It is doubtful whether anyone has known more about Harrogate’s people and places than Malcolm Neesam, who died on his 76th birthday this week.

Malcolm, who wrote about a dozen books and numerous other publications about the town, dedicated much of his life to telling Harrogate’s story. He did it better than anyone and will be remembered as the town’s greatest historian.

He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the buildings and people that shaped Harrogate but he was also gentle and modest, and never boastful or condescending in print or real life.

Underpinning it all was a deep love for the town, and in particular the Stray.

Born in a nursing home on Ripon Road in Harrogate on June 28, 1946, Malcolm’s father worked for a rubber company that manufactured soles for footwear.

Sunday afternoon walks with his mother stimulated his interest in history at the age of six or seven. She would often talk about things they passed. “I didn’t need a playground,” he once said. “I had the Stray.”

He attended St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, “a very happy little school”, as he described it, and then Christ Church Secondary School for Boys. The school, which was situated between the Empress roundabout and Christ Church on the Stray, amalgamated with St Peter’s Secondary School for Girls to create St Aidan’s Church of England High School more than 50 years ago. Retirement flats now occupy the site.

In his last year at Christ Church, Malcolm’s parents noticed an advert for an assistant at Harrogate library and thought his developing interest in history would make him suitable.

Photographed in London in 1988. Pic by Benedict Hess

After three years in that role he accepted a post at Leeds University studying archives and librarianship. He later attributed his thoroughness at gathering source material for books to his training as an archivist.

Malcolm then moved to Hereford for four-and-a-half years to set-up the city’s first children’s library service before moving further south to Northwood, in the London borough of Hillingdon close to the Metropolitan line, to work as an archivist for the Duchy of Lancaster.

Music librarian

He did this for three years before going to York, shortly before local government reorganisation in 1974, to become city music librarian.

But when reorganisation changed everything, Malcolm was offered a post by the new local authority as county music librarian, which involved buying music for county library services. Being a great lover of classical music, he was perfectly suited.

He stayed in York until 1996, overseeing new methods of administration, storage and repairs as technology changed and vinyl was replaced by cassettes and then CDs in North Yorkshire libraries. All the time he commuted from Harrogate.

He admired York’s decision to effectively pull out of North Yorkshire local government and become independent in the 1990s. Malcolm hated the trend towards ever more remote forms of local government, which will culminate in the creation of North Yorkshire Council next year and the abolition of seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council. He felt the more decision-making left Harrogate, the more the town lost control of its wealth and character.

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In 1996 he received an offer to work for an American company called Alumni Holidays, which arranged holidays for former university students.

He had done some guiding in York, which proved useful in his new role in which he gave lectures on subjects such as Scarborough, York and the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire architecture and Yorkshire literature. Alumni Holidays was horrified by his initial omission of James Herriot so the author was eventually added to his list of topics.

Malcolm worked for the company on a freelance basis for 10 years but the Madrid train bombing in 2004 severely disrupted business by leaving many Americans too afraid to travel to Europe.

Full-time writer

In 2006 he decided to concentrate on writing full-time. He had written short stories at school but didn’t let anyone see them. His writing career had begun in 1973 when the Library Association commissioned him to write a guide to children’s sci-fi called Into Space. It went to nearly every library in the country.

A founding member of the Harrogate Society, which later became Harrogate Civic Society, he was asked by local firms such as Ogden, Raworths and William Woods to write books for them. He also undertook research for plaques. His writing career, he said, “grew in stages”.

Harrogate in Old Picture Postcards was published in 1992, followed by Exclusively Harrogate in 1994 and Harrogate: A History of the English Spa from the Earliest Times to the Present in 2001. His works also included a centennial history of Harrogate Grammar School in 2003.

During this time he became, in the words of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, “the chronicler of our town”.

The two books of which Malcolm was proudest are Harrogate Great Chronicle 1332-1841, which was the product of 40 years work, and Wells and Swells: The Golden Age of Harrogate Spa, 1842–1923, which was published in April this year. His beloved Harrogate Club named its dining room in his honour at the book launch. By then, Malcolm was in the advanced stages of the cancer that would claim his life and it was a deeply emotional occasion at a place that meant so much to him.

Malcolm Neesam at the launch of his final book, Wells and Swells.

He started work on a third volume, covering Harrogate’s history since 1923, fully aware he was unlikely to finish it.

Before Malcolm, William Grainge, who died in 1895, was considered to be Harrogate’s foremost historian. Grainge had published books and short publications about the town in the 1860s and 1870s, but nothing substantial. Malcolm described Grainge’s style as “too chatty” whereas he focused more on the history.

He and the late Harold Walker, a historian and one-time editor of the Harrogate Herald, set up the Walker-Neesam archive, ensuring their collective research could stay for ever within the town.

His vast collection of papers and photo library will go to Harrogate’s Mercer Art Gallery. Organising them won’t be an easy task: thousands of brown envelopes assigned alphabetically by subject took up an entire room at his home.

Malcolm gave a typically modest answer when asked why he only wrote about Harrogate, saying: “Some writers can turn to anything. I can only write about things that interest me.”

Freedom of the Borough

Malcolm was instrumental in establishing the listing of many buildings in the town and in establishing the first conservation area. He was also the founder historian of the Harrogate Brown Plaque scheme.

He was a member of the Harrogate Club from the 1990s and adored the place and its history. Arthur Conan Doyle once played billiards there.

Harrogate Borough Council awarded him the Freedom of the Borough in 1996 for his services as a historian. He supported numerous local organisations, including Harrogate Dramatic Society and Harrogate Theatre, often sitting on their committees.

Unfailingly polite, he was nevertheless often reserved and diffident in public. He rarely talked about his private life but close friends say he had a keen sense of humour, which could border on the macabre at times, and was an excellent cook.

Besides music, he had a passion for reading, especially non-fiction history and Victorian fiction, such as Dickens, Thackeray and Jane Austin.

But his lifelong passion was Harrogate. He loved its wide streets, the Stray and shops, and felt the population was just about ideal.

He never married. His elder sister, Shirley, who had two sons, died three years ago. Malcolm’s two nephews live in Burnley and East Sussex.

Asked where he was happiest, he said: “It may seem obvious but just sitting on the Stray under a tree.”

Malcolm Neesam, historian and author, born June 28, 1946, died June 28, 2022

The former editor of the Harrogate Advertiser has been made an honorary freeman of the borough after 41 years in local journalism.

Harrogate Borough Council bestowed the honour on Jean MacQuarrie, who stepped down from her role this year, at an extraordinary council meeting on Wednesday.

Ms MacQuarrie was editor for 33 years and also served as editor-in-chief of JPIMedia’s Yorkshire weeklies.

She was also involved in many local organisations including Saint Michael’s Hospice, the Army Foundation College independent advisory board, Harrogate Business Luncheon Club, Harrogate BID and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Ms MacQuarrie said: 

“For my work in Harrogate and the wider district to be recognised in this way is amazing, and I am very grateful to all the councillors for granting me this, their highest honour.

“I supported many organisations throughout the district, whether that was to help them raise funds, or raise the profile of their work by shining a light on what they were trying to achieve.

“But to be honest, it was easy, because the Harrogate district is full of inspiring, enthusiastic and generous people who are committed to supporting others.”

She added: 

“Local newspapers are all about being a champion for your town and district, highlighting the positives and also challenging and campaigning when you and your readers see something that is wrong.

“I have worked with some great people over the years, and always been lucky to have a good team around me. I had some exceptional editorial leaders too, who gave me free rein to edit the newspapers in the way I wanted to.

“I particularly enjoyed mentoring and encouraging talented young journalists and watching their careers flourish.”

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The title of honorary freeman is the highest honour the borough can bestow and was last awarded in 2012 to Jonathan Wild, former chairman and chief executive of Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said: 

“Jean has been an unstinting champion for all things in the Harrogate district for decades.

“She ensured that our area’s song was sung, that local events were supported week in, week out, that campaigns to make our area better enjoyed a high profile and that our businesses were enthusiastically promoted.

“Jean has also made an outstanding contribution to the development of young and upcoming journalists.

“Over the decades I have been involved in local politics, I have seen many young journalists working on the local paper. I have seen them grow and move on to bigger things.

“This doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because there is an exceptional person nurturing them. And that person is Jean MacQuarrie.”

The former editor of the Harrogate Advertiser looks set to be made an honorary freeman of the borough.

Harrogate Borough Council will next week consider giving the title, which was last given in in 2012, to Jean MacQuarrie.

The accolade recognises people of distinction and “in the opinion of the council rendered eminent services to the district”.

The last time the council bestowed the freedom of the borough was in 2012 when former chairman and chief executive of Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, Jonathan Wild, was given the title.

There were calls this summer for Harrogate district resident Gareth Southgate, the England manager, to receive it.

Ms MacQuarrie retired this year after 41 years in local journalism. She was appointed editor of the Harrogate Advertiser in 1988.

She was also involved in local organisations, including Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Harrogate Theatre and the Army Foundation College.

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In a report due before the council’s general purposes committee next week, the authority said Ms MacQuarrie “worked hard to promote and support the town and district during her 33 years as editor”.

If approved, an extraordinary council meeting will be called to confer the title on Ms MacQuarrie.

She will be invited to the meeting to sign the Roll of Honorary Freemen following the council’s approval.

Councillors have called for England football team manager Gareth Southgate to be honoured with the Freedom of the Borough of Harrogate.

Mr Southgate, who lives near Swinsty Reservoir, guided the England men’s team to their first major championships final in 55 years last night.

While there is talk nationally of a knighthood, attention has turned locally to awarding him the freedom of the borough — which is the highest honour Harrogate Borough Council can bestow.

Among those to have received the accolade, which is reserved for people who the council deem to have ‘rendered eminent services to the district’, is Jonathan Wild, the former chief executive and chair of Bettys and Taylors.

Six councillors, including the mayor, told the Stray Ferret today they would back a motion for Mr Southgate to receive the honour.

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Conservative John Ennis, who represents Harrogate Stray, said it was a “marvellous idea”, adding:

“Gareth Southgate has been a dignified figure the whole country has got behind.

“It is great that he lives in the area as well, he is a true credit to the town.”

Liberal Democrat Christine Willoughby, who represents Knaresborough Eastfield, said:

“I think if Gareth Southgate is eligible for the award then he certainly deserves the recognition.

“We could also celebrate any local Olympic sports stars and also the cyclist Mark Cavendish.”

‘He lives in my ward’

Victoria Oldham, the Conservative councillor for Washburn, said:

“While I am not entirely sure what the requirements are, I would certainly support giving Gareth Southgate the freedom of the borough.

“The fact that he lives in my ward makes it even better. His team’s performance has really put a smile on our faces.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Chapman, who represents Harrogate Bilton Grange and is currently the district’s mayor, said:

“Being a football fan myself I am very much aware of Gareth’s efforts and of course he is a resident of the district.

“From a personal perspective I think it would be great if we could give him some recognition locally.”

Cllr Stuart Martin, the Conservative representative for Ripon Moorside and former mayor, said:

“I think Gareth Southgate deserves all the accolades he can get. He seems to get all the players to perform at their best.

“It is always really nice when people from the Harrogate district do well and lead the way.”

Cllr Paul Haslam, the Conservative representative for Harrogate Old Bilton, said:

“I would be very happy to support it. He could even put his sheep on the Stray if that’s what it entitles him to!”

England beat Denmark 2-1 last night to achieve a place in Sunday’s final of Euro 2020 against Italy.