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.

My dog was banned from church – this is wrong

My gorgeous bit of fur, a well behaved six-year-old French bulldog, was asked to leave a well known church in Harrogate this afternoon. She could have stayed if she was an assistance/ guide dog on a lead and wearing a jacket. ‘Ordinary’ dogs are not allowed as their allergens may cause suffering to churchgoers. Do the leads and jackets stop allergens… no!

Belle has been visiting the sessions most weeks this year, to no known detriment to the church community. Has there been an anaphylactic reaction to a person during or after our sessions? Probably not.

Belle is adored by the churchgoers. They love giving her treats, petting and interacting with her. Pat-a-dog activities are a welcome therapy with the elderly and dementia sufferers. As a nurse for over 30 years, and having been a matron/ manager of care homes, I have seen the happiness this interaction brings.

Are dogs not God’s creation like us? Is a house of God not a sanctuary and place of peace? Are all of God’s creatures not welcome?

Although Belle is not officially a therapy dog, she helps me overcome anxiety/panic attacks and kept my mental health and wellbeing from spiralling into a black hole during the covid crisis. She continues to support me and bring joy.

Chrissy Richardson, Scotton

Read more:

• ‘Badly let down’ Woodfield school closure confirmed
• Diners to eat blindfolded to raise funds for Harrogate guide dogs

Politics of Woodfield school closure should not be forgotten

As branch secretary of the National Education Union, it is with great sadness that I have watched Woodfield Community Primary School, in the Bilton area of Harrogate, move towards closure.

The community of Bilton deserves a thriving primary school and over the course of the past decade the school has undergone several traumatic events that led to a lack of parental confidence. Rather than working with the community to help the school re-establish its reputation, it seems that far too many agencies involved have sought to sweep things under the carpet and not give the school staff and the local community the support they deserved to keep the school functioning.

I read with interest Cllr Paul Haslam’s comments in which he argues that the school should not be closing, due to the growth in population in Harrogate. I agree with Cllr Haslam about the need to keep Woodfield school open, but I do take issue with the fact that it is the Tory party, a party he represents, whose policy of forcing schools to become academies that has been the final death knell for the school.

The behaviour of the Department for Education is akin to the school bully who get their own way by any means necessary. Every member of the Tory party, from the Prime Minister to the Andrew Jones MP, to ward councillors are culpable in the decimation of our education system and schools such as Woodfield pay the heavy price for their neo-liberal ideology.

Over the past months the NEU has run a campaign to save Woodfield School. A campaign to which Tory councillors were happy to say they supported in words but then failed to back it up in gestures. When children are having to travel increased distances and crossing over catchment area borders to get the education they deserve I hope those local councillors, and the local MP, hang their heads in shame.

Mostly, I feel for the future generations of children in Bilton who will not be able to attend what was, not so long ago, a thriving, caring and wonderful educational setting.

Gary McVeigh-Kaye

A concert last weekend at Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough raised over £800 for local food poverty organisation Resurrected Bites.

The concert featured musicians and singers including the Silver Keys Clarinet Quartet, Thula Mamas and Knaresborough Silver Band.

Music included Graham Kendrick’s ‘Teach me to Dance’, Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’, Lennon and McCartney’s ‘When I’m 64’ and Brian Hoare’s ‘Born in Song’.

The event was organised by Sarah Darvill and Nick Garrett.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Marketing agency appointed to support Knaresborough energy firm
• Donor to fill Knaresborough man’s lorry with hundreds toys for Ukraine

Resurrected Bites was established by Michelle Hayes in 2018 and began life as a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ community café working with local businesses and suppliers to divert good quality food from landfill.

It turns the food into meals in its cafes and provides it to families through its community groceries scheme.

The organisation runs cafes at Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough and West Park United Reformed Church in Harrogate. It has also launched a community groceries scheme with bases in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The annual Masham Sheep Fair will return to the town on Saturday and Sunday.

The fair commemorates Masham’s rich history of sheep farming and is one of the biggest events in the Harrogate district.

Susan Cunliffe-Lister and other volunteers started the sheep fair 30 years ago, initially as a one-off event to raise money for farmers in Africa.

It raised £7,950 and became an annual event, now raising £159,000 for Yorkshire charities.

She wanted to bring back an old tradition. Until the First World War, sheep farmers from across the Dales used to come to Masham each year to buy and sell as many as 80,000 sheep over the course of a few days.

Nowadays sheep farmers from across the UK come to Masham to compete. There are other events like sheepdog trials, tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, morris dancing, fleece stalls and even sheep racing to keep the crowds entertained.

Read more:

• County’s first recycled plastic bridge installed at Masham

• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery to mark 30th anniversary

The schedule for the fair is below:

Saturday:

Sunday:

10.00 – Town Hall & School exhibitions open
10.30 – Morning Service in Methodist Chapel
10.45 – Harvest Festival Thanksgiving Service at St. Mary’s Church
10.45 – Judging of Sheep Show commences
11.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
12.00 – Flower Festival opens in St. Mary’s Church
12.00 – Trips around Theakston’s & Black Sheep Breweries start
12.00 – Sheep racing in field beyond churchyard
12.00 – Refreshments start at Methodist Church
12.30 – Sheepdog demonstrations in field beyond churchyard
13.00 – Judging of Supreme Champion in Sheep Show
13.45 – Bishop Blaize procession from Maple Creek to the Square
14.00 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
14.30 – Sheep racing over the sticks
15.00 – Sheepdog demonstration in field beyond churchyard
15.00 – Handbell ringing in Church
15.30 – Sheep Show on trailer in front of Town Hall
18.30 – Songs of Praise service in Methodist Chapel

Bells are ringing out once more across the Harrogate district today to formally proclaim King Charles III as the new sovereign.

This time it is a celebratory peal to mark the King’s ascension to the throne.

The Reverend Judith Clark, assistant curate on placement at St Peter’s, Harrogate, said:

“When the bells ring out today they will be unmuffled for the proclamation of King Charles III.”

After today, bells will then be muffled again until the day of the Queen’s funeral.

Churches remain open today for tributes, reflection and mourning.

Special services in commemoration of the Queen are also taking place across the district, including at St Peter’s Church, St John’s, Knaresborough, and Ripon Cathedral.

At midday today, bells at several of the Harrogate district’s churches rung out to mourn the Queen.

Churches including Ripon Cathedral, St Peter’s in Harrogate and St John’s in Knaresborough rung throughout the hour.

They joined with churches across the country such as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral to pay their respects to the Monarch.

Janet Hurst was one of the bellringers in Hampsthwaite. She explained the process of ‘muffling’ the bells as part of the tribute.

“The bells are fully muffled, which only happens for the Monarch, normally it’s half-muffled… so that people can pause and pay their respects to Her Majesty.”

Read more:

• LIVE: Harrogate district church bells ring out to mark the Queen’s death
• Ripon Cathedral to play a central role in mourning The Queen

Harrogate Harmony Barbershop Chorus is encouraging men to take up barbershop singing through a fun five-week course.

The course, which will take place at St Peter’s Church on Cambridge Road, is aimed at both newcomers and those who already enjoy singing.

There are no auditions or a need to read music and no experience is necessary. Men of all ages are welcome.

The course culminates with a concert to entertain family and friends in the final week.

Read more:

• New Harrogate Station Gateway details revealed today
• Harrogate district prepares for heatwave as red weather warning issued

The course begins on Wednesday July 27 at 7.30pm.

It costs £10 for the five weeks, which includes all course materials and tuition.

Greg Tunesi, a member of Harrogate Harmony, said:

“Being part of an ensemble, creating a harmony in music and in friendship is good fun, relaxed and informal. When you sing well amongst 16 to 18 other men, it’s an amazing feeling and produces a beautiful sound.

“Those attending will have singing in four-part harmony explained and demonstrated to them. They will then be guided as to which voice part, tenor, lead, baritone or bass best suits their voice”

For more information visit www.harrogateharmony.org.uk or contact Harold Blackburn at haroldblackburn2@outlook.com or on 07949 267344 to book a place.

Green Shoots is the Stray Ferret’s monthly feature that explores the people and places who are doing great things for the environment in our district.

Boroughbridge residents are queuing out of the door at Boroughbridge Methodist Church to pick up potatoes, bread, carrots and other kitchen essentials.

But it’s not a food bank, they are here to do their bit to tackle the food waste crisis, which is one of the most under-reported environmental issues of our time.

In the UK, 6.7 million tonnes of food, worth £10 billion, is thrown in the bin every year.

There is a hidden environmental price too with much of the unwanted food heading to vast landfill sites which emit climate-damaging methane into the atmosphere.

The community larder is run jointly by volunteers from Boroughbridge Lions and Boroughbridge Community Care. The food comes from Morrisons supermarket, Fink, Minskip Farm Shop and Great Ouseburn Post Office.

As well as fruit and veg there are tins, drinks and even some rather tempting-looking cakes, which really would be a shame to see go to waste.

‘All about the environment’

The larder has been running for 11 weeks and kicks off each Wednesday from 12pm.

It also doubles up as a social get-together for the Boroughbridge community who gather for tea and coffee whilst they wait for their turn to collect the food.

The volunteers recently totted up how much food has been handed over so far, they had saved a massive 1.6 tonnes of food from going to landfill. Not bad going for a couple of hours every Wednesday lunchtime.

Sue Johnson from Boroughbridge Lions is one of the key figures behind the larder. She said, “It’s all about the environment”.

“We are reducing food waste and surplus food that would normally go to into landfill and create greenhouse gases. That’s what we are all about.

“We also want to bring the community together. The buzz in the coffee room is fantastic. “

Residents having tea and coffee in the church

Some of the food in the larder

Read more:

• Green Shoots: Ethical raw dog food brand founded in Tockwith
• Green Shoots: Keeping Harrogate district trees healthy
• Green Shoots: Harrogate care provider buys electric bikes for staff

‘It’s still good food’

Unlike a food bank, you don’t need a referral to visit. It’s open to everyone, which the volunteers are keen to stress.

Andrea Bryson, one of the volunteers, said:

“We’re preventing food from going to waste. It’s still good food. We’re protecting the environment so there’s less methane in the atmosphere. It puts a smile on everybody’s face.”

Mo, who has lived in Boroughbridge for many years, said helping the environment is the main reason she comes along. She said:

“A lot of people wouldn’t go to a food bank because they think they are not deserving. This is a win-win as you are helping the planet and stopping food from going to waste so the environment is benefitting.”

Boroughbridge resident Mo

Kirri said she enjoys the range of items on offer which helps give new ideas for meals to cook for her family. She said:

“I get different ingredients here to what I am used to so I am cooking lots of new things. I can’t believe some of it was being thrown away, it’s crazy!”

Kirri

Green shoots

The Stray Ferret didn’t leave empty-handed, either, and took home some potatoes and carrots, which will look good as part of a Sunday roast this weekend.

Tackling climate change can seem like a daunting task for the individual but lessons learned from groups like the Boroughbridge Community Larder might just be one way for us to slowly turn the corner, one bag of potatoes at a time.

This article is sponsored by Boundless Networks

The four-day celebration of the Queen’s 70-year-reign is underway.

We have compiled a What’s On diary of events for the Harrogate district across those four days. Please send us details of your event for the extended jubilee weekend holiday so we can add it in.

Harrogate

Civic Celebration: 

Part of the Stray will be transformed into Jubilee Square. It will include a large stage and a big screen for the bank holiday.

Thursday: The big screen will be showing the Trooping of the Colour, The Queen’s birthday parade and the RAF flypast. Harrogate Spa Town Ukes will be performing, along with the big school sing, Freddie Cleary and band, Undercovered.

Friday: There will be a jubilee dog show, the Harrogate mastermind quiz, and live music from Ben & George. The big screen will also be playing the Service of Thanksgiving from St Paul’s Cathedral.

Saturday: A wellbeing morning has been organised, along with a second Harrogate mastermind quiz. The big screen will stream The Derby at Epsom Downs and the platinum party at the palace.

Sunday: There will be a jubilee picnic with DJ Mark Green, and the big screen will be showing films Encanto and The Greatest Showman throughout the day.

The town centre will be adorned with 4km of bunting and there will be street entertainers performing across the four days.

Valley Gardens will host a free family festival, which will feature jugglers, magicians, choirs and fairground rides. For a full timetable of events in Valley Gardens click here.

Little Bird Artisan Market  

Friday to Sunday: Little Bird Artisan Markets will be hosting an artisan market in Valley Gardens

The market holds stalls with an array of traders who sell baked goods, food, drink, arts, and crafts.

Palm Court Café Afternoon Tea

Friday and Saturday: Yorkshire Appetite have organised a guided walk and afternoon tea at 3pm.

The walk will include a short stroll through Harrogate central led by a local guide, keeping to the themes of the monarchy.

An afternoon tea will be held after in the Palm Court Café.

Tickets are £22.50 per person and can be booked here.

Cedar Court Hotel Tea Parties

Friday: Cedar Court Hotel is holding a Garden Tipi Jubilee Afternoon.

Priced at £16.00 per head the tea menu is extensive. For tickets book here.

Harrogate Street Parties

Currently, there are twelve officially planned street parties being held by the residents of Harrogate.

Rudding Park: 

Thursday to Saturday: Deer House Family pub at Rudding Holiday Park will be hosting a series of events such as a Jubilee disco and tea party. For more information click here.

Harrogate Library: 

Tuesday: Harrogate library is hosting the Twixt t’Covers regional event, where five special guests will discuss their favourite books from The Big Jubilee booklist. It will be livestreamed to audiences across the nation from 7:30pm to 9pm.

The 70 books, made up of 10 books from each decade of the Queen’s reign, will be available to borrow from Harrogate library. 

Oatlands Community Centre: 

Thursday: Oatlands Community Centre are hosting jubilee crafts for children from 10-12am. There will also be the chance to learn about Oatlands’ industrial heritage, view the centre’s ceramic mural design and sign up for a free clay workshop.

Live music at Harlow Carr: 

RHS Garden Harlow Carr are hosting a series of live music performances on each afternoon of the bank holiday weekend. The groups playing are:

Thursday: Take 2 Big Band

Friday: New Horizons Dance Band 

Saturday: Barnsley Brass 

Sunday: Chris Irvin Concert Orchestra

Knaresborough

Knaresborough’s Platinum Jubilee Committee has planned a celebration and entertainment programme. Flags, bunting and shop window decorations are already up. There will be a children’s shop window trail around the town. 

Thursday to Saturday: A community history display will be open in Knaresborough House from 10am to 4.30 pm daily. Admission is free.

Thursday: Knaresborough Flower Club will be decorating the Market Cross in the Market Place for the Platinum Jubilee.

At 9pm, along with more than 1,500 locations across the UK, the Mayor of Knaresborough will light a beacon on the castle top. All are welcome.

Friday: There will be a tea dance from 2pm to 4pm at the Knaresborough Community Centre, Stockwell Avenue. It is a free event, but people are asked to register their interest in attending. Tel. 01423 862702 

Saturday: There will be an artisan market in the morning, followed by an afternoon garden party and performances at Knaresborough House. Musicians and entertainers are booked for the free garden event with people encouraged to dress up in 1950’s attire.

From 10-11 am, there will be a children’s flag-making workshop at Gracious Street Methodist Church. The event is free and there will be refreshments at the workshop. 

At 11am there will be a flag procession from the Market Place led by the Town Crier to the grounds of Knaresborough House for the Jubilee Garden Party which opens at 12 Noon.

There will be a dog show. Entries are taken from 11am at the show ring. Entry £1 per class. Proceeds for Ukraine animal charities.

The approximate times are 12pm Best Rescue, 12.45pm Prettiest Bitch, 1.30pm Most Handsome Male, 2.15pm Waggiest tail and 3pm Fancy Dress.

Visitors can bring their own picnics, but a range of food and drink stalls will be available.

In St John’s Church, a specially commissioned film from Yorkshire Archives, looking at the Queen’s reign in Yorkshire and the Northeast, will be on a rolling programme with free entry.

In the Knaresborough House gardens entertainment will be provided by, The Hummingbirds, Roundel Pop group, Meadowside School Choir, Knaresborough Youth Theatre, Studio 3 and a traditional Indian Dancer. Knaresborough Silver Band will provide a fitting end to the day with music from the Last Night of the Proms.

Sunday: Christians Together in Knaresborough invite everyone to a Jubilee Celebration Service of worship at 10.30am in St John’s Church. Share with all the churches in the town as they come together to give thanks to for the Queen’s reign. 

Sunday afternoon is reserved for individually arranged street parties.

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has announced a fancy dress competition. Get into the spirit of things with your best 1950’s outfits and you could win £50 (and some free publicity for your business or group if appropriate). Upload a photo of yourself or your team in your best 1950’s or Jubilee themed outfit. Use the hashtag #knaresboroughjubileedressup

See https://knaresboroughchamber.org for more details and terms. 

Ripon

Ripon City centre will be adorned with banners knitted by Ripon Community Poppy Project.

Ripon’s Civic Celebrations

Thursday to Saturday:  The focus of festivities will be on Market Square where there’ll be musical entertainment alongside free fairground rides. The entertainment will run from 11am -11.30pm

To accommodate the crowds, road closures will be in place on Market Place roads.

At 9pm on Saturday, the Platinum Jubilee Horn commissioned by the council will be used for the first time in the setting of the watch ceremony. All four of the city’s hornblowers will be on duty.

Ripon Cathedral service and tea party

Thursday: Ripon Cathedral, which is also celebrating its 1,350th anniversary year, will be the focus of North Yorkshire attention, as it hosts the civic service for the county between 11am-12pm.

Friday: Platinum Jubilee Tea Party 2-4pm for invited guests, who were born in each of the 70 years of the Queen’s reign.

Ripon’s new Platinum Jubilee Horn, will be unveiled to the public at 9pm on June 4

Children’s Entertainment in Spa Gardens

The focus on Sunday switches to Spa Park, where a day-long programme of family entertainment is being organised by Ripon Community Poppy Project.

Tractor Festival

Friday to Sunday: The UK’s largest tractor festival returns to Newby Hall, Ripon. After experiencing a break for two years, the festival will be extended to three days to cover the jubilee celebrations.

On average, the festival attracts around 12,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitions of vehicles.

The event will run from 10am-5pm over three days.

Food, drinks, arts and crafts will be available to make the day more inclusive to children and families that wish to come down. Tickets are available on the Newby Hall website.

Boroughbridge

Wednesday, June 1: Boroughbridge Community Library is taking part in the Big Jubilee Read, and will be hosting a story time for children. There will be two story times for the book The Queen’s Knickers, starting at 10:15am for children aged 0-5 and 11:30am for children aged 5-11. The event will also involve activities based on the book.

Friday: The Great Afternoon Tea for the jubilee takes place at Boroughbridge Football Club from 12pm to 6pm. An afternoon of fun and games will raise money for the charity Dementia Forward.

There will be a barbecue and bar, along with a bouncy castle, tug of war, face painting, beat the goalie competition, and a raffle. There will also be an afternoon tea for local care home residents.

Pateley Bridge

Civic Celebration

Friday: A jubilee garden party will take place from 12pm – 4pm at Pateley Bridge Masonic Hall, including food, drink, face painting and games. The event will raise money for the Yorkshire air ambulance.

Saturday: The main festivities in Pateley Bridge are focused on a big party in the town’s recreation ground from midday until 3pm and there will be a royal themed fancy dress competition, a cake competition and live music.

Sunday: A platinum jubilee afternoon tea will be held from 1pm-4pm at Pateley Bridge & Bewerley Memorial Hall with live music, a raffle and a kids “design a crown or corgi” competition. No need to book.

Masham

Civic Celebration

Masham Parish Council has organised four days of events for the town.

Thursday:

• 10am onwards five-a-side football knockout tournament begins, plus bowls, snooker, quoits and a tug-of-war between businesses and community groups.
• 2pm Town Crier will read the proclamation
• 7.30pm A celebratory ring of church bells St Mary’s Church
• 9.40pm Lighting of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee beacons – bugle call to fanfare
• 9.45pm Lighting of the beacon on Roomer Common

Friday:

• 1pm Parade of Floats led by Reeth Brass Band – leaving from I’Ansons Mill, circling Masham.
• 2pm Fancy Dress judging – prizes for ‘best’ 5years and under, 6years to 10years, up to 16years and adults on Masham Market Place
• 3pm BYO BBQ on the Square – bring your own food and BBQ with friends on the square (dedicated veggie & gluten free BBQs available), people advised to bring a chair, on Masham Market Place
• 7.30pm Band on the Square – local popular band ‘The Doubtful Bottle’ on Masham Market Place
• 10pm Fireworks – what every celebration needs at St Mary’s Church yard to be viewed from the Market Place

Saturday:

• 10am Children’s Royal Crafts – craft a crown with Rev Sian Lawton at St Mary’s Church
• 3pm Afternoon Tea – enjoy a tasty light bite with a glass of fizz before the choir concert at St Mary’s Church. Tickets are £10
• Jubilee Choir Concert – come and enjoy music from members of Masham Musical Society, Singing for Fun and St Mary’s Choir. Tickets are £5
• 7.30pm Jubilee Evening Concert

Sunday:

• 10am Royal Peal of Bells – honouring the Queen at St Mary’s Church 10.45am  Service of Thanksgiving
• Midday The Great Get Together – bring your own food and share at this community luncheon, tables and chairs will be provided

For full details there’s more information on the Mashamshire Jubilee Programme website

Birstwith

Saturday and Sunday: The Birstwith Annual Village Show in Harrogate has planned separate events for both days

Saturday: A royal pig race will be held at the Station Hotel gardens in Birstwith. The event is family friendly and will start from 4:30pm running onwards.

Food and drink will be available with attendees having to bring cash for betting and food.

Sunday: BAVS have organised a village picnic to mark the Queen’s jubilee. Anyone is able to join, with participants required to bring their own picnic and drinks.

Dacre

A programme of events have been organised and Dacre, like Ripon, will be taking part in the beacon lighting ceremony on Thursday.

It will be lit at Dover Castle, up the path near Low Hall, by locally-based firefighters and attendees are asked to arrive by 9.30pm.

Songs will be sung, including the National Anthem.

Family fun day

Friday: A family fun day from noon until 4pm, will be held at the Max Pullan Playing Fields.

In addition to the live music and refreshments, there will be an egg and spoon race, coconut shy, bouncy castle, face-painting and  tug-of-war competition.

Sunday: The playing fields will also be the venue for an open air thanksgiving service starting at 11am.

It will be followed by a traditional village street party between the village green and church hall, from noon until 4pm attendees are asked to bring a picnic.

Throughout the week there is also a ‘Royal Treasure Hunt’ within Dacre Banks, with check in for the event at the village store.

Kirkby Malzeard  

Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council has organised a packed timetable of events across the four day bank holiday.

Thursday: A historical tour of the church has been organised, to begin at 3pm.

There will also be a jubilee bonfire lit at 9:45pm at Greygarth Monument, including a singalong where guests are encouraged to bring their own instruments. 

Friday: An off-road social run will begin at 9am, lasting for 90 minutes and setting off from The Mechanics’ Institute. 

Reeth Brass Band will be playing from 11am in Mowbray Crescent. 

From 2pm, Laverton’s party will be hosted on the green, including live music and the option to bring your own food and drink.

The Mechanics’ Institute are holding a coronation music night, starting at 8pm. 

Saturday: A Royal parade will begin at midday, where trailers and floats will lead the procession. The parade will start at the Market Cross, leading to the playing fields where the ‘Kirkby Queen’ will present a gift to every child taking part.  

This will be followed by an afternoon of games, entertainment and a barbeque from 12:30pm.  

At 1:30pm, the Kirkby Queen will plant an Elizabeth II rose in the jubilee garden.

The Mechanics Institute are ending the day with a royal quiz at 8pm.  

Sunday: A street party will take place from 1.30pm– 4.30pm on Church Street. Guests can bring their own food, drinks and table decorations, and The Queen’s head will also be running a barbecue. At 1:30pm the children of Kirkby School will perform a maypole dance, there will be a royal teddy bear’s parade followed by a teddy bear’s picnic, and a dance and singalong to live music. 

Spofforth  

Spofforth with Stockeld Parish Council is one of the villages to be awarded funding from Harrogate Borough Council to be used for the jubilee.

Thursday: A children’s party will start at 2pm at the cricket club, including a helter skelter, a bouncy castle, hook a duck, a craft tent and a dunking stool. There will also be afternoon tea and a barbeque.

At 2:15pm a parade of the Kings and Queens of England will begin, where children can dress up as their favourite King or Queen from history.  

At 9:45pm, Spofforth will join other communities across the district in lighting the jubilee beacon. This event will begin at 9pm in front of Spofforth Castle and will include music from Spofforth School Choir and saxophonist Millie Hope.  

Friday: A tea party with prosecco, afternoon tea and music for Spofforth and Stockeld seniors has been organised in the Long Memorial Hall, starting at 3pm.   

Royal party in the park  

Saturday: A party in the park will begin at 7pm outside the castle, where people are encouraged to bring their own picnics. The evening will include face painting, circus entertainers, a 50s style band, and an Oompah band.

A disco and fireworks will bring the night to a close at 11:30pm.  

Killinghall 

Killinghall is putting on a jubilee celebration on Sunday at the village hall and the cricket club.  

It will begin at midday with a packed timetable of activities, including a bouncy castle, a cricket match, a tug of war, and children’s races.

At 12:15pm a jubilee fancy dress parade is taking place, and at 3pm judging of the jubilee cake competition will begin. The day will be brought to a close with the live band Let Luce.  

People are encouraged to bring their own picnics, and refreshments will also be available at the cricket club bar.  

Winksley 

Saturday: Woodhouse Caravan Park is holding a garden party at 3pm, including games, face painting, a cake sale, a quiz and a raffle at The Barn restaurant.

There will also be a party tea between 5pm-7pm and music entertainment into the evening. The profits made from the event will be donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.  

Roecliffe and Westwick  

Saturday: The parish council have organised a platinum jubilee lunch on the village green from midday.   

Fewston and Blubberhouses  

Thursday to Sunday: Fewston and Blubberhouses are holding a flower festival at Blubberhouses church, lasting all four days of the bank holiday. Refreshments will be served from 11am – 4pm each day, with live music on Saturday from 2pm – 3pm. 

North Rigton  

There is a red, white and blue trail to do around the village, starting from 22nd May, and a jubilee flagpole will be put up in the village garden.

Thursday: An evening garden party will be held from 7pm -10pm at Hill Top Farm, where guests are encouraged to bring their own drinks and meal. 

They will also be lighting a beacon at 9:15pm, which can be viewed from the garden. 

Sunday: A bring-your-own picnic has been organised, which will be held in the church grounds.

Topcliffe and Asenby  

Thursday and Friday: The Angel at Topcliffe pub has organised a jubilee celebration between midday and 5pm. There will be a bouncy castle, a treasure hunt and games. The Cherry Tones will also be performing, with songs from across the seven decades of the Queen’s reign.  

Saturday: The main event in Topcliffe and Asenby will be a party in the park on Saturday. The event will include an inflatable assault course, children’s games, a bowls competition, an ice cream van and live music. There is also the chance to pre-order afternoon tea. It starts at 2pm on the village playing field.  

On Saturday afternoon, St Columba’s Church is offering guided tours, where the church tower will be open for people wishing to see the village’s jubilee decorations from above.  

Sunday: St Columba’s Church has organised a Choral Evensong with the choir at 6:30pm.  

Whixley  

Saturday: From 7pm there will be an evening of entertainment at the village hall, with songs, dances and tales of the past.  

Sunday: A jubilee picnic will start at midday, where events throughout the afternoon include a royal fancy dress parade for guests and their dogs, a dog show, sports day races and an inflatable assault course.  

Hampsthwaite 

Saturday: From 2pm the Memorial Hall will open, offering a hog roast and barbeque. There will also be a bouncy castle and live music from Spa Town Ukes and Still Crazy.  

Sunday: The Memorial Hall will continue its celebrations on Sunday, opening again at 2pm until 5pm. There will be tea, cakes and sandwiches, as well as a raffle and screenings of film clips and newsreels.  

Follifoot  

Sunday: Follifoot parish council have organised a jubilee picnic on the village hall lawn. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics and dress in red, white and blue or 1950s style fashion. There will be sports, music and a craft corner.  

Great Ouseburn  

Friday: Great Ouseburn village hall will hold a jubilee celebration all day, with a number of activities planned.

Guests are encouraged to dress in 1950s style outfits, and there will be a 1950s themed window trail around the village, as well as a Queen’s parade. Children’s crafts and games will take place, including dress making and crown creating. A jubilee lunch has also been organised where guests will need to bring their own food and reserve a table beforehand. There will be live music into the evening, and food available from Bistro Guy and Pool Bridge Farm Shop.  

A commemorative mosaic plaque is also due to be unveiled on Friday.  

Norwood 

Sunday: Norwood social hall is hosting afternoon tea and family games to mark the jubilee weekend. The event will begin at 2pm, and will include an afternoon tea and picnic boxes for children, family games, a children’s craft corner and a children’s colouring competition.  

Markington 

Saturday: Markington village hall has organised a jubilee celebration that includes afternoon tea and live music. The event will be at 1pm – 4pm, with the singer beginning at 1:30pm. Tables can be booked via committee members.  

Bishop Monkton

Bishop Monkton has a large variety of events for the jubilee weekend. Throughout the four day bank holiday, there will be a decorated house and garden trail through the village, and St John’s Church will be hosting a flower festival each day from 10am – 4pm.

Wednesday 1st June: A community concert with the theme ‘seven decades of song’ will take place in the village hall from 7:30pm.

Thursday: From 10am – 4pm there will be music from DJ Billy Miller, followed by live music at 4pm – 7pm from the seven-piece band Groove Council.

From 11am to 1pm there will be the ‘It’s a knockout’ sports competition on the playing fields, with tea and coffee also available in the village hall.

Children’s games will take place from midday on the playing fields, along with a magician.

There will also be a selection of refreshments available throughout the day on the playing fields, with bacon baps and a barbeque from 10am, and a bar from 2pm – 7pm.

Friday: At 9:45am there will be a coffee morning at St John’s Church.

The village hall will be screening two films, ‘The Village Likes to Party’ and ‘The Village Pubs’ from the local history group. There will be two viewings of each film at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm.

From 10am the Methodist Church will hold a wedding dress and photos display. This will also be open on Saturday.

The Masons Arms is putting on an afternoon tea from midday until 3pm, which must be booked in advance.

Saturday: A hog roast with stalls, games and pig racing will begin at midday on Main Street.

In the school hall, there will be cream teas available, as well as the school’s jubilee exhibition, open from 12pm – 5pm.

From 7pm, the village hall has organised a ceilidh, with a cash bar on the night.

Sunday: At 10:30am, there is a join service from both the churches in Bishop Monkton in the school playground.

A fancy dress parade will take place from 2pm, where guests are invited to dress up to represent people and events from the Queen’s reign. This will be followed by a street party at 3pm on Main Street, then a prize giving at 4pm.

Monday 6th June: The parish council will present the children of Bishop Monkton primary school with commemorative mugs.

To bring the celebrations to a close, a time capsule will be created and buried at 10:30am in Jubilee Woods by the village hall.

Marton le Moor

The parish council have organised tea, cake and games on Devonshire green. The event will begin at 2pm and refreshments will be provided.

A creative festival of flowers in Blubberhouses tells the story of the Queen’s life and 70 years on the throne.

The display is available to visit at St Andrew’s Church in Blubberhouses, just past Fewston Reservoir off the A59, from 11am to 4pm every day over the four-day weekend.

It’s been organised by the Friends of St Andrew’s Church and displays have been arranged by talented florists that live in the Washburn Valley, which includes villages such as Norwood, Fewston and Farnley.

Displays pay tribute to major events in the Queen’s life, including her wedding to Prince Philip and the coronation.

There are also displays that highlight some of the Queen’s interests, such as horses, Balmoral and the girl guides.

The church’s top florist, Daphne Wilson, has been busy arranging several of the displays this week.

She said:

“We wanted to depict the major part of the Queen’s life. It’s our first proper outing since covid. We’re all volunteers and everyone has played their part.”

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Teas and some delicious homemade cakes are also available. Money raised will go towards paying for new disabled access at the church.

There are 12 displays in total. Some pictures are below:

‘The Commonwealth’ by Alison Bowers

‘Balmoral’ by Lorna Freegard and Bolton Priory Flower Team

‘The Coronation’ by Catriana Cleverley, Virginia Kay, Liz Furse, Connie Fenwick and Duncan Clayton

‘The Wedding’ by Daphne Wilson

‘Childhood’ by Steph Wilson

Plans have been submitted to convert the disused Church of St Mary on Harlow Terrace in Harrogate into seven homes and office space.

The homes would have either two or three bedrooms and 9 car parking spaces would be added.

The grade II* listed Gothic building was built in 1916 but has structural problems.

Mineral felt in the roof is leaking and the stone is deteriorating. It was designed by renowned architect Sir Walter Tapper.

In October 2020 it was placed on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register.

Previous plans

A different application to convert the church into office space was granted by Harrogate Borough Council in 2017 but it never materialised.

Shaw and Jagger Architects bought the church in November 2018 with the intention of turning part of the church into its offices with a business partner. 

These plans were approved in 2020 but building work did not start.

The latest proposals for the church still include office space intended for the architect firm, but most of the building would now be turned into housing.

The council will decide on the plans at a later date.

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• Harrogate’s John Shackleton hoping to deliver ambulance to Ukraine