’s Fund Comedy Gala at Harrogate Theatre on Monday 9 October.

It’s been a whopper of a year for Maisie and as well as completing her debut solo tour, she’s been focusing a lot of energy on a major passion of hers: football. She trotted across the globe to Australia to cover the Women’s World Cup and has launched a hugely successful podcast, Big Kick Energy, recently nominated for a Sports Broadcast Award.

Over the summer, she played in Soccer Aid for UNICEF: “I’d grown up watching it and suddenly you find yourself playing football with a load of your childhood heroes.” As if that wasn’t enough, Maisie also got hitched… the day before the match. “I didn’t ever envision it happening the day after my wedding. That was a tricky visit up to Old Trafford. I was very hungover.” I ask Maisie if she gets recognised on the street these days.

“Yeah, it does happen a fair bit now! I guess it’s the haircut. I dyed it for the World Cup. I thought I’d do a Gazza and go blonde… but some people thought it was for the Barbie movie.”

We have a giggle reminiscing about school days at St. Aidan’s, where we both went.

“I was definitely a bit of a loudmouth at school,” Maisie says. “I just liked making people laugh – it gave me quite a buzz. I never translated that into thinking I’d be a comedian.”

Maisie went on to drama school, returning to Harrogate after graduating, not sure what was next. It was at this point that comedy came to the fore.

“During school, I had a weekend job at Fat Face. I used to get so bored and end up daydreaming, and I’d write all these ideas out on till rolls. I put them all into a tin, in my bedroom. When I’d graduated from uni, I was living back home and didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Then I thought, ‘What about comedy? You’ve always been able to make people laugh.’ I found the tin, applied for a gig, and moved all my till roll about into a routine.”

Maisie went on to win the nationwide competition, So You Think You’re Funny? in 2017, and the rest is history. Maisie lives in Brighton these days but is still very much a proud northerner, often returning to visit family, or for work. I ask her what it’s like gigging on home turf.

“It’s really nice. It feels like you’ve got an in-joke with everybody in the audience. And you know what a small town is like – half the time you’re speaking to somebody in the audience and then you clock you know them. You’ll be like, ‘Oh, you gave me my first job!’ That genuinely happened – it was the guy who gave me a job at the village pub.”

I ask Maisie what it’s like being a northerner on the comedy circuit in general.

“People often see you as grounded and relatable and warm. I’ve been doing some voiceover work recently, and I’ll be in the booth with London-based directors who’ll say things like, ‘If you could just add a bit of warmth to it…’, and what they mean is: ham up your northern accent! But there’s also a bit of a snobbery; some people still assume that you live in a house with an outside toilet or that you rear cattle. But I don’t shy away from it. The worst thing is when I go back up north, to see my gran, and she tells me that I’m losing my accent. That’s when I start to panic.”

Maisie is back up in Harrogate very soon to host the annual Frank’s Frank Comedy Gala; 2023 will be the event’s fourth year, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever. Maisie is a patron of Frank’s Fund, a charity set up by the Ashton family in 2019 following the death of their 14-year-old son, Frank, to Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. The fund raises money for vital research through the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Like Maisie, Frank attended St. Aidan’s, and when she was approached about putting on a comedy gig to raise money (Frank was a big comedy fan), Maisie jumped at the opportunity. She tells me a bit more about why she got involved.

“Frank and I went to the same school, but I never knew him, and I’ve never been directly affected by bone cancer, but I think it’s really important. Frank’s chances were the same as somebody who’d got that cancer 40 years ago, which just doesn’t make any sense to me. Frank was in the middle of high school when he passed away, and it could really easily have been my little brother; it could really easily have been anybody. I think it’s important that you don’t just wait to be directly affected by something. The funding for research into Ewing sarcoma is so woefully low that unless we have events that focus purely on raising money, the next little lad, or anyone, who gets it, isn’t going to stand much of a better chance.”

Held in St. Aidan’s’ hall for its first two years and online during the pandemic, the gala is moving to Harrogate Theatre this year, a move which Maisie says has helped abundantly:

“It’s a far more attractive gig for comedians. Harrogate Theatre is a favourite for loads of comedians. And it’s good to have an event which isn’t mostly aimed at St. Aidan’s families – it’s now an open Harrogate event and I think that’s the direction to aim for. “A really good indication of how this charity is growing is the fact we sold out this event before even announcing the line-up.”

And what a line-up it is. Maisie will be joined by Jon Richardson, Ivo Graham and Lindsey Santoro; it’s set to be an evening full of belly laughs.

“I’m chuffed to bits. Jon, of course – he’s a big name. Ivo is going to do brilliantly with a Harrogate crowd, and Lindsey just absolutely obliterated the Edinburgh Fringe, where she was on the tip of everyone’s tongues.”

The goal, Maisie explains, is to get to the point where

“everybody in Harrogate knows that every October, there is a comedy gala; we always get a good line up, it’s always a good night, and people want to go. You just buy a ticket because you love comedy.”

Maisie adds,

“Something that is really important for Frank’s family is to keep Frank’s name going and keep him in people’s minds. I think the way you do that is to make an event that people want to go to, regardless of whether they knew Frank.”

Frank’s Fund Comedy Gala is on at Harrogate Theatre on Monday 9 October, as part of the Harrogate Comedy Festival. You can donate to Frank’s Fund here.

Yemi’s Food Stories: Three’s a Crowd pleaser in Harrogate

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and sharing cooking tips– please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

I finally got a chance to visit Three’s A Crowd in Harrogate and for a weekday evening, the venue was buzzing with diners having a great time. People popped in for quick meals with friends and family; it was obvious the venue is popular with locals.

I started with Bonne Maman cocktail which had sea buckthorn – a new flavour for me – apple juice, lemon juice and strawberry jam. This was a delicious surprise with the slight bitter edge perfectly balancing the sweetness of the strawberry jam. This is definitely a mocktail to check out.

With two menus to choose from and the daily special which included beef wellington, crispy pork tonkatsu and Ramsden house made sausages with pomme puree, red onion gravy and bacon jam cabbage, there were enough options for all.

My starter was braised pork cheeks which was tender as can be, Bury black pudding, pearl barley stew and confit egg yolk with pickled shallots to cut through the dish.

This is a welcome autumn dish that is generously portioned with a good balance of richness, umami and sharpness from the rich dark sauce and pickled shallots which had some sweetness. The vegetables in the stew still had the right bite to them.

My main was the wild stone bass, chargrilled courgette, pickled mussels, fennel, and roast shellfish espuma. This dish had great smokiness to it that was reminiscent of cooking on open fire which I love. The char from the fish skin and courgette was beautiful; on the fish, you had the slightest bitterness and from the courgettes, you got the juices bursting with sweetness. The shellfish espuma was light and had the sweetness you would expect from it.

Wild stone bass, chargrilled courgette, pickled mussels, fennel, and roast shellfish espuma

This was a dish with character and imagination with the slow roasted caramelised tomatoes bringing in sweetness and tartness.

The lamb Henry would be right up the street of those who love classical cuisine with delicately sweet and juicy hispi cabbage, goats cheese croquettes with tang and crunchiness, rich dark sauce, smoky piquillo peppers and a sweet red pepper puree.

The lamb was tender with the fat well rendered and the exterior was crispy in a good way. The whole experience was reminiscent of eating a barbecue dish paired with classical flavours and techniques.

Dessert is meant to be the highlight of a meal as it is often the final and lingering memory the diner has and the saffron and wildflower honey crème brulee with malt crumble and Raspberry sorbet was a true highlight.

The sorbet was refreshing with malty notes that reminded me of the malt drinks of my childhood. I couldn’t resist sniffing the aroma of saffron coming from the crème brûlée and the taste of the wild flower honey could only be matched by the vibrant yellow colour. With a hint of bitterness, this is a dessert I can’t wait to eat again and attempt to recreate.

Saffron and wild honey creme brûlée

The restaurant features crowd pleasing menus such as fish and chips which was popular with diners and desserts including choux bun, sticky toffee puddings, panna cotta, chocolate mousse and cheese boards.

Three’s a Crowd was welcoming and I had a great time there. The manager on duty, Karol and his team offered prompt and friendly service and all hands were on deck as they made sure everyone was looked after.

Want a good value meal out? Restaurants across the Harrogate district will be offering discount deals this coming week, when Visit Harrogate Restaurant Week returns. The deals run from Monday, October 9, to Sunday, October 15.

Nine rapes reported at Harrogate Army Foundation College in 13 months

Nine allegations of rape at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College have been reported to police in the last 13 months.

The figures were revealed in a Freedom of Information response from North Yorkshire Police.

According to the data, nine rapes, two incidents of voyeurism and two sexual assaults were reported to civilian police between July 2022 and August 2023.

No details have been given as to whether the incidents involved recruits or staff at the college.

It comes after the college on Penny Pot Lane, which trains junior soldiers aged 16 and 17, was hit by allegations of abuse and bullying in 2021.

However, ministers defended the organisation and said it had a “much improved climate”.

Baroness Goldie, a Ministry of Defence minister, told the House of Lords in May this year that the college had taken steps to improve and that this was reflected by an Ofsted report in 2021.

However, the new figures raise questions over further allegations of sexual assault and abuse.

Jim Wyke, of the Child Rights International Network, which campaigns for the raising of the military age, said the government should look again at the recruitment age.

He said:

“Ministers must look seriously at making the transition to an all-adult armed forces, recruiting for the armed forces at 18 is the settled consensus in most of the world.”

In response to the figure, a British Army spokesperson said:

“The army is committed to rooting out all forms of inappropriate behaviour and we have a zero-tolerance policy on sexual offences – any personnel convicted of a sexual offence will be dismissed.

“We have very strong safeguarding mechanisms at AFC(H) to ensure junior soldiers have the right support structures. This includes multiple methods of accessing welfare support, including confidential support lines.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on investigations which may be ongoing”

Harrogate’s Miss Yorkshire and the role of the modern beauty queen

Anyone over the age of 70 might remember a group of feminists dramatically flour bombing the 1970 Miss World competition.

The group was protesting at a contest that objectified women. Miss World then was broadcast on the BBC and was one of the biggest TV events of the year — the feminists made headlines all over the world. Now, the idea a beauty contest being scheduled alongside Strictly on a BBC One Saturday evening is unthinkable.

The beauty pageant though has survived this lack of major TV profile and last weekend Chloe McEwen, a 21-year-old woman from Harrogate, was crowned Miss Yorkshire. She will go through to compete in the Miss England contest next year.

In a world where even Barbie has had a feminist makeover, could the same be said for the beauty contest? Chloe’s story of being crowned Miss Yorkshire got hundreds of likes on the Stray Ferret’s social media post and noticeably no jibes. Chloe says her small group of close friends have embraced her doing it:

“They’ve all genuinely been really supporting towards me, no one has had anything negative to say.”

Chloe has a powerful story to tell. At the age of 16 she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Such were the severity of her symptoms she spent eight months in hospital and gained four stone in weight.

“When I got out of there I was so depressed, so filled with anxiety, worried about what people would think of me. I went from this petite, pretty girl to having all this weight on me. Some people didn’t recognise me. It really knocked my confidence.

“I cut my circle of friends really small, focussed on myself and my health; getting into the gym little by little and slowly building up to being a personal trainer”.

Instagram and YouTube though are full of young women using social media to campaign and spread messages. Why did she chose a beauty contest to get her message across?

“If you’d have told me four years ago when I got out of hospital I would be doing this, I would have said not in a million years.

“For me to even get to a point of having enough confidence to compete — I want to spread the message that no matter where you are in life and you haven’t got that confidence, if you work on yourself, you can do something like a beauty contest.”

Composite image of before and after photos of Harrogate Miss Yorkshire contestant Chloe McEwen.

Chloe’s photos of her weight loss and fitness journey

The rules for entering the Miss England contest are clear — you have to be between 16 and 27 years old and unmarried. It’s described now though as ‘beauty with a purpose’. The winner needs to have a powerful narrative and raise money for the organisation’s charity. Chloe says ‘there are plenty of beautiful girls out there but if you haven’t got that strong message, they’re not going to pick you nowadays”.

Soroptimist International is an organisation that looks after the interests of women and girls. It has an active Harrogate and district branch – with members who will remember the 1970s fight for equal rights.

The local communications officer, Lesley Berry, said in 2021 the organisation’s annual conference heard from 33-year-old Dr Carina Tyrrell – a former Miss England who is a first class honours Cambridge graduate and respected public health physician who worked on the development of covid vaccines.

Ms Berry said:

“We want people to do whatever they want to as long as nobody is exploiting them or forcing them to do it. If it is something you want to do when you’re young.

“This young lady seems to be doing it to enhance her confidence and spread awareness of the issues she’s overcome. That is a positive message”.

In an age where women’s empowerment is about individual choice, Chloe McEwen has chosen her way of spreading her message. She hopes that, with so many young women suffering from anxiety, it works and has impact.

Chloe’s Instagram images (Chloemcewen8) and her message

Handmade rug showroom opens in Harrogate tomorrow

A new handmade rugs showroom is set to open in Harrogate.

Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs will welcome its first customers on Albert Street tomorrow (October 7).

The store, which is based in the former Dizzy Duck unit, will sell a range of rugs from Afghan to Scandinavian designs.

Emma Mellor, who owns the venture and has a showroom in York, said she chose to open in Harrogate after initially visiting to buy some paint and noticed the vacant unit.

She said:

“I’ve always loved Harrogate. My grandma used to bring me here when I was little for a treat.

“I’ve always wanted a showroom here and I’ve always really liked this street. But it’s weird, because I actually came here for a tin of paint and it just snowballed.

“I came for a tin of paint and left with a shop.”

The showroom on Albert Street in Harrogate.

Ms Mellor, who took an interest in textiles after working in a rug shop herself, took over the Albert Street unit three weeks ago.

She said that it felt like a natural choice to open a new showroom in Harrogate.

Ms Mellor said:

“I really wanted to have a shop here, it seems like a natural place. I work with a lot of interior designers who are based around this area.”

The showroom will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am until 4.30pm.

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Starting out

Winning bronze

Taking on the channel

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