A campaign to save a historic village pub received a boost when Greg Mulholland, founder of the All-party Parliamentary Group Save the Pub, visited the site this week.

Mr Mulholland, the former Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, visited the disused Henry Jenkins Inn in Kirkby Malzeard on Sunday to help launch a new associate membership scheme. 

Locals are purchasing community shares to buy the inn, which is named after a farm worker and butler who died in 1669, reputedly at the age of 169.

The associate membership scheme allows those unable to buy shares to contribute in other ways, such as by fundraising or doing refurbishment.

So far 180 villagers have raised £210,250 from share pledges towards the £230,000 target to buy and refurbish the inn.

Pub champion Greg Mulholland (centre), of Campaign for Pubs, with supporters of the Henry Jenkins community pub initiative outside the Henry Jenkins in Kirkby Malzeard

Mr Mulholland, who is also campaign director for Campaign to Pubs, said: 

“In these extraordinary times it is more important than ever that we save pubs in rural communities and the Campaign for Pubs fully supports the campaign to save the Henry Jenkins Inn.

“The community in Kirkby Malzeard has been heroic in its campaign and fundraising to save this important historic village pub and preserve a part of local history and heritage.”

The Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd has had four offers to buy the pub rejected by the owner, who would prefer to sell it for housing.

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Campaign for Pubs is lobbying for a change in the law so that no historic pub can be demolished or converted when a group or individual is prepared to buy it as a pub at the independently assessed value.

Dave Robinson, chairman of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd, said:

“We’re delighted to have Greg’s support and we look forward to working with Campaign for Pubs to help secure the future of the Henry Jenkins and other much-loved pubs in Yorkshire and beyond.”

Coronavirus has devastated many lives this year but for one Harrogate street, the pandemic has at least brought neighbours closer together.

Since lockdown in March, residents of St Helen’s Road have been using a WhatsApp group to help each other out.

People have used the group to offer help with shopping, look out for neighbours who are shielding or share unwanted items. 

Six months on the group, set up by Holly Jones, continues to foster community spirit during these dark times in the street, which is near St Aidan’s Church of England High School. 

Colette Lain, who lives on St Helen’s Road, said:

“The street has gone from a fairly anonymous place before lockdown to a really lively and supportive neighbourhood.

“It gave you the security that there were people that cared, and that was fantastic.”

Ms Lain decided to make the most of the community spirit by organising a street charity raffle to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Ms Lain volunteers for the charity but was unable to do so during the pandemic. 

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Friends and neighbours donated prizes, and residents bought tickets by posting money and their addresses through Ms Lain’s front door. 

Colette Lain, picking the winner of the raffle.

She raised £250 for the air ambulance, and has plans to generate more through a bumper Christmas raffle in December. 

Jane Kennerly and Holly Jones have also set up a book swap in a telephone box on the street in another move to bring neighbours together.

The Stray Ferret wonders how many other streets in the Harrogate district have come together in this way during the pandemic.

A plaque in honour of organ donors has been unveiled on behalf of the Harrogate Network for Organ Donation Support in the town’s Valley Gardens.

The group was formed to offer support to those waiting for a transplant or following the procedure, as well as their families.

The plaque is in recognition of donors and their families for giving the “gift of life”. Following the new opt-out system the group hopes more people will be able to receive organs.

One of the group’s founding members, Kerry Morrison, whose daughter Lynda received a heart transplant 25 years ago, said:

“The plaque is going to be a lovely place for donor families and recipients to come and reflect – it’s somewhere really special. I think it’ll become a focal point for recipients.

“The support group is there to help with the shock that comes from needing a transplant.

“I hope the plaque will stimulate the need to talk about donation with families to learn if it is something they agree to.”

It is hoped this plaque will give donor families and recipients somewhere to come and reflect.

The plaque has been mounted onto a lime tree above the playground in Valley Gardens. The Mayor and Mayoress of the Harrogate Borough, Stuart and April Martin, were invited to unveil the plaque to group members and families.

Read more:

• The number of organ donations at Harrogate hospital falls.
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David Kinder, a heart transplant recipient and member of Harrogate NODS, said:

“I was very nervous before my transplant and it would have been good to know there was a group such as ours. I’ll be going there on the anniversary of my transplant, I need somewhere to thank my donor.

“Most people might want to donate but never got round to it, but now you’re in until you opt out and hopefully that’ll be fantastic for people on the waiting list.”

More than 30 organisations operating in the Ripon area – including the city council, retailers, the cathedral, schools and heritage attractions – are featured on a colourful community jigsaw organised and assembled by the Jennyruth Workshops charity.

The project, in which participants were each given a single jigsaw piece to decorate with messages and logos, was made possible with a grant from Ripon City Council.

Anna Smith, Jennyruth Workshops’ publicity and media officer, said:

“Our aim was to involve as many people, places, organisations and establishments that make up the wonderful city of Ripon as we can, in creating a vibrant and unique jigsaw-style display to be showcased around various venues in the city.”

She added:

“It paints a picture of our community and all the diverse ways that we work together, live alongside each other, help and support each other and forge links together, through good times and bad.”

The Pet Shop in Old Market Place, Ripon, is the first to display the jigsaws in its window and owner Jane Fisher told the Stray Ferret:

“We are delighted to be involved with this community project. Jennyruth is a wonderful charity, doing great work and producing very high quality items.”

The jigsaws will remain in The Pet Shop window for two weeks and then move on to another prominent location in Ripon.

The Jennyruth Workshops charity was founded by Barrie and Sue Evason and provides learning through work for adults with learning disabilities.

With support from full-time staff and a team of volunteers, the workers make brightly-painted wooden goods at the charity’s base in Bridge Hewick near Ripon, with products ranging from bee homes and bird houses to Christmas decorations and bespoke goods.

One of the two community jigsaws produced by the Jennyruth Workshops charity

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Despite the coronavirus lockdown, production has continued with the workers – who are aged from 19 to 73 – working from their homes and maintaining contact through daily zoom meetings and an online newsletter.

Barrie, who raised money to set up the workshops through a series of sponsored long-distance walks with son Jonathan, died in February and his ashes will be buried later this year in an urn at a memorial garden created on the workshops site.

A Harrogate resident has organised an emotional tribute to her friend who was cared for in her final days by Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Anne Boland lost her “soul mate” Dora Storey this month. Dora was cared for by the home service palliative team at Harrogate-based charity Saint Michael’s.

To say thank you, Anne invited residents from her street to clap for the end of life team when the hearse carrying Dora passed by on Friday.

Both Anne and Dora worked in end of life care for over 25 years. Anne said:

“Dora knew how ill she was and wanted to die at home – she got her wish and for the last weeks of her life received the most wonderful care. We both felt the Saint Michael’s home care service was thoughtful, responsive and that the level of communication between services was extraordinary.

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Residents of Poplar Crescent as well as a member of the Saint Michael’s home team lined the street to applaud as the hearse drove past. Anne said:

“I invited the street to come and applaud as I wanted to be able to honour Dora and at the same time, draw attention to the wonderful teams who work in local palliative care.”

A survey carried out by a Harrogate cycling club has shown that riding in groups improves mental and physical wellbeing.

Liferiders, which was set up nearly four years ago, is a beginners cycling group which encourages people to get from “couch to countryside.” The group was founded on the idea that riding bikes together helps people feel better.

At the start of lockdown Simon Thomas, the group’s founder, asked members to fill in a survey to measure their wellbeing during lockdown. Having enjoyed a number of rides together, members then took the same questionnaire and saw their wellbeing had improved by at least 35%.

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He told The Stray Ferret:

“It has been interesting for me to watch more people turn to cycling during lockdown. Some people might come out of this with a new hobby and a new sense of wellbeing.”

The group cycle all round the district on quiet roads and cycle paths.

Since lockdown the group has seen an influx in new members joining. The cycle group meet every Wednesday evening as well as some Sunday mornings and all the rides are free to join.

For more information and to join a ride visit – http://www.cbad.club 

A Yorkshire-wide community fund set up by an estate agent has helped local organisations buy equipment that their budgets don’t cover.

Linley and Simpson has made £30,000 available to local schools, sports clubs and community clubs.

The 6th Ripon Cathedral Scout group were given £250 through the scheme, it helped them to buy equipment for their water activities.

Group Scout leader, Ian Bardon said:

“We used the funds to buy a stand-up paddle board as our scouts love water activities. It’ll be very beneficial as we can use it on future camps, it’s a bonus to us from the pandemic as funds are tight. Depending on when we can return we’ll be using it as soon as possible and the young people love it, it’ll definitely get some good use.”

The nursery at Bishop Monkton Primary School will use the funds to develop their outside area with more facilities for the children.

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Bishop Monkton Primary School also applied for the fund and received £500 to put towards outdoor equipment. Headteacher Sally Cowling said:

“We applied for extra funding as school budgets are extremely tight. Budgets have to be managed carefully and can usually cover the essentials but do not stretch to ‘the extras’. As our nursery has expanded some of the school field has now been allocated for their use.  Nursery staff are keen to develop this area by putting a climbing frame, swings and slide on it and making it safe for the younger children.”

Will Linley, Chief Executive of Linley & Simpson added:

“We pride ourselves on playing an integral part in our local communities and this initiative is all about helping a range of good causes where support such as this can make a big difference. We are encouraging local businesses and community groups to continue applying for the grant so that we can help them to get back on track.”

A new fruit and veg shop has opened on Harlow Hill in Harrogate after a lockdown pop-up proved a huge hit with the community.

Mike and Donna Schofield, owners of The Shepherd’s Dog on Harlow Hill, set up a temporary greengrocery store during lockdown, but business was so good, they’ve decided to open a permanent shop.

The couple were forced to close their pub as lockdown struck, and they began doing weekly shops for their neighbours.

When they couldn’t get their hands on fresh fruit and vegetables, Mike and Donna decided to open a pop-up grocery shop behind their pub.

Wharfedale Fruiterers source all their produce locally

Since setting up their small stall nearly seven weeks ago, trade has boomed, getting “bigger and bigger” every day. The couple have now signed a five-year lease on what was a barber shop on Otley Road and turned it into Wharfedale Fruiterers.

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• Knaresborough charity shop reopens for business 
• WATCH: How does Harrogate feel about pubs reopening? 

Mike, who has previously worked in the fruit and vegetable trade for big supermarkets, has been going to Leeds market every day for produce. He told The Stray Ferret:

“People are buying little and often. We are getting repeat services day in and day out, people get what they need for that day and they know they are getting it fresh from market.”

Inside the new shop.

The shop owners have been sourcing their other produce from local companies such as The Yorkshire Cheese Company and Brymor Ice Cream. Donna told The Stray Ferret:

“It was lovely having the pop-up shop but people wanted more. If we can give the locals that bit more then we will”

Resident David Silkstone, who was out buying his groceries when The Stray Ferret visited the shop, said:

“We’ve stopped buying most of our fruit and veg from Ocado and are buying from here instead. We used to have a butchers, a post office and a fish and chip shop, so to have a fruiterer here is fantastic.”

As the UK lockdown is extended for a minimum of three more weeks, the work of volunteers continue to provide a vital service for those who are self-isolating.

From mobile post offices to weekly care packages, volunteers from across the borough are going the extra mile to help those who need it.