It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate family has launched the UK’s first stocked German kitchen business, called Revo Rapid.

Revo Rapid follows the higher end, bespoke side of the company called Revo Kitchens which opened at the same unit on Hornbeam Park in October last year.

The Challis family has been working on Revo Rapid for the last two years – negotiating a major deal with one of Germany’s largest kitchen manufacturers, while expanding its warehouse facilities.

It means customers can go to the showroom with their kitchen measurements and go home that day with fully built kitchen units ready to be installed.

Revo Rapid and Revo Kitchens are both part of the Inter Ceramica group, which launched in Harrogate more than 30 years ago.

Adam Challis, manager at the Inter Ceramica Group, said:

“By shipping huge volumes directly, we can offer a permanent 60% discount off all kitchen furniture, including our worktops.

“Our team of professionals are always on hand to help with design and offer advice, making sure that our customers get the very best service and support.”

Read more:

• Harrogate salon to close after 15 years
• Towns gear up for coronation weekend across Harrogate district

The initial range of Revo Rapid’s kitchens has seven different door colours, five worktop style and 10 door handle styles.

Mr Challis is the eldest of three children, along with brother Ed and sister Amy, who all work in the business.

His entrepreneurial father Robin set-up Inter Ceramica with his wife Rebecca, and over the years the “Harrogate born and bred” family have all played a part in helping to run the company.

Care company moves head offices in Harrogate

West Park Care has moved its head offices in Harrogate.

The company, which was launched in 2018, was previously based at Spa Bottom Farm near Follifoot but has now relocated to officers behind the Stratstone Mini Garage off Wetherby Road.

Staff outside the West Park Care offices on Wetherby Road.

The move has enabled all the team to be located on the same floor, ensuring all the departments have direct access to each other, and there is room for further growth.

Tom Page, managing director of West Park Care, said:

“We are delighted to be able to expand the business after only a few years, and the additional office space will not only enable this to happen, but also provide facilities for more in depth on-site training.  

“We have created a training room, ensuring that training to use specific equipment can be done onsite as part of the development of the carers we employ, all of whom are on permanent contracts not zero hours. We place as much importance on the benefits to our staff as we do to the individuals we care for. 

“This person-centred approach to the whole business has gained us the reputation that we now thrive on, and we hope to continue our expansion into other areas in Yorkshire over the next few years.” 

North Yorkshire Council says it has already saved taxpayers £3.8m a year in the transition from eight councils to one by cutting the roles of 24 senior managers.

The council’s finance boss, Cllr Gareth Dadd, underlined that none of the senior staff would be paid enhanced severance packages as the Conservative-run authority works towards a total of £67m of efficiencies by uniting the county, district and borough councils.

The comments follow critics of local government reorganisation questioning the amount of staff salary savings that it would achieve.

Cllr Dadd’s remarks come just weeks after severance packages of £770,000 were paid to four senior officers at Hambleton District Council because they did not wish to work for the incoming unitary authority.

A highly charged meeting of the district council last November heard the directors were fearful about the ring-fenced roles they would be given at North Yorkshire Council, despite no decisions having been made about their jobs.

A meeting of the unitary council’s executive heard the total exit costs for three senior management as a result of the transition had been estimated at £513,000, which had been raised as one of the former district councils had an enhanced redundancy scheme.

However, the changes had achieved £332,000 savings of salaries, meaning it would take around 18 months for the council to benefit from the redundancies.

Cllr Dadd said the redundancy costs were “minuscule” in comparison.

He said: 

“That £3.8m is the first step on our journey to possibly £67m of saving. That’s come from what some would describe as fat cats, but let’s just say the higher earners in the local government family.

“We should not lose sight of the fact that we have straightaway produced £3.8m as a result of local government reorganisation.”

The new council’s management structure has significantly fewer posts than the total for the previous eight councils, 60 compared to 36, resulting in some managers moving to the unitary authority without a specified role in the new structure.

Read more:

• ‘Undemocratic’ to ask Harrogate residents to pay for town council without stating its powers
• Harrogate leisure chief defends Ripon pool location amid ground stability concern
• ‘We want our learner swimming pool’, say Ripon councillors

A number of the senior staff left prior to vesting day on April 1, in the main having secured another role elsewhere, while some planned to retire just before or shortly after vesting day, while two are undertaking duties covering work for the new council which will take them up to their planned retirement.

An officer’s report to the executive states: 

“These duties make full use of their significant skills and experience to the benefit of the council and cover work areas that would otherwise require additional resource in terms of appointments, interim managers, or consultants.”

More than double the number of people expected turned up to help tidy up Starbeck in the pouring rain this morning.

The volunteers were part of  UK’s The Big Help Out which encouraged people to try some voluntary work on the third day of The King’s Coronation celebrations.

Starbeck’s community rose to the occasion and this morning, despite the weather, a small army of more than 100 people turned up at St Andrew’s Church to help out – some doing some pretty tough jobs.

The event was supported by the Starbeck Residents Association, Starbeck in Bloom, Starbeck Lights and the church.

The Starbeck volunteers

Adrienne Amos, one of the organisers, told the Stray Ferret that plans had begun back in January:

“Once the new year had started we realised that it was going to come around very quickly. Phil our vicar offered the church as a hub and we know that lots of people in Starbeck are very community minded.

“We met all the different groups and decided that the easiest thing to do was to simplify it so we have gardeners who are edging and weeding, we have got street furniture cleaners and litter pickers.”

The Lancaster family, mum Sarah, dad Phil and Nina 13, Sol 12 and Reuben 9 all came along to help – their designated task was to litter pick along Spa Lane.

Sarah said:

“You can just put a little bit into the community to improve it and do some good in the world and it is good for the soul – it doesn’t matter where you live, you can put something back.”

Reuben, who is a local cub,  told the Stray Ferret that he didn’t mind being dragged out on a wet Monday “it’s good for the environment” he said.

Edging the pathway seemed to be the toughest job on offer. Ben Nichols, one of those braving a bad back tomorrow said  the King’s event had pushed him into doing something he’d been meaning to do for ages:

“This is my first time volunteering properly. I’ve been wanting to do it for a really long time. It was that final little push- everyone is getting involved and there are more things going on. It’s a nicer way to get everyone involved.”

One of the organisers, Neil Holmes, cleaning some street furniture

Valley Gardens, Harrogate 

Across Harrogate, in Valley Gardens,  Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) had set up a stall with leaflets of information and advice on where to get involved – the organisation has a volunteer directory on its website.

Karen Weaver, from HADCA (pictured below) said:

“We’re here as part of The Big Help Out, and it’s all about getting people to think about what you can do in your community. It doesn’t have to be a regular commitment, it can be one-off. There are all sort of possibilities – our online directory has more than 200 opportunities to get involved in the district so there is something for everyone whatever your interest.”

Community Fit’s Anna Gazier (L) and Lisa Tilburn who work with HADCA had been litter picking

The Harrogate District Soroptimists took part of today’s Big Help Out by holding a tombola tent in Valley Gardens to raise money for local young carers.

Oatlands 

A free barbecue, drinks, children’s crafts, face paints and coronation cakes helped the community in Oatlands celebrate the Big Help Out.

Organised by volunteers from Oatlands Community Group, the event helped to highlight the facilities on offer at the community centre and the activities it hosts on a regular basis.

From community meals for people living along to baby bundle evenings packing up donations to the special care baby unit at Harrogate District Hospital, the venue is used for events throughout the month – along with private hire for birthday parties and more.

Today proved popular with locals, with dozens of families visiting this afternoon.

Organiser Vic Smith-Dunn said:

“It has been really great. We’re fortunate we could do a lot of it indoors and the barbecue was under the gazebo, so the rain didn’t matter.
“I was worried people would stay away because of the weather but they haven’t. It has been a lovely afternoon.”

As the big day gets closer, The Stray Ferret is compiling a list of events across the district to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

If you have an event that you wish to include in our list, please send the details to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Thursday, May 4

Ripon 

5.30-6.15pm – Ripon Cathedral: A coronation-themed evensong service will be held at the Cathedral.

Knaresborough

Flowers in the shape of the coronation crown will be on display at the Market Cross in Knaresborough until May 13.

Friday, May 5 

Harrogate

7pm – St Wilfred’s Church, Duchy Road: Solemn Festival Mass for the Coronation followed by barbecue supper at 8.30pm. Tickets £15 to include food and welcome drink. Contact bookings@stwilfrid.org for tickets.

Killinghall

7.30pm-11pm – Killinghall Village Hall: A coronation ceilidh with The Dark Horse Ceilidh Bank. Drinks will be available at the cricket club bar and a pizza van will be on site. Adults £5, children go free. For details, click here.

Ripon

5.30-6.15pm – Ripon Cathedral: An evensong service with Coronation Vigil will be held at the cathedral ahead of the royal ceremony.

6.30pm: Tribute bands playing live in the Market Place.

Saturday, May 6  Coronation Day 

Harrogate

10am-8pm – Valley Gardens: A big screen showing the coronation and other coverage of events in London, followed by family films. Family entertainment, fairground rides. Entry is free.

10am-6pm – Valley Gardens: Little Bird Artisan Market will be held alongside the coronation celebrations in Valley Gardens.

Time TBC – Majestic Hotel: A big screen showing the coronation, along with family entertainment and the chance to win prizes. Bring a picnic blanket and deckchairs, and you can buy food and drink from the hotel throughout the day. Free to attend. For more information click here. 

Noon-midnight – The Oatlands: Family open day with children’s entertainment, barbecue and an evening party. For more information go to www.theoatlands.co.uk/.

Killinghall

2.30-8.30pm – Killinghall Cricket Club: Bring a picnic and enjoy some games at the Killinghall Big Lunch Picnic. The bar will be open.

Knaresborough

10am-5pm – Knaresborough House: A big screen will stream the Coronation, as well as two family films on the day. People are welcome to bring picnics, but food and drink stalls will also be available at the free event.

10am-4pm – Castle Yard: Little Bird Artisan Market will be held as part of the coronation celebrations.

7pm – Gracious Street Methodist Church live streaming the Coronation Prom  from the Royal Albert Hall in London from 7.00pm (concert starts at 7.30pm). Admission is free.

Langthorpe

Langhthorpe Parish Council, in conjunction with the Coronation Hall trustees, will be opening the the Coronation Hall with live coverage on a big screen. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. 100 free tickets will be provided on a first come first served basis.

Lofthouse

3pm – coronation celebration at the cricket ground. Races, activities and game from 3.20pm, dog show at 5pm and disco 6pm to midnight.

Masham

2-6pm – Swinton Park: Live music, garden fete activities and a variety of food and drink will all be on offer in the hotel grounds. The event is free to attend and the gardens will be open throughout the day for visitors to enjoy.

Nidderdale

4-10pm – The Queen’s Head Inn, Kettlesing: The Acoustic and Rock Cover Party. Various local musicians will perform covers of classic rock and acoustic hits. Afternoon tea is included in the ticket price, which is £25 (£15 for under 14s).

Ripon

9.30am onwards – Ripon Cathedral: A live stream of the BBC’s coverage of the coronation will be shown at the Cathedral. It it free to attend and there will be free self-service refreshments available.

Sunday, May 7

Beckwithshaw

2pm-4.30pm – Beckwithshaw Village Hall field: Afternoon tea. Bring a picnic, have fun with games and races. Tea, coffee and squash will be provided.

Harrogate

10am-7pm – Valley Gardens: Family entertainment, fairground rides,. Entry is free.

10am – 4pm – Valley Gardens: Little Bird Artisan Market will be held alongside the coronation celebrations in Valley Gardens.

12pm onwards – Majestic Hotel: Music from DJ Mark Green. Bring a picnic blanket and deckchairs, and you can buy food and drink from the hotel throughout the day. Free to attend.

4pm-midnight – Ivory: Charles and Camilla Go Large. A night of 90s house music with DJs Delano and Millsy

Kirby Hill

Coronation tea will be held at the church in Kirby Hill. Everyone is welcome.

Kirkby Malzeard

1pm onwards – Highside playing fields: Friendship lunch party: Bring a chair, food and drink for a party that includes Maypole dancing, music and children’s activities.

Knaresborough  

6pm-11pm – The Coronation Concert will be screened live at Knaresborough Castle.

Masham

2.30pm onwards – Masham Square: Celebrations including a parade of floats, fancy dress competition, barbecue, live music and a quiz, ending with a firework display. Click here for details.

Nidderdale

12-6pm – The Queen’s Head Inn, Kettlesing: The Jazz Blues and Brass Extravaganza. Performances will be held by Eugine’s Jazz Band and Harrogate Jazz Band, with a carvery lunch included. Ticket prices begin at £15.

Noon-3pm – Pateley Bridge Recreation Ground: The Big Lunch. Bring a picnic and enjoy live music from Ant & Frank and Dacre & Summerbridge Silver Band. Free entry.

North Rigton

Noon onwards: Village garden, North Rigton: North Rigton Parish Council is hosting the big coronation lunch. Bring a picnic or join friends for a meal.

Pannal and Burn Bridge

Noon-5pm – Crimple Meadows: Family fun day including food and drinks, licensed bar, fun races and tug of war. Cake sale, raffle and bouncy castle will also be on site. There will also be fundraising for local causes. Admission is free.

Ripon

1pm-6pm – Street party on Carr Close.

Last year’s jubilee street party on Carr Close was such a success, it’s happening again.

Spofforth

7pm-11pm – Celebrations will take place in front of Spofforth Castle. Gates open at 7pm, bring a picnic or enjoy on-site caterers with pizzas, crepes, ice cream and coffee. There will be circus entertainers and face painting plus a jazz band followed by the group Beatlemania playing sets of the Fab Four, finishing at 11pm with fireworks over Spofforth Castle. Stockeld Park is illuminating the castle in red, white and blue. Tickets available from the village shop.

Boroughbridge

10am – St Andrew’s Church, Aldborough: A service to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, hosted by the Mayor of Boroughbridge, Cllr Sean Hynes, and Rev Karen Gardiner. Visitors are asked to be seated by 9.45am.

Monday, May 8 – The Big Help Out 

Harrogate 

10am-4.30pm – Valley Gardens: Family entertainment, fairground rides, Little Bird Artisan Market. Entry is free.

1pm-2pm – Wesley Chapel: Coronation-themed song recital with Gareth Brynmor John (baritone) and Christopher Glynn (piano). Tickets £10 on the door.

1-3pm – Oatlands Community Centre: Afternoon tea and community barbecue with crafts, face painting and other activities. Free.

Kirkby Malzeard

12pm-2pm – Mechanics Institute and around the village: The Big Help Out – assist a neighbour with weeding, sweeping or odd jobs and village litter picking. Refreshments at the Mechanics Institute.

Masham

Noon onwards – Masham Square: Family fun day with car boot sale, sports, a tug-of-war, welly wanging and a cow pat competition. Click here for details.

Nidderdale

1pm onwards – Glasshouses Village Green: Live music, children’s activities, and tea and cake, hosted by Glasshouses WI and Village Association. Bring a picnic and Prosecco to toast the King. Donations will be made to IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Service). Free to attend.

4-10pm – The Queen’s Head Inn, Kettlesing: The Tribute Band Party will see an afternoon of tributes to the likes of ABBA and The Beatles. A hog roast is included in the ticket price, which begins at £15.

Ripon

11.30am-5pm – Ripon Cathedral: Bank holiday Monday will see the Coronation Beer Festival take place in the grounds of the Cathedral.

Starbeck

10am-2pm – St Andrew’s Church, High Street: The Big Help Out – get involved with volunteering to improve the area. Plenty for all ages to do, and a family picnic on Belmont Field.

Harrogate bike renovation charity Resurrection Bikes is to hold a series of free bike maintenance events this month.

Resurrection Bikes, which was founded in 2014, fixes donated bikes at its base just off Cold Bath Road and sells them. The proceeds are donated to various charities.

The organisation plans to run six sessions as part of the Big Bike Revival, a national initiative run by the charity Cycling UK to make cycling more accessible.

The sessions, called Dr Bike, will provide advice, adjustments, safety checks and simple maintenance and repairs.

Resurrection Bikes founder John Rowe said:

“Bring your bike along. It is a free service with no booking required, but you are required to watch and learn while work is carried out.

“It is not a drop-off and pick-up later service.”

Dr Bike sessions will take place at Resurrection Bike’s premises at Westcliffe Hall, 2 Harlow Terrace, Harrogate, HG2 0PN on May 24 in the morning, May 25, the afternoon of May 27, May 31 in the morning, June 1 and June 3 in the afternoon.

Read more:

• ‘Grim’ future predicted for Harrogate cycling after funding snub
• Dad to cycle 1,600km to fund research into late wife’s cancer

Conservative MP Nigel Adams received free tickets from a tobacco firm to watch Elton John at the O2 Arena last month.

Latest updates to Parliament’s Register of Members’ Financial Interests also reveal Mr Adams received payment towards a five-day cricket trip to Corfu as well as free tickets to the Grand National in April

Mr Adams’ Selby and Ainsty constituency includes numerous villages in the Harrogate district, including Follifoot, Great Ouseburn, Sicklinghall, Spofforth, Tockwith and Weeton.

The close ally of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will stand down as an MP at the next General Election.

He accepted two concert tickets, including hospitality, worth £500 at London’s O2 Arena on April 4 — part of Elton John’s farewell tour.

They were paid for by JTI UK, which is part of Tokyo-based Japan Tobacco Group. Its brands include Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut.

The register shows Mr Adams also received free tickets to watch the Grand National at Aintree from healthcare diagnostics company Randox Health, which is principal sponsor of the horse race.

He also accepted contributions from Birmingham cash and carry wholesaler Awan Marketing towards a five-day trip to Corfu where Mr Adams was part of a Lords and Commons cricket delegation in a tournament to commemorate the 200th anniversary of cricket in Greece.

Awan Marketing’s flight and accommodation contributions were estimated to be worth £735.

The Jamaican Tourist Board paid £3,950 towards a similar cricket trip by Mr Adams and a family member to the Caribbean in August last year.

World Cup tickets

This is not Mr Adams’ first gambling firm gift.

JTI has previously paid for Mr Adams, who employs his wife Claire as office manager, to attend Chelsea Flower Show.

He received a total of £6,038 worth of tickets from three separate companies, including two other gambling firms, to watch two England matches at Wembley in Euro 2020.

Last year Mr Adams accepted free tickets and hospitality valued at £2,880 to the FIFA World Cup from the Qatar government.

Read more:

• Nigel Adams MP resigns from cabinet
• Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams to step down at next election

Payments to Andrew Jones and Julian Smith

The register also reveals payments to the two other local Conservative MPs in April.

Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, registered two £5,000 donations in April from Yorkshire Conservative Trust.

The register says the trust, which is based in Burley in Wharfedale, awarded the sums to Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Association.

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith received £727 from the Ulster Unionist Party.

The payment was for flights between London and Belfast and one night’s hotel accommodation for a speaking engagement at the start of April.

Mr Smith is a former Northern Ireland Secretary who frequently tweets about issues affecting Northern Ireland.

It is one of Harrogate’s premier brands, known around the world. But it seems even people living in Harrogate can’t get hold of some varieties of tea sold by Taylors of Harrogate.

The company, whose brands include Yorkshire Tea, is part of Bettys and Taylors Group, which dates back more than 100 years.

Children’s author Eirene Watson-Power is one of the company’s many loyal customers. But she had a shock when she returned to the UK after living abroad for four years and couldn’t get hold of Taylor’s of Harrogate Green Tea Earl Grey.

Mother-of-four Ms Watson-Power, who hosts a radio show on Harrogate Community Radio, said she enjoys the taste and health benefits of this green tea variety, adding:

“I live in Harrogate and discovered Taylors of Harrogate Green Tea Earl Grey a while ago in my local Asda. It instantly became my favourite morning cuppa.

“When I moved abroad to the Middle East I was so happy to discover my local shop also stocked this tea. Imagine my surprise when I returned to live in Harrogate and found that nowhere stocked it.

“Even though it’s a local company, if I wanted to drink this particular tea I would have to order it from abroad and pay the additional taxes on top of international postage and packing. This seemed unbelievable to me.”

The elusive blend

The mystery deepened when she visited her local stockists of Taylor’s tea and no one had even heard of Earl Grey green tea.

“How can so much have changed in four years? I wondered, if more places knew it existed and requested it then perhaps Taylor’s would again make green tea Earl Grey available in the UK.

“I am sure many people in Harrogate would appreciate being able to purchase this amazing tea.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate wins King’s Award
• Floral tribute to King Charles created in Harrogate

A Taylors spokesperson said it was lovely to hear how much the customer enjoyed the blend and was sorry she was unable to buy it locally. They added:

“While we do still make Earl Grey green tea, it is part of a range we currently only make for our international market where it sells a lot better than in the UK.

“Sadly, this particular blend simply doesn’t sell well enough for UK retailers to order it from us which is why you won’t see it on the shelves over here anymore.

“We do have a range of Taylors speciality blends available in the UK, including flavoured green teas such as green tea with jasmine, mint or lemon. These are mostly to be found in smaller independent shops, delis and garden centres or through online retailers.”

The spokesperson added the company recommended either this website or this one for ordering Taylors speciality teas.

Coronation celebrations continued across the Harrogate district today.

Today’s events include a parade of floats in Masham, The Big Lunch in Pateley Bridge, free entertainment in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, maypole dancing in Kirkby Malzeard, a picnic in Beckwithshaw, street parties and a fireworks display and Beatles tribute band at Spofforth Castle.

Our reporters were out and about capturing the fun and celebrations.

For a full list of events, visit our coronation diary here.

You can catch up with Saturday’s live blog here.

7.04pm – Big crowd for Coronation Concert in Knaresborough

Kelly Young (centre), alongside other chamber members

Nearly 400 people have gathered in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle to watch a livestream of the Coronation Concert on a big screen.

As the sun still shines, families and friends are seated with picnics and drinks waiting to enjoy the BBC concert. Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has also created a video compilation of iconic moments in the King’s life, including his christening, his crowning as the Prince of Wales, and music from the 1940s up to the 2000s.

Knaresborough Castle is part of the Duchy of Lancaster, a property portfolio owned by King Charles III himself, but the castle is predominantly run by North Yorkshire Council and the people of Knaresborough.

Kelly Young, director of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“We’re grateful to Matthew Walker and North Yorkshire Council for the funding to host this event.

“We hope to have many more events like this in the future”.

6.32pm – Coronation tea at Oatlands 

A good turnout for the coronation afternoon tea at Oatlands Community Centre in Harrogate. Pics by Oatlands Community Group.

4pm Carr Close Street Party, Ripon

With nearly 100 attendees, Carr Close in Ripon hosted a street party to continue the royal celebrations. Residents of the street have enjoyed a lunch in the sun, a royal raffle and lots of dancing and games.

The party began at 1pm and will end at 6pm when the road closure ends. It has been in the works for six months, after Harrogate Borough Council allowed the street closure.

The party’s royal raffle raised £100 for Harrogate Road Methodist Church in Ripon.

The residents of Carr Close gave a cheer to the new King.

Organiser Jane Lincoln, a resident of Carr Close, said:

“Today has made me feel so lucky to be part of such a lovely community”.

Carr Close resident Julie Carr said:

“It has been a great day, with lovely weather and lovely company.

“We have spent it with our friends and family”.

3.30  Ripon Cathedral begins Commemorative Service 

Whilst the festivities continue in villages across the district, the bells of Ripon Cathedral have been ringing to mark the start of a special commemoration service.

The Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Ms Jo Ropner, representing the newly-crowned King Charles III, arrived at a packed Ripon cathedral this afternoon for a commemorative service to celebrate yesterday’s coronation.

She was greeted by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson. Both pictured below.

Among the 600 plus in attendance are civic dignitaries from across the county. The service will see the cathedral’s girl choristers, choral scholars and lay clerks sing with the additional accompaniment of Ripon City Band (pictured).

The service is being led by the Dean, with readings from The Lord-Lieutenant, and the commanding officer of the Royal Engineers’ 21 Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Perry Bishop. The regiment is based at Claro Baracks, Ripon.

3pm – Masham parade 

Flora has now moved from Kirkby Malzeard to Masham to cover the afternoon fun.

The coronation float parade has begun into the town’s square, featuring a performance from Elvis, a live band and the fire service. 

Richard and Sandy Cole, drivers of a Morgan in the parade, said: 

“It’s been a wonderful day. It’s lovely to be in the fresh air and always good to be in our cars. We feel we’re in good hands with King Charles III.”

The First Rainbows, Brownies and Guides won best float

Vick Greensit who’s two daughters were on the winning float (below) told the Stray Ferret:

“ It’s been a fantastic day and atmosphere. Masham has pushed the boat out and we all love a community event.”

Ellie Greensit (L) aged 7 and her 10 year old sister Jessica on the winning float

1.10pm – Kirky Malzeard’s Big Lunch gets underway

The Stray Ferret’s Flora Grafton has started her coverage of the district today in Kirkby Malzeard.

Around 300 people have gathered in the village in aid of the national Big Lunch event.

As well as a picnic lunch, visitors can enjoy maypole dancing, sword dancing and a bouncy castle.

Villager Karen Pickles said:

“People gathered together to have lunch and I’m just to glad it has brought the village together.” 

Pippa Manson chair of Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council (R), Karen Pickles and Jeni Cropper (L)

The Kirkby Malzeard Long Sword Dancers

12.50pm – weather forces change of venue in Pannal 

The earlier torrential rain has meant a change of venue for today’s festivities in Pannal to the Village Green and Church car park.

Ripon bell ringers prepare to ring for the King 

Their work high up in the south west tower of Ripon Cathedral goes unseen, but they are heard across the ancient city.

The 32-strong team of bell-ringers, whose numbers have increased recently with four new recruits, will ‘ring for the king’ once more this afternoon, with a joyous quarter peal between 2.15 and the start of the North Yorkshire commemorative service at 3.30, which celebrates yesterday’s coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Ringing master Martin Davies, told the Stray Ferret that 10 of the cathedral’s 12 bells were cast in 1932 and were rung to mark the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.

This afternoon’s service will be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Ms Jo Ropner, along with other civic dignitaries. It will be led by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson.

Our pictures show members of the bell-ringing team in action prior to this morning’s Sung Eucharist Service and a group photo supplied to us by Mr Davies.

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.

Congratulations to all the councillors who voted to pass the Station Gateway plans — you have just killed off a large quantity of small businesses in the town.

It’s about time your salaries and pensions were docked at the same amount as these small business owners are going to lose.

Then you might start making the right commercial decisions. Shame on you.

Tony Cowan, Harrogate

Gateway is ‘a highway engineer’s-led solution’

I along with all those who spoke against the gateway project in its present form were extremely disappointed with the outcome but the support from the public gallery was encouraging.

We had all put a lot of time, thought and consideration into preparing our statements.  This was the result of talking to others, local knowledge, professional experience and above all an understanding of how this town works – the skills which the executive and officers of North Yorkshire Council clearly still do not have.

There was nothing new in the North Yorkshire Council presentations and it was clearly a case of delivering the same old information that we have all heard so many times before but yesterday in a series of rather long, boring and bumbled presentations that did not inspire any of us.

It is still unfortunately purely a highway engineer’s-led solution.  It is not capable of celebrating this as an exemplary and attractive gateway to the town simply because there was no mention of urban design (or an understanding of what makes places work).  This is generated by a lack of awareness from those with limited understanding of Harrogate, its character and the largely cohesive Conservation Area it sits in.

Once again an attempt at a publicity exercise to justify the project but with more than a hint of desperation as threats emerged at the loss of funding or it being moved elsewhere.

All this was followed by councillors debating a decision which will have far reaching consequences on our town. Unfortunately, most of those present seemed to have little grasp of the actual mechanics of what will occur.

Sadly the project now has conditional support from the area constituency committee but does require North Yorkshire Council officers to work with residents and businesses to find the best use of the money.

Part of this should include discussions on the alternative scheme I handed to area constituency committee members.  Cllr Keane Duncan did however point out there were time pressures to proceed with the project.  Sadly as we all know the highways executive has a history of ignoring the democratic process, not listening and dismissive of public comment.

Time will definitely determine what happens next.

Barry Adams, Harrogate

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Old trees are dangerous

I’ve just read your article reference the crushed Porsche.

I’m not sure what the council’s tree and woodlands policy is but Harrogate has thousands of very mature trees requiring radical maintenance to reduce various risks to pedestrians, motorists and subsurface infrastructure alike.

Mike Hodgson, Harrogate 

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.

Whittaker’s distillery in Nidderdale, best known for its boutique gins, is to expand into the growing English whisky market.

The company in Dacre has already laid down 150 casks of whisky, which take three years to fully mature.  The first bottles will go on sale in the summer of next year.

Owner Toby Whittaker told the Stray Ferret the ability to make whisky from locally grown barley appealed to him:

“Personally I like the concept of knowing where the barley has come from.

“In our case my sister and brother-in-law have a farm at the end of the River Nidd at Ferrensby. The barley is grown there so we are tying in local provenance. The grain is malted in Castleford – so it keeps all the transport costs down and the employment local.

“If you contrast that with gin, we are buying juniper berries from the continent so I just love the idea of using the local barley and making a malt whisky from Nidderdale.”

Last year Whittakers was amongst a small group of English whisky makers that grouped together to found the English Whisky Guild. Its aim is to promote English whisky globally and protect the integrity of the product, ensuring it is made in England.

Making whisky is more complicated than making gin. There are more processes involved rather than a single distillation.  The whisky then has to be casked for three years so it requires more investment and more time.  Whittakers is currently filling a cask every week.

Mr Whittaker said his whisky is aimed at a niche market — for people who seek out whisky, or the whisky “geek” as he puts it.

Help to develop the whisky came from an unexpected place — two whisky-loving Americans based at Menwith Hill US air base.  Derek Dowler contacted Mr Whittaker during lockdown and they began experimenting. A second American, Blake Meyer, then got involved.

Toby, Derek and Blake then went on a “steep learning curve” but finally got production up and running.

Mr Whittaker said his processes are a blend of ancient and modern:

“Twenty-five percent of the flavour comes from the type of grain used and how well you distill it. We have concentrated on embracing modern science to use grains that produce high yields and flavours. It’s a mixture, we’ve got old fashioned cooperage, the making of casks, that’s a trade that’s been around for thousands of years and we’re using modern strains. It’s an exciting time. “

Mr Whittaker says the cost of living crisis has impacted the business. The cost of raw materials has jacked up continually, he said. The cost of glass, for example, has doubled.

But he feels it’s a growing market. As the Guild says on its website, the story of English whisky has just begun…

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