Harry Gration was loved by many people in the Harrogate district and across Yorkshire. He touched many lives – last year he worked with us at the Stray Ferret in a competition to find Harry’s Heroes.
In the course of a few weeks he met the finalists and made podcasts with them – talking to them about what inspired them to work for others. It was what Harry liked doing best — meeting people from all walks of life.
Tamsin O’Brien the director of the Stray Ferret worked with Harry at the BBC when he was presenting Look North. Today she said:
“Harry was a one-off. He was fun and simply got on with everyone. A naturally gifted communicator.
“I worked with Harry in my previous career at the BBC and it was joy to work again with him last year on Harry’s Heroes. It’s hard to take in the news that he’s no longer with us.
“I speak on behalf of all of us at the Stray Ferret by sending Helen and his family all our love and thoughts at this time. There was only one Harry Gration.”
Susie Little from Covid Co-operation Harrogate, who was one of the nominated heroes, posted a picture on Facebook of herself with Harry and this message :
“I am so sad following the news of Harry Gration’s death last night. He was a true Yorkshire gent; no airs or graces, not a hint of “celeb”.“I was privileged to spend an hour with him last year when nominated for a Harry’s Hero award. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and BBC colleagues who must be reeling at the news. He was only 72. Rest in peace, Harry. Legend.”
Susie Little with Harry last year for Harry’s Heroes
Harry Gration lived in York but was a regular visitor to the district.
He was a season ticket holder at Harrogate Town which posted this message:
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of friend of the club, Harry Gration. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Harry’s loved ones at this time
Recently Harry spoke at a Harrogate Brigantes fundraising event. Today a statement was issued from the club’s Les Ellington:
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Harry Gration MBE, who was guest speaker and auctioneer at our charity dinner only on 17 June, helping us to raise over £5000 for our Ukraine appeal.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former colleagues at the BBC. Rest in peace Harry and thank you from all of us.”
Do you have memories of meeting Harry Gration? Do send them to us and we will publish them in the coming few days. contact@thestrayferret.co.uk
Oz Clarke and the Armonico Consort toast music with ‘Gin & Phonic’A top wine critic and broadcaster is set to team up with a choir and instrumental ensemble to explore the relationship between music and gin.
Held in association with Harrogate’s Slingsby Gin, the event will see Oz Clarke and the Armonico Consort investigate the highs and lows of the connection between gin, music, and humans over the centuries.
Gin and Phonic will take place in The Spiegeltent, in Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, on the evening of Monday, July 4, as part of the Harrogate Music Festival.
Slingsby Gin will be providing two free gin tastings for each audience member, which can be sipped whilst listening to the music of Purcell, Handel and Dowland.
Whilst William Slingsby discovered the unique properties of the natural spring water from Harrogate’s Tewit Well in 1571, more than 40 years later Slingsby Gin captured the ‘Spirit of Harrogate’, synonymous with its beautiful and restorative nature, in a variety of different gins.
Tickets cost £28 and are available here or by calling the Harrogate International Festivals box office on 01423 562303.
Read more:
Man, 40, charged with attempted murder in Beckwithshaw
A 40-year-old man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in Beckwithshaw.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also charged with assaulting an emergency worker.
It follows an incident at a house on the main B6161 Otley Road, very close to the local primary school, at about 8.20am on Monday.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today:
“We are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have been dropping off children at the school, or commuters passing by, to check their vehicle dashcam and report any footage that may have captured any part of the incident prior to the attendance of the emergency services.”
Anyone with information can contact the police on 101, press 2 and ask to speak to the major investigation team.
Quote reference number 12220105995 when passing on any information.
Read more:
- Woman arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Harrogate
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
Grab a picnic rug for open air theatre performances in the district
It has been a week of soaring temperatures across the Harrogate district.
And when the sun shines, there is nothing better than grabbing a picnic rug or deckchair and enjoying some fabulous outdoor entertainment.
We have put together a selection of outdoor theatre performances taking place across the Harrogate district this summer where tickets are still available:
Hamlet The Comedy – RHS Harlow Carr Gardens, July 5 and 6
Festival favourite Oddsocks Productions return to Harrogate with yet another high-energy, feel-good family theatre show.
Pack your picnic and join the crazy theatre troupe for a festival of music, magic and mayhem as they bring Hamlet The Comedy to the beautiful grounds of Harlow Carr.
Hamlet The Comedy finds the eponymous royal student returning home for the summer holidays to find something rotten in the state of Denmark and it’s more than just the bag of dirty washing! Mum’s married Uncle Claudius and Dad’s dishing the dirt from his grave – it’s enough to make a teenager mad!
Shakespeare’s famous tragedy is performed as you’ve never seen before with lots of laughs, music and memorable moments.
Presented by Oddsocks Productions as part of Harrogate International Festivals.
Event details:
Doors open at 6.30pm for Friends of the Festival and RHS card holders.
General admission from 6.45pm.
This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately for the British weather. Feel free to bring your own picnics, rugs and deckchairs to make the most of the event.
Tickets are available here.
Read more:
- First Ripon Theatre Festival launches tomorrow
- Shortlist revealed for Harrogate’s crime writing festival
Cinderella – Valley Gardens, Harrogate, July 17
In an enchanted kingdom faraway land magical creatures and fairy godmothers come together to tell the best-loved of all fairy tales.
Full of song, mirth, and joy for the summer ahead, join us on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball where nearly anything is possible especially if it is before midnight.
Family and friends are welcome to picnic and children are invited to dress in their favourite fairy tale characters and join for the midsummer ball dance.
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 3pm and the production starts at 4pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Romeo and Juliet – Knaresborough Castle, August 6
This best-loved story of star crossed lovers and feuding families shall be performed in the castle yard.
Dressed in beautiful Elizabethan costume and performed by a fine troupe of Shakespearean players, join Chapterhouse for the greatest love story ever told as they perform magical theatre in magical surroundings.
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 6pm and the production starts at 7pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Pride and Prejudice – Ripon Spa Gardens, August 20
Take a step back in time as we meet Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters. Whilst their interfering mother engineers various courtships, Elizabeth and Jane must pursue their own quest for true love.
Amidst mistakes and miscommunications, can Elizabeth finally surpass her prejudices to see past the proud exterior of the enigmatic Mr Darcy?
Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.
Event details:
Doors open at 6pm, the production starts at 7pm.
The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.
Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.
Tickets are available here
Meet North Yorkshire’s new highways chiefAt 27-years-old, Keane Duncan has been made responsible for one of the largest road networks in the country and an array of multi-million pound highways projects.
It’s been a baptism of fire for the young politician, who has gone from the debates of student politics to the senior councillor in charge of highways in a short space of time.
His new role includes the £10.9 million Station Gateway project, a £60 million scheme to realign the A59 at Kex Gill and the newly incorporated highways company, NYHighways, which will oversee thousands of miles of road.
For Cllr Duncan, the position is an opportunity but he’s also aware of that the role comes with intense scrutiny – particularly in Harrogate.
Youngest county councillor
A resident of the village of Norton and a councillor for seven years, Cllr Duncan began his political career while studying at the University of York.
He got involved with the local Thirsk and Malton Conservatives and asked to stand for council.
“I hadn’t really been politically active until that point.”
He was elected to North Yorkshire County Council and then later to his local district council in Ryedale.
For two years, he was leader of Ryedale District Council – one of the six districts which will be abolished next year to make way for North Yorkshire Council.
However, he stepped down in February 2021 over what he described as a “cruel and unnecessary” council tax hike.
He said:
“It’s a very challenging political landscape over in Ryedale.
“There was no overall control for any party and that represents difficulties in sometimes getting decisions through and doing what we need to do for local people.”
Ahead of the abolition of the county council and districts, Cllr Duncan was a key figure in the debate over what should replace them.
He backed an east/west model for North Yorkshire, while current council leader, Cllr Carl Les, was a proponent of the single unitary model.
Cllr Duncan said:
“I was very much in favour of what was called the east/west proposal.
“I believed passionately in that proposal at the time. I believe passionately in unitary local government, so I wanted to deliver that.”
New highways chief
Fast forward to May this year and Cllr Duncan has been appointed the the executive and will now have a key role in the county’s highways department going into the new council.
While he is now both the youngest member of the council and the executive, Cllr Duncan said he had no expectation of being given the brief.
Read more:
- Another consultation to take place on £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway
- Under-fire infrastructure plans for west Harrogate will cost taxpayers £25,000
He said he had “no hopes or expectations” of being given a senior position until he was asked by Cllr Les.
He said:
“I was focused on getting myself here on these seats in the council chamber. The leader asked me to join his executive and I was very happy to accept.”
Cllr Duncan added:
“My portfolio area is probably the most public facing. It is the area where we get the most public comments and complaints.”
Multi-million pound Harrogate schemes
One of Cllr Duncan’s pledges since becoming the highways chief is to visit each area of the county.
Earlier this week he visited Ripon and planned to do the same with Harrogate in the near future.
The Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.
The role in the district will prove to be challenging for Cllr Duncan, who will oversee schemes such as the Otley Road cycle route, Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood and the Kex Gill realignment.
Perhaps the most high profile locally will be the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme, which is earmarked for a further round of consultation later this year.
When asked for his view on the scheme, which has proved controversial in Harrogate, Cllr Duncan said:
“I’m personally supportive of that scheme and we are wanting to progress it.
“We are going out to a third round of public consultation to ensure that everyone can have their say and their opinions.
“For me, my test on the ground is what do the local councillors think and feel? They are the representatives of their local community.”
Cllr Duncan said he felt that that “on the whole” the council was trying to get the balance right on the various schemes across the district.
However, he added that he was aware of concerns over some of the schemes such as the gateway project.
His new role will also be to field complaints and criticism from the public, but Cllr Duncan said he is determined to do his job well.
Woman arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Harrogate“It is a difficult portfolio to manage, but I’m determined to do that by hopefully ensuring that we’re listening to people on the ground.”
A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Bilton.
A man in his 40s has also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
It follows an incident at a house in Byland Road last night when a woman was seriously injured by what police believe to be a “bladed article”.
A North Yorkshire Police statement this evening said:
“It has also been established this was an isolated incident and it is believed there is no further risk to the wider public.”
The scene on Byland Road this morning.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Sygrove, a senior investigation officer, said:
“We hope this goes some way to reassure the residents of Bylands Road and the surrounding areas.”
Police were called to Byland Road at about 5pm yesterday. Forensic officers also attended the scene.
The woman is the second person in the Harrogate area to be arrested on suspicion of attempted murder today.
This morning a 40-year-old man was arrested for the attempted murder of an 11-year-old child and a 10-year-old child, following an incident in Beckwithshaw on Monday.
Police urged anyone with information on the Bilton incident to call 101, or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers instead on 0800 555 111.
Quote reference 12220108308 when providing any information.
Read more:
- Man arrested for attempted murder of two children in Beckwithshaw
- Harrogate firefighters issue smoke alarm warning after house fire
A Harrogate family was left stunned yesterday after their beloved family cat Django was found — five years after they thought they had lost him forever.
Lisa Watson and her husband used to live off Knaresborough Road with Django, a black and white puss they had owned for over two years.
The cat was microchipped but one day Django disappeared and never returned.
Lisa, who had a close bond with her pet, was frantic with worry.
She joined Facebook groups, printed posters and went out every night for four weeks looking for her.
She even went to see a clairvoyant who told her that Django had been killed and she should move on. She said:
“It broke my heart. I thought, that’s my closure, I’m never going to see him again.”
When Django went missing, Lisa was five months pregnant and she said the stress of losing the cat contributed to her giving birth two months early.
But years later, she never stopped thinking about Django and wondered if he was still out there.
The family moved to a different part of the Harrogate district but whenever they were in the area they used to live, they would take a detour to see if they could spot Django.
Read more:
- Special Harrogate cat helps Jessica, 16, with seizures
- Emotional Harrogate reunion for Puss the cat and her Scottish owners
Fateful phone call
Everything changed yesterday when Lisa had a phone call from her husband. He cryptically asked her what phone call would she never expect to receive.
She immediately responded with: “Finding Django”.
Django had been found at Fodder by the Great Yorkshire Showground, and after her microchip was scanned by a local vet, it led her back to Lisa.
When she picked Django up, he did not look like a cat that had been struggling to survive in the wild. He was well fed and decidedly chunky.
She described the emotional reunion with the affectionate mog.
“He leaped into my arms, picked up his head and nuzzled my face.”
Lisa and Django have a lot of catching up to do. The family now has some other cats and a five-year-old son who is delighted to have a new pet.
Lisa said:
“If Django doesnt wander off again he’ll be mine for life.
“It’s like when people get reunited there are mixed emotions. You’re glad but you’re strangers again. A lot has happened, there are new family members and the dynamic has changed!”
Lisa urged anyone who sees a cat they think might be a stray to get their microchip checked by a vet. It could help another family be reunited with their long-lost pet.
New covid advice after Harrogate district rate triples in JunePeople are being urged to take measures to avoid covid after the rate of infection tripled in the Harrogate district this month.
The covid rate had been decreasing across North Yorkshire since the end of March. But the trend has reversed in recent weeks due to a more transmissible variant of Omicron.
At the end of May, the district’s rate of infection was 55 people per 100,000. It is now 172.
Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
“Cases of covid are once again rising across the UK, including in North Yorkshire.
“The latest increase is being driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron, which has also caused high rates in other countries across the world.
“There is evidence that BA.4 and BA.5 are more transmissible than previous variants, and there is limited protection from infection with previous variants against BA.4 and BA.5.”
Dr Turner said getting vaccinated, meeting outdoors or in well-ventilated areas indoors, wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces, and good hand and respiratory hygiene would reduce the risk of transmission.
Read more:
- Online meetings during covid saved council £4m
- Harrogate council charge police over £110,000 for CCTV since 2016
She also advised people with covid symptoms to try to stay at home for five days following the day of their positive result.
Free covid testing is no longer available for most people, but tests can be bought from pharmacies. Dr Turner said:
“It is still best to try to avoid covid infection wherever possible, or minimise the number of times you have it.
“Even if you do not develop severe symptoms from the initial infection you are still at risk of developing long covid, which can be debilitating.
“You are also at increased risk from cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and strokes in the days and weeks following covid infection.”
Sue Peckitt, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group chief nurse and director of nursing and quality, added:
Shocking video shows teens ripping up trees on Harrogate Stray“There are still a significant number of people in our hospitals who have covid and it’s a stark reminder that coronavirus hasn’t gone away. This virus is still causing some people to become very unwell.”
A group of teenagers have been filmed ripping trees from the ground on the Stray last night.
Sara and John Scott were walking home from town along the footpath adjacent to the railway line when they saw the group of teenagers ripping the trees from their roots.
The pair were so angry they chose to film what was happening. The video shows a small group of three teens tearing the trees down at 7.30pm.
Ms Scott said:
“There was a lot of them down there earlier, as I think it was the last day of the exams but at the time of this video, there was about 10 left. They were all drunk and doing this. Playing music, drinking and they ripped down 2 different trees that we saw.”
The couple live close by and often walk through the Stray, they said it was “infuriating” to see people treat it in such a way.
The Stray Ferret visited the area today and could see two young trees on the ground with just a stump remaining.
These images, taken today, show the remaining stumps of the two trees reportedly torn down last night
Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said the actions of a few young people were “appalling”. She said the Stray is respected by thousands of people young and old and the actions of a few were a huge disappointment.
She said:
“Why did they feel the need to do that? We are blessed with the Stray so why is it deemed a celebration to destroy nature? It’s appalling to be actively destroying the Stray like this.”
Read more:
- Council criticised for leaving ‘scorched earth’ rings around Stray trees
- Pinewoods charity to meet Harrogate Spring Water to discuss expansion
Harrogate Borough Council, which is the caretaker of the Stray, said:
“Our parks and grounds maintenance teams work year round to ensure we have a beautiful district to live or work in and for visitors to enjoy.
“To see this pointless destruction and disregard for our lovely natural environment is shocking. Unfortunately the individuals don’t seem to realise that their behaviour doesn’t just impact on them but the enjoyment of others.
“We urge anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet reported it to North Yorkshire Police, to do so.”
The Stray Ferret also spoke to North Yorkshire Police, it said the incident had been reported at 7.40pm last night. In a statement the police said:
Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ready for emotional Elland Road fixture“We would advise anyone who witnessed the incident but has not reported it to the police to get in touch.
“Incident number 12220108383.”
It will be a mix of emotions for Harrogate’s Rachel Daly if she plays tonight for England at Elland Road.
The international friendly against the Netherlands is part of the preparations for Women’s Euro 2022, which takes place next month on home soil.
Rachel, who was announced in Sarina Wiegman’s squad last week, began her career at Leeds United but has never played at the club’s famous old ground.
She has, however, watched the Leeds men’s team play there many times as the diehard fan used to have a season ticket as a child.
Rachel even has a line from the club’s anthem Marching on Together tattooed on her forearm.
In an interview for the matchday programme tonight, she said:
“It’s a club that has held such a special place in my heart and my family’s heart and I’ve got so many memories of being at Leeds.
“It’ll be really exciting to go back as I was there my whole youth career – I started there when I was about eight years old, right through until the senior level.
“I’ve actually never played there, which is crazy because I’ve played in so many different grounds with England, but never Elland Road.
“I’ve been a lifelong, diehard supporter of Leeds…my whole family has. As far as I can remember, I’ve been going there since I was a kid. It’s such a great environment being there as a fan, so being able to play will be even better for me.”
"I used to have season tickets up there as a kid."
Chills, @RachelDaly3 🥲 pic.twitter.com/KK9aSQg3Tz
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 23, 2022
Read more:
If she plays, Daly will reach the impressive milestone of 50 England caps.
But the game at Elland Road will be bittersweet as Rachel’s dad Martyn, who died last year, was also a massive Leeds fan.
The Stray Ferret met Mr Daly before the Tokyo Olympics. He told us all about the Daly family’s love of Leeds United.
Rachel said her dad “was the biggest Leeds fan I’ve ever met in my life.”
She added:
“It will be so awful to not have him there because I think it would have been one of his proudest moments.”
“I have a different perspective towards football and life now. Football has always been the be-all-and-end-all for me, and it still is, but now I play for a different purpose as well.
“When I get on the pitch, it’s not just about me performing, it’s me performing to make my dad even more proud than he already was.
“I think I carry that weight with me, but it’s a nice weight to have because it’s every game I want to do better and better. I know I’m making him proud up there.
“But in a way, that’s what will make it even more special, having the rest of my family there knowing how big fans we are.”
The game tonight kicks off at 8.00pm and will be shown live on ITV4. Tickets can still be purchased but only at the Elland Road ticket office.