Cartoonist’s tribute to legendary Harrogate record shop Mix Music

Harrogate district music lovers from the 1990s and 2000s have fond memories of independent record shop Mix Music.

From Britpop to the indie boom to metal, dance music and hip-hop, the small shop on Oxford Street stocked a deceptively comprehensive selection of CDs and vinyl.

Award-winning comic book artist and cartoonist Tim Bird grew up in Harrogate and went to St John Fisher Catholic High School.

The 39-year-old specialises in drawing scenes that conjure up the history and memories of place.

Mix Music was a haven for teenagers that were into alternative music in Harrogate, which Mr Bird said made it the perfect place to draw.

“I used to go there in my school lunch hour, me and my friends. We didn’t necessarily buy music, we’d just hang out there.

“I remember buying the White Stripes there on vinyl, and Radiohead’s Kid A when that came out. It was that era of indie rock. There was lots of really obscure stuff too.”

The name Mix Music was a pun on the owner’s name, Mick, who was always knowledgeable and generous with customers.

Mr Bird said:

“I was a big fan of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci and the owner would give me promotional posters cos he knew i was into them.”

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Mr Bird said he was surprised there was no trace of Mix Music ever existing online, which made it difficult to remember how the shop looked in its heyday. It closed around 15 years ago.

Now living down south, Mr Bird used Google Street View to help him with the cartoon. Part of the shop is now home to the cafe Baltzersens.

He added:

“Now everything has a record online forever, so it’s strange how this has just disappeared.”

Mr Bird has also done a drawing of Our Price, a chain of record shops owned by Virgin that was on Station Parade near the Victoria Centre. Although his first purchase there in the mid-1990s was not quite as cool as the White Stripes.

He said:

“I have a fondness for Our Price as it’s where I bought my first CD. It was the PJ and Duncan album. That’s really embarrassing!”

Our Price on Station Parade. Credit – Tim Bird

State of the art: Harrogate’s boom in independent galleries

If you have wandered around Harrogate, you may have noticed a boom in the number of independent art galleries in the town.

In recent years, at least three have launched, including Messums Yorkshire, Watermark Gallery, and Bils and Rye.

And this is in the addition to the established galleries in the town, such as the Mercer, Silson Contemporary, RedHouse Originals and York Fine Arts – to name but a few.

All have proved to be a major draw for both artists and collectors, with many placing an emphasis on promoting Northern talent.

Silsen Contemporary Art Gallery, based at Sarah Collier’s home on Harlow Oval.

Liz Hawkes, director of Watermark Gallery, which opened on the historic Royal Parade in March 2020, said:

“I think there are lots of reasons why Harrogate is great for art. There is the town’s antiques and art heritage.

“There’s also Yorkshire’s art heritage. From Hockney to Hirst, you have got very well-known Yorkshire artists. This area is very well-served by local artists who love to come here and paint, because it’s so beautiful.

“A lot of people also love to visit Harrogate and it’s a very affluent area, with lots of residents who like to buy art.”

Liz, who owns the gallery with her husband Richard, said all the galleries in the town offered something completely different, from ultra-modern contemporary art to traditional Victorian watercolours.

She said:

“You’ve got some fabulous galleries. Each have their own identity.

“We have 57 artists across all media, which is the main point of difference for us.

“Not everybody is always in the market for a painting, but you might pop in for some ceramics or jewellery.

“I think the other thing about us is accessibility. We have really focused on making this gallery accessible to all people. So many people find galleries intimidating.”

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Liz explained that art had become more accessible than ever in recent years thanks to the Own Art scheme. The national initiative makes buying contemporary art and craft affordable by providing interest-free credit for the purchase of original work.

The Watermark gallery is holding six exhibitions this year, with the next, Off the Beaten Track, featuring Yorkshire ceramicist Michele Bianco and Scottish-based Swiss painter, Pascale Rentsch, planned in March.

A number of workshops, courses and lectures will also take place in the studio space at the back of the gallery.

The Watermark Gallery. 

Liz said:

“I think the days of dusty old galleries have gone. The modern gallery is one where things are happening. It’s interactive and fun.”

Johnny Messum, director of Messums Yorkshire, also known as Messums Harrogate and Messums North, agrees that the town is a perfect location to showcase artistic talent.

After an extended stay on James Street following a successful temporary pop-up exhibition in 2020, Messums is moving out of the building at the end of this month.

However, the contemporary art dealer is hoping to find another location in Harrogate and is currently looking for a new site.

Photograph: @messumsyorkshire, Instagram

He said:

“We really want to stay, we just need to find the right venue. We hold very good relationships with our collector base here and have a strong presence in Yorkshire.

“Harrogate is a great place to act as a lightening rod for drawing attention to creativity in the area.”

Johnny said the quality of the art and the number of galleries in Harrogate attracted to people to the town, with many collectors making a special visit.

The gallery’s most recent exhibition, Routes North, has just come to an end, which brought together multiple artists whose work reflects the variety and vibrancy of the region, from Knaresborough to Newcastle.

The exhibition represented the first presentation in the North of this programme, which has been championing emerging talent across Messums sister galleries in London and Wiltshire for the last five years.

It’ also set out to prove that that all roads don’t lead to London when it comes to the quality of work and artistic talent.

Johnny said:

“What’s driving the future of our stay in Yorkshire is that the creativity of the art produced in the area is really exciting.”

Work by Jill Tate and James Thompson at the Routes North exhibition. Photograph: Messums Yorkshire.

An afternoon of traffic chaos after heavy snow in the district

Heavy snowfall this afternoon caused widespread disruption.

Roads have been gridlocked in Harrogate town centre and Harrogate Town’s match has been postponed.

Follow live coverage below. Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

A DPD van gets stuck after going around the barrier on Beech Grove and trying to cross the Stray…

5.24pm – Knaresborough FC have fun in the snow

Knaresborough FC played an interclub game in the snow this afternoon because Hestle were unable to fulfil the fixture.

Matthew Youngson from the club sent us this photo. He said:

“We also retired our number 11 jersey for the weekend due to the unfortunate passing of a player down south last weekend.”

Knaresborough FC

4.38pm – A59 now clear

https://twitter.com/northyorkswx/status/1495071961889841155

 

4.11pm – Things returning to normal on the roads.

The situation appears to be getting back to normal on the district’s roads.

Thanks to reader Gordon Tennant for sending these images of Leeds Road in Harrogate earlier today.

snow blog Leeds Road

snow blog Leeds Road

3.43pm – Transdev appeals for patience on buses

Transdev, which owns the Harrogate Bus Company, is urging people to be patient and use its app to keep up to date with journeys in the snow,

Our teams are doing their best in snowy conditions. #HarrogateElectrics 3, #Dalesbus 36 and #The 7 have started to run again.

Please follow #Transdevgo app for live departures from your stop

@northyorkscc pic.twitter.com/oeKyQwtb5o

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) February 19, 2022

 

3.18pm – Harlow Carr closes today and tomorrow

⚠️ CLOSED SUNDAY 20TH FEBRUARY
Unfortunately due to the forecast of yet more wind and heavy rain, the garden will be closed on Sunday, this is for the safety of everyone. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank all our customers for your continued understanding. pic.twitter.com/7MUv6cXGLc

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 19, 2022

3.15pm – Snow easing in Harrogate — what’s it like near you?

As forecast, snow is easing in Harrogate. Rain is forecast so the snow might not last long. What’s the situation like in higher and more rural parts of the district, like Greenhow and Blubberhouses? Is the traffic bad in other towns like Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge, or in the city of Ripon? Let us know by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

3.07pm – Fountains Abbey closes early

The World Heritage Site near Ripon looks glorious in snow but people will have to admire it from a distance for the rest of the day as it has taken the decision to close early.

Well… That escalated quickly!
We've had unexpected heavy snow fall here and it's now forecast to keep going until early evening.
We've made the decision to close to make sure our visitors and team can get home safely.
It's proper Yorkshire weather! pic.twitter.com/pindOjHXnm

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) February 19, 2022

2.50pm – Cars heading down Parliament Street in the snow

A reader has sent this footage of cars driving slowly down Parliament Street in the snow this afternoon.

2.45pm – Yellow weather warning until 3pm

The Met Office yellow weather warning for snow remains in place until 3pm.

It warns that longer journey times by road, bus and train services should be expected.

2.34pm – Gridlock in Harrogate town centre

Traffic is at a standstill on Cheltenham Parade in Harrogate town centre.

2.11pm: Traffic problems building up

Reports of long delays on many main routes in the Harrogate district – particularly around Parliament Street and  Cheltenham Parade.

1.50pm: Harrogate Town match off

Town were due to entertain Leyton Orient at 3pm.

❌ GAME OFF ❌

This afternoon’s @SkyBetLeagueTwo fixture against @leytonorientfc has been postponed #ProudToBeTown pic.twitter.com/M3PS9g1lVt

— Harrogate Town AFC (@HarrogateTown) February 19, 2022

 

Harrogate distillery wins RHS branded drinks licence

A Harrogate distillery has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society to create branded spirits including whiskey, gin and rum.

The RHS has handed the licence to Harrogate Tipple to prepare the products for the Chelsea Flower Show in May.

The bottle and labels are still at the design stage but will use imagery that, like the spirits, captures and combines Harrogate Tipple’s artisan ideals with the inspirational aims of the gardening charity.

Steven Green, founder of Harrogate Tipple, said:

“We were thrilled to be asked to develop a series of spirits that reflected the excellence and love of British gardens that is the hallmark of the RHS.

“It has been a delight to work with the UK’s favourite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft company produced food and drink.”

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The range will then be available at retail from the beginning of June, selling at several physical and online outlets that include spirit retailers, garden centres and independent wine stores.

It will also be sold via the Harrogate Tipple and RHS websites and at RHS Gardens.

Cathy Snow, licensing manager at RHS, said:

“Our intention was partnering with a distillery that combined a true artisan approach with the creativity and excellence that would make RHS gin, whisky and rum stand out.

“Not an easy task, but in Harrogate Tipple we have found the ideal partner for a range of spirits that are both memorable and delicious.”

Heavy snowfall hits Harrogate district this afternoon

Heavy snowfall has covered the Harrogate district this afternoon.

Up to 4cm of snow could eventually fall although higher areas are likely to be worst affected.

It is one of three Met Office yellow weather warnings in place over the next three days.

Today’s snow warning lasts until 3pm. The Met Office says:

“Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.”

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A warning for rain begins at midnight and lasts until 6pm tomorrow.

“Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely/ Spray and flooding on roads probably making journey times longer.”

There is also a warning in place for wind from noon tomorrow until 3pm on Monday.

 

Parents object to merger of two Harrogate primary schools

Parents objecting about the merger of two Harrogate primary schools claim it will be unfair on some pupils after one school was judged inadequate by inspectors.

Woodfield Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School will become one in September 2022 if the proposals are approved.

The plans are set to be progressed at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting on Tuesday after a consultation with parents, staff and governors ended in January.

Concerns have been raised that the move will cause disruption for pupils and parents, some of which said Woodfield Primary School should remain as it is after it was judged inadequate by Ofsted in January 2020.

One parent said:

“Woodfield School’s problems should not become Grove Road’s problems.

“Inspectors said pupils at Woodfield were being “let down” by poor leadership and that “too many pupils do not achieve what they are capable of.”

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Any council-run school which is rated inadequate is required to become a sponsored academy.

However, no sponsor could be found for Woodfield, and the county council instead put forward plans for the merger with good-rated Grove Road.

Stuart Carlton, the county council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, said in a report: 

“While it is acknowledged that the proposed closure of Woodfield Community Primary School will cause uncertainty and disruption for pupils, parents and staff, Grove Road School would work closely with parents, as both schools do now, to meet the needs of individual children.

“Several consultees have noted the benefits of the Woodfield site including the large grassed area not available at Grove Road.

“It is proposed that the additional space freed up at the Grove Road site will be developed into specialist provision, intervention areas and library spaces.”

“Our family really hope that this amalgamation never happens”

The proposed merger has been agreed by both governing bodies of the schools, and statutory proposals will be published in March if councillors vote in favour of progressing the plans on Tuesday.

After this, a final decision on the move would then be made by the county council’s executive in April.

Commenting on the proposals, one parent said: 

“After the past two years the children have had, I think the uproot out of a school they love and know is not good for mental health and a total disregard for the children and parents of Woodfield.”

Another said: 

“Our family really hope that this amalgamation never happens, otherwise our family and many parents I know will choose for their kids to go to St Peter’s School.”

Meanwhile, one parent commented in favour of the merger, saying her disabled child had a much improved experience at Grove Road after leaving Woodfield.

They said: 

“Having been a parent of a SEND child at Woodfield nearly three years ago… I saw the decline in leadership and poor care of my child’s needs.

“We left this school because we were tired of fighting and getting nowhere.

“I’ve no doubt that under Grove Road leadership, the Woodfield site will become a thriving and flourished school again.”

If the proposals go ahead, nursery aged children will attend the site at Woodfield, which will be re-named Grove Road Nursery, from September.

Eventually all Key Stage One pupils will be taught at the Woodfield site, with Key Stage Two being taught at the larger Grove Road site.

Indoor and outdoor half-term family fun across the district

Half-term is almost upon us and the February break can often be one of the trickier holidays to navigate when it comes to keeping the kids entertained.

The weather isn’t always the kindest and it is still too early to bribe them with Easter eggs – even if they did arrive in shops on Boxing Day.

Fortunately there are lots of activities being planned in the Harrogate district, so parents can escape relatively unscathed.

We have put together a list of activities to do with the kids this half-term.

Harrogate Indoor Funfair – February 21-27

Always a popular one with families in the area, the indoor funfair is back at the Yorkshire Event Centre at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground.

With rides and inflatables for all ages, the event offers all the fun of the fair under one roof – perfect if you need to escape the unpredictable February weather.

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Morning sessions run from 10am until 1pm and afternoon sessions from 2pm until 5pm. For the first time, there will also be two 6pm-9pm sessions on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

Tickets on the door will be limited. Book online to avoid disappointment.

Online tickets are £10.99 for unlimited rides per session and can be purchased here.

Fountains Abbey, Ripon – February 19 – February 27

For those little explorers who love being outdoors, a number of activities are taking place at Fountains Abbey.

Children can pull on their wellies and spend a full day exploring, running and playing.

Families will be able to plant their own snowdrop to take home from 11am-1pm on February 19, 21, and 23 and the weekend of 26 and 27.

They can also grab a ‘spring-go’ activity sheet to take with them on their adventures, spotting signs of spring – as they go!

For a full list of half-term events click here.

Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge

This year the popular attraction, set in the stunning Nidderdale countryside, is opening earlier than usual.

Visit the farm this spring and say hello to all the expectant ewes in the barns ready to give birth. If you are lucky, you may even see a lamb being born.

The farmers will be on hand to answer any questions and tell you more about the animals.

For little animal lovers, as well as sheep, there are also piglets, goats, ponies, guinea pigs and donkeys.

After working up an appetite, enjoy a homemade ice cream at the farm’s café – it’s never too cold!

No booking is required and the farm is open from 10am-4pm

Admission is £5 for adults and children – under twos are free.

Stockeld Park, near Wetherby – February 19-27

The ever-popular family attraction is holding a ‘Talking Animals Week’ over half-term.

Visitors can channel their inner Doctor Dolittle to work out the answers to the Enchanted Forest quiz, by listening to the animals.
Ice-skating and the giant maze will be open too, along with the five adventure playgrounds.
There is also a brand new panto featuring Farmer Foster and his animals,
Book tickets here.

Our Planet Your World, across the Harrogate district – February 21-February 26

Two life-size kangaroo impersonators will arrive in Harrogate.

A robotic polar bear and an 18-metre whale are among the attractions travelling round the district as part of an environment-themed week of free events.

Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Borough Council’s tourism body, has organised the week of events named ‘Our Planet, Your World’, to offer activities for families with an over-arching message of protecting the environment.

The events are as follows:

Monday, February 21

Boroughbridge Library, storytelling sessions

10am-1pm

Tuesday, February 22

Masham Town Hall, sea-theme crafting activity

11am-4pm

Wednesday, February 23

Ripon Market Square, animatronic polar bear, interactive art sculpture, face painting, craft activities for children and live music.

11am-4pm

Thursday, February 24

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

11am-4pm

Friday, February 25

Pateley Bridge play area, environmentally-themed crafting activity for children

11am-4pm

Saturday, February 26

Knaresborough Castle Grounds, Boat About, crafting activity for children, face painting

11am-4pm

Organisers have said some activities are weather dependent so are asking visitors to follow the Visit Harrogate social media channels.

Dramatic photos show firefighters saving Bilton tree in storm

Firefighters braved strong winds to activate an aerial ladder platform and prevent a tree in Bilton from falling during yesterday’s Storm Eunice.

The storm uprooted several trees in the Harrogate district, including one that splintered on West Park Stray at rush hour — fortunately not hitting any passing pedestrians or vehicles.

Harrogate fire station was summoned early in the evening “to deal with a tree in a precarious position”, according to a post on the station’s Facebook page.

Despite the winds, the crew took action.

A fire spokesperson said:

“The top of a large fir tree was blown at an angle into an overhead telephone cable and was in danger of snapping and falling onto a house.

“Harrogate’s serial ladder platform was used as a safe platform to work from. It involved using an electric saw to cut the tree trunk above and below the cable so that if it did blow down, it wouldn’t reach the house.”

Storm Eunice Bilton tree rescue Pics: GM Tony Peel

Pic: GM Tony Peel

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Storm Eunice eases after uprooting trees in Harrogate district

A yellow weather warning is in force across the Harrogate district this afternoon as Storm Eunice brings rain and winds of up to 60mph.

A Met Office yellow weather warning means residents can expect more disruption to roads and public transport and there’s a chance of damage to trees and buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs.

Strong winds are forecast until 9pm today when it is set to subside.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for ice from 6pm this evening until 9am tomorrow.

A yellow warning for rain has been issued for Sunday between midnight and 6pm.

Follow all the latest updates below.

6.30pm: Harrogate town centre traffic lights not working

There are reports the traffic lights at the junction of Station Parade and Victoria Road in Harrogate are not working. It’s not known if it is related to the storm but it is making it difficult to pull out of Victoria Road at the moment.

5.45pm: Trains to Leeds cancelled.

Northern is running a reduced service to-and-from Leeds this evening with several trains cancelled due to the weather.

Trains will be leaving Harrogate Station every hour rather than twice an hour until 20.18. After that, only one more train is scheduled to leave at 23.18.

Visit National Rail for the latest updates.

5.40pm: Father and daughter see tree fall into cabman’s shelter

A father and daughter have told of the moment they watched a tree come crashing down on a cabman’s shelter on West Park Stray in Harrogate.

Colin Reynolds and his daughter, Lauren Reynolds, had just driven around the Prince of Wales roundabout and on to West Park Stray when they noticed the mature tree splinter.

You can read more here.

5.15pm: Tree crashes into cabman’s shelter on West Park Stray

A tree has just come crashing down on to West Park Stray. Traffic is reduced to single lane.

storm Eunice

4.59pm: Tree down in Harrogate

Beckwith Head Road.

 

4.56pm: Gritters out tonight

We are #gritting priority roads across #NorthYorkshire overnight.

Road surface temperatures will widely fall below zero leading to a widespread risk of ice.

Remember gritting doesn't guarantee an ice or snow-free surface.

More info https://t.co/6cnhGrxFu6 pic.twitter.com/itSpVUu2as

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 18, 2022

 

4.51: North Yorkshire Police issues safety advice

– Check your windscreen wipers and all of your car’s lights are working

– Gusts of wind can unsettle vehicles so keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel at all times
• If a road is flooded, turn around. Never drive through floodwater@HighwaysYORKS for travel updates pic.twitter.com/4YRqTQQCxj

— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) February 18, 2022

4.35pm: Increase in calls for firefighters

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has noticed an increase in incidents in the last hour.

We've had a busy day with various incidents but only just getting a few storm related incidents in the past hour – a tree fallen onto a house in #Selby, unsafe chimney stack in #Bentham and a tree blocking the #A162 in #Tadcaster and an unsafe roof in #Harrogate

— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) February 18, 2022

4.15pm: Tree down in Weeton

A tree has fallen in the wind on Weeton Lane in Weeton and is blocking the road.

3pm: Tarpaulin in Bilton

A roof tarpaulin has landed on a driveway in Bilton this afternoon.

 

Father and daughter see tree fall on cabman’s shelter on Harrogate Stray

A father and daughter have told of the moment they watched a tree come crashing down on a cabman’s shelter on West Park Stray in Harrogate.

Colin Reynolds and his daughter, Lauren Reynolds, had just driven around the Prince of Wales roundabout and on to West Park Stray when they noticed the mature tree splinter.

A large section of the tree, which is alongside one of the busiest streets in Harrogate, fell — fortunately in the opposite direction of the road. It damaged the roof of the distinctive green shelter

Lauren said they had just been discussing how the storm hadn’t been too bad when the incident happened.

She added:

“It was lucky it didn’t fall in the other direction or it could have killed someone.”

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The father and daughter, who live in Harrogate, pulled over to check if anybody was hurt. Luckily nobody was passing at the time.

Colin said:

“We were worried that somebody might be under the tree. There’s also a power chord in a lighting cable that was in the tree.”

storm Eunice

The cabman’s shelter

After checking nobody was hurt, they dialled 999.

A council worker was on hand almost immediately to prevent traffic using the inside lane.