Working on Christmas Day: a Harrogate chef

Not all heroes wear capes, and while most of us are tucking into our turkeys there are some admirable people out there who still put a hard day’s graft in on Christmas Day.

Scott Toolin is a chef de partie at Harrogate’s Cedar Court Hotel. He gave the Stray Ferret a glimpse of what it’s like to work on the big day.

Describe your typical working day on Christmas Day

In my last job I worked 11am until 7pm. We did about 80 covers, so I would say it was steady, not too busy. I don’t celebrate Christmas at work.

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How do you feel about having to work on Christmas Day?

I’m not too bothered about working Christmas day, I’m quite used to it.

How does your family feel about you working on Christmas Day?

My family are also not bothered, as they know in my line of work Christmas is going to be very busy.

How do you celebrate Christmas as a result of having to work? 

I will still have Christmas on Christmas day. My family will cook the dinner, but I know I will get a lot of phone calls that day asking me how to cook this that and the other.

Harrogate young carer attends Westminster Abbey event for heroes

A 14-year-old carer from Harrogate spent a special day with her family at the Duchess of Cambridge’s Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.

Jasmine Clark was among a group of community heroes invited to the service this month to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

Jasmine is a carer for her 15-year-old brother Dylan, who has Williams syndrome, a developmental disorder.  She has also helped her mum Sophia, who has suffered from mental health problems during the pandemic.

Sophia said the day was “so emotional and overwhelming”, adding:

“I was in tears all day, it was a very proud moment.”

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The family has been supported by the charity Action for Children.

Rossett School

Sophia said her daughter has been the “the rock between us all” during a difficult time.

“She’s been there in so many ways. I don’t know where we’d be without her.”

Jasmine, who is in year nine at Harrogate’s Rossett School, said “it felt amazing” to attend the service, which included performances from the Westminster Abbey choir, Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding.

She added:

“I was so happy to get the opportunity to go and see Kate and William.”

The concert will be shown on ITV at 7:30pm tonight.

Working on Christmas Day: Harrogate taxi driver

Not all heroes wear capes, and while most of us are tucking into our turkey spare a thought for those who are still working on Christmas Day.

Kevin O’Boyle, the owner of Central Taxis in Harrogate, says he has worked every Christmas Day except three in the last 56 years.

Mr O’Boyle may therefore appear more likely to wear a Grinch outfit than a Santa hat on the big day, but he certainly has that special Christmas spirit inside.

He is semi-retired but always steps up to the plate when needed. And he is rarely more needed than on Christmas Day.

Central Taxis has a contract with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust as well as Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

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So when public transport stops on Christmas Day, NHS staff turn to taxis to get them to work. Mr O’Boyle told the Stray Ferret:

“There are quite a number of NHS staff who rely on public transport so when that stops they turn to us for help.

“Not only do we take NHS staff to work but we also do other vital work. Like last Christmas, I was picking up drugs for the hospital from Manchester.”

He may have regrets about missing Christmas with his four children but Mr O’Boyle feels a sense of duty to the NHS so he is willing to make the sacrifice.

So when you are celebrating tomorrow spare a thought for those in the Harrogate district who are working.

Former Healthwatch chair calls on Harrogate District Hospital to allow visitors

A former chair of Healthwatch North Yorkshire has described the suspension of visitors to hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon as a “scandal” and called for the decision to be reversed.

NHS Harrogate and District Foundation Trust introduced the measure yesterday at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital due to the threat of the Omicron variant.

Visitors are now only allowed for patients on end of life care, or if a patient has a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment like dementia. Parents or carers of children and birthing partners are also permitted.

Ripon Community Hospital, Firby Lane

Ripon Community Hospital, Firby Lane

It means that many patients will not be able to see their families and loved ones on Christmas Day.

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Chris Brackley, who lives in Harrogate and stepped down in October as chair of Healthwatch, which gives patient feedback to NHS leaders so services can be improved, told the Stray Ferret:

“Harrogate and District Foundation Trust needs to reverse these measures immediately. They are unfair and an absolute scandal.

“If necessary bring in the requirement for visitors to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test. It may not be popular but it would be far better to give people that option.

“From the data I have seen I see no reason to bring in restriction on visitors. We at least need a date for when these measures are going to be under review.

“These new measures were communicated poorly and will leave many alone this Christmas, like my 91-year-old mother in law who fell at home and is suffering with a fractured pelvis.”

 

Harrogate District Hospital.

Mr Brackley added that he believed the number of unvaccinated frontline staff at Harrogate and District Foundation Trust posed a greater coronavirus risk than visitors, who could have had three vaccinations.

Decision ‘not taken lightly’

Last month the Stray Ferret reported that there were believed to be 450 unvaccinated frontline health staff at the trust, although that number is likely to have been reduced.

The Stray Ferret asked the trust to comment on Mr Brackley’s views.

Emma Nunez, executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at the trust, said:

“This decision has not been taken lightly and it is one which trust’s across the country are having to consider. Many trusts already restrict visiting and others are currently considering putting similar restrictions in place.

“We understand that this will be disappointing for people who have a loved one in our care, and we apologise for any upset that this will cause, but we have had to take this difficult decision to protect both our patients and our staff.

“We will be reviewing our visitor arrangements regularly and we will look to relax visiting restrictions at the earliest opportunity.”

Five weeks of gas works to start on Harrogate’s Skipton Road in New Year

Traffic lights will be in place at busy junctions on Skipton Road in Harrogate at the start of the New Year.

Northern Gas Networks will install temporary lights at the junctions with Knox Avenue, Bilton Grange Close and Skipton Crescent while it replaces metal pipes with plastic ones.

The company will begin the upgrade at January 4 at the junction with Knox Avenue. This will see three-way temporary traffic lights in place for two weeks.

From January 17, the lights will be moved to Bilton Grange Close where two-way lights will be placed at the junction of Skipton Road for a further week.

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For the final two weeks of the project, the two-way temporary traffic lights will be moved along Skipton Road, to the junction with Skipton Crescent.

Northern Gas Networks said in a statement that although most work will be carried out on the road, engineers will need access to customer properties to complete the project and ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said:

 “We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works.

“We greatly appreciated the patience that Harrogate customers showed us when we carried out work at Skipton Road earlier this year, and we’ll be doing our very best to minimise any disruption during this project at Knox Avenue and Bilton Grange Close.

“However, it is vital we complete the work in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.

“Northern Gas Networks is continuing to carry out its essential activities while following strict guidelines for safe distance working, where possible, and following good hygiene practices as we continue to live with coronavirus.

“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Man denies firearm charge at Harrogate gastro pub

A 25-year-old man has appeared in court charged with carrying a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at a gastro pub in Harrogate. 

Brad Tristan Plummer, from Killinghall, denied the accusation when he appeared at York Crown Court yesterday.

The alleged offence is said to have occurred at the Nelson Inn on Skipton Road, Killinghall, on September 29 last year.

The prosecution claims that Plummer intended to cause a named man fear of violence with a BB gun, which is a type of air gun. He denies this.

Judge Simon Hickey adjourned the case for a trial on July 18 next year. 

Plummer, of Skipton Road, was granted unconditional bail until that date. 

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‘Terrifying but rewarding’: Harrogate home carer reflects on another covid year

A Harrogate home carer has said working through a pandemic for 20 months has been some of the hardest months she’s had to face.

Throughout the pandemic home carers have continued to go into the homes of the vulnerable even if covid was present. One of those is Rachel Yarwood,  an assistant manager at St Margaret’s Homecare, which assists people in their homes in and around Harrogate.

She said coronavirus has meant her job can be both “terrifying and rewarding”.

Working through different tiers in full PPE has not been easy for anyone on the frontline, but Ms Yarwood said she felt home carers in particular were the “forgotten group”.

She said doing 17-18 calls a day while trying to bathe people was extremely tough. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the St Margaret’s staff were making aprons out of car seat covers to prevent them running out.

“The NHS have been amazing but we have worked hard too to keep people out of hospital and at home.

“It’s been extremely hard at times. I remember having a chat with my daughter at the beginning giving her instructions on how to look after my other two kids in case I got it because back then we didn’t know how bad it would be.”

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For many of the clients, Ms Yarwood and her team were the only people they were seeing for a long time. She said “we became like family”.

“Some were really depressed at times. It was really hard to see some of them deteriorate and feel so lonely.”

Looking ahead to next year, Ms Yarwood said:

“We aren’t becoming complacent, we know covid isn’t going anywhere. But we are much more prepared now. We’ll just keep pulling together as a team.”

The November image from the charity calendar

Ms Yarwood and her team have also been photographed for a charity calendar to raise money for Mind. She said the ‘Covid Calendar Girls’ calendar came about after seeing the impact of isolation on clients.

She said:

“We just wanted to do out bit and it was a lot of fun. I hope it makes a few people smile and more importantly raises money for Mind.”

To find out more and support the calendar appeal, click here.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel blog for the final time this year this Christmas Eve.

If you spot anything, let me know on 01423 276197. Let’s help everyone have a smooth journey today.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this Christmas Eve morning. I hope you have a lovely Christmas break and we will be back in the New Year.

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning with not many out driving so far. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning with not many out driving so far. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are running well so far early this morning with not many out driving so far. Keep checking back for more updates but here is a list of places to avoid.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Why 2022 will be a big year of change for Harrogate’s local government future

The New Year will bring new challenges for key council services and major projects in the Harrogate district.

But 2022 will be a year like no other.

It will mark the beginning of the end for Harrogate Borough Council which will enter its final full year before it is abolished and replaced with a new North Yorkshire-wide authority.

Elections to the new council will take place in May and are set to be one of the most intriguing campaigns yet as political parties fight for control over a drastically reduced number of councillor seats at what will be a crucial time for the future of local government.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper said while he would reflect on the end of the authority’s 47-year history with sadness, now was a time for planning ahead for the transition to the new council structure.

He said:

“The transfer of services to a new council is a complex process.

“Thorough planning is needed to ensure a smooth transfer for residents and staff too.

“It isn’t just Harrogate Borough Council combining with North Yorkshire County Council to form a new council; it is six other district councils combining into the new council too.

“So that is eight different ways of doing things – collecting the litter, supporting council housing, running leisure services and so on – combining into one new council on the same day.”

Cllr Cooper, who will stand down as a Conservative after 24 years of service when the new authority is created, added:

“Harrogate Borough Council will cease to exist in April 2023. I am sad about that, and sad that I will stop being a councillor at that time.

“However, how I feel as a councillor isn’t important. Like the vast majority of people reading this I am a local resident so I want the new council to deliver the services upon which I, my neighbours and friends – all of us – rely.

“What is important is making sure that the services the borough council runs are transferred efficiently to the new council and that they are run equally well or better than now.

“I am particularly concerned that our homelessness support services continue being supported.

“The poorest in society should not fall through any cracks in the process.”

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While Harrogate Borough Council’s time may be coming to a close, the authority has shown no signs of slowing up and has a number of major projects either underway or in the pipeline.

These include the £10.9m Gateway project, the new Ripon Swimming Pool, plans for a new Knaresborough Leisure Centre and a potential £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre which councillor Cooper said will be a key economic driver for the district’s future.

The projects will be seen as a lasting legacy for the authority which is also pushing for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to retain control of some services under local government reorganisation.

This comes as there are still lingering questions over what will happen to several council-owned buildings – not least to mention Harrogate Borough Council’s new Civic Centre headquarters.

Under the next stage of the councils shake-up, a structural change order will be approved by central government and act as the blueprint for reorganisation.

It will drastically cut the number of councillors representing the area, with the future of the Harrogate district set to be made up of around 20 councillors compared with 57 under the current structure.

Although they have yet to be announced, Cllr Cooper said he was confident the Conservatives had a strong selection of candidates to stand in the May election when the party will aim to keep its tight grip on the district.

He said:

“Elections are always challenging and we live in unprecedented political times.  However we have a set of excellent candidates who work hard in their local communities.

“I am confident in the ability and application of our candidates and I hope that, when it comes to polling day, people will vote for those who have a track record of action for residents irrespective of any party political concerns.”

This sense of optimism is one that is shared by Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, who said a loss of trust in central government and election victories elsewhere in the country showed the party is “on the up”.

She said:

“We hope our local residents will think very carefully about what their present Conservative-dominated councils have delivered for them over two decades.

“As the opposition group, we will keep pushing to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

“With the Gateway project we would like a more holistic approach and that this scheme is not just looked at in isolation, but fitting into a wider town centre master plan.”

“A Harrogate Town Council needs to be in place quickly so Harrogate residents have the same local governance as the rest of the district.

“The new town council should have the powers to take control of places such as the Valley Gardens, the Royal Pump House Museum and any other assets that Harrogate residents feel needs local decision-making on, rather than a remote North Yorkshire council.

“We need to ensure our district has a strong voice on the council and that any area committees are balanced to ensure our area, with many residents, has a strong voice.”

Harrogate drug dealer jailed for supplying heroin and cocaine

A Harrogate heroin and cocaine dealer has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Mark Richard Bowden, 47, was sentenced at York Crown Court today after pleading guilty to seven drug supply offences earlier this month.

North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite County Lines Team watched Bowden sell heroin from his car near his home address on Cheltenham Crescent on December 20 last year.

Bowden, who has numerous previous convictions for dealing Class A drugs, was arrested the following day and a year-long investigation began.

Police searched his home and found heroin and cash worth more than £1,500.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Bowden was arrested again on November 30 this year. Officers found heroin, cocaine and cash again worth around £1,500.

Bowden was also told by York Crown Court to hand back £1,500 which is believed to be from the sale of heroin on the streets of Harrogate.

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PC Michael Haydock, who led the Operation Expedite County Lines Team investigation, said:

“The criminal actions of Bowden and other drug dealers like him are truly deplorable.

“Motivated only by greed to make cash through the exploitation of often young and vulnerable drug-users, they think they can operate without impunity or just receive a ‘slap on the wrist’ from the authorities if caught.

“Well, for Bowden, he can now think again. This substantial custodial sentence will hopefully hit him with an equally substantial dose of reality of the repercussions of dealing Class A drugs in our neighbourhoods.

“We will not tolerate it and will act on any information or intelligence about such activity to tackle the scourge of drugs, which can cause so much harm to individuals and to communities as a whole.”