Business Breakfast: Swinton Estate launches wild swimming lake

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

The Swinton Estate in Masham has launched a wild swimming lake for guests and visitors.

The lake has been introduced as part of the summer “wild swimming” season and includes a ladder platform to access the water.

It is open to both guests at the Swinton Hotel and day visitors.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, owner of the Swinton Estate, said:

“We are excited to launch our 2023 wild swimming season on our private lake. 

“Swimming in open water is an amazing way to connect with nature, and we are delighted to offer this activity to our guests in such a beautiful location.”

The private lake is located in the heart of the 200-acre estate.

Wild swimming season at the estate runs from May to September and the lake is free to hotel guests.

Day visitors can purchase a Parklands & Gardens Pass for just £10 per day, or £60 for a whole year.

For more information, visit the Swinton Estate website here.

Harrogate training company expands into North East

A Harrogate-based training company has appointed a new regional manager as part of an expansion of its programme.

Quarterdeck, which was founded in 2007, provides training schemes for companies in Harrogate and Leeds in areas such as leadership.

The firm has now announced it will now offer courses and programmes in Newcastle.

It has also appointed Gavin Hutchinson as regional director to oversee the operations in the North East.

He said:

“I am really excited to lead Quarterdeck’s expansion into Newcastle and bring our transformative leadership seminars to professionals in the region.

“Our seminars go beyond theory, offering practical guidance and empowering individuals to become impactful leaders in their respective roles.

“I look forward to partnering with local businesses and helping them unlock their leadership potential.”

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New photo of missing Sophie as concerns grow for Harrogate woman

North Yorkshire Police has today issued a fresh photo of missing Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert, as concerns for her welfare grow.

Sophie, 22, was reported missing from her home in Starbeck at 10.10pm on Friday. She was last seen by her family at 7.20pm before she left the house.

Police issued an urgent appeal for help yesterday by asking anyone with information or possible sightings to get in touch. They said a search and rescue team was taking part in an extensive operation to find her in the Nidd Gorge area.

Police said today concerns were growing for Sophie’s welfare and issued a more recent photo and updated description.

Sophie Lambert

A statement said:

“Sophie is described as white, 5ft 3in, aged in her early 20s, slim build, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.

“She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.

“It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms and has dark green Adidas trainers with a white sole.

“If you have seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph, please call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.”

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Police issue urgent appeal to find missing Harrogate woman

North Yorkshire Police has issued an urgent appealing for help finding a missing woman from Harrogate.

Sophie Rebecca Lambert, 22, was reported missing from her home in Starbeck at 10.10pm last night.

Sophie was last seen by her family at 7.20pm before she left the house.

A police statement this afternoon said:

“Concerns are growing for her welfare and extensive police searches are currently taking place in the Nidd Gorge area with assistance from search and rescue.”

Sophie went missing last night.

Sophie is described as white, aged in her early 20s, with long dark brown hair that is possibly plaited or wavy.

She has a distinctive scar on her forehead which is likely to be noticeable.

It is unknown what clothing she has on, but her family said she tends to wear jogging bottoms.

Police urged anyone who has seen a woman matching Sophie’s description or photograph to call North Yorkshire Police immediately on 999 quoting reference 12230110845.

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Girlguiding group on track to hit £1.7 million target for new premises

A local Girlguiding group is on track to reach its £1.7 million goal to fund the renovations of its new centre.

North Yorkshire West Girlguiding has raised and spent nearly £1.2 million since the fundraising began in 2019, when the old site was demolished. Since then, fundraising efforts have included cake stalls, virtual balloon races, and live performances.

The Birk Crag Centre, on Cornwall Road in Harrogate, will be home to Harrogate’s Girlguiding division, but will be accessible to all groups in the North Yorkshire West area – including Ripon, Boroughbridge, Skipton, and Settle.

The space will host Guide sleepovers, as well as overnight stays for Brownie and Rainbow groups, and will also offer residential training for volunteers.

Outdoor and camping equipment will also be stored at the premises, as well as a uniform and badge shop.

Caroline Bentham, Guide guider and assistant county commissioner, said:

“One of the most important parts of Guiding is giving girls the chance to have a sleepover away from home that is affordable.

“Guiders are all volunteers and give their time for free, this means we can keep the costs down.

“There is nothing better than seeing a nervous young lady arrive at a sleepover and watch her come into her own, even if it is as the noisy one after lights out!”

Mrs Bentham explained the “pandemic affected us like many other charities” and claims the delay in raising the money is due to “jobs priced at £20,000 now cost us £60,000”. The Girlguiding group has also applied for various grants to help raise the money.

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Around a further £500,000 is required to complete all building work and renovations.

The next fundraising event will take place at Studley Royal. The Ripon Girlguiding division will hold a sponsored walk, during which they will push a 5ft cable drum around the grounds to represent the £6,000 required for electrical cabling at the new building.

The walk will take place on June, 19 and 20.

To find out more about sponsorship of events or to help the fundraising efforts, visit the Birk Crag Centre website.

Starbeck stages its community day

Starbeck Community Day took place today to raise money for the annual Christmas lights appeal.

The free event, at Harrogate Railway AFC on Station View, included a range of stalls as well as a drinks bar.

There were also donkey rides and live performances from groups including Starbeck Dancing for Wellbeing.

The day also saw the crowning of the annual Starbeck community king and queen. The honours went to Ted Carman, 9, and Celeste Reid, 9.

(from left) Last year’s queen Kya-Mae Goodwin, 11 new queen Celeste Reid and new king Ted Carman.

It is one of four events held each year to raise funds for Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.

There is also an Easter fun day, a craft fair and nearly new sale and a Christmas fayre.

Organiser Chrissie Holmes said:

“We have to raise £8,000 a year to keep the lights going. They really brighten up Starbeck and the children love to see them walking to and from school on dark nights.”

Visitors could learn about the plans for Knaresborough Forest Park.

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School creates new mosaics with help from Harrogate charity

Four new mosaics have been installed outside a school in Harrogate thanks to a partnership with a local charity.

Artizan‘s members have created the mosaics to highlight Oatlands Junior School‘s values of equality and diversity, curiosity, and safety.

They have been placed around the school, with a fourth mosaic outside the arts studio designed to inspire imagination, creativity and exploration.

The four artworks were created children from the school and members of Artizan together, which benefitted both groups.

Hannah Alderson, the school’s art and design technology lead, said:

“This incredible project gave differently able mosaic artists the opportunity to become the trainer; showing children how to mosaic, which of course is a powerful situation for them both to experience.

“[It was] empowering for members of Artizan and a transformation of attitude for the children, seeing people with disabilities in a different light as confident and creative skilled artists.”

For more information about how Artizan can work with local schools, email Liz Cluderay.

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Local democracy in North Yorkshire ‘destroyed’ by devolution, says peer

Devolution in North Yorkshire has made local government an “incoherent mess” and “destroyed” democracy, a Liberal Democrat peer has claimed.

Harrogate Borough Council was one of seven district authorities, along with North Yorkshire County Council, abolished on March 31 to pave the way for the new North Yorkshire Council.

The single-tier system has vastly reduced the number of councillors in North Yorkshire from almost 400 to 90.

A combined authority for York and North Yorkshire is due to be created next year, led by an elected mayor, as part of the UK government’s devolution agenda.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire said in a speech in the House of Lords on Thursday the structure of local government across England was now “an incoherent mess” and accused the government of “imposing mayors on places that did not want them”.

He added:

“I find what has happened recently in North Yorkshire the most appalling, and when I heard someone assure me that no councillor in North Yorkshire would need more than two hours to drive from the ward they represent to council meetings, it showed me just how far we have gone.

“Decent places such as Harrogate, Scarborough, Richmond and Craven, which had working district authorities and which represented real places, have been dismantled and they are now trying to set up very large town councils for them.

“We have the prospect of a mayor, somehow, for North Yorkshire and, incidentally, one for East Yorkshire. That is the effective destruction of local government and I really do not understand the rationale for it.”

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He contrasted the situation with Fenland District Council, where councillors represented far fewer people, and therefore had more time to deal with their issues.

Lord Saltaire said:

“After the next election, a reform of the way in which the governance of England is conducted at all levels is a vital part of what any new government must be. If we want to regain trust in politics and re-engage some of our citizens more, that is part of how we do it.

“Let us all recognise that we face a situation of deep popular disengagement and disillusionment with the democratic politics we have in this country.”

Old system ‘confusing and expensive’

Carl Les

Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, described the old two-tier system as “confusing, inefficient and expensive”. He added:

“Over half of the country is governed by unitary local government now. Where Lord Saltaire lives has been unitary for years.

“Yes, we no longer have 390 local councillors. Some might say that’s a good thing.”

Cllr Les said the council’s plans for “double devolution”, whereby powers would be handed down to local level, would ensure it was “not only the largest geographic council in the country but also the most local as well”.

 

Watch: Lime tree on Stray in Harrogate being felled

Four trees on the Stray in Harrogate are to be felled by North Yorkshire Council.

The trees, close to Beech Grove, are deemed to be in poor condition and pose a safety risk due to their proximity to the road.

Resident Chris Graville sent us this video of one of the trees being cut down.

Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways at the council, said:

“This lime tree is one of four along Beech Grove on the Stray which are in poor condition and are to be removed as they are deemed high risk due to their position next to the road.

“This work is in line with the national tree and woodland policy which ensures two trees are planted to replace every one cut down.

“This means we are sustaining and increasing the number of trees across the county.”

North Yorkshire Council took over responsibility for managing the Stray on April 1, when Harrogate Borough Council was abolished.

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Million pound house draw comes to Harrogate

A million pound farmhouse near Harrogate could be won for just £10 in a prize draw.

The American company Omaze today announced the 17th century property between Hampsthwaite and Birstwith, which also comes with a guest cottage, as its latest million pound prize draw.

The draws, which take place every two months, raise money for charities and Omaze keeps 20 per cent of net proceeds. The firm said it has raised £13.25 million for charities since its UK launch in 2020.

Omaze’s latest property in Nidderdale, which is its first in the Harrogate district, will generate funds for Blood Cancer UK.

The gardens of the house near Birstwith

The winner will receive £100,000 in cash as well as the farmhouse, which is estimated to have an annual rental value of almost £50,000.

Blood Cancer UK supporter, Celia Imrie, who starred in the film Calendar Girls, has backed the draw.

She was reunited with original Calendar Girls Tricia Stewart and Lynda Logan, as well as Lynda’s husband Terry, the famous calendar’s photographer – to mark the launch of Blood Cancer UK’s latest partnership with Omaze.

The Calendar Girls reunited to support the cause.

In a promotional video, Lynda joked:

“It’s only 10 minutes away from where I live so I’ll be popping round for a cup of sugar.”

The draw closes on July 30 for online entries and August 1 for postal entries.

James Oakes, chief international officer at Omaze, said:

“By offering this beautiful property, along with £100,000 in cash, we’re giving people the chance to live mortgage and rent free for the rest of their life – as well as raising money for charities whilst introducing them to brand new audiences.

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Harrogate woman unveils art with final message from family killed in Holocaust

A Harrogate woman has unveiled a giant blanket embroidered with her family’s final message from the Holocaust.

Michelle Green’s grandparents, Gisela and Josef Schwarz, and her uncle Kurt were all killed in a Nazi concentration camp.

With the help of artist Laura Fisher, Michelle has created a piece of artwork to commemorate their communication to their family. She said:

“Holding the blanket felt like hugging the grandma I never met. I really didn’t expect to feel such strong emotions.

“The blanket dominates the room from floor to ceiling and it won’t let you ignore it. It makes you think about a telegram that was once written and had so much love poured into it – a last vestige of hope that a family could one day be together again.”

The Red Cross telegram was sent to Michelle’s aunt Aranka and was the last message they received from her family still in Nazi-occupied Vienna. Translated from German, it read:

“Dearest children,

“(I’m) very worried. Last message in March. Thank God we are well. Hope you are. Message from Papa (received).

“Millions of kisses also from your brother,

“Mama.”

The message was dated November 1943. Shortly afterwards, the family was betrayed by a Nazi informer.

They were held at Camp Malines until the following April before being herd onto a train to Auschwitz.

Michelle’s mother Lili managed to escape to the UK via Belgium and join her sister Aranka in London. They survived the Blitz before relocating to Harrogate after hearing it was “the most beautiful place in England”.

The sisters waited tables at Bettys tea rooms for a number of years, before starting their own business in 1948, the Manor Hotel, which they ran until 1971.

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Michelle, now 70, went on to be head of learning support at Ashville College in Harrogate. This experience taught her that hearing people speak isn’t necessarily enough to embed knowledge.

That understanding inspired her decision to make the blanket.

Artist Laura Fisher created the giant woven blanket as part of an artists’ residency at Holocaust Centre North in Huddersfield. It is on display at the centre until July 27, along with a number of other artworks as part of a free exhibition called Memorial Gestures.

It is open from Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm.

Laura said:

 “When I first visited Holocaust Centre North, I was initially overwhelmed and the scale of the tragedy felt incomprehensible.

“I remember feeling a pit in my stomach, like nothing I could do would possibly be enough. How could I create art that would make those affected feel seen, cared about, witnessed?

“I hope the work I have created as part of Memorial Gestures helps others to understand the depths of what was lost during the Holocaust-what was stolen from families whose lives were irrevocably changed.”