This story is sponsored by Belmont Grosvenor School which will be holding a Bonfire Night Party on Friday, November 4. There will be s’mores round the campfire, music, hot food, a licensed bar, stalls and more. Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display starts at 7.20pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost £10 for adults (children under the age of 18 are free). Get them in advance by emailing kaye.walker@bewonder.co.uk.

Bonfire night is fast approaching so we have put together a list of events coming up in the Harrogate district.

They all take place over the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6.

Let us know if we have missed your event and we will add it to the list. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or call us on 01423 276197.

Friday, November 4

Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party

Where: Belmont Grosvenor School, Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2JG

When: 6pm start, 6.30pm fire lit, 7.20pm firework display

Tickets: £10 with children under the age of 18 entering for free

Ripon Rowels Rotary Charity Bonfire and Firework Display

Where: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, HG4 1UG

When: 5.30pm start, 7pm fire lit, 7.30pm firework display

Tickets: adults £6, children £3, family (2 adult, 2 child) £12, under 3s free

Spofforth Village Firework Display

Where: Spofforth Cricket Ground, School Lane, Spofforth, HG3 1BA

When: Gates open 5pm, 7pm-7.15pm firework display.

Tickets: Family pre-paid £12:50 and on the gate £15. Adult pre-paid £4 and on the gate £5. Child pre-paid £2:50 and on the gate £3.

Swinton Bivouac Silent Bonfire Night

Where: Swinton Bivouac, Masham, Ilton, Ripon, HG4 4JZ

When: 6.30pm bonfire lit. There will be no fireworks or loud bangs.

Tickets: free entry, food and drinks available from the Bivouac Café

Aspin Park Academy Fireworks Night, Knaresborough

Where: School grounds

When: 5.15pm start, 6.30pm firework display

Tickets: Advance online booking – adults £4, children £3, family ticket £12, preschoolers free. On the gate – adults £5, children £4

Kirkby Malzeard community village bonfire

Where: North Close Farm, Ripon Road, Kirkby Malzeard

When: 6pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks

Tickets: Free entry but donations welcome to fund next year’s event. Parking is available at North Close Farm. No sparklers allowed. Bring a torch.

Two commemorative plaques are to be installed in Pateley Bridge and Bewerley this summer to thank the communities for their “amazing” response during the pandemic.

Pateley Bridge Town Council and Bewerley Parish Council are installing the markers in their towns as a way to thank and recognise community members who collectively came forward to help out.

The idea has been discussed at a few council meetings in recent months but at Tuesday’s annual council meeting it was agreed to arrange an unveiling for July.

Both councils felt it was important to hold the ceremony once lockdown had eased to allow for a proper celebration of people’s hard work.

One plaque will be placed halfway up Pateley Bridge high street, aside other plaques, and the other on the outer wall of Bewerley youth shelter. They will be funded by the two councils.

Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Mike Holt, said he came up with the idea a few months ago after trying to find a way to recognise various people and companies’ efforts.

He said:

“On the whole, the community came together in a tremendous way. The plaque will be there forever to remind people of the past year. I think it’s important for us to come together and remember the people who came together at the time.”

Further arrangements for July’s unveilings will be announced as covid restrictions ease.

Read more:

• WATCH as the Men’s Shed mental health group in Pateley Bridge opens
• Ripon community group organises free activities for kids this summer

Local democracy is facing an unprecedented challenge as parish, district and county councils find ways to work and continue decision-making when they cannot meet in person.

The business of councils is being completed through powers delegated to officers or in online meetings – including this week’s cabinet meeting at Harrogate Borough Council.

The ceremonial roles of mayors and their deputies are usually handed over at annual meetings in May. The traditional ceremonies are not currently possible, but some new mayors are still taking up the reins across the Harrogate district.

Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge both have new mayors after completing their official declarations remotely.

The incoming Boroughbridge mayor Coun Pat Taylor was sworn in from May 1st, taking over after Coun Geoff Haldenby concluded his two-year term of office. Town clerk John Nichols said:

“We have gone through the protocols and it has been done in accordance with our regulations. We just couldn’t get people together for our mayor-making ceremony. We may hold a retrospective event when we can.”

In Pateley Bridge, a Zoom meeting saw Coun Mike Holt complete his declarations online, with the official documents to be signed when social distancing measures allow. He takes over from Coun Chris Skaife and, although the council does not hold a ceremony, the usual service and civic reception could still take place later in the year.

Coun Eamon Parkin will remain Mayor of Ripon until the city council can meet again

In Ripon and Knaresborough, the current mayor will stay in post for now. Ripon City Council’s current mayor, Coun Eamon Parkin, will continue in his role until the council can meet to make a decision about how to proceed with a new mayor. City clerk Paula Benson said:

“The nature of the mayor’s role will change because there are no mayoral functions to attend. While he carries out a civic role, he is also the chairman of the council in law.

“The requirement to hold an annual meeting has been relaxed, so the current office holder can carry on. The council needs a chairman, so we’re following that piece of legislation, passed last month.”

Mrs Benson is carrying out routine work, such as giving responses to planning applications in line with Ripon City Plan, which has been adopted as its policy. However, decisions about future activities such as choosing a contractor to supply Christmas lights have been put on hold until meetings resume.

She said that, should socially-distanced meetings be resumed in the coming months, the council will have to consider how this might be done in a way that will still allow the public to attend safely.

‘It wouldn’t be fair’

In Knaresborough, Coun Christine Willoughby is expecting to continue her mayoral role for now and potentially for the full year, subject to a final decision by the town council.

“We aren’t able to hold an annual meeting and do a change-over. If we did it in a few months’ time, it wouldn’t be fair on the new mayor to do a short year.”

Coun Willoughby said the business of the council is carrying on, including negotiating a new Christmas lights contract and agreeing a grant for FEVA. The latter will support street entertainment in August, if social distancing guidance at the time allows.

Harrogate Borough Council, meanwhile, says it has not yet made a decision on how to proceed, with its planned mayor-making ceremony due to have taken place on May 18th. Coun Stuart Martin, who has held the role of mayor for the last year, said he expects a decision to be made next week after any change in government guidance over the weekend.

North Yorkshire County Council’s AGM has been postponed. The chairman, Coun Jim Clark of Harrogate Harlow division, and vice chairman Robert Heseltine of Skipton East, will continue in their roles until the meeting can be held either virtually or in person.

Leaders from across the Harrogate district have sent their best wishes and prayers to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is in intensive care.

Medical staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in London took the decision to move Mr Johnson on Monday after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

Harrogate mayor Stuart Martin told the Stray Ferret:

“I would like to send Boris Johnson best wishes for a speedy recovery from myself and on behalf of my wife April who has been in Harrogate hospital with coronavirus. We need Boris’ leadership right now.”

Ripon mayor Eamon Parkin said:

“If I could send Boris Johnson a message directly I would tell him that his country needs him back. I have just found out this morning that a close friend has lost their life to coronavirus. It really can affect everyone.”

Pateley Bridge mayor Chris Skaife added:

“We would like to send our best wishes to the Prime Minister and to his wife. This virus has had a massive impact on everyone’s lives. I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone to listen to the advice to stay at home to save lives.”

Boroughbridge mayor Geoff Haldenby said:

“I would very much like for Boris to get better to return to his family and to his job. I think that he is the only person in this country that can lead us right now. He very much resembles Winston Churchill and this is another war that we are going through.”

Both Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, and Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, have tweeted their support for the Prime Minister.

All thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery for @BorisJohnson & to his medical team. @GSTTnhs is a very special place with the best possible care

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) April 6, 2020

Shocking news about the Prime Minister. I wish him, and all those suffering symptoms of COVID-19, a swift and full recovery. Please #stayathome, protect the NHS and save lives.

— Andrew Jones MP (@AJonesMP) April 7, 2020