100 years ago today: The tennis match that marked the last hurrah of Harrogate’s golden eraExhibition to honour Harrogate’s 1,163 war dead

A free exhibition will honour the 1,163 men and women whose names are inscribed on Harrogate war memorial.

The exhibition will open in West Park United Reformed Church on September 1, 100 years to the day after the memorial was unveiled in Prospect Square.

It will run until Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

The memorial bears the names of local men and women who lost their lives in two world wars.

Twenty died on the same day; the youngest was just 15 and one person died after being kicked by a mule.

The multi-media exhibition, called More than a name on a Memorial, will bring their stories to life.

The stories will draw heavily on research conducted by local historian and former army reservist Graham Roberts, who has been researching the names for years.

Local resident Terry Williams, who was responsible for a recent exhibition telling the story of Harrogate’s railways, is curating the exhibition, which is being organised by the newly-formed Harrogate War Memorial Project Group.

The group includes members of various local voluntary organisations, including Harrogate Civic Society, the Royal Hall Restoration Trust and Harrogate and District Improvement Trust.

Nigel McClea, chair of the project group, said:

“Thanks to herculean efforts over many years by local historian Graham Roberts, all 1163 names have been researched and much has been discovered and recorded including military units, war records, photographs, cause of death, date of death and place of burial, although more than 300 of the First World War names inscribed have no known grave.

“This on-going research will form the core of the exhibition but thanks to support from North Yorkshire library service, through Harrogate Library, we are now in a position to seek out family stories and memories.”

Walter Ogden

Walter Ogden

The research has thrown up many fascinating questions. Mr McClea said:

“For example, would  2/Lt Walter Ogden have joined his family firm Ogden of Harrogate, the town’s historic jewellers still to be found on James Street?  We’ll never know, he died in 1917 aged just 19 at the Battle of Cambrai.

“2/Lt Donald Bell VC, the first English professional footballer to join the army in World War I, had signed his first professional contract with Second Division Bradford Park Avenue in 1912 aged 22.  Would he have ever played for a First Division club?  We’ll never know. He died aged 25 in the Battle of the Somme.

“These are just two stories from 1163.  We would love to hear from anyone with an ancestor named on the memorial who might have photographs, or recollections of their experiences which might have been passed on through the generations.

“We would also love copies of things such as letters home or letters they received from home, extracts from diaries, battle orders or telegrams and anything about what these brave people did before going to war.”

Copies of letters, extracts from diaries, written recollections and photographs can be emailed to Harrogate.Library@northyorks.gov.uk with the subject line ‘More than a name on a Memorial’ or taken into the library for copying.

Further details of the war memorial centenary programme of events will be available next month.

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Free event to celebrate Royal Hall’s 120th anniversary

The Royal Hall in Harrogate is to host a six-hour long free event on May 27 to celebrate its 120th anniversary.

The 950-seat venue, which was originally called the Kursaal, was re-opened by then Prince Charles in 2008 following an £10.7 million restoration.

The Beatles, Yehudi Menuhin and Frankie Howerd are among the stars to have played there.

Music ranging from classical to pop to Gilbert and Sullivan will showcase the diverse acts the Edwardian venue has hosted since it opened in 1903.

Royal Hall by Jim Counter

Inside the Royal Hall. Pic by Jim Counter

The event, organised by the Royal Hall Restoration Trust, will begin at 10am with music and singing.

From 2pm, the Darren Busby Duo will provide music for line dancing and for those who prefer to waltz and foxtrot, the Harrogate Symphony String Quartet will play from 3pm to 4pm.

Gay Steel, of the restoration trust, said:

“Sit for a while in the grand circle or dress circle and let your imagination take you back to the hall’s Edwardian heyday when visitors would stroll around the building listening to the entertainment on offer.

“The grand hall’s sprung dance floor will be cleared for dancing apart from tables for afternoon tea.”

The dressing rooms will also be open to explore on the day.

The event is free but donations to the restoration trust will be welcomed.

Afternoon tea bookings can be made via the Royal Hall Restoration Trust website here. Alternatively, telephone 01423500500 or email enquiries@rhrt.org.uk.

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Column: I discovered the close personal interest Charles takes in those charities he is involved with

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by the Chair of The Royal Hall Restoration Trust, Russell M Davidson. 

There is huge national grief at the passing of a much loved Queen, yet as the mourning period gradually passes, thoughts will increasingly turn to her successor.

The Royal Hall Restoration Trust has been privileged to have the new King, in his capacity of Prince of Wales, as its patron for some fifteen years. I had twice met the Prince before I got involved in the trust, but those meetings were at formal events and while he was affable and friendly, I had no knowledge about Charles beyond the ups and downs one reads in the press, including the negative stuff following the death of Diana.

It was not until I met Charles again, with my predecessor, the late Lilian Mina, at the 2008 reopening of the refurbished Royal Hall that I first saw the kindness of the man. Lilian was gravely ill and had difficulty standing and walking, yet the Prince never left her side, helping her up and down stairs, while constantly letting her hold onto his arm for support. I succeeded as Chair of the trust after Lilian’s death and the trustees set about a range of further projects. I discovered the close personal interest Charles takes in those charities he is involved with.

It is not just a case of having a grand name on the notepaper – in contrast, regular contact is maintained with each charity via the private secretaries. The relationship is very much a ‘How can we help you?’ one. When the trust needed assistance developing a future project for the rear of the Royal Hall, we sent our initial designs to the Prince and were immediately invited to visit his architectural foundation in London. We discovered an impressive set-up, housing a school training young woodworkers and designers (beautiful examples of work on display) and were greeted by a friendly American architect who had led the scheme to restore Dumfries House and who provided further expert help without charge. I learned from him that Charles personally, and regularly, reviews the work undertaken by each of his charities and draws on his extensive contacts to find ways of making useful introductions to assist.

He must work incredibly hard, for our trust is only one of many that he is patron of.  We learned that the drawings and letters we sent, via the private secretaries, were actually looked at and discussed by him. Suggestions as to how to alter the presumably not so liked aspects of our designs were made so very tactfully too! And when we have asked for a visit to help with fundraising, there have always been efforts to find a diary slot, difficult though his schedule makes that. We have never had a ‘no’.

It is evident the new King cares passionately about our country, its community and the environment, both built and natural. I am confident, based on my personal experience of dealing with him as patron, that Charles will prove to be a good and kindly King.

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Harrogate’s Royal Hall to reopen to the public next week

The Royal Hall in Harrogate is to reopen to the public next week after being closed for more than a year.

The hall will hold an open day on Wednesday, July 7, which will allow visitors to look around the Grade II listed Edwardian building.

The hall, which was built in 1903 and reopened in 2008 following a £10.8 million restoration, held regular guided tours pre-covid. Because social distance rules have not been lifted, tours won’t be available next week but visitors will be able to make their own way round.

One-hour guided tours are due to recommence at 11am and 2pm on August 21.

But Gay Steel, open day coordinator for the Royal Hall Restoration Trust, said the situation would be reviewed after the government decides whether to lift all lockdown measures on July 21, and there was still a chance tours might be available on the second open day on July 27.

Ms Steel said:

“We are looking forward to the prospect of welcoming our visitors back to Harrogate’s glittering palace of gold and hope that you have an enjoyable experience.

“We are just being cautious in our approach as the safety of our visitors and volunteers is paramount.”

Live entertainment is due to return to the Royal Hall on July 31 with a performance from students at Knaresborough’s Freedom Performing Arts.

The 11-day Gilbert and Sullivan festival and a Fleetwood Mac tribute act are scheduled for August, as things gradually return to normal.

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