Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the Boroughbridge and Claro division which will see five candidates standing for election.

Robert Windass, Conservative

Robert Windass is the Conservative candidate for the Boroughbridge and Claro division.

Mr Windass currently sits as a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and represents the area on the authority.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Harrison for comment for this preview, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A Conservative party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they were confident in their election campaign and pledged to continue investing in services across North Yorkshire if elected.

A party spokesperson said:

“The Conservatives are fielding an experienced slate of candidates. This is important as we argue the case for local services with settlements from Selby to Richmond and Whitby to Settle.

“That case includes continued investment in local services that has seen a new pool in Ripon and the start of a new pool and leisure centre in Knaresborough.

“We are investing in the Hydro to provide more leisure facilities for local people.

“We need to continue the investment in our conference centre adapting it to the modern conference and exhibition industry. The centre underpins thousands of jobs across the district and brings in an estimated £29m to the local economy.”

Clark Pearson, Green Party

Clark Pearson is the green Party division on May 5.

Mr Pearson has lived in Knaresborough for the last 10 years. He has an interest in geography and architecture.

He said he was standing as he wants to protect the area from the climate emergency.

Mr Pearson said:

“It is one of the most picturesque places I know. With that in mind, why are we ruining, Knaresborough, Britain, and the world? 

“The planet is suffocating under a blanket of plastic and being warmed by a thermal insulation of CO2, all caused by this selfish animal we call humans.”

Jon Starkey, Independent

Jon Starkey will be standing as an independent candidate in Boroughbridge and Claro division.

Mr Starkey lives in Boroughbridge and is self-employed, working in event sound, lighting and audio visual.

He said his priorities for standing include lower council tax, tackling litter and fly-tipping, improving bus services, stopping major housing developments and improving accountability of councillors.

He said:

“I am a non-political candidate who is not governed or regulated by the policies of the national parties, consequently,

“I can better represent the interests and the residents of the area by saying exactly what I think without the need to tow the party line, and bring a whole new common sense attitude to local government.”

Read more:

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• Full list of election candidates in Harrogate district revealed

Andrew Bell, Liberal Democrat

Andrew Bell will be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Boroughbridge and Claro division.

Mr Bell, who lives in Knaresborough, said he is standing to tackle environmental issues and “improve the area”.

He set up Knaresborough Wombles, a group which litter picking group in the town.

Mr Bell said:

“I believe that we need to see a significant improvement in recycling rates, significantly increased electric car charging points, improvements to house building standards and introduction of local renewable energy schemes such as more local hydroelectric generating schemes.

“It important that the county council does more to support improved high street economies for towns such as Boroughbridge.”

Noel Evans, Independent

Noel Evans will be standing as an independent candidate in the division.

Mr Evans, who lives in Goldsborough, said he was standing after having “direct dealings” with Harrogate Borough Council over a planning matter.

He said:

“I put myself forward having seen, first-hand through direct dealings with the Council on a local planning matter, how council officials and councillors (of both parties) are entirely focussed on matters deemed ‘important’ for the council with total disregard for the residents of the area, who as council-taxpayers pay their wages and allowances and vote to keep them in office.

“The new North Yorkshire Council needs a new start with new people. And local decision making rather than influence from national political parties. We need independent councillors.”

However, Mr Evans added that he had would also be urging people to vote for Mr Starkey as two independents stand in the division.

He said he was doing this because the area needed “independent and local decisions made for the ward by a councillor living in the ward”.

Parents of children at Boroughbridge High School have criticised Transdev after they claimed the bus company didn’t tell them a school route had been cut.

The V22 Vamooz service took children on the outskirts of Ripon to and from the school in Boroughbridge.

Vamooz is owned by Transdev, which operates several bus services in the Harrogate district, including the 36.

Two parents today told the Stray Ferret they were not told by Vamooz or Transdev that the service was being withdrawn, which meant children were left waiting this morning for a bus that never arrived. They called the situation “chaotic”.

Shanagh Brown’s 15-year-old daughter was unable to make it to school today from her home in Wormald Green.

Ms Brown said she had struggled to get any information about what alternative bus routes to the school there were for her daughter. She feared her child would have to catch a 36 bus into Ripon at 7.15am in order to get to school on time.

Ms Brown said:

“My daughter is upset, she’s just had Easter and wants to get back to school to start revising for her GCSES. 

“I found out from another parent that Transdev were withdrawing the service due to low passenger numbers.

“It’s a nightmare and I’m stressing out.”

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Philippa Graham’s 12-year-old son also goes to Boroughbridge High.

He has caught the V22 from Lead Lane for the past two years but returned home this morning after the bus never arrived.

Ms Graham said she was not aware the service had been cut, which she said led to a stressful day for her family.

“Our son came back home having gone to catch his bus and said ‘it’s not turned up mum’.”

“It’s utterly chaotic.”

‘No longer sustainable’

Vamooz’s website says children who normally catch the V22 are able to catch the 36 bus to Ripon from their usual stops before getting another bus, the 22, from Ripon Bus Station.

A Transdev spokesperson said bus passes for the V22 are valid on the 36 and 22. They said all school bus passengers were told that the service was being withdrawn.

They added:

“Less than 10 customers per day used this bus, which was obviously no longer sustainable, and each were contacted via email to make them aware of alternative buses they could use or take up the opportunity of a refund.”

From Ripon UK, to Ripon, California USA,  John Richmond’s memoirs have proved a transatlantic hit.

In less than a month, every copy of the first-time author’s book Beyond the Farm Gate has been sold and more than £5,000 has been raised for Breast Cancer UK.

The final 20 copies, from a print run of 400, are being shipped to America later this week and a re-print is under consideration.

The 86-year-old former mayor, who earned the nickname ‘Mr Ripon’ for his wide-ranging community work, told the Stray Ferret:

“The book is dedicated to my late and beloved wife Barbara who died of cancer in 2013 and I have been overwhelmed by the response to it.

“It appears to have struck a chord both here and in the United States.”

Three Ripons united in the States

The California connection, which features prominently in John’s memoirs, was established 46 years ago, when he was invited to represent the world’s foremost Ripon at the USA’s Bicentennial celebrations.

Flying out at short notice and his own expense, in February 1976, he travelled to San Francisco, where he met the mayors of newer namesakes from California and Wisconsin.

The trip gave him the platform to speak about his home city’s ancient cathedral and history and traditions established over more than 1,300 years, including the world-famous hornblower ceremony, with its Royal roots going back to 886 AD and Alfred The Great.

Brenda Lange has been liaising with Paul Richmond to arrange the Transatlantic transaction. Picture: Jeremiah North Ripon CA Fire and Rescue 

A huge hit in Ripon, California

A person who has taken a keen interest over many years in Ripon, North Yorkshire is Brenda Lange, who works for the fire and rescue service in Ripon, California.

Brenda visited with her parents when she was a teenager and they received a first-hand introduction from the Richmond family to the city’s ancient charms.

Following an article published in January 2021 about John’s receipt of the British Empire Medal, for services to the community, she contacted the Stray Ferret in a bid to track him down and send congratulations.

Since the contact was renewed, Brenda, colleagues and other citizens in Ripon, California, have become regular readers of the online news from Ripon UK.

She said:

“We were absolutely thrilled to read about the New Year’s Honour bestowed on John and when we also discovered that he was publishing his memoirs, we placed our advance orders and keenly await receipt of the shipment.”

Brenda, who has been liaising with John’s son Paul about the delivery arrangements, added:

“After reading the review of John’s book on the Stray Ferret, I just knew that I had  to buy it and I know there are many others here in Ripon, California, who are also very excited to have the chance to purchase it!

“We’re all looking forward to the arrival of the book shipment and can’t wait to read it. I’m sure it will be a huge hit here, too!

“I can almost guarantee that the demand for his book here in Ripon, CA, will far outstrip the first 20 copies!.

In addition to the anticipated extra demand for the book in California, John is mindful of the fact that a number of people living in Ripon and neighbouring villages want to get their hands on a copy.

He pointed out:

“Because a re-print is an expensive exercise, I could only commit to going ahead with it if I receive advance orders from here and America and I would ask anybody out there who still wants a copy to call 01765 607096.”

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The Ship Inn will re-open its doors tomorrow, after a fire damaged the pub last October.

The fire, at the pub in Aldborough, was started by a washing machine and caused extensive damage. The restoration has cost £500,000 and the pub is now larger with enough seating to accommodate up to 200 people inside and outdoors.

Brian Rey and Elaine Howden, the owners of The Ship Inn, have been restoring the pub since January.

Brian said:

“It’s been amazing the response we’ve had from the community and our staff. We had 16 staff members and they all wanted to stay on, which I have to say was quite moving.

“We now can seat around 200 people throughout the garden and pub. We now have wi-fi outside and a second card machine to bring outside. We’ve also now bought a new pizza oven.”

Last October, the pub set on fire through an electrical fault with a washing machine. The emergency services were called when a fire alarm sounded at 2am.

Brian spoke about his experience when the pub set alight. He said:

“It was hardly believable, I thought I was hallucinating. When we called 999, five fire engines turned up. We were told that if we ingested smoke for another ten minutes we wouldn’t be here today.

The store room after the fire

“We just stuck some face masks on and I knew we needed to get out of there.

“After the fire, we had no heating so we spent a lot of time in bed, simply to get warm. We had one electric heater plugged in and that’s it.”

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Brian and Elaine have seen many high-profile guests to their pubs, including Prince William and Harry, as well as Gordon Ramsay.

The couple’s old pub, The Fenwick Arms, was featured on an episode of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares in 2006. In the episode Gordon said he had ‘a lot of respect’ for Brian, as well as claiming that their Yorkshire puddings were ‘excellent.’

The episode led Gordon and Brian to set up a ‘Real Gravy’ campaign, which was created to promote Brian’s gravy and Sunday roast.

“I’ve had five million emails about the Real Gravy campaign and I’ll never be able to get through all of them,” Brian said.

More than 200 amblers took part in the Boroughbridge Walking Festival over the Easter weekend.

The event saw people from as far away as Leeds and Wetherby visit the town and discover local walks.

Organised by Boroughbridge Walkers are Welcome group, the event aims to encourage people to the town and surrounding areas. There were a collection of walks featured in the festival to accommodate everyone with each walk sponsored by a local business.

The walkers were also told about the history of the town, attend a guided walk of Staveley nature reserve and learned of the connection between Ouseburn and the Bronte sisters.

“It was lovely to see so many people visiting the town, which is one of the aims of the group. We were lucky to have such good weather. Hopefully next year’s festival will see the return of the popular ghost walk and the afternoon tea walk at Myton-on-Swale.”

Northern Aldborough Festival has opened its priority ticket booking as it prepares to run from June 16.

The two-week festivals hosts some of the best-known names in jazz, classical opera and pop music. But this year it says it is taking on its biggest undertaking in 29 years by performing a semi-staged in-house production of Handel’s Theodora.

Friends of the Festival can get their tickets from today will tickets for the wider public on sale from May 3.

The 40-strong production will be performed in Alborough, near Boroughbridge, in the 14th century St Andrew’s Church. It will include a line-up of soloists, chorus and orchestra under the baton of Baroque specialist, Julian Perkins.

Theodora, played by soprano Fflur Wyn, will be directed by Joe Austin, whose recent credits include Katya Kabanova at the Royal Opera House.

The festival will also include an appearance by the British bass, Sir John Tomlinson, who will star in a new opera by John Casken based on Shakespeare’s King Lear.

There will also be performances from Blur’s Britpop rebel rock star turned cheesemaker, Alex James, and classical guitar player Sean Shibe.

Robert Ogden

The festival is run by a charity with a core mission to bring exceptional music to new audience, in rural locations it wouldn’t normally be heard. Robert Ogden, artistic director, said:

“There really is something for everyone. The festival is a chance to experience something really very special on our doorstep. It’s going to be incredible and a lot of much-needed fun, so we can’t wait to welcome audiences to be entertained, inspired and hopefully discover music they’ll fall in love with this summer.”

Other acts include an evening of jazz by Claire Martin, clarinettists Julian Bliss performing with leading pianist James Baillieu. Clare Hammond, a leading light on the UK piano scene, will play Schubert, Stravinsky and Schumann.

As well as established names, the festival supports young talent. It hosts a Young Artists Showcase, as well as the upcoming harp and saxophone duo, The Polaris Duo.

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On the final evening, the grounds of Aldborough Manor will be opened for the festival finale, an outdoor concert with fireworks that often attracts around 1,000 people.

The last night concert features Harrogate-born vocalist Alex Denny of The Big Cheese, with high-voltage pop and rock covers, supported by So 80s, who set a light show to 80s tracks.

Ripon Spa Croquet Club is enjoying a renaissance in its new surroundings of Studley Royal Cricket Club.

Covid lockdown from March 2020 and the subsequent sale of Spa Hotel, where the croquet players had been based for almost 30 years, signalled the need for relocation.

The move to SRCC is now complete, with hoops in place to play on a lovingly-tended surface adjacent to the cricket pitch.

The aim is to build on the club’s heritage, which saw international matches and world-class players do battle on the lawns of the hotel’s gardens.

The club’s international pedigree

Formed in the early 1990s as Ripon Spa Hotel Croquet Club, It was founded by Croquet Association Federation officer Keith Smith, hotel owner Andrew Hutchinson and managing director Samantha Currie.

It soon attracted players from across the district, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge.

By 1997, Ms Currie,  Mr Hutchinson and clubmate Syd Jones all achieved world rankings and took part in the GC World Championships in Cairo.

While the club’s historic achievements provide many happy memories for its older members, the emphasis now is on the future.

Chair and chief coach Ted Flexman told the Stray Ferret:

“With the fabulous facilities that we have at the Studley Royal ground, there is the potential to create one of the best croquet clubs in the north.”

One man went to mow – Studley Royal Cricket Club groundsman Trevor Rose.

The club is offering two free introductory taster sessions on April 25 and 27 to attract new members. The sessions are open to people of all ages and anybody wishing to attend should contact the club in advance. Further details are available by clicking on this link.

Club secretary Sue I’Anson said:

“This is a great game for people of all ages and abilities, with the more seasoned players helping newcomers to master the technique of swinging the mallet and making good contact with the ball.”

This has certainly been the experience of member Rod Grant, who added:

“I’d never played croquet before and then Ted invited me have a game and I have enjoyed taking part ever since.”

Sue I’Anson is pictured with, from the left Ted Flexman, Roger I’Anson and Rod Grant

Top facilities

SRCC, with teams in the York & District Senior League Premier Division and 3 more in the Nidderdale League divisions 2, 5 and 7, has one of the best clubhouses of any amateur cricket club in Yorkshire and its pitch among the biggest in the county.

Mr Flexman said:

“We have been made very welcome here and look forward to a long and happy relationship as we play our complementary sports side by side.

“Both require good hand/eye coordination and we hope that some of the bowlers and batsmen try their hand at swinging a mallet.”

Roger I’Anson,  who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:

“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”

Harry Whitaker, the owner of Mastachoice Fencing and Fabrication and apprentice Charlie Lister, constructing a storage shed that will be used to store croquet equipment

Roger I’Anson, who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:

“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”

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A farm shop in Minskip has lodged plans to create a dog walking field next to its premises.

Minskip Farm Shop, on Minskip Road, has submitted the plans to Harrogate Borough Council which would see agricultural land next to the store changed to create a walking and activity area.

The area, which is south west of the farm shop, would be fenced off and be open during daylight hours, such as 5am until 10pm in the summer.

The farm said in a statement to the borough council that the proposal represent another expansion of the business, which includes the shop and cafe known as Yolk Farm Kitchen.

In a planning statement, the developer said:

“The growth in popularity and demand at Minskip farm, alongside the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, has led to a growing need to increase and diversify their commercial offering to continue meeting local needs and employing more local people. 

“The proposed dog walking/activity field will contribute a new revenue stream for a nationally recognised and locally cherished business, whilst providing local people with a safe and secure area to walk and train their dogs.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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An artisan market is being held at Minskip Farm Shop near Boroughbridge on Sunday.

The market is the result of a partnership between Yolk Farm, which owns the shop and Little Bird Markets, which already runs numerous markets. including ones in Harrogate. Knaresborough and Ripon.

Stalls will sell handmade goods, artisan products and local produce.

Exhibitors include Marley Fields Pet Boutique, Flora & Co, which sells garden products, York Swirling Soapery and Blueberry Hill Preserves, which sells chutneys, preserves, honey, curds and cheeses.

Jackie Crozier, managing director of Little Bird Markets, said:

“We will have a wide variety of traders selling their artisan goods and Easter items, for last minute gifts. The farm shop will be open for food and the farm for visiting the animals.”

The farm, which provides alpaca experiences, is also running an Easter egg hunt.

The market will take place from 10am to 3pm at Yolk Farm on Minskip Road.

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The former RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse will be used to house asylum seekers, the government has announced today.

It’s part of a controversial Home Office plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed.

Before potentially being flown out to the African country, asylum seekers will be held in ‘reception centres’ across the UK for up to six months, with the first announced being at Linton-on-Ouse.

The site closed in 2020 after being used by the RAF for almost a century. It was most recently used as a jet training facility and Prince William trained there.

Although located in Hambleton, it is only about a mile from the Harrogate district, on the other side of the River Ouse. It’s close to villages Thorpe Underwood, Little Ouseburn and Nun Monkton.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said in a statement he had been assured by the immigration minister that the time limit for any asylum seekers to remain at the site will be 180 days

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The government said it hopes the changes will help it “crack down” on people-smuggling gangs.

According to the BBC, 28,526 people are known to have crossed the channel in small boats in 2021, up from 8,404 in 2020.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said:

“The global migration crisis and how we tackle illegal migration requires new world-leading solutions. There are an estimated 80 million people displaced in the world and the global approach to asylum and migration is broken.

“Existing approaches have failed and there is no single solution to tackle these problems. Change is needed because people are dying attempting to come to the UK illegally.

The proposal has been criticised by human rights groups and opposition political parties.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the proposals a “shameful announcement meant to distract from Boris Johnson’s recent law-breaking”.

She added:

“It is an unworkable, unethical and extortionate policy that would cost the UK taxpayer billions of pounds during a cost of living crisis and would make it harder not easier to get fast and fair asylum decisions.”