Harrogate woman at forefront of campaign to protect XL Bullies

A Harrogate woman is at the forefront of the campaign to protect XL Bullies in the wake of a government ban.

On October 31, XL Bullies became the fifth breed added to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

By the end of this month, XL Bullies must be kept on leads in public, wear muzzles and be microchipped. By January 31, owners must apply for a certificate of exemption to be registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.

Failure to conform could lead to a criminal conviction and even a prison sentence, and dogs could be put down. This has led to an increase in the number of abandoned XL Bullies.

Horrified by what’s happening, Anita Tryc has joined the UK Dog Protection Team, which is a rapid response animal welfare group that is focusing on helping XL Bullies in the run-up to the exemption deadline.

Relaxing with Ronnie

As the group’s Yorkshire representative, Anita is on the frontline of rescuing and rehoming any dogs found abandoned. She could get in her car at 3am if she gets a call saying a dog has been found tied to a lamppost in Pudsey and then help to rescue and rehome it and ensure adequate aftercare.

Anita, who owns a two-year-old rescue XL Bully called Ronnie, is also supporting a campaign to fund the barrister John Cooper’s legal challenge to the XL Bully ban.

She says the government legislation is doomed to fail and cites as evidence there being thousands of Pit Bull Terriers in the UK more than 30 years after they were banned as dangerous dogs.

Anita, said the UK Dog Protection Team “wants to see breed-specific legislation removed and licenses introduced”, adding:

“We are absolutely heartbroken that this is happening. We don’t want to see any attacks. But if somebody is a bad owner then we agree they should be punished — don’t let them have dogs for the rest of their lives.”

Anita, who besides working for a dental firm in Harrogate is also an international bodybuilder, owns a rescue American Bulldog cross called Lola as well as Ronnie, who weighs a solid 55kg.

Anita with Lola (left) and Ronnie.

She said:

“I’ve always loved big dogs and have always loved Bullies. They are big and powerful but they weren’t bred to fight like people say. Pitbulls were bred to fight. Bullies were bred as family and companion dogs.

“Lots of people are worried about this. If you get a criminal record you could be thrown out of your home and lose your job. That’s why so many dogs are being abandoned.

“Whatever happens, I’m not giving up on them. They are not a dangerous dog — we want them to be in a safe environment with owners who understand the breed and who will love them.”

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Yemi’s Food Stories: Last minute tips to keep your Christmas running smoothly

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 writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and shares 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.

 

As wonderful as Christmas Day is, there’s no denying it can be stressful for the designated cook in the house.

But, we can all still enjoy the festivities – even if we’re cooped up in the kitchen for a while.

Today, I’m running you through a few tips which help me keep Christmas running smoothly.

Breakfast

Breakfast is often a forgotten part of Christmas Day.

We all rush downstairs in anticipation, and everyone is looking forward to the main meal later in the day, but breakfast can still be made special without unnecessary hassle.

I’d recommend buying a lovely fresh loaf – perhaps one you wouldn’t usually splurge on – to make bacon sandwiches, or preparing some pancake batter ahead of time. You could also get some good quality orange juice to make mimosas if that’s your drink of choice!

Another nice addition would be a small pie from the butchers – perhaps a good quality pork one – with some tomato chutney to enjoy it with.

That way, it still feels like a special morning, but people can come down and make what they please in their own time.

The (dreaded) turkey roasting

We’ve all had to avert a Christmas Day kitchen disaster at least once in our lives.

I know turkey can seem quite intimidating – especially for first-time Christmas hosts – but following the cooking instructions really is crucial.

Some recipes call for you to roast the bird uncovered, especially if you are cooking bronze turkeys that are reared for tenderness. They cook quickly, so it can be tempting to take it out once they’re golden but, really, it is undercooked inside.

If you do cook your turkey (or goose) uncovered and the crown shows signs of heavy browning, just move it to a lower shelf in the oven and loosely place some foil on the area that’s browning. This will shield it from the direct heat and help the inside to catch up in the cooking process.

If you don’t already own a meat thermometer, I can assure you it will become your best friend at Christmas. Don’t panic, there’s still time to get one on Amazon.

Gravy mishaps

Everyone has their own gravy recipes, but one thing we can agree on is how easy it is to mess it up.

Over-reducing it can lead to it becoming very salty and grainy, but there are several ways to redeem it.

In this instance, it’s moisture that has been lost, which is easy to get back. You can loosen the gravy by simply adding some warm water and keep checking for the consistency and flavour.

If it’s too runny, you can add some corn starch mixed with water or by making a roux.

To do this, just add equal parts butter and flour in a small pan and cook over a low heat until the raw flour taste is gone. It sounds fancy, but it’s very simple.

Then, just loosen the roux with some warm water before adding it back into your gravy. Fingers crossed, this should solve the problem!

Forgetting a part of the meal

I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t woken up bolt-upright panicking about forgetting an element of the Christmas meal in previous years, which I’m sure many people can relate to.

Firstly, it’s really not the end of the world if you do.

But if you’re worried about forgetting to cook or serve any part of the dish, why not try using a menu planner? It sets out what you need to do and when to cook each element to ensure is served hot.

I use a planner which has a list of all the dishes in one column. Next to it, I write how long each take to cook and the oven temperature required.

In the final column, I put down the time each element needs to go in the oven, so they all finish at a similar time. It really does help!

Also, make sure to consider the rest time of your roasts. I tend to leave the turkey to rest for around 30 minutes after roasting to let the fibres relax and the juice distribute – otherwise you run the risk of having a dry bird.

Just cover it with foil and place a clean tea towel over this.

Managing stress in the kitchen

There is no shame in asking for help, ever.

So, if you’re feeling the heat in the kitchen, don’t be afraid to ask family members to help. Alternatively, if you don’t want to be distracted in the kitchen – which I can empathise with – delegate some tasks to the people around you.

Finally, don’t panic! It’s supposed to be a day of love and happiness, so just enjoy it. Have a drink and a chat and all will be fine – it’s a labour of love, but definitely worth it.

Whether you’re in or out of the kitchen, I hope you all have a very merry Christmas.

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Memories of the day The Beatles came to town

Readers of The Stray Ferret have been sharing their memories after we reported that an original poster for The Beatles’ only Harrogate show fetched £3,000 at auction.

Among several comments from people who had been in the audience that evening were: “Didn’t pay much attention to the Beatles, just dancing to their music” and “you couldn’t hear anything but screaming”.

Sandra Reed told us her memory of the night is rather hazy, although she does remember the “lovely atmosphere” and the dancing which was “such good fun”. She added:

“And the noise! The Beatles were so much louder than any performer. Girls were screaming … they were the start of boy bands.”

‘The Sensational Beatles’

The Beatles played their only Harrogate gig, billed as ‘Dancing for Teens and Twenties’, at The Royal Hall on March 8, 1963. They had been booked the previous year by Derek Arnold, an astute music shop owner from Halifax who also acted as a promoter for some of the Harrogate bands. Derek organised many of the shows that took place in the town around that time, and bagged a date from The Beatles after seeing their first UK single, Love Me Do, sell like hot cakes in his record shop on its release in October 1962.

By the time John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came to Harrogate just a few months later, The Beatles were beginning to make a name for themselves. Their second single, Please Please Me, had reached number 2 in the charts in January 1963. Their first number 1 would come just a month after their Royal Hall show with their April 1963 single From Me To You.

So when they came to Harrogate as part of a series of promotional dates across the UK in advance of their USA tour, the poster for the show described them as ‘The Sensational Beatles… The recording stars of Please Please Me’. They were supported by two of Harrogate’s biggest local bands of the time, Barry Corbett and The Mustangs with their backing singers The Chinchillas, and Ricky Fenton and The Apaches.

Mustangs memories

Lead guitarist John Whitley is the only surviving member of The Mustangs who performed with The Beatles in Harrogate.

Now 82 and living in West Yorkshire, John recalls how ordinary the soon-to-be megastars were. They were even paid the same amount for the show – £75 – as their support acts. Travelling to Harrogate by train – deemed the most reliable mode of transport during the famous Big Freeze of 1962/3 – The Beatles arrived at the afternoon soundcheck about ten minutes after John and his bandmates. John said:

“We were all backstage together with The Beatles and we just talked to them. We did look up to them a bit for getting successful, but we weren’t starstruck. We’d played The Royal Hall before with people like The Searchers and Freddie and the Dreamers, so it wasn’t such as big deal to us. Personally, I’d been more impressed with Freddie because he was very funny. But I have to say The Beatles were very good on the night.”

John remembers the crowd being similarly nonplussed by this up-and-coming foursome whose longer hair, Beatnik ‘art student’ appearance and different, less polished sound was in stark contrast to the groomed image and cleaner sound of their support bands. But it didn’t really matter too much who was playing anyway, he said:

“Most people were there because it was a show at the Royal Hall, which were always popular. There weren’t that many shows in Harrogate for kids so when one came along, everybody went.”

“We want Barry”

The Apaches were up first, followed by The Mustangs with The Chinchillas. The Mustangs had formed in 1960 and were made up of John, Barrie (stage name was Barry) Corbett, bassist John ‘Billy’ Bolton and drummer Johnny Lockhead. The Chinchillas were Barrie’s wife Eileen and John’s fiancee at the time, Gill Evans.

The Beatles Harrogate Show support group The Mustangs with The Chinchillas

The Mustangs with The Chinchillas in the original programme for The Beatles concert at The Royal Hall. Top row from left: John Bolton, Johnny Lockhead, John Whitley and Eileen Corbett. Front: Gill Evans and Barrie Corbett.

In 1963, Barry and The Mustangs were top of the pile among a multitude of young local bands including The Crestas, The Escorts from Bradford and The Ensigns from York. Mainly performing covers of songs from the Top 20, The Mustangs were playing gigs two to three times a week in pubs, clubs and youth clubs around the area. Some of the local venues they appeared at were the Lounge Hall and the Connaught Rooms in Harrogate, where there were dances every Friday night, and the Assembly Rooms in Ripon. As lead singer of The Mustangs, therefore, Barrie had quite a following. John said:

“Barrie was Harrogate’s pop star. He was very well known in the town. He was a good singer as well as being one of life’s gentlemen.”

So it’s quite possible that John’s memory isn’t playing tricks on him when he recalls that after The Mustangs had finished their set, The Beatles took to the stage to chants of “We want Barry” from the audience.

John left The Mustangs in 1965 when he moved to Australia. He returned to Harrogate in the late 1970s, and teamed up again with Barry from 1980 to 2000, performing The Smurfs songs with him under the name of Evergreen.

In 2013, the four members of The Mustangs reformed for a special concert at the Royal Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ appearance in Harrogate.

The Mustangs reunited at a 2013 concert at the Royal Hall Harrogate to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles showPhoto ...left to right,John Bolton bass, John Lockhead drums John Whitley lead guitar, Barrie Corbett rhythm guitar,vocals

The Mustangs reunited for the 50th anniversary in 2013. Pictured from left are John Bolton, John Lockhead, John Whitley and Barrie Corbett.

John has fond memories not just of that one night at The Royal Hall which has gone down in Harrogate history, but of the whole music scene in the town during the 1960s that he, Barrie and The Mustangs were privileged to be a big part of. He said:

“In hindsight, it would have been an even better story if we’d gone for a drink with The Beatles after the show or something, but at that time they were just another group so we’d probably have declined anyway… Who knew! But even so, that era of pop music was a very special time for everyone.”

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Police seek two men after TK Maxx theft in Harrogate

Police have issued CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to following a shop theft in Harrogate.

A North Yorkshire Police statement yesterday said two men entered TK Maxx in the Victoria Shopping Centre and picked up a brown men’s gilet, removed the security tag then left the store.

They took the gilet with them and headed towards the railway station.

CCTV images of the wanted men.

The incident happened at 10.05am on November 22.

The statement added:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the men in the images as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.”

Anyone with any information can email jamie.kennerley@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Kennerley.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Jail for Harrogate man who supplied drugs on electric scooter

A Harrogate man who was caught with Class A drugs while riding an electric scooter was jailed for two years and three months today.

James Latham was caught by officers from North Yorkshire Police’s drugs team Operation Expedite on King’s Road on the afternoon of September 25 this year.

A police media release today said officers saw two known drug users being approached by Latham. The three people walked behind a shop and out of view. Within seconds one of them returned and was seen placing an item in their mouth.

Officers suspected a drug deal had just taken place, with Latham supplying the drugs.

Latham, who was riding on an electric scooter, was stopped a short distance away. He was searched and found to be in possession of a large amount of cash and suspected illegal drugs.

Heroin and cocaine

Following his arrest, officers found drugs paraphernalia at Latham’s Harrogate home, along with heroin and cocaine with a street value of over £700, and a significant amount of cash.

Latham, 44, was remanded in custody and brought to court where he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

Through mobile phone analysis, investigators were able to show Latham was involved in the supply of class A drugs, and had a customer base within the Harrogate area.

At York Crown Court today, Latham was given a custodial sentence of two years and three months.

After the sentencing hearing, PC Christopher Thompson, of Operation Expedite, said:

“The sale of illegal drugs will not be tolerated on the streets of Harrogate. It causes untold misery and suffering, and forces people who are addicted to them to commit other serious crimes to feed their habit.

“Latham was willing to exploit other people’s addictions for his own cruel and selfish gain.”

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Stray Ferret Business Awards: Be recognised for your digital growth

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Best Use of Digital Award, which is sponsored by ASE Computer Services.

This award is designed to showcase businesses which have embraced the digital world to drive success.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of the digital initiative/s and the business objectives behind them. As well as statistical information on why the initiative was a success.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Use of Digital Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

Met Office issues Christmas Eve wind warning for Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across the Harrogate district for Christmas Eve.

The forecast shows Masham and Pateley Bridge will see the worst of it, with gusts up to 53mph, while Harrogate will see 51mph winds in the early hours of the morning.

Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge could see up to 50mph.

The warning, which is active from 8am to 10pm, covers the Midlands, the north of England and Scotland.

It comes just days after Storm Pia brought 60mph winds to the district.

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Harrogate woman jailed for chasing supermarket staff with drug needle

A Harrogate woman who chased supermarket staff with a drug needle after they tried to stop her stealing alcohol has been jailed for 19 months.

Prolific shoplifter Julie Ruth Rutherford, 54, became aggressive after staff tried to stop her stealing two bottles of alcohol at the Asda store on Bower Road, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Eleanor Guildford said that when staff members confronted Rutherford and asked her what was inside her bag, she hurled abuse at them and poured the contents of the bag onto the floor, which included needles.

Rutherford, who had bedevilled local supermarkets for years, picked up one of the needles and “began to sprint” after the store manager, shouting:

“I’ll give you a needle! I’ll stab you with it.”

Ms Guildford said the store manager, who was named in court, was caused a great deal of distress and anxiety. When he tried to block her path outside the store, Rutherford punched and threatened to stab him.

Ms Guildford said he had recognised Rutherford as she had stolen from the supermarket on “multiple” previous occasions.

As Rutherford tried to escape, she damaged two plant pots, added the prosecuting barrister.

She was arrested five days after the incident which occurred on the afternoon of November 24 and was captured on CCTV.

Rutherford initially denied the offences, claiming she had “no knowledge” of the incident because of her chronic alcohol addiction.

The store manager said the terrifying episode had had a profound impact on his mental health and his sleep, and he often had nightmares about the incident.

41 previous convictions

Rutherford, of Strawberry Dale, was charged with affray, criminal damage and theft. She admitted the offences which were in breach of a 12-month suspended prison sentence imposed in late October for shoplifting.

She had 41 previous convictions for 85 offences, more than half of which were thefts.

Ms Guildford said the shoplifting incident which occasioned the suspended sentence in October occurred in “very similar circumstances” to the incident at Asda four weeks later.

She said Rutherford had a “propensity to commit offences of the same nature” and use the same sort of “tools”, namely needles, to cause people fear of violence.

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Defence barrister Gabrielle Wilkes said Rutherford was “highly embarrassed” about her behaviour and had wanted to be remanded in custody for her own good.

She said Rutherford had endured a traumatic adulthood exacerbated by the death of her sister four years ago and becoming homeless.

She said that Rutherford was a drug addict and alcoholic who was now seeking help for her problems.

Time she ‘learnt a lesson’

Judge Sean Morris told Rutherford:

“I accept you had a tough life, but lots of people have tough lives and they don’t behave like you. It doesn’t give you the right to terrorise people with needles.”

Mr Morris, the Recorder of York, said Rutherford had cost the courts and authorities thousands and thousands of pounds over the years by her inveterate thievery.

He said it was time she “learnt a lesson” and gave her an 18-month jail sentence for the affray, with one month consecutive for breaching the suspended sentence.

Rutherford will serve half of the total 19-month sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

Call for North Yorkshire Council to ‘step up’ fossil fuel divestments

Campaigners have called on North Yorkshire Council to “step up” its divestment from fossil fuel companies.

Fossil Free North Yorkshire, which was set up in 2020, has called on the authority to reinvest its pension fund into sustainable projects.

The fund receives contributions from staff at 160 firms, plus past and present public sector workers.

Campaigners said they had met the council’s pension fund committee on a number of occasions and welcomed a reduction in investments to about 1.8% of the total fund, but argued it still represented nearly £76m.

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Dr Margaret Jackson, from Fossil Free North Yorkshire, said the recent COP 28 meeting in Dubai had signalled a transition away from oil, gas and coal.

Local campaigners wrote to all North Yorkshire councillors calling on them to support the case for divestment by the council pension fund committee from fossil fuels and their reinvestment into sustainable projects.

Dr Jackson said:

“Although the outcome of the recent COP in UAE was felt to be disappointing by many, it did signal, with the ‘transition away from fossil fuels’, the beginning of the end of coal, oil and gas. 

“Pension funds and other investors should take note and move away from these investments before they become stranded.”

In response, Gary Fielding, treasurer of the North Yorkshire pension fund, said the fund had already committed investment in renewable projects.

He said:

“The North Yorkshire Pension Fund has its own responsible investment policy which sets out an approach to managing assets that take environmental, social and governance factors into account in investment decision-making and the role an investor plays as an active asset owner. 

“We are also working with our principal investment manager, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, on developing targets and policies. As a shareholder of Border to Coast, we are aligned with their net zero target of 2050 or sooner. 

“Our pension fund has also committed further investment to the Borders to Coast Infrastructure Fund, which holds an ever-increasing range of renewable energy investments in the UK and abroad, which includes wind farm and solar power farms, geothermal energy plants and energy from waste facilities.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate district care firm wins £28m domiciliary care contract

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

A care firm that operates across the Harrogate district has won a seven-year contract worth £28 million to provide domiciliary care on behalf of Sheffield City Council

Springfield Homecare provides care to people who want to keep living in their own homes.

It is part of Springfield Healthcare Group, which operates across Yorkshire and the rest of northern England.

Besides its domiciliary care business, it operates seven care homes including Harcourt Gardens in Harrogate.

Graeme Lee, the group founder and chief executive, said he was delighted with the award of such a major contract. Mr Lee, who lives in Harrogate, said:

“We want Springfield to be the best regional provider of care in Yorkshire and the north-east.”

North Yorkshire Council this month approved Springfield Healthcare’s planning application to convert the grade two listed Grove House into a luxury care home.

Harrogate business support groups to resume in January

New support groups for businesses in the Harrogate district are set to start in January.

The York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub will be hosting peer-to-peer support groups aimed at helping firms grow.

The programme, which is facilitated by Next Step, runs weekly for six weeks and comprises three cohorts, based in either Harrogate or Ripon.

In addition, there is one hour of one to one discussion in advance of the course to assess the business’s needs and two hours of one to one bespoke support.

For more information on the support groups and to apply, visit the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website here.

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