In an era when back street bike shops are being replaced by high performance showrooms, a Harrogate charity keeps cycling affordable.

Resurrection Bikes was set up nine years ago by John Rowe, a cycling enthusiast who still leads the venture.

The basic idea remains the same: people donate bikes, which are resurrected back to life and sold in good condition for about half the price of a similar new model.

For people who enjoy cycling and don’t want to spend vast sums, Resurrection Bikes has been a godsend, particularly since the demise of Ace Cycles on King’s Road, which was one of the last old school bike shops.

Ace Cycles owner Tony — a legend in local bike repair circles — helped set up the organisation.

About 1,500 bikes are saved from the scrapyard and donated each year. Thirty volunteers restore and sell half at the charity’s workshop and the other half are given to the Margaret Carey Foundation, which runs bike maintenance workshops for young people at risk of crime.

The charity’s Harlow Terrace home

Mr Rowe started the venture almost by chance. His daughter needed to raise £7,000 for a charity gap year so he started fixing cycles to generate funds and “the bikes wouldn’t stop coming”.

He carried on to raise money for charity, supporting Harrogate charity Artizan International and local legend John Shackleton, who buys old ambulances, stocks them with aid and drives them to countries in need. Last year £53,000 was raised.

Overheads are minimal as Resurrection Bikes is based on Harlow Terrace, just off Cold Bath Road, on land donated by the adjoining Kairos Network Church.

The bikes for sale

People used to be able to turn up and browse the bikes but since covid viewings are arranged by appointment only. All bikes are listed on the charity’s website.

Many basic bikes cost between £50 and £150 but there are some higher end models too. Recent offers include a Cannondale Synapse full carbon road bike, worth about £3,000 new, offered for £1,500 and a never-used Brompton fold-up bike up for grabs at £1,000.

Mr Rowe isn’t aware of anywhere in North Yorkshire, besides one operation in York, that provides a similar service. Customers travel from as far as Manchester to buy bikes they’ve seen online.

Besides helping people cycle and raising money for charity, Resurrection Bikes also helps volunteers learn about bikes. Mr Rowe says:

“We are a kind of men’s shed. People join us for all the reasons they join a men’s shed. We are welcoming and fun.”

Few organisations have done more to promote cycling and the good news is Mr Rowe, a retired project manager, has no plans to stop. He says:

“I love it. We have fun in a workshop and I love playing with bikes. What could be better?”

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Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre will be pulling out all the stops to bring a festival feel to Knaresborough on Bed Race day next month. 

As the race gets underway on Saturday, June 10, Henshaws will be celebrating with BedFest, which promises to be bigger and better than last year’s sold-out event. 

Kicking off at midday, BedFest will offer some mouth-watering food options, with wood-fired pizzas, loaded fries and sweet treats, plus pop-up Mexican street food thanks to Paradise Tap & Taco. 

Harrogate Brewery and Knaresborough-based Turning Point will be serving a top range of beers, as well as gins, wine, fizz, cider and soft drinks for the kids. 

There will also be some of the finest local musicians around, across two eclectic stages, including renowned DJ Rory Hoy, acoustic singer Leo Hicks, Yorkshire reggae band Drop Leg Steppers, Hot Sauce, DJ Trev and rapper legend Lence. 

Award-winning DJ Rory Hoy has produced music for film, TV and adverts, including tracks for Disney.

The venue is on the route of the Great Knaresborough Bed Race, which starts at 3pm, following the Dressed Bed parade through town at 1pm. 

Visitors to BedFest will be able to gather at the Arts & Crafts Centre gates to watch the parade, whose theme this year is “That’s Entertainment”, then come back inside the Centre to enjoy the food, drink and music. They can then go back to watch as the beds speed down Bond End before they take on the final challenge of crossing the River Nidd. A wristband will give visitors access from midday right through to 11pm. 

BedFest sponsorship and corporate hospitality packages are now available. Gemma Young, fundraising development manager at Henshaws, said:  

“A real local gem, the Arts and Crafts Centre – available to hire for celebrations and events year-round – offers a unique setting in the heart of Knaresborough. We are looking forward to welcoming friends old and new to share our special and inspiring space.  

“As a small fundraising team, we rely on the support of our fantastic volunteers to deliver our programme of events. If you’d like to find out more about getting involved and supporting a local charity through volunteering, we’d love to hear from you.” 

BedFest promises fun, food and music for visitors of all ages.

Caroline Sullivan, optometrist director at event sponsor Specsavers, said:  

“BedFest represents a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community to raise money for a very important cause. We are proud to have Henshaws as our chosen charity, and the team at Specsavers had a brilliant time volunteering at the recent Beer Festival and are looking forward to being involved in the annual Henshaws Hundreds challenge in June too.” 

Tickets for BedFest are on sale now at Henshaws Bed Fest 2023. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children (3-17); under-2s go free. Complimentary carer tickets are also available. 

A full programme of Knaresborough Bed Race events is available at www.bedrace.co.uk. 

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A Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor has set up a charity scheme in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Corporal Robert Chamberlain set up the Project Give Moore scheme this year.

The aim of the initiative is for junior soldiers to set up their own fundraising events for any given charity with the chance of winning the Project Give Moore award.

Each junior soldier company will be tasked to compete to fundraise the most each year.

Mr Chamberlain, who first joined the British Army in 2012, set up the scheme after winning the college’s Captain Sir Tom Moore Award for Charitable Endeavour in 2021.

He said the idea behind Project Give Moore was to create an initiative that raises more money for more good causes.

Mr Chamberlain said:

“I wanted to create an annual event that would bring the whole college together in support of different charities.

“But it wasn’t just about raising funds or donating money, I wanted to show the junior soldiers, those who were just starting their military careers, the incredible impact of charity work and selfless commitment.”

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The scheme is in honour of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised funds for NHS charities by walking lengths of his garden in Bedfordshire during the covid pandemic.

He died aged 100 in February 2021.

Captain Sir Tom was made honorary colonel at the Army Foundation College in 2020 and a memorial walkway opened at the college in July 2021.

Corporal Robert Chamberlain receives the Sir Tom Moore Award in 2021.

So far, Project Give Moore has Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and The Armed Forces Charity as its chosen causes.

All the charitable events will take place at the Army Foundation College on Harrogate’s Penny Pot Lane.

However, Mr Chamberlain said he would be open to hosting events elsewhere should there be enough public interest.

For more information on how to donate or get involved with the scheme, visit the Project Give Moore website here.

A Masham woman is £2,000 the richer thanks to a special delivery from a cow called Storm Pooper. 

Kathryn Driver won Masham Community Office’s Cow Pat Competition, which was the surprise hit of the town’s coronation bank holiday celebrations. 

The competition, which was resurrected after a 25-year absence, saw four cows, named for the occasion Storm Pooper, Harry Plopper, Poo Patrol and Daisy Dung, let out at 2pm on Monday to roam around a fenced-off piece of land.

The land had been divided into squares, and tickets sold in advance at £1 per square. The winner would be whoever held the ticket corresponding to the square the first cowpat landed on.

The winner was the holder of the ticket corresponding to the square of land the first cowpat landed on.

Hundreds of hopefuls waited to see if they’d win the big prize, and after nearly an hour’s wait, it was Storm Pooper who produced the goods on Kathryn Driver’s square. She said: 

“I can’t believe it! It’s amazing. My mum got the ticket for me, so I’m going to use the money to pay for a holiday and take my mum away.”

The event raised £5,000, which will go towards the purchase of Masham Community Office’s building, The Old Police Station, retaining it as a community hub. The community office aims to reach a target of £215,000, and after months of hard work has so far raised £190,000.

Masham Community Office volunteers Gaynor Pearson, Tessa Klemz and Amanda Horsell celebrate the ‘culmination’ of the cowpat competition.

Hayley Jackson, community office manager, said: 

“Going through the process of fundraising for the community office building in the last few months has brought people together in such an amazing way, it’s been lovely to see.  

“We have seen just how much pride people have in the community office building and what a central role it has in the community. We knew it was important, but we’ve been able to see just how much it’s at the heart of the community and how much people care.

“The people of Masham see it as their building, and it’s really important to them that we retain it for the future. Who would have thought cowpats would bring the community together like this?”

Masham Community Office is a charity providing support and services to the local community, and is home to Masham Community Library, Acorns Preschool, Masham Parish Council clerk, tourist information and local art and craft shop Masham Flock.

Donations to the community office fund can be made online here.

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Thirty members of Crossfit Harrogate will take on the national three peaks challenge this weekend to raise money for four charities.

The super-fit bunch will attempt to scale the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales — Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon — in 24 hours.

It involves walking 23 miles and climbing more than 3,000 metres, which is twice the ascent of the Yorkshire three peaks. Participants also have to drive 460 miles.

The challenge will raise money and awareness for Harrogate Homeless Project, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Williams Syndrome Association and Artizan International.

Beth Crewe, who is among those taking part, said:

“The gym is raising funds for four charities, three of which are local, which all have special places in the hearts of the members.

“We decided to take on this challenge to not only push ourselves physically and mentally but to help make a difference to those in need of support from these amazing charities at this difficult time.”

More than £4,600 has already been pledged towards the £5,000 target. You can donate here.

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A pay-as-you-feel cafe will open its third branch in the Harrogate district this week – and is hoping to offer a menu fit for its surroundings.

Resurrected Bites will run every Thursday in Killinghall Methodist Church, which has just undergone a £248,000 renovation.

The community interest company has been serving up food waste meals at West Park United Reformed Church in Harrogate and Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough for the last two years.

But Chris Lidgett, who has joined as operations manager, said he hopes the new cafe will offer something a little different both on its menu and to the community. He told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re trying to promote to a different audience. It’s a refreshed church in an affluent village, so it’s not necessarily about food poverty, but about isolation.

“We want people to come out, use the new facility, and meet people. If it goes well, we might look at rolling it out to more places.”

What the Killinghall cafe will have in common with the others is that its menu will be entirely made up of food that would otherwise go to waste.

Donated by supermarkets and other commercial operations, the food is still perfectly edible and just as tasty as the day it arrived on the shelves, but does not meet the exacting requirements of some retailers.

That means the menu for each week is only confirmed the day before the cafe opens, depending on what has come into the organisation’s warehouse on Hornbeam Park. Mr Lidgett said:

“You never know what you’re going to get through the door. It’s Ready, Steady Cook every day! It’s definitely a challenge, but a good one.”

Chris Lidgett and volunteer Katie White

With a background in catering, Mr Lidgett is more than used to coming up with new dishes.

Until earlier this year, he worked at Crimple on Leeds Road. Prior to that, he lived in the south of England, where he and his wife ran award-winning pubs in areas including the Cotswolds.

His CV is varied, however: he joined the Army when he was younger and served in the Household Cavalry – which brought with it slightly unusual responsibilities. After “stupidly” putting his hand up when asked if anyone could play a musical instrument, he became the Queen’s trumpeter.

He performed at events including Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament. On one memorable occasion, he travelled to Paris with Her Majesty for the Bastille Day celebrations in 2005.

He described the Queen as “a lovely woman” who would always take the time to speak to those taking part in events and ceremonies. However, Chris is quite clear he has no plans to return to that life, even after seeing the pageantry of the coronation over the weekend.

“It’s like a throwback. People say, ‘it looks amazing’. I just look and yes, it is amazing, but you don’t realise how much work goes into that and the sacrifices that are made.

“Three weeks beforehand, you’d be getting up at 1am and doing the whole parade at 2am.”

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His new role is a world away from Royal pomp and protocols. It has been funded by donations made as part of the Stray Ferret’s Christmas appeal which, with match-funding from local firm Techbuyer, raised more than £30,000 in just four weeks.

Since joining Resurrected Bites in early April, Chris has spent time getting to know the small team of staff and the 200 volunteers who help to keep it running.

He has visited the community groceries in New Park and Gracious Street, where people struggling to afford food can become members, entitling them to a weekly shop for a fraction of the price it would be in a supermarket.

Chris said:

“I do quite like being on site so you can see some of the service users and just realise what we actually do for people. They say, ‘we wouldn’t have survived without you’ and ‘you might not think you’re doing much, but what you are doing is incredible’.

“We want to be able to get the word out there a bit more and reach more people because there must be so many people struggling.”

Although run on a pay-as-you-feel basis, to enable everyone to afford a meal out, Resurrected Bites’ cafes rely heavily on those who can afford to donate giving generously to cover running costs across the organisation.

A few ‘dry runs’ have already been held, when some of Resurrected Bites’ 200 volunteers have been treated to a meal by the team in Killinghall as they get to grips with the practicalities of cooking, serving and clearing away. They’re now ready to open the doors this week.

Cafe manager Sam O’Brien said:

“We are so grateful to all of the volunteers who have signed up so far. They are such a lovely bunch and so keen to make a success of the cafe.

“We still need more volunteers though, particularly people who can help with the cooking, so if you can help on a Thursday, please apply to volunteer via the website or pop in to speak to me.”

Resurrected Bites’ Killinghall cafe will be open from 11.30am to 2pm every Thursday at Killinghall Methodist Church.

Harrogate bike renovation charity Resurrection Bikes is to hold a series of free bike maintenance events this month.

Resurrection Bikes, which was founded in 2014, fixes donated bikes at its base just off Cold Bath Road and sells them. The proceeds are donated to various charities.

The organisation plans to run six sessions as part of the Big Bike Revival, a national initiative run by the charity Cycling UK to make cycling more accessible.

The sessions, called Dr Bike, will provide advice, adjustments, safety checks and simple maintenance and repairs.

Resurrection Bikes founder John Rowe said:

“Bring your bike along. It is a free service with no booking required, but you are required to watch and learn while work is carried out.

“It is not a drop-off and pick-up later service.”

Dr Bike sessions will take place at Resurrection Bike’s premises at Westcliffe Hall, 2 Harlow Terrace, Harrogate, HG2 0PN on May 24 in the morning, May 25, the afternoon of May 27, May 31 in the morning, June 1 and June 3 in the afternoon.

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Three generations of the same family have pledged to climb two mountains back-to-back to raise money for research into multiple sclerosis. 

Clare Ellison, her dad Michael, 72, and daughter Jessica, 11, will be tackling the epic hike up Whernside and Ingleborough in memory of Clare’s mum, Julia, who lived with the disease for nearly 40 years before her death last year. 

Julia was a Harrogate resident and an active member of the Harrogate branch of The Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Clare said: 

“It was my daughter’s idea. I took her up her first mountain, Whernside, last week and when she saw some people climbing it for a charity she asked if we could do the same in memory of my mum. I thought it was a great idea, so we’re hoping to raise £300 for the MS Society, which mum was a very active member of.” 

The father, daughter and granddaughter will set off on July 1 to trek 14 miles (22.5km) in total, climbing over 1,000 metres along the way. Whernside and Ingleborough are the two highest peaks in Yorkshire.

Clare, who revealed her family’s fundraising plan during MS Awareness Week (April 24-30), said: 

“Multiple sclerosis is such a cruel disease. If you imagine your nerves to be like electrical wires, MS strips away the plastic coating, causing the nerves to short-circuit, producing spasms, or even die off altogether. 

“Mum was diagnosed with it when she was about 35. She had to use a wheelchair for nearly 20 years, and eventually had to move into a nursing home for the last few years of her life, catheterised and unable to swallow. 

“I think it’s really important to help stop people from experiencing what my mum had to experience. It’d be great if we could help fund research that eventually led to treatment to stop MS in its tracks. Any donation at all will make a difference to the lives of people affected by the disease.” 

Readers can sponsor My MS Walk – Double Yorkshire Mountain Climb via its JustGiving page. 

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A Harrogate couple have run 127 miles in aid of a Motor Neurone Disease charity.

Georgina Hubbert and Robert Hamilton took on the challenge last week in an effort to raise money and awareness of the condition.

The couple ran between 20 and 23 miles a day for six days along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Both were raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a charity which funds research and provides support to people with MND.

Ms Hubbert said the couple took on the challenge in memory of her nana, who lived with the condition.

She said:

“She was like a mum to me. She died quite young with it.”

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The couple aimed to raise £2,500 as part of the challenge.

Ms Hubbert, whose family had raised money for the charity before, said this was the first time she had taken on the fundraiser.

The challenge saw the couple start in Liverpool and make their way down the canal over six days before finishing in Leeds.

While the the fundraiser proved to be tough, Ms Hubbert said she enjoyed the experience.

You can donate to the couple’s fundraising effort on their JustGiving page here.

A father-of-three whose wife died just 36 hours after being diagnosed with leukaemia is setting off on a 1,600 km cycle ride to fund research into the disease that killed her. 

Philippa Badger was just 42 when she died of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) on April 22 last year leaving three young children aged 12, 10 and six. 

To mark the first anniversary of her death, Kettlesing resident James Badger and three friends will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just eight days to raise money for Blood Cancer UK. 

James, who only took up cycling a few years ago, wants to raise a total of £300,000 to fund a three-year research project into AML, which currently has only a 10 per cent survival rate. 

James said: 

“Through the work of Blood Cancer UK, survival rates for childhood leukaemia have improved from just 10 per cent in the 1960s and 70s to almost 85 per cent. 

“The type of leukaemia that Philippa had, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, has not had the same level of funding and research that childhood leukaemias have had, which is why it is so important for us to do this ride and fund this research project. 

“Research can make a real difference and our aim is to improve survival rates for people diagnosed with AML. This is why we are doing our ride.” 

Following a service at St James’ Church in Birstwith to mark the first anniversary of Philippa’s death, James and his friends, Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Fraser, will drive down to Cornwall ready to start their epic eight-day cycle ride on Sunday, April 23. 

Philippa Badger died within just 36 hours of being diagnosed with leukaemia, leaving behind her husband James and their three young children.

On each of the eight days, James will be cycling further than he has ever done before, having bought his first road bike in 2019 following the UCI World Cycling Championships in Harrogate. 

The four friends will be on their bikes for between 10 and 12 hours at a time, every day for eight days, covering a daily distance of around 200km and climbing 2,000 metres each day. 

They will be plunging into ice-baths at the end of each day of cycling, ready to be back on their bikes the following morning. 

James Badger (second from left) and his friends, Richard Baldwin, Adam Ellis and Anthony Fraser, will take eight days to cycle the 1,600km from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

James said: 

“It is going to be tough, a real challenge, but I wanted to do something significant enough that would really make a difference. 

“A fully-funded research project into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia will cost £300,000 and we hope this 1,600 km cycle ride will raise a big chunk of money towards that target.” 

Pupils, staff and parents at Belmont Grosvenor School (BGS) in Birstwith, where James and Philippa’s youngest child Thomas is a pupil, have thrown their weight behind his fundraising efforts. 

So far, a fundraising ball and Colour Run at BGS has raised around £20,000, and other events are planned to help James and his friends reach their target of £300,000. 

He said: 

“We’ve been connected with Belmont Grosvenor for almost a decade – all three of our children have been pupils, and our youngest son still attends. I’m so grateful for their support, and for everyone who has supported us so far.” 

James has set up a JustGiving page and the four friends have so far raised nearly £40,000 towards their target. They are posting updates on their Instagram page, and are updating it with their training regime. 

Throughout the ride the four will be uploading videos daily to enable family, friends and followers to follow their progress along the 1,600 km route. Children Isabel, Alice and Thomas will be at the finish line in John O’Groats to meet their dad at the end of the epic ride.

To donate, please visit the team’s JustGiving page.

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