The Health and Safety Executive is to lead an investigation into the death of a man at a vehicle recovery garage in Ripon on Friday, March 29.
An unnamed man in his 30s died at Macadam on Boroughbridge Road following what police described at the time as an “industrial accident”.
The victim was from the Darlington area.
Ambulance, air ambulance, fire and police were called at about 8am.
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police today whether anyone had been arrested or charged.
The force issued a brief statement today which did not comment on this. It said:
“We are assisting the accident investigation lead by the Health and Safety Executive.”
The HSE, a non-departmental public body, is responsible for workplace safety in the UK.
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Man dies in industrial accident at Ripon
A man in his 30s has died in what police are describing as an “industrial accident” in Ripon today (March 29).
Ambulance, air ambulance, fire and police were called to vehicle rescue garage Macadam on Boroughbridge Road at about 8am.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement the man, who was from the Darlington area, was certified dead at the scene.
His name has not been released and no further details are available.
The statement added:
“His family have been informed and are being supported by the police.
“Police are assisting the accident investigation alongside North Yorkshire Council’s environmental health team.”
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Well-known Harrogate family business mourns death of founder
One of the best-known butchers in the Harrogate area died on Monday, more than 50 years after founding his family business.
Ian Audsley, 84, was a well-known figure both in food retail circles and in his local area in the south of Harrogate.
Mr Audsley launched his business in 1970, and his shop on St Winifred’s Avenue West, JE Audsley Family Butcher, long ago widened its customer base far beyond the Saints area of the town. Now run by his son, John, it continues to command loyalty among many of its clientele.
A notice issued by his family said:
“His commitment and passion have shaped the character of our establishment, and his unwavering dedication has made it a cherished part of the lives of countless individuals.
“Ian’s impact extends far beyond the business he founded; it encompasses the relationships he nurtured, the moments he shared, and the lives he touched. His genuine kindness, infectious spirit, and commitment to community service have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
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‘Remarkable’ and ‘inspirational’ Ripon woman Sylvia Grice dies
One of Ripon’s most remarkable and best-loved residents has died at the age of 90.
Sylvia Grice taught an estimated 250,000 people to swim, including Olympic diving champion Jack Laugher, over the space of 50 years.
She died yesterday — three months after celebrating her 90th birthday.
Sylvia, who lived in Littlethorpe, devoted much of her life to teaching people to swim in a city that has three rivers and a canal. She was awarded an MBE in 2010 and given the Freedom of the City of Ripon in 2019.
Daughter Helen Mackenzie announced the news on social media this morning. She said:
“While we are thrilled she is now at peace, we are distraught at the thought of life without her. Rest in peace Dame Sylvia – you were loved by many and will be missed by all.”
Sylvia with Olympic champion diver Jack Laugher.
Hundreds of tributes have already been paid on social media — many by people Sylvia taught to swim.
The messages included “such an amazing and inspirational lady who will be missed”, “Sylvia was a remarkable lady, she was respected by everyone who knew her”, “One of the most incredible and impactful woman I have ever had the joy to meet” and simply “What a Ripon legend”.
A life helping others
Speaking to the Stray Ferret at her mum’s 90th birthday party, Helen said Sylvia broke her leg at the age of three and was in traction in hospital until she was eight.
She added:
“She learnt to swim when she was 15 and married my dad, Jim, the love of her life, when she was 20.
“When my sister Alison and I came along she regularly took us to swim at Ripon’s Spa Baths and caught the eye of the manager Fred Windsor.
“He encouraged her to become a qualified swimming teacher and over the years she went through all of the grades to become an Amateur Swimming Association tutor and then a Fellow of the Institute of Swimming Teachers.”
Sylvia used her qualifications to help people of all ages and abilities, from toddlers having their first visit to the pool to her mother-in-law Florrie, who learnt to swim when she was 58.
She taught people to swim at Ripon Grammar School and at Ashville College in Harrogate, where she set up Triton Swimmers and away from her busy teaching schedule, found time to run the Spa Gardens cafe, be an active member of Ripon Lions and raise money for numerous charitable causes.
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Police investigate death following industrial accident at farm
North Yorkshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive are investigating the death of a 28-year-old man in an industrial accident at a farm at Moor Monkton, in the Harrogate district.
The man, from Northallerton, was servicing a telehandler machine when the incident occurred at around 10.40am on Thursday, October 19.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the coroner in due course.
“Anyone with information about the incident can make a report to North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote reference number 12230198599.”
A HSE spokesperson added:
“We are aware of this incident and assisting the North Yorkshire Police investigation.”
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Ripon’s Yorkshire cricketer John Waring dies aged 81
A Ripon cricketer who opened the bowling for Yorkshire with Fred Trueman has died on his 81st birthday.
John Waring was taken ill on Saturday morning while playing golf at Ripon City Golf Club. He died at Harrogate District Hospital the following morning — his 81st birthday.
Fast-medium pace bowler John played 29 first-class matches for Yorkshire from 1963 to 1966. He took 55 wickets at an average of 22.74.
The highlight of his career came in the championship-winning season of 1966 when he returned incredible match figures of 10 wickets for 63 runs in a Roses fixture against Lancashire, out-performing even the great Trueman.
John made one appearance for Warwickshire and later played minor counties cricket for Cumberland and was the club professional at Darlington. He also played for Leeds, Harrogate, Scarborough and Bingley.
A talented golfer, he was the youngest ever captain at Ripon City Golf Club and later became club president. He was also president of the Harrogate and District Union of Golf Clubs.
John married Jean in 1964 and they lived in Scarborough before moving to Dishforth in 1972.
He is survived by Jean and their son Jonathan, who lives in Thirsk with wife Zoe.
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Harrogate plant hire company founder David Kitching dies
David Kitching, who founded the Harrogate firm Kitching Plant Hire, has died at the age of 80.
Mr Kitching, who was born in Bridlington and brought up in Pateley Bridge, founded the firm as D&S Kitching with wife Shirley in 1967.
The company began operating out of a small yard and workshop in Darley, where Mr Kiching lived.
It moved to Hookstone Park in Harrogate in the early 1990s but outgrew the premises and moved to its present location, the former Harrogate bus depot on Camwal Road in Starbeck, in the early 2000s.
The firm now employs about 20 staff and has more than 400 machines for hire, including diggers, rollers and cement mixers
The Camwal Road site in Starbeck.
Mr Kitching stepped back from day-to-day involvement with the company a few years ago.
A message on the firm’s Facebook page, posted by Shirley and sons Jason and Matthew, who are both directors of the firm, said:
“A void in our family has been formed which can never be ratified and we will miss him greatly.”.
Mr Kitching’s funeral will be held on September 1 at St James’ Church in Birstwith, It will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Wellington Inn in Darley.
Guests are requested to wear a hint of yellow as a nod to the yellow machinery that contributed so much to Mr Kitching’s life.
As a mark of respect, the business will close on the day of the funeral and reopen on September 4.
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Police investigating after man dies on building site in Ripon village
Police are investigating after a man died on a building site near Ripon.
The Health and Safety Executive has also been called in after the incident at the Palladian Homes development in Marton-le-Moor.
The man has not been identified, but is understood to have been working on the site at the time.
A spokesperson for HSE said:
“We are aware of an incident and making enquiries alongside North Yorkshire Police.”
The incident happened on Saturday, July 5, but has only just been confirmed after a nearby resident contacted the Stray Ferret.
North Yorkshire Police has confirmed its officers were called to the site. A spokesperson said:
“We can confirm that we received a call from the ambulance service at 11.41[am] with a report that a 34-year-old man had life threatening injuries following an incident at Marton-le Moor.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Palladian Homes about the incident but had not received a response by the time of publication.
The development, off Chapel Lane in the village, features 10 detached homes of between three and five bedrooms.
It was originally given outline planning permission for up to 16 homes in 2019 after the developer appealed against Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to turn down the proposal.
Detailed plans were then drawn up for a development of 10 homes, which were approved in 2021.
Work was today continuing on the site, where several of the houses have already been listed for sale and some are under offer.
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Baroness Masham dies aged 87
Baroness Masham, who was a the longest-serving female member of the House of Lords ever, Paralympian medallist and disability rights campaigner, has died aged 87.
She died peacefully in hospital in Northallerton on Sunday.
Born Susan Sinclair on April 14, 1935, she became a wheelchair user after injuring her spinal cord in a riding accident in 1958.
In 1959 she married David Cunliffe-Lister, who became Earl of Swinton in 1972, to become Lady Masham.
She served as a cross-bench peer for 53 years after becoming Baroness Masham of Ilton in 1970.
Baroness Masham was the aunt of Mark Cunliffe-Lister, the 4th Earl of Swinton and husband of Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat to the Masham and Fountains division on North Yorkshire County Council this year in a by-election caused by the death of Conservative councillor Margaret Atkinson.
Baroness Masham won medals in swimming and table tennis at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Paralympic games.
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In 1974 she founded the Spinal Injuries Association and remained its president until her death.
The association, which announced her death today, said it was “devastated to have lost our greatest champion”, adding she was “the reason we have been able to champion, fight, serve and support thousands of spinal cord injured people”.
Baroness Masham was the subject of an episode of This Is Your Life in 1976.
She belonged to various parliamentary committees and last spoke in the House of Lords on February 2 this year.
Guy Tweedy, a Harrogate thalidomide campaigner and trustee of Disability Action Yorkshire who met Baroness Masham many times, said:
“Baroness Masham was a formidable woman. She was a trailblazer for disability rights, along with Lord Morris of Manchester and Baron Ashley of Stoke.
“Without the work of those three we wouldn’t be where we are today with disability rights.”
Smoke inhalation killed woman in Harrogate house fire, inquest hears
A woman who lost her life in a Harrogate house fire died because of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation, an inquest has heard.
Jayne Addyman, 54, died on January 7 last year at her home on Craven Street, which is close to King’s Road.
The inquest also heard alcohol intoxication was found to be a significant factor contributing to her death.
John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, concluded Ms Addyman died because of an accident.
The inquest was held on January 20 in Northallerton and Mr Broadbridge confirmed the details today to the Stray Ferret.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Craven Street at 6.20am on Friday, January 7 last year.
Paramedics performed CPR but Ms Addyman was certified dead at the scene.
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