Chimney fire warning after blaze in Scotton

Firefighters urged people to have their chimneys swept regularly after being summoned to a blaze in Scotton last night.

A crew from Knaresborough dealt with the incident at a home in the village at around 9pm.

Using the aerial ladder platform from Harrogate, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and make safe the chimney pot.

Harrogate Fire Station said in a social media post the cause is believed to be an accumulation of flammable materials within the flue. It added:

“Please do make sure you regularly sweep your chimneys to prevent fires from happening.

“We recommend that your chimney should be swept at least once a year for smokeless fuel, at least twice a year for bituminous coal, and quarterly for wood.”

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‘Hen lockdown’ in Harrogate district ends today

A government order for bird owners to keep their animals inside to prevent the spread of bird flu ends today.

The order began in November after cases of avian influenza were identified across the country.

It meant hens and other birds have had to be kept indoors for almost six months.

There is no evidence that the virus can affect humans but it is highly contagious among birds and can wipe out poultry flocks.

But the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) now says it is safe to relax the rules due to a low number of cases.

 In a joint statement, the four chief veterinary officers said:

“Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers, scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence to help keep your birds safe.

“It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets, who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter, that we are in a position to take this action. However, the recent cases of avian influenza show that it’s vital that bird keepers remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.”

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Harrogate branded the ‘new Hollywood’ after film crews descend

The Harrogate district is rapidly becoming the new hotspot for film crews with the likes of Matt Smith, Sir Patrick Stewart and even a Barbados fire truck spotted locally this week.

The presence of so many cameras and stars suggests more and more producers recognise the district’s beauty and historic appeal.

Shaw Mills has been taken over by a film crew in recent weeks. Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has been in Nidderdale for a new horror movie, with numerous sightings of him in Pateley Bridge in between filming the adaptation of Andrew Michael Hurley’s novel Starve Acre.

A separate film crew set up on Harrogate’s Cardale Park this week. Phil Sands who works in Mackenzies Deli on the estate said Yorkshire Tea was filming a new advert starring Sir Patrick Stewart.

The actor, best known for his role in the Star Trek and X-Men series, is believed to have been taking part in a two-day shoot for Yorkshire Tea, whose previous adverts featured Sean Bean.

Mr Sands, the manager at Mackenzies Deli, said:

“They were here Wednesday and Thursday and it looked like a big production. Having Sir Patrick Stewart here was pretty amazing. It’s like Harrogate is the new Hollywood!”

The Mackenzies Deli team posted this on Instagram yesterday. Photograph: @mackenziesdeli

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A few weeks ago new Netflix film ‘Bank of Dave’ with Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor was filmed at the former Harrogate Borough Council offices in Crescent Gardens.

Today eagle-eyed reader Jonathan Edwards sent us a picture today of a Barbados fire engine driving up Wetherby Road with a camera attached to the front, prompting speculation of yet more filming.

The Stray Ferret has been told a BBC drama is being filmed in Harrogate town centre currently, but it is not known if the fire engine’s appearance related to this.

Photograph: Jonathan Edwards

The poster boy putting Pateley Bridge on the map

He has hung out with Hockney, was behind Mia Farrow’s famous pixie haircut and organised the first gigs for the Sex Pistols and The Jam.

Eric Broadbelt has certainly lived a life.

But it is a lifelong obsession with collecting film posters that has led to a conversation with me on a cloudy April day in Pateley Bridge.

Eric, who is also known as Owen, is one of those people who just gives you joy. Within minutes of meeting him, he had me in stitches and I wanted to be his bestie.

It comes as no surprise that he has rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s biggest stars, working as a celebrity hairdresser, photographer and gig promoter in London.

Private collection

Being so well-connected has helped him build up one of the country’s biggest private collections of film posters, which is believed to add up to around 7,000.

He is now displaying and selling his prized posters, which span a century of film, at The Tordoff Gallery, on Pateley Bridge High Street. He runs the impressive venue, which is somewhat of a hidden gem, with his business partner and fellow film enthusiast, Gloria Tordoff.

He said:

“I started collecting about 50 years ago. I’ve loved film posters since I was a child. I just love the artwork.

“When I was a paper boy in Harrogate and I used to go around on my bike, I used to see the posters, especially the Hammers, and they were in these little boxes, just pasted over. I used to think what a waste. I appreciated even at that age that it was art.

“And it is art. Some of those Hammer posters were done by the top poster artists of the day. But they weren’t available to buy.

“Film posters have always been big in America, never really here up until recently.

“So then I started going to auctions and buying posters just to put on my walls because I loved them. I never thought of them as an investment and I wanted to get my hands on as many as I could get.”

Some of Eric’s film posters, including War of the Worlds and Nosferatu.

A growing collection

Eric slowly started building up his collection and every time he bought one it would become his favourite.

He said:

“I would sit and look at it all day and study it and then do the research, which was difficult to do as it was pre-internet. But it was so interesting.

“I’d find out how many were printed, who the artist was, about the movie and slowly the collection got bigger and bigger.

“A poster would just be laid down flat with tissue paper on it and then another one would go on top of it. Then I couldn’t even look at them, as every time I tried to take one out it would tear.

“So this is fabulous for me. Every day we get stuff out that I can’t even remember buying or ever seeing before!”

The posters, which are in immaculate condition, have been displayed or stored away at Eric’s London home for decades.

So when Keith and Gloria Tordoff, former owners of The Oldest Sweetshop in Pateley Bridge, offered him the opportunity to display his collection in an old bank, he jumped at the chance.

He said:

“There is a giant poster of Il Gigante on display here from Sotheby’s that has been rolled up for 30 years. It literally is the only one available in the world. There are probably other ones smaller, but that is in six pieces and is backed on to linen.

“It is the best depiction of James Dean’s face ever. It hasn’t even got a price yet. At the time when I bought it everybody in the room wanted it. But I got it.”

Talking to Eric, you can see how much he adores his collection. His eyes light up and he becomes increasingly animated when he talks about each poster.

He stressed it wasn’t about the money, but rather them going to a good home. Buyers have to be vetted before the posters go.

Star Wars posters, including a rare £20,000 British premier concept version (top left).

‘I just love looking at them’

He said:

“Parting with them is just so hard. I have to go and sit in the car.

“It’s about them going to good homes and I just love looking at them. It’s nice to see people enjoying them. We had a media studies teacher who came in and started crying. He said he had never seen any of these, apart from in books.”

Everywhere you turn in the gallery, it is pure nostalgia. It is a movie treasure trove and there is something from every era, including the modern day.

Eric, who said he would sometimes buy up to 200 posters a day, said:

“I’m getting into the modern stuff as you can put them in the light boxes. The posters are double-sided. They just look fabulous.

“We are waiting for a poster that I’m very excited about. Deadpool. It’s him doing the Flashdance water scene.

“I am still collecting and I get so excited when I know one is coming. I don’t sleep and I can’t get in here early enough.”

Unique posters

Rare posters include a one-of-a-kind Disney’s Snow White poster, There’s No Business Like Showbusiness, of which there are only six in existence, and the Andy Warhol movie Querelle, of which there are believed to be only two in the world.

The rare 1942 Snow White poster.

Eric, who is a self-confessed Disney fanatic, said:

“We’ve got loads of really rare stuff.

“An ordinary Snow White from the first release is about £30,000 and this one is rarer.

“It was the first re-release of 1942, so it was in the war and it had a very small run in just a few cinemas.

“Whereas there were a lot done for the first release, there was probably only a few hundred done for that. It is in immaculate condition.

“The large Flame of New Orleans poster was £8,000 when I bought it and that was 30 years ago and we can’t find another one. So we have a lot of posters that we don’t know the exact value of. If someone was seriously going to buy it, we would obviously find out.”

Spiderman

Eric also showed me a rare 2002 Spiderman poster, which was withdrawn following 9/11 as the Twin Towers can be seen reflected in the superhero’s eye.

The rare 2002 Spiderman poster, with the reflection of the Twin Towers in the superhero’s eye.

There is also a Pulp Fiction poster that features Uma Thurman smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes, which was withdrawn after the film company was sued by Lucky Strike.

Eric said:

“It’s details like this that can make posters more valuable.”

Star Wars

When it comes to posters with the most value, there is a £20,000 Star Wars poster on display that was only ever used for the British premier.

Eric said:

“It was literally only used for that day. It was a  concept poster so the images don’t even look like the actors. That’s why it is £20,000 because it is so rare.”

“We’ve got things like the James Bond movie Thunderball, again that’s £20,000.

“Earlier last year a Dr No poster sold for £60,000 in Sotheby’s and we thought that was a fluke, but then six weeks later another one sold for £90,000.

“You just have to get the right poster. We’ve got Harrison Ford’s Blade Runner. We had that on for £2,000 two weeks ago. Then there was a sale at Christie’s and it doubled in price. They will never go down in value.”

A collection of James Bond posters, including a rare £20,000 Thunderball poster.

‘The best poster ever made’

Eric then showed me Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, which he said was considered the “best poster ever made”.

He said:

“It’s by an artist called Saul Bass and he revolutionised poster art. We’ve got a lot of his work. It’s so fascinating when you get into it.

“You never know what people are going to buy. Someone had Shrek 3 on their list the other day. Someone came in asking if we have Burt Reynolds posters.

“We had three people all battling for a signed Back to the Future poster.

“I always say if you can hang it over your bed it’s a good test.”

Hairdresser to the stars

When you delve into Eric’s amazing history, you learn that he actually knew many of the stars named in the poster billings.

He worked at the iconic Vidal Sassoon hairdressers on Bond Street, London, from 1966.

He said:

“A lot of the stars, I’ve done their hair. I’ve worked on a million movies, including Rosemary’s Baby. We did Mia Farrow’s iconic pixie cut.

“I worked on Clockwork Orange. I’ve done Faye Dunaway, Diana Ross, Shirley MacLaine, Charlotte Rampling and Carrie Fisher. I worked with Dave Prowse, who was Darth Vader. They were all lovely. I did most of the stars from the 60s, but I never did Elizabeth Taylor or Raquel Welch.

“I did Tim Curry, from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Peter O’Toole, Richard Burton and Adam Faith. We weren’t meant to do men’s haircuts but the wives used to send them to us.”

Rock gigs

It was at this point that Eric casually threw in that he used to run rock gigs at London’s iconic venues, the Red Cow and the Nashville.

He said:

“When the Bond Street salon closed, I thought I better do something else.”

When his parents became ill 20 years ago, he returned to North Yorkshire, where he now resides in a house in Thornthwaite.

Eric, who still has a house in London, said:

“I’m originally from Harrogate and my first job was at Peter Gotthard’s. Peter had the contacts at Vidal Sassoon.”

It was thanks to his work at Vidal Sassoon that he managed to get hold of some of his posters – many of which he got signed by the stars.

Signed posters

Eric said:

“I got Madonna’s, as I did her PA’s hair, Julie Andrews, Christopher Lee, the Reservoir Dogs cast. We’ve got a lot of signed posters.”

However, he has yet to have any celebrity clients visit the gallery, which he puts down to not advertising the venue. Eric said he wanted people to organically find it. He didn’t even want an online presence, but eventually caved due to frequent requests from customers.

Eric said:

“There’s no gallery outside of London like this. The aim is to bring people to Pateley Bridge.

“It’s working because people are talking. We’ve had people coming from as far as Jersey and Scotland.”

Andy Warhol

When asked to pick a favourite, he pointed out an Italian version of Andy Warhol’s Heat.

He said:

“It’s pure Andy Warhol and I bought that from Christie’s probably 40 years ago. It’s been over my bed for 30 years.”

The Italian version of Andy Warhol’s Heat.

David Hockney

He also showed me a rare 50-year-old film poster of A Bigger Splash, featuring one of David Hockney’s famous LA pool paintings, before casually dropping in that he used to hang around with the artist.

He laughed:

“I used to meet him in the clubs in Paris. I always thought he wasn’t quite on my level!”

MPs Watch: ‘Partygate’ questions rumble on

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

This month our MPs gave their thoughts on the partygate scandal as well as on Rishi Sunak’s wife’s tax affairs.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found out on Mr Jones:

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Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

Teams wanted for hospital charity ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition

Back in the 1970s, It’s A Knockout was one of the most popular family game shows on TV – it was essentially a sports day for adults.

Now, Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity (HHCC) is inviting friends, families and work colleagues to take part in its version in June.

Teams of 10 entrants will battle it out on an It’s a Knockout inflatable assault course at Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club on Sunday, June 5.

An ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ challenge of wacky games will see contestants face water and foam in their quest to be crowned champion.

Community spirit

Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager, said:

“HHCC are so excited to be able to host the Summer Extravaganza and bring people together once again.

“We want to bolster community spirit by creating the opportunity for families, friends and colleagues to meet for a day of summer fun while supporting their local NHS at the same time.”

Members of the community have the chance to rise to the challenge or come and support their team.

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The event forms part of this year’s Summer Extravaganza, which will raise funds for NHS services at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

It will include a range of shopping stalls, summer game stands, a bar and barbecue.

Entry to It’s A Knockout Game is £30 per person. Participants must be over 16 and each registration includes entry to the Summer Extravaganza.

Challengers can sign up as an individual or as part of a team. Teams will be entered into one of three groups, with limited availability.

Tickets

Tickets for entry to the Summer Extravaganza are available for a donation of £2 for adults and children over the age of five. Children under the age of five go free.

Register for It’s A Knockout or buy tickets by emailing hdft.hhcc@nhs.net or visit the HHCC website.

Author on the hunt for Harrogate ghost stories

The man behind Harrogate’s first ghost walk is writing a book about spooky tales in the town —  and he needs your help finding stories to include.

Paul Forster launched his ghost walk last year, offering an evening excursion around Harrogate’s most haunted locations.

The one-hour trail takes in The Alexandra pub, The Crown Hotel and Hales Bar, among other places.

One of his favourite stories is the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author behind the Sherlock Holmes novels, held a seance at The Harrogate Club on Victoria Avenue.

Mr Forster has now found a publisher for a book of Harrogate ghost stories and he wants people to submit their tales from the other side.

Since starting his ghost walk, Mr Forster said he’s encountered several unexplained phenomena, including what he believes was an apparition taunting him at the Turkish Baths.

He said:

“I saw a woman’s body peeking out from a cubicle, I went to the cubicle, but nobody was there. The door shut on its own then I heard a woman’s voice that went ‘ha!’ really loud. It freaked me out.

“There was a young member of staff there who said she had heard the same ‘ha!'”

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Mr Forster is particularly interested in ghost stories about Windsor House, a large building that overlooks Valley Gardens. It used to be the Grand Hotel during Harrogate’s Victorian heyday.

He said:

“At Windsor House there was a woman who stepped into a lift but it wasn’t there, so she fell to her death in the lift shaft. She’s been seen lots of times. There is also ghost children running down the corridors there and unusual orbs of light. There must be more stories.”

Mr Forster said Harrogate is a hotbed of ghostly activity due to its Victorian past.

He added:

“People kept saying to me there are no ghosts in Harrogate, you need to go to York, but a lot of the ghosts came here from the Victorian era and World War One. Tourists from all over the world left an imprint behind with both fond or bad memories.

“There’s the ghost of a Victorian gent in the Pump Room museum. He’s dressed like a tourist in bowler hat and can be seen disappearing through the wall.”

Do you have any ghost stories? Email Paul Forster here or message him on Facebook.

Trees in new Bilton woodland to be dedicated to covid victims

A new woodland in Bilton will be planted next month with trees dedicated to lives lost during the covid pandemic.

Around 500 trees will be planted by Bilton Conservation Group volunteers in Bilton Fields close to the viaduct.

It will be called Victory Wood, as it was originally intended to mark VE Day, with the trees planted in the shape of a V.

However, covid has delayed the planting by several years. Keith Wilkinson, chair of the group, said planters can dedicate a tree to a friend or family member that has died from the virus.

The dedication will be private as trees will not be identified with a plaque.

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Planting will take place on Saturday May 21 from 10.00am.

Twelve species will be planted, including oak, cherry and hazel trees.

If you’d like to plant a tree and make a dedication, contact Mr Wilkinson: niddgorge2016@icloud.com

The woodland has been sponsored by the Harrogate Lions.

Election 2022: Bilton Grange and New Park candidate preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Bilton Grange and New Park division which will see four candidates standing for election.

Matt Scott, Conservative

Matt Scott will stand as the Conservative candidate for Bilton and New Park on May 5.

Mr Scott is a councillor on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, the latter of which he was elected to last year.

On his priorities and why he is standing, Mr Scott said:

“I am a lifelong Bilton resident and, along with the Green candidate, the only candidate who lives in the ward.

“I have been a district councillor since 2018 and represented all of Bilton Grange and part of New Park as county councillor since I won the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election last year.

“My priorities continue to be protecting our green spaces such as the Nidd Gorge and the Oak Beck. I am working with my colleague Paul Haslam to oppose development off Knox Lane while challenging Yorkshire Water on outflows into the Oak Beck near the Hydro.

“I also worked with Paul and Andrew Jones MP to oppose the Nidd Gorge relief road proposal.”

He added:

“I have a track record of getting things done such as securing CCTV for the Iron Bridge, getting durable bus shelter panels for Jennyfield to deter vandalism and getting the Cinder Path resurfaced in Bilton.”

Tamsin Jade Worrell, Green Party

The Green Party candidate for Bilton and New Park will be Tamsin Jade Worrall.

Ms Worrall, who is a trans-woman and lives in Bilton, works as a a railway signaller following 36 years as operations management within food manufacturing.

She joined the Green Party in 2018 and has had a lifelong interest in politics.

Ms Worrall said:

“I believe we are on the verge of a climate catastrophe exacerbated by the awful policies of all recent national governments.

“I believe in local business for local people, free education for all, social justice and personal accountability. The time has come to do politics differently and put people first.”

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Andrew Zigmond, Labour

Andrew Zigmond will be the Labour candidate for the division on May 5.

Mr Zigmond said among his priorities should he be elected would be to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bilton.

He said:

“I am standing as a Labour party candidate for Bilton Grange and New Park because I believe we need councillors in place who will bring about fundamental change, rather than more of the same. 

“If I am elected I will work with the local police to ensure that antisocial behaviour is tackled robustly and that the safety of all residents is my priority. 

“At the same time Bilton used to have a thriving youth club and I pledge to get this reopened.”

Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat

Monika Slater will be standing for the Liberal Democrats at the election May 5.

Ms Slater has worked in customer services for 17 years and is a volunteer at her local scouts.

She said among her priorities for standing will be to campaign for a town council for Harrogate.

Ms Slater said:

“I’m delighted to have been selected as the Lib Dem Campaigner for our area. If elected I’m determined to stand up for local people. 

“With the Conservative Government in free-fall and an ineffective Conservative-run council, our area needs a fresh start and I’m determined to provide this.”

She added:

“We ned to do more to support the most disadvantaged in our community addressing issues such as loneliness and social isolation, improved access to public transport and schools need additional covid catch up funding for children and young adults who have missed so much education. I will be campaigning for a new Harrogate Town Council.”

Pannal car boot sale returns today

Pannal car boot sale returns today for the first time in eight months.

Since opening in 1996, the car boot sale has been held early on Sunday mornings but this year it takes place at 11am on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Held at the junction of the A658 and A61, the event runs until 3pm and stalls cost £6 for the day.

Speaking about the return, organiser Dylan Leech said:

“It’s great to be back. We changed the time this year mainly because there are so many others held early on a Saturday and Sunday so starting at 11am means people can come to more than one.

“We’ve had to rethink it with so many people selling online during lockdown but I’m sure we’ll hit the ground running.”

Mr Leech said the car boot attracted more than 100 stalls each time previously and he was hoping this year will be no different.

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