Whether you feel the past year has been unfairly hard or gratifyingly rewarding, we are all losers in one sense.  

2023 has seen the deaths of some of the most prominent figures in our community, and we are all left poorer by their absence. 

Here we take a look back at some of the brightest lights that went out in the worlds of business, politics and sport. 

Baroness Masham 

Baroness Masham (main picture) was a Paralympian medallist, disability rights campaigner, and the longest-serving female member the House of Lords has ever seen. 

Born Susan Sinclair on April 14, 1935, she became a wheelchair-user after injuring her spinal cord in a riding accident in 1958. 

In 1959 she married David Cunliffe-Lister, who became Earl of Swinton in 1972, to become Lady Masham. 

She served as a cross-bench peer for 53 years after becoming Baroness Masham of Ilton in 1970. 

Baroness Masham won medals in swimming and table tennis at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Paralympic games. 

In 1974 she founded the Spinal Injuries Association and remained its president until her death. 

She belonged to various parliamentary committees and last spoke in the House of Lords on February 2 this year.  

Baroness Masham was the aunt of Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the 4th Earl of Swinton and husband of Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, North Yorkshire councillor for the Masham and Fountains division.

She died aged 87 at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton on Sunday, March 12, 2023. 

Guy Tweedy, a Harrogate thalidomide campaigner and trustee of Disability Action Yorkshire, said: 

“Baroness Masham was a formidable woman. She was a trailblazer for disability rights, along with Lord Morris of Manchester and Baron Ashley of Stoke. 

“Without the work of those three we wouldn’t be where we are today with disability rights.”

George Dunnington

George Dunnington was life president of Harrogate Town AFC and had been involved with the club for seven decades when he died this summer. 

Mr Dunnington, 86, was first involved with the club as a player in the 1950s. 

When his playing days ended in the 1980s he helped the club build a new stand, floodlights, terracing, turnstiles and changing rooms with a team of workers. 

George Dunnington.

Mr Dunnington was chairman from 1986 to 1998, and was then elected club president in 2012/13, before becoming one of the inaugural inductees in the club’s Hall of Fame in February 2023. 

He died on Sunday, August 20, 2023. 

The club said in a statement: 

“George was an inspiration to everyone at the club, his positivity, friendly nature and determination leaving a lasting legacy at the club he dedicated such a big part of his life to.”

David Kitching

David Kitching, who founded the Harrogate firm Kitching Plant Hire, died in August, aged 80. 

David, who was born in Bridlington and brought up in Pateley Bridge, founded the firm as D&S Kitching with wife Shirley in 1967. 

The company began operating out of a small yard and workshop in Darley, where the couple lived. After a stint at Hookstone Park in Harrogate in the early 1990s, it moved to its present location, the former Harrogate bus depot on Camwal Road in Starbeck, in the early 2000s. 

David Kitching.

The firm now employs about 20 staff and has more than 400 machines for hire, including diggers, rollers and cement mixers. 

David stepped back from day-to-day involvement with the company a few years ago.

Mr Kitching’s funeral in Birstwith was followed by a celebration of his life at the Wellington Inn in Darley, where guests wore a hint of yellow as a nod to the yellow machinery that contributed so much to Mr Kitching’s life.

Charles Smailes

Charles Smailes was one of the most recognised and well-respected figures in Harrogate estate agency. 

The third of four sons of former Yorkshire and England cricketer Frank Smailes and Dorothy Smailes (née Stubbs), Charles Richard Rex Smailes started his property career in 1963.  

Over the course of 57 years, he made an indelible mark on the property industry, not least by co-founding Feather Smailes Scales (FSS), on Raglan Street, with Jim Feather and Peter Scales in 1994. FSS continues to thrive, now under the stewardship of his son Richard Smailes, along with partners Simon Croft and Dan Brumfitt. 

Charles Smailes.

Charles was elected President of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) in 2006 and played a pivotal role in the creation and implementation of the National Federation of Property Professionals (now PropertyMark), a professional body committed to upholding the standards of property agents across the UK. 

He served as an adviser to the then Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, and even lectured in property auctioneering at the NAEA headquarters in Warwick. 

Charles also became a familiar face on BBC TV’s “Homes Under the Hammer“, sharing his expertise with a broader audience. 

In partnership with Stanley and Audrey Burton, he was instrumental in founding the Harrogate Families Housing Association (now Harrogate Housing Association) in 1968 and led it for more than 25 years, helping to provide high-quality accommodation to vulnerable homeless families in the district. 

Charles died on Monday, October 9, 2023. 

In a website obituary, FSS described Charles as “a true leader and visionary whose impact on Harrogate’s estate agency community will be felt for generations to come”. 

Sylvia Grice 

Over the course of half a century, Sylvia Grice taught an estimated 250,000 people to swim, including Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher.

Sylvia, who lived in Littlethorpe, near Ripon, devoted much of her life to teaching people to swim in a city that has three rivers and a canal. She was awarded an MBE in 2010 and given the Freedom of the City of Ripon in 2019. 

Sylvia learned to swim when she was 15 and got married to husband Jim at the age of 20. 

It was when she used to take her daughters, Helen and Alison, to swim at Ripon’s Spa Baths that she caught the eye of the manager Fred Windsor, who encouraged her to become a qualified swimming teacher. 

Sylvia Grice.

She went on to become an Amateur Swimming Association (now Swim England) tutor and a Fellow of the Institute of Swimming Teachers, and used her qualifications to teach people of all ages and abilities to swim – including her own mother-in-law.

She taught people to swim at Ripon Grammar School and at Ashville College in Harrogate, where she set up Triton Swimmers, and also found time to run the Spa Gardens café, be an active member of Ripon Lions, and raise money for numerous charitable causes. 

When Sylvia died aged 90 on Monday, October 30, 2023, hundreds of people from across Ripon and far beyond paid tribute. One called her: 

“One of the most incredible and impactful women I have ever had the joy to meet.” 

Another said simply: 

“What a Ripon legend.” 

Ian Audsley

Ian Audsley was one of the best-known butchers in the Harrogate area.  

He launched his business in 1970, and his shop on St Winifred’s Avenue West, JE Audsley Family Butcher, became of one of the best-regarded butcher’s shops in the region.  

Ian Audsley in his shop, with son John second from right.

Now run by his son, John, it continues to command loyalty among many of its clientele. 

Ian died aged 84 on Monday, December 11, 2023. 

A notice issued by his family said:  

“Ian’s impact extends far beyond the business he founded; it encompasses the relationships he nurtured, the moments he shared, and the lives he touched.

“His genuine kindness, infectious spirit, and commitment to community service have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Read more:

• Baroness Masham dies aged 87
• Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington dies
• Harrogate estate agent founding partner dies
• ‘Remarkable’ and ‘inspirational’ Ripon woman Sylvia Grice dies
• Well-known Harrogate family business mourns death of founder

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we’re looking at road safety.

The issue of road safety came under the Stray Ferret’s spotlight a lot this year.

With several fatal and serious crashes, campaigns for 20mph speed limit zones and “landmark” road safety packages, it has been a year of ups and downs on our highways.

20mph speed limits

Pannal Ash and Oatlands

A collision that left two school students with serious injuries prompted a group of Harrogate parents to bolster plans to implement 20mph speed zones around parts of the town.

The incident, which happened in February, left two 15-year-old Rossett School pupils requiring several operations and hospital treatment for months after.

Following the collision, the group, who were already campaigning for such change, amped up their efforts.

They set up a petition, which called for a ‘safe streets zone’, consisting of a blanket 20mph speed limit across the Rossett, Pannal Ash, Oatlands, Woodlands and Hookstone areas.

It attracted more than 900 signatures and caught the attention of 13 education leader and local councillors, who joined forces with the group and urged North Yorkshire Council to take action.

The petition was delivered to the council in May.

Hazel Peacock, who spearheaded the campaign and delivered the petition on behalf of the group, told the Stray Ferret on the day:

“We’re just delighted we’ve got this number of signatures. It shows the support for the proposal of this change, which could bring such positive benefits from a road safety perspective.

“Once you have that, it will change people’s attitudes in regard to comfort around walking, cycling and mobility users.”

The road safety group.

Woodfield Road

The council also recommended a separate 20mph speed limit plan for Woodfield Road in the Bilton area of Harrogate.

The project, funded through the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s AJ1 project road safety fund, will see the introduction of traffic calming measures, including speed cushions and a 20mph speed limit.

Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the Stray Ferret in November the measures were being taken “for the safety of children” ahead of the former Woodfield Road Community Primary School re-opening.

The school, which closed at the end of last year, is due to reopen as a secondary school for 80 autistic children in September 2024.

No further updates have been revealed since publication.

‘Landmark’ package unveiled

Following calls for change, North Yorkshire Council unveiled plans for the county’s largest ever “landmark” 20mph zone in September.

It proposed extensive reduced speed limit zones across the Pannal Ash and Oatlands areas of the town, which included Arthurs Avenue, Oatlands Drive, Yew Tree Lane and Cromwell Road.

It covered seven Harrogate schools in line with the parents’ wishes.

These were Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transport, said at the time:

“This is the most significant 20mph zone the council has ever introduced.

“Our plan will see 20mph limits introduced outside seven more schools and on nearby residential streets, meaning thousands of children can enjoy safer journeys every day.

“This landmark proposal is testament to the collective determination of schools, families and councillors to respond to public concerns and deliver ambitious action. It sets a positive example and leads the way for communities across North Yorkshire.”

Cllr Keane Duncan.

Headteacher called for Otley Road to be included

After the package was announced, Neil Renton, headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School (HGS), called for a section of Otley Road to also be included in the 20mph zone.

Arthurs Avenue and surrounding side roads were set to be included in the reduced speed limit zone to protect HGS pupils, however Mr Renton said the zone should be extended to include the busy B6162 Otley Road where pupils enter the school.

He said this is a key route in-and-out of town and currently has a limit of 30mph.

The call came after council officers published a report ahead of a Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency meeting, during which Mr Renton’s concerns were expressed, which stated the “volume of traffic” on the road would mean it would not be possible to implement the 20mph speed limit.

Plans rejected

Despite hopes of change from teachers, councillors and campaigners, North Yorkshire Council rejected plans to include some of the main roads in the 20mph zone.

Following a December meeting, it appeared Leeds Road, Wetherby Road, Otley Road, Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, York Place and Leadhall Lane would not be included in the plan.

A report due before Cllr Duncan said the main roads were either identified as “strategic distributor” or “main distributor” roads, adding:

“Practically given the recognised role in the strategic network and their function to carry high volumes of traffic between primary destinations it is not considered appropriate to implement physical traffic calming features and an associated speed reduction to 20mph.”

Meanwhile, the council said Leadhall Lane  “does not have identified destination points such as schools, shops or sports centre” and a 20mph limit would be “difficult to achieve”.

A map of the 20mph areas in Pannal and Oatlands. Picture: North Yorkshire Council.

‘Incredibly disappointed’

Christopher Harrison, headteacher at Oatlands Infant School, said he was “incredibly disappointed” with the news.

He hoped the council would reconsider and reduce the speed limit on Hookstone Road to 20mph from 30mph, adding:

“As headteacher of Oatlands Infant School, I am incredibly disappointed by the decision to keep Hookstone Road at 30mph.

“We have a healthy, active school community who love to walk, cycle and scooter to school alongside Hookstone Road on a daily basis.

“We worry that the current speed limit of 30mph is not safe enough for our children, and that a reduction to 20mph would enable more families to travel to school in safety. We hope that North Yorkshire Council reconsider this decision with our youngest, most vulnerable members of our community in mind.”

But Mr Harrison was not alone in his concern, as campaigner Hazel Peacock also urged the council to reconsider. She said:

“For the safety and well-being of the 9,000 school children and the wider community in Oatlands and Pannal Ash we urge North Yorkshire Council to reconsider the inclusion of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, Leadhall Lane, part of Leeds Rd (A61), Otley Rd (B6162), Wetherby Road (A661) and York Place (A6040) as 20mph in the Harrogate (south and west) 20mph Speed Limit review to be considered by Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transportation and mayoral candidate, on Monday 18th December.

“Without the inclusion of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive, Otley Road and part of Wetherby Road specifically only five of the nine schools in the zone will be fully covered with 20mph roads immediately surrounding them; leaving St John Fishers Catholic High School and Willow Tree Primary School on 30mph roads and a combination of 30mph and 20mph in the case of Harrogate Grammar School and Oatlands Infant School.”

Next steps

The authority recommended the scheme, which is estimated to cost £200,000, proceed to consultation on traffic regulation orders for the areas proposed to be reduced to 20mph.

The recommendation was approved following an environmental meeting on Monday, December 18.

The council said in its decision:

“Approval given to allow officers to proceed; with the necessary consultations and Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process to seek to implement a 20mph speed limit, together with associated traffic calming measures as identified in the residential roads as outlined in Appendix A of the report and with signing and lining reviews of Hookstone Road, Hookstone Drive and Wetherby Road.”

It said officers are to provide the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee progress updates in Spring 2024.

The authority added:

“The recommendation aligns with several of the Council’s priorities linked with Highway Safety, Place and Environment and Health and Well Being.

“By introducing a reduced speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in these areas it is hoped that a safer and healthier environment will encourage enhanced active travel opportunities for all ages of the community, this may be walking, wheeling, accessibility to the bus or cycling.

“The introduction of such measures is subject to satisfactory consultation and the completion of the formal Traffic Regulation Order advertising process.”

A bad year for fatal collisions

The Harrogate district has seen several fatal crashes throughout this year, with one road becoming a common denominator in the incidents.

Four out of six fatal collisions happened on the A61, which runs between Ripon and Harrogate, two of which occurred within just eight days of each other.

A 59-year-old motorcyclist was killed on the road on August 29. Officers believe that the motorcyclist was travelling with a group of unknown motorcycles immediately before the collision and he was at the rear of the group.

Just a few days later, three members of a Ukrainian family were killed in a three-vehicle crash that involved a double decker bus on Sunday, September 3. A teenage girl was left orphaned.

Following the collisions, residents of South Stainley called for a speed limit reduction from 60mph to 50mph in October.

Rebecca Brewins, who lives alongside the road and lost her parents in a crash at South Stainley 11 years ago, led the campaign.

She and other residents met Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, who subsequently urged North Yorkshire Council to act.

Richard Flinton, the council’s chief executive, indicated at the time the authority considered taking action.

In a letter to Mr Smith, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Flinton wrote:

“The reports for the recent fatal collisions are currently being drafted, but I am able to advise that the road environment was not considered to have been a factor in the cause of either fatal collision

“Therefore, the recommendations are limited to small scale localised improvements, such as the cleaning of road signs and refreshing of white lines.

“Nevertheless, in recognition of community concerns, North Yorkshire Council is currently carrying out a series of speed surveys along the A61, with a view to reducing the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph.

“Whilst mean speeds are unlikely to be excessive, the intention here is to set the expectations of the motorist, of the lack of overtaking opportunities, bends and other hazards associated with a high speed rural road.”

Police at the scene of the triple fatality on Sep 3 2023

Mr Flinton added the council was expected to consult on introducing a traffic regulation order to reduce the speed limit from the national default speed limit of 60mph.

He also said engineers will undertake “a full route analysis of the A61” to identify what else can be done to make the road safer.

Despite hopes of action being taken, another person was killed on the fated road just weeks later.

90-year-old Lucjan Wilk was hit by a car on the road, near Killinghall, after getting off the 36 bus.

His daughter, Paulina, whom he lived with, contacted the Stray Ferret to voice her concerns following her father’s death.

She urged North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit on the “horrendous road”.

As well as suggesting a 30mph speed limit – instead of the current 40mph – Paulina also insisted the council should install proper lighting and introduce other traffic-calming measures, such as speed-indicator display signs.

It appears the requested measures are yet to come to fruition.

Lucjan Wilk was killed on the A61 near Killinghall.

Fatal collisions also happened on Brimham Rocks Road, near Pateley Bridge, North Park Road in Harrogate and the B6265 near Boroughbridge.

Read more:

• Police name victims of fatal A61 crash near Ripon
• Stray Views: Why no 20mph limit outside my children’s primary school?

A Knaresborough club for young farmers is to collect Christmas trees for charity again.

Knaresborough Young Farmers Club, which celebrates its 75th anniversary next year, will be collecting used trees on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 January.

This is the second year the collection is taking place after the response to the first left chairman Katy Addyman “gobsmacked”.

She said:

“We thought we might get 10 trees, we might get 15.

“Literally within a week we had 200, 250 trees. We had to close the booking form because we were just gobsmacked by the demand for it.”

The Christmas tree collection will take place in Harrogate, Pannal and Starbeck on Saturday 6 January.

Collections in Knaresborough and the surrounding villages of Farnham, Ferrensby, Follifoot, Goldsborough, Kirk Deighton, Lingerfield, Little Ribston, North Deighton, Scotton and Spofforth will take place the following day.

A minimum donation of £5 per tree is required to raise money for their chosen charities.

You can book a collection online.

Once collected, the trees will be put in a wood chipper to make bedding for cows.

The proceeds will go to MS Society and Harrogate charity Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Ms Addyman said:

“One of the biggest supporters of the club suffers with MS.

“We chose the MS Society as a way of giving back to him.”

Knaresborough Young Farmers Club has noticed a rise in young people taking an interest in agriculture. A few years ago, the club had “two or three” junior members, or, members aged between 10 and 16. Today, there are 30.

Ms Addyman credits the documentary series Clarkson’s Farm with the increase in members.

Her own history with the club is less recent: her father was also chairman.

She said:

“When I told my dad I was joining young farmers, he was like ‘Oh my God, you don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for!'”

Knaresborough Young Farmers Club accepts members between the ages of 10 and 28. Anyone interested in joining can email yfcknaresborough@gmail.com.

Boroughbridge collection

Boroughbridge Young Farmers Club is offering a similar service on January 7. It will be collecting trees from the town and nearby villages.

Booking isn’t required — people are asked to leave th e tree outside their home or on the street and pay £5 cash when it is collected. The service raises money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Further details are here.

Read more:

• Knaresborough tractor run raises £23,000
• Ripon tinsel tractor run raises £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research

Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe has hinted council taxpayers in North Yorkshire will have to pay more for police and fire services next year.

The commissioner sets the annual police and fire precepts – the amounts dedicated to policing and fire and rescue services in North Yorkshire and York from every household.

Ms Metcalfe has opened a consultation on how much people are willing to spend on this in their council tax bills from April next year. The sum will be added to the amount charged by North Yorkshire Council and local parish councils for residents’ final council tax bills from April next year.

Three of the options presented in the consultation are for council tax increases. One suggests a freeze and none suggest a reduction. The freeze option is accompanied by the statement, ‘this would be a significant cut to the fire budget due to inflation and current levels of service delivery could not be maintained’.

The suggested increases are for 2.99%, 6.2% and 9.3%, which would be the equivalent of an extra £2.41, £5 and £7.50 a year respectively.

Ms Metcalfe said:

“It is never easy to ask residents for more money, and I know that many individuals and families are facing financial pressures once again this coming year, but our emergency services are also dealing with rising costs as they continue their vital work to keep us all safe.

“And again, this year the decision will be challenging, as I have to balance the burden on taxpayers and the growing demands for services from our police and fire and rescue services, so it’s vital that I hear your views.

“Please go online, take just a few minutes to have your say and I will ensure your views are reflected when decisions are made.”

The survey runs until midnight Monday, January 21 and you can participate here.

After the consultation ends, Ms Metcalfe will submit her proposals to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel in February.

The panel, which is a joint committee of North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, can make recommendations on the proposal but the commissioner will ultimately decide the outcome.

Ms Metcalfe’s role will be taken over by whoever is elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire in May next year.

Read more:

• Police commissioner Zoe Metcalfe rejects appointing interim chief constable
• Tim Forber set to be North Yorkshire’s new top cop

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at businesses and brands that came and went on our local high streets.

The Harrogate district has seen a range of national and independent retailers come and go on the high street this year.

A cinema in Ripon folded, Harrogate got its first world supermarket, and A-ha’s sound technician even opened a local bar.

And let’s not forget the Rooftop which opened to the public for a grand total of 48 hours…

Today, we’re looking back some standout moments on the district’s high streets.

Came – The Inn Collection Group opened three sites in the Harrogate district

Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough were all in the spotlight following the opening of a new Inn Collection hotel in each area.

The Inn Collection Group, which bought the former Dower House in Knaresborough along with the George Hotel in Harrogate and the Ripon Spa Hotel, markets its venues as ‘inns with rooms’.

All three sites got fresh new looks following multi-million pound makeovers.

The new Ripon Inn, which opened in October, has 58 bedrooms and two bars. The group’s managing director told the Stray Ferret the bill for the site was “close to eight figures”.

The Knaresborough Inn opened its doors in August. It no longer has a spa and gym but boasts 56 rooms compared to a previous 38.

Finally, The Harrogate Inn closed in January for refurbishments. It has a new entrance, a new bar and restaurant, 96 rooms and two new outdoor patio features.

The Knaresborough Inn.

Came – Jollyes pet store opens in Harrogate

A national pet chain, Jollyes, opened on Hookstone Park in September.

The store sells a wide range of pet foods, toys and bedding. It also offers a pet grooming service.

The Harrogate store is one of 95 sites in the UK and the company plans to open another 10 by the middle of 2024.

Went – national retailer Paperchase folds

Paperchase, which had a store on James Street in Harrogate, closed after the company went into administration in February.

As part of the closing down sale, the company sold off cards, gifts and stationery for up to 70% off – with cards going for as little as 10p.

Tesco bought the rights to the brand, entitling it to sell Paperchase items in its supermarkets, but did not buy the stores.

The move affected 106 Paperchase shops and more than 800 staff nationally.

Came – soft furnishing brand Sophie Allport came to James Street

Sophie Allport, an interior furnishing brand based in Lincolnshire, took over the former Phase Eight store in Harrogate.

The Harrogate branch, which opened in November, is the first outside its home county, with other stores in Stamford and Bourne.

It sells a range of homeware, including bedding and crockery, as well as home furnishings, accessories and gifts.

Founder Sophie Allport.

Went – The Rooftop’s two-day tenure in Harrogate

Our next restaurant possibly holds the title for being the most rapid open and closure in recent Harrogate history.

Mexican restaurant, The Rooftop, confirmed it had closed after just two days of trading in August.

Owner Mason Elyas told the Stray Ferret he had been involved in a dispute with business partners and planned to take legal action at the time. However, another restaurant has not yet opened.

Mr Elyas said he had lost £20,000 on the venture but, despite this, hoped to open another restaurant in Harrogate once this issue was resolved.

The restaurant, which was on Cheltenham Crescent, was the third restaurant to open and close in just over a year, following the closure of both Samson’s and HG1.

Came – Harrogate’s first world food supermarket opens

All Nations Supermarket, on Skipton Road, opened in September.

It stocks a wide variety of Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European foods and ingredients – the first of its kind in the town.

The store also has a butchers counter selling fresh meat and stocks halal foods too.

The opening created a real buzz on the Stray Ferret’s social media, with more than 1,000 people reacting to a post about the new venture.

All Nations Supermarket also sells Tik Tok-viral Buldak products, as well as a range of Asian spices, Middle Eastern desserts and even fresh fruit and vegetables.

Went – Curzon closed Ripon cinema

Ripon’s only cinema, Curzon, closed its doors in July this year.

The company said the venue faced “specific challenges” and site was “not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the North Street premises, announced in June it hoped to retain one of the cinema screens to become a volunteer-led community project.

It hopes to have the building back open to the public next year, however, no further developments have been announced yet.

Curzon.

Came – Amy Winehouse’s sound engineer opens record shop and bar in Harrogate

Dave Swallows, who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Erasure, James and A-ha, opened a vinyl coffee house and bar in May.

AAA (pronounced triple-A) on Cold Bath Road sells clothing and vinyl records, as well as serves coffee, food and alcohol.

Mr Swallows, who is originally from Southend-on-Sea but has lived in Harrogate for 16 years, told the Stray Ferret:

“Last July, I was touring with A-ha, playing Rio de Janeiro and the Hollywood Bowl, and then just two days later I was back here, being handed the keys to this place.”

Maybe one day A-ha will decide to Take On the town for one night only…

Went – Joules closed Harrogate store in second blow to James Street

Paperchase was not the only major retailer to closed its doors in Harrogate this year – as Joules saw the same fate.

The closure, which happened in May, came after the company fell into administration in 2022.

However, Next rescued it by paying £34 million for the business, plus £7 million for the head office.

The closing notice did not state a reason for the decision, but added the nearest Joules store is now Ilkley.

Mint Velvet later took on the former Joules site.

Came – Knaresborough banking hub opened to town

Knaresborough’s first banking hub, Cash Access UK, opened its doors in November.

It is a not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash.

The hub, on Bowling Green Yard, offers customers of all major banks and building societies the chance to carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.

It also provides a community banker service whereby customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.

Community bankers from Natwest, Halifax, Santander, HSBC and Barclays work on rotation at the hub.

Knaresborough Town crier at the opening of the new banking hub.

Went – Ripon said goodbye to M&Co after 44 years of trading

Retailer M&Co went into administration for the second time last December and subsequently closed its doors in Ripon in April.

The website, brand and intellectual property were bought by Yours Clothing — but the shops were not.

This meant all 170 stores, including Ripon which had been open since 1979, had to close.

Around 1,900 employees were affected nationally.

Came – new bar and restaurant 1858 opened in Knaresborough

1858, Knaresborough’s newest bar and restaurant, opened in the former NatWest site in August.

The venue offers lunch and evening meals, Sunday roasts and drinks.

Kim Lancaster, who runs the venue, said the experience is more like “elegant fine-dining” than a “Wetherspoons quick in-and-out” type experience.

Its name derives from the year in which the building was constructed.

Went – Leon closed in Harrogate after nine month tenure

Fast food chain Leon closed its doors in Harrogate in April.

The drive-through’s closure came just nine months after it opened on Wetherby Road.

Starbucks looks set to open in the former Leon site.

It began advertising for staff in earlier this month after North Yorkshire Council approved plans to change the signage outside.

Came – Mandarin Stone opened Harrogate store

National retailer Mandarin Stone opened its doors in Harrogate in November.

The company, which sells a wide range natural stone, porcelain and decorative tiles, took over the former Lynx Menswear unit on West Park.

The Harrogate showroom is the 15th of its kind and the most northerly Mandarin Stone site.

Director Carl Ryan said the company’s “knowledge, passion and enthusiasm” for the industry set it apart in the market.

The Mandarin Stone team.

Went – Harrogate Tea Rooms closed after 13 years

The Harrogate Tea Rooms, in Westminster Arcade, closed with immediate effect in October.

Owners Carrie and Tony Wilkinson announced the news on social media and said the day-to-day running costs were not translating into profit.

They added they would, however, continue making scones for delivery.

Their post said:

“We are as sad and shocked as some of you will be.

“Our tenancy with the new landlord was up for renewal, but with increased rent, energy and food costs, lower than ever footfall, our out-of-the-way location and possibly the ever increasing amount of new coffee shops near us, it has forced our decision to unfortunately not be able to move forward with the business.

The Harrogate Tea Rooms was featured in The Harrogate Crime Series by Malcolm Hollingdrake.

Mr and Ms Wilkinson said DCI Cyril Bennett, one of the main characters, will live “in our hearts and memories”, and “will forever be drinking tea from a China cup”.

Read more:

• ‘I just want my husband back’ – The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023
• ‘Without my carer I’d be a mess’ – Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023

The retaining wall on Briggate in Knaresborough has been added to the long list of road and bridge repairs recommended for approval by members of North Yorkshire Council environment executive.

The work has been budgeted at £150,000 and is one of nearly 1,000 schemes across the county included in the £45.8 million highways capital programme 2024/25. 

The programme includes 225 schemes in the Harrogate district, ranging from the resurfacing of York Place in the heart of Harrogate to patching work right on the district boundary near Angram reservoir at the top end of Nidderdale. 

The cost of the schemes ranges from various road surface patching works in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate at £362 each, to the resurfacing of Ripon’s Market Place at £330,000. 

The schemes also include work on the bridge over Scot Beck at Thornthwaite, and further work on the landslip on the A59 to Skipton, both costed at £100,000. 

The other scheme in our district that has been added to the list is the resurfacing work on Lancaster Park Road in Harrogate, budgeted at £170,000. 

Schemes worth £3.27 million have been deferred to future years from the 2023/24 annual programme. Those in the Harrogate district include drainage projects at Darley and Beckwithshaw (budgeted at £10,000 and £48,000 respectively) and construction work on Oak Beck Bridge in Harrogate, which has a budget of £1.5 million – by far the most expensive of all the schemes across the whole county. 

The Highways Capital Programme covers the whole of North Yorkshire – which consists of Richmondshire, Hambleton, Scarborough, Ryedale, Craven, Harrogate and Selby areas – and is based on a funding settlement of £40.07 million from the Department of Transport. 

The council’s environment executive recommended that the corporate director for environment approve the programme, in consultation with environment executive member for highways and transportation.

The list of schemes is available here.

Read more:

• No 12: The Great Wall of Briggate saga in Knaresborough
• Decision day approaches for £630,000 Ripon city centre resurfacing scheme
• ‘Unforeseen circumstances’ delay Oak Beck Bridge replacement — again

This article is sponsored by Ashville College Sixth Form.

We understand that choosing a Sixth Form can bring excitement and nerves in equal measure. To any young person, Sixth Form is a time of enrichment, commitment and increasing independence as they move closer to adulthood. They may even have heard from people close to them that Sixth Form was the best time of their school lives. It is not a decision to take lightly.

Ashville College’s Sixth Form Taster Day on Thursday, January 18 is designed to give Year 11s a taste of Sixth Form academic and social life, and to hopefully help them decide if we will be a good fit, both for them as individuals and in paving the way for their future plans.

Here are six things your child will discover on our Taster Day. If they don’t, we are not doing it right!

High-quality teaching

By attending pre-selected sessions, your child will gain first-hand experience of our range of more than 25 A Levels plus BTEC and Cambridge Technical qualifications and start to get acquainted with our teachers, who are specialists in their chosen disciplines.

What it feels like to be a Sixth Former

The feeling may be a little artificial as they haven’t officially started yet, but a Taster Day is as close to the real thing as possible. They can wear suits, experience the school environment, have exclusive use of the dedicated Sixth Form Centre, and taste the food!

A sense of confidence that we will help them get into their preferred university

In 2023, 94 per cent of the summer 2023 cohort of Upper Sixth pupils were awarded places at their preferred universities in the UK and around the world, based on their A Level results. Teachers work tirelessly to deliver the best possible academic outcomes for each pupil.

They will be known as individuals

We work with every young person to get to know them and help them realise their potential, whether that is in their chosen fields of study or their co-curricular pursuits.

There’s more to gain than exam results

Sixth Form can be synonymous with A Levels, but they’re only part of the story. At Ashville, ‘Future Ready’ provides experiences and skills that aim to assist our young people well into the future, and our strong Co-curricular Programme enables them to continue to pursue existing interests and discover new ones, aiding personal growth as well as mental and physical wellbeing.

It’s not just about work!

By spending time with the Ashville community, attendees will learn that we as a College believe that the Sixth Form days are about more than studying and exams, and that pupils learn best when they are happy.

So much awaits beyond the Ashville classroom, from the friendships they will make to the incredible trips and end-of-year parties. Sadly, our Taster Day can’t convey all the special moments ahead of them; they will have to join us to discover those!

Sign your child up now for an enjoyable, valuable and eye-opening day.

We look forward to meeting them. Click or Tap here to register now. 

Jewellery thieves have struck twice in a matter of days at separate homes in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police issued appeals today for two incidents that happened in the run-up to Christmas.

In the first one, jewellery worth thousands of pounds was stolen from a home at Spacey Houses, Pannal, while the victims were away for the weekend.

They returned to discover they had been broken into and lost items of sentimental as well as high financial value. The items include a vintage Cortebert Champagne watch, an 18-carat gold engagement ring and a gold-plated Omega watch.

The force said in a statement the theft occurred between 4pm on Friday, December 15 and 6.30pm on Sunday, December 17, adding:

“Enquiries are still ongoing to identify the suspect. Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, officers are appealing for information about items that were taken from the property, and urging people to get in touch if they are offered them.”

Police said the following items were stolen:

A vintage Courtebert champaign dial watch with gold-plated batons and chrome case with grand prix engraving on the back.

A vintage Omega wrist watch with yellow gold case with personalised engraving on the back.

A vintage Titus Geneve chronograph watch with gold casing.

A gold-plated Omega watch which is a C Master model made before the 1960s.

A Rolex made watch which is branded Ingersol on the dial but says ‘Rolex Watch Company’ on the back of the case.

An engagement ring. It is a Lily Arkwright Macey oval in 18-carat yellow gold with shoulder-set diamonds and a 1.2 carrot diamond on the top.

Anyone with information can email Benjamin.Ambler2@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask for PC 216 Ambler. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 12230239018.

Victims ‘devastated’ by loss of wedding jewellery

Police said the victims of the second burglary had been left “devastated” by the loss of gold wedding jewellery.

Thieves broke into a home in the Woodlands Walk area of Harrogate and stole wedding and baby jewellery during the week beginning December 18.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Anyone who’s had wedding jewellery or other deeply sentimental items stolen will understand how heartbreaking this type of crime is.”

“This has had a significant impact on the victims and we are appealing to anybody who may have recently seen or bought items in the photographs.

“We are also appealing to anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area during this time to come forward and provide details, which may prove essential in the investigation of this incident.”

A selection of the stolen items are photographed above and in the main image, but a number more were taken by the burglars.

Anyone with information can email PC Hawley on joseph.hawley@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial the force on 101. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 12230241333.

Read more:

• Police called after window smashed at Harrogate home
• Jail for Harrogate man who supplied drugs on electric scooter
• Harrogate woman jailed for chasing supermarket staff with drug needle

Police were called after a downstairs toilet window of a Harrogate home was smashed during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday, December 27).

North Yorkshire Police said the incident, which happened at a house on Harewood Road in the Jennyfields area, took place been 1.30am and 6am.

It was reported to police at about 6am. A force spokesperson said:

“No entry was gained to the property and nothing was reported stolen.”

Police officers and the crime scene investigation unit were still at the scene just before midday today.

The spokesperson said no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Read more:

• LIVE: River Nidd bursts its banks at Knaresborough
• Police seek two men after TK Maxx theft in Harrogate

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2023, we look at how the River Nidd rose up the political agenda this year.

National concerns about rivers were magnified locally in a year of intense focus on the River Nidd.

The state of the Nidd has become a major issue in recent years amid reports of bathers falling ill with sickness and diarrhoea and wider pollution concerns.

It led anglers, academics, conservationists and members of the public to set up Nidd Action Group to campaign for long-term improvements on the river, which is a tributary of the River Ouse that flows through Pateley Bridge, Birstwith and Knaresborough before meeting the Ouse at Nun Monkton..

The group bookended 2023 with two public meetings in Knaresborough. In between there was unprecedented activity that included water sampling and a campaign to achieve bathing water status.

The need to act was starkly highlighted in May when Professor Peter Hammond, a mathematician who analyses data on sewage discharges, published research showing the equivalent of 317 Olympic pools of raw sewage was discharged into the River Nidd at four sewage treatment works at Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, Darley and Kirk Hammerton in 2020.

The following month Knaresborough Lions, which organises the town’s joyfully insane annual bed race, issued a warning urging participants to “keep your head above water”.

Bed race competitors were told to keep their heads above water.

During summer, scores of volunteers monitored usage of the Nidd at Knaresborough Lido as part of the bathing water campaign led by Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Water quality has become a highly charged and politicised issue and not everyone welcomed Mr Jones’ campaign.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, made rivers one of his main campaigning issues in 2023. He said local waterways were “being pumped full of raw disgusting sewage” under the Tories’ watch and accused water firms of awarding bosses “insulting pay-outs” after it was revealed Yorkshire Water paid £2.09 million to four executives in the year ending March 2023.

Mr Jones said he was taking a pragmatic approach to tackling an important local issue that is as much about farming and ancient sewers as government policies.

He even called for a parliamentary debate on the subject in January, when he told MPs:

“Rainwater run-off from farmland, which can include animal waste and pesticides, is a big factor affecting the quality of our waterways. It is a complex issue, and local farmers produce some of the highest quality food in our country, so can we have a debate to explore how the government can support farmers in mitigating this issue?”

Mr Jones’ bathing water campaign focused on Knaresborough, where leisure use of the Nidd is at its highest. There is an large wild swimming group, Lido bathers and boating on Waterside, as well as angling and riverside holiday homes.

If the bid, which the government is expected to adjudicate on in spring, is approved then agencies will be required to take measures to clean the Lido that should impact a much wider stretch of the river.

Andrew Jones (left) with the owner of Knaresborough Lido.

Besides the bathing water bid, action group volunteers organised two rounds of water sampling along the entire length of the Nidd in August and October to establish scientific data on water quality.

The results confirmed high levels of the faecal bacteria E.coli. in much of the river. Tributaries in the middle and lower Nidd catchment, including Ripley Beck, Oak Beck and Crimple Beck, had the highest concentrations of E.coli, with Bilton Beck the worst.

Nidd Action Group volunteers learning to take water samples.

Sampling at Bilton

The results were discussed at the action group’s December meeting, at which some of the early fervour to tackle pollution had given way to a more hard-headed and strategic long-term approach.

The presence of Yorkshire Water at the meeting may have surprised some, but many felt the company was an integral part of whatever plans are drawn up.

Professor Jonathan Gray of the Wild Trout Trust told the meeting the creation of channels that took the river off its natural flood plain “with hindsight was not a good idea” and spoke about the need to reverse this.

Nidd Action Group’s meeting in March.

David Clayden said there had been some initial “naivety” about what could be achieved and both he and James McKay, a Knaresborough resident and academic who has been at the forefront of analysing the water samples, agreed a lot has been achieved in 2023 — but it will take time for this to filter down to actual measures that improve water quality.

Megan Godden, the wild swimming representative on the action group, said people entering the Nidd should avoid swallowing water at all costs and consider avoiding it for a couple of days after heavy rainfall when e.coli levels are at their highest. But she was optimistic action could eventually make a difference.

Maddy Wright, a PHD student at Leeds University, said

“E.coli is the most problematic factor and exists in levels that could pose significant risks”, adding she hoped bathing water status would lead to data about the state of the river being published so “people can see and they will know the risks before they go bathing”.

The clean-up campaign was boosted in November when Yorkshire Water agreed to pay £1 million for polluting Hookstone Beck in Harrogate in 2016.

Half of the sum was awarded to the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, which will use what is now known as the iNidd project to clean-up the River Nidd. The name is similar to the iWharfe campaign on the River Wharfe.

Charlotte Simons, a senior project manager at the trust, said:

“The sad thing is we have the money because something went wrong. But we have been given a lump sum that can lead to long-term improvements on the River Nidd.”

River quality is a murky business.

Read more:

• Harrogate and Knaresborough MP submits River Nidd bathing water status bid
• River Nidd clean-up campaign boosted by £500,000 from Yorkshire Water
• Harrogate Lib Dems criticise Yorkshire Water £2m executive payments
• River Nidd sampling reveals high levels of faecal bacteria