A Harrogate travel agent has reported a surge in bookings since news of coronavirus vaccines broke, and says there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for the stricken industry.

Holidays have been cancelled and dream itineraries to far-flung destinations dismantled due to the pandemic.

The continued uncertainty over travel corridors and which countries people can and can’t visit has prompted many to curb their wanderlust and stay in the UK.

Melanie O’Boyle, owner of TravelGate, on Albert Street in Harrogate said it had been been a “very challenging” year but there were finally signs of an improvement.

“It’s been a very dark tunnel for the industry but we’re starting to see some light ahead. It’s been a minefield constantly reassessing where people can go.”

Read more:

• New Harrogate travel agent opens

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Melanie and her husband Phil have run their business in Harrogate for five years. The majority of the holidays they sell are long haul to countries such as Canada, the United States and Australia — and she said the vaccine has given travellers some confidence to start making plans for 2021.

“The vaccine news has given people that reassurance and the appetite is starting to come back. People are thinking ‘I can do this’.”

Melanie has a couple of recommendations for travellers looking to get away from the surgical masks, hand sanitisers and tiers that have dominated UK life in 2020:

“At the moment restrictions have been lifted in Dubai and Maldives. The hotels are geared up for tourists there. Villas are also popular as you have that private space and you’re not impacted by people around you or on top of you.”

A British dirt bike champion from Harrogate is part of a beefed-up team of off-road motorcycle police officers tackling rural crime in North Yorkshire.

PC Ellie Cooke is the 2019 British Enduro Champion, which is a form of off-road motorcycle racing. She is also the 2019 and 2020 British Sprint Champion.

PC Cooke’s riding talent is also helping North Yorkshire Police combat rural and wildlife crime, search for missing people and deter cross-border criminality.

Four new riders recently passed the College of Policing training, bringing to seven the total number of officers operating Honda CRF250L motorbikes in the county.

North Yorkshire Police increased the size of the team in response to rising levels of anti-social behaviour and crime associated with motorcycles.

The force received more than 100 calls about incidents linked to off-road bikes between April and July this year.

The off-road motorcycle team.

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PC Cooke, who will will combine her role in the motorcycle team with her job as a response officer in Harrogate, said:

“When I heard about the off-road motorcycle team, I knew that this would be the perfect role me, as I could transfer my off-road riding skills into work.

“I knew from a young age I wanted to be a police officer, and there is nothing better than being able to do the job I love while riding a motorbike.”

Inspector Kevin Kelly, who developed and implemented the team, said:

“I’m immensely proud of the team. This is arguably one of the most physically demanding roles in policing, and the officers have put a huge amount of work in to develop their skills and resilience.

“The team is now in a position to support a range of policing operations in urban and rural areas – from busy town centres to remote national parks. I know they will make a real difference in our communities.”

North Yorkshire’s director of public health, who has been at the forefront of the county’s coronavirus response, is leaving.

Dr Lincoln Sargeant will take up a new post as director of public health in Torbay, Devon.

Louise Wallace, assistant director for health and integration in North Yorkshire, will succeed him on an interim basis on Saturday, while retaining her current role.

Ms Wallace was the director of public health for Hartlepool from 2012 to 2017.

North Yorkshire County Council, which announced the news today, said in a statement Dr Sargeant had been instrumental in establishing the county’s public health service since the transfer of responsibilities from the NHS to local government in April 2013.

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Louise Wallace.

Richard Webb, the county council’s director of health and adult services, added:

“Lincoln has worked hard in providing public health leadership and expertise as we respond to the covid pandemic.

“Louise takes on this role at a critical time for public health. At this stage in the pandemic we must maintain our resolve and support for people in reducing the infection rate.”

A church in Blubberhouses will be decorated with Christmas trees this weekend as part of a festival to lift spirits after a tough year.

Mulled wine and mince pies will also be available to help visitors enjoy the experience at St Andrew’s Church, which is just off the A59 and close to Fewston reservoir parking.

Volunteers, parishioners and a local craft group have come together to trim a selection of trees and work on the homemade decorations.

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The event is free to attend. The church will be open for the festival from 11am to 4pm both days this weekend.

Besides the festive trees, there are also takeout refreshments on offer for any walkers in the area this weekend.

A primary school teacher is to spend several hours every Friday dressed as a tree outside Harrogate Borough Council’s offices as a protest against plans to extend a bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

Sarah Gibbs, who lives in Knaresborough, does not want the council to approve Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans, which would include felling trees.

Ms Gibbs began her one-woman protest at the council from 8am to 3.30pm on Friday and intends to repeat it every Friday for the foreseeable future.

Being a lone protester in the cold winter months will be tough but Ms Gibbs is passionate about the cause.

Dressed as a tree outside the council building and moving to keep herself warm, she told the Stray Ferret:

“I was here last Friday, I am here today and I will be here every Friday to demonstrate the importance of this issue.

“I just felt that I had to do something else and make more of a stand so I have planted myself here.

“There are lots of different groups working on this so I am hopeful they will take that into account and reject the proposal.”

A council decision on whether to grant Danone permission to extend its water bottling plant has been delayed from December until the new year.

The delay is to allow further discussions between Danone and environmental groups about the company’s plans to compensate for the loss of trees and biodiversity.

It means Ms Gibbs could be protesting for many weeks to come.

Read more:

• Harrogate Spring Water Pinewoods plans: decision delayed
• Greens petition against Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans

A spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group told the Stray Ferret it hoped the extra time would result in a plan that is “acceptable to all parties”.

The spokesperson said:

“We welcome the pause on this planning application and the offer from Harrogate Spring Water for further discussion on this important topic.

“There was a clear condition on the original planning application that there must be replacement land and trees to compensate for the ecological loss to the area.”

A life of campaigning and activism

Not only does Ms Gibbs protest against Pinewood but she is also a fierce critic of the high speed train line, HS2.

If the project, which has a £44.6 billion budget for its first phase, goes ahead Sarah believes it would be an environmental disaster.

She feels so passionately she travels around the country and ties herself to trees to get her message across and put pressure on government.

“It might not be happening outside my doorstep but my local environment is connected to the rest of the UK and the world. I wanted to see the truth of HS2 for myself. There’s absolute devastation taking place.

“I think that HS2 will result in ecological collapse. Those animals will return to their habitats but they will no longer be there. It is just insanity, none of it really makes sense to me. Without the protesters there we fear what they will do.”

The government disputes Ms Gibbs’ claims and believes HS2 is critical for the UK’s low carbon transport future.

The high speed rail line will connect the likes of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh.

However, Ms Gibbs believes the economic and environmental cost of the project is too high.

Some projections put the full cost at £230 billion. The Wildlife Trusts found that it would risk the loss of 693 wildlife sites and 108 ancient woodlands.

A before and after picture of Rugby Road where Sarah protested against HS2.

Ms Gibbs’ experience of campaigning at Rugby Road (pictured above) near Leamington Spa at the end of August until the beginning of October had a major impact. She said:

“The space they are clearing is phenomenal. When you start looking into it you think ‘I can’t not do something’ even if it is just signing a petition online or going to a camp. Any small or big actions can make a difference.

“I have seen some real brutality against the protesters. People have had their fingers broken but it doesn’t deter me. If anything it makes me feel more determined and makes people want to fight against HS2 more.”

A new cafe is opening in Harrogate today to serve up healthy foods and drinks despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Hustle and Co is based on Station Parade and takes over the unit once occupied by Filmore and Union until last year.

Nici Routledge and Jo Bradshaw are behind the new cafe, which has created 15 new jobs for the area.

Jo told the Stray Ferret ahead of the opening:

“I think people will see it is quite different and in a very nice way and I do believe we’re offering things you can’t get anywhere else locally.

“We will be serving up smoothie bowls which will be really pretty and also really good for you. That’s the important thing for us, that it’s full of goodness.”

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The cafe will also serve up matcha waffles, gulten-free banana bread, fresh juices, coffee and more from 8am until early evening.

Nici also told the Stray Ferret that the latest lockdown was not going to stop the cafe:

“We both think that there are opportunities through challenging situations. If nothing else through this year there’s been a shift of mindset.

“I think more people want to support local. I think people are really buying into that now so that’s positive.”

A 150 self-care gift packages will be ready to be delivered to health care workers today to thank them for working through the pandemic.

David Billington began the project as he wanted to say thank you staff in care homes. As an ex-care home manager himself, David said he knows how much pressure the staff have been working under.

During the pandemic he has worked closely with care home workers, in his role as a funeral director, and began reaching out to local businesses to help.  Soon had 23 local companies offering vouchers and products.

Well known businesses and organisations including Harrogate Rotary, Hugh Rice Family Jewellers and Mama Doreen’s worked with David to bring some festive cheer to local front line workers.

A total of 150 packages are now ready to be delivered from today to Harrogate district care homes.

Care homes have nominated staff members that have gone above and beyond to receive this little pick-me-up.

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David Billington, now a funeral director at Full Circle Funerals, said:

“Some staff were working such long hours and I saw all they were doing and knew I had to do something to help. We needed to say thanks. So many people have been lovely and generous and it has just highlighted to me the community in Harrogate. It has definitely exceeded my expectations.”

The care packs will be delivered by Full Circle Funerals to nominated staff from Henshaws, Granby and Granby Rose Care Homes, Berwick Grange, Harrogate Skills for Living and Vida Grange throughout this week.

A Harrogate charity is holding a virtual comedy night to raise funds for bone cancer research.

Frank’s Fund was set up in memory of Harrogate school boy Frank Ashton. Frank was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2016 and died in February 2019 aged 14.

Last year Frank’s family along with Maisie Adam, charity patron and comedian, organised a comedy night at St Aidan’s High School – Frank and Maisie were students here. It raised £13,000 for the charity.

This year it has been moved online and will include huge names such as Russell Kane, seen on Live at the Apollo and 8 out of 10 Cats, and Angela Barnes, from Mock the Week.

The event will be held at 7pm on Friday, December 11 via zoom. To buy a ticket, click here.

Frank’s family and Maisie Adam with some of last year’s comedians at the 2019 event.

All of the night’s proceeds go to Frank’s Fund. Frank’s family say one of their specific goals is to raise awareness for Frank’s type of cancer.

Frank went to the doctors four times before he was referred for further tests. The family says early diagnosis is really important and hopes more people getting involved with the charity will mean its message goes further.

Mike Ashton, Frank’s dad, said:

“It was a big success last year but this year is more difficult. With it being £10 for the link we have to sell more tickets which is a challenge, but we are doing well so far.

Frank used to really like comedy it was one of those things that really helped him during treatment, he really got a kick out of it.”

Read more:

• Charity Corner: Ashton family set up Frank’s Fund to remember ‘brave and funny’ Frank. 
• Harrogate district charities set to receive a big boost after Harrogate Borough Council donate £200,000.

A charity auction is also included in the night’s running order. A signed Chelsea shirt and a holiday are up for grabs.

Maisie Adam said:

“I think it is a bonus because going virtual means we can have people from all over the UK. Since becoming a patron it has made me realise how close to home it can be, anyone you know could be affected by this type of cancer and that’s why its important for me to be a part of it.

“This year has been difficult for everyone but small charities have had a tough year so it’s more important than ever to support them.”

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in Harrogate and Ripon has pulled together a list pubs that are opening this weekend to encourage visitors.

Under the new restrictions only those selling substantial meals can reopen meaning many pubs in the Harrogate district are remaining closed.

CAMRA has put together a list of all of the pubs across the Harrogate district able to open this weekend. The group has also put together other lists including pubs offering an alcohol takeaway service.

The branch has warned that without public support some pubs may not make it through to the new year.

The branch secretary, Steve Fairweather, said:

“Pubs in our area face a very uncertain future following the tier two restrictions and reevaluation of tiers on the 16th December.

“Please show your support for your local pubs over the next few weeks, either by going for a meal or using take away services offered as government support is minimal and we fear that if we don’t support them now, it will be too late for most come January.”

The group is also encouraging people to write to their MP. It says it is important to gain government support for local pubs that are struggling.

Read more:

• Harrogate district pubs voice their concerns after being put into tier two. 
• Despite very few cases pubs have to stay closed in Pateley Bridge.

What classes as a substantial meal caused controversy this week after the government was forced to correct a statement made by George Eustice, the environment minister, who said a scotch egg “probably would count”.

The government has confirmed bar snacks are not substantial meals. Guidelines state it must be a “table meal”, it is expected to stand alone as a person’s main meal day or evening.

Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA has said the smallest meals it has seen being served locally are half a pizza and a ploughman’s meal at £3 each.

Creativity, craft and lots of conversations. That is what it takes for this unique Harrogate jewellers to turn an idea of the perfect ring into a sparkling reality.

Melanie and Robert Earl started Rubie Rae out of a shed in their back garden and, while they have grown over the years, they never plan to open a shop.

The jewellers have made their name on their engagement rings, which are all made to order and designed with a sheet of paper and pencils.

Many do their designs on computers these days but Melanie feels that the classic style of sketching helps her to create something special.

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One of their main obstacles over the years has been getting over the word bespoke. Robert, who used to work for an Italian gold chain manufacturer, told the Stray Ferret:

“We design to suit your style, your taste and your budget. But that word bespoke makes everyone run for the hills, they think it’s going to cost a fortune.

“But because we don’t have the overheads that come with bricks and mortar or with keeping stock it means that we can pass those savings onto the customer.”

Before Rubie Rae, Melanie was a top designer at a major jewellers in Leeds flying around the world. But when it came to starting a family she wanted to be a little closer to home.

Family is a big part of their business. When they were setting up the jewellers they lost their daughter. Melanie and Robert had planned to call her Rubie Rae, so her legacy now lives on.

Both clearly enjoy their work. It is a major highlight for them when they hear that the ring has finally been used in the proposal.

They get so involved in the process that they are sometimes invited to the weddings. Melanie, with a big smile on her face, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is quite good fun, it is really nice to get involved. We are the people that they can actually talk to about their proposals when they are trying to keep it secret.

“Because we don’t have premises we go out and meet them wherever for a chat. We can meet in town somewhere or at a hotel, so it is very relaxed.

“Some people are a bit wary at first but the more they see what we have done and look at our reviews it gives them confidence.”

This is part of the Stray Ferret’s ‘hidden gem’ series, highlighting small, independent businesses. They need to be tucked away but growing in popularity with an eye-catching and unique product or approach. Send us an email with your nominations.