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 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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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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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”.

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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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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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.”

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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.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has said he will vote to accept the recommendations of the parliamentary investigation into Boris Johnson.

The seven MPs on the House of Commons Privileges Committee today found the former Prime Minster deliberately misled parliament over lockdown parties.

The cross-party committee said the former PM had committed repeated offences and it would have recommended a 90-day suspension from the House of Commons had Mr Johnson not resigned as an MP last week.

MPs are expected to vote on Monday on whether to approve the committee’s recommendations.

Mr Jones said:

Speaking in a Commons debate on April 21 last year on the referral of Mr Johnson to the committee, Mr Jones said:

“When there are questions about the conduct of any Member in this place, it is right for the Committee of Privileges to take a look at that case. It is right for it to investigate, it is right for it to make a judgment and it is right for that to happen whoever the Member is.”

He added he wanted to “see more focus on standards across parliament”.

Local Lib Dem says Tories in ‘full-blown civil war’

Tom Gordon

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said today voting against the committee’s recommendations  would be “an insult to bereaved families who grieved alone while Boris Johnson partied.”

Mr Gordon added:

“This report is completely unprecedented. Never before has a former British Prime Minister been found to have lied to parliament and treated the public with such contempt.

“The Conservative Party is now in a full-blown civil war, while people struggle to afford to pay their mortgage or get a GP appointment.”

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Selby and Ainsty Conservative MP Nigel Adams, a close ally of Mr Johnson, also resigned last week, triggering a by-election.

The Conservatives and Greens have named their candidates to fight the seat, which includes numerous villages close to Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge, including Spofforth, Follifoot, Kirkby Overblow, Goldsborough, Little Ouseburn, Nun Monkton, Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton.

Labour is expected to name its candidate tonight.

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.

Harrogate beauty brand Cloud Nine has appointed a new chief executive.

Danny Emmett joins the company from AO, where he was chief executive for four and a half years.

It means current directors and founders, Martin and Gavin Rae, will become non-executive chairman and non-executive director.

The move comes as Cloud Nine is eying further growth as part of its strategy to double in size and expand into new territories by 2027.

Mr Emmett said:

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead Cloud Nine, an ambitious brand with fantastic products, a unique culture and sustainability at its heart.

“I am looking forward to working with Martin and Gavin and the rest of the senior leadership team, as well as the wider team – all of whom have done a fantastic job of getting the company to where it is today.”

Harrogate clinic to host open evening

A Harrogate clinic is set to hold a beauty evening later this month.

The Harrogate Clinic, which is based on Prospect Crescent, will host the event from 5.30pm until 7pm on June 20.

It will include a chance to explore treatments such as anti-ageing skincare, facial rejuvenation, skin boosters for menopause, hair rejuvenation and women health packages.

For more information on the event and to register attendance, contact Dr Farzana on info@theharrogateclinic.com or call 01423 637172.

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A chain of antiques markets that claims to be the biggest in the UK has taken over premises in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter. 

Montpellier Mews Antiques Market was sold when its owner retired, and has been bought by Antiques on High, which already has centres in Oxford, Sidmouth, Taunton and Bowness-on-Windermere. 

Vincent Page, who co-owns the business with partner Lesley White, said: 

“Harrogate is a beautiful place and suits our trade very well. Our initial goal is to bring some new dealers in from the locality, and indeed many from our other stores have already shown an interest, so I don’t think it will take too long.” 

Antiques on High operates an unusual business model, which, said Mr Page, works “tremendously well”. Antiques traders can rent a display cabinet in one of its centres for as little as £50 in Taunton or as much as £160 in Oxford, and as part of the deal they must commit to working in the centre for three days a month. 

But they may also rent an additional cabinet in any of the company’s other centres for just £10 a month, plus an extra day’s work in their local shop. The business will transport their stock to whichever centre it is to be sold in.

To rent a cabinet at the antiques centre, dealers must pay a monthly fee and work there three days a month.

Mr Page said: 

“We offer dealers something they can’t get anywhere else in the UK, if not Europe. Convincing them can be tricky because typically, they are very protective of their stock, so the idea of us taking it around the country to our different antiques centres can seem bizarre. But the model works; we’ve opened five shops in six years – and that’s with two years out for covid.” 

Harrogate has long been known in the trade as the “antiques capital of the north”, and the antiques market at 11 Montpellier Street has contributed to that reputation. It is currently home to 27 dealers, but Mr Page, who only picked up the keys to the premises on Tuesday, reckons he could accommodate up to 50 if better use was made of the available space. 

There are currently 27 dealers with cabinets at Antiques on High, but co-owner Vincent Page says it could accommodate up to 50.

Ultimately, he says he’d like to bring more younger people into the antiques trade. He said: 

“Traditionally, this business attracts people over the age of 50, and they tend to operate on a one-man, one-shop basis. But there might be loads of people, say, in their 30s who might have been made redundant and have always had an interest in antiques. They could work in the shop for just 10 or 12 days a month and earn a full-time living.

“The antiques business is very unusual. How many sectors do you know where five shops make you the largest high-street retailer in the market?”

Antiques on High has opened five new centres in just six years. Last year in Taunton, Somerset, it opened a 4,000 sq ft shop with an 11,000 sq ft area to host a Monday antiques market, creating what Mr Page claims is Britain’s largest antiques centre.

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