Jubilant Liberal Democrats are celebrating after winning the most divisions in the Harrogate division today.

But the Conservatives won enough divisions across the county overall to secure control of the new North Yorkshire Council.

Ten Liberal Democrat councillors were elected in the district, compared with nine Conservatives, one Green and one Independent.

Pat Marsh, leader of the local Liberal Democrats, said the result meant her party would take control of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee.

This means the Liberal Democrats could have a bigger voice on issues such as planning and highways. Cllr Marsh said:

“It’s a pleasure to see some really good people elected to the council, who want to represent their communities rather than just hold the title of councillor.

“Liberal Democrats will have a stronger voice and we will work with others.”

Read more:

• ELECTION LIVE: Lib Dems win most divisions in Harrogate district
• Future of Harrogate district McColl’s in question

Matt Walker, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Knaresborough West, said:

“We had a plan and exceeded what we were aiming for. We will be able to influence things more.”

Conservatives win majority in North Yorkshire

Across the county as a whole, the Conservatives won 47 divisions — one more than required for an overall majority.

Independents won 13, the Liberal Democrats and Labour both won 12, the Greens won five and the Liberal Party won one.

We will have further reaction and analysis from the local elections shortly.

The Liberal Democrats won the most divisions in the Harrogate district but the Conservatives secured an overall majority on North Yorkshire Council.

Here’s what happened.

3.42pm: Tories win majority on North Yorkshire Council – just

The Conservatives needed 46 councillors to secure a majority on the new North Yorkshire Council. They got 47. Nine came from the Harrogate district, where the Liberal Democrats had 10 councillors elected.

2.56pm: Lib Dems in jubilant mood

There’s no doubt which party is in the most jubilant mood. The Lib Dems are still whooping and hollering and most Conservatives have left the building. The final tally in the Harrogate district is: Lib Dems 10, Conservatives 9, Independents 1, Greens 1.

But remember, the Conservatives have overall control of North Yorkshire Council.

Here are the 10 Lib Dem councillors.

2.50pm: Lib Dems victorious in Harrogate district – but Tories have overall control

The Liberal Democrats won 10 of the 21 divisions contested in the Harrogate division. It makes them the largest party locally but the Conservatives have secured overall control of North Yorkshire Council.

2.42pm: Margaret Atkinson wins Masham and Fountains

Margaret Atkinson defeats Independent Lady Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, who owns Swinton estate, by gaining 1.076 votes compared with 738.

2.40pm: Andrew Jones declines to comment

Andrew Jones 

The Stray Ferret approached Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, for comment on today’s results but he waved us away.

2.36pm: Matt Walker wins Knaresborough West

Matt Walker defeats Tory Phil Ireland. Mr Ireland got 988 votes — the cheers drown out Cllr Walker’s final vote as soon as ‘one thousand’ was announced.

Mr Ireland is the cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability at Harrogate Borough Council so this is another big loss for the Tories.

2.32pm: Graham Swift gracious but defiant in defeat

Graham Swift, the Conservative deputy leader on Harrogate Borough Council, was gracious in his speech after losing to the Liberal Democrats in Coppice Valley and Duchy.

He congratulated all his opponents but reminded the audience that there was still cause for Tory optimism as it has won overall control of North Yorkshire Council.

Daniel Thompson, the Independent candidate in the division, said in his speech:

“It’s a sad day when the Conservatives can’t win a safe Conservative seat so look out Andrew Jones.”

2.29pm: Peter Lacey wins Coppice Valley and Duchy

Significant win for the Lib Dems, with Tory big beast Graham Swift relegated to second with 739 votes compared with Peter Lacey’s 940.

2.25pm Don Mackenzie says ‘combination of factors’ led to Tory losses. 

Conservative Don Mackenzie, who did not seek re-election, is at the count. We asked why the Conservatives had lost many divisions in the Harrogate district.

“Combination of things. National issues, a reticence of traditional supporters to come out and vote.”

Does he think Boris Johnson could damage the party’s General Election prospects?

“Without question national politics was an issue, not necessarily Boris. Covid, cost of living crisis. These things will settle down. When it comes to the General Election it will be a much more benign national picture”

2.22pm: Labour calls for proportional representation

Beaten Labour candidate Geoff Foxall calls for the introduction of proportional representation. Labour has yet to win a division in the Harrogate district with just two to declare. Mr Foxall adds:

“Today marks a dent in the Tory majority that’s grown so large they have become arrogant and out of touch.”

2.16pm: Chris Aldred takes High Harrogate and Kingsley

In his victory speech, Cllr Aldred admits he didn’t think he would win. He says:

“What a day to be a Liberal Democrat. Best set of results in 20 years. We are back in Harrogate.”

2.13pm: Liberal Democrats make big gains in Harrogate district 

The Conservatives have secured an overall majority in North Yorkshire. But the picture is close in the Harrogate district where, with just a few results to go, the Tories have won nine divisions and the Liberal Democrats 8.

2.06pm: Barbara Brodigan wins Ripon Ure Bank and Spa

Cllr Brodigan says the time for competition is over, the time for cooperation has started amongst opposition parties.

2.02pm: Confirmation of Tory win

1.58pm: Greens win in Ouseburn

Arnold Warneken becomes the first Green county councillor elected in the Harrogate district. He beats Conservative candidate Richard Musgrave by 1,328 votes to 586.

1.55pm: Conservatives win North Yorkshire Council!

The Conservatives have secured the 46 seats needed to have an overall majority on the new North Yorkshire Council.

Results are still coming in the the Harrogate district.

1.53pm: Andrew Williams wins Ripon Minster and Moorside

1.51pm: Robert Windass wins Boroughbridge and Claro

Robert Windass wins with 936 votes, ahead of Independent Jon Starkey with 486 votes.

1.48pm: Michael Harrison wins Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate

1.45pm: Will Conservatives get majority?

The Conservatives need 46 divisions for an overall majority. This graphic doesn’t include some of the latest Lib Dem wins.

1.42pm: Pub landlord Mike Schofield wins Harlow and St Georges

Shepherd’s Dog landlord Mike Schofield wins with 1,239 votes, ahead of Tory Steven Jackson, with 845 votes.

1.37pm: Andrew Murday wins Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale

Mr Murday says it’s been a great day for the Liberal Democrats and the result shows the Conservatives can’t sit back and be complacent.

Beaten Conservative candidate Stanley Lumley says it’s a sad day for him after 23 years serving local people and congratulates the winner.

1.34pm: Hannah Gostlow wins Knaresborough East

1.31pm Nathan Hull wins Washburn and Birstwith

1.25pm: John Mann takes Oatlands and Pannal

John Mann, Conservatives, 1,175

Justin Chan, Lib Dems, 820

Gillian Charters, 266

Margaret Smith, Labour 250

1.23pm: Has Boris Johnson cost Tories?

Monika Slater, the successful Liberal Democrat in Bilton Grange and New Park, says:

“I’m stunned. I’m so happy. I’ve had so much support from people. I’m really excited to represent the area.”

Asked why the Conservatives did badly in her division, she said:

“It’s a mix. Boris Johnson played a part but people in Harrogate are really fed up. They see Harrogate in decline and think things need to change.”

1.20pm: Nick Brown wins Wathvale and Bishop Monkton

Nick Brown, Conservative, 1,334

Hannah Corlett, Greens, 455

Chris Knight, Liberal Democrat, 559

1.14pm: Philip Broadbank wins Fairfax and Starbeck

Philip Broadbank, Lib Dems, 921

Sue Lumby, Conservatives, 442

Gordon Schallmo, Greens, 103

Chris Watt, Labour, 337

Cllr Broadbank says it “looks like being a reasonable day for the Liberal Democrats”.

Beaten Tory candidate Ms Lumby says it is a sad day for Harrogate and Knaresborough because some great councillors have gone. “Be careful what you wish for,” she says.

A Liberal Democrat shouts back that “we’ve got some great new councillors”.

1.10pm: Paul Haslam wins Bilton and Nidd Gorge

Conservative Paul Haslam wins with 1,017 votes, well ahead of Liberal Democrat Andrew Kempston-Parkes, who got 663 votes. The Lib Dem issues a plea for parties to work together to oppose the Tories.

1.06pm: Conservatives take Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale & Tockwith

Andrew Paraskos is elected in Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale & Tockwith with 929 votes. Green candidate Alexandra Marsh was second with 630.

1pm:  Sam Gibbs wins Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate

Lucy Gardiner, Independent 331

Sam Gibbs, Conservative 871

David Johnson, Liberal Democrats 545

Paul Ko Ferrigno, Green Party 162

Andrew Williamson, Labour Party, 275

12.55pm: Pat Marsh wins Stray Woodlands and Hookstone

12.52 First result: Monika Slater wins Bilton Grange and New Park

Monika Slater, Lib Dems 968

Matt Scott, Conservatives 677

Andrew Zigmund, Labour 159

Tamsin Worrall, Greens, 123

12.49pm: First results in Harrogate district due now

Returning officer Wallace Sampson is on the plinth.

12.37pm: Conservatives silent as first results loom

There are some glum faces on the Conservative table, amid increasing rumours of losses. The Stray Ferret asked if it would be issuing a comment on proceedings and was told by council leader Richard Cooper, who is not seeking election, that it would not talk to us. Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is sitting with them.

12.43pm: Still no Tory majority

With 33 of the 90 divisions decided, here’s the current state of play. We are still waiting for the first official result in the Harrogate district.

Conservatives 15

Independents 8

Labour Party 5

Green Party 3

Liberal Democrats 2

12.30pm: Pat Marsh tipped to win in Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone

Pat Marsh, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, is said to have beaten Conservative John Ennis, Independent Anna McIntee and Labour’s Helen Burke.

People are talking openly about results here at the count but none have been formally declared.

12.27pm:  Is hung council possible?

Could the unthinkable happen and the Conservatives not have overall control? Results in North Yorkshire are flying in — but none yet in the Harrogate district. The Tories are winning but don’t have an overall majority. Here’s how it looks.

Greens 3

Lib Dem: 2

Conservative: 15

Lab: 3

Independent  7

Liberal Party: 1

I1.23pm: Independents not expecting any wins in Harrogate

The Independents are not expecting any wins in the Harrogate district but they insist it has been worth standing and are predicting a ‘pink landslide’ in any future elections for Harrogate Town Council.

Daniel Thompson, who is standing in Coppice Valley and Duchy, says:

“We have made an impact. The goal was to open up the debate and we’ve done that.

“There could be Harrogate town council elections coming up and there could be a pink landslide.”

12.15: Rumours Graham Swift has lost to Lib Dems

The Conservatives are looking increasingly glum amid talk of several defeats in the Harrogate district. There is speculation that Graham Swift is struggling in Coppice Valley and Duchy, where the Liberal Democrats are confident.

Cllr Swift is one of the leading Conservatives in the area. He is deputy leader of harrogate Borough Council and the Cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development.

12.10pm: Five divisions for Independents so far

The Independents have made a strong start, with five wins so far, the latest victor being Robert Heseltine in Skipton East and South. Will the five Independents in the Harrogate district fare well when the votes comes in?

Robert Geoffrey Heseltine (Independent) has been elected to the Skipton East and South ward with 640 votes.

See the full results at https://t.co/tFpV2fNhdV#NorthYorkshireElections pic.twitter.com/HN2EYeO2xy

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) May 6, 2022

12.07pm: Two wins for Labour

Stephanie Annette Duckett (Labour Party) has been elected to the Barlby and Riccall division with 797 votes.

See the full results at https://t.co/tFpV2fNhdV#NorthYorkshireElections pic.twitter.com/PJb4fCtxy8

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) May 6, 2022

Labour has its first councillors, although there are still no results declared in the Harrogate division.

11.55am: Conservatives establish lead

Despite fears of a poor night in the Harrogate district, the Conservatives have made a good start across North Yorkshire as a whole. They currently have 10 councillors, compared with four for Independents, one for the Liberal Democrats and one for the Greens. We still await the first result in the Harrogate division.

11.52am: Greens win first seat on North Yorkshire County Council

The Green Party has won its first ever division on the county council. Andrew Brown has the distinction in Aire Valley.

Andrew Kenneth Brown (Green Party) has been elected to the Aire Valley division with 1602 votes.

See the full results at https://t.co/tFpV2fNhdV#NorthYorkshireElections pic.twitter.com/Y5tqzD5YK6

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) May 6, 2022

11.49am: Counts underway in Ripon and Knaresborough

Counting is underway in Knaresborough East and Ripon Ure Bank and Spa. Turnout is 36% and 38% respectively.

11.47am: Conservatives braced for losses in Knaresborough

A senior Conservative has said the party is expecting to lose in Knaresborough and it was ‘looking rocky’ in some marginal divisions in the Harrogate district.

11.40am: Conservatives establish early lead in North Yorkshire

No results have been declared in the Harrogate district yet but so far in North Yorkshire as a whole, the Conservatives have won four divisions and two have gone to Independents. There are 90 seats being contested.

11.36am: Council leader Carl Les elected

Carl Les, the current leader of North Yorkshire County Council, has been elected. Cllr Les has indicated he wants to stand as leader for the new North Yorkshire Council, which comes into existence next year. Richard Cooper, the current leader of Harrogate Borough Council, is not standing for election today.

Carl Anthony Les (Conservative) has been elected to the Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division with 760 votes.

See the full results at https://t.co/tFpV2fNhdV#NorthYorkshireElections pic.twitter.com/3mkMEKG29E

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) May 6, 2022

11.28am: Variable turnout figures

Counting is underway in most divisions now. Turnout is 42% in Ouseburn, 43% in Pateley and Nidderdale, 41% in Oatlands and Pannal, 34% in Wathdale and Bishop Monkton and 32% in High Harrogate and Kingsley.

11.19am: Could Green Party make history?

The buzz is that Arnold Warneken, pictured above, is a shoe-in for the Green Party in Ouseburn. We just saw a Labour candidate in another division congratulate him but Mr Warneken is refusing to get carried away. If he is elected he could become the first Green Party councillor on North Yorkshire County Council. Counting for Ouseburn has just got underway – turnout is 42%.

11.11am: Higher turnout in central Harrogate

Counts are starting in many areas now and there are higher turnouts in some of the central Harrogate areas, with turnout up to 43% compared with rural areas, where it is struggling to get above 30%.

11.05am: Labour’s ‘positive message resonating with voters’

Chris Watt, the Labour candidate for Fairfax and Starbeck, says he’s confident its vote has “held up and even increased”. He said:

“We are pleased in our target areas our vote seems to have held up and even increased. We’ve run a strong campaign across the district. Labour’s positive message seems to be resonating on the doorstep.”

10.56am: Bilton turnout 33%

Counting has begun for Bilton and Nidd Gorge and for Bilton Grange and New Park. Turnout in both divisions was 33%, with 1,991 votes cast in the former and 1,989 in the latter.

10.50am: Low turnout likely

Returning officer Wallace Sampson says the turnout in Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate was just 30%, with 1,865 votes cast. By comparison, turnout at the last Harrogate Borough Council elections in 2018 was 37%.

10.43am: Count begins first in Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate

Returning officer Wallace Sampson, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council, announces the count is about to begin for Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, where Conservative Michael Harrison is standing against Liberal Democrat David Goode, Labour’s Edward Clayson and Green Party member Bill Rigby.

10.32am: Green Party ‘confident’ of winning Ouseburn

Green Party candidates Bill Rigby and Hannah Corlett, pictured, say they are confident Arnold Warneken could spring a surprise and defeat Conservative Richard Musgrave in Ouseburn. They are the only two candidates standing there. The Greens say they are less hopeful in Knaresborough.

10.18am: Conservatives ‘cautious but confident’ in Wathvale and Bishop Monkton

Nick Brown, the Conservative candidate for Wathvale and Bishop Monkton. says he is quietly confident but cautious.

9.55am: Independents hopeful in Ripon

Ripon Independents are hopeful of doing well in the city. City mayor Eamon Parkin, pictured here at the count, is hoping to be elected in the Ure Bank division, where he is against Liberal Democrats Libby Clements and Helen Mason

9.25am: Verification of votes underway

There’s a couple of hundred people here at Harrogate Convention Centre, including candidates. The verification process is underway. Conservative council leader Richard Cooper, who is not standing for election, is in the blue shirt in the image.

8.50am: North Yorkshire results due this morning

The Harrogate district results will be announced at Harrogate Convention Centre. Nationally, the Conservatives have made losses and Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Greens have made gains. But the scale of the task facing opposition parties is highlighted by fact that 54 of the 72 councillors currently on North Yorkshire County Council are Conservatives, with some getting as much as 80% of the vote at the last elections in 2017.

A group of die-hard Eurovision fans gathered outside the Harrogate Convention Centre yesterday evening to celebrate the night, 40 years ago, when Harrogate hosted the event.

Getting into the Eurovision spirit, the fans strummed a guitar and sang 10 songs, including UK winners such as Katrina and the Waves “love shine a light”.

Eloise Flint, her sister Emily Roberts and her nephew Alex Hill, all from the Harrogate district, were part of the group.

Eloise couldn’t remember exactly how many times she’s been to a Eurovision – it’s that many. Maybe nine or 10 she thought.  The event she said is magical:

“It is an amazing spectacle! It’s technologically very impressive especially with the way the songs are presented. There is fantastic creativity.

“The audience and the fans are incredible – it’s like we are one big Eurovision family.”

Emily Roberts on guitar

Read More:

• 40 years on: Jan Leeming’s memories of when Harrogate hosted Eurovision
• 40 years on: Remembering when Harrogate hosted Eurovision

The group ended by singing the 1982 winner for Germany, Nicole’s “a little peace”.

Eloise said the song is particularly poignant this year with war in Ukraine:

“We’re ending on this song as it was the winning song in Harrogate – but it seems the message is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago”.

The next Eurovision is just a few weeks away in Turin, Italy.

If you are thinking of having a punt, the Stray Ferret has been reliably told Sweden and Belgium are the ones to watch.

On April 24 1982, millions of people from 30 countries had their eyes on Harrogate when the town hosted the 27th Eurovision Song Contest.

Four decades later, it seems almost unbelievable that little Harrogate got to host one of the biggest events in Europe. It turned out to be an occasion to remember.

Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam recalls in one of his books:

“The contest itself was a great publicity coup for the town, generating a tremendous atmosphere.

“Michael Hine, former Harrogate tourism promotion manager, said ‘It was the most exciting event to work on and it promoted the newly built conference centre to the world… The atmosphere in the town was truly amazing. “

How the conference centre looked on the night.

On the four previous occasions the UK had staged the event, it had been held three times in London and once in Brighton. But in 1982, Harrogate had a shiny new conference centre up its sleeve when the search was on for a venue.

Philip Broadbank, who is the only surviving Harrogate borough councillor from 1982, looks back on the manoeuvrings that led to its selection and recalls the trial night.

Then Giles Rocholl, a 19-year-old trainee press photographer at the time, gives his memories of a week like no other in Harrogate’s history.

Philip Broadbank: ‘It showed Europe there was life outside London’

“When the UK won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 it was widely known that a UK venue would be needed and I think somewhere outside London was sought – probably to show the rest of Europe that there was life in the UK outside London!

It was known that the conference centre in Harrogate would be open and available for use and that it was big enough to host the event. Harrogate wanted something big to show the conference centre off and the organisers of the event were asked to consider Harrogate to host the venue. It was accepted as the venue and it was scheduled to be the big opening event of Harrogate Conference Centre.

I don’t recall any bids being made but the event was seen as a huge publicity boost for our district. I wasn’t involved in the behind-the-scenes negotiations and it was kept confidential until it was deemed certain to go ahead.

The signs on the convention centre.

I am the only councillor left who was on Harrogate Borough Council in 1982 and none of the staff involved then are still working for it. Tony Miles was the officer in charge of the centre – he passed away some time ago. Paul Lewis was deputy director of the conference centre and I think he is now living somewhere in Wales.

My recollection is that everybody involved the construction of the conference centre was confident that it would be open for business by April 1982. They were looking for a big event that would draw attention to the building and the district and when the UK won the 1981 contest.

In those days the venue was big enough to host the Eurovision Song Contest – something that would not be possible now. In March 1982 there were a couple of events held at the centre to test out the technical, organisation and sound arrangements and there was the trial run held on the Friday night. There was quite a buzz about the place because such an event with a potential live audience of around 250 million people certainly put the district on the map.

Jan Leeming looking at the scoreboard.

There was a dress rehearsal the night before and nearly 2,000 free tickets were distributed to local people to be in the audience. My wife and I were there and it was a great night with lots of interest and excitement both for the event itself and the opening of the centre after six long years and controversial problems and issues with the construction of the building.

We picked out the song that we thought would win – A Little Peace by Nicole of West Germany, which did indeed turn out to be the winner. There was one act, from Denmark whose singer jumped around on stage and hit a giant pom-pom on his head while singing the song in Danish. He stormed off stage halfway through his song because he resented the audience laughter at his act.

Nobody could understand why until the following night, when it was televised live, Terry Wogan explained it was a song about not having the nuclear bomb dropped on his head. Obviously the Friday night audience didn’t have the benefit of subtitles to read while the artists were performing.

The Eurovision Song Contest broadcast obviously put Harrogate on the European map that night and helped to promote the centre for bookings.”

Giles Rocholl: ‘It was a week-long festival of fun’

Photographer Giles Rocholl was a 19-year-old trainee press photographer at Ackrill Newspapers Group, which was based at Herald Buildings, Montpellier. The site later became the Slug & Lettuce pub.

“In the three years I had worked, this was by far the biggest news event the town had hosted. Swarms of photographers and news crews from all over Europe descended on Harrogate. The hotels were fully booked with parties and photo opportunities throughout the week running up to the big night.

Giles Rocholl (centre) with UK Eurovision entrants Bardo. Pic courtesy of Giles Rocholl

“It felt like a festival of fun and I managed to cover several events over the week. So many languages, colourful costumes, laughing and singing — it was an exciting and vibrant time.

“I was envious of the German photographers’ top of the range camera kit and particularly their Metz Flashguns — a beast of light production. I got one a few years later for myself.

“On the big night I remember having a brief chat with the late, great Terry Wogan and snapping a photo of my editor’s wife Rosie with him before the contest. Jan Leeming looked stunning and even more charming than she appeared on TV.

Giles Rocholl’s picture of West German winner Nicole. Pic courtesy of Giles Rocholl

“During the show the press had our own hall to view the events going on above us on stage at the conference centre and when the winner Nicole was announced the German photographers all leapt up and were overjoyed.

“We photographers were all escorted up to the stage by security and Nicole and her band were lined up ready for us. As we all filed in, I felt I could not get a good photo because I was squeezed out by the mass of photographers so I very naughtily broke ranks and went around the back of the performers as I saw they were turning around to wave and thank the audience.

“I managed to get the shot I wanted of Nicole and felt that having all the photographers in the background added to the focus on her. Happy days!”

On April 24 1982, some 300 million people from 30 countries watched the Eurovision Song Contest in Harrogate.

It remains perhaps the biggest occasion in the town’s history but strangely, you’ll struggle to find any evidence today that it ever took place.

There’s no plaque, no museum exhibition, no statue. Visitors think you’re winding them up when you point to Harrogate Convention Centre and say it hosted the event associated with Abba, Lulu, Terry Wogan and the dreaded ‘nul points’.

But it happened and as the 40th anniversary looms, we have compiled a two-part feature based on the memories of three people who were closely involved on the day, starting today with BBC presenter Jan Leeming.

At Eurovision, whichever country wins gets to host the event the following year so Bucks Fizz’s dress-tearing routine in 1981 triggered a search to find a venue. It would be the fifth time the UK had hosted the event. Three of the previous occasions were in London and one — famously in 1974 when Abba won — in Brighton. Since 1982, the UK has only won Eurovision in 1997.

The opening sequence of the BBC coverage answered the question ‘Where is Harrogate?’.

Tomorrow’s article will look in more detail about why Harrogate was chosen.

But the decision to select a small, relatively unknown town prompted the BBC to begin its more than two-hour live broadcast, which can be viewed here, with a five-minute sequence enlightening viewers to the joys of places like the Stray and the Drum and Monkey.

The phrase ‘Where is Harrogate?’ was emblazoned across the screen in each of the languages of the countries taking part and was followed by a montage of scenes depicting Harrogate as some kind of middle England utopia full of beautiful people, elegant shops and idyllic countryside.

The sequence ended with smiling couples stepping out of limousines at the convention centre on the night of the big event to see if the British pop duo Bardo could win. They couldn’t, eventually fading to seventh behind Nicole, whose song A Little Peace became West Germany’s first ever success. Here are the memories from the woman who held the night together.

Jan Leeming: ‘I was thrilled, flattered — and very worried!’

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Jan Leeming recalls:

“My agent rang up and said ‘the BBC would like you to present Eurovision’. I was thrilled, flattered and very worried because Katie Boyle had presented it previously and she was fluent in French. Back then the presenter had to speak in English and French. I am an actress and, apparently, I have a good French accent but I am not fluent.

I was told I’d got the job just as my husband and I were going on holiday to Hong Kong so I took the script in my suitcase and learned it while we were away because the camera at the event would be too far away to read the autocue.

Sitting on an accordion outside the convention centre. Pic courtesy of Jan Leeming

I think I arrived in Harrogate a day, maybe two, in advance. There was only one proper rehearsal so we didn’t have much time. When I wasn’t working I was mainly ensconced in a hotel — I can’t remember which one — but I did get a flavour of Harrogate because they took all the contestants around town to do some filming. My best and oldest friend lives in Leeds and I have been to Harrogate with her several times since. It’s a really beautiful town.

Eurovision was the kind of thing the BBC did very well in those days. It was a huge production, with Michael Hurll as overall director. There were 18 countries taking part and 30 countries watching. Every country took their feed from the BBC and had people working on booths at the convention centre. Terry Wogan was working in one of the booths but our paths didn’t cross.

Jan in the dress she didn’t choose to wear. Pic courtesy of Jan Leeming

All 18 countries’ songs were accompanied by the BBC Radio Orchestra. The orchestra was led by Ronnie Hazlehurst but each country brought out their own conductor for their performance.

It was the only time the BBC ever paid for my wardrobe. I had to pay for the clothes I wore when I was reading the news and when I was representing the BBC at evening events. One of my favourite designers was Gina Fratini and I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to wear one of her dresses but the BBC said it would have been too much like an advert for her and I could have a dress made in-house instead. It was a very nice dress but not one I would have chosen, so it was a bit of a sore point. I wouldn’t have minded if the BBC had always paid for my clothes!

Looking up at the scoreboard.

I was paid £1,000 to present Eurovision. My salary when I went from radio to TV was £10,500 and then it gradually increased over several years. In 1982 I was earning about £13,000. So to be paid about £1,000 to present Eurovision was fantastic. In those days men were paid far more than women and we had to put up with it. As one person told me when I remonstrated — “if you don’t like it, Miss Leeming, there’s the door”.

My nerves were awful when I walked out at the start of the show. I do remember writing in my diary that I would have given anything for a train ticket home. Most actors and presenters tell you nerves never leave you and frankly, they’re what enhance your performance.

It turned out to be a wonderful occasion. I don’t remember much about the show but I remember the party afterwards because the Spanish guitarist asked me to dance. He tossed me around the floor and then wrote on my invitation to the party ‘mi casa, su casa’ (my house is your house) — and I never saw him again! I kept that invitation until a few years ago.

The cake sent by Silvio’s. Pic courtesy of Jan Leeming

There was a business in Harrogate called Silvio’s and it sent me the most beautiful cake, which obviously was shared out amongst the crew. But I didn’t stay long afterwards. I had a husband and a son to get home to.

The UK didn’t host Eurovision again for years because we didn’t win it again until 1997 and the winners got to host it the following year. Then in 2003 we got ‘nul points’.

I wouldn’t have chosen the winning song. I was very surprised that it won. It was called A Little Peace and it was sung by a German girl called Nicole who went on to have a long career, in fact I think she’s still going. But there was more variety and individuality to the songs then. They all seem to be written to the same format now. Everybody copies everyone else. But perhaps I’m only saying that because I’m an old lady now!

Wearing her Eurovision dress shortly before it was auctioned. Pic courtesy of Jan Leeming

The BBC gave me the Eurovision dress and I kept it for years, waiting to find it an appropriate home. Eventually I gave it to Celebrity Cash in the Attic to be sold by auction in 2014 because I wanted to promote the male testicular cancer charity Orchid. It was auctioned in Chiswick and went for £250.

Prior to 1982 the UK had won Eurovision five times. Since 1982 we have only won it once. Terry Wogan sort of made fun of it and I don’t think the English take it seriously enough. Sweden apparently runs six weeks of heats. Terry called it the Euro Yawn or the Euro Bore but back then it was watched by over 300m people. I looked up what it gets these days and now with all the hype it only gets 100m.

Mind you there wasn’t that much telly around back then. Now you have 360 channels and nothing to watch. Everything was a bit different in the 1980s. It was before the cult of celebrity and social media. I don’t seem to recall it having all the razzmatazz of Eurovisions today.

Eurovision wasn’t quite the pinnacle of my career: the pinnacle was a documentary I made after five years of research into a free French pilot called Rene Mouchotte whose name is on the Battle of Britain memorial. You can watch it here. That was the biggest achievement of my career. But Eurovision was very near the pinnacle. It was an absolute honour and privilege to present it.

Jan Leeming’s new podcast Addicted to Love is now available on Spotify, iTunes etc. Further information is available here or on Twitter @Jan_Leeming.

Harrogate estate agents take on Yorkshire Three Peaks for charity 

Harrogate estate agents, Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) are hoping to raise more money for Maggie’s Centres by climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

The team at FSS said they wanted to support a charity that helps those undergoing treatment.

Maggie’s Centres builds centres next to NHS hospitals to offer professional support for anything from treatment side effects to money worries.

The FSS team will take on the 24-mile hiking challenge tomorrow.

Partner and auctioneer Richard Smailes said:

“Last November, I was incredibly touched by the enthusiasm of those supporting the charity. Those who were affected by cancer planned to carry out incredible tasks to raise money for a cause that supports those suffering take back control when cancer turns their life upside down.”

To donate click here.

Networking event for SMEs at Harrogate Convention Centre this month

Harrogate Borough Council and SME Growth Managers have organised an event for Harrogate district businesses to share ideas and solve problems.

The event, on April 21, is aimed at local SMEs, small to middle-sized businesses.

‘Five tips to sales and marketing effectiveness in challenging times’ will hear from numerous business owners about the impact of marketing.

The event lasts 90 minutes and is free to attend. It will highlight funding opportunities and give business owners the chance to meet with similar, like-minded businesses.

The event begins at 9.30am at Co-Lab Harrogate, through entrance three at the convention centre.

Harrogate Convention Centre

More than half a million pounds in carbon reduction cash is to be spent on Harrogate Hydro instead of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The £583,000 was awarded to Harrogate Borough Council for upgraded lighting and air handling units at the convention centre, but the council has now said it won’t be able to complete the works before a funding deadline in June.

The money from the government’s decarbonisation scheme will instead be used for air source heat pumps and solar panels at the Hydro swimming pool.

A council spokesperson said:

“The money has been transferred as owing to market conditions, we cannot deliver the convention centre project within the grant timescales.”

The funding switch comes as the council is pushing ahead with plans for a major redevelopment of the convention centre, with upgrades at the venue’s studio two being made a priority.

These studio two works could start in October after a warning that the venue could miss out on up to £14.9million through cancelled events.

Overall, the full redevelopment plans could cost up to £47million if approved by councillors. The proposals include three exhibition halls being demolished to make way for a new 5,000 square metre hall and a refurbished auditorium.

Read more:

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Under separate plans, 1,077 solar panels will be installed at the convention centre in a move which the council said will save 24 tonnes of Co2 each year.

A further 420 solar panels will also be installed at the Hydro swimming pool. The council said these could reduce the venue’s annual Co2 emissions by 577 tonnes.

The Hydro is also in line for a major redevelopment which will cost £11.8million and get underway next month. These plans include a two-storey extension of the building, as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.

There will also be a new diving board structure, fitness suite and refurbished changing areas which could all be completed by April 2023.

A three-day board gaming festival will take place next weekend at Harrogate Convention Centre.

AireCon 2022, one of the biggest board gaming festivals in the UK, will run from March 11 to 13.

Attendees can expect a wide variety of games, product launches and special guests.

Guests include the creator of popular game CoraQuest and gaming YouTubers.

The festival was founded in 2015 when Mark Cooke set up a private mini-convention attended by friends in his Yorkshire flat. It has expanded each year and moved into Harrogate’s convention centre after selling out a smaller venue in 2016.

Mark said;

“The first public AireCon sold out and the entire venue was full. Every year it just keeps going beyond what we possibly could have imagined.

There’s something about board gaming that brings people together; it breaks down barriers between people, it’s a lot of fun and it’s time away from screens.”

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In 2017 the festival gained support from Nabil Homsi, who owns the board game store Travelling Man. The store now has several branches across the UK.

Travelling Man will provide more than 600 games for the event.

New to this year is the AireBus, a shuttle bus travelling from London to Harrogate with built in board gaming tables.

There are still a limited number of tickets left which can be bought here.

The Knitting & Stitching Show has agreed a deal to stay at Harrogate Convention Centre for the next three years.

The show, which is open to the public, features hundreds of stands from retailers, more than 200 workshops, a theatre with live demos, gallery exhibitions and expert advice.

The economic impact of the show on the town is estimated to be £2 million over the three years of the deal.

Organisers predict 12,000 to 14,000 visitors will attend the four-day show from November 17 to 20, which will mark the 30th year the show has exhibited in Harrogate.

Paula Lorimer, director at the centre, said:

“This news follows on from a raft of other flagship events that have signed contracts to return to our venue for the next three or four years, including the Flooring Show, Home and Gift, the Bridal Show and Fashion Week.

“These are crucial as they mark the confident return of big exhibitions, which are such big drivers of the wider local economy.”

Harrogate firm completing £2m refurbishment of Leeds building

A Harrogate-company has almost completed a £2m refurbishment of a historic Grade II listed building in Leeds city centre.

Westcourt Group‘s upgrade of 56 Wellington Street, with the building dating back to 1873, will provide 10,254 sq ft of prime grade A office space over six floors in the city’s professional district.

56 Wellington Street

Tim Hodgson, managing director of Westcourt Group, said:

“This is a truly unique building that we have sensitively reinvented to provide grade A workspace with an attention to detail that that really accentuates the building’s heritage, whilst importantly bringing into the 21st century.”

Some of the staff taking part.

Johnsons staff pledge to walk 280,000 steps for Cancer Research UK

Staff at Harrogate district nursery Johnsons of Whixley have pledged to walk 10,000 steps each during March as they take part in Cancer Research UK’s Walk All Over Cancer challenge.

Throughout March, 28 staff members at Johnsons will walk a total of 280,000 steps combined, which equates to approximately 140 miles per day, 980 miles per week and an overall estimate of 5,000 miles for the month.

Marketing manager Eleanor Richardson has organised the challenge.

“The steps challenge is a great way to fundraise for the charity and a great activity for team building and general fitness. There are many benefits to walking 10,000 steps per day.”

You can support Johnsons walking challenge here.

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The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has cancelled a Russian State Ballet and Opera performance in the town following the invasion of Ukraine.

Conservative councillor Richard Cooper announced at a cabinet meeting tonight that the event due to be held at the council-owned Harrogate Convention Centre in October will not go ahead as a result of the “terrible” war.

He said:

“Although the company is registered and addressed in England, until we can verify that the ownership is not Russian, that ban remains in place.”

Performers from Russian State Opera appeared at the Royal Hall in Harrogate last week just before Russia invaded Ukraine and the onset of arts boycotts and economic sanctions that followed.

Several theatres across the UK have banned similar Russian performances, including at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton, and New Theatre Peterborough.

At tonight’s cabinet meeting, Cllr Cooper described the war in Ukraine as “terrible” and said the Harrogate district stood ready to welcome refugees fleeing the country.

He said he was contacted by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones and asked to look at what housing could be offered if the district is called upon to do its part.

Read more:

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Councillor Cooper said:

“Mr Jones has written to the Prime Minister and held discussions with him about increasing the United Kingdom’s offer to Ukrainian refugees.

“He has asked that we look at our housing stock and those of housing associations with whom we partner to ensure we are able to play our part in accommodating Ukrainian refugees if and when we are asked to do so.

“As we did with Syrian and Afghan refugees, we stand ready to do whatever is asked of us – and more – to welcome Ukrainians fleeing this terrible war.”

Councillor Cooper also sought to offer reassurances that the council does not have any direct involvement or investments with any Russian companies. He added:

“I can reassure members that Harrogate Borough Council has no cash on loan to Russian banks, our property funds are only invested in the United Kingdom and we have no share capital invested in Russian companies.

“We also do not purchase any services directly from Russian companies.”