Harrogate man to represent UK at Eurovision

A Harrogate-born pop star will represent the United Kingdom at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest next year.

Olly Alexander, frontman of UK-chart-topping band Years & Years, announced the news on the Strictly Come Dancing final on Saturday night.

The contest, which is being held in Malmö in Sweden, will mark the beginning of Olly’s solo career.

In a press release published by the BBC, he said:

“I’ve loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I’m beyond excited to be taking part next year.

“As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour.

“I really can’t believe I’m going to be a part of such a special legacy and fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible, it shall be an honour.”

Despite this being his first solo venture, Olly is no stranger to global success.

Since 2015, Years and Years have scored two number one UK albums, 10 UK top 40 singles and, most recently, were awarded the BRIT Billion Award after achieving 6.5 billion global streams.

He has also worked with the likes of Sir Elton John, Kylie and Pet Shop Boys.

He added:

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and it feels like the right moment to start releasing music under my own name.

“I’m determined to give it everything I’ve got and put on an excellent and unforgettable performance for you all.”

But the Harrogate-born star is not just a singer – he has also received prestigious recognition for his acting skills.

Olly starred in the Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin, which won best new drama at the National Television Awards.

He was also nominated for leading actor at the BAFTA Television Awards for the same programme.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, also said:

“To have an artist of Olly Alexander’s calibre representing the UK in Malmö in 2024 is testament to just how much the BBC wants to keep momentum of Eurovision riding high since the UK had the honour of hosting the contest on behalf of Ukraine in Liverpool earlier this year.

“Olly is the perfect ambassador for the UK as both an immensely talented and world-renowned artist and passionate fan of the competition.”

Olly’s Eurovision song, co-written by British producer Danny L Harle, has not yet been released.

All three live Eurovision programmes – including two semi-finals and the final – will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

They will be held on May 7, 9 and 11, 2024.

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Andy’s Man Club to open Harrogate branch

A new branch of Andy’s Man Club is set to open in Harrogate in January.

The male suicide prevention charity, which hosts free peer-to-peer sessions at locations across Yorkshire and the north of England, will open at Harrogate College.

The weekly sessions will begin on Monday, January 22, at 7pm and are open to men aged 18 and over.

The

branch has received the backing of Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in the soap.

He said:

“I’m overjoyed to let you know that there’s a new Andy’s Man Club opening in Harrogate, at Harrogate College.

“So see you there: it’s ok to talk.”

The arrangements for the new branch were led by Neil Waine, who appeared in an episode of Emmerdale earlier this year when the storyline focused on men’s mental health, and saw ‘Paddy’ seek out a local Andy’s Man Club for help.

The aim of the sessions are for men to talk through their issues and help each other deal with their mental health.

Mr Waine, who is project development champion at Andy’s Man Club, said:

“We are really excited to get going in Harrogate and delighted with the college’s support.

“We have been trying to open here for roughly twelve months and once we had the right team in place it was time to find a venue.”

The charity was founded by Elaine Roberts and Luke Ambler after Andrew Roberts, Elaine’s son and Luke’s brother-in-law, took his own life aged 23 in 2016.

It held its first session in Halifax, Andrew’s hometown, and now helps to support more than 3,000 men on a weekly basis at more than 150 locations.

For more information on the Harrogate branch, follow them on Facebook here or email info@andysmanclub.co.uk.

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Morning trains disrupted due to trespasser at Starbeck

Trains between Harrogate and Knaresborough were disrupted this morning due to a trespasser near the line at Starbeck.

Northern Rail alerted commuters on social media at 9.18am, saying a “trespass incident” was causing delays.

Network Rail and British Transport Police both attended the incident, which happened at around 8.20am.

In a statement, British Transport Police said:

“Officers were called to the line near Starbeck railway station at around 8.20am today (18 December) following reports of concern for welfare.

“Officers attended and a person has been taken to a place of safety.”

Lines have re-opened but Northern said disruption is expected until 12.45pm.

No further details have been released.

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Police appeal after 14-year-old injured in Harrogate collision

Police have appealed for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was injured after a collision in Harrogate.

The incident happened on Otley Road near to Queens Road and West End Avenue at 4.45pm on Tuesday, December 12.

Officers said a black motor vehicle collided with a 14-year-old girl who was a pedestrian. Following the collision, the girl attended hospital for treatment.

The driver, who is described as aged between 60 and 70-years-old, bald and was wearing all black clothing did stop at the scene but didn’t leave any details.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Police are now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, officers are appealing for information about anyone that witnessed the collision or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email paul.dixon@northyorkshire.police.uk   You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Paul Dixon.

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

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230236668 when passing information.”

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Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong to join Carlisle United

Harrogate Town’s Luke Armstrong will join Carlisle United on a permanent transfer.

Armstrong, 27, will sign for the Cumbrian side on January 1, 2024.

In a joint statement, both clubs said the striker will leave Harrogate with immediate effect and begin training with Carlisle pending the opening of the transfer window.

The statement said:

“Harrogate Town, Carlisle United and Luke Armstrong can each confirm they have all reached and completed an agreement for a permanent transfer on 1 January 2024.

“Having already successfully completed his medical at Brunton Park, Luke will now leave Town with immediate effect to begin training with United, pending the opening of the transfer window and transfer of his registration.”

The move comes as a planned transfer for Armstrong to join Wrexham in the summer fell through.

The English Football League rejected a a deadline day deal between the clubs for the 27-year-old after it said the Welsh side failed to submit paperwork on time.

Wrexham apologised to Harrogate after it was “unable to complete the transfer by the deadline”.

Armstrong, who scored 31 goals in 116 appearances for Harrogate, will now join Carlisle who currently sit in the bottom four of League One.

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Pedestrian involved in collision near Starbeck trailer park

Emergency services were called out following a collision in Starbeck this morning.

The incident, which happened on Knaresborough Road near Shaws Trailer Park, happened at 7:45am.

North Yorkshire Police said a car and pedestrian were involved.

The force told the Stray Ferret:

“Police and ambulance are at the scene.

“Motorists are asked to avoid the area as road closures are in place and due to be there for some time.”

Officers said any further updates will be posted on North Yorkshire Police’s website and social media.

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Boots pharmacy in Jennyfields to close next year

The Boots pharmacy inside the Co-op at Jennyfields in Harrogate is set to close next March.

The move comes after Walgreens Boots Alliance, its US-based parent company, announced the closure of 300 UK stores in an earnings call in June.

In a separate report, Boots said it will “consolidate a number of stores” in order to “concentrate its team members where they are needed”.

It added:

“[It will] focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment.”

The report also said the stores affected are “in close proximity” to other Boots sites.

The retailer declined to comment on the Harrogate store closure, however staff at the Jennyfields pharmacy told the Stray Ferret they have been “given options” about employment going forward.

Following the closure, the nearest Boots pharmacies will be in Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough Market Place, the St James’s Retail Park near Knaresborough and at Market Place West in Ripon.

The Co-Op at Jennyfields

Twenty UK stores, including four in Yorkshire, have already closed following the announcement.

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Health leaders warn of potential North Yorkshire measles outbreak

North Yorkshire residents are being encouraged to keep up to date with their MMR vaccines amid fears of a measles outbreak.

The warning comes after rising cases of the disease in England.

A total of 149 cases of measles in England were recorded between 1 January and 30 September this year, a dramatic rise from 54 during the whole of 2022.

(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

Jack Lewis, consultant in public health with the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said:

“Measles is more than just a rash. It is highly infectious and we’re seeing cases on the rise.

“If you are not protected and you have even a passing contact with someone who has measles, there’s every chance you will become infected too.

“There is no treatment or cure for measles, but the MMR vaccine offers excellent protection against this dangerous disease.”

Symptoms 

Measles can feel like a cold at first. The disease is sometimes identified by spots in the mouth or a rash that appears a few days after falling ill.

In severe cases, it can lead to meningitis and pneumonia.

Measles is also particularly dangerous during pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth.

The MMR vaccine (or, measles, mumps and rubella) is given in two doses.

Children are typically given their first dose at one years old and their second at three years and four months.

However, Lewis urged adults who are not fully vaccinated to receive a dose too.

The NHS particularly encourages adults to check they’re vaccinated if they’re about to visit another country, begin university, or are hoping to get pregnant.

Patients can find out if they are fully vaccinated by contacting their GP.

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Harrogate piano school celebrates 25 years with pupil concert

Harrogate-based piano school, Saphir Piano Studios, has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a pupil concert at the Wesley Centre on Oxford Street.

Julian and Nichola Saphir, who are directors of the studios as well as teachers, are both concert pianists and Royal College of Music alumni.

They moved to Harrogate from London in 1998 and have continued to build their full-time piano school ever since. They currently have more than 80 pupils.

Their December concert is a long-standing tradition but had not taken place since 2019 due to covid.

To celebrate their quarter of a century in Harrogate, the concert saw 34 pupils perform an eclectic programme of piano music on the Wesley Centre’s prestigious hand-crafted Yamaha CF-lllS concert grand piano, which has been played by some of the world’s most famous concert pianists, including Sir Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Marc-André Hamelin.

Among those taking part was five-year-old Grace Xiu, who is the studios’ youngest pupil.

Alongside the young performers were three of Saphir Piano Studios’ adult students, Moira Morgan, Alistair Duff and Phil Howarth, who treated the audience to music by Chopin and Robert Schumann.

One of the highlights was a six-handed piece by Rachmaninoff, performed by St. Aidan’s Church of England High School sixth formers Annabel Baxter, Krish Desha-Beerachee and Jack Brierley.

The concert was brought to a sparkling finale with the Saphirs themselves giving a duet performance of the ever-popular Christmas favourite, Sleigh Ride.

Julian and Nichola said:

“It’s very important to give each of our pupils the opportunity to play on a fine concert grand piano before a large audience. The atmosphere in the room is always so warm and enthusiastic.”

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Stray Views: Harrogate hospital queues ‘very dangerous’ for cyclists

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Being a local resident, I have no experience of trying to park in Harrogate hospital with the new system. However, I have lots of experience as a cyclist, trying to bypass the regularly huge queues of traffic that built up in both directions at certain times of the day on Lancaster Park Road, waiting to get in to the hospital car park – queues sometimes extending all the way to Knaresborough Road and Willaston Crescent.

Very dangerous – with queues of traffic on one side and parked cars on the other, cars suddenly moving out of the queuing traffic made it very dangerous for anyone, particularly a cyclist, trying to pass. Yes, I’ve had a few close shaves.

It also made it very difficult, sometimes impossible for a vehicle to  bypass the queue – I have witnessed flashing ambulances that were delayed as they couldn’t get past the queuing traffic to get to the car park entrance.

Hazel Maxwell, Harrogate

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Royal Baths valuation ‘hypothetical’

Whilst I have absolutely no brief for North Yorkshire Council, perhaps an aspect of your story regarding what the Royal Baths is costing the taxpayer is a little misleading. 

Yes when they purchased the legal interest it will have been the £9.5million, you quote. Any subsequent valuation whilst they own (hold) it (and local authorities are required to do them over a five year period on all categories of assets) will be at a point in time and a ‘book figure’. A true comparison can only be made when they actually sell their legal interest to a third party. 

To arrive at the current book figure, they are required to take in a number of factors, to arrive at a valuation as at that point in time. It is conjecture therefore that it is actually costing the taxpayer money at this stage as the valuation is hypothetical and only if and when they sell their interest, can the true loss (or profit) be ascertained.

Other current losses, such as rental income and rates, are indeed losses that the taxpayer will need to pick up.

Bernard White, Ripon

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.