Carl Les, the leader of North Yorkshire Council, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List.
The Conservative politician was made leader of the former North Yorkshire County Council in 2015 and has represented the Catterick area for more than 20 years.
He led local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire this year, which saw eight former councils – including Harrogate Borough Council – become one unitary authority on April 1.
Cllr Les said:
“Like many endeavours you can only achieve the best for people and businesses in local government through team effort.
“Whilst I am delighted, though humbled, to receive such an award I see it as a reflection of the teams I have had the privilege to lead.
“I am every bit as honoured to have worked with such committed and hardworking elected members and officers at the former county council and the new unitary, North Yorkshire Council.”
North Yorkshire Council is now the largest council in England by geography and third largest by population.
It is also the first council in England to pursue unitary status and devolution at the same time.
Cllr Les added:
“Through our collective efforts and strong partnership working across York and North Yorkshire we have achieved the unprecedented, landing single council status alongside a devolution deal.
“Together these are a game-changer for our region. Presenting us with the best possible opportunity to protect the most valued and essential public services for our residents, while unleashing the local powers and funds which will drive economic growth and deliver better job opportunities for people and businesses here.”
He had also been a member of the North Yorkshire Police authority for 15 years and now chairs the police, fire and crime panel.
Outside of his work as a councillor, Cllr Les is also a volunteer director and currently interim chairman of Wensleydale Railway plc.
He managed his family business, which was in the tourism sector, before selling it and retiring in 2014.
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Petition launched to honour all England Lionesses — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly
A petition has been launched to award honours to all members of the England Lionesses team that won Euro 2022 — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly.
Captain Leah Williamson was appointed OBE while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White became MBEs in today’s King’s New Year Honours.
But the decision to recognise four players and not others in a team game has caused controversy.
A petition calling for all of the Lionesses’ playing squad to receive honours has already attracted 2,000 signatures.
Michael McCann, who started the petition, said:
“It simply does not feel fair at all, that after such a monumental collective effort, and given the historical precedents set with previous sporting successes in England, to chose to honour just four of the Lionesses players.”
Mr McCann calls on the Cabinet Office to “honour the entire 23-player squad with at least an MBE”.
Politicians, including Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, have questioned why only four of the team were recognised.
Why only four? They were a TEAM. It should be all or none and I say ALL. https://t.co/lc6ysVKZWL
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 31, 2022
The Daily Mail’s northern football correspondent, Dominic King, also expressed forthright views on Twitter.
If Gareth Southgate’s squad had won the World Cup, every member would have got recognition in the honours list. It’s puzzling, them, why every member of Sarina Weigman’s squad hasn’t been honoured. Sir Hugh Robertson’s explanation for the exclusivity is nonsense, too.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 31, 2022
Daly, whose career started at Killinghall Nomads, has had an amazing year. Besides winning Euro 2022 she has twice been named Women’s Super League Player of the Month for her scoring exploits at Aston Villa.
Rachel Daly receiving her player of the month award November.
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- Harrogate’s Rachel Daly named WSL Player of the Month — again!
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Harrogate drum teacher recognised in New Year Honours
The New Year Honours list has been published tonight and a number of residents in the Harrogate district have been recognised for their services to charity and the community.
OBE
Donald Parker, from Knaresborough, has been made an OBE for services to education in North Yorkshire.
Mr Parker is chief executive of the Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust. The trust runs five primary schools in Yorkshire including Bilton Grange Primary School.
Mr Parker has years of experience working as a headteacher in Yorkshire’s schools.
BEM
Ian Macpherson, from Harrogate, has been made a BEM for services to education.
Mr Macpherson is a percussion tutor who runs Percussive Edge in Harrogate. He said he began playing the drums at 13 and has pursued his hobby ever since.
He has played in numerous bands, as well as several military bands. He joined the army aged 16 and after completing basic training went to Edinburgh and London to train in music.
His military career led him to perform in the 1st Battalion Band of the Royal Scots and he became one of the youngest service personnel to be awarded the coveted Bandmaster qualification at the age of 27.
He now works in Harrogate as a percussion tutor and says over the years he has really enjoyed teaching hundreds of local students. He said some continue to play, including George Farrah who was a finalist in the Young Drummer of the Year 2015. Another student, James Cassells, also from Harrogate, has gone onto perform as part of Asking Alexandra, a rock band now based in Texas made up of men from North Yorkshire.
Speaking about the award Mr Macpherson said:
“I keep pinching myself. When I first received the letter I thought it was some kind of scam but then I saw the royal seal. I keep saying to my wife there are so many more deserving than me, there’s so many frontline workers doing so much amazing work. I am very grateful.”
Mr Macpherson said he owes much of his success to well-known drummer Ronny Bottomley. The former Leeds College of Music teacher has worked with the likes of Cilla Black, Kenny Baker and Dick Morrissey and was the first person to tutor Mr MacPherson at 13 years old.
Mr Macpherson said he hopes to never stop playing but chronic illness and osteoporosis in his upper spine has forced him to reduce teaching to just two days a week.
Read more:
Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal
Dr Julian Mark, from Ripon, has been honoured by the Queen for distinguished service.
Dr Mark is the executive medical director for Yorkshire Ambulance Service. He has previously worked at Harrogate District Hospital as senior staff anaesthetist, until 2014.
He chairs the National Ambulance Services’ Medical Directors group and sits on the Clinical Advisory Board for the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (RCSEd) and on the Clinical Advisory Forum for NHS Improvement.
Organisers ‘hopeful’ Hampsthwaite v Birstwith tug of war can go aheadThe organisers of the annual News Year’s Day Hampsthwaite vs Birstwith tug of war competition have said they’re keeping their fingers crossed it will go ahead in a fortnight’s time.
The tradition dates back to the 1980s, but about eight years ago it became a competition between two pubs in the neighbouring villages; The Joiners Arms in Hampsthwaite and The Station Hotel in Birstwith.
Hundreds of people often watch the competition at Hampsthwaite cricket ground before heading to The Joiners Arms.
The event had to be cancelled this year due to coronavirus restrictions. Knaresborough’s Boxing Day tug of war has been cancelled this year but organisers have said they’re hopeful the event will be able to take place on the first day of next year.
Rebecca Cranage, the owner of Joiners Arms, said:
“We thought we’d definitely be OK for this year, we are just hoping it can still go ahead. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
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Ms Cranage has lived in the village for 20 years and, like many villagers, has fond memories of watching the event.
It has evolved over the years after starting as a Brits vs Americans competition featuring men from the RAF Menwith Hill base.
The upcoming event is due to include men’s and women’s teams, with 10 people on each end of the rope pulling for victory.
There will also be a raffle to raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
History-making Ripon mayor receives New Year honourA history-making former Mayor of Ripon has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community.
At the age of 39, in May 1975, John Richmond became the youngest person appointed to the city’s mayoral office.
Seven months later he achieved another unique feat, as the only serving mayor to carry out the hornblower ceremony, which dates back to AD 886.
Mr Richmond told the Stray Ferret:
“The hornblower was taking time off over the Christmas period and we urgently needed a stand-in to carry out the task of setting the watch – but who would do it?
“As chair of Ripon City Council, I called for volunteers, but nobody wanted the job, so in a fit of pique, I said, ‘ok then, I’ll have to do it.'”
John Richmond was recognised for his services to the city.
Mr Richmond had no experience of blowing a horn so over three weeks of discreet coaching sessions in the cellar of Ripon Town Hall, the city’s Sergeant at Mace and former hornblower, Cyril Hawley, taught him the technique.
His historic debut performance at 9pm on December 22, 1975, attracted an audience of 200 on Market Square, which applauded spontaneously after he completed four blasts on the city’s large African horn.
John pointed out:
“Part of the hornblower tradition involves announcing to the mayor that the watch has been set – so I was effectively informing myself!”
There were many more notable milestones in a 14-year career of civic service that started in 1967 when John was elected to Ripon City Council.
He subsequently won election to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
Read more:
Against all odds, as an independent attending his first full meeting at county hall in 1977, he persuaded councillors of all political colours, in a Conservative-dominated authority, to support a reference back and re-think on proposals to turn 500-year-old Ripon Grammar School into a comprehensive.
Mr Richmond, who was a pupil of the school from 1947 to 1951, said:
“I was told I had no chance, but I decided to give it a go and with fellow independent Jack Blakey seconding me, we forced a re-think.”
Margaret Thatcher gave the UK’s remaining grammar schools a lifeline after she became Prime Minister in 1979 and Ripon Grammar survived, following further public consultation,
Mr Richmond’s other highlights included meeting with the mayors of Ripon, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin, when he was invited to go to the USA in 1976 to join the country’s bicentennial celebrations.
Always by his side was his wife of 55 years, Barbara, who died in 2013.
Mr Richmond said:
Harrogate district residents recognised in New Year Honours“She was my driving force and I wouldn’t have achieved anything without her. Though she is no longer with us, Barbara shares this honour with me.”
The New Year Honours list has been published tonight and a number of residents in the Harrogate district have been recognised for their services to charity and the community.
OBE
Linda Grace Shears, from Harrogate, has been made an OBE for services to charity in her role as co-founder of the Shears Foundation.
The foundation is a charitable trust that providers grants for projects that develop arts and culture, educational opportunities and the protection of the natural environment, as well as other areas.
Since it was set up in 1996, the trust has awarded £12 million in grants.
Janet Sheriff, from Harrogate, has been made an OBE for services to education in West Yorkshire. Ms Sheriff is headteacher of Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley.
Ms Sheriff was appointed headteacher in 2009. She became the first female head in the school’s 400-year history and Leeds’ first BME secondary school headteacher.
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BEM
John Richmond, from Ripon, has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Ripon.
Mr Richmond is well known in the city after becoming the youngest person to be appointed mayor in 1975 at just 39 years old. He has also taken part in the city’s traditional hornblower ceremony.
Mary Chapman, from Great Ouseburn, has also been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Ms Chapman founded the charity Nuzzlets, which gives children with special educational needs and life-threatening illnesses the chance to meet animals.
Nuzzlets now hosts about 200 visits each year and supports 4,000 young people. Ms Chapman and her volunteers carry out visits to hospitals, nursing homes and local community groups as well as hosting visits on the farm.