Toys donated in Knaresborough reach Ukraine in time for Christmas

Toys donated by people in the Harrogate district have been distributed to children in Ukraine in time for Christmas.

Knaresborough man Bob Frendt drove a lorry filled with £30,000 of toys across Europe to ensure children in the war-torn country did not go without this festive period.

Now, he has received photos and videos of some of his toys being handed to youngsters for the country’s independence day, with more to be opened for Christmas too.

He said:

“It’s heartbreaking and it’s wonderful. What can you say? Those kids would have nothing if we hadn’t taken those toys over.”

Bob appealed through the Stray Ferret for help to collect toys in the summer, and said he was overwhelmed by the support he received.

It included individual donations, as well as one anonymous businessman who offered to pay to fill the lorry with toys.

Mr Frendt set off in early November with the delivery, accompanied by his wife, Maureen, and they took the lorry over the border into Ukraine.

It was his sixth trip to eastern Europe since the Russian invasion in February. The previous visits had seen him take medical equipment to help treat Ukrainians injured in the war.

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Despite being retired as a lorry driver, Mr Frendt intends to complete the trip again next year and has already begun collecting goods to take with him.

He has several hundred surgical gowns collected from another organisation that did not need them, and last week bought a mobility scooter for a soldier who has lost both of his legs.

Bob and Maureen FrendtBob and Maureen Frendt

Having bought much of it out of his own pocket, Mr Frendt is now hoping to get more support to enable him to fill his lorry again by March. He said:

“I’ve got a big bill coming for the truck – it needs new discs and pads on the front. The quote I’ve had is £630, then then MOT is £151. That’s a bill for at least £800 in February.

“I saw a picture of the guy who had lost his legs on an ordinary chair. He was desperate for a mobility scooter, so I thought, ‘right, I’ll get one’.

“My winter fuel payment has come in handy for that, but I’m dreading the gas bill. I’m going to worry about it as and when, but it leaves me with less to buy things to take with me.”

Mr Frendt is planning to organise a fundraising disco for Valentine’s Day in the hope of raising money to buy more equipment, and funding the £2,500, six-day trip to Ukraine.

Anyone who would like to donate or help him can click here to send him an email.

Stray Ferret Business Awards: Does your boss deserve the Dynamic Leader award?

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Dynamic Leader Award, which is sponsored by Succession Wealth.

This award is designed for those people in the Harrogate district who are driving progress, activity and change in their organisation.

These people have helped guide the business through tough years and are sure to make it thrive in the years to come.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of how this person leads, including an account of their skills. Also detail how this individual’s style has had a significant impact in the way the business now operates.

Does your boss deserve to win the Dynamic Leader Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

Rabbit Hill Country Store closes today 

Rabbit Hill Country Store will close for good today.

The store has sold a wide range of animal and pet products, as well as gardening items and workwear, since 2016.

Located close to the A1 on Rabbit Hill Business Park at Arkendale, between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough, it has played a major role in the farming and rural community.

Landscape and forestry supplier Green-tech owns the business park and the store.

In a social media post, the store said “the many external variables and well documented strains on retail outlets has led us to take this difficult decision”, adding:

“The closure of Rabbit Hill Country Store will allow the Green-tech team to concentrate our efforts and resources on the ambitious growth plans of our other brands.

“We would like to thank every customer, supplier, colleague and friend that has supported Rabbit Hill Country Store over the years it has been appreciated.”

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The store has been holding closing down sales in recent weeks, and today advertised 70% off products for its final day. It is due to close at 4pm.

One person responded to the news on social media by saying:

“The store is well used and a vital asset for the local rural community.”

Another said:

“It is a shame that a store that has supplied the local domestic and farming community is to close.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Green-tech for further details but it declined to comment.

New managers take over historic Knaresborough hotel

New managers have taken over at a historic Knaresborough hotel.

Newton House Hotel, York Place, was acquired by Lamb and Flag Enterprise Ltd after former owner Denise Carter retired.

Ms Carter bought the 12-bedroom building in 2011. She went on to win plenty of awards, including top spot on the Channel 4 TV show Four in a Bed in 2016.

Now, Raphael and Cici Carreira have taken over management of the property following the Lamb and Flag acquisition.

The Brazilian-born couple intend to bring a new approach to the B&B, while retaining the high-quality service and locally sourced food for its award-winning English breakfasts.

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Lamb and Flag Enterprises has retained the existing hotel staff team and will continue to operate the business as is, while plans for refurbishment in 2023 are prepared to expand the services offered within the property.

Richard Venable, Lamb and Flag Enterprises director, said: 

“It is business as usual at the moment until we line up our plans for the longer term.

“We are confident that our guests will continue to enjoy the same warm welcome they have become accustomed to at Newton House, with Raphael, Cici and their friendly and efficient team.”

Newton House Hotel is a converted 300-year-old Georgian townhouse rumoured to have been built with stone from Knaresborough Castle.

Dozens to enjoy free Christmas dinner thanks to Knaresborough volunteers

A former firefighter will serve Christmas dinner to as many as 100 locals from across the Harrogate district.

Bruce Reid has been working with a team of volunteers to coordinate the Knaresborough Christmas Day Dinner, ensuring nobody has to feel lonely.

From peeling sprouts to organising gifts for children, they are spending this week putting on the event, with Mr Reid set to be busy in the kitchen at the Masonic Lodge in Knaresborough for most of Christmas Day.

After years spent working shifts on Christmas Day, following his retirement he said he has no interest in sitting quietly at home while he could be helping others:

“I haven’t had a Christmas Day off in all those years and now I’ve got the option to have it off, but it doesn’t appeal to me, not doing something on Christmas Day.

“My kids have long grown up and are perfectly happy with their own families. As a dad, i’m not needed.

“My wife is more than happy. She’s just used to me doing stuff like this. She’ll be with her mum and grandkids on Christmas Day morning.

“We’ll get back together later on and we have our Christmas Day on Boxing Day.

“I get so much pleasure out of doing this, I would be more miserable if I didn’t do it.”

Mr Reid – who was made an MBE in 2015 for services to the Firefighters Charity and the community – first put on a Christmas Day meal at Harrogate Fire Station before he retired. With nobody in the force stepping up to host it, he decided to continue in the community from 2020.

Last year, he and the organising committee served Christmas lunch to around 60 people, and there are already more than 70 signed up for this year’s service.

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As well as being referred by social services, Harrogate Borough Council and community organisations like Resurrected Bites, people can contact the organisers directly.

Mr Reid said the meal is open to anyone who wants to join, as are the home deliveries of a hot Christmas dinner. He added:

“There might be people who have got somewhere to live and plenty of money, but are just on their own and lonely.

“It all started for me when my dad had dementia. My step-mum cared for him until the point he had to go into a care home.

“Although she had somebody with her, there was no stimulating conversation – it was quite lonely. How many people might be out there whose partner is ill or they still feel lonely even though they’re not alone?

“I wanted to do something that’s not just for people who are homeless but people who have got financial struggles and can’t afford to eat, people on their own who want someone to share Christmas with, or people who are looking after someone.

“The carers themselves might want some company so they can bring the person they’re caring for and join us.

“We offer people the option of coming into the hall and eating with us, but if they don’t want to do that, they have a young family or whatever, we deliver the food to them.”

So far, around 30 people have signed up to eat at the Masonic Lodge, and another 45 will receive their meals at home. Bruce expects there to be more than 80 in total by the time they stop taking requests on Friday – and he said he wouldn’t be surprised if that number reached 100.

There are volunteers wrapping gifts to send out to children, prepping veg for the meal, serving to visitors, driving hot food around to people’s homes, and clearing up at the end of the day.

To find out more about the meal, email the organising committee or call Bruce Reid on 07958  653084.

Stray Ferret Business Awards: Does your business deserve the Business Growth award?

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Business Growth Award, which is sponsored by Raworths.

This award is designed to recognise those businesses that have seen significant growth in the last three years.

Business growth could be measured either financially, by employee numbers of market share increase.

Companies looking to enter for the Business Growth Award need to provide evidence of the growth, background information as to the reason for growth and plans for the future.

Does your business deserve to win the Business Growth Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

132-year-old Knaresborough station canopy restored

The 132-year-old canopy at Knaresborough station has been restored and given a new lease of life.

The canopy at the main entrance, which had been reinforced by scaffolding to protect passengers, has been repaired following work by Network Rail.

The Grade II listed structure has seen a complete roof renewal and redecoration throughout, including a fresh lick of paint in its traditional white and green colours

Robert Ellams, route engineer for Network Rail’s north and east route, said: 

“The revamped entrance has made a real difference to the station, giving it a vital upgrade whilst retaining its historic look. The crucial repair work will not only improve passenger experience, but it will also help to protect the Grade II listed building for future generations.

“I’d like to thank passengers, our partners and the community for their patience and hope they continue to enjoy the station’s connections to York, Harrogate and Leeds for years to come.”

With the refurbishment now complete, the structure matches the platform canopies which were also restored back in 2016.

The move to restore the canopy follows a £150,000 upgrade to the station roof back in 2019.

Andrew Jones, Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: 

“This is great work from Network Rail and is part of a greater programme of investment in our stations and railways. It is also an investment in our heritage as this is a Grade II listed structure

“The Network Rail team were really responsive when the Friends of Knaresborough Station approached me wanting the work completed quickly. They prioritised it and now we have a fantastic looking station with brilliant businesses on the platform to go with more and better rail services.”

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Stray Ferret Business Awards: Does your business deserve the Inclusivity award?

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

First up is the Inclusivity Award, which is sponsored by Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors.

This award is designed to give vital recognition to a company that has demonstrated working practices with a proactive approach to inclusivity.

These businesses have made employees and customers feel welcome, safe and free to be themselves, regardless of nationalities, gender, race or sexual orientations.

Companies looking to enter for the Inclusivity Award need to provide details of its policy for inclusivity and, if applicable, provide and example where it has given significant support to an employee or customer.

By giving vital recognition to those who have inclusivity at the heart of their business, we hope others will follow their example.

Does your business deserve to win the Inclusivity Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

No normal service on Harrogate and Knaresborough trains until January 9

Rail operator Northern has warned of ongoing disruption until January 9.

The company, which operates the Leeds to York line that passes through Harrogate and Knaresborough, has published a calendar highlighting its travel guidance to customers over Christmas and the New Year.

It shows the next day of normal service is not for another 21 days.

Northern has blamed the situation predominantly on the RMT union, even though it only has strikes planned from January 3 to 7. However, an RMT national overtime ban from December 18 to January 2 has also affected services.

The union has accused the government of interfering in negotiations with Network Rail to reach a settlement on jobs, pay and conditions.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:

“The main cause of the disruption remains industrial action by the RMT union and we can only apologise to our customers for the inconvenience it will cause to their journeys.”

Northern’s new timetable came into effect just before this extended period of disruption, so it is advising customers to use the new Check My Timetable feature on its website to see the changes specific to their local station.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.

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Stray Views: Knaresborough gyms should provide ‘human-powered energy’

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

As Knaresborough is now to have the Pure Gym, as well as the existing gym in the old town hall, and the new leisure centre on Fysche Field, isn’t it time that the machines in these gyms were attached to electricity generators to provide human-powered energy for the town?

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

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Nidderdale ‘poorly served’ by buses

This letter was submitted prior to leak fix

Nidderdale is poorly served by buses as it is, they are every two hours. But now, until the burst pipe is fixed there’s no bus running through Darley.

It’s not good enough just to cut out a huge chunk of the bus route and provide no alternative. It’s a four mile walk from Darley to Birstwith to pick up the bus there before and after it’s diversion. 

I have been quoted £30 for a taxi on Saturday morning at 7.30 am to get to Harrogate from Darley. The same to return is £60. They are having a laugh.

Helen Staniforth, Birstwith

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.