More donation spots in Harrogate to help Ukrainians

An overwhelming number of people from the Harrogate district have offered donations to help Ukrainians following the Russian invasion.

We will update this blog with new donation spots as we hear about them. If you know about any more drop-off points or other Ukrainian initiatives please let us know via contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

6.15pm: Hampsthwaite’s donations heading to Ukraine

Villagers in Hampsthwaite have been donating goods over the past few days at the village church.

A post on the Hampsthwaite Village Facebook page thanked the “incredible” effort of everyone involved. The donations have been dropped off at Hales Bar in Harrogate and will be on their way to Ukraine next week.

“The response for donations for Ukraine has been incredible to the extent that over the last three and a half days the baptistry of Hampsthwaite Church was completely crammed. One carload was taken on Monday to the collection centre on Claro Road, which has since become overwhelmed and they could not take any more goods.

“This afternoon, with the help of Debbie Bruce and Nick Beaton we transported all of the remaining donations to Hales Bar in town. We could not have managed this so efficiently had it not been for Acklams Motorcycles and the lovely Joel who volunteered the use of one of their vans to transport all of the donations. Your donations will be on their way early next week to the Polish/Ukraine border where they are much needed.”

Hampsthwaite has thanked Acklam’s Motorcycles for helping transport goods.

5.30pm: Charity dog walk organised

A group of professional dog walkers in Harrogate have organised a charity dog walk for Ukraine. It will start at Hookstone Car Park, HG2 8PN on Sunday March 27.

It costs £5 per dog and starts at 1pm.

For more information visit this Facebook page.

2.50pm: Ripon Cathedral sounds bells for peace

Ripon Cathedral took part in an initiative today to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Canon Michael talks to @joncowap on @BBCYork at 11.35am as we prepare to ring our bells at midday in solidarity with the people of #Ukraine. The bells ring for 7 minutes, 1 min for each day of the war. As they ring – we pray for peace @nickbaines @JulianSmithUK @churchofengland pic.twitter.com/wXg59taZbr

— Ripon Cathedral (@riponcathedral) March 3, 2022

1.58pm: New drop-off point in Harrogate

American-born Whitney Vauvelle, who now lives in Harrogate, has told us she is working with the Global Empowerment Mission to collect items for the Ukraine relief effort.

Items can be dropped off at 52 Cornwall Road, postcode HG1 2PP. Ms Vauvelle says:

“We have specific requests for warm clothes for women and children of all ages: thermals, jumpers, sweats, trousers, socks, nappies, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitisers, backpacks and small suitcases.”

Ms Vauvelle is personal friends with Michael Capponi, the founder of Global Empowerment Mission. She said:

“Michael and his team have been in Poland on the border for the last week. The situation is becoming very challenging.

“We are also fundraising to cover further trucking and transportation costs for trucks from the UK to Poland.

“These people desperately need our help.

Ms Vauvelle adds that her great grandparents were Ukrainian and supposedly raised horses for Czar Nicholas II.

12.58pm: Business gives day’s takings to those in need

Bob Partridge, who owns VetDentist, which has a practice in Harrogate, has got in touch to say he was so moved by the plight of Ukrainians that his company donated a day’s takings to the British Red Cross Ukraine appeal.

He said many of his team also made personal donations.

British Red Cross donations are now being overseen by the Disasters Emergency Committee, which co-ordinates the aid agency response to crisis. You can give here.

10.30am – Hales Bar opens as donation drop-off point

Hales Bar in Harrogate has opened as a donation drop-off point for goods to be sent to Ukraine.

Owner Amanda Wilkinson said people can donate any time between 10am-10pm. Anyone arriving before 3pm is asked to go round the back and ring the bell as the bar itself isn’t open.

The most needed items:

Ms Wilkinson has a system in place to store the items in offices at the back of the bar before filling up a truck, which will be taken to a dry store unit.

She has requested people to only stick to items in the list to make the process as easy as possible.

10am – WATCH as Harrogate group prepare boxes of donations to send to Ukrainian refugees

A group of Harrogate residents began collecting donations last weekend in their front rooms, the incredible response from locals meant they had to take up a unit at Claro Business Centre to store teh “tonnes and tonnes of wonderful donations”.

This drop-off point has now stopped taking donations but will be shipping them to those in need tonight.

Joanna Papros, Kinga Goldsmith and Adam Goldsmith have made contact with a haulage company in Halifax which is owned by a Ukrainian man. He is sending over a shipment of clothes, toiletries and other essentials this tonight.

Bilton man cleans graffiti from mural bridge again

A community-spirited Bilton man is determined to keep a mural looking its best after another attack by vandals.

Chris Knight was spurred into action today after the iron bridge, which connects Woodfield Drive and Claro Road, was defaced.

It is not the first time Mr Knight has cleaned the mural: he also cleaned the bridge when vandals painted a swastika and anti-Pakistani messages on it last year.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Plenty of people were quite happy to see me cleaning the bridge today. It gives me quite the sense of achievement to do these things for the area.

“It did not take quite as long as last time, they must have used quite cheap paint. I am not one to wait around for other people to take action.

“The words of my old boss really stuck with me. There are three types of people — those who do things, those who watch people do things and those who wonder what happened.

“I have always wanted to be the type of person who can step-up.”

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Emma Garness, the artist who created the mural, used special paint to protect it from graffiti, which enables Mr Knight to clean it without damaging the artwork.

The mural, which was designed to become a beacon of positivity in the area, was well received by local residents.

Harrogate Fake Festival set to return after two-year break

Harrogate Fake Festival is set to return this summer after a two-year break due to coronavirus.

Tickets are now live for the Harrogate edition of the event, which will be held on the Stray on July 16. Gates will open at 11.45am and close at 11pm.

The event will feature tribute acts for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Duran Duran, The Killers, Kasabian and Depeche Mode.

Although none of the acts feature the real artists, the organisers said they all “look, sound and move like the real rock-stars”.

The giant marquee will host the bands as well as a licensed bar. Outside revellers will find a variety of food traders as well as children’s activities.

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The event has been held on the Stray every summer since 2015, except for 2019 when it was moved to Killinghall Moor Country Park, and for the last two years, when it was cancelled.

The company Fake Festivals runs similar events across the country during the summer.

A spokesperson for Fake Festivals said:

After skipping two years, we’re chuffed to be back on the Stray for your annual Fake-Fest.

“We’ve rocked with you guys for many-a-year, so we know this’ll be a belter. We really can’t wait for your party-rocking.

“Round up your mates, get the voices ready and polish your dancing shoes – live music is back in town!”

Early-bird adult tickets cost £32.50 and a family of four ticket costs £95. Young people and those with a disability get a discounted rate.

Starbeck Mums founder urges more parents to join in 2022

A Starbeck resident hopes to welcome more people into a community group she has set up for parents.

Elena Leeming moved to the area in May and enjoyed meeting other mums but felt there needed to be a hub for them to chat.

So she decided to set up Starbeck Mums, which has 90 members, including two dads.

While Ms Leeming is pleased with the progress she hopes to be able to double those numbers in the new year.

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Starbeck Mums is a Facebook group for mums who like chatting, making new friends and sharing information. Ms Leeming told the Stray Ferret:

“I am Russian-born and have been living in the UK with my husband for more than four years now after meeting him in Ireland.

“We found Starbeck and realised it had everything we needed like school, sports clubs, coffee shops, a train station and post office.

“But one thing it did not have was a group for mums. So far we have met up once in the park but we are hoping to organise more meetings next year.”

New Harrogate law firm announces voucher incentive scheme that supports local businesses

Pictured above are Jonathan Wearing, Manager Partner (second left) with the Harrogate team outside the Ison Harrison branch at 6a Albert Street.

This article is sponsored by Ison Harrison.

Ison Harrison Solicitors, who recently opened a new branch on Albert Street, have announced a special incentive scheme for new clients to help support the town’s local businesses.

Each of the first 100 clients at the branch will receive a £20 discount voucher to spend at one of six local Harrogate businesses. The businesses taking part in the scheme are gift shop Sophie Likes, book shop Imagined Things, Porters Clothing, Helen James Flowers, gift and accessories shop Bijouled and Thug Sandwich Company.

Ison Harrison has been established for over 43 years and has a head office based in Leeds city centre. With a growing network of 16 branches across Yorkshire, the new office in Harrogate is the second in North Yorkshire, following the opening of the York branch in 2018. The firm employs over 220 staff across the region and offers a full range of legal services for both private clients and businesses.

Ison Harrison Harrogate branch manager, Georgina Pogge-von-Strandmann, specialises in property law and is supported by a dedicated team of experts including family law partner Shaun Hulme and property solicitor James Pascoe.

Georgina said:

“Opening our new Harrogate branch is a great opportunity for us to support some great local businesses and say thank you to our first 100 clients by providing vouchers for them to spend at these fantastic independent shops.”

Branch manager Georgina Pogge-von Strandmann and conveyancing solicitor James Pascoe with Andy Shuttleworth, Managing Director and Shop Floor Manager of Porters Clothing

Andy Shuttleworth Managing Director and Shop Floor Manager of Porters Clothing, added:

“We are delighted to be taking part in Ison Harrison’s voucher scheme. We are also really pleased to see that a recognised Yorkshire law firm is opening in the town centre and offering their support by joining forces with independent businesses such as ours.”

Georgina and James with Debbie Phillips, Deputy Manager of book shop, Imagined Things

Debbie Phillips of Imagined Things, commented:

“It’s such a lovely idea for Ison Harrison to partner with local Independent shops in this way. We wish them all the best on their opening!”

To receive a £20 discount voucher and be one of the first 100 clients at Ison Harrison in Harrogate, simply pop in to their branch at 6A Albert Street, or call 01423 228 111.

 

To find out more about Ison Harrison in Harrogate, visit www.isonharrison.co.uk/branches/harrogate

Stray bonfire organisers appeal for more donations

The organisers of the 50th anniversary charity bonfire and fireworks on the Stray have appealed for more donations to ensure a successful event in nine days time.

An online gofundme page set up by Harrogate and District Round Table has so far attracted £1,220 in donations towards a goal of £8,000 with just over a week to go until the event on Saturday, November 6.

There will be a bucket fundraising collection on the night and people will be encouraged to text to donate £5. But with the current total being so short of the goal, the organisers have appealed for a flurry of online donations over the next week.

The event is organised by volunteers, who try to keep costs low but they have to spend money on fireworks, transportation of pallets and road traffic management.

Read more:

The £8,000 figure is how much the event costs to put on, and the Round Table always donates any profits to charity. This year’s charity is the Friends of Harrogate Hospital.

John Carter, who is in charge of organising the bonfire for the Round Table this year, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are going to put on a big bonfire and fireworks display. We hope people will enjoy the event after a pretty miserable 18 months.

“There is the online fundraiser but we will have lots of bucket shaking on the night as well as the text to donate. It is the first time we have done the online fundraiser.

“Over the years the amount we have raised on the night has dwindled as people don’t tend to carry cash so we are encouraging donations in other ways.”

Starbeck residents raise concerns over street drinking

Residents in Starbeck last night raised concerns about an increase in street drinking and elected a new committee and chair who pledged to tackle the problem.

Starbeck Residents’ Association, which awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities, had its annual general meeting at St Andrew’s Church. It was well-attended with about 80 residents packed into a room inside the church.

Some raised concerns about the “massive issue” of street drinking, with others saying they felt intimidated.

One said:

“Street drinking is a massive issue that needs to be addressed. People drinking during the day using Belmont Park. It’s not good and it’s a continuous problem.”

Another said:

“Older people feel extremely intimidated. It’s in doorways and in parks.”

Some residents suggested the problem had increased since the council’s homeless shelter Fern House opened this year.

Maggie Gibson, a housing officer from Harrogate Borough Council who works at Fern House, rejected this.

She said:

“There is an assumption it’s our residents. That is unfair. We monitor their behaviour.”

The work at Fern House was praised by SRA treasurer and nearby resident Leisa Mark, who encouraged residents to speak to the people that live there.

“Rather than being intimidated, we said hello. They are aware of how people perceive them.”

Read More: 

New chair

Chris Watt was voted in as the new SRA chair, replacing the outgoing Geoff Foxall.

Mr Watt was voted in by all but two residents, including Starbeck post office owner Andrew Hart who objected to his appointment due to Mr Watt’s affiliation with the local Labour Party.

A new 15-person committee was also elected. It included people who had lived in Starbeck for decades as well as 16-year-old Emily Mark, who spoke of her pride in living in the area.

Mr Watt told the Stray Ferret:

“We as a committee are focused on issues that are important to Starbeck, such as the high street, green spaces and anti-social behaviour. It’s great to have that mix of youth and experience on the committee.”

Grants awarded

The SRA also announced the recipients of four grants to local charities and organisations.

The grants come from interest on a £300,000 gift that was given to the Starbeck community by Taylor Woodrow, a steel fabrication company that moved away from Starbeck in the early 1990s. The grants are administered by Harrogate Borough Council.

These were:

£1,000 to Harrogate Railway Football Club for new nets.

£1,000 to Starbeck in Bloom to improve the area around the war memorial.

£1,000 to the charity Henshaws for new IT equipment

£400 to Starbeck Methodist Church to promote events.

Bilton residents voice frustration over crime at public meeting

There was frustration and anger at a meeting of Bilton and Woodfield Residents’ Association last night about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Residents voiced criticism towards North Yorkshire Police for a perceived lack of action over the issue.

The meeting was held at Bilton Grange United Reform Church and residents asked questions to a panel that included PC Brendan Frith from NYP, Bilton Conservative councillors Matt Scott and Paul Haslam, Liberal Democrat councillor and Mayor of Harrogate Trevor Chapman and Julia Stack from Harrogate Borough Council’s safer communities team.

It was chaired by Reverend Alan Crump who invited questions from around 30 residents that were in attendance.

The main topic of debate was anti-social behaviour and crime with several questions focusing on issues around the Woodfield Road and Albany Avenue areas of Bilton.

One person received a round of applause after they said the area had deteriorated.

“I’ve been on this street for 50 years and it’s never been like this. Good neighbours are moving out and we are sick of it”.

Another said:

“We’re stuck here but we’re not living the lives we want to live. Nothing gets done.”

Cllr Scott, whose Bilton ward includes Woodfield Road, said he is in regular contact with residents of Albany Avenue about what he called “a very complex situation”.

He added:

“There is an issue with tenants who don’t respect neighbours. That isn’t right. They are being let down by a small minority.”.

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Andrew Hart, the owner of Bilton’s post office, said the community police officers in Bilton were doing a “good job” but his reports of suspected drug dealing had been ignored. Other residents told the panel that they did not have faith that their reports to police would be followed up.

Mr Hart said:

“I sent names of drug dealers dealing crack to NYP. Did I get a response? No, nothing seems to happen and you feel like you’ve interrupted them.”

In response, PC Frith said the police often need more information before they can take action. Cllr Haslam also urged residents to report any suspected criminality to the police.

PC Frith said:

“We need a lot of information. If we want warrants for a drugs bust we need information from more than one person. We need to be sure that we will get results.”

Speeding

Also discussed was speeding in Bilton, with calls to make the whole of the Harrogate suburb a 20mph zone.

Cllr Scott said he was in favour of traffic calming measures in Bilton but there were obstacles to overcome.

“Getting a 20 mph zone is not as easy as I’d like it to be. I can’t wave a magic wand and get them.”

PC Frith reiterated that the public must report to the police issues of crime or anti-social behaviour, including speeding.

“We’ve had zero reports of speeding on Woodfield Road. We know it’s happening but we need reports.”

Runners raise funds for all-weather track at Bishop Monkton school

A 10 kilometre race and fun run that raise money for a Harrogate district primary school is set to return this month.

The event, which was founded by race director Rebecca Owen, is called Beck Busters and helps Bishop Monkton Church of England Primary School.

It hopes to generate £10,000 to get an all-weather track for the school field that children can use all year round.

Beck Busters didn’t take place last year because of lockdown restrictions but will return on September 19 for a fourth time.

Nina Swainston, one of the organisers, said:

“It’s a big local community event, anyone of all ages can take part.”

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Ms Swainston said runners were still welcome to enter. There are currently about 20 spaces for children out of a maximum entry of 150 and about 110 adult spaces out of a maximum entry of 330.

Entry costs £5 for children and £18 for adults (£16 for members of a running club).

The Beck Buster run is 10 kilometres, while the fun run is two kilometres.

Participants from clubs such as Ripon Runners and Harrogate Harriers have taken part.

In past years, the fundraiser has allowed the school to afford iPads for children, as well as save towards creating an all-weather track.

For more information see the Beck Busters website.

 

Music-loving Knaresborough couple nominated for choir award

A Knaresborough choir has sung the praises of two married members worked hard over the last 18 months to keep morale high.

Julie and John Bradbury-Sharp have been members of the Knot Another Choir since it started in 2012.

When the pandemic began the choir were forced to move onto Zoom for rehearsals but Mr and Mrs Bradbury-Sharp were determined to do more for their fellow singers.

The pair started a weekly bulletin that kept the choir up to date on any news and included profiles on individual members.

As a computer programmer Mr Bradbury-Sharp made sure all their zoom sessions ran smoothly and purchased equipment to record sessions for those unable to attend or without wifi.

Mrs Bradbury-Sharp became the point of contact for all members reaching out to several individually.

In the award application some members who had to shield or lived alone said her messages made them feel like they weren’t alone.

Their enthusiasm did not go unnoticed two fellow members decided to nominate the pair for a Hero Award.

The whole choir during rehearsals at Harrogate Railway AFC this summer.

In his testimonial, committee member Will Eastwood said:

“The covid restrictions have significantly impacted my already poor mental health. Without the massive amount of effort and determination shown by John and Julie, I would have lost my one connection with the outside world.”

Run by Making Music, a membership organisation with more than 3,500 music groups, the award celebrates those who have gone the extra mile.

Mr and Mrs Bradbury-Sharp are up against four other nominees.

Julie Bradbury-Sharp said:

“We knew we wanted to keep going and stay in touch so we did all we could to make sure everyone felt connected.

“This award was a huge surprise, John started crying after reading the testimonials.”

Their hard work hasn’t just been during the past 18 months, when John had a heart attack a few years ago he only took one week off from choir.

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The choir is currently on a three week break from rehearsals but is set to return next month with a record 90 members. It has had to open a waiting list due to its new-found popularity.

The members range from 20 to over 70.