Staff and pupils at a primary school judged ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted 18 months ago are celebrating after it was given a glowing report following its latest inspection.
Ofsted inspectors visited Ripley Endowed Church of England School in March and their report, published today, rates the village school ‘good’ in all areas.
The new assessment marks a sea-change in the school’s fortunes and is the result of radical measures to bring it up to the required standard.
Victoria Kirkman, who was appointed interim co-executive headteacher last year, said she was “proud” of the new rating. She added:
“Since my commencement at the federation, the sole focus has been rapid school transformation. The implementation of robust systems, processes and a curriculum that meets the needs of all children whilst focusing on high levels of pastoral care has ensured success.
“Children have only one chance at an education, and I am delighted that now, the children of Ripley Endowed Church of England School will succeed and have far greater life chances.”
Having been consistently rated ‘good’, the school received three consecutive ‘requires improvement’ assessments in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
At its last full inspection in November 2021, it was rated ‘inadequate’ – the lowest of all ratings – in a report that was highly critical of its quality of education, leadership and early years provision.
The rating meant the school, which has space for 90 pupils but currently only has 33, was placed in special measures.
As a result, North Yorkshire County Council drafted in an interim executive board (IEB) and new staff were hired, including Miss Kirkman, who is also executive headteacher at Admiral Long CE Primary School in Burnt Yates and Birstwith CE Primary School, which were both inspected and rated ‘good’ by Ofsted last year, and at Beckwithshaw Primary School which was rated ‘inadequate’ last spring.
Ripley Primary School’s progress was noted at a monitoring inspection in November 2022, but today’s report is seen as concrete acknowledgement that the school has been turned around. The report rates the school ‘good’ across the board, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. It states:
“Leaders are relentless in their drive to support pupils to achieve their best and have designed a curriculum which broadens pupils’ horizons.
“Pupils enjoy their lessons. They pay close attention to adults. There is little or no disruption, which means pupils are able to concentrate well.”
It also quotes a parent, who said the new leadership’s “unbelievable enthusiasm has spread amongst teachers, pupils and parents”.
Ofsted inspectors were impressed with the changes that staff and governors had brought about over the last 12 months.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said:
“I am thrilled that Ripley Primary School is now an educational establishment where children can flourish. We, as the local authority, are committed to continue developing the best possible provision for the pupils and will work tirelessly to build on these successes.”
Robert Ling, who was drafted in as the chair of the IEB, said:
“Since the IEB came into force in February 2022, it’s been a real team effort and I would like to thank members of the IEB for their commitment in turning things around.
“We are immensely grateful and proud of everything we have achieved in such a short period of time and I hope the school’s journey of improvement continues. Ripley Endowed Church of England School is part of a federation of three schools – Kettlesing Felliscliffe Community Primary and Beckwithshaw Community Primary School.
“However, I would also like to express my gratitude to Killinghall Primary School, Admiral Long School and Birstwith C of E Primary School, for their continued support in the remarkable journey that this federation has taken.
“Finally, a huge thank you to the parents and carers for your continued support of the school, especially during the past 18 months, which have been challenging for everyone.”
Rebecca Foy, the school’s interim co-executive headteacher and special educational needs co-ordinator, was also delighted by Ripley’s transformation. She said:
“We are absolutely thrilled with our result. It reflects the hard work, high expectations and dedication of the staff team to our children and families.
“We would like to thank parents and carers whose unwavering support to school life at Ripley, along with the wider community, has been a key factor in making us a positive and ambitious school and, of course, our wonderful children who we are immensely proud of.”
Maxie Schiffmann and Ellie Allen, co-chairs of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), told The Stray Ferret:
“We are absolutely delighted with this report. All staff, governors, parents and pupils have worked incredibly hard to improve this fantastic village school and we have created a very tight community during this journey. We look forward to welcoming many more pupils to this wonderful school.”
Read more:
- Ripley school praised for ‘swift and effective action’ to address inadequate rating
- Ripley primary school seeks to join academy after ‘inadequate’ rating
- Ofsted rates Ripley primary school as ‘inadequate’
Missing Harrogate woman found safe after four days
A Harrogate woman has been found safe after going missing for four days.
North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal for the 56-year-old female on Friday last week. It said she had not been seen since the previous day and officers were “extremely concerned for her welfare”.
This morning the police said the woman had been found safe yesterday.
We have consequently updated our coverage to remove the woman’s personal details.
Read more:
- Police sack Harrogate officer convicted of sexual assault
- Crime commissioner Zoe Metcalfe under pressure following critical report
More rail strikes in Harrogate and Knaresborough this week
Rail services in Harrogate and Knaresborough are set to be affected by a fresh wave of strikes this week.
Train drivers’ union ASLEF will walk out on Friday, May 12, prompting train operator Northern to cancel all services.
RMT members will strike on Saturday, May 13, leading Northern to operate only hourly services on a small number of key routes between 7am and 7pm.
Further information is available here.
Although there is no strike action on Sunday, May 14, services are expected to start later in the morning than normal due to what Northern has described as “fleet displacement”.
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:
“It is disappointing to see the return of industrial action to the rail network.
“Whilst all strikes disrupt someone, these particular dates will have a significant impact on people travelling on our network to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
“Given the context in which the UK is hosting this international event – on behalf of the people of Ukraine – this is particularly unfortunate.”
Northern’s guide to upcoming services
A statement on ASLEF’s website blamed the action on “failure of management to offer a fair deal on pay”. It added:
“Most of the drivers have not had a pay increase at all since 2019 and with inflation still well over 10% and the cost of living spiralling, this is not acceptable.”
Further ASLEF action, known as ‘action short of strike’ will take place for five consecutive days from May 15 to 20.
Northern is urging people to check train times before they travel’ as early morning and late night services may be affected.
ASLEF members are also due to walk out on May 31 and June 1 on which there will be no Northern services.
New timetable
This month’s strike action comes ahead of Northern introducing its new summer timetable on Sunday, May 21.
Customers who make regular journeys on the same train times are advised to check before they travel as some services may have been re-timed.
More information is available here.
Read more:
- Almost 500 appointments cancelled at Harrogate hospital due to junior doctors’ strike
- Lib Dem leader describes £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway as ‘vanity project’
Business Breakfast: Harrogate family launches UK’s first stocked German kitchen business
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:
North Yorkshire Council makes ‘first step’ towards £67m of savings“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:
The Big Help Out: Starbeck residents brave the rain to volunteer“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.
Resurrection Bikes to provide free bike repairs in HarrogateHarrogate 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
Local MP bags free Elton John tickets from tobacco firm
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:
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.
The curious case of the Taylors of Harrogate tea that can’t be bought in Harrogate
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.