A much-loved stalwart of Harrogate Theatre’s pantomime is to be honoured with a tribute evening to raise funds in his memory. 

Phil Lowe directed and co-wrote the theatre’s pantomime for 13 years before he died unexpectedly in October 2021. 

Bring Me Sunshine: A Tribute To Phil Lowe will be an evening of songs and comedy routines performed by pantomime cast members past and present, plus a special guest appearance from UK Foo Fighters’ Jay Apperley. 

Hosted by panto regulars Tim Stedman and Howard Chadwick, the one-off event, on Thursday, January 12 from 7.30pm, will be a celebration of Phil’s most memorable moments with Harrogate Theatre.  

Audience members are invited to pay what they like for tickets, from £10 to £40; VIP tickets, which include a complimentary prosecco on arrival and canapés at the interval, cost £50, and boxes are £200. 

The proceeds will be split between the British Heart Foundation and Phil’s children. 

Read more:

• ‘Irreplaceable’ Harrogate Theatre pantomime director Phil Lowe dies
• Tim Stedman returns for 22nd panto at Harrogate Theatre

Rossett School has paid tribute to Harrogate man and former student Sam Gibson, who has died in a car crash.

Police officers responded to reports of a vehicle leaving the road on the A59 near Upper Poppleton, between the junctions of Newlands Lane and Hodgson Lane, at about 7am on Sunday.

They discovered Mr Gibson’s grey Peugeot 208 car, which had left the road and landed on its roof.

The 24-year-old was certified dead at the scene.

Rossett School described Mr Gibson as a popular student who was a regular in theatrical performances.

A school spokesperson said:

“Sam was a popular student in both the lower school and in the sixth form.  A leading light in the performing arts, he performed and supported other students in classic productions such as ‘Oliver!’ when he was here at Rossett.

“He will be remembered as someone who was a friend to many; a champion for those less fortunate than him and an active fundraiser for charity. The thoughts of the whole Rossett community are with Sam’s family at this difficult time.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Hydro set to close for nine months
• Harrogate council conservation officer ‘cannot support’ Debenhams demolition

Ripon firm Econ Engineering has paid tribute to its “much-loved” sales director Andrew Lupton, who has died.

In a statement this morning, Econ said Mr Lupton had died “suddenly and unexpectedly” yesterday.

Mr Lupton, 56, ran the second-generation family business alongside his brother and co-director Jonathan Lupton and finance director Bev Shepherd.

The statement added:

“His untimely death has come as a terrible shock, and will take some time for us to come to terms with.

“Our thoughts at this incredibly sad time go out to his family and all those who knew Andrew, either professionally or personally.

“Andrew worked with immense passion and enthusiasm. It was his drive and determination that helped grow Econ into the business it is today.”

The company has set up a JustGiving page in Mr Lupton’s memory for people to pay tribute. The money raised will go to Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity.

The JustGiving page says the intensive care unit at Harrogate District Hospital cared for Andrew in his final hours.

Econ is the UK’s leading manufacturer of gritters and highway maintenance vehicles.

Read more:

• Charity Corner: being a friend to the elderly and lonely in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Bettys and Taylors offers £5,000 grants to help charities

A Harrogate man has died of a rare form of bone cancer at the age of just 24.

James Hindmarsh was diagnosed with  Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma last year and recently stopped receiving NHS treatment after several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In his final weeks, James’ friends and colleagues worked together to raise over £60,000 to pay for private treatment.

Four friends pledged to complete a number of challenges to raise funds. But unfortunately, James died before treatment could begin.

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge friends ‘Brave the Shave’ for Macmillan.
• Harrogate Neighbours walk 36 miles for Alzheimer’s Society.

James lived in Harrogate all his life and attended Ashville College.

Today, Ian Brown, president of the Ashvillian Society, the college’s alumni organisation, said:

“We are always saddened to learn of the death of an Old Ashvillian, and our thoughts and prayers go out to James’ parents, family and friends.

“I was so impressed with the spirit James showed both before, and especially during, his illness, and it’s devastating he lost his fight against the disease.”

Today we are telling the story of Carol Ann Alton who died in her care home in Harrogate last year. Carol died in her sleep after being ill for some time. She did not die of coronavirus but her family were unable to see her due to the restrictions. The family asked us to include her in our tributes on this Mothering Sunday. 

Carol Ann Alton was born August 4, 1945 in Leeds. She died aged 74 on June 30, 2020 in her care home in Harrogate.

Carol was loved dearly by her husband, children and grandchildren.

She grew up in Leeds with her brother, beginning her working life at the Yorkshire Post at 16.

Whilst working there she met her husband, Richard, and the “devoted” pair got married on June 7, 1969 in Pudsey.

Carol Alton on her wedding day.

The pair spent their first few years together in Alwoodley and later welcomed daughter, Tracy, and son, Richard.

Carol changed career paths and started working as a theatre nurse at Leeds General Infirmary. She was a committed nurse and worked long hours whilst looking after her young children.

The family moved to West Sussex for a few years for Richard’s job, but always one to stay busy, Carol found a job in the care home.

Carol gave up work to focus on family life when they moved back up north to Rawdon, Leeds, in 1987. Over the next few years the family enjoyed several holidays abroad.

Tracy has “happy memories” of their times in Florida and Spain.

Her mum was her “best friend” and this bond was never lost. When Tracy was pregnant is 2002 her mum and dad moved to Harrogate to be closer to her.

Carol Alton (centre bottom), her son Richard, husband Richard and daughter Tracy.

Over the next few years, Carol took the role of grandmother in her stride. She loved to cook and bake with her grandchildren and “they loved it too”, said Tracy.

In recent years, Carol’s health deteriorated and after a couple of falls in her home in October 2019 the family were forced to make the difficult decision to move her into a home.

After a few more months in and out of hospital, Carol settled into a home in Harrogate in February 2020.

Carol and Richard had never been apart and the move took a toll on the both of them.

When visits were stopped during lockdown Carol and Richard suffered. Tracy said her mum “lost her fight”.

Carol and Richard on their wedding day in 1969.

In April the pair could see each other through a window but that would be the last time before Carol passed.

Tracy said her mum was her best friend, and although coronavirus was not the cause of death it meant she “lost the last few months of her [mum’s] life”.

Carol was a private woman so her funeral was small, but she was surrounded by all those that loved her.

Coronavirus has stolen something from lots of families but for Tracy, who like many others was “dreading” today, wanted to tell the story of her mum and the “fantastic mum” she was.

Today we look at the life of John Puleikis, in the fifth of a series of articles remembering those lost to coronavirus over the past year. We’d like to thank the families and friends who have been in touch with the Stray Ferret to share precious memories of their loved ones.

John Peter Puleikis was born on November 15, 1943 in Klaipėda in Lithuania. He died aged 77 on November 30, 2020. John was the 100th person to die from coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital.

John was a much loved husband, father, brother, grandad and friend.

When John was born the country was under Nazi occupation and later, in January 1945 it was invaded by the Russians.

Hundreds of people lost their lives, and John’s parents knew they had to escape to ensure their children’s future. His father went first and then John, his mother and his three siblings fled on foot when he was just two years old.

John’s son recalls his Dad telling him they once stopped by a turnip field to feed his baby brother who later died of starvation.

The family finally found a home in Hull and reunited with their father in 1947.

His good friend, Dev Barber, said John’s early life “shaped him into the most loyal, helpful and friendly man”.

At his funeral, his son said his dad encompassed the Benjamin Franklin saying “out of adversity comes opportunity”.

John Puleikis

After going to school in Leeds, John settled in the city and began working mending sewing machines.

It was there he met his wife, Tricia, and went on to have a son and daughter.

“A family man through and through” John and his family settled in Pateley Bridge and opened a fish shop.

A few years later, the family moved to Knaresborough and opened ‘The Fresh Fish Shop’ in town. He later opened another on Beulah Street in Harrogate.

In the spring of 1977 street parties were organised across the country to celebrate the Queen’s silver jubilee. John and Tricia were unaware that this would be the day they would meet lifelong friends.

On that day, John and Tricia met six other couples while partying in the street. The bonds formed on that day would span 45 years and take them on incredible adventures as far away as Las Vegas.

John knew better than most how difficult it can to adjust to a new country and learn a new language. Whilst in Knaresborough he befriended a Lithuanian family to support them as they adjusted.

One young man, Auris, was welcomed into the friendship group. Alongside his two best friends Mick and Doug the four of them enjoyed many evenings in local pubs watching their beloved Leeds United play.

John and Tricia Puleikis (back right) with some of the Knaresborough couples in Las Vegas.

In his later years, John shut the chip shops and did some handy man work. He was a man that did “anything for anyone” and was even working on his neighbour’s garden the weeks before his passing.

Both Tricia and John tested positive for coronavirus. Tricia came down with a cold but John became very unwell.

Dev remembers video calling him in hospital on Tuesday and said he looked really well but by Thursday the “change was remarkable”. Despite, his worsening condition John continued to look ahead promising his friends they’d be back to Vegas in no time.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the case and John died the following week.

John’s story shows his strength and resilience, fighting against all odds to provide a stable home for his family and enjoy times with loving friends. Dev said he is “greatly missed by all of us”.

Today we look at the life of Michael Whitehouse, in the fourth of a series of articles remembering those lost to coronavirus over the past year. We’d like to thank the families and friends who have been in touch with the Stray Ferret to share precious memories of their loved ones.

Michael Whitehouse was born on January 2, 1954 in Tipton in the West Midlands. He died aged 67 on February 1, 2021 at Harrogate District Hospital.

Michael was love by his wife, Christine, all his children and family who said “he was the best” and will be missed deeply.

He grew up in the West Midlands with his two siblings before moving to Harrogate 32 years ago after meeting his wife Christine.

Micheal aged 9

Before coming to Harrogate he worked as a cabinet maker and as an engineer for BT.

Michael could turn his hand to anything and was “polite to everyone”. He walked into a Harrogate bar in the summer of 1989 unaware his future wife was sitting in the same place.

From that day the pair were inseparable and got married on June 6, 1994 at Harrogate registry office.

The pair settled into family life in Harrogate, joining their families and then going on to have four children together.

The pairs combined family was made up of 11 children including Richard, Lisa, Sarah, Stacey, Scott, Adam, Emma and Karl who live locally.

Micheal and Christine on their wedding day in 1994.

Micheal started working for Yellow Line Taxis in Harrogate and worked as a driver for the Army Foundation College taking the staff to work.

After getting married on June 6, 1994 at Harrogate registry office the pair settled into family life in Harrogate.

Micheal was a big Harrogate Town fan and shared his love, in his later years, with his sons and grandson by heading to weekend home games. He also supported West Bromwich Albion.

Family was everything to Micheal and with 17 grandchildren and three great grandchildren he was never without company.

All the family on daughter Stacey’s wedding day.

Despite moving to Harrogate, he had a strong relationship with his brother Robert whom he always admired.

His other big passion was British birds and kept birds in his garden. Christine remembers how he would entertain the children on walks around the Yorkshire countryside pointing out the different birds.

He was a keen gardener too, his son, Adam, said he was “always busy doing something”.

Christine and Michael also enjoyed their yearly holidays to Mablethorpe. Christine says she “misses him every day”.

Micheal and Christine at son’s, Richard, wedding to his wife Marie.

Towards the end of his life, Michael was taken to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus. He was in hospital for 11 days before passing away.

The family said they were “grateful” and found comfort in being able to be with him at the end when other families couldn’t. Even at the end, Michael’s priority was his family and asked his children to take care of Christine.

Christine said her husband was the man you meet “once in a lifetime” and says she will treasure their time together.

The family wanted to thank anyone who had reached out for their support during this difficult time.

Today we look at the life of Tony Wass, in the third of a series of articles remembering those lost to coronavirus over the past year. We’d like to thank the families and friends who have been in touch with the Stray Ferret to share precious memories of their loved ones.

Tony Wass was born on June 15, 1942 in Helperby. He died aged 78 on February 19, 2021 at Harrogate District Hospital.

Tony was loved dearly by his wife and two daughters as well as friends from Grosvenor Park on Boroughbridge Road.

Growing up in Helperby with his three sisters and one brother, Tony began his working life helping his dad on the farm.

Tony Wass aged 11

He then went on to work for Cyril Wrights coal merchants in Boroughbridge for 15 years. His daughter, Tracey, said “he was so happy there”.

At 25, he married Ann in York on June 17, 1967 and welcomed his two daughters Tracey and Lesley shortly after.

His next long-term job was in North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department. During this time, the family were living locally in Langthorpe and then Skelton.

Tony and Ann at their wedding in 1967.

A “Yorkshire man through and through”, Tony loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing with friends. He was a keen cyclist and runner completing his third and final Great North Run just before he turned 60.

His love for staying active meant he was cycling 50 mile routes up to the age of 60.

A “larger than life” character, Tony always stayed local and later became a traffic warden in Ripon until retirement.

Tony Wass, aged 58, after completing a Great North Run.

Tony and Ann loved Ripon and its community and built up a good network of friends. The pair moved to Grosvenor Park, 15 years ago, building strong friendships with the other residents.

At 72 Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He still enjoyed the outdoors and Tracey remembers her dad parking his chair up on the road at the top of the park to “just to watch the world go by”.

He continued to live at his home with Ann tending his beloved garden.

Tony receiving his silver award from the Mayor for Ripon in Bloom ‘Winning Garden’ (left) and his beloved garden and caravan (right).

Tony was classed as high risk so coronavirus restrictions meant he never met his great-grandson. Over the past year, his daughters and 2 grandchildren only saw him through the window or in the garden.

Towards the end of his life, Tony was taken into hospital and later contracted coronavirus whilst at Ripon Community Hospital. Tracey was able to see him once for ten minutes to say goodbye.

When he passed away, Tony was alone. Tracey said “that was the worst bit of it all, we couldn’t see him”.

Although small, Tracey said her dad’s funeral was packed full of the people that loved him including his loving friends at Grosvenor Park who called him the “life and soul of the park”.