A wacky village tradition made its comeback today as part of Birstwith’s jubilee activities.

The Birstwith Pig Race was held at the Station Hotel after being cancelled for the two previous years due to covid.

Today’s event saw battery-powered pigs with silly names race to the finish line to raise funds for Birstwith Show, to be held on July 30, and Birstwith in Bloom.

For each race, people could pay £5 to sponsor the race and £3 to own and name one of six pigs. However a casualty during the first race left it to Mr Snout, Chunky Cheeks, Stinky Pig, Miss Piggy and Peppa Pig to fight for first place.

Eventually, Mr Snout claimed the medal.

Watch the action as it unfolds:

Organiser Amy Howard said:

“It’s a great fundraiser and great fun for all the family. We haven’t had one for a few years due to the pandemic so the pigs needed a bit of an MOT and a bit of a dust off!”

Read more:

• JUBILEE LIVE: Saturday night partying in Harrogate and Ripon
• Pateley Bridge enjoys a party in the park

A Stray Ferret appeal to find a forever home for a rescue Chihuahua has ended in success.

Cheeky Pekey, 13, was brought over from Romania by Harrogate dog charity Miss Mollie’s Rescue.

Older dogs can be harder to re-home and with Cheeky also being blind in one eye, Miss Mollie’s had their work cut out to find the right person.

However, Jean Davison said Cheeky was “exactly what she was looking for” after losing her rescue Chihuahua Boo last year. Her previous experience with rescues and the amount of time she had to look after a dog meant she was perfect.

Ms Davison said she was looking for another dog to fill the hole Boo left behind and when she saw Cheeky she knew she would fit in.

Last week, Cheeky moved in with Jean and her new sister 10-year-old Chihuahua Pixie. She said:

“Boo had a life with me and I wanted to do that for another dog. Cheeky is absolutely fantastic and has fit in really well.

“The two of them will be great companions, Pixie has been a little jealous but she is always looking behind her to check on Cheeky when we’re out walking.”

Cheeky’s lack of vision means she follows Jean by the sound of her voice, but doing that has meant she’s walked into a few walls! But Jean expects this will become less frequent when Cheeky learns the layout of the house.

Jean said she is looking forward to introducing Cheeky to her friends and family and ensuring she is properly settled in her new home.

Read more:

• Meet the Knaresborough woman who is a dog chaperone at weddings
• Dog trying to eat sausages causes Harrogate house fire

Organising an official street party with North Yorkshire County Council and closing a road takes a bit of paper work and bureaucracy.

Neighbours Jilly Adams and Angela Palladino in Westminster Grove, Burn Bridge, were undeterred.

Both work for the NHS and thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring their neighbours together post covid.

This afternoon that happened as the cul-de-sac closed and neighbours brought food, drink, tables and chairs to meet and celebrate the jubilee.

Angela said:

“The local community is so important. We’ve lost looking after each other. Covid has highlighted how important it is to look after one another”

Angela Palladino (left) and Jilly Adams (right) 

Angela is a relatively new resident of the road, her neighbour Jilly Adams has lived in Westminster Grove for a long time:

“I think a lot of us have forgotten how important the Queen is. I’ve lived here for 18 years and have never done anything like this before.

“It’s taken our lovely, lovely Queen to get us together”

Both neighbours feel the Queen’s example of dedication and care is important for future generations.

Indeed sitting the shade was great grandmother, Margaret Holtby who is 80 years old holding her great grandson, Cooper, who is only two months old (pictured below).

As the sun shone in the afternoon the Stray Ferret left the Westminster Grove party in full swing. S Club 7 was playing loudly on the sound system and the bubbly was in full flow.

This live blog of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is proudly sponsored by Boundless Networks – delivering quality broadband connectivity at a reasonable cost to homes and businesses in the Harrogate district.

Welcome back to day two of our live jubilee blog, where we will be covering all the Friday fun in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, and the villages in between.

Let us know what’s happening where you are and we will add it to this blog. DM us on Facebook or email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Today’s highlights include:

• Free rides for children in Harrogate’s Valley Garden and a dog show on the Stray.
• Free rides for children in Market Square and a Timeline Tea Party.
• Newby Hall Tractorfest, featuring a Hawker Hurricane.
• Masham parade of floats this afternoon and band and fireworks tonight.
• The Great Afternoon Tea at Boroughbridge Football Club from 12pm to 6pm.

5.38pm: Buglers on Coldstones Cut

Two buglers from Summerbridge Band provided the musical backdrop for last night’s beacon lighting ceremony at Coldstones Cut, near Pateley Bridge.

Our #PlatinumJubilee appearances got underway last night with 2 buglers taking part in the Beacon Lighting ceremony at Coldstones Cut above #PateleyBridge #Nidderdale. An honour to be invited & amazing to think of the 1000's of people taking part across the country and beyond. pic.twitter.com/tYBkhHBID6

— Summerbridge Band (@sdpsb1) June 3, 2022

5.31pm: Great Almscliffe beacon

Thanks to Barbara Massey for this dramatic image showing last night’s beacon on top of Great Almscliffe, organised by North Rigton Parish Council.

5.20pm – Newby Hall flypast captured

This RAF enthusiast captured the moment the Hawker Hurricane flew over Newby Hall as part of the return of Tractor Fest.

https://twitter.com/SpotterPD/status/1532736925022420995?s=20&t=4WFoiw1UGsd0CSAV1Q6l7g

4.55pm: Big street party in Harrogate

We’ve just been to Westbourne Grove where we’ve seen the biggest street party so far.

A welcoming crowd of about 200 people are enjoying the sun in chairs on the street after a competitive best cake competition.

Viv Poskitt, who applied for the road closure, said the street had hosted parties on several previous occasions, including for the diamond jubilee 10 years ago and for VE Day celebrations.  She said:

“We just plan to keep going until dusk.”

Here’s a video of the fun.

4.05pm: Knaresborough gets dancing

These residents at Knaresborough Community Centre got on their feet for a tea dance as the celebrations continue well into this glorious Friday afternoon.

3.45pm: Burn Bridge street party underway

Cheers to the residents of Westminster Grove in Burn Bridge, who are having one of several street parties in the Harrogate district today. Tamsin from the Stray Ferret was there to capture this great community moment.

If you’re holding a party, send us a photo to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

3.20pm: Street entertainers in Harrogate town centre

Have you seen the street entertainers in Harrogate town centre? They will be out and about throughout the four-day weekend.

https://twitter.com/BidHarrogate/status/1532728005507928064

3pm Boroughbridge entertainment is underway

Our roaming reporter Calvin is now in Boroughbridge where an afternoon of entertainment is getting in full swing at the football club.

There are bouncy castles, carnival games, face painting, tug-of-war, a barbecue, a raffle and a visit from Boroughbridge firefighters.

Proceeds from the event will go to the charity Dementia Forward.

Organiser Laura Hutton

2.50pm: Hawker Hurricane due to flyover Newby Hall shortly

The flyover at Tractorfest is due to take place at 3.10pm. We’d love to see your photos – send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

2.35pm: Staveley women make village collage

A group of Staveley women have made a village collage as a lasting memento to the Queen’s platinum jubilee. You can read more here.

1.50pm: Superb parade in Masham

Masham has done itself proud with this wonderful parade of floats through the town centre, captured a few minutes ago by our reporter Calvin. It’s hard to imagine a more English scene.

1.35pm: Opera in the streets of Harrogate

Full marks to the West Park Hotel in Harrogate for one of the most innovative jubilee ideas so far. Two opera singers appeared on the balcony and began belting out classics, ranging from Jerusalem to Schubert’s Ave Maria.

Here they are singing Rule Britannia to an appreciate crowd below.

12.59pm: Archbishop of York tweets Ripon picture

Ripon Cathedral hosted North Yorkshire’s civic service honouring the Queen, which attracted a host of dignitaries.

Among them was Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, who has posted this photo of himself at the 1,350-year old cathedral.

Great to be @riponcathedral this morning to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with @joropner1 and @nickbaines Big one tomorrow @StPaulsLondon pic.twitter.com/dbkPUwuvQl

— Archbishop of York (@CottrellStephen) June 2, 2022

12.28am: Ripon is rocking again

Ripon is having a good jubilee, with Market Square the focus of the fun and the cathedral the centre of civic activity. There are large crowds and a great vibe in the city.

Today’s highlights include the Timeline Tea Party for 150 invited guests,  including 70 Riponians representing the 70 years of the Queen’s reign — from a year-old child to a 70-year-old.

Tomorrow’s highlights include the handover ceremony for the new Ripon Platinum Jubilee Horn from 8.30pm onwards and Sunday’s line-up includes a picnic in the park at Spa Park.

Iris, 8, and brother Rafael, 5, wait to go on the fairground rides.

12.07pm: Free rides for children in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

Every parent knows how quickly you can burn money on funfair rides so it’s little surprise the lure of free rides in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens is proving irresistible to many.

It’s been less busy in Jubilee Square, where BBC coverage of the thanksgiving service for the Queen’s 70-year reign has been shown on big screens, but it’s expected to pick up later when the dog show and a Harrogate Mastermind competition take place.

There are also street entertainers in the town centre, which is part of a Harrogate Business Improvement District initiative.

11.58am: Jubilee book competition for children

North Yorkshire County Council, which runs the county’s libraries, is running a jubilee initiative to encourage children to read.

Our library staff are excited for the #PlatinumJubilee.

Children who borrow two books from our libraries until June 11, will be entered into a prize draw to win a copy of Michael Morpurgo's book, There Once is a Queen.

More: https://t.co/P9YyHeQUZR pic.twitter.com/qUlv0yfVw0

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 3, 2022

11.15am: Tractor heaven at Newby Hall

If you like tractors and machinery, Newby Hall near Boroughbridge is the place to be for the next three days.

Our reporter Calvin is amongst the hundreds of people there for Tractorfest, which has returned to the Harrogate district for the first time in two years.

An estimated 1,000 exhibits are on display, including tractors from the Queen’s coronations and silver jubilee.

11.10am: Spofforth skies lit up

Last night’s beacons appear to have been a big hit. Do keep sending us your photos of them.

Thanks to Mike Streeton for these wonderful images at Spofforth Castle last night.

Mike says:

“The local farrier created a wonderful beacon constructed of horseshoes which seemed very appropriate because the Queen is so fond of horses and equestrian events.

“It was rather ingenious and quite unexpected since a tractor lifted the blazing beacon up in the air high above all the spectators who were positioned at a safe distance. It was enjoyed enormously by all the excited onlookers.”

10.56am: Sports day fun in Bishop Monkton

An estimated 400 people — more than half the population of Bishop Monkton — turned out for a village sports day and children’s games yesterday. Twenty-one teams competed in seven different games based on sports clubs represented in the village.

10.29am: Beacons prompt 999 calls

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service reports that fire crews responded to numerous reports of large fires in the open, which turned out to be controlled burnings of jubilee beacons.

Harrogate fire station did not get called out to any — we are unaware if other fire stations in the Harrogate district were.

About 3,000 beacons were lit across the UK and the Commonwealth last night.

10.21am: Tractorfest at Newby Hall underway

Our reporter Calvin is at Newby Hall, which is hosting Tractorfest for the next three days.

Here’s a photo of Ian Muir and Tractorfest organiser Kevin Watson with a special Queen’s coronation tractor that Ian painted.

10.15am: Almscliffe Crag beacon lights up the sky

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, has tweeted some images of last night’s beacon lighting at Almscliffe Crag in North Rigton.

Night-time adventures in Knaresborough and at Almscliffe Crag. Love a bit of firestarting. pic.twitter.com/CuYCAMhoXK

— Sharon Canavar (@sharoncanavar) June 2, 2022

9.40am: Ripon prepares for a second day of partying

Ripon is waking up this morning after the biggest royal party in its history and with three more days of family fun and entertainment ahead.

Away from Market Square and the cathedral, which were hives of jubilee activity yesterday, in the city’s residential streets Union Jacks are flying. Every house in Victoria Grove (named after the Queen’s great, great, grandmother) is linked by a string of red, white and blue flags.

The same applies to the railings at the nearby bus station, also adorned with bunting produced by the tireless knitters of the Ripon Community Poppy Project. Hillshaw Park Way is ready to party again today and, the promise of fine weather, will make for a busy day of pulling pints at The Magdelen’s pub on Princess Road.

9.26pm: North Stainley beacon

Thanks to Steve, who has sent us this image last night’s beacon lighting in North Stainley. The beacons appear to have been a big hit, drawing large crowds — we’d love to see your pics and hear your thoughts. Drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

9.15am Today’s Stray Ferret team on the road

Calvin will be at Tractor Fest at Newby Hall and also in Boroughbridge and Masham.

Tim will be covering events in his home city of Ripon.

Tom will be in Knaresborough.

John will be in and around Harrogate.

Tamsin will be covering events across the district.

Say hello if you see us in our Stray Ferret hats and please send us your photos to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will do our best to upload them on to our blog throughout the day.

The links between the Queen and the Harrogate district stretch back decades, including a visit in 1952 before her coronation.

From her appearances at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate to her trips to Ripon, including her 2004 visit for another important anniversary – 400 years since the granting of the city’s Royal Charter.

Former director of the Great Yorkshire Show, Bill Cowling, described chaperoning the Queen’s during her last visit in 2008 as one of the highlights of his career.

Royal visit

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The show makes requests for royal visits, sometimes more than a year in advance. It was agreed that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would come to the show to mark its 150th anniversary.

“Everything was going ahead, plans were progressing. Then an MP called David Davies fell out with the Conservative party, so he resigned his seat and a by-election was called.

“After attending the show in the morning, the Queen and the Duke were then meant to be going to Hull to open a hospital. But due to protocol, the by-election meant the Monarch could not go into an area where this was taking place.

“We thought this meant we had lost our royal visit. But after a week or so, we got a phone call from the palace to say they had been talking it over and they wondered if the Queen and Duke could stop for longer at the Great Yorkshire Show. So in the end the royal visit was for more than five hours!”

HM The Queen arriving in Harrogate for the Great Yorkshire Show in 1957.

Mr Cowling remembered that as the Queen was getting older, it was decided that they would drive to the far end of the showground and walk back.

‘An absolute expert’

He said:

“I never thought I would be sat in the back of a Range Rover with the Queen. You don’t think these things are going to happen.

“She is an absolute expert and makes people who are meeting her comfortable and at home and relaxed.

“One of the things we spoke about was that they had had a garden party at the palace the day before. She said the wet weather had made a bit of a mess of the lawn. She was very down to earth.”

The Queen at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1957.

Mr Cowling said on the walk back she spoke to lots of people at the event.

He said:

“She always gives everybody the full treatment as it were. Everyone will feel like they are the most important person on that visit. That is why she is so expert at putting people at their ease and showing an interest in what they are showing or doing.

“On the way back she also laid the foundation stone for Fodder, which was being built at that time.”

The Queen unveiling a plaque to commemorate the start of work on the Regional Agricultural Centre in 2008.

Mr Cowling said many things stood out about her visit, but he remembered one particular conversation.

The most wonderful visit

He said:

“We stayed for lunch at the show in the president’s pavilion, which is upstairs. The carpet is quite a light colour. The ground conditions were quite muddy and there were a few muddy footprints on the carpet and she turned to me and said “don’t worry it will vac out” It was absolutely out of the blue and so natural.

“It was the most wonderful visit and we were so lucky. In the end we were thanking David Davies for calling a by-election!”

Mr Cowling said he had to “pinch himself” when he saw her on TV after spending so much time with her.

He said:

“It’s a huge honour for the Harrogate region that she comes and shows such an interest.

“We will definitely be raising a glass or two to her this weekend.”

Harrogate Conference Centre

Other visits from the Queen, include the Harrogate Conference Centre in the mid 1980s, where she was the guest of honour at a gala concert in aid of Y Care.

Performers included AHA, Rory Bremner and Wayne Sleep. Terry Waite, who was prominent in the Anglican Church, was also present on behalf of Y Care.

On Thursday, April 4,1985, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Harrogate on the Royal Train and did a 20-minute walkabout in front of the station, where they met members of the public and various charities, including St George’s Home, on Otley Road.

Read more:

• Harrogate district schools get in jubilee spirit
• Platinum Jubilee Harrogate district: What’s On

They then went on in a royal convey to Ripon Cathedral where the Queen gave out Maundy Money to local parishioners and church volunteers.

Sun Pavilion

In 1998 the Queen re-opened the Sun Pavilion in Harrogate following its restoration. The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade has recently been given Grade II listed status as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Ripon

On May 27, 2004, the Queen and Prince Philip visited Ripon to mark the 400th anniversary of the city’s Royal Charter, granted by James I in 1604.

As well as visiting Ripon Town Hall, where they stood on the balcony to wave to the mass crowds, they also did a walkabout in Ripon Market Square and spoke with local residents and visitors.

The Queen and Prince Philip pictured in Ripon in 2004 when Cllr Stuart Martin and his wife April, were the mayor and mayoress of the city

In her long 70 year reign the Queen has touched many hearts in the district. The memories of those who have met her on those very special occasions will stay with them forever.

The Queen at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1977.

The first day of the Queen’s platinum jubilee has been blessed with warm, sunny weather in the Harrogate district..

There were cakes to judge, events to attend and lots of opportunities to chill with family and friends.

It isn’t over yet — tonight will see beacons lit across the district at 9.45pm as part of a national initiative. But here are five highlights so far.

Our live blog will be back tomorrow with more rolling jubilee coverage. Send us your photos to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will include them in our coverage.

1 Dignitaries turn out in force in Ripon

The city’s cathedral hosted North Yorkshire’s service to honour the Queen. Among those attending were The Archbishop of York, Ripon MP Julian Smith, Grantley Hall owner Valeria Sykes and former Look North presenter Harry Gration, who is also a deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

2 Bilton’s Party on the Pitch is a big hit

Bilton Cricket Club’s Party on the Pitch attracted a huge turnout of families. It showed there is a big appetite in Bilton for a community event and how much the area misses the annual Bilton Gala.

3 The first street parties get underway

Sunday is the main day for street parties but residents of Castle Hill Glade in Pannal Ash decided they didn’t want to wait that long and got cracking today.

4 Ripon mum wins Bettys Jubilee Bake Off 

The moment Lori (centre) found out she had won.

Lori Hendry’s Victoria sponge beat three other shortlisted entries in the Bettys Jubilee Bake Off.

Three judges deliberated for half an hour before deciding the Ripon mum’s delicious offering was number one.

5 Children flock to Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

The offer of free activities and facepainting was always likely to be a surefire hit with families and that proved the case as families descended on Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today.

There was also the opportunity to watch the BBC’s coverage of Trooping the Colour on a big screen on the Stray.

Read more:

• Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones MP named as Tory ‘rebel’
• JUBILEE LIVE: Dignitaries attend Ripon Cathedral for county service

This live blog of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is proudly sponsored by Boundless Networks – delivering quality broadband connectivity at a reasonable cost to homes and businesses in the Harrogate district.

The sun is out as four days of jubilee celebrations get underway in the Harrogate district today.

The Stray Ferret will be covering the festivities and the fun, the street parties and the ceremonies over the next four days in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, and the villages in between.

We want to hear what’s happening in your town, village or city so email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add it to the blog.

5.24pm: Will it stay dry for tonight’s beacons?

It’s been a warm and sunny opening day to the jubilee celebrations but it is clouding over.

Beacons are due to be lit across the Harrogate district tonight, with most occurring at 9.45pm. According to the BBC weather forecast for Harrogate, some rain is possible.

Spofforth Castle, Ripon Market Square,  Almscliffe Crag in North Rigton, the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Kirkby Malzeard and Roomer Common in Masham are among the locations taking part.

So too is Knaresborough Castle, where Tamsin from the Stray Ferret will be among the onlookers.

4.35pm: Spofforth hosts children’s party

Fresh from his trip to Blubberhouses, our reporter Tom has been to Spofforth to witness today’s jubilee activities.

You can read his full account here.

4.17pm: Great and the good attend Ripon Cathedral’s civic event

Julian Smith MP

Harry Gration

North Yorkshire dignitaries gathered at Ripon Cathedral today for a service in honour of the Queen.

Those attending included the Archbishop of York, Ripon MP Julian Smith, Grantley Hall owner Valeria Sykes and former Look North presenter Harry Gration.

You can read our Ripon reporter Tim’s full account here.

3.58pm: Human plant pots in Harrogate town centre

Last year there was fake grass in Harrogate town centre — now there are human plant pots. And they’re certainly proving more popular with visitors, who posed for photos alongside them. It’s all part of the jubilee fun. Send us your jubilee pictures to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

3.27pm: First street party underway in Pannal Ash

Most street parties are on Sunday but the residents of Castle Hill Glade in Pannal Ash thought today might be a more family-friendly day and, judging by the weather forecast, they may have chosen the right day

Rachel Baskin (pictured far left), who applied for the street closure, told us the party idea evolved from covid, when residents living on the cul-de-sac would have socially distanced meetings on Thursdays.

There’s also an informal group called Ladies of Glade, who meet a glass of wine each week.

Residents in nearby streets are bringing their own teas and sitting outside together to enjoy the occasion.

2.55pm: Bilton’s Party on the Pitch proves a hit

People are pouring into Bilton Cricket Club’s free Party on the Pitch event, which runs until 9pm.

We’ve just been down and there is a wonderful atmosphere, which shows there is a great community spirit in Bilton and a thirst for get togethers like this since the demise of Bilton Gala on May Day.

There’s a barbecue, live music and plenty for children to do. People are just rocking up and having a picnic on the pitch.

Matt Thomas, cricket secretary, estimated about 1,000 people were there an hour ago and the number is growing. He added:

“It’s a great opportunity for the local community to get together and have fun.”

There is a collection for Yorkshire Air Ambulance — a cause dear to the club’s heart after a player had a heart attack on the pitch at an away game last year.

1.20pm: Jubilee shenanigans on Harrogate’s Beulah Street

It’s not every day you wander along Beulah Street and see people dressed like this belting out Land of Hope and Glory. But that’s what the jubilee does to you. It’s that kind of weekend.

What’s happening out in Bilton, Starbeck and Jennyfields, or in Pateley Bridge? Wherever you are in the Harrogate district we want to receive your jubilee news and images. Email us and we will add them to this live blog.

1.12pm: Live music all day in Ripon 

Among those early to arrive on Market Square was four-year-old Aylar and her mum Susannah (pictured), who were blowing bubbles as the free entertainment started on stage with Lily Worth.

Lily sang a selection of songs from musicals, including the Greatest Showman. There is free live music all day in Ripon’s Market Square.

Meanwhile, a giant TV screen next to Ripon Town Hall linked the city to Horseguards Parade in London, where the Trooping the Colour ceremony, broadcast live on the BBC, marked the Queen’s official birthday.

Lily Worth on stage in Ripon today.

The big screen.

1.01pm: Blubberhouses flower festival tells Queen’s story

Our reporter Tom has been to Blubberhouses, where a jubilee-themed flower festival is underway.

You can visit it at St Andrew’s Church in Blubberhouses, just past Fewston Reservoir off the A59, from 11am to 4pm every day over the four-day weekend.

Further details are here.

12.26pm: Bishop leads county service of celebration 

Ripon is pulling out the stops this weekend with activities galore, and Ripon Cathedral is at the heart of things. The Bishop of Ripon has tweeted about a service she led this morning.

https://twitter.com/HartleyHAM/status/1532321794765488128

12.05pm: Ripon mum wins Bettys Jubilee Bake Off 

Ripon mum Lori Hendry (pictured holding the cake) has beaten three other shortlisted bakers to win the Bettys Jubilee Bake Off.

Lori’s Victoria sponge decorated with red, white and blue icing adorned with a crown and Union Jack flags wowed the judges. You can read more here.

11.10am: Free rides, entertainment and face painting in Valley Gardens

Free events are taking place in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens until 6pm. It’s very much a family occasion: kids can meet Elsa, Batman and Cinderella (pictured above), ride on the runaway train, climb a wall, jump on a bungee trampoline, watch jugglers — all for free.

Elsewhere in Harrogate, on a section of the Stray, which has been renamed Jubilee Square, people can watch a big screen of the BBC coverage of the jubilee.

10.27am: Recycling depots open as usual

North Yorkshire County Council tweets that its household recycling centres are open as normal this bank holiday weekend.

All our household waste recycling centres are open, as usual, from 8.30am to 5pm, throughout the Queen's #PlatinumJubilee bank holiday weekend.

Find your nearest site and what items you can take athttps://t.co/llRAH0z30s pic.twitter.com/rASZiF1jhk

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 2, 2022

9.32am: Bishop Monkton choir starts the jubilee weekend

Bishop Monkton kicked off the jubilee weekend last night a community concert given by a choir developed on Zoom during the pandemic.

The choir entertained an audience of 120 in the village hall with a show titled Seven Decades of Song, featuring music from the 1940s to the present day. The concert included hits from musicals like Oklahoma and the Sound of Music as well as more recent numbers from Leonard Cohen and Gary Barlow.

The choir grew out of the village’s Singing for Fun group, which had started just before the pandemic and which kept going through the covid lockdowns by meeting on Zoom. The show included a live rendition of a song called Lockdown, written during covid by the village’s jubilee queen, Pauline Beecroft, to the tune of the Petula Clark 1960s hit Downtown.

The concert ended with the singing of Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem.

Thanks to Colin Philpott for sending us this jubilee news in Bishop Monkton. What’s happening where you are? Message us your jubilee news and pictures at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

8.52am: Free music all day in Ripon

The stage is set in Ripon for the biggest royal party of the ancient city’s long history. Lily Worth will kick off a day of free music at 10.30am and she will be followed by Ripon’s own talented singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary.

Later, tribute acts will sing the songs of Stevie Wonder, Cilla Black, George Michael, the Everly Brothers and Katherine Jenkins. For nostalgia lovers, there will be wartime songs of Vera Lynn and others from 4.50pm.

Organisers Ripon City Council are hoping that the blue skies that have started the day will remain over the town hall and stage facing onto Market Square, where large crowds are anticipated.

8.45am: Stray Ferret journalists set to hit the road 

Tim will be in Ripon all day and for the lighting of the beacon.

Tom plans to head to Blubberhouses and Spofforth

John will be in and around Harrogate

Tamsin will be in Knaresborough for tonight’s beacon lighting.

Say hello if you see us in our Stray Ferret hats and please send us your photos to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will do our best to upload them on to our blog throughout the day.

Spofforth celebrated the Queen’s platinum jubilee in style with a party fit for kings and queens.

It was the first knees up the village has had since the covid pandemic and Spofforth Cricket Club was full of families letting their hair down and enjoying themselves.

Spofforth platinum jubilee committee organised a party with a helter-skelter, bouncy castle, biscuit painting, face painting, BBQ, a magician and more.

The afternoon kicked off with a parade of the kings and queens of England where children dressed up as their favourite monarch from history.  

Spofforth resident Bernie baked 100 biscuits for children to decorate and take home to eat.

She said:

“It’s been really nice to do something together at last.”

Read more:

• JUBILEE LIVE: Over 1,000 attend Bilton’s Party on the Pitch
• A cake fit for a Queen: Ripon mum wins Bettys Jubilee Bake Off

This evening Spofforth will join other communities across the district in lighting the jubilee beacon. It will begin at 9pm in front of Spofforth Castle and will include music from Spofforth school choir and saxophonist Millie Hope.  

Tomorrow there will be a tea party with Prosecco, afternoon tea and music at the Long Memorial Hall, starting at 3pm.  

In the evening there will be a party in the castle field from 7pm. There will be circus entertainers, a 50s style band, an oompah band with a disco and a fireworks finale at 11.30pm. For tickets to either of tomorrow’s events email Robyn Farmer at robynfarmer@ymail.com

Some images from today’s party are below:

A Ripon mum has baked a cake judged to be fit for a Queen as part of the Bettys Jubilee Bake Off.

Lori Hendry beat three other shortlisted bakers with a Victoria sponge decorated with red, white and blue icing adorned with a crown and Union Jack flags.

Ann Hedges, food and nutrition teacher at St Aidan’s, Paul Farr, food and drink director at Bettys, and Lisa Benninson, development chef and Bettys Cookery School teacher, judged the final on Wednesday, June 1.

Ms Benninson thanked the shortlist of Lori Hendry, Irene Threadgold, Louise Winter and Edward Lee for baking their cakes and said it was tough to pick out an overall winner.

The moment Lori (centre) found out she had won.

The three judges deliberated for around half an hour and assessed each cake against the criteria Bettys uses to test all of its new products.

Delighted with the win and prize of a course of her choice at Bettys Cookery School, Ms Hendry told the Stray Ferret:

“I am feeling shocked to be honest, really shocked. I didn’t expect to win it at all. I am very chuffed.

“I first got into baking because I started baking for the kids really. When you have three kids you always need a cake on the go!”

Read more:

• Harrogate district jubilee celebrations begin
• Carnival coming to Harrogate as part of summer programme

Paul Farr, food and drink director at Bettys, said:

“I’ve been in the industry for nearly 40 years but when you are judging you need to be able to pull on all of your experience and your honest appraisal on products.

“There was a high standard so it comes down to those fine points of difference that makes a cake stand out from being really good to being the winner.”

(Left to right) Louise Winter, Irene Threadgold and Lori Hendry. Edward Lee could not make it but his cake is second in from the left.

Ann Hedges, food and nutrition teacher at St Aidans, said:

“It was a real privilege to be part of the judging process. With so many potential winners, I think everybody brought something slightly different to the competition.

“For me it was fantastic to see people’s skill level. We had the cake making, meringue making, the piping. All of those skills are an art at the end of the day. We were very lucky to be able to judge that art.”

Lisa Benninson, development chef and Bettys Cookery School teacher, said:

“I thought it was really great. As chefs and bakers it is always a treat when somebody else makes a cake. It was a really nice thing to do to judge a cake competition fit for a Queen on the Platinum Jubilee.

“We had lots of different flavour combinations. We had a rose and pistachio, lots of Victoria sponges. There was a close finish but it was about attention to detail in the end – and that’s Bettys motto.”

The shortlisted cakes

Lori Hendry’s winning cake (Left) with Edward Lee’s cake.

Louise Winter’s cake (Left) with Irene Threadgold’s cake.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has been named in a Daily Mail article today about Conservative MPs plotting to oust Boris Johnson.

Mr Jones has told constituents asking about partygate that his “anger is not going to lessen”.

His also said:

“I understand the anger people feel. I feel it too. Most of all I feel intensely depressed that senior people in our political system have pretended, or somehow genuinely believed, that tables groaning with bottles of wine, as we have now seen pictured, were in some way allowed work practices.”

But Mr Jones has not called for the Prime Minister to resign and has not revealed whether he has submitted a letter calling for a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the backbench 1922 committee. Fifty-four Tory MPs must do so to trigger a leadership contest.

Mr Jones has declined to respond to questions about the matter from the Stray Ferret.

Nevertheless the Daily Mail includes him in a list of 41 Conservative MPs in an article about Tory ‘plotters’.

Read more:

• Andrew Jones MP tells constituent he feels ‘anger’ over partygate
• Andrew Jones MP says Harrogate and Knaresborough train cuts’a bad mistake’

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy is also named, along with former Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom and former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis.

The article claims the ‘rebels’ could get enough support for a confidence vote next week.

It quotes Home Secretary Priti Patel urging them to “concentrate on doing our jobs” rather than creating a “distraction”.

She adds:

“Writing letters is a sideshow, quite frankly, rather than focusing on the real challenges that we have to find solutions to.’

“Our job is to deliver on the people’s priorities. They won’t thank the Conservative Party for talking about itself at a time when people have anxieties, concerns, apprehensions. Our job is deliver for them.’