John Shackleton, 83, is preparing to deliver an ambulance to a humanitarian organisation in Moldova next month.

If you’re not familiar with Mr Shackleton’s work, he’s been delivering ambulances to hospices and hospitals in Europe since 1990.

The Harrogate man has since delivered 47 of them to an exhaustive list of countries, including Albania, Kazakstan, Armenia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.

To raise money to pay for the ambulances, John and his team chop down trees in need of felling all over Harrogate that they dry out before selling as firewood.

He’s currently selling a large barrow bag of oak for £90, much lower than the market rate, and it includes delivery within the Harrogate area.

He said:

“I’ve been chopping logs this morning. At my age, and after my heart attack, it’s hard work.”

The price of second-hand ambulances has risen sharply since the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine from around €12,000 to €24,000.

Mr Shackleton sources ambulances in the Netherlands but he’s struggled to buy one due to a shortage.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s John Shackleton hoping to deliver ambulance to Ukraine
• John Shackleton, 83, hoping to deliver one final ambulance to Eastern Europe

In a couple of weeks he will set off to Europe, with a crew that includes his grandson and a German TV crew, and he’s optimistic that he’ll be able to buy one in time.

He added:

“We’re going to quite a big Christian organisation in Moldova. I’ve got my team, all we need now is an ambulance.

“I never thought I wouldn’t be able to buy one. But the story of my life is I’m always optimistic”.

If you’d like to buy some firewood from John to help him buy an ambulance, give him a ring on 01423 871255 or email johnshackleton@aidtoeasterneurope.co.uk

North Yorkshire County Council has reported an escalating number of overweight youngsters since axing a well-regarded scheme to help children and their families make positive changes to their diet.

A council report has revealed since Healthy Choices was abandoned due to government cuts in 2020, the county has had no weight management service for children and has seen annual rises in children with excess weight that have been “much higher than in previous years”.

After completing Healthy Choices, 80% of youngsters saw marked weight reductions.

In 2016, 21% of five-year-olds and about 30% of 11-year-olds in the county, significantly lower than the national average, were found to be living with excess weight.

However, a public health report has revealed these figures have since overtaken or moved close to the national average, with 29% of reception pupils and 38% of primary school leavers classed as overweight.

Although child weight statistics for different local authority areas for last year will not be published by the government until December, last year it was reported  obesity rates in both reception-aged and Year 6 children increased by around 4.5 percentage points between 2019-20 and 2020-21.

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Concerning the sharp rise in children with excess weight, the council report said: 

“There is a real need for families across the county to receive compassionate support to manage weight, eat well and move more.”

Such is the concern over the rise in children with excess weight since its Healthy Choices programme was abandoned two years ago that senior councillors and officers have agreed to pump up to £106,000 from its reserves to kick start a family weight management service.

The 18-month pilot service will utilise the county’s current successful service for adults to support adults who have dependents that need a holistic support for the whole family. It will also take referrals for children and young people through the National Child Measurement Programme and other health professional referral routes.

However, unlike Healthy Choices, which was delivered in children’s homes or at a local venue, the new service will be remote, with up to 12 phone or video calls.

The officer’s report states the service will be “more cost effective” than Healthy Choices, which cost £300,000 annually.

The authority’s executive member for health, Councillor Michael Harrison said since 2020, both locally and nationally there had been the largest rise in obese primary schoolchildren on record.

He said: 

“We have a good record on our adult weight management initiatives, with five per cent body weight reductions for those completing programme we offer, and that weight loss is sustained 24 weeks later.

“If these figures are going up there is an increasing number of people who are having their lives impacted by complications to their health in later years. As public health professionals it is right that we should try and something about it in a practical but compassionate way.”

A Last Night of the Proms charity concert at Harrogate’s Royal Hall next month will pay tribute to the Queen and celebrate the new King.

The concert, which will feature the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band and acclaimed violinist Kate Chruscicka, will take place on October 7.

The event is being organised by the Harrogate fundraising team at end of life care charity Marie Curie following the success of the first proms in 2019, which raised more than £20,000.

The group is now hoping to recreate “the magic” of the event following a break as result of the pandemic.

Chair of the group, David Beswick, said:

“The team are determined to ensure the concert will deliver a ‘last night concert’ to remember.

“We know the Queen was a music lover and at major ceremonial and celebratory events, the sound of brass and marching band music was a fundamental component.

“We’re delighted to have Grimethorpe Colliery Band at the event. They are the most famous name in the world of brass band music. They will lead the celebration of the Queen’s life, and wish our new monarch, King Charles III, a long and successful reign.”

Read more:

• Harrogate fundraiser’s decade of collecting for Marie Curie after help with father’s care
• Former nurse who helped raise millions for Marie Curie remains passionate about charity after 25 years

Before his accession to the throne, King Charles was a patron of Marie Curie.

Mr Beswick added:

“He has opened hospices and hosted many fundraising events for the charity, including joining people across the UK as part of our National Day of Reflection.

“For many of us, it will be our first opportunity to join in the singing of God Save our Gracious King.”

The event starts at 7pm and will feature classic Last Night of the Proms staples, such as Royal Britannia and Jerusalem.

Senior community fundraiser Gemma Hewitt said:

“I’m thrilled to have the proms event back after such a difficult time for everyone over the past two years.

“Now with the sad death of the Queen, this hopefully will bring us all together to celebrate her, and our wonderful community spirit – with singing and flag waving, you will be sure to leave with a smile on your face.”

All money raised from the event will support Marie Curie, which provides nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness.

Tickets start from £20, and can be booked from the Royal Hall website, in person or on the phone on 01423 502116.

Harrogate Photographic Society has announced plans for its 100^th anniversary, which include showcasing historic images of the town as well as photos from the early days of Ukraine’s independence.

The society was founded on October 23, 1922 and was originally based at a shop on King’s Road.

Mike Hudson, the society’s president for its centenary year, said:

“There were seven members originally but that rapidly expanded… and it took off big time from then.”

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A team from the society has gone through the image archives at Harrogate Library and North Yorkshire County Council to find pictures from that time.

Many images have been lost but the ones which remain are set to be digitised and displayed to the public in the near future.

Mr Hudson said they were hoping to preserve elements of Harrogate’s history. He added:

“When someone passes away, the sons, daughters and relatives… [put photos] in the bin or in the skip and they’re lost forever. We’re very lucky to have just a few photographs and prints that have survived.”

There are also plans for a special presentation alongside local jewellers Ogden of Harrogate about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt in 1922.

JR Ogden was tasked with advising archaeologist Howard Carter on the jewels and gold found within the tomb.

The covid pandemic was a challenge for the group, Mr Hudson admitted, with its meetings having to be held online.

However, he hoped that people would now be encouraged to return and meet the photographers in-person.

Some of the society members’ photos (photos: Harrogate Photographic Society)

Photos from Ukraine

Following the look at Harrogate’s past, the society will hear from globally renowned photographers including Tim Smith and Paul Haley.

Mr Smith will discuss his time spent in Ukraine and Russia in 1991, when Ukraine voted to declare independence from the Soviet Union.

Mr Haley, a war photographer, will be sharing his photos for the Falklands War, the 40^th anniversary of which was this year.

Mike Hudson believed that each photographer brought something different in terms of their work. He said:

“Each photographer has something special to say themselves. They each excel in the genres of photography they take.”

Richard Taylor Primary School in Bilton has received a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted.

The government schools inspector, which visited Richard Taylor in June, praised the quality of learning as well as how much children enjoy attending.

The report said pupils work hard to meet the high expectations set by teachers and that children with special educational needs were particularly well supported by a “broad and ambitious” curriculum.

The report said:

“Pupils say that they love school and their friends at Richard Taylor primary.

“Pupils feel safe, and are safe, because staff look after them well and help them with any problems they may have.

“Teachers help them to do their best. They are well supported by school staff.”

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• Closure notice published for Harrogate school

The report praised the “calm and orderly environment” and said child welfare and safeguarding were well catered for. It said:

“Pupils say that bullying does not happen, but if it did, they trust that adults would deal with it quickly.”

Richard Taylor school

Staff, it added, “are proud to work at the school” and “say that leaders support them well”.

Most parents say the school is a “great community to be part of” and feel supported by staff.

Founded in 1793

Richard Taylor was founded in 1793 and moved to its current site on Bilton Lane in 1973.

The 275-pupil school, which is a founding member of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, was last inspected in 2017, when it was also rated ‘good’.

The latest report highlighted “some inconsistencies in staff expertise to deliver phonics”, adding:

“As a result, some pupils in the earliest stages of reading are not competent at blending letter sounds to read a word.”

It said leaders were in the process of putting in place “a more systematic approach to the teaching of phonics”.

Headteacher Andrew Symonds and deputy headteacher Emma Crisell

Andrew Symonds, who has been headteacher at Richard Taylor for 13 years, said:

“Everyone at Richard Taylor school is very pleased with the outcome of our most recent report.

“We are delighted that the inspector recognised the strong sense of community where a culture of respect and kindness is in every classroom.

“The report also clearly identified the strong duty of care and united vision for the pupils, based upon our Christian values, which is shared by everyone associated with the school.

“I would like to thank the children, parents, governors and leaders within the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust for their hard work and support which is reflected in this report.

“As a school we are ready to focus on the agreed targets for development as we prepare to celebrate 230 years as a learning community in Harrogate and our 50th anniversary on our current site.”

A pair of Louis Vuitton shoes donated to Harrogate’s Oxfam shop have appeared in a national campaign to promote secondhand shopping.

Television presenter Miquita Oliver was tasked with giving her mum and grandma a charity shop makeover for an article in The Guardian.

Worn by her grandma, the shoes, priced at £225, are vintage size 7 blue mules from Louis Vuitton of Paris.

They are described as ‘quality leather with the LV embossed in leather’.

The newspaper feature promotes Secondhand September. Now in its fourth year, Oxfam’s annual campaign challenges shoppers to buy only secondhand clothes for a month. It is aimed at promoting sustainability as “fast fashion” continues to dominate the high street.

According to Oxfam, when a new pair of jeans is made, an estimated 16.2kg of CO2 is emitted – the equivalent of driving more than 58 miles in a car.

Thanks to Harrogate’s affluence, volunteers at the Harrogate charity shop, on Montpellier Parade, describe opening every box or bag as a bit like Christmas.

Online shop manager Frances Wood said:

“We get really excited when it’s worth a lot of money. That’s part of the joy of it. You open a bag and you don’t know what it’s going to be. You name it, we get it in here.”

Approximately £29 million is raised each year from selling clothes in Oxfam shops. Designer clothing is a major stream of revenue for the charity and also helps to support sustainability.

While you can find some of it on the shop rails, the more expensive items tend to go on Oxfam’s online store, which lists the location where the piece has been donated.

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The site currently includes a Prada dress, priced at £180, Christian Dior boots, which are £800, and a gold necklace, listed at £1,200 – all donated in Harrogate.

James Smith, Oxfam Harrogate’s bookshop manager, said:

“While we also have a lot in the shop, the prices you can get online are much higher. It’s a big money maker.”

James Smith with a Prada dress and Christian Dior boots, donated to Harrogate’s Oxfam shop.

And it doesn’t stop at clothing, with designer homeware and rare books also donated.

Mr Smith said:

“We get amazing things in here. We sold a designer purse for £1,000. Every week something goes on the website for hundreds of pounds.

“A couple of years ago we had a set of art journals from Paris from 1930, which went for £2,000.”

Oxfam Harrogate is looking for volunteers to help list items online. Call the shop on 01423 565497 or email oxfamshopf0609@oxfam.org.uk to get involved.

Harrogate Business Improvement District will be joined by representatives from Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate to share plans for Christmas 2022 to businesses.

Last Christmas saw a change to previous years with the creation of the first Harrogate Christmas Fayre, in the town centre from December 3 to 12. Festivities included a free road train called the Candy Cane Express, a carousel, helter skelter and ferris wheel.

It followed Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to deny a licence to the former market organised by the Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill.

The meeting this Thursday is at the Yorkshire Hotel’s Sky Bar at 5.30pm.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“At Thursday’s BID Club, we will be informing businesses what will be happening within the town centre this festive season.

“We will be joined by Destination Harrogate and Market Place Europe, who will update us on this year’s Christmas Fayre, including location and number of stalls.

“This meeting is open to all businesses within the BID area, and will be an opportunity for them to ask questions, and to find out how that can get involved with making Christmas 2022 a festive season to remember.”

To reserve a space email info@harrogatebid.co.uk..

M&S temporarily closes cafe at Harrogate Oatlands 

How the food hall will look.

Marks and Spencer has temporarily closed its cafe at its Oatlands food hall in Harrogate.

The company planned to close the cafe for good as part of an expansion of its Leeds Road site, but decided to retain it after a customer petition.

But a smaller, new-look cafe will open when the expanded site is launched.

The rest of the food hall will continue to trade throughout with some areas blocked off while the work is underway.

Store manager David Anderson said:

“We’re delighted to confirm that as part of the upcoming extension and refresh of our Harrogate Oatlands store, customers will be able enjoy a new-look M&S cafe alongside a fresh-market style food hall, offering a bigger range of M&S food products than ever before.

“We expect to complete the works later this year and will keep the local community updated as they progress. We would also like to thank local residents around us for their ongoing support as we work to improve the store.”

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Many organisations across the Harrogate district closed today as people paid their final respects to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Streets were quiet and there was a sombre mood as the nation watched the state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London.

Ripon Cathedral and Harrogate’s Royal Hall broadcast the event live on big screens, as did numerous pubs and churches.

Many other people watched the day’s events unfold live on BBC One.

Here are some photos taken during today’s funeral capturing local tributes and the unusually quiet state of the district.

Cambridge Street deserted during the funeral.

Ripon Cathedral today

Flowers to the Queen at Harrogate’s war memorial.

Floral tributes in Knaresborough Market Place.

St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck broadcast the funeral live.

Starbeck High Street devoid of traffic.

A shop front tribute in Harrogate town centre.

The Stray Ferret will suspend publishing district news today until after the funeral service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

A congregation of 500 attended Ripon Cathedral this afternoon, to commemorate and give thanks for The Queen’s service to the nation.

The Anglican Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd. Nick Baines, gave a sermon from the pulpit, in which he said that Her Late Majesty:

“Held herself to the highest standards of accountability throughout her reign.”

He added:

“We give thanks for her disciplined and selfless service and faith and witness through all these years.”

Ripon Cathedral was full for this afternoon’s service

The service, was led by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson and included a reading from The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Richard Compton and prayers from the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley.

The bishops of Leeds and Ripon are pictured with Dean John Dobson and Richard Compton, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire

Members of the Ripon Cathedral Choir who sang at this afternoon’s service

Dignitaries from across North Yorkshire, including the Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Victoria Oldham, the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke and members of Ripon City Council, were present for the service.

Read More: 

• The Queen’s funeral: Harrogate district arrangements for Monday
• The Queen’s funeral to be televised at Ripon Cathedral