Harrogate Male Voice Choir to resume meeting after 18 months

Harrogate Male Voice Choir will resume face-to-face practice tomorrow night for the first time since March last year.

The choir began in October 1969 but members were forced to practice over Zoom during the pandemic.

It will meet at 7.30pm every Tuesday at Woodlands Methodist Church in Harrogate.

Lawrie Coulthard, who has sung in the choir for several years, said Zoom hadn’t been the same.

“You can’t sing all at once. It’s not conducive to group singing”

The choir, which had about 50 regulars pre-pandemic, will welcome a new musical director, Richard Kay.

Covid precautions include ensuring all singers are doubled jabbed.

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Mr Coulthard said he’s looking forward to meeting his friends face-to-face after a long absence. He said the first hymn sung is likely to be Softly and Tenderly.

He added:

“We’re absolutely excited. We’re all going to be a bit rusty but it will be fantastic.

“It’s not just singing, it’s a social event too. It’s a fellowship.”

If you are interested in joining the choir, contact Lawrie Coulthard on 07905515492 or lawriecoulthard@hotmail.co.uk

Rich history of Ripon church opened to visitors

One of the Harrogate district’s finest churches is to open to visitors and local residents this week after undergoing a £500,000 restoration.

St Wilfrid’s, on Coltsgate Hill in Ripon, will open from 10.30am to 4pm on Friday for the first in a series of four Heritage Open Days,.

The national programme sees historic places invite people to visit free of charge. The church, which opened in April 1863, is one of this year’s main attractions as it is considered to be one of England’s finest Catholic places of worship.

The grade II* listed building was designed in French Gothic style by the prolific York architect Joseph Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab.

Features include stained and coloured glass, an imposing altar screen or reredos designed by Edward Pugin depicting scenes from the life of St Wilfrid and other fine statuary, carvings and artwork.

Photo of the tower at St Wilfrid's

Windows in the tower were replaced as part of the refurbishment.

These include ornate medallions of saints above the nave arches by Salviati of Venice, and the side altar of Our Lady of Fountains, brought  from the private chapel of the Marquess of Ripon  at Studley Royal after his death.

The marquess converted to Catholicism in 1874 – six years before becoming viceroy and governor general of India.

Born at 10 Downing Street, when his father Viscount Goderich was briefly Prime Minister, he was a towering parliamentary figure in Victorian Britain and a major donor to St Wilfrid’s and to Ripon, where he was elected as the city’s mayor in 1897.

An addition to the 158-year history of St Wilfrid’s is a dramatic holograph-style set of stations of the cross, commissioned by a benefactor to the restoration appeal.

Many local people and organisations donated to the fundraising programme headed by parishioner Barrie Price.

This, combined with a Heritage Fund lottery grant, provided the money needed for the restoration and will fund further improvements, among them better access to the church.

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In addition to Friday’s open day, three more open days will be held on Saturday and Sunday and on Thursday next week.

Entry is via the front door steps or ramp on Coltsgate Hill and parking spaces are available in the church car park, accessed via Trinity Lane.

 

 

Fun runs to restart in Harrogate

A social running group is returning to Harrogate after being suspended during the pandemic.

The group, run by local store Up and Running, was started in 2014 to offer local people the chance to run with a large group. However it had to stop in March 2020.

Staff at the shop are pleased to be able to restart the group and have already had 30 runners sign up.

The run follows a number of 5km routes across Harrogate starting at the store on Station Parade.

Store manager, Becky Townsend, said:

“We have a few members of staff and eight store ambassadors running alongside participants. It was set up so the store could be more inclusive locally and to have fun runs.”

Ms Townsend emphasised people with all running abilities can join in. She added the group stops at each crossing to make sure everyone stays together.

In previous years, the runs welcomed up to 70 runners.

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Those wanting to join in must visit the store to register before the first run on September 20.

The runs will then be held every Monday at 6.15pm.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Monday it’s Leah with you today bringing you all the latest traffic and travel news. With Schools back this week, traffic is expected to get busier throughout the mornings.

Ring me on 01423 276197, if it is safe, or get in touch on social media.

Let’s help everyone have a better journey by letting me know so I can add it to the blog, brought to you by the HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, Suzannah will be back in with you tomorrow from 6:30 with regular updates.

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning with schools heading back from the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning with schools heading back from the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning with schools heading back from the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning with schools heading back from the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning with schools still away for the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning with schools still away for the summer holiday. But, keep an eye on the blog to see how it goes today.

Road closures:

Temporary lights

Trains

Buses

 

Post-Olympics membership boom at top Harrogate diving club

Harrogate District Diving Club is gearing up to welcome 40 new divers next week after the Olympics increased interest in the sport.

One of the club’s former members, Ripon’s Jack Laugher, won bronze in the men’s individual three-metre springboard event at the Tokyo Olympics to go with the gold medal he won in Rio in 2016.

His success, along with that of other divers, such as Tom Daley, has encouraged more people to take up the sport.

The Harrogate club has helped to develop numerous elite divers over the years, most notably Laugher and Oliver Dingley.

Leanne Jalland, chair of the club, said the creation of Brimhams Active, which was set up by Harrogate Borough Council to manage leisure facilities, including the Hydro, had been a “positive step” because it had led to increased diving time in the pool.

Ms Jalland said:

“This is a positive step forward, we’re increasing the number of divers locally.

“Everyone is keeping to their promises and we’ve been able to come up with a pathway, which means diving in Harrogate is secure long-term.”

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The club’s success comes even though the pool’s diving platform has been out of use since cracks were found in November last year.

The poolside scaffolding looks set to remain in place for some time as the council has yet to appoint a contractor or offer a timescale for the repair work.

In the meantime, divers are making use of the club’s two mobile one-metre diving boards. Some members have had to travel to West Yorkshire to use better diving facilities.

A council spokesperson said:

“We will be replacing the current diving platform at the Hydro due to its age and the amount of work required to fix it.

As previously confirmed we will announce timescales for the replacement once a contractor has been appointed and a programme of works has been agreed.”

Ripon pilgrims follow the footsteps of Benedictine monks

A group of 90 pilgrims, walked from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey yesterday – a journey linking two national treasures.

Led by Canon Barry Pyke, the Ripon Together Yorkshire Pilgrimage traced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who, in 1132 AD, were the original founders of the abbey.

The cathedral, founded in 672 AD by Ripon’s patron saint, Wilfrid, celebrates its 1350th anniversary next year.

Before setting off at 12.30pm, there was a special service inside the ancient building and prayers for a safe journey on the steps outside, said by the Revd Pyke.

The walkers were supported by police and marshals at road crossings along the route and with PCs Mike Spittleton and Dom Webb of Ripon Police taking part in the three mile walk with the pilgrims.

Photo of pilgrims approaching the gates to Studley Royal Park

Pilgrims progress as they approach the gates of Studley Royal Park

Every Boxing Day for 45 years, a pilgrimage between the iconic sites had taken place, until the covid pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 event.

The pilgrimage, was part of the Welcome to Yorkshire, Walkshire programme and linked with Ripon Together’s Healthy Journeying campaign, which encourages people to walk in the local and wider Yorkshire countryside, following the lifting of covid restrictions.

Photo of pilgrims approaching Fountains Abbey

Journey nearly completed – the pilgrims with the abbey ruins in view

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, has underlined on many occasions the health and wellbeing benefits that people of all ages can gain from walking and cycling.

He said:

“Ripon Together has been promoting walking and cycling for a couple of years now.  This was a fantastic opportunity for the people of Ripon and across the region to walk together from the oldest cathedral in the country to Fountains Abbey, one of Yorkshire’s World Heritage Sites.

“Ripon Together is devoted to improving the wellbeing of people in Ripon and the area.

“I am delighted that people are uniting to encourage healthy journeying.”

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Further walks and cycle routes can be found at https://www.ripontogether.com/healthy-journeying/.

Harrogate school takes legal action after travellers return

Ashville College has said it has commenced court proceedings to evict a number of travellers after they returned this weekend.

About six caravans drove onto Ashville’s sports playing fields, near the boarding houses, on Yew Tree Lane.

It is believed it is the same group that pitched up two weeks ago.

Ashville College said in a statement it is a major safeguarding concern as boarding pupils have now moved back in ready for the new school term to begin this week.

It added it had begun court proceedings to have the group removed.

A spokesman for Ashville College said:

“A group of travellers who illegally moved on to our sports fields two weeks ago have regrettably returned.

“With our boarding pupils now here for the start of the new school year, and day pupils returning in just a few days, this is a major concern for us.

“We have once again called the police, and have alerted our solicitors to begin court proceedings to have them evicted.”

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When the travellers arrived two weeks ago, they told school staff they were on their way to a wedding in Ireland after attending the annual Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.

The travellers said if the school paid them £5,000 they were prepared to leave immediately without causing any damage.

They left leaving no damage three days later.

The Last Night of the Proms – Ripon style

Ripon will go from rock and pop to pomp and circumstance in its final free mass entertainment event of the summer next weekend.

Organised to coincide with the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the city will welcome fans of the more classical style of music to Market Square on Saturday, September 11.

The event, from 7pm until 11pm, features a tribute act singing songs made famous by Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins.

Also taking the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall during the evening will be the Dishforth Military Wives Choir.

Live music will be provided by an ensemble of 17 musicians and a fireworks display will provide the finale.

The free weekends of entertainment have been paid for from the Ripon parish precept, which is funded by council tax.

The previous ones brought tribute acts ranging from Queen to the ABBA Forever tribute group.

As well as providing free family entertainment, which has also included fairground rides for children, the intention has been to bring more people to the city centre and drive footfall to benefit local traders.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“They’ve been enjoyable and trouble-free events that have put smiles on a lot of faces.

“You could see that people are delighted to be finally free of the restrictions that were necessary during the covid lockdowns.”

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More free events in Market Square are scheduled for autumn and winter.

During the October half term holiday there will be further family-focused activities, followed in November with the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights.

Bringing the curtain down on 2021 will be the famous New Year’s Eve entertainment — an alfresco party that normally sees hundreds of revellers rocking around Ripon’s obelisk.

 

Why are Harrogate’s historic monuments neglected?

This article is written for the Stray Ferret by the celebrated Harrogate historian, Malcolm Neesam. 

Please believe me when I say it gives me no pleasure to bemoan the neglect of Harrogate’s monuments. But when so many people tell me they visit Harrogate to see the town’s buildings and green spaces, it seems foolish to allow some of the area’s most significant structures to appear so shabby. A recent letter of mine about the weed-choked dome of the Tewit Well on south Stray produced a flood of messages of support, all seemingly from people who have Harrogate’s best interests at heart.

The Tewit Well was where modern Harrogate began, following William Slingsby’s 1571 discovery of the mineral qualities of the waters. Before this time, Harrogate was nothing more than a hamlet within the great Royal Forest, but after 1571, Harrogate grew into the sizeable and fully urbanised resort it is today. When Dr. Timothy Bright referred in c.1598 to Harrogate having the “Spadacrene Anglica”, or English Spa, it was the first recorded use of the “Spa” noun in the English language, making Harrogate the first “Spa” in the country. When Dr. Deane wrote his 1626 book on Harrogate’s Spa, he used Timothy Bright’s description “Spadacrene Anglica” as its title

The present “temple” was built in 1808 by Thomas Chippindale as an open cover for Low Harrogate’s old Sulphur Well, and was moved to its present location in 1842, when the Royal Pump Room was built. The open columns of the Chippindale’s temple were then filled in with masonry, to better protect visitors and also the well’s attendant. The historic structure was chosen in 1955 as the subject for a plaque, carved by the National Association of Master Monumental Masons, to mark their conference in Harrogate. The exquisitely carved plaque was fixed to the Tewit Well and unveiled by Mayor Robert Riley on Wednesday September 18, 1955. Two years later, the outside pump was stolen, which introduced a period of neglect, and by 1971, exactly 400 years after Slingsby’s discovery, the neglected Tewit Well was very nearly demolished.

Mayor Riley at Tewit Well, September 1955

But thanks to public protest, and the opposition of the recently established Harrogate Society, the Tewit Well was saved, and in 1973, restoration occurred, the original dome of English Oak and lead being replaced by plastic, which if not authentic, at least followed the design of the original. It was during this restoration that the encircling masonry walling was removed, which restored the original appearance of the 1808 “temple”, but also occasioned the removal of the 1955 stone plaque, which was dumped on the floor of the Royal Baths’ basement, where it probably remains to this day.

Thanks to the Harrogate Society, a new plaque was erected on the restored Tewit Well in 1975, to mark European Architectural Heritage Year, which was this author’s first Harrogate plaque text. It is still there, although as my opening remarks show, the weed-infested building is hardly a good advertisement for Harrogate’s care of its historic monuments.

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When council neglect nearly brought about the demolition of the Sun Pavilion in the 1980’s, it was the public who saved the building, thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Anne Smith and the Friends of Valley Gardens. At the time, the wonderful public response was accompanied by the feeling that the council could be relied upon to restore the Sun Colonnade, but this has never happened, and the exposed wooden roof is now decaying. What should be a well-used public exhibition space is instead open to the worst effects of rain, snow and ice. With its roof restored, the Sun Colonnade would be a perfect home for the Christmas Market and other public exhibitions.

Why, oh why, must it be me, and those who are like minded, who have to repeatedly express their dissatisfaction with the slovenly attitude of the authorities towards maintaining Harrogate’s attractions.

Did you know that the Stray Ferret has teamed up with Malcolm to produce audio walking tours of Harrogate? The walks are sponsored by the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and take you back to the Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa and a walk through the Commercial Heart of Harrogate. Why not take a walk back in time and learn about Harrogate’s glorious past.. They’re easy to do and a great day out. For more information click here.

Leading the digital revolution at Bettys

Words like ‘e-commerce’ and ‘digital’ don’t sit naturally with a company steeped in tradition like Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate.

Bettys, which is probably the Harrogate district’s most famous brand, is known for its timeless tearoom experience that echoes of a past dating back to 1919.

But times have changed and when covid forced the closure of its shops the company found it could not meet the online demand for its products.

Samantha Sargison, head of digital and corporate at Bettys, says:

“We forecast ahead and over the pandemic there were times when we were topping out the capacity of the bakery. Customers could not purchase for the next four to six weeks.

“It was disappointing that we couldn’t be there for them when they wanted us but in a way it’s a nice problem to have when you are surpassing demand in that way.”

Bettys, which is still owned by the family of its founder, Fredrick Belmont, hired Brighton-born Ms Sargison to the newly created role in 2017 in recognition of the need to improve digitally.

She had previously worked in London for the likes of Kurt Geiger and De Beers so the transition from selling luxury handbags and diamonds to luxury cakes came naturally.

Bettys has made significant progress in the four years since she joined. Online sales have trebled since 2017 and are 34 per cent up this year already on the figure for all of 2020, despite lockdowns. Ms Sargison says:

“We have more customers than ever ordering online with us. Our e-commerce customer numbers are up 168 per cent versus 2019 and 220 per cent up since I joined in 2017.”

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With shops shut during lockdown, necessity became the mother of invention as the company attempted to fulfil demand for its treats in new ways.

It introduced takeaway afternoon teas for collection during lockdown and when the tearooms reopened it started offering ‘shop from your table’, which allows customers to place takeaway orders at their tables and have their gifts packaged when they leave.

There are, however, limits to what Bettys customers would expect. Ms Sargison says:

“Customers won’t be ordering by app like they do in McDonald’s any time soon.”

She’s also adamant that e-commerce will never replace its tearooms in Harrogate, York, Northallerton and Ilkley.

“The tearooms are the beating heart of Bettys. It’s just another means of reaching the customer further afield.”

Christmas hampers

In retail, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Bettys’ Christmas catalogues land on doorsteps at the start of October and the orders will then fly in faster than ever until Christmas Eve.

Hampers are the main Christmas product but tea and scones and the famous Fat Rascals are also big business. The speed of digital growth makes forecasting supply difficult for a business selling perishable goods.

Cakes are made early each day at the bakery in Starbeck and dispatched by 4pm for next day UK delivery. Because Bettys doesn’t add preservatives, some products aren’t sold online because they won’t be fresh on arrival. Others are too fragile to post. Ms Sargison says:

“In some ways we’ve made a rod for our own back by maintaining the tradition of not adding preservatives.”

Eighty-five per cent of online orders are gifts, often bought by tech savvy younger people for older relatives so Bettys’ online offering has to be sharp.

“There’s still a lot to do on improving the website itself. It has massively improved from five years ago but still has a way to go to be as efficient and easy to use as possible.

“Last summer we launched the afternoon tea box. We relaunched the checkout this year. It’s about making sure the service and experience customers get online is the same as they get in the tearooms — service with a smile and a welcoming tone to the copy.”

Starbeck bakery

After months of furlough and working from home, Bettys staff are beginning to return to the office.

For Ms Sargison, who leads a team of 10 staff responsible for business-to-business sales, digital, e-commerce and innovation, this means travelling to Starbeck from Skipton.

Working above the bakery and being entitled to free lunches has its perks but it’s a lot of travelling for a mother living in Skipton with two children.

But she says she feels valued at Bettys, which she describes as the northern equivalent of Fortnum and Mason.

“It’s a family business and you feel it from the moment you join. I have worked for companies where I’ve felt like a cog in the wheel but I certainly don’t feel that here.

“Bettys has got a big vision. The pace might not be the same as it is in London but it has that same drive and ambition.”