A ‘proud Yorkshire lass’ has won a £2m farmhouse near Birstwith in the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
Eliza Yahioglu, 56, was celebrating her birthday in Luxembourg when she received the news.
She and husband Gokhan, who will celebrate their 30th anniversary in November, now own the 17th century property between Hampsthwaite and Birstwith.
The house comes mortgage free, with stamp duty and legal fees covered. Eliza is free to either live in the house, rent it out or sell it.
Eliza Yahioglu discovered she’d won this on her birthday.
If Ms Yahioglu decides to let it out, the property could yield almost £50,000 a year in rent.
The couple, who have two children, have lived in London for nearly 40 years.
When told on holiday she’d won, Ms Yahioglu joked her husband was “going to struggle to top this for my birthday next year”.
She said:
“It was actually my birthday the day we found out I’d won – so we’d gone abroad to celebrate.
“We were in a bar at the time, which was the perfect place to start celebrating, we got a bottle of fizz in straight away. When we went to bed we still weren’t convinced it was real, we expected to wake up realising it had all been a dream.
“I’ve lived in London for almost 40 years but I’m a proud Yorkshire lass at heart. My parents and sister still live there, so we come up as often as we can.
The house comes with five acres of manicured grounds.
The house comes with a guest cottage and five acres of manicured grounds and gardens.
The property is two and a half miles from Hampsthwaite and one and a half miles from Birstwith.
The draw raised £1,950,000 for the charity Blood Cancer UK.
Fun for all ages as Birstwith Show returns this weekend
Children’s entertainment will take centre stage as an annual village show returns to Nidderdale this weekend.
Birstwith Show takes place on Saturday, July 29 and has introduced a number of new features this year after asking for feedback from the community.
Show committee member Amy Howard said:
“People felt there was a gap for teenagers and a gap for toddlers, so we’ve got a toddler tent this year with hay bales and toys.
“We’ve got two sessions with Hazel, who does singing and signing for toddlers. Parents can have a sit down and it’s near the play area too, so they can keep an eye on their older children at the same time.
“For teenagers, we’ve got a silent disco this year, so they can have a bit of fun and a bit of a chill. I’m sure there will be a few grown-ups in there as well!”
Also new this year will be a dog and duck display in the main ring, along with the usual popular mix of entertainment.
Children’s races, a tug-o-war, a dog show with Miss Mollies Rescue, and live music through the day and into the evening are also on the programme.
Another new feature will be food demonstrations, including two by the Little Yorkshire Scone company. As well as showing how to make savoury scones, the company will demonstrate recipes to use up leftovers.
Ms Howard said the schedule of classes has proved popular this year, with Birstwith Primary School and other village organisations getting involved. She added:
“Entries are up this year. We were a bit low last year and we think it’s just people getting back into the swing of shows post-covid.”
The tents and marquees are all in place thanks to the team of volunteers, and trade stands, food and drink stalls will be ready to welcome visitors from noon on Saturday.
Soldiers from the Army Foundation College will be on hand to help with parking and traffic management on the day.
Entry is £7.50 on the gate or £7 in advance via the website, until midnight on Friday.
International soprano returns to Harrogate for village concert
A locally-born soprano who has sung internationally will return to the Harrogate district tomorrow night for a concert in Birstwith.
Eleonore Cockerham was born in Harrogate and became a chorister in Knaresborough, when she was also a finalist in the BBC Chorister of the Year competition.
Ms Cockerham, who went on to sing with the Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble Voces8 and is now a freelance musician, will join Tim Harper, assistant director of music and organist at Ripon Cathedral and local chamber choir Voces Seraphorum at St James’ Church.
The choir presents regular concerts throughout the region and is also often invited to sing choral services at cathedrals around the country.
Their programme in Birstwith will include music by Handel, Mozart, Stanford, Dyson and Finzi and the coronation anthem ‘I was glad’ by Hubert Parry.
There will also be some choral music by more contemporary composers such as Paul Mealor and Eric Whitacre and a selection of lighter arrangements.
Tickets are £10 (£5 students) and can be booked by phoning 01423 771734 or 07808 370529. They will also be available on the door.
Photo of the Week: Morning Sky
This week’s photograph was taken by Michael White, who captured a fantastic red sky over Birstwith early one morning.
Michael White
Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.
Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.
Harrogate district school launches parent and baby group to help with cost-of-living crisisA Harrogate district private primary school is launching a new free monthly parent and baby group for children up to the age of three.
Belmont Grosvenor School (BGS), which is based at Swarcliffe Hall in Birstwith, will hold its first session of First Steps in its Magic Tree Nursery on Friday, February 24.
Meeting on the last Friday of each month, parents and babies up to the age of 36 months will be offered a different free activity, such as yoga or dance, aimed at encouraging a child’s development in their early years.
Belmont Grosvenor School nursery manager Joanne Henderson said:
“At this time, when the entire country is struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, First Steps parent-and-baby group at BGS is something that is free and will hopefully benefit local families.
“The activities we have planned for our monthly meetings are experiences our children here at BGS enjoy and we wanted to share them with our local community.”
The first session, on February 24, will be Music and Dance, hosted by Belmont Grosvenor’s music co-ordinator Mrs Jo Sadler. Aimed at babies from birth to 18 months, the session will include action songs, stories and dance, as well as the chance to have fun with the musical instruments.
On Friday, March 31, there’s an Easter Egg scavenger hunt across Belmont Grosvenor’s 20 acres of grounds planned for older children, from 12-months to three years, with an Easter treat at the end.
Hazel Roman from Harrogate Baby Massage will be running a free First Steps class for parents and babies at BGS on Friday, April 28 while older children will be able to sign up for a Forest School session through First Steps on Friday, May 26.
All sessions are free and will run from 9.30 to 11am but need to be booked in advance. Free tea, coffee and snacks will be provided, as well as everything needed to take part.
To book a free slot, go to Belmont Grosvenor’s website, or call Belmont Grosvenor on 01423 771029, or email admin@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk.
PHOTO GALLERY: Hampsthwaite defeats Birstwith in village tug of war
Hampsthwaite claimed bragging rights over Birstwith for the rest of the year after winning the annual New Year’s Day tug of war contest.
Men’s and women’s teams from the Joiners Arms in Hampsthwaite and the Station Hotel in Birstwith did battle at Hampsthwaite cricket field yesterday in front of a large crowd of spectators.
The men’s and women’s teams from Hampsthwaite both came out top in the best-of-three pulls.
The teams then put aside their rivalries to enjoy pie and peas at the Joiners Arms and take part in a raffle to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
All the photos below were taken by Edward Lee.
Village pride will be at stake today when teams from Hampsthwaite and Birstwith do battle in their traditional New Year’s Day tug of war showdown.
Men’s and women’s teams from the Joiners Arms in Hampsthwaite and the Station Hotel in Birstwith will face-off at Hampsthwaite cricket field at 1pm.
Both sexes will compete over the best of three pulls before heading to the Joiners Arms for pie and peas.
There will also be a raffle in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Joiners Arms landlord Tony Crammage, aided by Robin Hardcastle, has been organising the Hampsthwaite men’s team while Nicola Binns is getting together the female team. Amy Howard is overseeing the teams in Birstwith.
Joiners Arms landlady Becky Cranage explained the tug of war tradition dated back many years, with Hampsthwaite’s finest formerly taking on a team from RAF Menwith Hill.
But in recent years it has evolved into a battle of neighbouring Nidderdale villages, with Hampsthwaite emerging victorious last year.
Some of last year’s competitors.
Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
As Knaresborough is now to have the Pure Gym, as well as the existing gym in the old town hall, and the new leisure centre on Fysche Field, isn’t it time that the machines in these gyms were attached to electricity generators to provide human-powered energy for the town?
Shan Oakes, Knaresborough
This letter was submitted prior to leak fix
Nidderdale is poorly served by buses as it is, they are every two hours. But now, until the burst pipe is fixed there’s no bus running through Darley.
It’s not good enough just to cut out a huge chunk of the bus route and provide no alternative. It’s a four mile walk from Darley to Birstwith to pick up the bus there before and after it’s diversion.
I have been quoted £30 for a taxi on Saturday morning at 7.30 am to get to Harrogate from Darley. The same to return is £60. They are having a laugh.
Helen Staniforth, Birstwith
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Guide to bonfire and fireworks displays in the Harrogate district
This story is sponsored by Belmont Grosvenor School which will be holding a Bonfire Night Party on Friday, November 4. There will be s’mores round the campfire, music, hot food, a licensed bar, stalls and more. Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display starts at 7.20pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost £10 for adults (children under the age of 18 are free). Get them in advance by emailing kaye.walker@bewonder.co.uk.
Bonfire night is fast approaching so we have put together a list of events coming up in the Harrogate district.
They all take place over the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6.
Let us know if we have missed your event and we will add it to the list. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or call us on 01423 276197.
Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party
Where: Belmont Grosvenor School, Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2JG
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm fire lit, 7.20pm firework display
Tickets: £10 with children under the age of 18 entering for free
Ripon Rowels Rotary Charity Bonfire and Firework Display
Where: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, HG4 1UG
When: 5.30pm start, 7pm fire lit, 7.30pm firework display
Tickets: adults £6, children £3, family (2 adult, 2 child) £12, under 3s free
Spofforth Village Firework Display
Where: Spofforth Cricket Ground, School Lane, Spofforth, HG3 1BA
When: Gates open 5pm, 7pm-7.15pm firework display.
Tickets: Family pre-paid £12:50 and on the gate £15. Adult pre-paid £4 and on the gate £5. Child pre-paid £2:50 and on the gate £3.
Swinton Bivouac Silent Bonfire Night
Where: Swinton Bivouac, Masham, Ilton, Ripon, HG4 4JZ
When: 6.30pm bonfire lit. There will be no fireworks or loud bangs.
Tickets: free entry, food and drinks available from the Bivouac Café
Aspin Park Academy Fireworks Night, Knaresborough
Where: School grounds
When: 5.15pm start, 6.30pm firework display
Tickets: Advance online booking – adults £4, children £3, family ticket £12, preschoolers free. On the gate – adults £5, children £4
Harrogate Stray Bonfire and Fireworks, Harrogate Round Table
Where: Oatlands Stray, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ
When: 5pm start (there will be entertainment), bonfire lit 5.30pm, 7.15pm firework display
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Upper Nidderdale Scouts Group Pateley Bonfire
Where: Pateley Bridge Showground
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm torchlit procession and bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Kirkby Malzeard community village bonfire
Where: North Close Farm, Ripon Road, Kirkby Malzeard
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: Free entry but donations welcome to fund next year’s event. Parking is available at North Close Farm. No sparklers allowed. Bring a torch.
Yolk Farm Bonfire and Burger Night – dog-friendly
Where: Yolk Farm, Minskip Road, Minskip, York, YO51 9HY
When: 5.30pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, no fireworks
Tickets: free entry for the event, advanced bookings only for Burger Night in the restaurant – 5:30pm and 8pm sittings
Staveley Arms Bonfire
Where: The Staveley Arms, Greenfields, North Stainley, Ripon, HG4 3HT
When: 6pm
Tickets: £5 per person to include a choice of hot dog or cup of soup
The owners of The Dale Stores in Birstwith have pledged to continue serving the village after suffering a “sickening” burglary.
Andrea and Matthew Walwyn were sleeping next door when thieves smashed two panes of glass on the front door to gain entry to their shop and post office at nine minutes past midnight on Friday.
They took stamps worth £3,000 and a quantity of cash.
The couple, who have run the Nidderdale business for 17 years, told the Stray Ferret the incident had shaken them and the community but they had been overwhelmed by messages of support.
The shop has reopened and although the post office is currently closed Ms Walwyn said they would be back at full capacity as soon as possible.
She said:
“We are really shaken. It’s just sickening. We live next door and think of the shop as part of our home.
“People have come in saying they have never locked their doors but they are now.
“But we want to fully re-open as soon as possible.”
Last year The Dale Stores won an award in the Rural Oscars competition organised by the Countryside Alliance, receiving praise for its ‘great service and great produce’ and for maintaining a village post office.
Ms Walwyn said she had been taken aback by the kindness shown by villagers in recent days. One man arranged for builders to sort out the damaged door straight away.
A customer arranged to fix the door.
Mr Walwyn put a post on their Facebook page saying, “It’ll take more than a scumbag chancer to bring us down. Andrea and I are here this morning. Nice people are very welcome”.
It prompted nearly 300 likes and a barrage of supportive comments.
One said:
“After all you both went through yesterday to see you smiling today is what makes Birstwith village shop the best.”