Harrogate gallery owner plans new woodland after Sycamore Gap success

A North Yorkshire-based artist plans to plant a new woodland after the success of her Sycamore Gap tree painting.

Lucy Pittaway, who owns a gallery on Harrogate’s James Street, painted an image of the famous tree with a Northern Lights backdrop after being moved by its destruction in September.

She pledged to plant a tree for every print sold. In just eight weeks, she sold almost 1,500 copies.

Now, Ms Pittaway wants to team up with a landowner to use the trees to create a public woodland.

She said:

“The Sycamore Gap tree was one of the most iconic features of the northern landscape and its felling has had a deep impact on many people,

“The tree can never be replaced but hopefully we can do something to ensure its legacy lives on.”

She has a vision of the new woodland being used for recreation and education. Features might include a forest school which children can visit to learn about nature, woodland walks, picnic areas and areas for quiet reflection.

Nicki Wilkinson, who is business development manager and has previously managed two of Ms Pittaway’s galleries, said: 

“The response has been phenomenal, firstly from people getting in touch to ask Lucy to paint something in memory of the tree and then secondly in response to the painting with almost 1,500 prints sold in the first eight weeks.

“Hopefully something positive can come out of what has been such a sad event which has impacted so many people.”

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Business Breakfast: MP visits Harrogate company in support of IT campaign

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

Andrew Jones MP has visited a Harrogate IT company in support of a digital waste campaign.

Mr Jones visited Techbuyers’ headquarters on Hornbeam Park, where he signed the IT Repairs and Reuse Declaration.

The campaign urges the UK government to enhance legislation concerning the extension of IT product lifespans.

The Techbuyer team offered a tour of their facilities with a particular focus on their e-waste and repairs departments, highlighting the work they do to extend the lifespan of technology and divert IT hardware from landfill.

Astrid Wynne, head of sustainability and public sector at Techbuyer, said:

“There is a lot of waste associated with the delivery of our digital services. The best way to avoid this is to think about electronic equipment as a long-term investment – something to take care of and repair when necessary.

“In order to this, we need to change the way the market works. Legislation is an essential part of this.”

Harrogate company reports improved revenues in interim results

A Harrogate rental company has reported improved revenues in its interim results.

Beckwith Knowle-based VP posted £190.9m for the six months ended September 30, up from £186.5m in the same period last year.

The company described the results for the first half of the financial year as “solid”.

Jeremy Pilkington, chairman of VP, said:

“We have delivered a solid performance with continuing sector leading returns in the period reflecting the strength of our diverse business offering. We are particularly pleased to have maintained net margin and a strong return on average capital employed, demonstrating high quality of earnings in difficult market conditions.

“Having multiple sector exposure diversifies our revenue streams and has contributed to the robust performance in the period, with infrastructure demand remaining supportive, and whilst there are immediate challenges within general construction, I am confident that the actions taken will be of benefit in the medium term. The group continues to produce strong operating cash flows and maintains a solid financial base, having refinanced our RCF in November on similar terms for a further three years, and we are well positioned for growth.”

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Harrogate’s Coach and Horses bids to bring back bigger bar

The Coach & Horses in Harrogate has revealed plans to expand its bar.

Provenance Inns bought the pub on West Park in 2021 and extensively refurbished it.

But the new, much smaller bar has met with a mixed reaction.

Provenance Inns has now applied for a variation of its premises licence to relocate the bar. A notice advertising the move has been posted in the pub window.

Anthony Blundell, head of business development at Provenance Inns, which bought the site in 2021, told the Stray Ferret:

“The application is for moving the bar.

“It is in response to the feedback we’ve received from our guests, since our remodel, to have a much larger bar that our guests can sit or stand at.”

Mr Blundell added the company had also applied for another bar in the upstairs dining room, adding:

“[This will be to] service dinners and make it even more appealing for private parties.”

The Coach and Horses has rebranded as the Sleigh and Reindeers over the festive period.

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The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: An important message from Dementia Forward’s CEO

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Today, we spoke to Dementia Forward’s founder and CEO, Jill Quinn.

 “I sometimes feel national charities have lost touch with local communities.

“The need for dementia support was huge and the funding was usually decided in London.

“We felt we could do a better job by being rooted in the community.”

It was this realisation that prompted Jill Quinn MBE to improve local dementia support in the Harrogate district.

Jill, who previously worked for two national dementia charities, said she wasted many years in retail management before realising that the voluntary sector was where she belonged.

Dementia Forward was born in 2012 after Jill and other founding members left their previous healthcare jobs on a Friday and launched the charity the following Monday.

The team places need at the centre of the charity – something that can’t be done from 200 miles away. She added:

“People know when they put their pound in the pot, they’d be getting better services in the local area.

“You can’t design a service to be delivered in the local area from an office in London.”

It began with just seven members of staff. The team were donated second-hand laptops and worked from a small office in Ripon.

Now, with a flagship hub in Burton Leonard, 64 employees and more than 250 volunteers, Jill was right – Dementia Forward can serve the local community better.

It now covers the whole of North Yorkshire and helps more than 4,000 families.

“It was meant to a small, fluffy, local charity, but we hit a model that works.

“I like to believe every single person at Dementia Forward is just as passionate as me.”

Some of the Dementia Forward team.

Jill and her team made – and still make – it their mission to help those living with dementia and the people around them from the very early stages, all the way until end of life.

“We meet people, we gently inform them of what may come in the years ahead, and then we’re here for them going forward.

“We don’t hold hands with people because they’re independent enough, but we’re just an arm’s length away.”

The charity also educates people in the wider community on dementia, as Jill felt general awareness of the disease was very poor when it started, and has worked with transport companies, shops and churches to increase knowledge.

She has also led the charity to receive various awards for its work, including the Queen’s Voluntary Service Award and the King’s Fund Impact Award.

The Dementia Forward team receiving the Queen’s Voluntary Service Award in 2021.

Jill said:

“It’s hard to describe what Dementia Forward means to be – it’s just my life.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve done, but there’s still a lot to do, and some things are harder to fundraise for than others – like a minibus.”

Dementia Forward offers various social events and groups to combat loneliness and bring those living with dementia together. The groups go on regular trips out and many use the minibus service to access the support services.

However, Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and tired and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going. Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and improving the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Please give generously to those who need our help this Christmas. Click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, your family or your friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Thank you.

If you need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 0330 057 8592 to speak to a helpline adviser.

Andy’s Man Club to open Harrogate branch

A new branch of Andy’s Man Club is set to open in Harrogate in January.

The male suicide prevention charity, which hosts free peer-to-peer sessions at locations across Yorkshire and the north of England, will open at Harrogate College.

The weekly sessions will begin on Monday, January 22, at 7pm and are open to men aged 18 and over.

The

branch has received the backing of Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in the soap.

He said:

“I’m overjoyed to let you know that there’s a new Andy’s Man Club opening in Harrogate, at Harrogate College.

“So see you there: it’s ok to talk.”

The arrangements for the new branch were led by Neil Waine, who appeared in an episode of Emmerdale earlier this year when the storyline focused on men’s mental health, and saw ‘Paddy’ seek out a local Andy’s Man Club for help.

The aim of the sessions are for men to talk through their issues and help each other deal with their mental health.

Mr Waine, who is project development champion at Andy’s Man Club, said:

“We are really excited to get going in Harrogate and delighted with the college’s support.

“We have been trying to open here for roughly twelve months and once we had the right team in place it was time to find a venue.”

The charity was founded by Elaine Roberts and Luke Ambler after Andrew Roberts, Elaine’s son and Luke’s brother-in-law, took his own life aged 23 in 2016.

It held its first session in Halifax, Andrew’s hometown, and now helps to support more than 3,000 men on a weekly basis at more than 150 locations.

For more information on the Harrogate branch, follow them on Facebook here or email info@andysmanclub.co.uk.

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Morning trains disrupted due to trespasser at Starbeck

Trains between Harrogate and Knaresborough were disrupted this morning due to a trespasser near the line at Starbeck.

Northern Rail alerted commuters on social media at 9.18am, saying a “trespass incident” was causing delays.

Network Rail and British Transport Police both attended the incident, which happened at around 8.20am.

In a statement, British Transport Police said:

“Officers were called to the line near Starbeck railway station at around 8.20am today (18 December) following reports of concern for welfare.

“Officers attended and a person has been taken to a place of safety.”

Lines have re-opened but Northern said disruption is expected until 12.45pm.

No further details have been released.

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Police appeal after 14-year-old injured in Harrogate collision

Police have appealed for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was injured after a collision in Harrogate.

The incident happened on Otley Road near to Queens Road and West End Avenue at 4.45pm on Tuesday, December 12.

Officers said a black motor vehicle collided with a 14-year-old girl who was a pedestrian. Following the collision, the girl attended hospital for treatment.

The driver, who is described as aged between 60 and 70-years-old, bald and was wearing all black clothing did stop at the scene but didn’t leave any details.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Police are now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, officers are appealing for information about anyone that witnessed the collision or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email paul.dixon@northyorkshire.police.uk   You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Paul Dixon.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230236668 when passing information.”

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Pedestrian involved in collision near Starbeck trailer park

Emergency services were called out following a collision in Starbeck this morning.

The incident, which happened on Knaresborough Road near Shaws Trailer Park, happened at 7:45am.

North Yorkshire Police said a car and pedestrian were involved.

The force told the Stray Ferret:

“Police and ambulance are at the scene.

“Motorists are asked to avoid the area as road closures are in place and due to be there for some time.”

Officers said any further updates will be posted on North Yorkshire Police’s website and social media.

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Boots pharmacy in Jennyfields to close next year

The Boots pharmacy inside the Co-op at Jennyfields in Harrogate is set to close next March.

The move comes after Walgreens Boots Alliance, its US-based parent company, announced the closure of 300 UK stores in an earnings call in June.

In a separate report, Boots said it will “consolidate a number of stores” in order to “concentrate its team members where they are needed”.

It added:

“[It will] focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment.”

The report also said the stores affected are “in close proximity” to other Boots sites.

The retailer declined to comment on the Harrogate store closure, however staff at the Jennyfields pharmacy told the Stray Ferret they have been “given options” about employment going forward.

Following the closure, the nearest Boots pharmacies will be in Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough Market Place, the St James’s Retail Park near Knaresborough and at Market Place West in Ripon.

The Co-Op at Jennyfields

Twenty UK stores, including four in Yorkshire, have already closed following the announcement.

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Harrogate piano school celebrates 25 years with pupil concert

Harrogate-based piano school, Saphir Piano Studios, has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a pupil concert at the Wesley Centre on Oxford Street.

Julian and Nichola Saphir, who are directors of the studios as well as teachers, are both concert pianists and Royal College of Music alumni.

They moved to Harrogate from London in 1998 and have continued to build their full-time piano school ever since. They currently have more than 80 pupils.

Their December concert is a long-standing tradition but had not taken place since 2019 due to covid.

To celebrate their quarter of a century in Harrogate, the concert saw 34 pupils perform an eclectic programme of piano music on the Wesley Centre’s prestigious hand-crafted Yamaha CF-lllS concert grand piano, which has been played by some of the world’s most famous concert pianists, including Sir Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Marc-André Hamelin.

Among those taking part was five-year-old Grace Xiu, who is the studios’ youngest pupil.

Alongside the young performers were three of Saphir Piano Studios’ adult students, Moira Morgan, Alistair Duff and Phil Howarth, who treated the audience to music by Chopin and Robert Schumann.

One of the highlights was a six-handed piece by Rachmaninoff, performed by St. Aidan’s Church of England High School sixth formers Annabel Baxter, Krish Desha-Beerachee and Jack Brierley.

The concert was brought to a sparkling finale with the Saphirs themselves giving a duet performance of the ever-popular Christmas favourite, Sleigh Ride.

Julian and Nichola said:

“It’s very important to give each of our pupils the opportunity to play on a fine concert grand piano before a large audience. The atmosphere in the room is always so warm and enthusiastic.”

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