A Harrogate plasterer is set to skateboard to his former home in Barry Island to raise money to help his mother.

Daniel Katchi’s mum, who is 50, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last October after experiencing speech problems and loss of mobility in her arm.

Her son hopes to raise money to fund a speech machine controlled by eye movement and a stair lift for his parents’ home in Barry Island, near Cardiff.

Daniel, 32, moved to Harrogate from Barry Island three years ago and plans to complete the 300-mile route with a fellow skateboarder who lost his mother to motor neurone disease.

As a young boy, Daniel was gifted a skateboard by his neighbour in South Wales and fell in love with the sport immediately. He has represented the UK nationally and internationally in skateboarding.

Daniel said:

“I am determined to complete this journey.

“It’s a case of me feeling helpless and all I want to do is help my mum.”

Read more:

• Eight fire engines tackle blaze at former Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate
• Killinghall Nomads opens cafe named after ex-player Rachel Daly

Setting off on Wednesday, May 4, the pair aim to cover around 50 miles per day and anticipate the journey will take 5 days. They hope to cross the finish line on Sunday, May 7, and will be greeted by his family.

The two skateboarders will ride over to Leeds from Harrogate, where the journey will officially start. They aim to stop in Sheffield, Birmingham, Cheltenham and Bristol before completing their journey in Barry.

Daniel established a route that will predominantly follow bike paths and some pavements.

They have encouraged fellow skateboarders to join a leg of their journey and free merchandise will be given to those who do.

To follow Daniel’s progress, visit his GoFundMe page.

Two Harrogate parents are uniting to help children navigate the challenges of the modern world.

But rather than speak to the children themselves, Alison Stubbs and Andrea Edmondson are focusing their efforts on the parents.

They established ParentSmart Learning based on their belief that giving parents the tools to deal with their children’s behaviour would deliver the most benefit to families.

Both women have dealt with challenges in their own children, including dyslexia and autism, as well as being trained teachers.

Alison, who is a primary school teacher, said:

“I’ve got two children who are dyslexic.

“As a teacher, I felt the school system was trying to get children like mine to do things they can’t.

“I was thinking, ‘my child is going to school every day, failing, and then on sports day, when they could do well, they aren’t allowed to win because it’s not competitive.

“‘How can we empower these children to feel better about themselves, and the parents too?'”

Alison considered doing a cognitive behavioural therapy course to enable children to feel more empowered in dealing with challenges they faced. However, she said:

“I quickly realised you’ve got to empower the parent because they can empower the children.”

Meanwhile, fellow teacher Andrea experienced her own difficulties when raising her four children in the United States. She said:

“Even though I had all the training, things weren’t always easy. I felt lonely and confused and I didn’t know what to do.”

Andrea decided to undertake research and training in child development, focusing on how children deal with stress and how they can be helped to live with it more easily in the modern world, before moving back to the UK.

Read more:

• Midwives launch Harrogate district support service with drop-in session for ‘covid parents’
• New Harrogate group aims to combat loneliness in working mums

A chance conversation between Andrea and Alison at a friend’s house in 2021 led the pair to realise they had similar views and aims.

After sharing their own experiences and ideas, they begin looking at ways to give parents more confidence in supporting their children.

They tested some of their theories with communities around the Harrogate district, running monthly workshops in a room they were given free at the Pickled Sprout restaurant in the Yorkshire Hotel.

After receiving “excellent” feedback from the participants, Alison and Andrea began working on pilot projects with schools.

However, with budgets already stretched, the pair found many schools were unable to commit to paying for help – even when it might reduce many of the challenges they faced in the classroom.

They said even “very intelligent, caring parents” often struggle to know how to handle their children’s behaviour at home, leading to more issues being brought into schools.

The covid pandemic exacerbated this, with many children missing out on key periods of social development and not having been supported to catch up since.

Andrea said:

“One of the biggest things is the people raising children now were raised in a very different time than we’re now in. The ways people were raised don’t align to the environment we now operate in: 24/7 media, screens, a lot of bad food, a lot of time inside.

“There’s a mismatch between the biology of kids and the environment, and then the skills and understanding of the parents.

“When you’re under stress, you revert to script and the script was developed when you were young.”

Outside perspective

The pair have developed a short online course, Confused to Confident, to help parents develop a better understanding of their children’s behaviour and its causes, as well as ways to respond that will restore calm.

They said the course is suitable for parents whose children are any age, from pre-school through to adult. The parents may be dealing with conflict with their children, concerned about their mental health or potential neurodiversity, preparing for school transitions or exams, or simply wanting to feel more confident in their parenting strategies.

ParentSmart Learning is also partnering with community organisations and businesses to deliver workshops and courses

Alison said modern, busy lives often leave people without opportunities to share their concerns and get advice from other parents. The course is designed to fill that gap, with expertise and distance.

She added:

“You get bogged down and dragged in with your own child and you’ve got to take a step back and not be reactive.

“Sometimes, you need someone to help you process something – that outside perspective to help us take a step back.”

Harrogate councillor Pat Marsh will chair the new Harrogate & Knaresborough planning committee on North Yorkshire Council, it has been confirmed.

The Liberal Democrat member for the Stray, Woodlands & Hookstone division on the new council has been a councillor in Harrogate for over 30 years and sits on the current Harrogate Borough Council planning committee.

Because the Liberal Democrats is now the largest party within the Harrogate & Knaresborough constituency area it gets to pick the chair of the new planning committee.

The vice-chair will be Conservative councillor for Bilton & Nidd Gorge, Paul Haslam.

The committee’s other members will be Chris Aldred (Liberal Democrat), Philip Broadbank (Liberal Democrat), Hannah Gostlow (Liberal Democrat), John Mann (Conservative) and Robert Windass (Conservative).

The committee will meet every month and will have the final say over large or significant planning applications in Harrogate & Knaresborough. It’s first meeting is on April 25.

Upcoming schemes include the 770-home Windmill Farm development on Otley Road and the controversial expansion of Harrogate Spring Water’s bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road.

Cllr Marsh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she feels “very honoured” to have been asked to take on the role. 

She said:

“I am keen to make sure Harrogate and Knaresborough get the right planning decisions.

“It is about having local knowledge that can make all the difference. I have done 33 years of planning none stop and been involved in formulating four Local Plans.

“I have never chaired a planning committee but I think I have a few years’ experience to bring to the role and I am looking forward to that new role.”

Read more:

• New council chief questions future of Harrogate Convention Centre
• New board to review Harrogate Convention Centre operating model
• Government rejects £20m levelling up bid for Harrogate Convention Centre

A separate planning committee will be formed for Skipton and Ripon which will be chaired by Conservative councillor for Washburn & Birstwith, Nathan Hull.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee is chaired by Conservative member for Harlow & St Georges, Rebecca Burnett. It has one more meeting on Marsh 28 before the authority is abolished on March 31.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards saw 11 finalists, and one very lucky prize winner, crowned the winners of their categories.

The winners shared their reactions in the LCF LAW Winner’s Lounge.

Employee Development Award – sponsored by Jones Myers Family Law Solicitors

Winner: Grantley Hall

Grantley Hall is a luxury 5-star hotel and wellness retreat near Ripon.

Grantley was crowned the winner of the Employee Development Award.

In the LCF Law Winner’s Lounge, the Grantley team said:

“To be recognised for our employee development makes us immensely proud and is a great accolade to each and every member of our team.

“It’s our responsibility to develop our team and give them the skills that they need. This is great recognition for us”.

Digital Marketing Award – sponsored by Next Chapter

Winner: Ogden of Harrogate

Traditional jewellers, Ogden of Harrogate, took first place in the Digital Marketing Award.

The Ogden’s team with Clare Frisby and Daniel Swepson of Next Chapter (R)

In the LCF Law Winner’s Lounge Ogden of Harrogate’s directors said:

“We are absolutely delighted to win the Digital Marketing Award. It was extraordinary to be stood on that stage.

“We are a bricks and mortar business, but it was the tech and sales team that brought this to life. We are very grateful to all the staff getting behind the campaign”.

Sustainable Business Award – sponsored by the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub

Large Business Winner: EnviroVent

EnviroVent is a Harrogate designer and manufacturer of sustainable ventilation systems.

The company’s efforts towards becoming Net-Zero merited first place.

Clare Frisby (L) with EnviroVent and James Farrar, of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (R)

The EnviroVent team told the Stray Ferret in the LCF Law Winners Lounge:

“To be recognised by the local business community is probably one of the biggest accolade’s you could ever have.

“It is a bit of a cliché, but sustainability is not a destination, it is a journey”.

Small Business Winner: Resurrected Bites

Resurrected Bites is a food waste organisation, operating in Knaresborough and Harrogate.

Resurrect Bites was crowned the winner of the small business award for its sustainable endeavours.

Clare Frisby (L) with Michelle Hayes of Resurrected Bites, and James Farrar (R) of York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Michelle Hayes, Founder of Resurrected Bites, said in the LCF Law Winners Lounge:

“I just can’t believe we won, I really can’t. It is incredible – thank you so much.

“I am extremely passionate about the environment, so it is incredible to have won this award.

The Stray Ferret would like to thank everyone who entered the awards and everyone who attended our event.

Thank you to all our sponsors, including all the businesses supporting our individual categories, and our lead sponsor, Prosperis.

Keep an eye on our site and social media over the coming days to see more news and photographs from the awards ceremony.

With special thanks to Gerard Binks Photography.

Keep an eye on our social media channels for more coverage on the awards!

A big thank you to Harrogate Phoenix Players for being our paparazzi for the night!

BBC Look North’s, Clare Frisby

Richard Flinton, Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council

A new headteacher has been selected to lead St Aidan’s High School from September.

The Harrogate school has appointed Siân Dover to the role, from her current post of principal of Oasis Academy Lister Park in Bradford.

She was previously part of the leadership team that saw Nidderdale High School ranked within the top 100 schools in the country for securing outstanding GCSE outcomes.

Mrs Dover said:

“With the exception of my most recent school, I have always worked in schools in North Yorkshire. It is not only my home county, but also an area that I feel a strong affinity with.”

“My reason for applying to St Aidan’s, however, was much deeper than that. This is a school with a strong identity, a fantastic heritage and a community of students, staff and families that I felt it would be a real privilege to be part of.

“It is also abundantly clear that there is a huge amount for this school to be proud of, but I wouldn’t be a headteacher if I didn’t have a strong belief that I can help build on all of these strengths to help the school develop further in the future. The world that awaits our students is constantly evolving, and it is important that the education that we offer meets those needs.

“That is why leading the school is such a genuinely exciting prospect, and just like in my previous two jobs, I plan to be here for the long term.”

It will be the first time the school has been led on a permanent basis by a woman since its founding headteacher, Miss Hindmarsh, who was appointed in 1966.

Chair of governors Joanne Wicks said:

“Not only does Siân have the expertise and experience to build on all of St Aidan’s strengths, but her Christian values and commitment to providing a nurturing and caring environment for every young person made her the perfect fit for our community.”

In a letter to parents, Mrs Wicks and Jane Goodwin, interim CEO of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, said the new head would bring “significant senior leadership experience and knowledge of the current education landscape”.

They added:

“The committee is confident that Mrs Dover has the skills and experience needed to successfully lead St Aidan’s as the school begins a new chapter in its history.”

Read more:

• Ten students at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher associated sixth form get Oxbridge offers
• St Aidan’s in Harrogate appoints interim head

The school said candidates from across the country applied for the role of headteacher when it was advertised in January.

Geography and PE graduate Mrs Dover was selected through a two-day assessment by its governing body and board of trustees, as well as the Diocese of Leeds. Pupils, members of the school leadership team, and other headteachers in the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust (YCST) were also involved.

Mrs Wicks and Jane Goodwin, interim CEO of YCST, said she would bring “significant senior leadership experience and knowledge of the current education landscape”.

St Aidan’s has been without a permanent head since December 2021, when Chris Burt left through ill health. He was replaced by Chris Ives as acting headteacher, before David Thornton was appointed last summer on an interim basis.

In recruiting for the role, St Aidan’s acknowledged it had faced a “challenging” time over the last 18 months.

The school was rated inadequate in an Ofsted report published last January, following a visit by inspectors more than three months earlier. The report found four out of five areas to be ‘good’ but because the leadership and management were ‘inadequate’, the overall rating was also brought down.

However, a monitoring visit in May led Ofsted to return for a full inspection just two days later. The report, published in June, concluded the school was ‘good’, with pupil behaviour and its sixth form both rated ‘outstanding’.

Mrs Goodwin said the school was in “excellent hands” under Mr Thornton until September, and thanked him for his leadership while St Aidan’s waited for the “right moment” to recruit its new head.

The Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate has sent more than 700 of its finest historical artefacts to Swansea University in a collaboration which should provide deep insights into ancient Egyptian history. 

The collection, which has not been fully researched for over a decade, is on loan for three years and will now be studied by experts at Swansea’s award-winning Egypt Centre. Swansea University is one of only a handful of UK universities to offer degrees in Egyptology. 

May Catt, visitor and cultural services manager at Destination Harrogate, said:

“This is a fantastic chance for us to be able to learn important information about our Egyptian collection and where it came from. We look forward to being able to share this with visitors of all ages, both digitally and through new exhibitions and displays. 

“We are fortunate to have such rare and exciting antiquities at the Royal Pump Room Museum and our project with Swansea University offers us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our museum’s cultural significance on an international platform. 

“We are particularly pleased to be involved with this exciting project this year, which marks the 70th birthday of the museum in Harrogate.” 

Harrogate’s Egyptian collection includes a spectacular coffin from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1000-700 BC); stone stelae; a large collection of pottery; amulets and shabtis (figurines used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices), as well as a renowned Anubis mask, which is the only one of its kind in the world. There are also several Etruscan mirrors and a large collection of cuneiform tablets, bricks, and cylinder seals.

Ken Griffin of Swansea University’s Egypt Centre inspects a spectacular coffin from Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1000-700 BC).

The loan also offers an opportunity to learn more about the origins of Harrogate’s Egyptian antiquities, whilst raising the profile of the Royal Pump Room Museum. The objects were donated by two local collectors, Benjamin Kent and Harrogate jeweller James Roberts Ogden, whose great-great-grandsons still run Ogden of Harrogate on James Street. 

While Kent purchased his at auction, Ogden appears to have obtained his items straight from the source – he acted as an adviser to Howard Carter, who famously discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, creating a worldwide sensation. 

Egypt Centre curator Ken Griffin said the project, called Rediscovering Egypt, would provide an ideal opportunity for the collection to become better known to researchers. 

Dr Griffin said:  

“The Harrogate loan is a major coup and reflects Swansea University’s position as a leading institution for Egyptological research. Having the collection here will allow us to refresh the Egypt Centre’s displays, while also making the objects available to researchers from across the globe.

“And, in the year that the Egypt Centre celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is rather fitting that this loan is taking place now.”

Three shabtis (funerary figurines) of Seti I, including a faience example believed to be among the finest ever produced, are included in the artefacts on loan.

The collection held permanently by Swansea University’s Egypt Centre is currently on public display online, and Harrogate’s Egyptian collection will be added to the site later this year, with photos and 3D models of the objects, to enable visitors, university students and staff to view the rare Egyptian items, while discoveries about the relics are made and shared.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Royal Pump Room Museum closes for refurbishment
• Ripon museums secure more than £400,000 from Arts Council
• Harrogate’s link to the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb, 100 years ago

The Harrogate district has woken to its worst snow of the winter. Amber and yellow weather warnings remain in place all morning and roads are treacherous.

Please send news of how the weather is affecting your school, roads and neighbourhood so we can add it to the blog. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

12.39pm: Ice warning for tonight

A @metoffice warning for ice is in place across #NorthYorkshire until 10am tomorrow. A warning for #snow and #ice is also in place from 3pm tomorrow until 6am on Sunday.

Please take care when out and about.

Find out more at https://t.co/hUMWZu9ntv pic.twitter.com/6zjLqfCNjJ

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

12.08pm: Council says it ‘stood down’ today’s bin collections

Due to the weather conditions overnight, and the sub-zero temperatures predicted tonight and into tomorrow, we have made the decision to stand down today’s (10 March) household waste and recycling collections…

Find out more at: https://t.co/F9iIHqV6GD

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

11.42am: Minus nine degrees tonight?

The BBC weather forecast is currently forecasting a minimum temperature of minus nine degrees tonight. The Met Office, however, is predicting no lower than minus four degrees.

Either way, it is going to be cold and with standing snow conditions could be treacherous.

11.31am – Commercial Street in Harrogate ‘passable’

Commercial Street is “open for business” and “passable”, say businesses.

❄️Commercial Street is quite passable & OPEN for business❄️

☕️Don’t forget we’ve got 2 fab indie businesses to keep you warm with delish hot drinks – Bean & Bud and Lilly’s Cafe! ☕️

Find out more on our website https://t.co/UoImSxseXl#shoplocal #indie #Harrogate #snow pic.twitter.com/HWcapDPjsV

— Commercial Street (@Commercial_St) March 10, 2023

11.20am – More Harrogate pictures

More pictures of Harrogate covered in snow this morning on Montpellier and the Stray.

11.10am – Household waste recycling centres reopen

North Yorkshire County Council has announced its household waste recycling centres in Harrogate have reopened.

All of our household waste recycling centres have now reopened, except for #Leyburn. pic.twitter.com/A8Ldz5u5t2

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

11.05am – Ripon covered in snow

A nice aerial shot of Ripon market square and the cathedral sent into us by Paul Smith.

10.55am – Picturesque Knaresborough

Knaresboroughphotography has shared this picture with us on Instagram. Perfect for a postcard.

10.45am – Stray pictured in the snow

Ian Wilkie has sent some beautiful pictures of the Harrogate Stray pictured in the snow, along with a snowman.

10.35am – RHS Harlow Carr to reopen at midday

RHS Harlow Carr is set to reopen at midday today. However, play areas will be closed.

⚠️ Garden reopening at 12pm – 10 March ⚠️

We'll be reopening at noon today with a limited route around the garden – play areas will be closed. It will be half price tickets for payers.

Grab the camera and snow boots to enjoy a winter wonderland ❄ pic.twitter.com/S6Yr3HPku5

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) March 10, 2023

10.24am – West Harrogate recycling centre closed.

The West Harrogate recycling centre at Pennypot Lane is also closed this morning due to snow.

Thornton-le-Dale and West #Harrogate household waste recycling centres are also currently closed due to the #snow. pic.twitter.com/6038uUcNPK

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10.15am – Belmont Grosvenor headmaster gives snowman advice

With pupils learning from home, Nathan Sadler, headmaster at Belmont Grosvenor School, has issued the following advice to parents:

In terms of learning from home, if you get the opportunity with your children, please can you:

• make snow balls
• roll in the snow – make snow angels!
• build a snowman
• sledge
• drink hot chocolate
• HAVE FUN!

Here he is pictured with his family and their snowman.

10.05am – Harrogate recycling centre is closed

North Yorkshire County Council has announced the household waste recycling centre on Wetherby Road is currently closed due to the snow.

The following household waste recycling centres are currently closed due to the #snow:
– #Harrogate Stonefall
– #Leyburn
– #Settle
– #Skipton pic.twitter.com/EfrQRGm9yS

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10am – The view from Pateley Bridge

Joyce Liggins has sent this picture in of Pateley Bridge covered in snow this morning.

9.25am – No waste and recycling collections this morning

Harrogate Borough Council has announced that its waste and recycling teams currently are not collecting this morning.

Due to this morning's conditions, our waste and recycling crews aren't currently collecting.

We are keeping a close eye on the weather and road conditions and will provide an update later in the day. pic.twitter.com/o4pc5wNSGF

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

9.15am – Snow pictures from across Harrogate

9am – Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal closed

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has announced it will be closed today.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is closed this morning due to the snow. Please don’t travel here as the car parks are closed and the paths are not safe. Take care on the roads and keep an eye on the website for all live updates. https://t.co/tyiQ88giPV pic.twitter.com/x0cdXUG7eS

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) March 10, 2023

8.30am – Full list of school closures

Here is the full list of school closures in the Harrogate district.

6.39am: Bus service cancellations

The Harrogate Bus Company is warning of problems and providing a link to more information.

⚠️ Due to the current weather conditions we have a number of diversions and cancellations in place.

ℹ️ Please see the link for further details: https://t.co/0dCzYc3pFH

We apologise for any inconvenience@MetroTravelNews pic.twitter.com/7VEpbzFYdP

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) March 10, 2023

6.34am: Pannal school closes

6.30am: Two schools announce closures

Admiral Long Primary School, Burnt Yates and Belmont Grosvenor School in Birstwith have emailed to tell us they have closed today.

Has your school closed? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will include it in this blog.

The inquest of Harrogate woman Judith Holliday, who died after going missing for two weeks last summer, was opened today.

Ms Holliday was 73 when she left her care home in Harrogate on a Saturday morning last September.

When she did not return, her family alerted the police and a search began. Over the following days, the search involved mountain rescue services and the use of drones to try to locate her.

Her family made repeated appeals to try to trace her movements, and sightings were confirmed at Harrogate bus station and on the way to North Rigton.

However, after two weeks of searching, Ms Holliday’s body was found adjacent to the level crossing on Dunkeswick Lane, Weeton.

North Yorkshire assistant coroner Alison Norton opened the hearing in Northallerton this morning.

She confirmed Ms Holliday was born in Zimbabwe in July 1949, and died in Weeton on September 10, 2022.

The coroner said a post mortem found the cause of death was unexplained. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be confirmed.

Read more:

• Police searching for missing Harrogate 73-year-old woman find a body
• ‘Help us get Judith home’ – plea from family of missing Harrogate woman

Harrogate Borough Council will write-off over £83,000 of debt it’s owed from businesses, residents and housing tenants.

Cllr Graham Swift, the council’s cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, approved two reports that said the debts would be “uneconomic to pursue further.”

The first report includes details of £44,167 worth of miscellaneous debt with the largest being two Harrogate Convention Centre invoices from Kerrison Craft Exhibitions Ltd worth £19,940.

The report says the exhibitions firm has been wound up and “there is little hope of any remuneration”.

The company was due to organise The British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) and British Craft & Design Fair at the convention centre until 2025.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said the event owner affiliated to Kerrison Craft Exhibitions Ltd has died.

Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, said:

“We are deeply saddened by the untimely death of the event organiser. We are hopeful the event will be purchased by an alternative organiser in the future.”

Read more:

• Harrogate crime hotspot gets £6,000 railings to prevent loitering
• Zoë Metcalfe confirms bid to become North Yorkshire’s first mayor

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the company’s liquidator, Opus LLP but it declined to make a comment.

Of the £44,167, there is also £3,717 worth of debt related to planning and £3,854 to waste and recycling.

The council will be able to recover £6,460.94 in VAT.

The report explains why HBC has decided not to pursue these debts any further:

“The costs involved are too great, the probability of success is too slim or there are simply no further legal options available.”

Meanwhile, a second report was approved by Cllr Swift related to writing-off £39,059.11 from former council housing tenants.

However, it says the ‘substantial majority’ of this sum will be written-off because the tenant has died.

Although the report adds that some debts are from tenants who “abandoned their homes and remain untraceable.”