Puss the cat, who escaped from the Great Yorkshire Show after sneaking into a Scottish farmer’s sheep trailer, was reunited with her tearful and relieved owners this morning.

Farmer David Mitchell and his wife Annette drove 200 miles from East Ayrshire to collect the intrepid moggy who they feared was lost forever.

Mr Mitchell arrived at the showground on Wednesday last week to show sheep. When he opened the trailer, Puss bolted and disappeared. He then had to return to Scotland to tend to his farm.

When news broke that the cat was missing, The Stray Ferret appealed for information to find Puss.

David’s wife Annette even came back to Harrogate last week to look for her but had no success.

Read more:

• Harrogate district cat owners ‘heartbroken’ after deaths linked to food

• Cat from Scotland hitches a ride to Great Yorkshire Show and goes missing

Puss found refuge, and food, at a house in the Crimple Valley a few days ago. The cuddly and friendly feline was well looked after during her Harrogate sojourn,

The Mitchells drove south this morning to collect Puss, who was purring on the lap of Helen McCallum, a volunteer at Harrogate Cat Rescue.

When the couple arrived, there were tears and thanks to the people of Harrogate for looking after their treasured family pet.

Ms Mitchell said:

“It’s just amazing, so it is. It’s a great team of folk down here looking out for other people’s animals.”

Exactly one week ago, Prince Charles and Camilla were in Harrogate to attend the Great Yorkshire Show.

The enduring appeal of the royal family has been highlighted by the fact that two Stray Ferret videos of their visit have been viewed almost 200,000 times.

We were live at the Great Yorkshire Show last Thursday to capture the couple’s arrival.

The clip, filmed live on Facebook, showed The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall happily chatting to exhibitors and the public as they made their way around the showground. It has currently received 92,000 views.

Another video of the royals leaving The Stray via helicopter has proved even more popular, having been viewed 107,000 times.

Their departure coincided with the end of the school day at about 3.45pm and scores of St Aidan’s Church of England High School pupils waved them off.

The videos have been enjoyed across the world and even shared by people in countries including Thailand, Algeria and Denmark.

Did you meet Charles or Camilla during their trip to the show? Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Read More: 

• WATCH: The best bits of the Great Yorkshire Show 2021
• GALLERY: A right royal day at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show

An intrepid cat from Scotland sneaked inside the sheep trailer of a farmer visiting the Great Yorkshire Show — but escaped and is now missing on the showground site.

David Mitchell, who was showing sheep at the show, arrived in Harrogate on Wednesday after driving over 200 miles. When he opened the trailer, the cat bolted and disappeared.

He tried looking for the cat, named Puss, but had to return to Scotland on Friday without her to tend to his farm in East Ayreshire. He subsequently posted an appeal on Facebook.

There has been a sighting of the black and white feline around the old viaduct but the animal is believed to be frightened and hungry.

Read more:

• Stray Mogs: Explaining a cat’s ‘If it fits, I sits’ mentality
• WATCH: The best bits of the Great Yorkshire Show 2021

Helen McCallum, a volunteer at Harrogate Cat Rescue, told the Stray Ferret that she had asked staff at the showground to put a plan in place to catch the missing moggy.

She said she’s spoken to the farmer, who is “very worried” about Puss.

She added:

“It might be a mouser but I don’t know whether it knows how to hunt. It needs food.”

Have you seen Puss? Contact Helen on 07845 755405.

Stray Kitchen is our column all about food written by renowned local produce expert, food writer and chef, Stephanie Moon. Stephanie is a champion of food produced in the UK and particularly in Yorkshire and the Harrogate district. 

Great Yorkshire Show time always makes me smile – the whole county gets into a spin and excited about it… and in my book, rightly so!

With my staff pass and negative lateral flow band attached, it was time to enter the ground, trolley brimming with goodies of the catering variety, pots, pans, plates, ingredients, and a veritable larder ready for those “oh Steph have you got any…” moments (as chefs doing cookery demonstrations tend to forget something). As you can imagine, when you are in the ground it is too late to go back to your kitchens and collect it.. I was MCing the Game Cookery Theatre where local chefs inspire the audience to give Yorkshire game a try – many for the first time.

Walking to the Game Cookery Theatre, seeing friends and feeling like the show really ‘must go on’, it was amazing to be back at the hallowed ground! All those hours of prepping for the show with Michelle Mackey and the rest of The Great Yorkshire Show team were condensed into just four days.

I love the show, and always have. I remember as a young girl having a day away from the farm with my parents for a trip to the show. It was a real treat and the wide-eyed wonderment of the show is so memorable for me. From the animals and food to always getting free pens and stickers from farm machinery and feed suppliers, and loving going around seeing the sights, we really had a grand day out. I even smile at remembering the collective family groaning when Dad would say we had to “just go in here for a cup of tea” – and we kids sat legs swinging on benches as my Dad talked cows feed with a specialist.. Then my turn, as I begged for a trip to the food hall!

These days I love the Great Yorkshire Show for different reasons – the people, the food, catching up with clients and good friends, the camaraderie of delivering a belting show, and the proper Yorkshire gumption of getting through these tricky times with true grit and a smile.

There is a feeling of celebration – it is great to be out and great to be doing!

I am proud to help run the Game Cookery Theatre for the show with a super team of chefs and game specialists and under the watchful eye of Daphne the Chief Steward of Country Pursuits. This year we had Mehdi and Heather from Fodder cooking up Yorkshire Puddings with Anita Rani, and some stand out chef demos with the likes of Callum Bowmer from Horto at Rudding Park, John Rudden from Grassington House, the Coniston Hotel boys Chris Oakden and Jonny Purnell from Skipton, and another Skipton and Ilkley favourite Simon Miller from La Casita.

Together we cooked up up some stunning great Yorkshire game with a lot of cheeky banter.

Steph x

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The Stray Ferret coverage of the Great Yorkshire Show was brought to you by Lister Haigh.  

The 163rd Great Yorkshire Show was like no other year and the Stray Ferret was there with Lister Haigh to capture each of the four days.

The sun shone on award-winning goats, we sampled delicious local food and drink, and we were front row for a surprise Royal visit when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended on Thursday.

Watch our best bits below:

The organisers couldn’t have wished for better weather — on the final day of the Great Yorkshire Show it’s been 26 celsius. The cows needed hosing down and the crowds needed ice cream.. here’s a flavour of the day..

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• GALLERY:  A right Royal day at the Great Yorkshire Show
• Watch Charles and Camilla leave on a royal helicopter

Conservative MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, has called for long-term support for the events sector, which he said has been “severely impacted” by covid in Harrogate.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Jones said it was “fantastic to see” the Great Yorkshire Show taking place this week but warned that the events industry will take some time to get back on its feet.

He mentioned Harrogate International Festivals, which is due to host the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival next week. The charity’s chief executive Sharon Canavar told the Stray Ferret last month she has had to make some “nerve-wracking” decisions due to uncertainty over when restrictions will be eased.

Mr Jones said:

“There are other important events and event organisations, such as Harrogate International Festivals, that have been severely impacted.

“I am aware that we have talked about this sector before, but events and circumstances are evolving, so could we have please a further debate on long-term support for the events industry? It adds so much to the quality of life in the United Kingdom and it may need extra help in the future.”

Read more:

• First events at Harrogate Convention Centre to be government pilot

• Andrew Jones MP should be ‘shaking in his shoes’, says local Lib Dem leader

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg responded by saying that the Harrogate Convention Centre is to host two test pilot events for conferences next week, which will help inform how the sector moves forward.

He added:

“The government know how badly the sector has been hit by the pandemic and will continue to encourage and engage with people to monitor the situation and try to support a recovery plan.

“I accept that this will be a longer-term effort, but I think that beginning to get back to normal from Monday will begin to be helpful.”

Back in February, Mr Jones also called for a debate on the sector which he said was “central to the economy” of both Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Prince Charles and Camilla joined the sell-out crowd at the Great Yorkshire Show today.

The royal couple arrived at lunchtime on day three and were greeted by hundreds of visitors at the gate.

Charles spent time inspecting sheep, while the Duchess of Cornwall visited the children’s discovery zone.

Both also took time out to speak with the many visitors and exhibitors at this year’s event.

Here are some photo highlights of Harrogate’s royal day.

Read More: 

• Prince Charles arrives at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show
• Royal biographer at Goldsborough Hall open gardens

The Stray Ferret is running a live blog of the Great Yorkshire Show brought to you by Lister Haigh. We will keep updating this page with stories from the showground throughout the event. 

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, lit up the Great Yorkshire Show today.

The royal couple arrived at lunchtime and were greeted by visitors at the sell-out event.

This year’s show will run for an extended period until Friday. It will mean that the maximum capacity of 26,000 a day can spread out for social distancing.

Visitors are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before they arrive to prevent the spread of the virus.

4.30pm – a bird’s eye view of the show

The Stray Ferret took a trip in the Ferris wheel to get a bird’s eye view of the showground before heading home. Thanks for joining the live blog today.

4.00pm – The world’s largest combine harvester

There are some expensive machines at the show, including the world’s largest combine harvester which will set you back a cool £625,000. Prince Charles stopped for a look earlier today, but a man from John Deere told the Stray Ferret afterwards that small scale farming is more of his thing.

3.40pm – Charles and Camilla set to leave Harrogate by helicopter

A crowd has gathered on the Stray to bid Prince Charles and Camilla farewell after their trip to today’s Great Yorkshire Show.

3.25pm – Gin makers at this year’s show

The Great Yorkshire Show is not just about agriculture and cattle, it also hosts some of the plenty of hospitality exhibitors.

The Stray Ferret caught up with some of them today.

2.41pm – Marching through the show

A marching band is currently making its way through the Great Yorkshire Show this afternoon.

1pm – The Royal couple have begun their tour of the Showground

12.45pm – Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Great Yorkshire Show

Prince Charles paid a surprise visit to the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate today.

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wowed onlookers when they arrived shortly before 12.30pm on day three of the sell-out event.

There have been several visits to the show by senior royals in recent years. In 2008 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met exhibitors and inspected livestock.

12.10pm – Clementine the goat scoops award

Ripon farmer Emily Turner has won ‘Best Female Kid’ with her Golden Guernsey Goat Clementine.

10.54am – Only Fools and Horses’ Boycie visits the show

Boycie from the iconic show Only Fools and Horses was at the show this morning.

John Challis, who played Boycie, was signing copies of his new book and posing for pictures with visitors.

John Challis, who plays Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, at day three of the Great Yorkshire Show.

10.27am – ‘Athletic’ and gladiator-like ferrets

Simon Whitehead brought his rabbit-hunting ferrets along to the show.

They may look cute, but he described them as “athletes and gladiators”.

9.50am – Sun is shining on the showground

Visitors are gathering at the show this morning.

Temperatures are expected to reach 21 degrees today with sunny intervals and gentle breeze.

8.30am – A recap of a second glorious day at the show

As visitors are set to arrive for day three, here’s a recap and some pictures of day two at the show.

Prince Charles paid a surprise visit to the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate today.

The Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wowed onlookers when they arrived shortly before 12.30pm on day three of the sell-out event.

There have been several visits to the show by senior royals in recent years. In 2008 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh met exhibitors and inspected livestock.

Princess Anne visited in 2018 and Prince Andrew attended the following year. Prince Charles’ last appearance at the show was in 2011.

The Queen and Prince Philip at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2008.

Charles is no stranger to Harrogate. He and Camilla opened the 50th Harrogate International Festivals in 2016 and in 2008 he reopened the Royal Hall in Harrogate after its £8 million restoration.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which runs the show, has extended it for four days this year to improve social distancing.

All 26,000 tickets each day have been sold.

Read More: 

• Day three of Great Yorkshire show gets underway
• Royal biographer at Goldsborough Hall open gardens