Harrogate dad shares last messages with son who killed himself

A Harrogate dad has shared the last messages he exchanged with his son shortly before he took his life to mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Steve Phillip founded The Jordan Legacy in his son’s name to improve people’s wellbeing and support available to them.

Jordan was 34 when he took his life on December 4 2019. The day before, Steve and Jordan had been texting each other and talking about meeting up.

But the meeting never happened. Mr Phillip has spoken previously to the Stray Ferret of his anguish.

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Now transcripts of his final message has been made available to encourage others to come forward.

Mr Phillip has also revealed details of the call he received from his son’s girlfriend Charlotte revealing the news.

She broke into the house with the help of a neighbour and found Jordan:

Jordan Phillip

Jordan Phillip.

The call lasted two minutes but Steve does not know what he or Charlotte said for the remaining one minute and 45 seconds. He said:

“Jordan was the kind of person who would stop and chat to homeless people and to local strangers.

“He loved his family and his friends so much that he would often protect them from the ultimate depths of his despair.

“But he was always there for them, no matter how difficult his day was. There was nothing selfish about Jordan, not even at the moment he chose to end his pain.

“He took the time to write notes to his girlfriend Charlotte and his family to let us know that he loved us.

“If I could give any advice to anyone it would be look after those around you, listen to them more, be there, don’t be scared to question the signs you see and ask the difficult questions.”

Mental Health Awareness Week starts today and finishes on Sunday.

The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and the annual event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness raising weeks in the UK and globally.

To mark the start of the week, North Yorkshire Police has also revealed how the number of mental health calls it has taken over the last year has grown to 32,117.

That is an increase of 6,512 calls compared to the previous April to March period.

Do you need help or know someone who does? Get help from a mental health charity helpline by tapping here.

Residents bid to halt decision on 200 homes in Pannal Ash

A residents’ group has called on Harrogate Borough Council to postpone a decision on a controversial 200-home development just hours before a decision is due.

The council’s planning committee is scheduled to consider tomorrow the redevelopment at the former police training centre in Pannal Ash.

A report to councillors recommends deferring and approving the plans subject to conditions and a section 106 agreement, which covers the infrastructure costs of developments.

However, Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents Association claims several people who objected to the plans were not told about tomorrow’s planning meeting and that nobody from the group has been invited to speak against the plans.

A spokesperson for HAPARA told the Stray Ferret there has been a “severe breakdown” in the planning process and called on the council to postpone a decision to give them more time to prepare.

They said:

“It is clear there has been a severe breakdown in the planning process with seemingly a number of those raising concerns not being invited to speak or being made aware that this application was even on the agenda. This is clear breach of the council’s standing orders.

“We note that the council’s own ecology report was submitted at the last minute that also raised questions on the net loss of ecology regarding this application. This needs further scrutiny.

“We’ve requested urgent confirmation from the council as to what may have gone wrong here and seeking assurance such an omission will not be repeated.

“In this case we feel that the council has no option but to postpone and defer this application to a future meeting so we can review documents as per the normal process and prepare properly for the planning committee.”

Harrogate Borough Council previously approved plans to build 161 homes on the Yew Tree Lane site in 2018.

But a new proposal, submitted in November by Homes England, aims to increase the number of homes to 200 despite concerns about “unjustifiable planning creep” and the removal of a football pitch in order to build more homes.

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Parameters Plan

The former police training centre is on Yew Tree Lane.

Following a recommendation from the government’s planning inspector, the council is currently developing a parameters plan for the western side of Harrogate, where 4,000 more homes are mooted including at the police training centre.

The plan will look at transport and infrastructure needs for the area. It was expected last year but has been delayed.

The spokesperson for HAPARA said they received assurances from the council that no new developments would be considered in the area until the plan had been agreed.

They added:

“The parameters plan is still some way away so disappointing that this commitment has not been met without any consolation or discussion.”

The council did not respond to the Stray Ferret’s questions on the matter.

But its report to councillors ahead of tomorrow’s meeting says:

“The potential impact of the development (together with other developments around Harrogate) on local infrastructure and the surrounding road network has been fully considered and appropriate mitigation is proposed.

“The proposals are considered compliant with the overarching policies of the development plan and national requirements. The proposed development will make a valuable contribution to meeting the district’s housing need.”

 

Harrogate companies face recruitment ‘nightmare’

A Harrogate recruitment agency has said it is struggling to fill positions with new workers following the recent ease in covid restrictions.

Travail Employment Group in Harrogate said it has plenty of jobs available but is unable to find the people to fill them.

It has seen a change in employment trends post-pandemic, going from some of the busiest months ever for recruitment to having more vacancies than they can fill.

Lisa Headford, branch manager at Harrogate Travail Employment Group, said:

“We’ve found that now we could grow further if we had more candidates. We have a lot of vacancies we are struggling to fill.

“I think the pandemic has definitely shaken things up for recruitment. We have plenty of jobs available so no one should be out of work.

“There are lots of reasons why, but everyone is struggling to recruit.”

Two Harrogate companies have also said they have experienced similar difficulties in finding new staff.

The companies have both advertised for a number of jobs but only received a small number of applicants.

Cleaning company It’s Clean received a huge increase in applicants during lockdown, with many people on furlough eager to pick up hours elsewhere.

Recruitment manager Louise Brear said now she was struggling to fill positions:

“Over the last couple of weeks I’ve advertised lots of jobs and had nothing. I’m not sure if it’s because people came to us from hospitality over lockdown and are now heading back.

“We had so many applicants during furlough and now it’s completely stopped. We have more customers now too so we need more cleaners.”

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It was a similar story for The Wild Plum in Harrogate, which has been looking for a new supervisor and chef for around a month.

The chef role has now been filled and interviews organised for the supervisor position, but the cafe’s general manager Rachel Atkinson said it had been a “struggle”.

She said:

“We did struggle, it was a bit of a nightmare actually. I know of other people who also struggled to fill jobs. We have someone coming in to be interviewed so hopefully it is successful.”

Ms Atkinson thought the reason for their difficulties may have been due to people changing careers during lockdown.

Both businesses were hopeful they would find recruits, but said they had not experienced issues like this before.

Harrogate man’s dream of making it as a professional wrestler

High-flying Harrogate professional wrestler Joe Wade will go to extreme lengths to defeat his opponents in the ring.

“I’m willing to throw myself off tall buildings to win a match. I’m not worried about not being able to walk in the morning.”

The 20-year-old former Rossett School pupil has been wrestling for five years, mostly for Leeds-based promotions RISE and Tidal. Growing up, WWE wrestling stars such as Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio “were like superheroes” to him.

Joe was 13 when he decided he wanted to wrestle only to find out he had to be at least 15 before he could sign up for wrestling training in Leeds. He then spent two years learning gymnastics, karate, and boxing to help prepare him.

He is still honing his skills in the ring but hopes to one day wrestle in one of the big promotions in America or Japan.

Is wrestling ‘fake’?

For as long as wrestling has existed, it’s been criticised for being a “fake” sport.

The jibes are nothing new to Joe as wrestling runs in his family. His great-grandad George Wade was a referee who worked alongside British wrestling legend Big Daddy. 

Even though matches and storylines are scripted, Joe said many people don’t respect the skill involved with being a wrestler which he said is frustrating.

He added:

“I always hear the same BS about how wrestling is fake. Yet I’m sat here with a list of injuries.

“I had a fracture in my lower spinal cord. I’ve had many elbow issues, but it comes with the territory”.

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‘Wrestling is everything’

2020 was shaping up to be a busy year for Joe until covid took away the thing he loves doing the most.

“Wrestling is just everything, so it’s been awful.”

He’s used the time away from wrestling to develop and tweak his ring character on social media app Tik Tok. When shows resume in the summer, he’ll return with a darker, edgier persona.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think. So I’m coming back with a whole new attitude.”

“I was the generic ‘flippy kid’, but there are loads of those now.”

Life goals

By day Joe works at an office in Leeds and he’s also going to university in York in September to study psychology. 

But he hopes wrestling can one day be his full-time job. His dream is to perform in Japan, where the sport is especially popular.

When shows do return, he is most looking forward to hearing the roar of the crowd as he performs his high-flying moves on a villainous character.

“I like being the good guy, the plucky underdog. I love fighting the bigger guys.”

Turf wars: Harrogate council spent £800 on fake grass

Harrogate Borough Council has confirmed that it spent £800 on the installation of fake grass in the town centre.

The council has also told the Stray Ferret, after an overwhelmingly negative response, that it has no plans for further turf in the town.

That news will likely come as a relief to many residents, some of which feel like the new look undermines Harrogate’s reputation as an upmarket, floral town.

We have received more than 300 comments in the past few days. Nearly all criticised the council’s new grass.

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Organisations including the Harrogate Civic Society, the Harrogate BID and the Stray Defence Association have also voiced their displeasure.

The council previously said that it had received “lots of positive feedback” and explained that it was “testing ways of brightening up the town.”

“The trees mean any plants in the beds struggle for light and moisture, so we’re looking at potential ways of keeping the beds neat and tidy without plants in them.

“When summer bedding plants become available, we will place additional planters and hanging baskets in the town centre to add a splash of vibrant colour.”

The Stray Ferret also asked if the council had plans to take the turf down from the raised beds on Cambridge Street and Oxford Street. We have not yet had a reply.

Family tribute to ‘beloved’ Harrogate hotel murder-suicide victim

The family of a woman who died at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel in what police believe to be a murder-suicide has released an emotional tribute.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday that Chenise Gregory and Michael McGibbon, who were both 29 and from London, were found dead with stab wounds on Tuesday at 10.20pm.

Police are treating the death of Ms Gregory as murder.

Devante Gravesande-Smith, a young barrister from London, has described his cousin Ms Gregory as a “loving and caring person, whose smile would light up a room.” He tweeted:

“Chenise worked as a Child Care Specialist. Throughout her life she touched the hearts of those she worked with as well as her family and close friends.

“As a family we are deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Chenise’s tragic murder.

“We’re heartbroken to learn that our beloved Chenise was lured to her death at the hands of her controlling and manipulative ex-boyfriend.”

Enquiries into the circumstances around the deaths are ongoing but detectives are treating the death of Ms Gregory as murder. They do not believe anyone else is involved.

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Temporary detective chief inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team said:

“An investigation into the circumstances around the deaths is ongoing, but the evidence we have gathered at this stage suggests it as a suspected murder-suicide.

“A post-mortem has taken place that has confirmed the couple died from stab wounds. We are treating Ms Gregory’s death as murder and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

“This is a very sad case and our thoughts are with their families and friends and this difficult time. We have specialist officers from North Yorkshire Police, supported by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police supporting the family, and we will work with them as we investigate the circumstances leading to these tragic deaths.”

Look inside: Cafe Rita in Harrogate reopens as American diner

A new American diner that sells crocodile, ostrich and kangaroo burgers, as well as more traditional beef burgers, has opened in Harrogate.

The Fabulous 50s Diner opened today on the site of the former Cafe Rita on Bower Road, brightening up the street with its red and white striped walls and chequerboard floor.

Wagdy Mansour ran Cafe Rita with his wife Shirley for eight years and decided to go for something completely different. He said:

“We thought it was time for a change. So we thought about a theme and realised we didn’t have any American diners in Harrogate.”

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Inside the new diner

The brightly lit diner, which has images of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley outside, will open from 9am to 10pm seven days a week.

There are tables outside and it will have four booths inside when it reopens for indoor dining.

Mr Mansour said:

“We have been closed for a year so we are pleased to be open again. It’s a new venture and our customers love it.”

The diner evokes classic American films with seating booths

Court bans former Coach and Horses landlord from driving over drugs

A court has banned the former landlord of the Coach and Horses pub from driving after police pulled him over with cocaine in his system and Class A drugs in his jacket.

John Nelson, who held the pub’s licence for 33 years until last summer, had his court hearing today at the Harrogate Justice Centre after missing it two weeks ago.

The court issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to show but later withdrew it.

Police arrested Nelson on October 30, the day after the council gave his daughter the licence, on Leeds Road and tested him for drugs.

Officers were acting on a report that the car Nelson was driving was being used by a drug dealer. They searched the car and tested him for drugs.

The test found that he had 30 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in his system. The limit is 10 micrograms. Officers also found three bottles of methadone in his car.

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As a result, officers charged him with drug driving and with possession of a class A drug. Nelson, 65, entered a guilty plea to both charges today.

In defence for Nelson, barrister Andrew Thompson, said:

“Mr Nelson had gone to Leeds to collect the bottles of methadone and was bringing them back to Harrogate to the same friend.

“The police did not stop him for bad driving. Mr Nelson told me today that he felt fine to drive and that he co-operated fully. In his police interview he said he had bipolar disorder.

“That may partly explain why he committed this offence. It is a well known fact locally what happened with the pub he used to run. He has had a difficult year and has retired with no intention of going back.”

The court banned John Nelson from driving for 18 months and ordered him to pay £334 in a fine, surcharge and court costs.

Nelson lost his licence after North Yorkshire Police found customers drinking outside the Coach and Horses and not observing social distancing over the weekend of May 30.

Customers of the pub launched a petition to grant the licence to his daughter Samantha Nelson, which the council did in October last year.

She said she would refurbish and reopen but there has been no movement at the pub ever since. The Stray Ferret has made several enquiries but has received no reply.

Authors celebrate Valley Gardens’ journey from springs to scenic spot

A guide book that celebrates the rich history of Harrogate’s Valley Gardens is now on sale.

The book covers the history of the park from its early days in the 1860s, when it was known as Bogs Field, to the fight to save a deteriorating Sun Pavilion in the 1980s and 90s, to the restoration of the Japanese Garden in 2016.

It has been a labour of love for co-authors Jane Blayney and Anne Smith.

Ms Smith is a former journalist and founded the Friends of Valley Gardens (FOVG) group in 1986. She was its chair until 2009.

Ms Blayney is also a former chair of FOVG and said documenting the history of the cherished space is important for future generations.

Valley Gardens

Valley Gardens is a magnet for sunbathers on sunny days

Ms Blayney said:

“We decided to put together the book so people visiting the town can buy a memento from when they visit.

“It was a really good team job. We had a lot of fun researching it.”

The book costs £5 and is printed in glossy full colour. It’s available to purchase in Harrogate Waterstones, RHS Harlow Carr and Harrogate Tourist Information. It’s also available to buy online here.

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The book’s introduction is written by Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam, who also helped with fact checking.

Stories include the battle to restore the King Edward VII Memorial Gate, which was donated in 1911 and dedicated to those who died in the First World War.

In 1994, when a new hall was built for the Conference Centre, Harrogate Borough Council sold the gate to a scrap metal merchant who then sold it on to a farmer.

FOVG bought the gate back from the farmer so it could be restored and returned to the park. The gate was formally opened in 2018 for the 100-year commemoration of the end of the war.

The book is not for profit and all money raised will go towards printing a second run.

Ms Blayney said “we are very lucky” in Harrogate to have a place like Valley Gardens.

“It’s somewhere where you can take the family for nothing. Older people can sit and enjoy the sunshine, others can skateboard or use the boating pool.”

The Stray Ferret and the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) have worked with Malcolm Neesam to produce two fantastic history audio tours of Harrogate. Both last about an hour and are easy to do. The first will take you back to the golden age of Harrogate’s Victorian Spa days and includes a stop at Valley Gardens, the second will take you through the heart of the shopping district, stopping to learn about historic buildings as you go.  To take a look click here. 

Cutting edge technology to bring Forbidden Corner to life

Popular tourist attraction The Forbidden Corner will use cutting-edge 5G and augmented reality technology to create a new digital quest adventure.

The quirky labyrinth of tunnels, grottos, mazes and follies sits within a four-acre garden near Leyburn, just north of the Harrogate district.

The attraction is taking part in North Yorkshire County Council’s Mobile Access North Yorkshire Project (MANY) by using 5G technology to turn its popular brass rubbing experience into an interactive experience.

5G technology delivers high-speed and more reliable mobile internet access. Augmented reality often works through a mobile phone or tablet and superimposes digital data and images onto the physical world.

Johnny and Wendy Reeves, who have managed the Forbidden Corner for over 20 years, said the technology will reward returning visitors.

“Our customers are loyal. But we want to exceed their expectations and offer them more so they can experience something different every time whilst rewarding loyalty.

“It is exciting that the 5G network, which MANY will bring, will enable us to develop this type of adventure”.

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Katherine Pearson, managing director of Flo-culture, which is providing the technology, added:

“A 5G network will allow us to immerse visitors at The Forbidden Corner in a real-time augmented reality experience. The uniqueness of The Forbidden Corner will be brought to life in a totally new way.”

The Forbidden Corner was dreamed up by landowner, Colin Armstrong, who originally built it as a private folly. It was opened up to the public in 1994.