Lonely this Christmas? Harrogate group urges older people to join

A Harrogate community group has issued a plea to older people who are feeling lonely to get involved with its activities.

The Harrogate University of the Third Age, which has about 1,000 members, helps people over 50 pursue activities and develop new interests.

Anyone over the age of 50 and no longer in full-time work is able to join.

Although covid has prevented its usual monthly meetings taking place face-to-face, members are still meeting online.

They hope to do so twice a month from January before actual coffee mornings and summer outings, like the one pictured above, return as soon as possible.

Christmas can be an isolating time for some people, especially older people, so the group is urging people not to hesitate to get in touch.

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Alison Harris, the publicity officer at Harrogate U3A, said:

“Many people, especially older people, can feel very lonely at Christmas, but loneliness is not just for Christmas.

“If you are feeling socially isolated maybe Harrrogate U3A has something to offer you. We are a self-help charitable organisation run by and for its members.”

The subscription price is £12 per year. More details are available on the Harrogate U3A website.

Vaccine to be given at Great Yorkshire Showground next week

The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate is to be used for the vaccine rollout from next week.

The first vaccination is due to be given on Tuesday and the programme is expected to last for several months.

The government has asked the 17 GP practices in Harrogate and the surrounding district, including Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham to oversee the rollout.

The practices are appealing for volunteers to marshal the car park and signpost patients through the vaccination site at the showground, which is owned by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

No details have been given to the media about the rollout but a post on the Harrogate covid co-operation Facebook group yesterday on behalf of the GP practices revealed the news. It said:

“Harrogate and rural district are working together in order to plan for delivering a mass vaccination programme and we need to ask primary care staff and volunteers to help.

“We will need staff and volunteers to undertake a variety of roles and we need to plan for vaccinations to be carried out seven days a week, 8am-8pm, including bank holidays.

“This is a huge ask, but we would like volunteers to indicate if they would be willing to help in some capacity.”

The 250-acre showground has ample car parking and is used to staging large events, most notably the three-day Great Yorkshire Show, which was cancelled this year.

But nothing in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s 183-year history compares with the task in hand.

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The GPs’ post today said it required 18 volunteers a day. Morning sessions will start with an 8am briefing and the first jabs will be given at 8.30am.

Morning sessions will end at 1.15pm and afternoon vaccinations will take place from 2.30pm to 6.15pm.

The GPs’ post said:

“Unfortunately we aren’t able to offer vaccinations to volunteers at this stage as we have to prioritise certain patient groups.

“Next week is the first stage of the vaccination programme and we are going to need volunteers from the New Year onwards to fulfil the same types of roles for probably a number of months.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to register their interest and complete the questionnaire here.

Burglars leap fence and climb ladder in Harrogate house break-in

Burglars jumped over a garden fence then climbed a ladder to break into the upstairs of a home in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the incident, which happened in Woods Court, Harrogate at about 6.15pm on December 1.

The force is unsure whether one or two criminals were involved. It said in a statement:

“The suspect(s) are believed to have accessed the rear garden via jumping over the fence and used a single-section ladder to gain access to the upstairs of the property.

“They are also believed to have exited over the same garden fence to make their escape.

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

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Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jonathan Cleary. You can also email Jonathan.cleary@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200214547.

Little Ale House to reopen by serving substantial meals

A Harrogate pub is set to reopen after finding a way to serve substantial meals with drinks.

The Little Ale House closed during the second national lockdown in November and did not reopen this month because tier two rules stated only pubs serving substantial meals could do so.

This meant wet-led pubs, which do not have kitchens to serve meals, stayed closed.

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But with little prospect of North Yorkshire moving to tier one anytime soon, the Little Ale House has decided to take action allowing it to reopen in the run-up to Christmas.

The independent micropub will offer a pie and peas warmer for visitors. It will serve pork pies and vegetarians pies.

Richard Park, co-owner at the Little Ale House, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are excited to open but this is not some golden goose. With restrictions on household mixing and drinks, sales will be reduced significantly.

“It will not be the same as before. But we cannot wait to move into tier one before we open, we have to keep our heads above water.”

 

R number rises in Harrogate district as tier decision looms

The rate at which coronavirus is spreading in the Harrogate district has increased for the first time in more than a month.

The R number rose from 0.4 to 0.5 over the weekend after falling consistently since early November.

It means every 10 people infected pass on covid to five others, which means the virus is still diminishing in the district but at a slower rate.

The government is due to review tier levels on Wednesday, with any changes taking effect on Saturday.

It seems likely that North Yorkshire will remain in tier two.

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The seven-day average rate of infection for the county is 96 per 100,000 people, compared with an England average of 181.

The figure for the Harrogate district is 78, having peaked at over 300 early last month.

Starbeck has taken over as the district’s covid hotspot, with 21 infections in the lasts even days.

Knaresborough central is next highest with 14, followed by Knaresborough north with 13.

 

Harrogate researcher finds two-thirds will take vaccine

A poll conducted by researchers in Harrogate has found that two-thirds of people will take the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available.

The YourPoll survey found 67% said they would take the vaccine and 26% said they would not. The remaining seven per cent were undecided.

Of those who said no, 15% thought coronavirus was a hoax. The rest of the responses highlighted safety concerns and the need for further testing.

The snap poll of a random sample of 439 UK people was conducted in the three days prior to the first coronavirus vaccine on December 8.

Priority groups in the Harrogate district are expected to start receiving the jab this week, although details have not yet been confirmed.

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Neil Addley, managing director of YourPoll and its parent company Judge Service, said:

“There has been a lot of debate about whether people would be willing to take the new vaccine.

“Our poll was designed to show the true feelings of ordinary members of the public, rather than those who shout loudest on social and traditional media.

“It will be interesting to see whether those results are reflected in the real take-up numbers.”

Harrogate Cat Rescue crippled by vet fees

Harrogate’s newly-established cat rescue is being crippled by vet fees as it takes in an unprecedented number of animals.

Celia Dakin, who set up the Harrogate Cat Rescue in April this year, says many come with hidden problems.

She has seen a big spike recently in abandoned adult cats in particular. Just last week the rescue took in 12 cats from Bradford.

Some of the cats have problems with their bladder or their stomachs and many need to be neutered. All of those treatments come at a cost.

On average at the moment Celia is spending around £1,000 on those bills. The rescue will struggle financially without more support.

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Celia told the Stray Ferret that she has never seen demand like it in all her years rescuing cats:

“It is insane, absolutely insane. Just now I have taken a call about another two cats that need to be rescued from a road in Darley.

“There are a lot of adult cats coming in at the moment. I cannot keep up with it all, I think it is just awful.”

Rescue cat and centre owner

Harrogate Cat Rescue owner, with one of her own cats Geoff.

While it is hard for Celia to know the reasons for the spike in rescue cats, many of the reasons she comes across are a direct or indirect result of coronavirus.

One woman gave up her cat after being made redundant following months on furlough. Many more come from relationship breakdowns, with coronavirus causing tensions.

The Harrogate Cat Rescue will always try to make room for the new cats but has asked people to donate to its fundraising page here.

Sneak peek: authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in Harrogate

A new independent pizzeria that specialises in Neapolitan sourdough bases will open in Harrogate later this month.

Pizza Social will open on Mount Parade, next door to North Bar and near to Harrogate Theatre, and will add to a growing list of venues in the town offering a slice of Italy’s most famous export.

Will Pemberton, who has been a chef for over 16 years including a spell as a tutor at Bettys Cookery School, decided to start making pizza during a drinking session at the Harewood Arms in Folifoot.

He started selling pizzas from a gazebo outside the pub “as a laugh” but as word of mouth spread, he was so successful he ended up regularly shifting 200 a night.

A Pizza Social pizza.

He since kitted out a horsebox with a pizza oven, to sell pizza at weddings, festivals and events across Yorkshire.

The next step was a bricks and mortar venue, and since moving into a former Christian book shop in October, it’s been all go preparing for launch.

He said:

“Pizza has always been popular but now more than ever. We’ll follow Neapolitan traditions to make the sourdough, which takes about two days. It’s a labour of love.”

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Everything in Pizza Social is made in-house with all bases being made with sourdough, which has a fluffy crust and a thin base. Will says sourdough is lighter on the stomach than other bases.

There will also be vegan pizzas on the menu and potentially gluten-free options in the future.

For added authenticity, Pizza Social will source the best flour, tomatoes and cheese from Italy – combined with local Yorkshire ingredients.

There will be space for 20 diners inside and 20 more on tables outside. It will offer takeaway but as collection only for now.

Will is excited to expand his business.

He said:

“Opening a restaurant is a ballsy thing to do but if we can make it a success now, we can make it anytime, with the support of the Harrogate public.”

Stray Pets Rescue Club: the pooches needing a home this Christmas

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly pet profile of animals in desperate need of a loving home. All Tasha, Rocco, and Billy want for Christmas is a forever home. 

Tasha, Akita

Age: 9

Tasha’s story: Tasha arrived at Dogs Trust Leeds in July 2020. She has arthritis, so potential adopters will need to be aware of the ongoing cost of continuing medication before making a commitment to adopt her.

Temperament: Tasha is a friendly dog who, despite her age, is still very playful, and who loves her toys and having lots of fuss and attention.

Ideal home: Tasha is looking for an adult-only home without visiting children, where she can be the only pet. Her ideal new owners will have a secure garden so she can play off lead and she’ll also require access to quiet walks away from other dogs. Tasha’s new owners will need to be patient with her while she settles into her new home. She can’t be left alone initially but should be ok for short periods if this is done very gradually.

To find out more about Tasha and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.


Rocco, Mastiff – Old English

Age: 12 months

Rocco’s story: Rocco is a boisterous boy but he has had a tough time of it, first finding himself in need of a new home at just six months old (with another rescue organisation)

Temperament: Rocco is a young dog who still has lots to learn about life. He hasn’t had much chance to socialise in his life so far, and he can get a little over excited! But with patient and experienced owners who can continue his training, Rocco has lots of potential to blossom into a wonderful companion.

Ideal home: Rocco needs to live with people who have experience of large breed dogs who can keep him on the right track with his training. He’s a big strong lad, so needs very active owners, who can handle him safely too. Rocco can’t be left at all at the moment and will take time to slowly build up his confidence in this area – in the meantime, he’ll need his owners to be around all the time, until he’s ready to be left for short periods. He doesn’t want to share his home with any other pets or small children but will be fine around older children (over 16s) who aren’t worried by a big strong goofball!

To find out more about Rocco and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

Billy, Saluki Cross Lurcher

Age: 18 months

Billy’s story: Billy was handed to Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs when his owner changed jobs and could no longer look after him.

Temperament: Billy is a very loving and attentive dog when he is with you, but he is fearful of other dogs which he shows by barking. Once he has been introduced to dogs, he then just wants to play!

Ideal home: Billy needs a nice secure garden and an owner who can give him lots of walking and training. He may need some time to bond, but once he has he follows guidance and is learning that people are not scary. He has not met any cats before, so needs a cat-free home.

 

To find out more about Billy and the adoption process, you can visit the Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs website or call them on 07562 986101.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club works with animal rescues around the area on its monthly profiles. 

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Giant elf makes Harrogate debut ahead of town centre tour

A four-metre tall elf has made his debut in Harrogate ahead of his festive tour around the town centre.

Harry the Harrogate Elf made his first appearance at the Yorkshire Hotel this morning and will move to a new location every day for a total of nine days.

The Harrogate BID, which is behind the festive campaign to bring people into the town centre, is keeping the details of the tour under wraps.

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He will be in shop windows and and a variety of spaces outdoors where people can see him for a safe distance.

When Harry the “naughty elf” appeared at the hotel this morning he got stuck in the lights. The fire service was soon on scene to rescue him.

Sara Ferguson, the acting chair at Harrogate BID, said:

“We always wanted to do something spectacular this December, but Covid made planning especially tricky.

“However, we persevered, and I’m delighted to say Harry the Harrogate Elf’s first adventure has been unveiled today.

“We want as many people to come and see Harry on his adventures, and because these will be taking place over nine days, there is no need to rush.”

The elf will be on display from today until Monday and will appear again from December 18 until December 22.

Watch the rescue of Harry the Harrogate Elf on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page as part of a live video.