Disappointment for Harrogate bobsleigher Axel Brown at Winter Olympics

Harrogate’s Axel Brown competed for the Trinidad and Tobago bobsleigh team today in the Beijing Winter Olympics.

However, there was disappointment as out of 30 countries, the two-man team he piloted finished 28th in heat 1 and 27th in heat 2. Both heats today were won by Germany.

But the Olympic dream is not over yet as Brown’s team will compete in heat 3 and 4 tomorrow.

Brown was born and raised in Harrogate. He attended Harrogate Grammar School from 2003 to 2011 and excelled at American football and taekwondo before discovering bobsleigh in 2014.

He previously competed for Great Britain but qualified to switch to Trinidad and Tobago because his mum is from Pointe-a-Pierre in the country.

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Writing on Instagram, Brown said he was looking forward to competing again tomorrow.

“Olympic Games run 1&2, done! The 20 year wait is over! 🇹🇹 Very happy with what we accomplished, especially given our setbacks! Very happy with my drive, looking forward to improving again tomorrow.

“Thank you SO MUCH for all the support. It really does mean the world. I’ll get round to replying as soon as I can! Time to focus up and hit the track again tomorrow!”

Foundation to run sports clubs for disadvantaged children in Harrogate

The Sporting Influence Foundation is raising money to help disadvantaged youngsters in the Harrogate district attend sports clubs during school holidays.

Classes will take place at Harrogate Ladies College during the Easter break to develop young people’s sporting, teamwork and social skills.

Children will be able to choose five activities, ranging from swimming and tennis to football and dodgeball. At the end of the day, there will be a presentation of social skills wristbands.

The foundation is a community interest company that uses sport and exercise to tackle social inequalities. Its crowdfunder for this initiative, known as The Together Project, hopes to raise £1,500 to help pay for classes. If that target is reached, Sport England will donate £750.

Perks for donating include a year’s supply of Yorkshire Tea.

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David Moss

David Moss

The foundation’s director, David Moss said:

“We realise that Harrogate is seen as an affluent area by many people, however at the Sporting Influence Foundation we see many children across our schools living with challenging circumstances every day.

“Sadly, they don’t get the same opportunities as others. The foundation will make positive steps forward in supporting our young people by working on their social skills. The Together Project is seeking crowdfunding to enable us to make school holidays fun, healthy, and safe for all children”.

Harrogate hospital’s beds full as it battles winter pressures

Harrogate District Hospital reached maximum bed occupancy this month, with all 292 beds filled.

Figures published by NHS England show that on February 4 the hospital was at maximum capacity although the situation has improved slightly since.

The hospital is currently operating at 90% bed occupancy, as it battles covid and winter pressures, say trust managers.

Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the hospital was dealing with a “variety of winter infections”, such as flu and the Omicron variant of covid.

Russell Nightingale, chief operating officer at the trust, said the hospital reached maximum bed occupancy last week “for a short period of time”.

He said:

“Our trust’s primary purpose is to ensure the best possible healthcare service for patients in our care.

“Winter is always a busy time of the year at Harrogate District Hospital as we deal with a variety of winter infections such as flu and the Omicron variant of covid, in addition to all other regular activity.

“Bed occupancy rates are always increasing during the winter months and last week for a short period of time we did reach maximum bed occupancy rates.

“Currently we are at around 90% bed occupancy rates; however we do have process in place to deal with such eventualities and to ensure we can continue to look after our patients.”

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Mr Nightingale said “we do not want patients spending longer than they need to in our hospital” and that tye trust worked with other agencies, such as North Yorkshire County Council, to support them after discharge.

He added:

“We also have our Same Day Emergency Care Unit, which is rapidly assessing and treating patients to reduce the number of patients staying overnight and supporting those who are ready to be discharged and would benefit from being out of a hospital environment.”

New monthly food market coming to Harrogate

A new monthly food market will take place at Crescent Gardens in Harrogate — and it starts this Sunday.

Real Food Markets, a community interest company that has organised a food market in Ilkley for six years, will be hosting food and drink and craft stalls on the third Sunday of every month.

The free-to-attend market will be based at Crescent Gardens opposite the old Harrogate Borough Council offices and will run from 10am to 3pm.

February’s market will feature stalls offering cheeses, sushi, sticky toffee puddings, scotch eggs and gluten-free products. There will also be stalls selling products including goat milk soaps, candles, fine art and blankets.

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Matthew Chapman, Harrogate Business Improvement District manager, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Real Food Markets who are looking to replicate the success they have tasted in Ilkley here in Harrogate.  This year, we are hoping to work with a host of different organisations to stage events in Harrogate town centre, which will offer visitors a different experience on each occasion.”

Tim Dabell, event management officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said

“We look forward to working with Lucy and her team in 2022 to encourage the residents of the Harrogate district to shop locally for products in a safe environment. We feel this addition will enhance the whole town centre shopping experience.”

Julia Gabler, owner of Harrogate children’s clothing brand 2 Little Mice, which is among the stallholders, said:

“Our items are ethically made at our Harrogate workshop. While online and retail trading takes up most of our time, we do love to meet our customers face to face and Real Food Harrogate will be a great way to interact with our wonderful customers and show them the faces behind the brand. “

Harrogate Hydro reduces opening hours due to staff shortages

Harrogate Hydro is to reduce its opening hours due to staff shortages.

The facility, which is run by Harrogate Borough Council-controlled Brimhams Active, will be closed on either a Saturday or Sunday from this weekend, which coincides with the start of half-term holidays.

It said ongoing staff shortages and effects of the covid pandemic has left it “no choice” but to make the decision.

The Hydro said in a post on its Facebook page:

“As you may be aware, the Hydro is currently operating with a reduced team and reduced programme as we continue to respond to the covid pandemic as well as being affected by the national staff shortages at leisure facilities.

“Despite our best efforts, these shortages leave us with no choice but to reduce the opening hours.

“With immediate effect, the Hydro will either be closed on Saturdays or Sundays until we close for the refurbishment project which we can now confirm will be Friday, April 8.”

The Hydro will be closed on the following days:

Meanwhile, the facility will be closed for a refurbishment project from April 8.

The council has not said how long the Hydro will be closed.

It said the programme for the construction of the scheme was being finalised and will go before the authority’s cabinet for approval “in due course”.

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As part of the refurbishment, the council will demolish the current ‘drum’ entrance and replace it with a larger structure that includes a bigger café and reception area on the ground floor and a new 400-square metre fitness suite on the first floor.

Outside, the car park will be reconfigured with a new area bicycle storage and room for six electric vehicle charging points.

As part of its plans to overhaul leisure services, which were approved in June 2020, the council outlined a £13.5 million project to refurbish The Hydro.

Do you have a Harrogate Theatre love story to share?

On Valentine’s Day, Harrogate Theatre is asking people to share their theatre love stories to form the base for its next community performance.

Last year the theatre got local people involved in its Our Gate production and now it wants to do so again.

It is looking for 122 love stories linked to Harrogate Theatre, to match it being open for 122 years.

It could be a story about meeting a best friend in the stalls, or locking eyes with your sweetheart across the stage, or even a production that made you fall in love with the theatre. The stories will then serve as a backdrop for performances in August.

The project was inspired by a photograph, seen by chief executive David Bown, of a wedding reception held at the theatre in 1961. He said:

“It prompted me to contemplate how many love stories does this amazing building have to tell. Harrogate Theatre has been at the centre of our community for over a century, it has many poignant tales to share.”

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The community show will be put on by local playwright and community producer Rachael Halliwell and director Amie Burns-Walker.

Ms Halliwell said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have been commissioned by Harrogate Theatre to return with Amie Burns-Walker to make our biggest and boldest community play to date, but we cannot do it without you. 

“We need local participants of all ages to join us on this production – not just actors but anyone who is up for being creative and telling stories with us.”

To share you story or get involved on or back stage email love@harrogatetheatre.co.uk.

Workshops start in March with performances taking place in early August. Participation is open to everyone aged 13 and above and no experience is necessary.

Another error spotted on Otley Road cycle path

A reader has alerted the Stray Ferret to another error on the Otley Road cycle path in Harrogate.

A bicycle has been painted on the ground on the wrong side of the path as it heads up Harlow Hill.

It contradicts the blue sign alongside it, which suggests bikes should be in the lane closest to the road and could lead to confusion for pedestrians and cyclists.

On Monday, the Stray Ferret reported that a town centre sign for the cycle path was built pointing in the wrong direction.

North Yorkshire County Council appointed Hull-based PBS Construction to build phase 1 of the project, in a contract worth £827,000.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said it was a “genuine mistake” by the contractor.

She added that the error will be amended as soon as possible at no cost to the council.

The county council previously called the firm “the standout applicants” following a tendering process.

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The long-awaited cycle path has been called a step forward for cycling in the town by Harrogate District Cycle Action but even its supporters would admit it’s had a bumpy ride so far.

Work to build phase 2 of the route, which will extend to Beech Grove, is set to begin in April. Funding for the third phase has yet to be finalised.

Ghosthunting with a paranormal investigator on the Stray

A paranormal investigator claims the Stray is haunted by spirits of the dead.

CJ Myers from York was near the train line on Stray Rein at 4am earlier this week hunting for spirits when he said his psychic powers led to a phantastic discovery.

He said:

“I have psychic skills so spirits communicate with me. I usually get the answer I’m looking for”.

CJ claimed he saw a ghostly shadow move mysteriously over the turf.

The spirit stopped and communicated to him via his dowsing rods, two metal sticks that move when he asks the apparition questions.

CJ said the spirit had a tragic backstory, but he already knew something was not right as the spirit “smelled of blood”.

He added:

“When he was alive, he was walking across the Stray to commit suicide on the tracks. But as he was walking across, these lads attacked him and disabled him. They badly injured him.”

We feel we should point out there is no scientific evidence of the existence of ghosts.

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The Stray Ferret joined CJ to investigate the phantoms of the Stray on Wednesday afternoon.

Almost as soon as he got out his rods out, he picked up the spirit of a woman sitting on a bench. He ushered the woman to move into the light whilst his rods jumped back and forth.

But isn’t there a perfectly rational explanation for why his dowsing rods move so much on the Stray? There is a body of water underneath the grass after all.

No, says, CJ, as that doesn’t account for the fact he can see them too. Seeing is clearly believing.

He has his own ghostbusting crew, called North Yorkshire Paranormal Investigators. They’ve investigated ghosts at Harrogate Theatre, Spofforth Castle and the Nidd Gorge Viaduct.

They are recruiting for new members and full training is provided.

They even have a TikTok account where they hope to reach a new audience.

CJ says he communicates with spirits daily and claims to have cracked unsolved murders in the USA. He says sometimes the police listen to his tip-offs, sometimes they don’t.

He claims he’s been communicating with spirits for five years, although he said it’s sometimes a frightening experience.

“Once you’ve opened Pandora’s Box it happens every day. I’ve had experiences in our house. I had a picture of a cross on the wall, that flew forwards into the air. One day I found a spirit level laid on the top of the stairs.”

His message to the skeptics who say it’s all made up:

“They have a right to their opinion, but at the end of the day, they can’t do it.”

Dads create ‘Dingle Dangle’ toy to make nappy changing a breeze

When Harrogate dad Mark Hamilton had to change his wriggly, screaming seven-month-old daughter’s nappy on a changing table at an airport, he emerged from the bathroom a broken man.

It was at this moment he decided to come up with a solution to make the experience not only less stressful, but actually enjoyable for both parent and baby.

Sixteen months later, after teaming up with fellow dad-of-two Stewart Gold, an American who had moved into the flat above on Otley Road, the Dingle Dangle was born.

Dubbed the “ultimate parenting hack”, the hands-free baby toy – similar to a mobile – is worn on the head of the mum or dad so they can distract their baby while changing a nappy.

There’s no denying wearing a dangling colourful octopus on your head is a talking point – and the duo said it certainly attracts attention.

Stewart, who was a lawyer for 11 years, laughed:

“People will come up to us when we are wearing it and say ‘it suits you’.”

The Dingle Dangle in action.

The clever creation, which features colours inspired by the art deco-style of Stewart’s hometown of Miami Beach, Florida, also has three other functions.

It changes into a portable mobile that can clip onto a cot or pram and transforms into a cute pufferfish rattle and a silicon teether.

This is all anchored from a sensory stick, which features three different fabrics for the baby to touch and interact with.

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But the toy didn’t always look so slick. A number of different prototypes were created before the duo finally came up with the final product.

Mark, who owns his own technology investment banking headhunting business, said:

“I actually got a coat hanger, a GoPro strap and a soft toy and I dangled it from my head. That is how the Dingle Dangle was born and from there it sort of evolved.”

It clearly captured Stewart’s attention, who loved the concept, particularly as his wife was pregnant with his second baby, and it has since become an integral part of the nappy changing routine.

He said:

“You don’t want to pin your baby down when you’re changing them.

“So when I saw Mark putting this thing on his head, I thought this is a pretty awesome idea and how can we make it a complete product.”

Friends and business partners Stewart Gold, left, and Mark Hamilton.

The prototypes were created almost entirely in Harrogate, with contributors including Judit Karsai at the Needle Loft and Daniel Burn Design.

And the Dingle Dangles are already flying out.

Mark said:

“It’s super exciting.

“We are going to see how it evolves over the next six months and if it goes well, we have plans to sell it abroad. We also might eventually create more baby toys.”

Asked whether the two men would have ever envisaged themselves selling baby toys, Stewart laughed:

“Our friends and family are all very supportive, but they also think we are crazy.”

Deaf Harrogate artist picked to design clothing for Comic Relief

Deaf Harrogate artist, Luke Christian, is one of eleven artists picked to design homeware and clothing for Comic Relief.

Mr Christian was born deaf and, since setting up his fashion brand, Deaf Identity, in 2019 has been passionate about using his creative talents to break down barriers surrounding the deaf community.

He was first approached to work with Comic Relief in July 2021 and thought the email was spam and said “it didn’t feel real at the time”.

His designs will be printed and embroidered onto homeware and clothing and sold online and in store at TK Maxx.

Other artists including Gok Wan and Supermundane have been picked.

Mr Christian’s design shows the word ‘love’ in British Sign Language in a simplistic, modern, line drawing. He said:

“The charity said they wanted to work with 11 designers/artists in total that had special backgrounds to what they do and with me being deaf and raising deaf awareness, this is why they approached me.

“At first it didn’t feel real, but now that it’s sunk in I just feel extremely grateful to be able to show everyone what a positive thing being deaf really is and I want to be able to use this opportunity to empower other deaf people to run their own businesses and to not allow society to tell us ‘you can’t do this because you’re deaf’.”

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The deaf gene runs in Mr Christian’s family so his mum and sister are also deaf. He said growing up he was often told he doesn’t sound or look deaf and felt like he didn’t fully belong in a hearing or deaf world.

He said one of his biggest motivators behind his brand is to show that every individual defines their own deaf identity adding “there’s no right or wrong way to be deaf”.

He was brought up oral and went to a hearing school until year 9 before moving to a deaf boarding school. He began learning British Sign Language (BSL) three years ago to help him communicate with other deaf people. He added:

“This opportunity is helping me to share more of who I am and why breaking down barriers surrounding the deaf community is so important to me.

“We can do anything!”