North Yorkshire millionaire and owner of The Forbidden Corner, Colin Armstrong, has been freed after being kidnapped in Ecuador.
The 78-year-old was taken from his home in the Los Ríos territory in the early hours of Saturday, December 16.
A Columbian woman, believed to be his partner, was also reportedly kidnapped.
However, the General Commander of the Ecuadorian police, César Augusto Zapata Correa, said today on social media Mr Armstrong was found “on the road to Manabí”:
“On the road the Manabí, our units released citizen Colin A, kidnapped days before in Los Ríos.
“At the moment he is safe and healthy.”
Nine people have been arrested in connection to the case, the commander added.
The Forbidden Corner also took to social media to confirm the news:
“We can confirm that Mr Colin Armstrong has successfully been released and is currently with the police having interviews and then will be returning to his family in Ecuador.
“All of his UK family, staff and friends are delighted with the outcome and look forward to a happier Christmas.”
No further details, including the whereabouts of the woman also allegedly taken, have been revealed yet.
Mr Armstrong, who was formerly the UK’s honorary consul in Guayaquil, owns the 500-acre Tupgill Park Estate, near Leyburn.
It employs 50 people and receives around 150,000 visitors every year.
He is also the founder of Agripac, an Ecuadorian agricultural supplies company, which he founded in 1972.
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Forbidden Corner owner Colin Armstrong ‘kidnapped in Ecuador’
North Yorkshire businessman and millionaire, Colin Armstrong, has been kidnapped from his home in Ecuador, local media reports have said.
Various Ecuadorian news outlets said the 78-year-old was reportedly taken from his ranch in the Los Ríos territory in the early hours of Saturday, December 16.
A Columbian woman, who is believed to be his partner, was also allegedly taken by the group of kidnappers.
The Ecuadorian police took to social media to say specialised units of the force were carrying out “operational and research tasks” in relation to the case, following an “alleged criminal act against a businessman”.
They did not name Mr Armstrong in the statement.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign and Development Office, which also did not name Mr Armstrong, said in a statement:
“We are in contact with the Ecuadorean authorities following the disappearance of a British man and are supporting his family.”
Ecuadorian news outlet, Expreso, said the chief of the Los Ríos Police, Colonel William Calle, indicated the anti-kidnapping and extortion units were “working on the release” of the man involved.
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A video of what is claimed to be the businessman’s South American home circulated on social media following the incident. The footage, which has been shared by Ecuadorian news outlets, shows blood-stained bed sheets and a broken doorframe.
Mr Armstrong, who was formerly the UK’s honorary consul in Guayaquil, owns the popular Leyburn tourist attraction, The Forbidden Corner, as well as the 500-acre Tupgill Park Estate.
It employs 50 people and receives around 150,000 visitors every year.
He is also the founder of Agripac, an Ecuadorian agricultural supplies company, which he founded in 1972.
Mr Armstrong was awarded an OBE and CMG by the Queen in 2011 for services to the British Monarchy.
Harrogate auction house sees 50 year old bottle of whisky fetch £12,000The next time someone at work gifts you a bottle of whisky, you might want to think twice before you open it.
A bottle of whisky that was consigned to Tennants Auctioneers in Harrogate has fetched £12,000 hammer price at auction.
The seller had been given it by a colleague a number a years ago and hadn’t realised how much it had appreciated in value.
The bottle was a Macallan 1940, 50 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky — one of the most collectable whiskies which has dramatically increased in value over the last 20 years.
The whisky was distilled on January 1 1940 and laid down by Macallan for 30 years, before the cask was bought by independent bottlers Gordon and Macphail.
They moved the cask to their warehouses in Elgin where it remained maturing for another 20 years before being bottled. It formed part of Gordon and Macphail’s Speymalt range and was sold with its original presentation case and certificate.
Macallan still continues to dominate the whisky market at auction.
The bottle was sold at Tennants’ fine wine and whisky sale at its auction house in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on Friday.
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England 1966 World Cup memorabilia sells for £445,000 at North Yorkshire auction
A North Yorkshire auctioneers with offices in Harrogate sold a 1966 World Cup winner’s medal, shirt and squad cap today for a combined hammer price of £445,000.
The items originally belonged to Alan Ball, who at just 21 years old was the youngest and least experienced member of the legendary 1966 World Cup winning England team.
His medal sold for £200,000 hammer, his red number 7 shirt fetched £130,000 and his cap sold for £115,000 at Tennants Auctioneers’ toys and models, sporting and fishing sale in Leyburn.
Lancashire-born midfielder Alan Ball played for Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal and Southampton, and won 72 caps for England. He went on to manage several clubs, including Manchester City and Southampton. He died in 2007.
Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winner’s medal.
Alan Ball’s shirt sold for £130,000
His cap fetched £115,000
Ball sold his medal and cap at auction in 2005, when they were purchased by the owner of Bolton Wanderers, businessman and philanthropist Edwin ‘Eddie’ Davies (1946-2018).
From the same estate came a Pele match-worn Brazil shirt, worn during the first half of the famous Brazil v England 1970 World Cup match, which sold for £33,000.
Tennants Auctioneers’ sporting specialist, Kegan Harrison, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such fantastic results for the vendor, who has had a long-standing relationship with Tennants.
“The 1966 World Cup victory will always be a golden moment in English sporting history, and we have been honoured to have handled the sale of these extraordinary items. It has been 56 years since that incredible match, but it is still very close to the hearts of all football fans.”
Tennants Auctioneers is based at Leyburn, North Yorkshire and has an office on Montpellier Road in Harrogate, as well as in London.
Roof fire causes ‘serious damage’ to old rectory near RiponThe old rectory in West Tanfield, north of Ripon, has been seriously damaged by fire today.
Crews from Ripon, Masham, Bedale, Leyburn, Northallerton and Thirsk tackled the blaze, which occurred next to the parish church of St Nicholas.
The Stray Ferret understands the roof of the property has collapsed. It is not yet known how the fire started but it is not believed anyone was injured.
Firefighters tackle the blaze in West Tanfield.
Masham fire station said in a social media post this evening that it and Ripon fire crews were called to reports of a fire in the roof at 10.50am. It added:
“After arriving a short time later a serious fire was developing in the attic space of the property.
“Further appliances from Bedale, Leyburn, Northallerton and Thirsk and an aerial ladder platform from Harrogate fire station was requested.
“Crews entered the building in breathing apparatus to attempt to stop the fire from spreading, but had to be withdrawn due to safety reasons.
“The house has suffered serious damage and crews remain at the scene into the evening damping down.”
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