knaresborough Archives - Page 114 of 186

Knaresborough golfer beating Tiger Woods at The Open

Knaresborough golfer John Parry is leading the likes of Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau after the first day at The Open Championship.

Parry, competing in his first Open, shot a three-under par 69 to end yesterday five shots off the lead.

If he posts another good round today he will make the cut for the weekend and play at St Andrews in Scotland alongside the biggest names in the sport.

Parry, who grew up in Knaresborough, is an honorary member of Harrogate Golf Club and still plays the course regularly.

The club, just off the A59, dates back to 1892 and is the oldest in Harrogate.

Club pros Sam Everson and Gary Stothard have known him since their junior days together and Mr Everson said everyone at the club was delighted to see him doing so well:

“He’s a local guy who has worked hard on his game. He’s never got above his station — guys turn up on the tee and he will have a game with them.”

Parry, 35, represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup before turning professional at the end of 2007.

He has competed on the European Tour and even won a tour event but currently plays on the second-tier Challenge Tour.

Parry, who now lives in Leeds, has twice played at the US Open and made the cut on both occasions.

He needed to finish in the top four of the final qualifier to compete at St Andrews this week. He finished joint fourth and then won the play-off.

Mr Everson said:

“You could tell he was talented even at a young age. He had a natural swing and a very gifted short game.”

Man arrested after early morning Knaresborough crash

A man has been arrested following a crash near Knaresborough in the early hours of this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement this afternoon that it responded to calls about a car that had left the road on the A59.

It occurred near junction 47 of the A1(M), at Flaxby.

Officers attended but could not locate the driver.

Following further enquiries, a man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

He remains in custody while enquiries continue.

Andrew Jones MP: ‘I’m backing Rishi Sunak’

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has declared his support for Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership contest.

Former Chancellor Mr Sunak is regarded as the front runner of eight candidates vying to become party leader and the next Prime Minister.

Mr Jones said he supported the Richmond MP even though he, along with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, had received a fine for breaching covid regulations.

Mr Jones previously said of Mr Johnson that “lawbreakers can’t be lawbreakers” but he said Mr Sunak’s situation was different:

“For most people that was a surprise as he turned up at Number 10 for a meeting and walked into the Cabinet room as the Prime Minister was being presented with a cake. Once he received the fine he paid it.

“There was no dissembling, no denial and no appeal even though many thought it was harsh. He accepted the ruling. I think people understand the difference between that and the many months of changing claims that preceded the Prime Minister’s fine.”

Writing on his Community News website, Mr Jones added:

“We face challenging times so we need a Prime Minister who is strong and with proven economic ability and business credibility.

“In the field of foreign affairs we need someone already known and respected on the international stage to keep the pressure on Russia to quit Ukraine.

“The country needs someone who is consistent and transparent to reinvigorate trust in politics.

Mr Sunak’s rivals have pledged tax cuts but he has warned against “comforting fairytales” and promised fiscal prudence instead.

Mr Jones’ comments do not mention tax cuts but address inflation at length.

“The new Prime Minister needs to look at those structural imbalances in our economy that make us susceptible to inflation.

“That means addressing our dependence on fossil fuels and boosting the productivity and capacity of the economy.

“While addressing these long-term structural problems he or she needs to protect those most affected by rapidly rising prices. This may be through the benefits system, through increasing the living wage, through education in how to lower personal and household costs or through a variety of other means.”

Conservative MPs will vote in a secret leadership ballot today. Candidates who fail to get 30 votes will be eliminated. A new leader will be decided on September 5.

Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon MP, and Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty MP, whose constituencies both include parts of the Harrogate district, have yet to publicly say who they support.

Fire destroys workshop in Harrogate district

Fire has destroyed a workshop in the Harrogate district this evening.

Firefighters from Ripon and Harrogate were called to the blaze at Bishop Monkton, which is five miles south of Ripon.

Tony Walker, station manager for York, Selby and Tadcaster tweeted about the incident tonight.

He added:

“Investigation is underway to determine the cause. No injuries reported.”

Crews from Ripon & Harrogate have just dealt with workshop fire in the village of Bishop Monkton. Investigation is underway to determine the cause. No injuries reported. @theyorkmix @BBCYork pic.twitter.com/sEdEZgc2VH

— Tony Walker (@sierra18NY) July 12, 2022

Harrogate and Knaresborough trains to Leeds to be reinstated in December

Early morning trains from Harrogate and Knaresborough to Leeds are to be reinstated in December.

Rail operator Northern has confirmed to the Harrogate Line Supporters Group that the company will revert to its December 2021 timetable.

It means the 6.07am and 6.33am services will return, and hourly rather than two-hourly trains will operate in the evening.

Northern reduced services in May, blaming lack of resources and the need to recruit and train more drivers.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones was among those criticising the move.

Pete Myers, stakeholder manager at Northern, has written to the Harrogate Line Supporters Group saying Network Rail has approved its plans to revert to the December 2021 timetable.

Brian Dunsby, of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group, welcomed the news, saying:

“This is what we have wanted all along. They cancelled services without consulting with us or anybody and got quite a backlash for it.”

Which services are affected?

Mr Dunsby detailed what the changes will mean to commuters.

“This means that the 6.07 and 6.33 services to Leeds will be reinstated calling at all stations and due into Leeds at 06:44 and 07:10 respectively.

“These are very important for business and leisure travellers to London and other destinations from Leeds.

“They also hope to reinstate the 08:05 service from Harrogate to Leeds due into Leeds at 08.41.

“They also hope to reinstate the 16:29 service from Leeds via Harrogate to York, departing Harrogate at 17:05 and due into York at 17:42.

“Also reinstated should be the 18:13 service from York to Leeds via Harrogate departing Harrogate at 18:47 and due into Leeds at 19:23.

“Also reinstated should be the 19:29 service from Leeds to York, departing Harrogate at 20:05 and due into York at 20:44.

“Also reinstated should be the 21:10 service from York to Leeds, departing Harrogate at 21:44 and due into Leeds at 22:21.

“Also reinstated should be the 22:39 service from Leeds to Harrogate and due into Harrogate at 23:16.

“These services should all certainly be reinstated from December 11, 2022 and possibly from September 2022 if their driver training schedule continues as planned.

“This is very good news for Harrogate Line passengers. Many thanks to the Northern rail management team for responding to our pleas.”

Knaresborough school pays tribute to former headteacher

King James’s School in Knaresborough has paid tribute to former headteacher John Forster, who has died.

Mr Forster was in charge of the school for 16 years from 1981 to 1997.

The school issued a statement saying how sad it was to learn of his death. Mr Forster had remained a part of the school and the wider Knaresborough community well after he left the school. The school’s tribute went on to say:

“In his time at the school he was responsible for starting the Knaresborough Fun Run, which ran with great success for very many years. He also established a school farm, complete with pigs and goats, which remained until 2004. His passion for his subject, English, kept him in the classroom, even as a busy headteacher.

“In 1990 he brought back the school magazine, The Chaloner, which had been dormant since 1974. His other great passion, tennis, allowed him to retain his connection to the school beyond his retirement.

“He devoted his considerable energy to the school long after his time as headteacher and we will miss his passion and enthusiasm.”

Mr Forster was also a chairman of Knaresborough Tennis Club, who led the bid to establish the tennis facilities that the school has today.

A Passion for tennis

John Forster had a love of tennis. As headteacher of King James’s School he championed the sport to the point where the school’s teams reached national and regional finals.

in 1985 he enthusiastically supported the founding of Knaresborough Tennis Club and offered the school’s facilities for the club to use.

In 2007, when Mr Forster was elected club chairman he pushed the idea of a new club wholly based at the school. The courts needed serious improvement but the project got the approval of the club, the school and the Lawn Tennis Association and the newly named Knaresborough King James’s Tennis Club was created.

In a tribute to John Forster, Ian Hargreaves, Knaresborough King James’s Tennis Club membership secretary said:

“John’s perseverance was key in getting the project completed in April 2011 to the satisfaction of all parties. After over 11 years of play on the new courts, club, school and LTA are very happy with the relationship, and optimistic that tennis opportunities in Knaresborough have now been guaranteed for the foreseeable future.

“Had the project not been brought to successful fruition, the club and organised tennis in Knaresborough would probably not have survived. The club has now outgrown its three courts, and four multi-use tennis/netball courts have been upgraded to cater for the increased demand.”

Mr Forster continued as club chairman until 2018 and was a committee member responsible for school liaison until his death. Mr Hargreaves continued:

“John’s invaluable contribution to tennis did not stop at Knaresborough. He was a councillor of the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association from 1999 to 2016 and had been president of the YLTA on two occasions. His special responsibility on the YLTA council was tennis in schools, and he was enthusiastic in organising, and persuading others to organise, schools’ competitions across the county.

“John will be much missed by the Yorkshire tennis world.”

Harrogate’s first Lidl set to open this autumn

Harrogate’s first Lidl supermarket is set to open this autumn, the company has confirmed.

Work began in February to demolish the old Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road to make way for the new store.

It will be the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, although there is already one in Knaresborough.

The multi-million-pound building includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The German-owned company is currently on a recruitment drive for staff. A Lidl spokesperson said:

“We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new Lidl store on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate is well underway.

“The store is due to open this autumn and we are currently hiring for open vacancies, so would encourage anyone interested to visit our careers website.

“We look forward to sharing more information with the local community closer to the time.”

‘Vibrant’ Knaresborough nursery rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Ofsted has ranked an “exceptionally well-resourced and vibrant” nursery in Knaresborough as ‘good’ in its latest inspection.

Nippers Nursery on Wetherby Road was praised for its outdoor spaces which inspectors found supported a range of educational opportunities.

Visiting at the end of May, they reported children showing “intense concentration” as they learned about nature, giving “exceptional care and concentration” when looking at insects.

The report said:

“Children of all ages show the highest levels of confidence and self-esteem as they immediately settle.

“The eagerness of children wanting their day to begin demonstrates how extremely safe and secure they feel in the nursery.”

Inspectors praised the way staff set out activities to develop children’s skills, from small muscle development and early mark-making to learning new language.

They also highlighted how the nursery encourages children to be independent, such as serving their own food and drinks at mealtimes.

Owner Julie Addyman told the Stray Ferret:

“There has been two new inspection frameworks since we were last inspected six years ago, so we felt that overall the inspection went very well.

“The staff team work so hard and it was good to hear that the inspector could see how fantastic our setting is.”

The report suggested the nursery could improve by supporting children more with learning numbers and counting through play, and by asking questions which help to develop understanding.

Inspectors added:

“Staff are immensely proud to belong to this vibrant nursery. They are passionate about their work.

“Helping children to flourish and achieve is at the heart of everything the management team and staff do.”

Nippers offers 50 places for children aged up to four and has 18 staff, of whom 15 held early years qualifications at level three or above when inspectors visited.

The last Ofsted inspection, in 2016, rated the nursery ‘outstanding’.

Ms Addyman added:

“I’m sure like many settings, we would welcome a more regular inspection that would be used as it is meant to be – for guidance and support rather than a snap shot judgement of part of a day.

“There was a bit of disappointment that we didn’t receive outstanding but it’s always good to reflect and have a goal to work towards.

“The real judges of our overall performance are the parents and carers that choose Nippers to be part of their family.”

Harrogate county councillor calls for ‘major change’ in politics as Prime Minister resigns

A Green Party councillor in the Harrogate district has spoken out about the state of politics following the Prime Minister’s resignation today.

Arnold Warneken, who was elected to the Ouseburn division of North Yorkshire County Council in May, said it was time for an overhaul of the political system in order to restore faith.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, he said:

“We need to have a major change in politics and statesmen who are honest and hard-working.

“They always say, ‘the right honourable member for such-and-such’ – I’d put that under the Trade Descriptions Act. They lie, they break the law – what makes them honourable?”

Cllr Warneken pointed to the recent results in the local elections in North Yorkshire as a sign of the public’s appetite for change. The Conservatives went from a significant majority in the county to winning 47 of the 90 seats to secure a slender majority.

He said he wanted to see proportional representation introduced, ensuring the political make-up of Parliament was more representative. He added:

“I can guarantee if that was in place, we would get a better turn-out. People are hungry for change and we have to provide an alternative.”

Cllr Arnold Warneken

Cllr Warneken was critical of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, saying he only spoke out against the Prime Minister after it became clear his position was untenable.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Mr Jones for a response to the accusation, but has not received a response.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Mr Jones has written to constituents to say he had hoped the prime minister might have “changed his behaviours” following last month’s vote of confidence.

However, Mr Jones added it is “clear” that “the same old process of the truth being reached through the most tortuous of processes” has followed. He said:

“I have over a long period disagreed with some of the Prime Minister’s decisions. You may remember that I called for Dominic Cummings to resign over the infamous ‘Barnard Castle eye test’ incident.

“I refused to vote with the government when the Prime Minister wanted us to change the standards rules to save Owen Paterson who had clearly broken them.

“I was quite clear in my comments about Partygate when I said that ‘law-makers cannot be law-breakers’.

“I backed that up when it came to the recent no confidence vote where I did not support the Prime Minister.”

Mr Jones added he now looks forward to a “calmer, honest and transparent approach to our national politics” after the prime minister announced his resignation outside No 10 this afternoon.

There has been no word from Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, on the situation.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, has not responded to requests for comment from the Stray Ferret, but earlier today he took to Twitter to praise civil servants.

Over the past years @UKCivilService has been attacked and maligned by certain government ministers. Over the past 24 hours they have literally held the administration of our country together & are currently sorting out this mess. Thank you.

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) July 7, 2022

The local Labour party has called for the Prime Minister to step down immediately, rather than waiting for a leadership contest in the autumn, as has been announced.

In a statement, the party said:

“The Prime Minister is unfit to govern and needs to go now.

“Boris Johnson has presided over a government defined by lies, sleaze, an utter lack of integrity and incompetence.

“We need a new Government now. The choice is clear: a Tory government with more of the same, or a Labour government offering a fresh start for Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Cllr Warneken agreed, saying by continuing, Boris Johnson was “causing more chaos and more damage to society through ill thought-out policies and laws”.

He said the impact was being felt in North Yorkshire, where plans to set up the new unitary council had been affected by the lead-up to Mr Johnson’s resignation.

Council officers had worked “really, really hard” but were unable to make as much progress as they had hoped while Whitehall civil servants were tied up dealing with the crisis, he said.

With the summer recess looming, a caretaker Prime Minister was not sufficient to ensure the country could function effectively, said Cllr Warneken, adding:

“He can cause a hell of a lot of damage between now and when they find some other idiot to replace him.

“The only saving glory is he has done more damage to his party the longer he has been there.”

Harrogate family firm sold to international company

A family firm formed in Harrogate 20 years ago, which now employs 45 staff, has been sold to a large international company.

Keith Swales founded civil engineering business S&B Utilities in 2002. Based at Kestia House in Lingerfield, near Scotton.

The firm has been acquired by Hargreaves Industrial Services, which is a subsidiary of international land, property and infrastructure development company Hargreaves Services.

The sum has not been disclosed.

Managing director Mr Swales, who is 77, and finance director Karen Cocker will exit the business. All other staff will be retained.

Kestia House

S&B Utilities, which constructs water projects and other civil engineering schemes, is a framework contractor with Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. It also works on military bases.

Locally, its projects have included undertaking structural concrete work for the Esplanade tower block in Harrogate and for the Tower Street car park.

Mr Swales, a civil engineer who worked for Yorkshire Water before setting up the company, said negotiations had taken eight months to complete. He added:

“We’ve been a family orientated business from day one and we believe the move to Hargreaves will enhance that.”

He thanked past and present employees for their help over the last 20 years.

Darren Swales, Will Griffin and Lee Swales will continue as directors of S&B Utilities and will be joined on the board by Sean Hager and John Samuel, who are directors of Hargreaves Industrial Services.

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A Passion for tennis

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