Photo of the Week: Stunning deer stand proud at Studley RoyalThe Stray Ferret has launched our new Photo of the Week feature to highlight the beauty of the Harrogate district captured by talented local photographers.
Send your photos to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to feature here. We are interested in amateur and professional pictures.
This week we are featuring a stunning shot of a herd of deer highlighted beautifully by the autumnal sun at Studley Royal Deer Park. Taken by Ripon based Mike Smith Photography.
Bishop of Ripon set to move to new post in NewcastleThe Bishop of Ripon is to leave her post to take up a new role next year.
The Right Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley has been in Ripon since 2017, but has now been announced by Downing Street as Bishop of Newcastle, with her installation set to take place in early 2023.
The appointment was approved by Her Late Majesty the Queen this year following the retirement of the last Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Rev Christine Hardman. Since then, the Bishop of Berwick, the Rt Rev Mark Wroe, has been acting diocesan Bishop of Newcastle.
Bishop Helen-Ann, who grew up in the North-East, said:
“I am delighted to have been called to be the Bishop of Newcastle, and pleased that this move means we will be staying in the north!
“At the same time, I will miss the Diocese of Leeds and the diverse peoples and communities of the region I have served and worked with over the past four and a half years.
“There are so many thank yous to be shared, for so many people who have helped, encouraged and challenged me along the way — a very special thank you is due however to the remarkable running community, particularly Ripon Runners who have in so many ways kept me grounded and mostly fit!
“It has been an absolute joy to have been Bishop of Ripon, and I wish the region and diocese all the very best for the new season that lies ahead.”
Bishop Helen-Ann was born in Edinburgh and grew up in the Scottish borders, where her father was a Church of Scotland minister.
At a young age, she and her family moved to Sunderland, where she was educated, while her father became a priest in the Church of England.
Her own ordination was in 2005 as deacon of the Diocese of Oxford, becoming a priest a year later.
A relocation to New Zealand in 2010 was followed three years later by her election as Bishop of Waikato on the North Island.
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Her five years in Ripon have seen her engage extensively with the community and in support of the city’s residents.
In 2020, she received death threats after publicly criticising Dominic Cummings for breaking the government’s lockdown rules. The Bishop said she and her family had missed her father’s birthday as he recovered from cancer treatment in order to keep to the restrictions.
After Bishop Helen-Ann’s move from Ripon was announced, the Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, said:
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve with Bishop Helen-Ann for the last four years. Our loss is Newcastle’s gain, where she will bring many gifts and broad experience to her new responsibilities.
“She will move on with my gratitude, prayers and blessing.”
The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, added:
“I am delighted that Helen-Ann has agreed to become the next Bishop of Newcastle. Helen-Ann brings rich experience and a tremendous passion for communicating the gospel, as well as a deep commitment to championing those often under-represented in our society.
“Newcastle Diocese is truly blessed to have Helen-Ann as its new Bishop.”
Ripon man charged with attempted murderA Ripon man has been charged with attempted murder, assaulting emergency workers and carrying a weapon in a public place.
Kyle Harpin, 33, of North Street in the city, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was charged with attempting to murder another man, who was named in court, on North Street on Sunday.
Mr Harpin was also charged with assaulting two police constables at Harrogate District Hospital on the same date.
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He also allegedly used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards another police officer at Harrogate Police Station.
Mr Harpin faced a further charge of carrying a knife in a public place on North Street in Ripon.
He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on November 7.
Business Breakfast: Ripon IT company purchases Skipton computer firmA Ripon IT company has announced it has bought Skipton-based Verus Solutions.
Fresh Mango Technologies, which is based on Barker Business Park, acquired the company, which specialises in IT support, computer systems and server supply and installation.
Officials at Fresh Mango said the purchase was an ideal fit due to Verus’ location and customer base.
Guy Phoenix, managing director at Fresh Mango, said:
“Their offering and ethos is almost identical to ours with a customer reach beyond Yorkshire’s borders.
“The Fresh Mango mission is to bring much-needed first-class IT support to even more SMEs. Verus Solutions will help us to continue to fulfil that mission and we’re delighted that they’re now part of the Fresh Mango family.”
Paul Roach, director of Verus Solutions, said:
“Due to our close and long-standing relationships with our clients it was crucial for us to find an organisation that shared the same values as us, while at the same time having sufficient scale to provide the highest levels of customer service.
“Fresh Mango demonstrated this throughout our discussions with them.”
Harrogate estate agents comes top at industry awards
A Harrogate estate agents picked up four awards at an industry awards ceremony.
Myrings Estate Agents came top in three categories and won silver in a fourth at the Estate Agent of the Year Awards.
The firm won Regional Sales Award for North Yorkshire, Lettings Agent Landlords Award, Estate Agents Sales Award and silver for Lettings Agent Tenants Award.
A post on the company’s social media said:
“We are truly grateful and our sincere thanks go out to all our wonderful customers for your reviews and support. We would not be where we are without you, combined with our amazing team that made this happen.
“It is all thanks to their hard work, positivity, and outstanding customer service we are where we are.”
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Harrogate district MPs silent on emergency statementThe three Conservative MPs whose constituencies include the Harrogate district have declined to comment on today’s emergency statement.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed almost all of Prime Minister Liz Truss’s tax cuts, which were announced in the government’s mini-budget three weeks ago.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, welcomed last month’s growth plan, saying on his Community News website:
“There are a huge number of measures, many focused on our productivity and investment which are the platforms for future growth. So, plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”
Today we asked Mr Jones, along with Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, and Nigel Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, to comment on today’s announcement by Mr Hunt.
We also asked them whether the Prime Minister should resign, after three Conservative MPs called for her to do so.
Neither Mr Jones nor Mr Smith had replied by the time of publication.
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Mr Smith was critical of the tax cutting agenda in last month’s mini-budget. He said at the time:
“In a statement with many positive enterprise measures this huge tax cut for the very rich at a time of national crisis and real fear and anxiety amongst low income workers and citizens is wrong.”
Maire Crosse, Mr Adams’ senior parliamentary assistant, did reply but only to say:
“Nigel is away today and not contactable. Therefore, he will not be providing a comment.”
Plan approved to convert former Ripon City Club into house
A plan to convert the former Ripon City Club into a house has been approved.
The club was initially built as the Jepson’s Hospital, a ‘Blue Coat’ school for poor boys in the city, before it closed in 1927.
It was then taken over by Ripon City Club, which occupied the building on Water Skellgate before it closed due to a dwindling membership in December 2019.
According to documents submitted to the council, the number of members at the club 20 years ago stood at 300. However, the figure dropped to just 11 by the start of 2019.
Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert the building into a three-bedroom house.
The proposal was tabled in January by Joplings Property Consultants on behalf of applicant Mr Jeet Sahi.
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The developer said in its documents:
“The proposed change of use to a single residential dwelling is required by the applicant for him and his family to occupy.
“The previous use of the building is redundant, the proposed change of use to residential is in line with planning policies to meet the demand for new residential housing.”
The club will become the latest in the Harrogate district to be earmarked for housing following the demise of its membership.
Last month, the government rejected an appeal to convert the former National Reserve Club in Harrogate into flats.
Spooky castles, pumpkins and haunted houses: Halloween fun in the districtHalloween is creeping up, with the celebrations and events across the district becoming bigger, better and more ghoulish each year.
This year it falls just after October half-term, so there is plenty going on for little witches and wizards – and big ones too!
So whether you fancy some pumpkin picking on a farm, spooky trails, or haunted houses, we’ve put together a list of five places to enjoy some Halloween fun.
Birchfield Farm Pumpkin Festival – Summerbridge
Birchfield Farm’s Pumpkin Festival is a firm favourite amongst families in the Harrogate district. Is it even Halloween if you haven’t taken a selfie with a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins at the picturesque Summerbridge farm?
You don’t need to book for this one and there are plenty of pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colours to go around and you can visit everyday until October 31.
There are also lots of activities to do on the farm so you can make a morning or afternoon of it.
After you have picked your pumpkin from the patch – and there really is a huge selection of all shapes and sizes – you then have the option of visiting the farm for £5.95 per person. Then take your kids for a homemade ice cream at the farm’s café.
Activities include:
- A huge carving barn where you can create your pumpkin masterpieces
- Bouncy castles
- Play equipment
- A 6-acre maize maze
- A spooky woodland walk
- Animals
- A giant bale mountain
When: Everyday until October 31 from 10am until 4pm
Where: Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge, Harrogate, HG3 4JS
Price and booking: No booking is required for this event and the pumpkin patch is free to enter. Pumpkins are priced by size from £1 up to £12.The farmyard area is £5.95 per person, however this is optional. Under twos are free.
Creepy Castle: The Spooktastic Halloween Trail – Knaresborough
Soak up the spooky atmosphere at Knaresborough Castle – the setting of the new Creepy Castle Spooktastic Halloween trail.
Set in the grounds of the ancient monument, expect to see see wizard magic shows and spooky characters along the way. There will also be face painting, stories in the castle, cookie decorating and more scary surprises.
When: October 27 – 29
Where: Knaresborough Castle, Castle Yard, Knaresborough, HG5 8AS
Price and booking: Tickets are £3.75 for both children and adults (under 2s are free) with time slots available from 3pm – 7.20pm on Thursday, October 27 to Saturday October, 29. Book your trail tickets for a specific event day and time
here.
Stockeld Park Halloween Adventure – Wetherby
Stockeld Park is another firm family favourite and the Halloween festivities are always magical.
This year The Enchanted Forest will be transformed into an explosion of colour for a Day of the Dead Fiesta. Interact with the enchanting ancestors as you venture round the forest and look out for friendly skeletons.
Little ones will love exploring the pumpkin patch and will be able to pick their very own pumpkin to take home. Every paying child will get to choose a free pumpkin.
The Playhive will be open to explore and you can salso ee the family-friendly Monster Mash show.
There’s something suitably scary for all ages.
When: October 22 – October 30 from 9.30am until 5.30pm
Where: Stockeld Park, Wetherby, LS22 4AN
Price and booking: Prices vary. Online pre-booking is essential – click
here to book
Halloween Trail – Swinton Bivouac, Masham
Are you brave enough to follow the spooky Halloween trail?
Head up to Swinton Bivouac, part of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate, and follow the ghoulish clues to help you find your way through the eerie woodland.
Dogs are welcome and fancy dress is encouraged!
When: October 22 – October 31
Where: Bivouac at Druid’s Temple, Masham, Ripon, HG4 4JZ
Price and booking: £5 per trail sheet with prize upon completion. Trail sheets are available from the Bivouac Café from 10am daily.
Stately Superstitions: Eerie Encounters at the Castle – Castle Howard, York
An experience for adults, venture a little further outside the Harrogate district and explore the uncanny on this behind-the-scenes tour of the house where not all is as it seems.
If you were to venture beyond the visitor route, below stairs, you’d encounter a labyrinth of dark cellars and never-ending corridors.
Long since servants walked the halls and a fire ripped through the now empty wings, these parts of Castle Howard have remained largely unchanged.
Those interested in the history of the house may revel at the chance to explore these quarters, but a stay longer than necessary provokes a sense of unnerving discomfort causing the imagination to try and make sense of the darkness.
Flickers of light, footsteps, and the unexpected sounds of a servant’s bell can pierce the silent eeriness of these spaces, making this grand house feel somewhat awry.
You are encouraged to stay close to your guide as they lead you through these ghostly cellars, dark passages, and fire-damaged rooms, revealing stories and surprises that will make those childhood beliefs you thought you’d grown out of suddenly seem very real…
Calm your fears with hotdogs and refreshments at the Fitzroy Café before your experience begins.
When: October 21 -23, 28-31.Tours will depart at 6pm, 6:45pm, 7:45pm and 8:30pm.
Where: Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
Price and booking: Adults from £20. Book tickets
here. Unfortunately, this experience uses narrow staircases and so is unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Nurture your child’s abilities at Queen Mary’s School
This article is sponsored by Queen Mary’s School.
Choosing a school for your child is one of the biggest decisions you will make as a parent.
Finding the right place to nurture your child’s young mind, delivering everything from the best possible academic teaching to support for their growing talents and passions, can be tricky.
At Queen Mary’s School, that balance of academia and extra-curricular opportunities is the highest priority.
The results speak for themselves: But as all parents know, school is about so much more than numbers and letters on a piece of paper before you leave.
There’s much more to Queen Mary’s.
Queen Mary’s offers outstanding opportunities for young people from the age of four to begin exploring the things they enjoy. That might be acting, horse riding, tennis, computing, lacrosse, science, languages, dance, or any number of other skills.
Pupils are given the support and encouragement to find their passions in life and Queen Mary’s School is more than willing to adapt its offering to suit their needs.
From musicals to opera to rock band
Take music, for example.
Queen Mary’s has introduced new scholarships to enable talented young musicians to develop their skills, with contributions to paid instrument lessons included.
Budding choristers can join the Chapel Choir as part of their scholarship. The Choir, which was formed 40 years ago, has been featured on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4. Some members of the school community have performed at the Royal Albert Hall.
Former chorister Emilia Jacques was one of the BBC Young Choristers of the Year in 2018. She then went on to receive a choral scholarship to study music at Queen’s College Oxford.
Pupils are also encouraged to take exams on their chosen instruments, with many achieving Grade 8 before the age of 16.
The production of Dido and Aeneas.
Last year, one pupil who achieved the milestone with distinction on the flute then went on to achieve her Diploma. Another achieved the Diploma as a singer at just 12 years old and has her sights set on a career as a professional singer.
Queen Mary’s has also put on numerous productions including Matilda the Musical Junior, Sister Act Junior, and the opera Dido and Aeneas. This year they are rehearsing for Mary Poppins.
Head Carole Cameron said:
“Music is one of our priorities at Queen Mary’s, and not just because of the enjoyment it brings to those performing and hearing it.
“Research shows that studying music and playing instruments are beneficial to academic studies.
“It also provides opportunities for children to learn additional skills, building their confidence and giving them experience in performance which is helpful for their future careers, too.”
Opportunities in classrooms and outside
Naturally, it is not just about the music. The school excels in sports, with a brand new astro pitch and sports pavilion on site, and has a British Horse Society-approved equestrian centre.
Girls are encouraged to compete in their chosen sports both regionally and nationally.
Pupils excel at sport.
That focus on extra-curricular activities is not to the detriment of academic time: at Queen Mary’s, the focus is on learning to balance the two.
Facilities in the school are also outstanding, with planning permission granted for a brand new learning resource centre. The design will reflect the acres of countryside surrounding the school, which lies between Ripon and Thirsk.
Mrs Cameron said:
“We always say we offer academic excellence and extensive extra-curricular activities in a nurturing environment, but even knowing that, families are always surprised by the warmth of Queen Mary’s when they visit.
“It’s such a pleasure to show people what we offer and to demonstrate how our flexible approach will give the right support for their child’s future.”
Bells to ring for three hours to mark Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350th anniversaryA marathon spell of bell ringing will take place tomorrow to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the consecration of Ripon Cathedral.
The cathedral’s bell ringers will attempt a peal to mark the consecration by St Wilfrid in the year 672.
Peals are traditionally rung to mark significant events in the history of both the cathedral and the city.
Over 160 peals have been rung at the cathedral since the first in 1764.
A post on the cathedral’s Facebook page said:
“A peal requires at least 5,040 changes to be rung continuously and without repetition or mistake and will take up to three-and-a-half hours to complete, so it poses a significant mental and physical challenge to the bell ringers.
“The attempt will be made by members of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers under the leadership of Martin Davies, the cathedral ringing master, and will start at around 9.30am. We wish them luck!”
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Harrogate and Ripon gardens win gold at Yorkshire in Bloom awards
Harrogate has been awarded a gold medal and been named a winner in the small city category at last night’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards.
The annual awards encourage communities of all sizes to use flowers to brighten up the landscape as well as foster community spirit and civic pride.
Although Harrogate is a town, it was entered in the ‘small city’ category due to the size of its population and took first place at a ceremony in Tadcaster.
Harrogate Borough Council maintains parks and green spaces across the district.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which undertakes schemes to drive footfall to the town centre, also won a gold medal and was category winner in the BID division.
Harrogate’s Valley Gardens received a platinum award and Starbeck won a gold medal in the urban community category.
There was success too for Ripon, which took a platinum award for Spa Gardens, a silver gilt award for the city itself and a discretionary award for the best platinum jubilee display.
The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park was awarded a Gold Medal in the Tourist Attractions Award category and a Best Conservation Project Award.
Joel Dibb, Head Gardener said:
“The Garden suffered devastating tree losses last winter due to the disease Phytophthora ramorum. The team took up the challenge to replant and move on from this distressing event and have had a busy year selecting and replanting trees.
The discretionary Conservation Project Award recognises all this hard work and the wildlife conservation we do to keep the garden wildlife friendly.”
A post on Harrogate in Bloom’s Facebook page said:
“Well done to all our local community groups and to the team at Harrogate Borough Council – here’s to further success in 2023!”
Yorkshire in Bloom is a charity incorporated organisation and a regional body representing the RHS Britain in Bloom campaign that is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Judges assess criteria developed by the RHS in consultation with the regions.
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