Ferret Unlocked: what you missed in news last week

We took readers on a trip down memory lane this past weekend to 32 years ago when the Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate was being built.

Senior journalist John Grainger dug into his father’s archive of pictures to help write a feature length article on how it all began for the centre.

For readers of a certain age, it probably won’t feel like 32 years since the Victoria Shopping Centre first opened its doors, but – amazingly – it is. You can have your very own dose of nostalgia by reading the piece here.

Elsewhere, the deputy mayor for York and North Yorkshire, Jo Coles, held a violence against women and girls summit in Harrogate last week.

We attended the event, where delegates looked to come together to devise a strategy for tackling the problem.

The End Violence Against Women campaign group describes the issue as one of the “most pervasive human rights violations” the UK faces. But how is North Yorkshire tackling the problem? We took a closer look in an in-depth article here.

It would not be Christmas in Harrogate without Tim Stedman.

For 24 years he has been throwing himself around the stage at Harrogate Theatre in high-energy productions twice a day, up to six days a week during panto season.

With the festive season now in full swing, we caught up with Tim for an interview which subscribers can read here.

Finally, when you think of Boroughbridge certain things come to mind: pretty streets, ancient standing stones, the marina and some nice pubs.

But what about condoms? John Grainger, our senior journalist, caught up with LTC Healthcare which has spent the last 30 years expanding and claiming an ever larger share of the sexual health market.

It's been doing this from an industrial estate just north of the River Ure. You can find out more here.

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