Harrogate school invites ex-pupils to 50-year landmark carol service

One of the Harrogate district’s oldest primary schools is celebrating 50 years on its current site with a special carol service. 

Richard Taylor School was founded as Bilton Endowed School by Richard and Francis Taylor in 1785 and moved to its present location on Bilton Lane in 1973, changing its name in the process. 

To mark that event, the Church of England school will be holding a number of events, starting with a carol service at St John’s Church in Bilton on December 11. 

Andrew Symonds, headteacher of Richard Taylor School, told the Stray Ferret: 

“A lot of children have been educated here over the last half-century – we even have some pupils whose grandchildren went to Bilton Endowed School – and we’re hoping that as many of them as possible will come back and help us celebrate, as well as former parents, staff and governors. 

“St John’s is quite a large church, but we hope to fill it. We’ll be singing a lot of the old songs they used to sing when they were here, and there’ll be refreshments afterwards, with a warm and open welcome to all.” 

He said there were also plans to hold a musical concert in the spring term of 2024, as well as photographic exhibition that will include images lent by ex-pupils. He said: 

“We hope as many people as possible who have been a part of Richard Taylor School will come forward with their photos. There’s a lot of celebrate, and we’re sure there are a lot of ex-students who want to help us celebrate it.” 

Richard Taylor School’s 50th anniversary carol service will be held at St John’s Church at 6.30pm on Monday, December 11.

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Celebrations mark Rossett School’s 50th anniversary

Rossett School‘s first headteacher and former pupil Rachel Daly featured in celebrations to mark the Harrogate school’s 50th anniversary.

Jack Kennerley, who is now 87, sent a video message of congratulations that was played during a whole school assembly at which two other former headteachers, John Whittle and Pat Hunter, were among the special guests.

Mr Kennerley attended later in the day to plant a commemorative tree.

He recalled how Rossett had been due to launch at the start of the school year, but he had refused to open because there were no blackboards, chairs or tables. The first day eventually took place on September 24, 1973.

Mr Kennerley plants a commemorative tree.

England footballer Rachel Daly, who left Rossett in 2010, also sent a video message of congratulations. She will be visiting in person on Thursday to unveil the 3G sports pitches renamed in her honour.

The day of celebration and reminiscences, which took place on Thursday last week, also included a retro lunch of chicken in a basket and 1970s fancy dress.

About 150 former pupils attended a party for former students and staff that rounded off the celebrations.

Current headteacher Tim Milburn, himself a former Rossett student, said:

“The whole day was really special and it was wonderful to welcome so many people back to Rossett and to hear so many fantastic memories.

“There was such a fondness and appreciation for the school and its many inspirational staff and students.”

“There was a delightful atmosphere at the party, with lots of memories being shared and connections made. It was also lovely for me to see some of the teachers I remember from my time at Rossett.”

Rossett recently joined the Red Kite Learning Trust.

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Harrogate’s Rossett School to hold 50th anniversary reunion

Rossett School in Harrogate is inviting former staff and students to return as part of a day of celebrations to mark its 50th anniversary.

The school was founded in 1973 and the event on September 28 will therefore feature a 1970s theme.

Students will play retro sports and take part in a bake sale, tree planting, burying a time capsule, a bubble release and a whole school photo. The afternoon will feature a music festival on the field, with a DJ and photo booth.

Former staff and students are invited along later in the day to attend a social event between 4pm and 6pm.

Headteacher Tim Milburn, himself a former Rossett student, said:

“Plans are well underway for what will be a fantastic celebration of our wonderful school.

“It will be a chance for everyone involved in the school both now and in the years gone by not only to remember all our past achievements but, importantly, to look ahead to the many great things to come.”

Time of change

The anniversary comes at a time of considerable upheaval at Rossett.

An Ofsted report in January said the school ‘requires improvement’ and highlighted problems including high staff turnover, disruptive pupils and extremely high absence rates among disadvantaged students.

Mr Milburn acknowledged there had been some difficult times recently but said the school was responding proactively.

The school’s sixth form has merged with Harrogate Grammar School‘s and last week it was announced Rossett will join Red Kite Learning Trust.

You can express an interest in attending the 50th celebrations here.

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Rossett sports pitches to be renamed in honour of Rachel Daly

Sports pitches in Harrogate will be named after former pupil and England star Rachel Daly, Rossett School has confirmed.

Headteacher Tim Milburn said the decision was a “no brainer” after Daly was part of the Lionesses team which reached the World Cup Final last weekend.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’ve only been here a relatively short time, apart from when I was a pupil, but the association with her has been quite close.

“As everything has ramped up, with winning the Euros and now getting to the World Cup final, to talk about your former pupil like that is incredible.

“The messaging we can give to young people about whatever you dream, you can go on to do, has been phenomenal.”

Mr Milburn said the Football Association had promised to invest in pitches in honour of each Lioness after the team won the European Championships last summer.

However, that had “failed to materialise”, he said, so the school will rename its 3G pitches at Rossett Sports Centre in her honour.

While the school is investigating the potential for funding to be given by the FA or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport towards the renaming, Mr Milburn said the school would proceed regardless.

“it’s a quite straightforward, simple thing for us to do, given that she spent many hours in that area of school, honing her skills.

“It’s a really great visual reminder for our students that you can dream big and go on to achieve it.”

Mr Milburn said he had hoped to get Rachel back to join Rossett School’s 50th anniversary celebrations at the end of September, but she will be playing for her club, Aston Villa, at that time.

However, the school is planning to organise another date when an official opening of the newly-named pitches can be done with Rachel as guest of honour.

Early promise

Among those on the guest list at both events will be Mike Sweetman, the former football coach at Rossett School who first spotted Rachel as a promising young player.

Now retired, has spent the last week being interviewed by news organisations around the country, all keen to hear more about England’s number nine.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was head of recruitment at the school in year 7, so I used to go round the primaries to get them to come to Rossett.

“Really, it was just an excuse to secure the best footballers.

“Someone said, ‘there’s this kid, Rachel Daly, she plays for Killinghall Nomads’. I went down there and I stood on the sidelines and I saw this blonde-haired kid up front who was great, but I couldn’t see any girls, so I thought, ‘I’ve missed the game’.

“Someone came up to me afterwards and said, ‘you haven’t missed her, you watched the match’. I said, ‘don’t tell me it was the blonde-haired kid up front!’.”

After starting at Rossett aged 11, Rachel was soon selected for the under 16s – the only girls’ team at the school at the time.

But over the following years, Rossett gained an impressive reputation for its girls’ football, so much so that promising young players chose to go there so they could be part of it.

Mike Sweetman with England international Rachel Daly, who he coached at Rossett School.Mike Sweetman with Rachel Daly

Mr Sweetman was so sure he had a future star on his hands, he rang the FA to bring her to their scouts’ attention while she was still at school.

A representative came to a game where Rossett won 5-0, with Rachel scoring two of the goals. A few weeks later, she was invited to an England training camp.

Yet even he lists her achievements with a sense of wonder.

Rachel has been shortlisted as PFA players’ player of the year, as well as winning the golden boot in the WSL last season, before playing in the World Cup Final.

Mr Sweetman added:

“I felt proud when she was playing in my school team, never mind playing for Villa or England.”

Backing the campaign

While they’re keen to honour Rachel at school by naming the pitches after her, both Mr Milburn and Mr Sweetman believe more should be done for the wider town to recognise her achievements.

The Stray Ferret and Killinghall Nomads have been pressing North Yorkshire Council to do so, such as by naming the newly-opening Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre after the town’s Lioness.

A petition in support of the campaign has attracted more than 600 signatures.

Mr Milburn added:

“The town is clamouring for something to have in her honour. The Hydro probably fits that bill – a place that inspires people to get fit and active.”

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Follifoot pupils help bury time-capsule to mark 50-year Rudding Park anniversary

Schoolchildren from Follifoot have helped to bury a time-capsule to mark 50 years since the Mackaness family bought Rudding Park. 

The capsule was placed in the ground alongside a time-capsule planted in 1997 to mark the 25th anniversary of the family’s ownership of the estate.  

Replicating the format from 1997, schoolchildren from Years 1-6 at Follifoot C of E Primary School were invited to enter a competition to create a piece of artwork which depicted a winter’s day in Follifoot. The winning entries would be included in the time-capsule, and this time round, the winners would also be invited to private cinema and pizza party. 

Seven winners, William, Imogen, Alex, Florence, Olive, Florence and Beatrice, were selected, and came along to see the time-capsule being planted.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said: 

“As a local business, we recognise the importance of reaching out to our local community. Children at the school helped us plant our first time-capsule in 1997 and we made a promise to invite the next generation of schoolchildren to help us mark the next 25 years, so to see that come to fruition is quite something.

“The children created some fantastic entries and it was very difficult to make a decision, however were delighted to welcome the winners to help us plant the time-capsule today.”  

Winning entries were placed inside the capsule, along with a number of Rudding Park branded items to reflect the times including: a face covering, Christmas bauble, a medal from the inaugural Rudding Park Race 10K, a silk scarf work by the reception team, and a copy of the Rudding Review – a newspaper with an overview of 2022.  

Rebecca Holland, headteacher at Follifoot Church of England Primary School, said:  

“We are extremely lucky to have Rudding Park on our door-step. They have generously supported the school with numerous fundraising activities over the years, so to be approached to involve the children one again in such an important milestone was an absolute thrill.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship and hope to be invited to plant a third time-capsule marking their 75th anniversary.”

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Stray bonfire organisers appeal for more donations

The organisers of the 50th anniversary charity bonfire and fireworks on the Stray have appealed for more donations to ensure a successful event in nine days time.

An online gofundme page set up by Harrogate and District Round Table has so far attracted £1,220 in donations towards a goal of £8,000 with just over a week to go until the event on Saturday, November 6.

There will be a bucket fundraising collection on the night and people will be encouraged to text to donate £5. But with the current total being so short of the goal, the organisers have appealed for a flurry of online donations over the next week.

The event is organised by volunteers, who try to keep costs low but they have to spend money on fireworks, transportation of pallets and road traffic management.

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The £8,000 figure is how much the event costs to put on, and the Round Table always donates any profits to charity. This year’s charity is the Friends of Harrogate Hospital.

John Carter, who is in charge of organising the bonfire for the Round Table this year, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are going to put on a big bonfire and fireworks display. We hope people will enjoy the event after a pretty miserable 18 months.

“There is the online fundraiser but we will have lots of bucket shaking on the night as well as the text to donate. It is the first time we have done the online fundraiser.

“Over the years the amount we have raised on the night has dwindled as people don’t tend to carry cash so we are encouraging donations in other ways.”