Ripon councillors are bidding to save the number 70 bus service that links the city with Thirsk and Northallerton.

They have agreed to contact North Yorkshire County Council and call for a re-think following an email to the city council that said funding for the service will come to an end from April.

The news from the passenger transport authority was met with disappointment at Monday’s full city council meeting, at which leader Andrew Williams, said:

“The loss of this service will mean that people from Ripon will not be able to use public transport to travel to Northallerton and go to North Yorkshire’s new seat of local government.

“This seems a ridiculous situation at a time when the COP 27 conference is being held in Egypt and world leaders are talking about the need to reduce carbon emissions by using more environmentally-friendly means of transport.”

Ripon residents can currently travel on the 36 bus to attend Harrogate Borough Council meetings or deal with matters such as planning applications.

Cllr Williams said:

“With devolution, this will all change from April when the new North Yorkshire authority comes into being and Harrogate Borough Council ceases to exist.

“That’s why we need to both protect and promote the valuable number 70 service and encourage more people to use it and make it viable.”

Cllr Julie Martin-Long said:

“The service is also a means of accessing mainline trains for travel to the north of England and onward links to airports in the north east.

Read more:

• Funding boost for Ripon’s museums
• Branding revealed for North Yorkshire Council 

This article is sponsored by Craven-Holmes.

Boroughbridge estate agents Craven-Holmes has been named a finalist in one of the most prestigious awards in the UK property industry.

The independent family-run business is one of 38 agencies shortlisted in the Small Estate Agency of the Year category at The Negotiator Awards 2022.

The winner will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at London’s Grosvenor Hotel on Friday, November 25.

Owner Tracey Wrigglesworth, who bought the agency in 2018, said it was a huge honour to be nominated.

She said:

“The Negotiator Awards are like the Oscars of the industry. Just to be shortlisted is massive.

“The criteria is incredibly tough. You have got to prove your worth.

“When I got the email to say I’d been shortlisted, I’m surprised you couldn’t hear me screaming in Harrogate!”

Tracey, who has more than 20 years experience in the local property market, runs the business with her daughter Mahalah Mulholland. Her friend Pauline Wardman also works at the agency and her son also gets involved when needed.

The sales, lettings and property agency works across the region in the Boroughbridge, Ripon, Thirsk, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Bedale and Wetherby areas.

Tracey and her team have all lived and worked in the area for many years and therefore have an in-depth knowledge of the local market.

Tracey said:

“We pride ourselves on our relationships and our customer service, as well as trust and integrity. We are really proud of what we do.

“We are an independent on Boroughbridge High Street and we are very much a supporter of the local community.

“I’m so proud of what we have achieved. The support that I’ve had has just been lovely with continued repeat business and recommendations.”

Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or letting, Tracey and her team are ready to help. Get in touch by emailing sales@craven-holmes.co.uk or lettings@craven-holmes.co.uk

For more information, visit www.craven-holmes.co.uk

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.”

Visiting Queen Mary’s allows you to experience first hand the unique atmosphere, exciting curriculum and the fantastic range of opportunities on Prep and Pre-Prep Open Day on Friday November 11, 2022 and Senior School Open Day on Saturday November 12, 2022.

Two men are facing jail following the death of a man in “terrible” scenes of violence.

Thomas Cressey, of Church Lane, Boroughbridge, and Benjamin Calvert, 22, from Sowerby, appeared at Leeds Crown Court this morning when judge Tom Bayliss KC told them both to expect jail.

Calvert, of Kings Gardens, pleaded guilty to manslaughter or unlawful killing of Alan Barefoot in Thirsk Market Place.

Cressey had already admitted affray, or threatening unlawful violence towards Mr Barefoot, when he appeared at York Magistrates’ Court in August.

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The incident occurred in October last year.

Judge Bayliss adjourned the case for sentence in about five weeks’ time. He told the defendants:

“This is a terrible matter. You, Benjamin Calvert, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing of Alan Barefoot.

“You must understand that inevitably there’s going to be a prison sentence and you must prepare yourself for that.”

He told Cressey that he too shouldn’t be “too optimistic” about his prospects because he was “part of this (violence)”, adding:

“This is a serious matter and you must prepare yourself for custody as well.”

Both men were granted bail until the sentence hearing on October 21.

This article is sponsored by the Oakapple Group.

Nestled between Ripon and Thirsk lies the quintessentially English village of Rainton, complete with a cricket club, green and pub.

This idyllic rural setting provides the perfect location for Robinson’s Fold, a small development of 15 three, four and five-bedroom family homes.

As village locations remain in huge demand, the majority of the properties have now sold.

However, there is still an opportunity to own your dream house in the country, with three beautiful new spacious homes available to move into late next month.

Lucy Collinge, new homes marketing executive at Linley & Simpson, the agent selling the properties, said:

“The developers – Oakapple Homes – have done some incredible builds around North Yorkshire. They are known for building large, quality family homes.

“Internally the proportions of the houses at Robinson’s Fold are really quite substantial. The specification is high quality with stunning fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and ensuites, oak flooring in the hallway and one reception room, underfloor heating to the ground floor and bi-fold doors all coming as standard.”

A showstopper kitchen and dining room space.

The Newburgh – Plot 12

The Newburgh is a stylish four-double bedroom home with an adjoining garage.

Key features

• 4 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with Bosch integrated appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room

The Studley – Plot 13

Constructed in artstone, The Studley is a superb executive home with five double bedrooms and an integral garage.

Key features

• 5 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room and dressing room

The Studley is available now.

The Studley – Plot 14

Constructed in brick with artsone cills, this is also a substantial executive home with five double bedrooms and an integral garage.

This home backs onto open countryside and enjoys unspoilt and open views from the rear bedrooms.

Key features

• 5 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room and dressing room

A beautiful entrance and staircase.

When it comes to deciding what type of property to buy, Miss Collinge said the benefits of new homes “are endless”. She said:

“They have 10-year warranties. That’s two years with the builder, where they will come out and address any issues that might arise. For the next eight years it’s covered by an insurance backed warranty picking up anything structural.

“Another benefit is the affordable running costs. I think that’s such an important factor for purchasers at the moment with the cost of living continuing to rise. New build properties also come with all manufacturers guarantees on these appliances and heating systems.

“Self-builds, home improvements and renovations are difficult at the moment due to the cost. So new builds are fantastic in terms of buying something you can go straight into, live in and enjoy.

“All the evidence, as well as our own research, highlight that flexible working patterns are very much here to stay. No longer is working from home a novelty – it’s now very much a growing lifestyle choice. The majority of the properties incorporate a home office and super-fast broadband in response to this.

“In Yorkshire and across the UK, COVID-19 has rebooted the property market. One of the few positives of the pandemic is that it has catapulted the idea of home-working from the edge of employment activity, into the mainstream.”

A living room perfect for those cosy nights in.

Sean Mayes Development Director at Oakapple said:

“Recent events have made us all reflect on what is important in our lives. A sense of community, work/life balance and the need for open space away from the crowd are still very much at the forefront of our minds.

However, as the world starts to open up again, connectivity is also high on the checklist. Rainton offers the best of both worlds thanks to its convenient location.

It is close to the junction of the A1 and A168, providing the commuter with options when travelling by car. Central Harrogate and York are 16 and 25 miles to the south respectively and Leeds is 38 miles away.

For longer journeys, the nearest train station is Thirsk which is just 7 miles away. From here, it is possible to catch direct trains to Leeds, London, Manchester Airport, Sunderland and York”.

In conclusion, Miss Collinge added:

“Rainton has got a lovely village green and a maypole and it certainly looks the part.

“You head over the bridge back to Ripon and you’re also a stone’s throw away from Thirsk. You’re bang in the middle. You’ve also got great transport links on the doorstop giving seclusion without remoteness. Rainton really is a stunning village in a fabulous location – the perfect place to buy a new home.”

Cundall Manor School has appointed a new headmaster to replace Amanda Kirby, who has been at the school for 20 years.

Christopher James-Roll will take over leadership at the school, where Stephen Fry briefly taught English, in September.

Amanda Kirby has taught at Cundall Manor since 2003 and was appointed headteacher in 2019.

The independent school, set in 28 acres at Cundall between Ripon and Thirsk, caters for boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 16. Many are from the Harrogate district.

Mr James-Roll, who has a BSc (Hons) in science and IT, began his early career in financial services before qualifying as a teacher in 2010.

Since then, he has gained a Masters in educational leadership and held a number of senior positions in co-educational independent school settings. He moved to Sherfield School in Hampshire in 2017. He said:

“I have long admired Cundall’s reputation for creating happy, well-rounded children, where academic excellence can sit alongside an individual learning experience and my family and I are very much looking forward to moving to this idyllic setting in North Yorkshire and working with its excellent team.”

Outgoing head Amanda Kirby.

Read more:

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Outgoing head Mrs Kirby said:

“It has been an incredible 20 years for me and all my family, during which time the school has transformed from a small independent prep school in North Yorkshire into a nationally recognised school and a destination of choice.

“I am extremely proud of our happy, thriving community, highlighted by a parent’s recent comment that ’if you could have designed a school for your children, Cundall would be it!’. I am confident that, with Christopher’s leadership, it is very well placed to face the challenges of the years ahead.”

The school is holding open mornings on Saturday and on May 21.

This article is sponsored by Cundall Manor School.

It is ranked in the top nine per cent of independent schools in the UK and is situated in an idyllic part of rural North Yorkshire.

Now, prospective families are being invited to explore Cundall Manor School as it opens its doors for two special events in February and March.

The open days will take place at the “friendly, supportive and caring” school, which offers provision for boys and girls from the age of two to 16.

The first will be held on the morning of Saturday, February 5, followed by another on Saturday, March 26.

Amanda Kirby, who has been the headteacher at the school for almost 10 years, said:

“We hold open days to invite prospective parents to the school with the opportunity to see the school facilities and to get a feel of the Cundall experience. It allows them to meet the pupils ask them questions but also talk to the teachers as well.”

Mrs Kirby said the events provided an opportunity for the school to get a feel for who the prospective families are and in return parents and children are able to inspect the facilities and chat with pupils and staff.

She said:

“Parents can get an insight into our school culture, the curriculum and the type of pupils we produce. It also allows parents to meet our fantastic senior leadership team and they can establish a relationship.”

In terms of what the school has to offer, including state-of-the-art facilities, Mrs Kirby said Cundall Manor is “proof that the world of Enid Blyton can be at one with the 21st century”.

She added:

“Seeing is believing. Rather than driving success we promote success on an individual basis. We are not afraid to push pupils out of their comfort zone, cultivating a ‘yes’ mentality which prepares children to embrace the world and to think and act independently and without inhibitions.

“We possess excellent grass pitches for rugby, football and cricket. We have a 4G astro turf that is used for hockey, netball, football and tennis. We also possess a 20-metre, four-lane swimming pool.

Located in a magnificent 28-acre site in the Vale of York, between Ripon and Thirsk, Cundall Manor School mainly attracts pupils from a 20-mile radius, including the Harrogate district.

Mrs Kirby said:

“We attract pupils from a Harrogate as we have an extensive bus routes and one of the routes goes through the town centre.”

The open days will see parents greeted by some of the school’s prefects, before being accompanied to a welcome tent.

They will then be taken on a tour of the whole school by a prefect and will be invited to ask questions about the school and life from a pupil perspective.

Mrs Kirby said:

“During their tour of school, they will visit our Wild Wood, this will showcase some of the extracurricular activities we offer such as axe throwing, fire building and much more.

“They will then go onto our school field, which is a magnificent 26-acre field containing rugby, football and cricket pitches.

“We also have a new 4G astro turf, which allows us to mainly play hockey, but we also use it for netball and tennis.”

At the end of the tour, parents will be taken back to the tent where they will have the opportunity to speak with Mrs Kirby and her deputies. They will also have the opportunity to talk to the school’s new headteacher, Christopher James-Roll, who starts at the school in September.

Mrs Kirby added:

“Open days give prospective parents the opportunity to see Cundall in ‘full-flow’. We are not just the sum of our stunning surroundings, enriching curriculum, and extra-curricular opportunities. Parents say they can tangibly feel the friendly and purposeful atmosphere when they meet our pupils and staff. It is always wonderful to see everyone engaged in learning activities.

“Pupils lead our tours, giving prospective families a real insight into what it is like to be a pupil at Cundall Manor School. Some of these pupils have been here since they were in nursery and have many wonderful anecdotes of their time at school.

“Chatting over refreshments after the tours allows prospective families to meet with our head, head of admissions and deputies, affording parents a relaxed environment to ask any questions as they arise.

“Families leave feeling they’ve had a snap-shot into life at Cundall Manor School, ready to make informed decisions about the next steps to joining our family community.”

To register for one of the school’s open days click here to fill out a contact form or call 01423 360200.

A dog rescue charity has launched a £250,000 fundraising appeal to buy a dedicated home.

Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs, which is based near Masham, wants to buy the former Jerry Green Dog Rescue centre near Thirsk.

The charity already has £170,000 in pledges but needs another £250,000 to make the dream come true.

Over the last six years the charity has rescued about 200 dogs, many of which would otherwise have been put to sleep.

The Jerry Green site closed in the summer and will be sold by informal tender in mid-November.

Read more:

• Could you give one of these animals a happy home?
• Rescued ex-breeding dogs need special love…

SYD, which currently rents premises, believes this is the right time to buy dedicated kennels and “secure its future”.

Julie Hart, who is organising the fundraiser, told the Stray Ferret:

“This would make a big difference. We would have much more space so we would have room to grow. This would be the dream place to move into, it is fully furnished in a great location.

“It has been incredible to watch all of the donations coming through already. People have been very generous. We have had pledges from some people of £10,000.”

So far the gofundme page has reached £2,600 in donations out of the £250,000 target. Click or tap here to donate.

The asking price for the former Jerry Green site starts at £300,000. SYD hopes the fundraiser will help with bidding and set-up costs.

Gracie finds a new home

The English Bulldog Gracie, star of the first Stray Pets Club and SYD rescue, has been given a new home.

Gracie was used for breeding to make money and was abandoned after reaching the maximum age for reproducing.

She has given birth to around 30 puppies in her lifetime and has been left with the scars to show it.