A handmade gift shop is to open in Knaresborough’s Green Dragon Yard on Saturday.

Mel and Andrew Turner already have Boggle Hole shops in Harrogate and Northallerton.

Their Knaresborough venture, which will employ four staff and be called Little Boggle Hole, will follow the same format by selling items made by Yorkshire crafters, artists and designers.

It will occupy the unit previously used by Yorkshire Mixture sweet shop.

Ms Turner said:

“All three shops have exactly the same ethos.

“Knaresborough appealed because of its independent shops plus it has a nice mixture of people we are trying to attract.

“The feedback we received was that there was a need for something like this.”

Boggle Hole opened in Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre in August last year. the Northallerton store started trading in 2020.

Ms Turner is a holistic therapist and Mr Turner served 22 years in the armed services.

Read more:

• New interior furnishings shop to open on Harrogate’s James Street
• Knaresborough to hold first community archeology festival

Seven voluntary organisations in the Harrogate district have received National Lottery cash injections totalling nearly £450,000.

They are among 300 organisations in Yorkshire and Humberside to receive a share of more than £13 million awarded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Dementia Forward, based in Burton Leonard, was awarded almost £240,000, which was the largest donation made to a North Yorkshire charity.

The grant will provide three-year funding for its time out together group for people aged 35 to 65 with young onset dementia.

The group enables younger people with this rare form of dementia, who receive little support, to socialise and go on day trips.

The time out together members at Dementia Forward.

Debby Lennox, community liaison manager at Dementia Forward, said:

“The real testament to the success of this project and the need for it to continue is the difference that it is making to the people we support and their families – it truly is life changing.”

The other local groups rewarded were:

Ripon Community Link — £170,000

Ripon Community Link supports adults and young people with learning disabilities.

The charity offers members the chance to work in a café or shop based at Ripon Walled Gardens, and aims to boost self-confidence and employability skills.

The funding will be used to employ more staff to support members working and encourage them to serve customers.

Emerging Voices — £5,780

Emerging Voices is a Harrogate-based project which uses music to improve mental health.

Members can receive mentoring from musicians and teachers. They are offered support with songwriting, singing and playing instruments.

It will use the donation to restart a wellbeing choir and mentoring services.

It hopes the choir will bring people together and reduce isolation.

St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Harrogate — £10,000

 St Joseph’s Catholic Church, on Skipton Road, will use its award to contribute towards the replacement of a boiler in the church hall.

The hall is used by groups to host community events and private functions.

Starbeck Community Library — £6,000

 Starbeck Community Library, located on the High Street, will use the donation to improve the children’s reading area.

It hopes a new and improved reading area will encourage families to stay at the library for longer and, in turn, improve children’s development.

Autism Angels — £10,000

 Summerbridge-based charity Autism Angels offers horse riding sessions to children with autism.

It also offers support to parents, siblings and carers.

The grant will be used to fund additional support sessions for parents and carers. It hopes to start a father’s support group and a parenting programme.

The charity also hopes the funding will reduce isolation and increase awareness and knowledge.

The Robinson Library — £7,500

The Robinson Library in Timble is used as a village hall to house community events, as well as health and wellbeing activities.

The money will be used to refurbish the kitchen.

Joe Dobson, head of funding for Yorkshire and Humberside at the National Lottery Community Fund, said:

“We’re delighted that local groups are using our funding to strengthen communities and improve lives in our region.

“Their passion, creativity and commitment are making a real difference to local people’s lives, and this deserves recognition.”

The fund aims to distribute at least £4 billion by 2030 to support community activities, inclusivity and improve the environment.

Read more:

• Knaresborough leisure centre opening delayed again
• Harrogate Bus Company introduces two-for-one travel on Fridays

A free short stories dispenser has been brought to Harrogate to mark today’s start of the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

The four-day festival, which ends on Sunday, takes place at the Crown Hotel. The line-up includes Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Andy McNab, Gaby Roslin, Carrie and David Grant and Sir Vince Cable.

As part of the celebration of books, local residents are being encouraged to head to the Crown Hotel until Sunday to collect a free bite sized piece of literature from the dispenser.

The stories are selected from a range of over 10,000 short works of literature and cover a range of genres, including romance, drama, crime fiction, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, comedy, children’s stories and the classics.

At the touch of a button, visitors will receive a short story that will take one, three or five minutes to read. The story is printed on eco-friendly paper to read straight away or take away and read in a spare moment.

Authors range from Emily Dickinson to Lewis Carrol, Ernest Hemingway and William Shakespeare to contemporary stories by lesser-known authors and aspiring new writers.

The annual festival is curated and produced by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by Raworths Solicitors.

Rachel Tunnicliffe, senior partner at Raworths, said:

“The short stories dispenser allows us to take a moment to celebrate the joy of reading and storytelling, no matter how busy we are. It’s a fun and engaging way to bring great writing and literature to the whole community.”

The photo shows Ms Tunnicliffe and Dan Siddle, general manager of the Crown Hotel, with the short story dispenser.

Read more:

• Line-up for Harrogate literature festival revealed
• Artist completes mural on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road

York Hospital has defended sending around 1,500 ambulances to Harrogate District Hospital over the last 18 months.

When York’s emergency department is under pressure, the hospital asks for support from surrounding hospitals with capacity, often at short notice.

Harrogate has stepped in to ease pressure on the hospital in York but Jonathan Coulter, chief executive at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, told a board meeting last month that the current system of accepting ambulances from York on an ad-hoc basis could risk patient safety.

He also said that staff have “normalised” a way of working that’s “very unusual”.

In response, a spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs York Hospital, said “operational pressures are being felt across the NHS and our hospitals are no exception”.

They added: 

“To manage peaks in demand for services, it is common for emergency departments to seek short-term support from neighbouring hospitals and put in place short-term diverts in the interests of patient safety.  

“This helps reduce acute pressure on a particular hospital and reduces ambulance delays.”

At the meeting last month, Mr Coulter said the two NHS trusts were working together to try and find a solution that benefits both parties.

He added:

“We’re drafting a framework and are in discussion with colleagues in York about this. We’re having constant conversations with York and recognise the importance of working together. Our approach is to be really practical.”

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital roof contains crumbling concrete
• Concern over number of York ambulances diverted to Harrogate hospital

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is making “significant steps” after requiring improvement, say inspectors.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services inspected the service in spring 2022 for effectiveness and efficiency.

They rated it as “requires improvement” for effectiveness and “inadequate” for its efficiency in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risk.

However, following a visit in September this year, inspectors said the service was now making progress.

In a report published today, Michelle Skeer, His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire Services, said there was evidence that the service had improved.

She said:

“I am pleased to see the significant steps that the service has taken in response to the causes of concern we issued. 

“The strengthened working relationships between the enabling services have helped to change the working culture and improve staff understanding of the benefits that the collaboration can provide. 

“We saw evidence that showed the improvements made are sustainable and that they will continue to be monitored at a senior level.”

The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for comment but not yet had a response.

Read more:

• North Yorkshire fire service ‘improving’ despite rising response times, says commissioner
• North Yorkshire chief fire officer defends charging for false alarm call outs
• Call for answers over North Yorkshire fire service rising response times

The move comes as North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel raised concern last week that the service’s response times had increased.

A meeting of the panel was told that people had to wait for an average of 13 minutes and nine seconds for firefighters to respond to incidents.

This compared with 11 minutes and 37 seconds the year before.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the figure as “worrying”.

However, Zoe Metcalfe, Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the service had been working “at pace to make considerable progress”.

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

The senior management team at Cedar Court Hotels has launched a new hotel management company in a bid to boost Yorkshire’s hospitality industry.

The directors launched NorSpark officially on Tuesday at the Independent Hotel Show at Olympia, and said they hoped it would help independent hotel owners create more profitable businesses, “sparking” success.

The move comes at a time when many businesses in the industry are struggling to cope with challenges including inflation and rising energy costs, recruiting and retaining staff, sustainability and net zero targets, and understanding digital marketing. Over the last year, 10% of businesses in the sector have filed for administration.

Cedar Court Hotels is reported to be Yorkshire’s largest independent hotel group, with a flagship hotel overlooking the Stray in Harrogate and other hotels in Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

NorSpark is led by managing director Wayne Topley, who will remain in his current role as managing director of Cedar Court Hotels. He will be supported by commercial director Emily Cox, who has worked for Cedar Court Hotels for eight years, and director of sales Nick Laing, who has spent five years at Cedar Court Hotels and previously worked at the Carlson Rezidor hotel group.

The company will operate the full hotel business including HR, operations, all commercial activity, sales and marketing, compliance, finance, and property/asset management.

Managing director Wayne Topley said:

“Our aim is to deliver unparalleled results for our clients by going beyond hotel operations and developing lasting partnerships built on trust, open communication, and a shared vision. I am very excited to be bringing the skills of our amazing team to help other hotel owners overcome the challenges facing our industry and spark success.”

NorSpark will hold an official northern launch event in the Tiled Hall at Leeds Art Gallery on November 15. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

Environmental risk firm rationalises

Adler and Allan, the Harrogate-based environmental risk management company, has said it will bring all its midstream and downstream fuel infrastructure services together under the Flotech brand.

Flotech designs, builds and manages infrastructure that stores, transfers and distributes industrial liquids, gases and waste.

Adler and Allan’s offices on Victoria Avenue.

In a statement, the company said:

“By merging resources and expertise under one roof, Adler and Allan is providing customers with a superior one-stop-shop for anyone requiring fuel or chemical infrastructure services. The combined offering will ensure customers have access to a more flexible and agile service, in addition to access to a greater range of specialisms.

“This is a great step forward for customers with the new division having the ability to deliver more complex end-to-end solutions, saving both time and money.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery announces leadership changes
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate environmental firm appoints director

The opening of Knaresborough’s new leisure centre has been delayed again.

North Yorkshire Council originally planned to open the £17.6 million Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre when Knaresborough Pool closed at the end of summer.

But the opening was put back until November because of what the council described as “an unavoidable delay involving the new electrical supply to the building”.

In a fresh update today, the council said the scheme had been delayed by another month and was now due to open in early December.

Work on the pool is continuing.

How the site currently looks.

Nic Harne, the council’s corporate director for community development, said:

“We have been informed by the contractor that due to complex mechanical and electrical works at Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre taking longer than anticipated there will, unfortunately, be a slight delay to its re-opening.

“We now anticipate that the newly refurbished centre will be open to the public in early December.”

A council spokesperson said the delay had not increased the cost of the project.

It means people in Knaresborough will be without a pool for at least three months.

The leisure centre, which is being built next to the former pool, will include a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

Once the old pool has been demolished, a play area will be installed in front of the new facility.

The activity pool

Brimhams Active, the council-owned company that manages leisure services in the Harrogate district, uploaded some photos of the leisure centre site today, which we have shown in this article.

The former Harrogate Hydro, which is also operated by Brimhams Active, reopened in September as Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre after a £13.5 million refurbishment.

Councillor Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, said:

“Having no pool in Knaresborough for an additional couple of months will add cost for young families during this cost of living crisis who will have to take children to Starbeck Baths or the Hydro.

“I will be asking the council for £1 swimming admissions for all children for the first month when the new Knaresborough pool finally opens.”

Cllr Walker added he was disappointed not to have been informed of the news before the media and called on the council to “improve its poor communication with elected members across Harrogate and Knaresborough”.

Read more:

• New £17m Knaresborough leisure centre starts to take shape
• New Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre opens

Harrogate district MP Keir Mather gave his first speech in parliament this week.

Mr Mather, 25, overturned a 20,137 Conservative majority to win a by-election for Selby and Ainsty in July triggered by the resignation of previous MP Nigel Adams.

He became the first Labour MP elected in any part of the Harrogate district. His constituency includes villages such as Spofforth, Follifoot and Great Ouseburn.

During his speech in the House of Commons on Monday, he pledged to work for constituents and “defend their interests”.

Known as the baby of the house, he referenced the fact that he was the first parliamentarian to be born after the Labour government of 1997 came to power.

He said his constituency faced issues such as poor dental provision, timely ambulances and residents suffering from the cost of living crisis.

Mr Mather, who is a former senior public affairs adviser for the Confederation of British Industry, added:

“As I said on the night of my election, I hope to be a representative of that power of young people to make a difference. But we won’t do it alone.

“I was sent to this place by a constituency that is older than the national average, but who put their faith in me to defend their interests.

“That is because, in spite of the divisive politics that seeks to pit one generation against the other, in Selby and Ainsty we share our ambitions for our community and our country, and are committed to realising them together.”

Read more:

• Andrew Jones MP calls for 138-home scheme in Knaresborough to be rejected
• Call for answers over North Yorkshire fire service rising response times

An organist retiring after more than 70 years of playing was given a surprise opportunity to perform a farewell recital at Ripon Cathedral yesterday.

David Wilberforce has been the organist at West Park United Reformed Church on West Park, and before that at Trinity Methodist Church.

Now, he and his wife Ann, who is also a key member at West Park, will be moving to Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, so members at West Park sprang a surprise by arranging for him to play the organ in Ripon Cathedral for a private gathering of church friends.

David and Ann Wilberforce

Despite only having 48 hours’ notice, David prepared a mini-recital of some of his favourite pieces and hymn tunes, performing them with his renowned dexterity and skill.

David told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re about to move house, so I’d packed up all my music, but fortunately I did manage to find some. I’d never played in Ripon Cathedral before, but after a period of terror in the afternoon, I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. Quite a number of people from West Park turned up, which was lovely.”

Originally from County Durham, David began playing the organ at the age of 11. He taught history in various schools, including Silcoates in Wakefield and Woodhouse Grove near Bradford, and played the organ wherever he lived. He retired from teaching in 1999, but continued his passion for music through the church. Well known in Harrogate choral music circles, he arranged the music for the annual Gilbert & Sullivan Festival service. He said:

“Music has been the greater part of my life. I’m not intending to take up a position in music in Buckinghamshire – age and arthritis take their toll – but I wouldn’t mind still being able to play occasionally.”

As a tribute to David, at the joint service between West Park and St Paul’s churches this Sunday, Adrian Selway, organist and choirmaster at St Paul’s, will play the famous Widor’s Toccata as a closing voluntary.

Read more:

• Exhibition to honour Harrogate’s 1,163 war dead
• Kirby Hill to commemorate 150th anniversary of church organ
• Felling trees for Ripon Cathedral expansion presents ‘moral dilemma’, says Dean

Police have issued an appeal after a horsebox trailer was stolen in Green Hammerton.

The white Ifor Williams horsebox was stolen from Boroughbridge Road between 7pm on Friday, October 12, and 8.45am on Saturday, October 14.

It has a registration number W29 ESH.

The white trailer has a loading ramp on the left-hand side, which is unusual as it is on the right-hand side on most trailers.

The inside of the trailer has ‘Swillington Trailers’ stickers showing.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email Neel.Seth@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Neel Seth.

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

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230195137.”

Read more:

• Police release CCTV image after theft in Harrogate Victoria Shopping Centre
• Police investigate car crashing into fence on Harrogate street