Dozens of teachers from across North Yorkshire converged on Harrogate today for a rally.

The National Education Union, Britain’s largest teachers’ union, is holding strikes today and on Tuesday as part of its latest wave of industrial action.

The NEU has organised rallies across North Yorkshire on previous strike days but today’s was the first in Harrogate. Teachers from as far as Scarborough took part.

Those taking part near the war memorial told the Stray Ferret their main reason for striking was the “crisis” in education, which had left many schools struggling to get any applicants for some teaching posts.

Today’s strike comes after alll four teaching unions turned the latest government offer of a one-off payment of £1,000 and a 4.3% pay rise, as well as an increase in the starting salary for teachers in England to £30,000 a year by September.

Gary McVeigh-Kaye, the North Yorkshire branch secretary of the NEU who organised today’s rally, described the government offer as “an insult”.

The Department for Education described it as a “fair and reasonable offer”.

Read more:

• Striking teachers to hold Harrogate rally on Thursday
• About 500 Harrogate firms set for ballot on whether to keep BID

The Reverend Canon Anna Eltringham has been named as the new Bishop of Ripon this morning.

Downing Street announced at 10am the King had approved the nomination of Rev Canon Eltringham, who is currently team rector for Oxted, in the diocese of Southwark.

Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds introduced the new bishop immediately after the announcement to a gathering at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate.

The Bishop of Ripon is one of five episcopal area bishops in the Church of England Diocese of Leeds and has responsibility for a large area, including the Yorkshire Dales and the towns of Ripon, Harrogate, Settle, Skipton, Wetherby and Richmond.

The new bishop in Harrogate today

Revd Canon Eltringham’s consecration will take place on June 22 in York Minster. However, she will not fully take up the post until September.

She will succeed Helen-Ann Hartley, who left Ripon to become Bishop of Newcastle this year.

Before entering ministry, Revd Canon Eltringham worked in strategic marketing, including a role in Croydon Council.

Whilst increasingly involved in church, community and justice work, she discerned God’s call to ordained ministry, following in the footsteps of her father and previous generations in her family.

Revd Canon Eltringham grew up in the west country and studied business and anthropology at the University of Durham.

She plays the saxophone and is married to Nigel, with whom she has two daughters. They enjoy family trips out in her VW T25 campervan and visiting museums, galleries, arts events and the seaside.  She also likes creative writing, walks in the country and trying to up-cycle furniture.

She said:

“I have felt drawn back to the north of England for a number of years and have a strong sense of God’s call to this particular role.

“God has laid a number of things on my heart in recent times, including a passion for climate-care and justice; care for the wellbeing of clergy and all God’s people; a vision for a church that serves as much beyond as within its buildings; and children and young people at the heart of it all.”

‘Important rural area’

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds said of the appointment:

“I am delighted to welcome Revd Canon Anna Eltringham as the next Bishop of Ripon and to this important rural area that includes the world famous Yorkshire Dales.

“Our parishes and communities, big and small, will greet her with great warmth as her commitment to parish ministry and the environment will be evident from the word go.

“Anna’s pastoral care for clergy and lay leaders is evident from her previous work in the Diocese of Southwark and the wider church. She will greatly support our diocesan mission to encourage Christian confidence across the Ripon episcopal area and beyond.”

Read more:

• Bishop of Ripon formally departs — with no successor imminent
• Ripon pair guilty of smuggling £100 million from UK to Dubai

Revd Canon Eltringham was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Southwark in 2008 and served her title at Holy Innocents in South Norwood.

She then joined the Oxted team ministry (four churches in Surrey) where since 2019 she has been team rector.

Since 2017 she has also been the Dean of Women’s Ministry, advocating for, and developing the ministry of lay and ordained women in the diocese and advising senior staff on such matters. Anna has also served as an honorary chaplain to the monarch since 2020.

The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York said:

“Revd Canon Anna’s enthusiasm and love for parish ministry and her ability to connect, having been an advocate for clergy well-being and serving as Dean of Women’s Ministry, will be a great blessing to the parishes and Diocese of Leeds.”

Businesses in Harrogate will begin voting on June 1 on whether to continue to fund services such as street cleaning and Christmas lights.

Currently 462 town centre businesses with a rateable value above £19,000 pay a levy to Harrogate Business Improvement District.

The BID spends the money on additional services to those provided by local authorities to attract footfall into the town centre.

But its first five-year term is ending and it will cease operating if a majority of businesses vote ‘no’ to another five-year term.

BID chief executive Matthew Chapman at last night’s event.

Last night Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, launched the organisation’s term two business plan at the Doubletree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

The plan reveals the BID is forecast to have £510,000 income a year — down on current £554,000 a year — because of a recent re-evaluation of rateable values on town centre businesses.

Mr Chapman said the BID, like many businesses, would have to “do more with less” but he maintained the organisation provided a valuable service through activities such as its street ranger Chris Ashby, street deep cleaning, Christmas lights, match-funded grants, street entertainment, targeted free parking and floral baskets and planters.

Street ranger Chris Ashby

Locally, Ripon, York, Leeds, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Bradford and Northallerton have bids although Knaresborough rejected one.

The business plan says:

“Harrogate BID is needed more than ever before and we ask you to please use your ballot paper to vote ‘yes’.”

Council to abstain in vote

However, the BID won’t be able to call on the local authority to support its bid — unlike five years ago.

Harrogate Borough Council previously used its block vote for businesses it ran to vote in favour of the BID.

But North Yorkshire Council, which replaced it this month, has said it will abstain.

Asked last night how he felt about this, Mr Chapman said:

“It’s a little disappointing but it could also be positive because it will be a true business vote.”

Mr Chapman added he wasn’t aware of any other councils that abstained in BID votes.

The ballot will run from June 1 to 28 and the result will be announced on June 29.

Read more:

• Harrogate BID to launch campaign for second term
• Crime commissioner’s office to move to Harrogate Police Station

A consultation about a potential Harrogate town council has been called “undemocratic” because it says residents would have to pay up to £60 a year extra without stating what powers it might have.

North Yorkshire Council is running a second consultation on whether a town council for Harrogate should be created.

Consultation documents say how much residents in band D properties are likely to pay through their council tax to cover services provided by the new town council.

North Yorkshire Council said the town council’s council tax precept would allow for an annual budget in the range of £1m to £1.6m.

Knaresborough and Ripon both currently have their own councils that charge a precept to provide services such as allotments, public events and small parks.

However, it is unclear at this stage what services a potential Harrogate town council would deliver.

There would be 19 councillors elected to the town council with elections taking place on May 2, 2024.

‘Unfair and undemocratic’

Speaking at a residents’ meeting last week, Michael Schofield, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Harlow and St Georges, criticised the consultation process and said people were not sure what they would be voting for if the town council was created.

He said:

“It’s alright talking about flower beds but we still don’t know what North Yorkshire Council’s executive are going to let a town council have control of.

“It’s unfair and undemocratic not to be told what we going being asked to pay for and voting for. They need to let us know.”

His view is shared by the final mayor of the Harrogate borough, Victoria Oldham, who was the Conservative councillor for Washburn on Harrogate Borough Council until March 31.

Read more:

• Second consultation to be held on whether to form Harrogate town council
• Just 3.5% responded to Harrogate town council consultation

Ms Oldham is backing the creation of a town council but said people interested in becoming councillors should be getting around the table with North Yorkshire Council now to discuss what powers it might have.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“There’s no point in saying you’ll have a town council if you don’t say what you’re supposed to be running so those people interested in being on the town council need to be coming together now and putting a plan forward. There needs to be some sort of mediation.

“Saying suddenly you have a town council and not knowing what you’ll be responsible for is going to be awkward.”

In response, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Conservative Cllr David Chance, said:

“A town council for Harrogate is aimed at ensuring that the views of residents are represented at the most local level and helping to provide the services that are so important to the public.

“We are undertaking a consultation to get people’s opinions on the detailed
recommendations for the town council.

“Harrogate and Scarborough are the only parts of the county not to have a parish or town council. When North Yorkshire Council launched on April 1 after the previous eight local authorities in the county merged, a central pledge of this change was to enable town and parish councils to take on greater responsibility if they want and are able to.

“Residents of unparished parts of Scarborough and Harrogate were invited last summer to say whether they wanted to create new town councils. More than two-thirds of residents who responded in the two towns were in favour of the idea.

“We believe that the chance for town councils for both Harrogate and Scarborough will be fundamental in making sure local democracy can be as effective as possible, and I would urge the public to have their say during the latest consultation, which is running until Friday, May 5.“

Residents can take part in the consultation by visiting www.northyorks.gov.uk/CGR. Paper copies are available by calling 01609 536400 or emailing cgr@northyorks.gov.uk.

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 mobile company has secured a contract for communications at Leeds Bradford Ariport.

Mobile Tornado, which is based at Cardale Park, announced the agreement which will see the firm provide push-to-talk over cellular equipment for the airport’s workforce.

The company said the move would help LBA to “improve safety, efficiency and productivity in complex daily operations”.

Luke Wilkinson, global head of sales at Mobile Tornado, said: 

“This agreement with one of the UK’s busiest regional airports represents another big vote of confidence in our push-to-talk over cellular platform as an improved radio system for critical communications.”

Damian Ives, chief operating officer at LBA, said: 

“Mobile Tornado’s world-leading technologies will help us to manage operations and achieve our ambitions.

“As a regional airport, we plan our development with the local economy, environment and stakeholders in mind and we are delighted to be working with Mobile Tornado, a local company with world-leading technology.”

Bettys and Taylors partners with Woodland Trust

Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate has announced a partnership with the Woodland Trust.

The move will see the company form a tree planting partnership at the trust’s Snaizeholme project in the Yorkshire Dales.

The scheme will see up to 50,000 trees planted as part of the company’s five-year project.

Alice Tollan, sustainable development specialist at Taylors, said: 

“As a family business that relies on agriculture for much of our produce, we have a long commitment to protecting our environment.

“Our Trees for Life campaign was launched in 1990 and since then we’ve supported the planting of over seven million trees in both the UK and in tea and coffee growing regions around the world.

“We’re proud to have worked with the Woodland Trust for many years on tree planting initiatives across the UK and we’re pleased to partner together on this latest unique project.”

Pip Greensmith, head of partnerships for the Woodland Trust, added: 

“Snaizeholme offers a chance for us to boost biodiversity at a time when the natural world is in crisis.

“Tree planting and habitat restoration will boost the water quality of the river and beck, safeguarding habitats for species such as otter, as well as attracting birds such as herons, grey wagtails, kingfishers and dippers.

“It’s great to see Bettys & Taylors Group invest in nature-based solutions here in the UK.”

Read more: 

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate mobile company partners with United States firm

Harrogate Town secured their status in the English Football League with a win at Newport County last night.

The 3-2 victory will see Town remain in League Two next season.

It means Harrogate can prepare for a third campaign in the EFL since their historic promotion in 2020.

Financially, it also means the club will continue to receive Premier League solidarity payments, EFL money and potential broadcasting fees if fixtures are shown on television.

The Premier League pays solidarity payments to all EFL clubs, with those in League Two receiving an estimated £450,000 each in recent seasons.

The club plans to renovate its EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road to comply with EFL standards.

It can now proceed in the knowledge that its place among England’s top 92 clubs is safe for at least another year.

Read more:

• Harrogate Town’s stadium upgrade approved
• Harrogate Town to open Hall of Fame

Town’s 3-2 win at Newport last night was secured with a goal from Luke Armstrong seven minutes from full-time.

Armstrong’s 16th goal of the season leaves Harrogate nine points above the relegation zone with two games remaining.

Speaking after the match at Rodney Parade, manager Simon Weaver said he wanted the team to continue to build momentum despite securing survival.

He said:

“We said before the game that we want to finish with as many points as possible. We wanted to excite the fans, keep building momentum and end on a positive note for the fans.”

The story is sponsored by WhiteTop Productions.

How does a Yorkshire man in this late 50’s, who works in property, set about a career change to become a voiceover artist?

David Waterhouse recently worked for the Stray Ferret Business Awards in Harrogate voicing up videos of all the finalists and winners for the big night. His voice work is a far cry from his day job in property, but he puts his success partly down to a rise in popularity for his ‘soft northern tones’.

In 2016, David fell into the voiceover industry after requesting to record an advert for his property company on a local radio station. After some pushback from the station, they eventually agreed – and lo and behold a star was born.

After falling in love with voiceover work, David trained with RichCraft in Bath.

His big break came when he was hired by Pixel House Media, who worked with a university in the North East, which turned into a series of voiceover jobs thereafter. Following that, David has also done work for the AA, The Virtual College and many more.

He said:

“I did something for an AA product launch during covid.

“Apparently it was one of the most successful launches they’d had to date”.

David previously owned Angus Roberts, an Ilkley-based lettings agent, and is currently the Director of Fresh Approach Management. Property is still his main occupation, but he hopes that one day voiceover work may become a big part of what he does.

It could be as a VO…but then maybe an MC, for events like the Stray Ferret Business Awards!

David has since launched WhiteTop Productions to further his new career venture and showcase his work.

It hasn’t all been bright lights and Hollywood signs, however, as David has faced challenges in the industry. David described it as “so competitive” and explained “covid brought an influx of artists entering the marketplace, and has driven prices to be even more competitive”.

Despite this, David’s love for voiceover remains a constant. He said:

“I’m not doing this to feed my kids.

“I’m doing it because I love it…and apparently ‘soft northern’ is very en vogue at the moment!”.

Speaking about the inaugural Stray Ferret Business Awards,  David said it was an opportunity for him to showcase his talent to hundreds of attendees.

“I really did enjoy the Stray Ferret Awards.

“I was so proud to be associated with it”.

Visit his website to find more information and to listen to David at work.

Oh, and if BBC Sounds needs a continuity announcer, or a northern bloke on The Archers, David is “definitely available!”

Find out more:

David Waterhouse is professional voice over talent for TV & radio ads, online corporate videos, IVR, e-learning, narration and more.

For more information, go to whitetopproductions.co.uk or for a conversation about your project, call David on 07917 807784. 

A Harrogate man has made it through the first stage of the 19th series of MasterChef.

Hotel supervisor Owen Diaram made his debut on the primetime BBC programme last night.

He was one of nine contestants battling it out in the third week of heats for a place in the competition round, with only seven going through.

Drawing inspiration from his South African roots, Mr Diaram blended his style of cooking with some Indian flavours – making a “perfectly cooked” prawn biriyani, as described by the notoriously tough judges.

He found himself cooking a second time to fight for the final few remaining aprons that took him through to the next round.

It was his second dish that earned him a place in the competition round of the programme and a famous MasterChef apron.

Read more:

• Harrogate auction house sees 50 year old bottle of whisky fetch £12,000
• Harrogate restaurant relaunches following £30,000 refurbishment

Asked about his food dream, Mr Diaram told the BBC:

“I am hoping that local restaurants in Harrogate will give me opportunities to work with them after seeing me cook in the MasterChef kitchen.

“Eventually I’d love my own business within the hospitality industry bringing my unique style of cooking to North Yorkshire for more people to enjoy.”

In the next episode, he will compete alongside six other contestants for a place in the quarter-final.

It will air at 8pm tomorrow night (Thursday, April 27) on BBC One.

Don’t miss former MasterChef semi-finalist Olayemi A Adelekan’s weekly food feature coming to the Stray Ferret on Saturday, April 29.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe is set to relocate her office to Harrogate Police Station.

The Conservative commissioner, whose job is to scrutinise the performance of the force as well as the fire service, will move in alongside officers on Beckwith Head Road on June 1 this year.

Ms Metcalfe’s office, which employs about 30 staff, is currently based on Granby Road in Harrogate.

The current office on Granby Road in Harrogate

The move comes as part of the commissioner’s strategy to optimise her estate and “improve partnership working and communications”.

Simon Dennis, chief executive and monitoring office at the commissioner’s office, said:

“We expect to save approximately £80,000 per year by changing our office arrangements. Like many progressive organisations, the commissioner’s team has a strong commitment to flexible, agile working and our office accommodation needs have changed in recent years.

“We have been working closely with the estates team, chief constable and chief fire officer to ensure we are all making the most efficient and effective use of the police and fire station buildings.

“In addition to our office re-location the team will also work more flexibly from home and other police and fire buildings.

“The team are really excited and are looking forward to the move which will not only save money but improve our working relationships with the police and fire service.”

Harrogate Police Station

Ms Metcalfe added:

“The public expect police and fire buildings to be used efficiently, especially at this time of strain on our finances, so I am pleased that we can make a contribution towards savings by vacating our office at Granby Road.”

The commissioner’s office said it would continue to review the use of its estates as it planned for devolution and the introduction of a mayoral office.

Read more:

• Zoë Metcalfe confirms bid to become North Yorkshire’s first mayor
• Crime commissioner pledges to tackle ‘woefully low’ rape prosecution rates

A friendship bench has been installed at Follifoot Primary School to encourage pupils to support each other.

The bench provides a place where children can sit if they feel lonely or don’t have anyone to play with at playtime. Others see them and start up a friendship.

Friends of Follifoot School, a group of volunteer parents, presented the bench to the school playground this week.

Children elected on to the school council proposed the idea last year to promote friendship and kindness.

The friends group has now made it happen by using funds raised at its annual summer fair Follifête to buy the bench, which was crafted by Harrogate furniture company Harvey George.

The unveiling of the bench coincided with the last day on the committee of four members of the friends group. Laura Hartley, Vicky Hodgson, Claire Hartley and Sam Riley stepped down after fundraising for the school for five years. The bench was their parting gift to the children.

Read more:

• Follifoot primary school told to make improvements by inspectors
• Harrogate church saves £20,000 on clock repairs with can of duck oil

A new committee is now planning the next Follifête on July 9 at Follifoot Village Hall.

Ms Hartley, who was chair of the friends group, said:

“It was something the school council were really passionate about and we’re glad that we were able to bring their idea to life. We hope that the bench will see hundreds of friendships created over time.”

Headteacher Rebecca Holland said:

“I am sure the bench will be loved by Follifoot children for decades to come.”

Pic shows: Friends of Follifoot School present the bench to pupils. Back row L to R: Sophie Griffiths from Harvey George; Laura Hartley, chair of FOFS; Rebecca Holland, headteacher, Claire Hartley, Vicky Hodgson and Sam Riley from FOFS; middle row L to R: Lizzie, Annabelle, William; front row L to R: Elliot, Jessica, Florence, Jasper