Family seeks answers after ex-Harrogate ICI woman’s death linked to asbestos

The family of a woman whose death is being linked to asbestos is trying to get in touch with her ex-work colleagues at the former ICI plant in Harrogate.

Cher Elizabeth Wray, who was known as Sharon Cooper until her marriage in 1990, died aged 63 from a lung cancer called mesothelioma — which is commonly associated with asbestos.

Ms Wray died in February 2019, leaving a husband, Michael, five children and seven grandchildren.

Before she died, she asked law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate how she had encountered asbestos.

Her family is now appealing to anyone who worked with her during her first job after school at the age of 16 to get in touch.

Ms Wray was a PA at ICI in Harrogate between 1971 and 1973.

ICI was one of the largest employers in Harrogate at the time. The company, which was founded in 1926, became defunct 14 years ago.

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Ms Wray started work at the plant when she left school at 16. She told Irwin Mitchell she was a PA but her role would see her move across the entire plant.

Dirt and dust

She recalled seeing colleagues undertaking maintenance on pipework and added that the pipes tended to be lagged. She said that the activity generated lots of dirt and dust.

Ms Wray left the company in 1973 when she had children. She did not return to work until 1986.

Her husband, Michael Wray, 68, said:

“Cher was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother and the entire family misses her so much every day.

“It was awful to see how mesothelioma affected her and we all still have so many questions about how this happened.

“She lived for her family and loved nothing better than spending time with them. That’s what made her the happiest.

“While time has moved on from Cher’s death, our family hasn’t. Occasions such as family birthdays are not the same without her.

“Still having so many questions about how she was exposed to asbestos makes her death even harder to try and come to terms with.

“We know nothing can make up for what’s happened but if we could at least have answers regarding Cher’s death at least we will be able to honour her memory.”

Office workers also affected by asbestos

Ian Toft, a partner at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Ms Wray’s family, said:

“This is sadly yet another case that highlights the huge impact that asbestos can have on individuals, often years after exposure may have taken place.

“Cher’s death at a young age from mesothelioma has left her family greatly upset and with many concerns about how she could have been exposed. It’s not just people in industrial jobs that contract mesothelioma.

“Sadly we see a number of office workers and those who worked in public buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices who fall victim to this disease.

“If anyone has information about the conditions Cher faced during her time as a PA at ICI it could make all the difference to her family being able to honour her memory.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Toft on 0113 218 6453 or email  ian.toft@irwinmitchell.com.

‘Respected and admired’ Harrogate councillor dies

Harrogate Borough Council Conservative councillor for Marston Moor Norman Waller has died.

Cllr Waller, who was 67, represented the ward since 2018 when he won the seat by over 800 votes. The ward includes the villages Tockwith, Cattal and Bilton-in-Ainsty.

He sat on several council committees and was also a former chair of Tockwith Agricultural Show.

A council spokesperson said:

“It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of councillor Norman Waller.

“Councillor Waller was a respected and admired councillor who represented the Tockwith ward for almost four years and served on licensing committee, general purposes committee and the overview and scrutiny commission, as well Tockwith and Wilstrop Parish Council as parish councillor.

“We offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to Councillor Waller’s family during this difficult time.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank added:

“Norman was fair-minded and well respected throughout the Tockwith community where he had been involved in many local groups and the parish council for many years.

“We were very sorry to hear about his sad death and our thoughts are with his wife and family at this difficult time. “He was always approachable and treated people fairly even if they had differing opinions on issues than the ones he held.”

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There will be an election for Cllr Waller’s seat in May. The seat will be part of the new shadow council that will serve until April 2023 when the new North Yorkshire Council is formed.

Andrew Lupton, sales director of Ripon firm Econ, dies suddenly

Ripon firm Econ Engineering has paid tribute to its “much-loved” sales director Andrew Lupton, who has died.

In a statement this morning, Econ said Mr Lupton had died “suddenly and unexpectedly” yesterday.

Mr Lupton, 56, ran the second-generation family business alongside his brother and co-director Jonathan Lupton and finance director Bev Shepherd.

The statement added:

“His untimely death has come as a terrible shock, and will take some time for us to come to terms with.

“Our thoughts at this incredibly sad time go out to his family and all those who knew Andrew, either professionally or personally.

“Andrew worked with immense passion and enthusiasm. It was his drive and determination that helped grow Econ into the business it is today.”

The company has set up a JustGiving page in Mr Lupton’s memory for people to pay tribute. The money raised will go to Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity.

The JustGiving page says the intensive care unit at Harrogate District Hospital cared for Andrew in his final hours.

Econ is the UK’s leading manufacturer of gritters and highway maintenance vehicles.

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Another covid death as case rates climb in Harrogate district

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded another coronavirus death as case rates in the district continue to climb to new highs.

The patient died on Tuesday last week but the hospital reported the death today. It takes the hospital’s covid-related death total to 192.

As of last Thursday, the hospital was treating 14 covid patients – well below last winter’s peak of 67.

Public Health England said today another 147 people have tested positive for the virus in the Harrogate district.

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Case rates in the Harrogate district are so high that North Yorkshire County Council has called an urgent meeting to discuss them tomorrow.

The district’s seven-day rate is now 733 per 100,000 population, which is far higher than the current England average of 448.

North Yorkshire County Council will host the virtual meeting tomorrow from 10.30am until 11am, when health officials will brief the media on the situation.

89-year-old man dies after three-vehicle Harrogate district crash

An 89-year-old man has died following a three-vehicle collision on the A59 near Moor Monkton yesterday.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage of the crash, which took place at about 5.10pm and led to lengthy tailbacks.

The 89-year-old man, who has not been named, was driving a red Audi A3 towards York. The man, who was from York, was taken to hospital and died.

A black Audi Q5 and a silver Mini, which were travelling in the opposite direction towards Harrogate, were also involved in the incident.

The driver of the Mini sustained minor injuries and the driver of the Audi Q5 was uninjured.

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North Yorkshire Police is appealing to anyone travelling along the A59 in both directions who has not already spoken to the police to contact them if they saw any of the vehicles prior to the collision or if they witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information, or dashcam footage, can contact Traffic Sergeant Mark Patterson via email at mark.patterson@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option 2 and ask for Mark Patterson or Matthew Harvey.

Harrogate hospital reports second coronavirus death in a week

Harrogate District Hospital has reported a second coronavirus death in a week — after going more than four months without any covid fatalities.

One patient died on Wednesday last week and the hospital reported today that another person had succumbed to the virus.

It takes the total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital to 181.

Since lockdown restrictions were fully lifted in July, daily coronavirus cases have remained at about the 70 mark. Today’s figure is 82 and brings the total number of cases to 12,908.

The seven-day infection rate for the Harrogate district has increased to 315 people per 100,000. That is just above the North Yorkshire average of 311 and just below the England average of 330.

It was reported today that the number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital being treated for covid had risen to 10.

Elsewhere, 123,979 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 111,861 have had a second dose.

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Councillors increase calls for tidy up of Ripon cemetery

Two senior Ripon councillors have stepped up calls for an urgent tidy up of Ripon Cemetery.

Last week, Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams and fellow independent Pauline McHardy, accused Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) of ‘disrespecting the dead of Ripon’ and causing ‘distress’ to their relatives and friends.

At the same time, people visiting the  cemetery on Kirkby Road spoke of their ‘distress and disgust.’

They were concerned that unmown grass has grown to such a height it makes finding and visiting graves difficult.

In some areas of Ripon cemetery, overhanging trees and hedges completely obscure rows of graves.

Cllr Williams, who has generations of his own family buried at the cemetery, pointed out:

“When you look at the care given by the borough council to Stonefall and compare it with Ripon, the contrast is there for all to see.

“I don’t think that it is unreasonable to expect the council to deliver the same standard of service across the entire district.

“It is deeply disrespectful to those with deceased relatives in other parts of the Harrogate District to provide a high standard of maintenance at Stonefall and a much lower one elsewhere.”

The above photograph was taken at Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate on Friday (11 June).

Now cllr McHardy, a city and district councillor, has contacted conservative cllr Andrew Paraskos, HBC cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, whose portfolio includes 11 district cemeteries, and called for him to take immediate action.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“People in Ripon are angry that they and their deceased relatives are being treated like second-class citizens.

“What you can see in Ripon isn’t ‘re-wilding’ for the benefit of nature, it’s purely and simply a cost-cutting exercise.”

 

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Last week, an HBC spokesperson, said:

“Visitors to several of the cemeteries across the district may start to notice that some areas are being left to grow and not mown.

“We want to encourage biodiversity so are working with parish councils to leave specific areas to grow, attract pollinators and create habitats

“We have a regular programme of work, across all of the district’s cemeteries that we manage, and when specific issues are raised we will work to address these and carry out any required maintenance.

“We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”

 

Tribute to ‘amazing’ Huby grandad killed in car crash

A grandad from Huby probably fell ill moments before his car swerved into an oncoming lorry, an inquest has found.

Basil Fordy died aged 89 on January 8, 2020 in the crash on the A658 Harrogate Road near his village home.

His family attended a delayed inquest yesterday in Northallerton to hear what happened leading up to the crash and the cause of death.

The inquest heard evidence from people who were driving in the area at the time, as well as the driver of the lorry and the police officer who investigated the crash.

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Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire, concluded:

“Mr Fordy was making a regular trip to the supermarket but on his way back all of a sudden he drove into the opposing lane.

“In doing so, he was involved in a collision with a lorry travelling in the opposite direction.

“It is apparent from the evidence that the lorry driver took all steps possible to avoid the collision.

“Mr Fordy died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. There were no faults found with the vehicle.

“The only possible reason for the crash is that Mr Fordy suffered a medical episode.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Fordy’s daughter Jacqui Goulding told the Stray Ferret:

“I want people to remember Basil for being an amazing dad and a fantastic grandad. He had been through a lot.

“Basil lost two wives through breast cancer but he just had a stiff upper-lip and got on with it really. He was a competent driver.

“We miss him tonnes. I am so sorry it was such a traumatic end for Basil and all the other people who were involved.”

Family tribute to ‘beloved’ Harrogate hotel murder-suicide victim

The family of a woman who died at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel in what police believe to be a murder-suicide has released an emotional tribute.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday that Chenise Gregory and Michael McGibbon, who were both 29 and from London, were found dead with stab wounds on Tuesday at 10.20pm.

Police are treating the death of Ms Gregory as murder.

Devante Gravesande-Smith, a young barrister from London, has described his cousin Ms Gregory as a “loving and caring person, whose smile would light up a room.” He tweeted:

“Chenise worked as a Child Care Specialist. Throughout her life she touched the hearts of those she worked with as well as her family and close friends.

“As a family we are deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Chenise’s tragic murder.

“We’re heartbroken to learn that our beloved Chenise was lured to her death at the hands of her controlling and manipulative ex-boyfriend.”

Enquiries into the circumstances around the deaths are ongoing but detectives are treating the death of Ms Gregory as murder. They do not believe anyone else is involved.

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Temporary detective chief inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team said:

“An investigation into the circumstances around the deaths is ongoing, but the evidence we have gathered at this stage suggests it as a suspected murder-suicide.

“A post-mortem has taken place that has confirmed the couple died from stab wounds. We are treating Ms Gregory’s death as murder and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

“This is a very sad case and our thoughts are with their families and friends and this difficult time. We have specialist officers from North Yorkshire Police, supported by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police supporting the family, and we will work with them as we investigate the circumstances leading to these tragic deaths.”

Police confirm man and woman died at Harrogate’s Majestic

Police have confirmed that a man and a woman from London died at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel last night.

Officers discovered the bodies at 10.20pm. Detectives believe that both victims, who were in their late 30s or early 40s, knew each other.

North Yorkshire Police also confirmed it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

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Detective superintendent Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:

“We were called at around 10.20pm on Tuesday May 4 by hotel staff at the Majestic hotel to a report that the bodies of a man and a woman had been located in a hotel room.

“On arrival, a man and a woman, both in their late 30s/early 40s from the London area, were pronounced dead at the scene by colleagues from the ambulance service. Their families have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

“A detailed investigation is under way looking into the circumstances of both deaths. We can confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and would like to reassure the local community that we believe that this is an isolated incident.”

A hotel guest has also spoken of his shock. The man, who requested anonymity, told the Stray Ferret:

“There were police and ambulance all over the car park. I would say around four police cars and a couple of ambulances. Plenty of officers and first aiders were milling around the hotel as well.

“I overheard some conversations between the police that led me to think that at least one person had died here but I have no idea of the circumstances and still don’t.

“They were here from 10pm to 1am. It’s not what anyone expects, it was a bit of a shock.”

Police are currently at the hotel on the corner of Springfield Avenue and Ripon Road. No further details are currently available.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa said:

“Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.”