Local MP gives thumbs up to local businesses at Christmas
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has thrown his support behind the town’s ‘Love Your High Street’ campaign. With the aim of championing local, independent businesses, Mr Jones was quick to point out the wonderful festive window displays provided by independent shops as an example of the unique ambience and “individual creativity” the shops provide.
Starbeck knitted out for Christmas
More than 750 knitted angels appeared overnight to greet the villagers of Starbeck, near Harrogate, thanks to volunteers from St Andrew’s Church, Starbeck Methodist and the Mission Church. The angels were located all over town and set up to greet early risers and children going to school, and were available for residents to take home to decorate their tree.
Harrogate Farm Shop donates to the homeless at Christmas
Successful Harrogate food business, Fodder, donates to the Harrogate Homeless Project all year round, but on Christmas Eve they made a special effort to help by delivering a special food parcel. The café and farm shop, run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the Great Yorkshire Showground, also helped serve dinners at the project’s day service Springboard.
No White Christmas in Harrogate
The long distance forecast for snow on Christmas Day once again failed to materialise, and the biggest problem ended up being freezing fog. The Met Office issued a yellow warning on Christmas Eve to watch out for patches of fog, which were due to last until 11.00am on Christmas Day.
Harrogate woman files comedy complaint over carol singers
A Harrogate woman called police on Friday December 21st to complain that the carol singers at her door were from Leeds! The unseasonal complaint was made because the woman suspected the singers “were not local and were up to no good”. As part of a social media campaign, North Yorkshire Police tweeted every incident reported on the busiest night of the year, and not surprisingly, this one prompted some amusing and bemused replies.
70 drivers caught in Christmas drink-drive campaign
More than 70 drivers were arrested from December 1st leading up to Christmas, as North Yorkshire Police stepped up their festive crackdown on drink driving. This number included a Harrogate woman being banned from driving for 12 months and fined £1000 for failing a breath test. 20 further court dates have also been set.
Special Christmas ceremony for war graves
A candlelit ceremony was arranged for December 23rd by Harrogate mum, Benji Walker, whose family included two members who died in World War l. The town’s Stonefell Cemetery was the venue, and the guests lit up the Commonwealth War graves to warm the hearts at Christmas.
Poorly children get panto treat
Nobody missed out on Harrogate’s annual pantomime this Christmas, not even the poorly children of Harrogate Hospital. A hi-tech link-up with Harrogate Theatre meant that several performances of Jack & the Beanstalk could be watched in bed by the children via a live stream.
Charity earns funds through festive gift-wrapping
Shoppers in Harrogate were given a helping hand by volunteers from brain tumour charity the PPR Foundation, who set up a gift-wrapping service in the run-up to Christmas. Shoppers paid an agreed price for the gift-wrapping in support of the charity’s £1m fundraising target.
Returning festive fair a success
The third festive fair in the Royal Hall featured a range of over 300 Yorkshire-based businesses, offering cooking demonstrations, craft workshops, food and drink stalls and plenty of hand-made gifts.
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