A man was rescued from the River Ure at Sharow, near Ripon, today.
Firefighters were called to the river near Lowfield Lane at 9.39am this morning.
According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log, water crews from Ripon, Boroughbridge, Richmond, Harrogate and Selby “responded to a report of a male partially in the river”.
The incident log adds:
“The man was brought back up the embankment by fire crews and paramedics on a spinal board, to a waiting helicopter, for transfer to hospital with hypothermic symptoms.”
No further details have been provided.
Read more:
- Hotspots cause second fire in days at old rectory near Ripon
- Cuts to Harrogate fire crews would ‘put money before lives’, says ex-firefighter
North Yorkshire Council chief executive to be paid up to £197,000
The chief executive of the new North Yorkshire Council will be paid a maximum salary of £197,000, it has been revealed.
The new council, which will employ more than 10,000 staff, will come into existence on April 1 next year.
Seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, will be abolished, along with North Yorkshire County Council.
The chief executive recruitment process will be overseen by a cross-party chief officer appointment and disciplinary committee, which met today to consider the salary as well as the recruitment process and job description.
One of the committee’s roles will be to decide whether to appoint an executive search agent, at an anticipated cost of £30,000, to help the process.
A report on the recruitment process to councillors at North Yorkshire County Council said the salary package had been benchmarked against similar public sector roles nationally. The report adds:
“The sample data shows the pay for unitary councils of a similar size to North Yorkshire falls within a salary range of £188,000 to £216,000 per annum.
“However, the proposed salary limit for the new chief executive is £197,000.
“Set against the current combined packages for the eight chief executives of North Yorkshire councils, this would deliver an annual saving in excess of £1 million.”
Read more:
- Decision on Harrogate town council could take two years
- Harrogate district’s leisure and housing companies ‘will transfer’ to North Yorkshire Council
£30m saving a year
Ending the two-tier system of local government in North Yorkshire is expected to save about £30m a year in total.
Carl Les
County council leader Carl Les, who is chairing the chief officer appointment and disciplinary committee, said:
“Our new council will be one of the largest local authorities nationally, providing essential services to more than 600,000 people.
“The chief executive will need to manage a revenue budget of around £1.4 billion and the new council will have an ongoing capital programme of around £350 million.
“In addition to the vast array of council services and functions, this job also includes heading up the council’s commercial operations at a critical time.
The report to councillors includes details of the current salaries of council leaders in North Yorkshire. It can be seen below.
Unions call for Harrogate council staff to get £2,000 pay rise
Harrogate Borough Council staff should receive a minimum £2,000 salary increase, according to trade unions.
Unison, GMB and Unite today formally lodged the 2022/23 pay claim for local government workers.
The claim also called for a covid recognition payment, a national minimum agreement on homeworking policies for all councils, the introduction of a home working allowance and a reduction in the working week to 35 hours.
It is the start of a negotiation process with the Local Government Association, the national membership body for local authorities. The claim is for all council workers in England and Wales.
David Houlgate, secretary of the Harrogate local government branch of Unison, said council employees had seen their pay reduced by 27% in real terms over the last decade.
He added:
“Councils can’t get staff and they can’t keep staff because of pay. They need to wake up and smell the coffee.
“It is impacting services, such as swimming pools being open for reduced hours, bins not being collected as often, streets not being cleaned and streetlights not being fixed.
“I’ve worked for the local council for 25 years and I’ve never known it to be as bad as this.”
Read more:
- Woodfield school closure ‘an absolute disgrace’, says union
- North Yorkshire fire service ‘struggling to buy the basics’, says union
Mr Houlgate said staff morale was poor and the looming abolition of Harrogate Borough Council had created extra uncertainty but the key issue was pay and recruitment. He added:
“If local councils can’t be competitive with other employers we are not going to overcome the recruitment problem.”
Responding to the unions’ claims, Cllr Sian Timoney, chair of the National Employers at the Local Government Association, said:
How the Harrogate district celebrated the jubilee“We will be consulting with councils during June to seek their views which will inform the National Employers’ response to the unions.
“Local government continues to face significant financial challenges, which became more acute during the pandemic, having lost more than £15 billion in government funding since 2010.
“As well as rising inflation, cost of living, energy and fuel prices, the forecast increases to the National Living Wage also presents a significant cost to local government that will put further pressure on council budgets.”
From street parties to concerts, the Harrogate district celebrated the Queen’s platinum jubilee in style this past week.
Across the district people draped themselves and their neighbourhoods in red, white and blue as part of the four-day bank holiday weekend.
In Harrogate, a jubilee square was set up just for the occasion while Ripon had a feast of celebrations in the market square.
Read More:
- New horn is the jewel in the crown of Ripon’s royal celebrations
- Your memories of how the district celebrated the Queen’s silver jubilee in 1977
Masham featured a parade of floats and fancy dress, and Knaresborough had an array of events to mark the jubilee.
The Stray Ferret was out every day capturing the celebrations and you can watch our montage of how the district celebrated the jubilee below.
Jubilee celebrations in Harrogate district draw to a close
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.
A feast of street parties is set to bring the jubilee weekend to a close. We will be praying for fine weather and covering the festivities in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, as well as the villages in between.
Our reporters will be out and about but please let us know what’s happening where you are and send us pictures so we can add them to this blog. DM us on Facebook or email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
5.35pm: Jubilee reunion for sisters of 1977
Three sisters who celebrated the 1977 silver jubilee waving flags did the same thing today on the same street where they grew up.
Their parents, David and Nelda, are one of two original families still living on Carr Close in Ripon. The couple, aged 82, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary this year.
They bought the house new in 1973 and all three daughters live around the corner.
That seems like a fitting way to end our four days of live jubilee coverage. We hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for all your photos of beacons, street parties, pig races and everything else.
We will publish a jubilee photo gallery tomorrow.
4.46pm: Ripon rotary clubs unite
The family day provided a meeting point for friends from the Rotary Club of Ripon and Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels, whose charity work can be seen all over the city. They were joined by major Ripon benefactor Michael Abrahams (left).
He is pictured with, from the left: Peter Race (Rotary Club of Ripon) Josie Suddards (Inner Wheel of the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels) Janet Race, Jenny Moss and Audrey Long (all members of the Inner Wheel of Ripon Rotary Club) and, front David Suddards of the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels, which gave platinum jubilee pennies to every pupil at the 17 primary schools in Ripon and neighbouring villages.
After such a busy week for event stewards Elaine Reed (pictured left) and Cat Midgley, you might have expected them to be flagging, but there were smiles from them right until the end of four fantastic days that underlined Ripon’s status as one on the most royal and loyal places in the land.
3.55pm: Ripon’s big weekend draws to a close
Ripon’s packed programme of jubilee events is coming to an end. Our city-based reporter Tim has been at the heart of things for the last four days.
It was a day for both waving and wearing the flag, as the curtain came down on Ripon’s platinum jubilee celebrations with the focus on families, as epitomised by the fact that great grandmother Hazel Barker, of event organiser The Ripon Community Poppy Project had four generations of her family present, including grandson Martin Wright and great grandchildren Evie (aged 6) and cousins Alana and Imogen aged 5.
For Martin, it was an opportunity to dress to impress, with his Union Jack jacket, trousers and hat.
Ensuring that activities went off safely, was Andy Langford (pictured left) the safety manager overseeing four days of revelry in Ripon Market Square and this afternoon’s family day in Spa Park. He is pictured with Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, who told the Stray Ferret:
“The city-wide celebrations have been amazing and Ripon has done Her Majesty proud.”
3.05pm: Neighbours sing along to Sweet Caroline
This is what it’s all about… dancing in the street with neighbours to Sweet Caroline.
Almost 100 people from Carr Close in Ripon and invited guests got together this afternoon after resident Jennifer Spurgeon applied to close the street.
The gathering included a couple from Australia, who are friends with people who live on Carr Close.
June Wren, 91, wore a hat her mother made for the coronation in 1953.
There was a Queen’s pudding tent, line dancing and badminton.
2.40pm: Maypole fun in Burton Leonard
2.15pm: Band starts family fun in Ripon’s Spa Park
The Ripon City Band kicked off Spa Park’s Platinum Jubilee family day with an ABBA medley..
1.40pm: Huby gets in the swing
There’s a fabulous party going on in Strait Lane, Huby. Below are some images we’ve been sent.
Send us pics of your jubilee events today and we will include then in our blog. DM us on Facebook or email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
1.25pm: Street parties underway!
Valerie Sanderson, 99, was invited to cut the ribbon this afternoon to start the street party in Almsford Oval, Harrogate.
The street is having a bake-off at 3pm organised by resident Karen Loughran.
Here’s a video and some images of the party.
Jake Crossfield who is 3 years old sent the Queen a letter and drew a picture of her majesty on it to tell her the street was having a party. She wrote back to thank him and wished him a lovely time!
Jean Whinnett who organised making the banner with her husband Alan said:
“We wanted to include all the children in the street – around 20 children were involved. The youngest was 6 months! We have an amazing community here. Everybody takes part”
1.02pm: Ripon Spa Park hosts family afternoon
From 2pm to 5pm today, Ripon Spa Park will be the main focus of the city’s final jubilee celebrations. The family day includes an afternoon tea along with music and children’s entertainment, including face painting, jubilee crafts and a treasure hunt led by Ripon Community Poppy Project. Members of Ripon City Band will performing its version of Last Night at the Proms.
12.32pm: Spitfire flypast at Newby Hall cancelled
Bad news – the weather has put paid to today’s Spitfire flypast at Tractor Fest at Newby Hall, near Boroughbridge.
@thestrayferret @your_harrogate @HgateAdvertiser @yorkshirepost Unfortunately bad weather in the South means no Spitfire flypast over the show today. Still lots of tractors and engines to enjoy though on our final day! #ripon @visitripon #yorkshire #tractor #tractors
— Tractor Fest (@thetractorfest) June 5, 2022
12.23pm: Picnic on the Stray in Harrogate
A picnic has just got underway on the Stray. Later in the day it will broadcast the films Encanto and The Greatest Showman on the big screens at 3pm and 5pm respectively.
Here’s a pic from last night’s big screen broadcast of the jubilee party at Buckingham Palace.
11.41am: Thunderstorm weather warning removed!
The weather forecast continues to inch in the right direction. The yellow weather warming for thunderstorms in the Harrogate district has been removed and the maximum temperature forecast has crept up to, er, 14 degrees centigrade!
Good news!
The yellow thunderstorm warning that just crept in to our district for today has been cancelled. While we may still see rain there are currently no weather warnings in force for the HBC area and the flood risk is very low.
Have a grand Sunday. pic.twitter.com/BzUb9SeTXl
— HBCEmergencyPlanning (@HBCPrepared) June 5, 2022
11.26am: Free electric buses today
The electric service on the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 are free today as part of a joint initiative between the Harrogate Bus Company and Harrogate Business Improvement District.
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1533347639856484352
10.20am: 3,000 people party in Ripon as new horn handed over
Ripon’s impressive bank holiday celebrations continued yesterday when about 3,000 people attended the Market Square celebrations, which included 12 hours of live music.
Last night also saw the new ceremonial horn handed over. You can read more here.
9.47am: 500 people expected at Bishop Monkton street party
Bishop Monkton is preparing to stage one of the biggest street parties in the Harrogate district today. The throne which will transport the village Queen at the head of a ‘seven decades’ fancy dress parade is ready and the village is expecting to have an even bigger event than the last jubilee in 2012 with almost 500 people, about two thirds of the population, booked to attend.
9.27am: Free entertainment for kids about to start in Valley Gardens
It’s your last chance to catch the runaway train, bungee jump on trampolines and enjoy numerous other rides for children. There will also be magicians, a choir, juggling and face painting.
9.22am: Weather forecast improves!
We’ve had three days of mainly pleasant jubilee weather. Today’s forecast has looked a bit iffy for a while and although you’re unlikely to need your sun cream, with temperatures struggling to get above 14 degrees centigrade in Harrogate, the threat of rain has receded sightly.
It was due to rain from about midday but according to the latest update from the BBC, it might hold off until this evening. There’s also the small matter of a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in place, but let’s not worry about that just yet.
9.15am: Where the Stray Ferret reporters will be today
Tim will be covering events in Ripon.
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.
Harrogate district jubilee: Relive Saturday’s celebrations
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.
It’s the Saturday of the jubilee weekend and we will be covering all the festivities in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, and the villages in between.
Our reporters will be out and about but please let us know what’s happening where you are and if we can’t attend we will add it to this blog. DM us on Facebook or email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Today’s highlights include:
- Party in the Park in Pateley Bridge
- Free live music in Ripon’s Market Square.
- Horse racing on the big screen on the Stray in Harrogate.
- See our full jubilee what’s on guide here.
6.06pm: Harry Gration cuts the ribbon in Valley Gardens
5.38pm: Saturday night partying begins
There is free live music in Harrogate and Ripon tonight and, mercifully, it’s still sunny.
The big screens on the Stray in Harrogate will be showing Ed Sheeran and others at Buckingham Palace while in Ripon, where they have had two days of solid live music, there will be tribute acts signing the songs of Elvis, Tina Turner, Madonna, Madness and Little Mix in Market Square.
5.03pm: Mr Snout wins Birstwith Pig Race
A wacky village tradition finally made its comeback today as the Birstwith Pig Race returned to the Station Hotel.
For £5 you could sponsor the race and for £3 you could name one of the battery-powered pigs.
In the first round it was between Mr Snout, Stinky Pig, Chunky Cheeks, Miss Piggy and Peppa Pig.
You can watch the video here.
4.58pm: Street Party on Harrogate ‘s Stray
There are two concerts on the Stray tonight. Street Party starts at 5pm, followed by Party at the Palace at 7pm.
3.58pm: Prince of Wales leads celebrations in Starbeck
Not the actual Prince of Wales, but the Prince of Wales pub in the centre of Starbeck, which is probably just as well known locally as Prince Charles.
The large pub has hosted a family party this afternoon, organised by Starbeck Community Group, with the proceeds from the raffles and stalls going to a Starbeck charity.
Tonight, from 7pm, the adults take over for a night of games and karaoke.
Iron Man was among those making an appearance. He should be safe walking home tonight.
3.30pm: Tractor parade and BBQ in the sun at Kirkby Malzeard
Hillside Playing Fields is the place to be in Kirkby Malzeard today.
As Suzannah arrived some families were just drying off after taking part in a friendly ‘It’s a Knockout’ tournament.
The BBQ was well underway with organiser Marlon Johnson saying they’ve already had to make an emergency trip to the shops after running out on burgers.
Today was the third day of festivities in the village with the highlight being this morning’s tractor parade through the town.
Marlon said he expects people to be on the fields until 5pm with other activities including a tug of war and egg throwing planned later this afternoon.
He said:
“I’m amazed by how many people have come down, I think the weather definitely helped. It’s great to get everyone together again.”
2pm: Rocking around Pateley Bridge bandstand
Pateley Bridge’s ‘Party in the Park’ was enjoyed by hundreds this afternoon with many bobbing along to second act of the day Ant & Frank.
The event is being held in the town’s recreation ground until 3pm.
Our roaming reporter Suzannah filmed a Facebook live of the performance, check it out here:
1.14pm: Dachshunds dominate in Knaresborough
Two Dachshunds caught the eye of the judges in the prettiest dog contest in Knaresborough today.
The winning dogs are in the top picture.
Our devastated reporter Tom, whose dog didn’t get the verdict, has at least had the pleasure of meeting town crier Roger Hewitt, who in a former life taught Tom chemistry at Harrogate Grammar School.
1pm: Pateley’s Picnic in the Park gets underway
Our reporter Suzannah has hot-footed it from Knaresborough to Pateley Bridge where 150 people are already at the recreation ground to enjoy the town’s big event today, Party in the Park.
Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Band has kicked things off and two other acts are set to follow this afternoon.
The free event, organised by Bewerley Parish Council and Pateley Bridge Town Council, runs until 3pm today.
Event manager Tracey Dawson said:
“I’m just so pleased with how many people have come out. It’s all generations coming together and enjoying the weekend.”
12.45pm: Knaresborough sisters meet town crier
The flag parade has been Knaresborough’s morning highlight. Scroll down to see our reporter Suzannah’s video of it.
Caroline McHuge sent us this lovely picture of her children Elodie (left) and Clemmie with town crier Roger Hewitt. Keep your pictures coming!
12.27pm: Patriotic pug in Harrogate
There seems to be a lot of dog action on our website today — dog shows, stray dogs and now a jubilee dog. It’s all good.
Sue Lovatt from Harrogate sent us this picture of her adorable pug Betsy, as well as this picture of the Queen making an appearance in her window, waving at passers by.
Do send us your jubilee pictures and we will add them to our live blog. You can DM us on Facebook or email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
11.59am: Knaresborough’s Market Cross looking splendid
Thanks to Lesley Dalton, who has written to say Knaresnorough Flower Club has installed bunting and flowers on the Market Cross in Knaresborough’s historic Market Square.
The cross was erected in 1953 for the Queen’s coronation so it’s very fitting, Lesley adds.
Our reporter Tom has entered his pet into the prettiest dog category in the dog show in Knaresborough today. Do you think she has a chance? She’s looking a bit camera shy here. Or perhaps the pre-match nerves are kicking in. Come on, number 6!
11.28am: Knaresborough festivities underway with flag parade
Children dressed in red, white and blue and waved homemade flags for the Knaresborough Flag Parade today.
Families, local cadets and town crier Roger Hewitt marched through Market Place to the grounds of Knaresborough House.
Stray Ferret reporter Suzannah was there — you can watch her video here.
This afternoon multiple events are taking place in the town, including dog shows, band performances and the museum exhibition at Knaresborough House.
10.55am: Thunderstorm threat to tomorrow’s street parties
Harrogate Borough Council has highlighted the threat posed by a Met Office weather warning, which is in place from midnight tonight until 6pm tomorrow.
A Yellow thunderstorm warning will be in place from midnight tonight to 6pm tomorrow that just catches the bottom part of our district. More info below: https://t.co/lBYAWuQYWc
— HBCEmergencyPlanning (@HBCPrepared) June 4, 2022
10.29am: The Queen in Harrogate in 1957
Great photo of Her Majesty at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1957 — the year of the Suez crisis and when Paul McCartney and John Lennon first met.
https://twitter.com/nyccarchives/status/1533010681984782338
10.18am: Hog roast in Bishop Monkton
The highlight of Saturday’s jubilee celebrations in Bishop Monkton will be a hog roast in the centre of the village.
The cooking of the 87kg pig started at 4am this morning in preparation for a day which will also include duck races down the beck running through the village, tabletop pig races and a village ceilidh.
9.50am: Live music and new jubilee horn in Ripon
The royal revelry continues in Ripon’s Market Square today with tribute acts signing the songs of Elvis, Tina Turner, Madonna, Madness and Little Mix.
Striking a different note just before 9pm, the Ripon Platinum Jubilee Horn will be officially handed over to the city by ‘Mr Ripon’, former mayor and Freeman of the City, John Richmond, when he presents the specially commissioned instrument to Ripon’s new mayor, Cllr Sid Hawke.
9.41am: More free rides for children in Valley Garden
Valley Gardens is again offering free rides for children.
Elsewhere in Harrogate, there will be street entertainers in the town centre and the big screen on the Stray will be showing horse racing. The Stray will also host a wellbeing morning and another Harrogate mastermind quiz before some tribute acts take to the stage.
Here’s a pic of yesterday’s dog show.
9.22am: Festivities in Kirkby Malzeard, Laverton and Dallowgill
Thanks to Pippa Manson, chairperson of Kirkby Malzeard, Laverton and Dallowgill Parish Council for sending us these images of what’s been going on in the parish.
Let us know what’s happening where you are and we will add it to this blog.
Garden party yesterday afternoon at Laverton.
Reeth Brass Band in Kirkby.
Thursday’s night’s bonfire beacon at Greygarth.
9am: Where the Stray Ferret reporters will be today
Suzannah will be in Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Kirkby Malzeard and Birstwith.
Tim will be covering events in 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.
Harrogate district jubilee: what happened on day 2
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.
Union Jack flies high at Newby Hall’s Tractor Fest
After two years away, Tractor Fest returned to Newby Hall to mark the platinum jubilee celebrations in its unique way.
Scattered across the famous gardens were an estimated 1,000 exhibitors, including tractors adorned for the occasion.
Hundreds of people ranging from hardcore enthusiasts and novices, flocked to the stately home near Boroughbridge to enjoy an array of machinery, engines, attractions and even some vintage car displays.
Kevin Watson, organiser of the festival, said he was initially nervous about returning after so long away.
The festival was one of many mainstay events in the Harrogate district which fell victim to the covid pandemic in 2020.
Ian Muir and tractor fest organiser Kevin Watson with a golden painted Queens coronation tractor.
Kevin said:
“It has been a while and we wondered if we had done the right thing in making it a three day event.
“But, in the end it feels like we have never been away.”
The return of the popular festival coincides with the landmark platinum jubilee and it would have been remiss of those regular exhibitors not to mark it in their own way.
Read more:
- Village near Knaresborough creates collage to mark jubilee
- JUBILEE LIVE: Parade in Masham, street opera in Harrogate
Among the thousands of tractors was one special exhibit, which stood out with its golden paint and draped in Union Jack bunting.
The golden coronation tractor which was introduced in 1953 is owned by Northumbrian Ian Muir, who had to rebuild it twice to get it into shape to display at festivals.
Marking the jubilee
Elsewhere, engine enthusiasts were also marking the jubilee in their own way.
Tom and Alison Moffat made the three-hour journey from Ayre in Scotland to be among fellow engine collectors.
Tom’s engine was made in 1939 at the outbreak of the war and was used as an emergency lighting plant for Ballochmyle Hospital in Ayrshire.
Hundreds flocked to Newby Hall for the return of Tractor Fest.
The couple have toured the exhibit around various festivals, but today they decided to flock our their stall in red, white and blue.
After learning they were going to be at Tractor Fest over the jubilee weekend, Alison borrowed some of her parents flags which had also been used as part of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1977.
She said:
“I borrowed them from my parents, who had also used them to celebrate. We felt we had to mark it.”
Mervyn Hoyle with his vintage car at Newby Hall.
Those who brought vintage cars to the festival were also in on the celebrations.
Mervyn Hoyle bought his 1933 Austin Seven deluxe saloon 42 years ago and prided himself on keeping it in good condition ever since.
He and his sister draped the car in red, white and blue for the occasion and his fellow collectors even set up a picnic table for the weekend.
To top off the day’s entertainment, a Hawker Hurricane took to the skies above Newby Hall.
While people filled the streets and bunting adorned buildings across the Harrogate district, the Tractor Fest marked the occasion in its own way.
Five of today’s jubilee highlights in the Harrogate districtThe 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
Harrogate district jubilee: day one blog
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.