Police have confirmed that a missing Harrogate boy has been found.
The 12-year-old went missing from his home in Harrogate on Wednesday (June 21).
North Yorkshire Police has since confirmed that the boy has been found safe and well.
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Review: The Cripple of Inishmaan brings dark comedy to Harrogate Theatre
Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town. You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com
Whilst the somewhat indelicate title of this Irish tragicomedy may have you doing a double take, don’t think twice about buying a ticket – it’s a performance not to be missed.
Written in 1996 by celebrated playwright Martin McDonagh, who has since found big-screen success with films such as In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin, The Cripple of Inishmaan centres on orphan Billy Claven, a disabled youngster living on the remote island of Inishmaan, off the west coast of Ireland, in 1934.
Plagued by the incessant ridicule of his neighbours, he is referred to by all (despite his protestations) as Cripple Billy.
This even extends to his own foster ‘aunties’, who love him like a son, yet apply the same casual cruelty that is the very lifeblood of this play. Whilst pondering their sickly ward’s future, his aunt, Eileen, doubts he’ll ever be kissed, “…unless it was by a blind girl”.
When a Hollywood film director arrives on a neighbouring island (to film the real-life documentary, The Man of Aran), Billy finally sees his opportunity to escape his miserable existence.
An outrageously dark comedy, the play mixes hilarity, cruelty and kindness with great dexterity, its writing electric, with one uproarious quip after the other.
The Harrogate Dramatic Society cast, under Stuart Kellett’s direction, performing their opening night last night, knew exactly how to deliver every line – particularly impressive for what is a challenging play, jam-packed with dialogue.
This is a pleasingly rounded story with a satisfying arc, but it is also made or broken by the ability to draw its cast of characters, whose absurdity and colourfulness lie at its core; there is no disappointment here, with the HDS’ small yet mighty cast of nine. The Irish accents were out in full force, and the performers’ efforts to maintain these throughout were truly commendable.
Engaging and thoughtfully chosen, the cast proved consistently comic and dependably droll. The play’s sole non-comic player, outcast Billy, was handled by Adam Naylor with great earnestness and vulnerability.
A play like this was made for the simplicity of the studio at Harrogate Theatre. It is one without fuss; a neat piece which hops from scene to scene with real deftness. A clean, no-frills set with few distracting props, this production is really all about its players, who capture both the play’s sentimentality and its more outlandish threads, providing an evening as punchy as potent poteen.
The Cripple of Inishmaan is on tonight and tomorrow evening at Harrogate Theatre, and twice on Saturday. More information is available here.
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Harrogate man appointed UK ambassador to Iraq
A diplomat from Harrogate has been appointed the UK’s new ambassador to Iraq.
Stephen Hitchen takes over the role from Mark Bryson-Richardson, who has been in post since July 2021.
On his Twitter feed, Mr Hitchen said:
“Delighted to be appointed as the next UK ambassador to Iraq, really looking forward to getting to know this fascinating country and building UK and Iraq’s partnership.”
The son of a solicitor and Methodist lay preacher, Mr Hitchen has deep family roots in the area, and was a pupil at St Peter’s CE Primary School and Ashville College.
Upon graduation he joined the civil service and worked for the Ministry of Defence for eight years, including 18 months’ full-time Arabic language training.
Following postings to Cairo and Kuwait, he became head of the Iran political team in the Middle East and North Africa directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In 2012 he was made head of Middle East reporting in the same department.
After three years as counsellor regional affairs based in Amman, Jordan, he became the FCO’s director of national security for the Middle East and North Africa, and lastly was appointed director of the counter terrorism department at the renamed Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
In a video post on the British Embassy’s Facebook page, Mr Hitchen, who is fluent in Arabic, said:
“The mission of our embassy is to help our friends in Baghdad and Erbil to strengthen the prosperity, and stability and sovereignty of Iraq. […] I’m hugely looking forward to my arrival in Iraq.”
Mr Hitchen will take up his post next month. Most UK ambassadors to Iraq over the last 20 years have spent two years in the post.
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‘I can’t ever accept the hard reality of losing you’: wife’s tribute to taxi driver killed in Harrogate crash
The family of a man killed in a crash near Harrogate in the early hours of Sunday morning has paid tribute to him.
Masum Miah, 45, died at the scene of the collision, which occurred at 1.20am on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick, near Harewood Bridge.
It involved a grey BMW 3 Series and a black Peugeot Partner taxi driven by Mr Miah, from Shipley.
His wife Ambia said:
“With a heavy, broken heart I will have to say Allah Hafiz (goodbye) to you. I can’t ever accept the hard reality of losing you in this tragic, sudden crash.
“I can’t promise you I’ll be okay, but I promise I will bring our kids up the way we planned together. You’ll always be missed because of the way you were humble, funny, loving, caring, and most of all a wonderful husband and father.
“‘For sure it is god who created us and to him we shall return. You have gone, but will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace and our next meeting will be in Jannah. In Sha Allah.”
The scene of the fatal collision.
Dashcam appeal
North Yorkshire Police is continuing to appeal to anyone who may have seen the collision or who may have dashcam footage to come forward.
You can call 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins or him at Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk.
Quote reference number 12230111568.
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Royal visitor to Great Yorkshire Show revealed
This year’s royal visitor to the Great Yorkshire Show will be the Duke of Gloucester, organisers have revealed.
The duke, who is a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, will make his first visit to England’s biggest agricultural show on its first day, Tuesday, July 11.
In 2021, King Charles III and The Queen Consort visited and last year it was the turn of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.
The duke will be taken on a tour of the livestock and exhibits with show director Charles Mill and lord-lieutenant of North Yorkshire Jo Ropner.
Mr Mills said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to the Great Yorkshire Show for the first time and look forward to showing him some of the highlights including horses, cattle and the latest in farming technology.”
Also attending on Tuesday will be some of the industry’s top-level leaders with MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
The chair of the cross-party environment, food and rural affairs committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP, and committee members will launch a report on the merits and risks involved in species reintroductions in England.
TV presenter Adam Henson will then chair a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for the farming sector.
He will be joined on stage by: Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union; Mark Spencer, a minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Sir Robert Goodwill.
The show will run from Tuesday, July 11 to Friday, July 14.
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Man charged over collision that seriously injured two Harrogate teenagers
A man has been charged in connection with a collision on Yew Tree Lane in Harrogate that left two teenagers seriously injured.
The 15-year-old Rossett School students who were walking to school at the time, were taken to hospital following the collision at 8.46am on February 2.
Benjamin Oakes, 46, of Tewit Well Avenue, Harrogate has been charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving in a Vauxhall Astra.
He is due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning.
Police said a second man who was interviewed under caution will face no further action.
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Fire ravages home in Harrogate
A house has been badly damaged by fire in Harrogate this afternoon.
Firefighters were called to Hill Top Crescent in Bilton at 3.26pm and are still in attendance. The road was cordoned off.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said three fire engines from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon attended.
It did not say whether anyone was injured.
The report added:
“Fire in a garage spread to an attached bungalow.
“Crews have used breathing apparatus, hose reels, main jets and a quantity of firefighting foam.
“The cause of the fire is to be investigated.”
The damaged roof
The road was cordoned off.
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Missing Harrogate boy, 12, found safe
Police have confirmed that a missing Harrogate boy has been found.
The 12-year-old went missing from his home in Harrogate on Wednesday (June 21).
North Yorkshire Police has since confirmed that the boy has been found safe and well.
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Body found in search for missing Sophie Lambert
Police searching for missing Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert have found a body.
It was found in the River Nidd near Nidd Gorge this morning.
A North Yorkshire Police statement said:
“It is too early to confirm the identity, but Sophie’s family have been informed and are receiving specialist support. We ask that their privacy is respected.
“We thank everyone who has supported the missing person appeal over the last few days.
“A further update will be issued in due course.”
Sophie, 22, was last seen leaving home in Starbeck on the evening of Friday, June 16.
Her family alerted police later that evening and extensive searches were carried out.
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Summer solstice yoga in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today
A free yoga event will be held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens this evening to mark the summer solstice.
Today is the longest day of the year, with the sun not due to set until 9.42pm in Harrogate.
To mark the occasion, Ebru Evrim, who owns a yoga and pilates studio on James Street in Harrogate, will lead people through 108 sun salutations, which are moves to greet the sun.
The event is open to everyone who brings a mat, and people can take part in as much or as little as they like. Instructors will be on hand to show beginners through modified variations.
It is free but pre-booking is required.
The company’s website says there will be “beautiful calming music in a stunning natural, peaceful setting”, adding:
“It is a truly powerful evening of connection – with self, with others, and with nature and the sun.”
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