The much-loved ‘Light up a Life’ Christmas event organised by Saint Michael’s Hospice will go virtual this year to ensure local people can still remember their loved ones.

The event is held each year giving people the opportunity to dedicate a light to someone. This year the charity wanted the continue the tradition and ensure that people can still come together even thought they may be apart.

The charity is inviting people to watch the event as it is streamed online on Sunday, December 13 at 5pm.

People can donate to the charity and have a light placed on the virtual Christmas tree with a small message and picture if they wish.

Chief Executive of Saint Michael’s, Tony Collins, said:

“This year has truly been a year like no other and the changes made to our Light up a Life event reflect that, with the safety and the wellbeing of our community at the heart of our decision making.

“Each light will sparkle in tribute to a special person and will shine throughout the festive season as a symbol of hope and love.”

Read more:

• A fund offering a sustainable income for local charities has received a huge boost from Harrogate Borough Council. 
• A Harrogate group is helping to fundraise for Guide Dogs. 

The charity offers end of life care to people across the Harrogate district regardless of their diagnosis or place of care.

John Bickers (left) and his wife Doreen in 2004.

Melanie Fuller, from Harrogate, is tuning into this year’s online event to remember her Nan and Grandad. St Michael’s supported her family as her Nan, Doreen Bickers, passed away. She said her Grandad, John, was always grateful for the charity’s support. She said:

“Light Up A Life was such a comfort to my Grandad, and to us as a family. It gave him a time to remember and reflect, and feel near to her. Sadly my Grandad passed away this September.

“As such, it will now be an opportunity for us as a family remember them both. This year’s virtual event will be poignant for us, and we will be tuning in and reflecting on their lives.”

To dedicate a light on the tree, click here.

Harrogate Borough Council has said it will not buy any more plastic wreaths for its horticultural nursery after complaints.

The nursery, which is in the heart of the Pinewoods, mainly stocks poinsettias over Christmas but also sells decorations.

Some decorations are made with plastic and glitter, which contravenes a council commitment to stop using single-use plastic.

Neil Hind, chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group, wrote to senior councillors and shared his concerns with the Stray Ferret:

“We were surprised to see a range of plastics/glitter decorations on sale.

“We find it difficult to see how these fit with the council’s aspirations on reducing single-use plastic and becoming more sustainability focused.

“We would not want to see stranded costs for the taxpayer but can we request that once these items are sold no other such items are purchased for resale?”

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Alison Wilson, head of parks and environmental services at the council, wrote back to Mr Hind:

“I can confirm we do have a small number of products on sale that are plastic in the form of wreaths.

“However, we would consider this as something to be purchased for use over a number years rather than a single-use product.

“They were provided by our supplier, however I can confirm we will not be looking to purchase any more.”

Ms Wilson added the nursery had recently sourced recyclable plant containers, which will be introduced soon.

A new post box with a direct line to the North Pole has opened in Harrogate offering children the chance to write to Father Christmas.

Harrogate International Festivals has turned its Cheltenham Parade office a magical makeover.

As well as the post office, the site has snow flurries and Christmas music, and Father Christmas also makes appearances in the window.

The North Pole Post Office, which will be open right up to Christmas eve, aims to bring some festive cheer to children denied the chance to visit Santa due to covid.

Children posting letters should include their name, age, what they would like for Christmas and something they like doing. Those who would like Santa Claus to write back should also include their address.

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Read more:

• Stockeld Park opens Christmas tree site in heart of Harrogate
• Search to find Harrogate’s best Christmas shop window

Lizzie Brewster, Harrogate International Festivals’ head of development and communications, said:

“Because Santa’s grottos will be few and far between, we are inviting the town’s children to write a letter to Father Christmas and then pop it into our post box.

“And naturally we would also ask that social distancing is adhered to at all times. The last thing we want is Father Christmas and his elves coming down with covid!”

Harrogate Business Improvement District has sponsored the North Pole Post Office as part of its Harrogate at Christmas campaign.

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, said:

“Harrogate International Festivals are known for their creativity. The North Pole Post is simply genius. We are delighted to partner with them for this end of year treat.

“It is a feature of our Harrogate at Christmas campaign, designed to bring residents into town all through the week, not just at the weekend when it’s at its busiest.”

Ripon’s ancient cathedral, is to receive grants totalling £303,000 to repair a leaking roof and buy equipment for streaming of services.

A grant of £240,000 from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, will go towards the cost of mending the roof on the cathedral’s library.

In addition, grants of £63,000 have been received from Allchurches Trust and the Church Commissioners, enabling the purchase of new online streaming and associated equipment.

The roof repair to the library, which was added to the cathedral in the 15th century, will cost £300,000, with the remaining £60,000 raised through the ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ fundraising project run in partnership with Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

During the first COVID-19 lockdown, the cathedral was loaned equipment so that online services – including those during the Easter period – could be streamed to the homes of parishioners and a wider audience.

With the £10,000 grant from the Allchurches Trust and additional grants of £53,000, the cathedral will be able to pay for a new website and IT equipment for better quality streaming and recording of services, plus cabling and staff support costs.

Online streamed services began before Easter and the cathedral provided a daily streamed evening prayer, a weekly reflection and a Sunday Eucharist.

An aerial view of Ripon Cathedral.

The services have attracted a growing audience with more than 600 subscribers, some from as far away as California and New Zealand. Larger services, for such as that for VE Day, received more than 2,000 views.

Read more:

• Ripon cabbies’ call for COVID assistance is rejected
• Why was Ripon restaurateur praying for tier one?

Weddings and funerals have also been streamed for people who could not attend because of the strict cap on numbers. These have been seen thousands of times.

The Very Revd John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, said:

 “I cannot thank Allchurches Trust enough for the support they are giving us in this essential area of ministry.

“Twelve months ago, this sort of development was on our agenda for the medium-term future. The experience of this year has changed that completely; it is now an urgent matter and an area of our work that is simply indispensable.

“It is particularly valuable at this time as we have big plans for Christmas which this grant will help us deliver, including live streamed carol concerts for people to sing along to at home, organ recitals and other services”.

Looking further ahead into the new year, the cathedral hopes to develop a more extensive range of online services for the congregation and the wider rural community, particularly as the need to socially distance looks set to continue; the new equipment will help to achieve this goal.

The Wesley Chapel in Harrogate is fundraising to buy hampers for people who are alone this Christmas after covid prevented its usual lunch from taking place.

For the past 35 years the Methodist chapel has provided Christmas day lunches for up to 100 people.

All guests are offered a full Christmas dinner, entertainment, carol singing, and a snack before being transported home.

It has given mainly elderly, lonely and homeless people not only a hot meal but also company.

Now it has set up a crowdfunding campaign to buy a minimum of 120 hampers.

Esther Hitchen, a volunteer helper for the Wesley Chapel, said:

“Sadly, this year we are unable to provide a Christmas Day lunch due to the covid restrictions.

“Instead, we are organising hampers, which will be delivered to the door of our guests on the 25th of December.

“We hope it will brighten up their day and help them feel less alone this Christmas.”

Any funds that don’t get used will go towards next year’s Christmas dinner.

You can support the appeal here.

Read more:

• Harrogate History: The harsh reality of life in Harrogate during the war and the people’s resilience
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Harrogate Business Improvement District launched its annual Christmas window competition today.

The annual contest was featured in the Channel 5 documentary, Harrogate: A Yorkshire Christmas, last year.

It aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally using the BID’s online directory of shops.

Shops have until 8am on December 8 to dress their windows. After a few days of deliberations a winning window will be announced.

The judges will be looking for three elements: illumination, innovation and the sprit of Christmas.

Read more:

• Competition launched to find district’s best Christmas lights
• Harrogate district lit up in Christmas lights displays

The contest will be restricted to 50 businesses within the BID’s quarters of Kings, Montpellier, Victoria and West Park.

As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.

Winners will be presented with a framed certificate to display on December 14. The overall winner will receive the prized rose bowl.

This year Harrogate BID has partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. One of the club’s members, Graham Saunders, said:

“More than ever we need to encourage residents and visitors alike to venture into Harrogate and view the wonderful Christmas display the town is famed for.”

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:

“We would encourage everyone to come in to Harrogate town centre, but in a Covid-safe way, and wherever possible, do all their Christmas shopping with local traders.

“The Harrogate Gift Card is also a great Christmas present and ensures every one pound loaded onto a card is one pound spent within local community.”

The Harrogate Harriers is encouraging all local runners to stay active during the colder, darker months by taking part in a festive virtual event.

The ’12ks of Christmas’ challenge will see runners covering a 12km distance during the first 12 days of December – it can be done in one outing or spread over a few.

Due to covid restrictions the group has had to adapt and find new ways to keep its participants exercising. Its annual 10km had to move online in July this year but it hopes the 2021 event can go ahead in line with any covid restrictions.

The group has ran several other virtual events for its members during lockdown but this challenge, it says, is for everyone to get involved in.

For this fun Christmas challenge the group has teamed up with toynado.co.uk – a Tockwith-based toy company which is offering 12 toy prizes to be included in the daily draws.

Nathaniel Southworth, Harrogate Harriers Treasurer, said:

“During lockdown we’ve been using different virtual events to keep the members engaged but also give them something to work towards. We want to open this out to everyone, all ages and all abilities.

“Lockdown encouraged people to get out and about so there is likely more runners out there who would enjoy this challenge.”

Read more:

• As a keen runner, the Bishop of Ripon has supported plans for a sports village to be included in a proposed housing development. 
• See runners as they take part in this year’s virtual London marathon around Harrogate. 

Participants will win other items including a discount for next year’s 10km event.

All the profits from the £6 entry fee go back in the club to help them continue encouraging people to get out and exercise within their local community.

To sign up, click here.

To the dismay of Ripon residents, a building site has been erected in the city’s historic market place alongside the city’s Christmas display.

Ripon spent an extra £65,000 on Christmas lights this year, with the tree in the market place the centrepiece of the attraction.

But just two days after the lights were switched on the festive mood soured slightly when Yorkshire Water, which is carrying out emergency sewer repairs on Kirkgate, set up portable cabins right next to the tree in the heart of the city.

The market place has been the centrepiece of the city since the 12th century and is one of the most famous landmarks in the Harrogate district,

Cllr Stuart Martin, the Harrogate district’s mayor, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is not right to put this slap bang in front of a Grade II* Listed Building, next to the Christmas tree. This has obviously caused a lot of upset.

“The positioning could have been better. Hopefully it will be moved in a couple of days.”

The Stray Ferret understands Harrogate Borough Council has asked Yorkshire Water to find a more appropriate place for the cabins.

Read more:

• Harrogate district lit up in Christmas lights displays
• Huge bears brighten up Ripon for Christmas
• Ripon to get new luxury glamping site

In the spirit of making the best of a bad situation, people on a Ripon community group suggested decorating the cabins as giant presents or as Santa’s sleigh.

Another wrote:

“We have so little to look forward to this year. Surely it’s not too much to ask to be able to take a photo of our beautiful square!”

The Stray Ferret approached Yorkshire Water for a comment but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

The company has said Kirkgate will be closed until December 2 and any remaining work will be postponed until the new year.

Santa Claus will be visiting Harrogate next month as part of a Christmas experience for children held at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

This event is one of few the showground has been able to hold this year due to covid restrictions.

Santa’s grotto will be manned by his elves and has been set up in a covid-secure manner.

On the weekend of the 5 and 6 December families can visit the grotto in groups of up to six people.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society which manages the showground, forecasted a £2 million loss this year due to the number of cancelled events.

Its chief executive, Nigel Pulling, warned of the ongoing impact of covid which has left the society running at “well below 10 per cent” of capacity at the moment.

Graham Thompson, general manager, said:

“This has been a challenging year for all of us and it gives us great pleasure to provide some fun for the youngsters and welcome Santa on several dates throughout December.”

Other dates will be included, but tickets must be booked prior to the event. They can be bought here.

Read more:

• This year’s cancelled events at the show ground has cost the local economy £70 million. 
• Harrogate spring flower show set to go ahead at the show ground in 2021. 

Deliver woof  is a Harrogate based company that provides the perfect place to shop if you want to make your beloved dog feel super special this Christmas. From personalised advent calendars to yummy Christmas dinners, your pooch will be able to indulge but in a healthy and safe way.

Charlotte Wilson, Founder of Deliver Woof.

Charlotte Wilson started Deliver woof during the first lockdown when she had to temporarily close her makeup and lash business, due to restrictions. She saw a gap in the market for high-quality, personalised treats and accessories

“I am a crazy dog lady, with three furry babies of my own; Rocky, Lillian and Bruno. I used to look for quality personalised accessories for them but there didn’t seem to be much on offer, so whilst I had some free time on my hands I decided I was going to give it a go… Deliver Woof has been the best thing to come out 2020 for me, and now my makeup & lash business has closed again at what is usually the busiest time of the year, I can’t tell you how much every order means to me!

All the products, (even the treats) are designed and hand made by Charlotte at her home in Harrogate.

Let’s face it, our four-legged friends are more than just pets, they are part of the family… so when it comes to Christmas it’s surely only fair that they get to join in on the festivities… After all they are there for us 365 days of the year, offering unconditional love.

Bentley, with his personalised Deliver Woof treat.

Well that’s definitely the case for my dog anyways. Bentley, is a 9-year-old black lab and may as well be called shadow… as he follows me everywhere. He wakes me up each morning with his tail banging against the door, and no matter how long he’s been left in the house he is always happy to see me (the difference between dogs and men!)

So with the festive season fast approaching and all non-essential shops closed, its time for some online shopping, not just for friends and family but for our loyal furry friends.

Here are the Deliver Woof items that Bentley has on his Christmas list… I have already received these products and I am seriously impressed with the quality, they are very classy and I love the fact that everything is personalised:

Credit: Josey Grace Photography

Advent calendars: A great addition to your mantlepiece!  All made out of luxury cotton. Personalisation and silhouettes of your dogs breed with Santa hats & red noses included. The calendar features 24 numbered pockets and two large pockets for Christmas Day. Allowing your pet to count down from 1st December to Christmas Day with yummy treats! Advent calendar can be filled with a selection of treats from Deliver Woof or you can fill it with your own treats.

Price- £34.99 (without treats) and  £44.99 (with treats)

Size: 70cmx80cm (also can be personalised for kids or other pets too)

Stockings: Make Christmas extra special for your dog this year with the beautiful Personalised Christmas Dog Stocking. Made out of luxury cotton, Pom poms & vinyl personalisation. Choose any name & silhouette to be personalised onto your Xmas Stockings. There is a selection of different coloured pom-poms to choose from and the stockings come in either beige or red.

Price – £14.99

Size:18x36cm.(also can be personalised for kids or other pets too)

Dogs Christmas dinner:  A dog-friendly Christmas dinner that includes deliver woof treat selection of human look-alike foods such as sausage & Parma ham, breadsticks, chicken sandwiches and much more. Personalisation onto Christmas dinner packaging is included.

Price: £11.99 ( to serve one) and £16.99 (to serve two)

As all items are handmade they will typically be dispatched within 3-5 working days after order is placed. Support local, shop Harrogate!

If you have anything lifestyle related that you would like me to cover, please get in touch- ami@thestrayferret.co.uk.