A centenary concert is being held on Friday to celebrate the life of a remarkable composer buried in Hampsthwaite.
Amy Woodforde-Finden’s music was much sought-after at the turn of the last century but her reputation fell into obscurity following her death in 1919.
Her Kashmiri Love Song inspired films, novels and even perfumes. Rudolph Valentino recorded the song in 1923.
A white marble recumbent memorial to Amy was unveiled in St Thomas a Becket Church on April 15, 1923. On the same day, the vicar’s daughter Geraldine Peck sang White Sentinels.
Amy’s marble memorial in Hampsthwaite
Thomas Flessenkaemper, the former director of music for the benefice of Hampsthwaite, Killinghall and Birstwith, returned to Hampsthwaite on Saturday for a re-enactment of the unveiling exactly 100 years on.
The German composer and pianist, who started the Amy Woodforde-Finden Music Festival last year before suddenly leaving his post, and soprano Tilly Eustace-Forrest performed while a wreath of white irises was placed on the tomb.
Saturday’s memorial event
Mr Flessenkaemper and the mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond will join local musicians to perform Amy’s songs in a concert at Hampsthwaite’s Memorial Hall on Friday.
The Kashmiri Love Song is among the songs on the programme.
The event will have the informal feel of an Edwardian soirée type event with wine and canapés at candle-lit tables. Tickets cost £8 and can be booked here.
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Tree planted at Starbeck care home as covid living memorial
A tree has been planted at a care home in Starbeck as a living memorial to those who suffered or lost their lives to covid.
The tree, which is one of eight making up a new North Yorkshire tree trail, was planted on Monday at county council-run care home, Station View, by Councillor Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for health and adult services.
The tree in Starbeck was the fourth of eight being planted by the council as part of its tree trail.
It follows planting ceremonies at County Hall in Northallerton, the Meadowfields Extra Care housing scheme in Thirsk, and the Fernbank Court Extra Care scheme in Selby.
Further ceremonies will be held at the county council’s Aireville Nurseries in Skipton, Sycamore Hall in Bainbridge, as well as Scarborough’s Cedear Court Extra Care complex and Deansfield Court Extra Care in Norton, Malton.
Cllr Harrison said:
“The covid-19 pandemic had tragic consequences for many people in North Yorkshire and it is important that we remember that loss, while also recognising the efforts of many people who worked to keep people safe.
“This tree trail will provide a permanent living memorial where local residents will be able to reflect on their experiences, if they so wish, and also to act as reminder of the way our communities pulled together to help each other.”
According to the latest data from the government, more than 1,700 people have lost their lives linked to the covid pandemic in North Yorkshire.
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Family of murdered Harrogate policeman seeks permanent memorial
The family of PC David Haigh, the Harrogate police officer murdered by Barry Prudom, has called for a permanent memorial to be erected.
Father-of-three PC Haigh was just 29 years old when he was shot by Prudom at Norwood Edge car park in Stainburn Forest.
PC Haigh’s widow, three sons and other family members hung a wreath at the site yesterday — 40 years to the day after he was slain.
They laid another wreath at Harrogate police station, where there is a plaque commemorating a fallen colleague.
But besides that plaque there is nothing to honour the officer who made the ultimate sacrifice and his family feels it is time that was put right.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret at yesterday’s wreath hanging, relatives said they were in discussions with the Police Memorial Trust, a charity that erects memorials to British police officers killed in the line of duty.
They hope something will be arranged for the site where he died, which is currently a car park owned by the Forestry Commission.
The memorial to PC David Haigh.
Annette Jakes, PC Haigh’s widow, returns to the site most years to pay her respects. She said:
“He was a hero. Yet there is nothing to remember him except the plaque in the police station.”
The fateful day
Ms Jukes was so overcome by grief at the news of her husband’s death that she had to be sedated for many days afterwards.
Recalling the fateful moment, she said she could see police officers through the glass door of the family home at the time on Elmwood Street:
“It was about 10am. There was the chief superintendent and the police doctor behind him.
“The chief superintendent said ‘I think you’d better sit down’. Then he told me my husband had been killed this morning. I don’t remember anything after that. I just hit the ground. I was injected for weeks. I never even saw the children.”
Eldest sons Carl and Michael, who were 11 and eight at the time, were sent home from Grove Road Community Primary School. They were waiting in a neighbour’s house when they overheard the news that their dad had been killed. Two weeks later they were back at school.
PC David Haigh
Youngest son Richard, who was just three at the time, said he was “unbelievably proud” of his dad.
He added it was a cruel twist of fate that the anniversary of PC Haigh’s death always fell around Father’s Day.
About a dozen family members, including grandchildren of PC Haigh, were at Norwood Edge yesterday to pay their respects.
It was a short and dignified occasion at the spot where it is thought PC Haigh died from a single gunshot wound.
Prudom went on the run and killed two more people before turning the gun on himself 17 days later after Britain’s biggest ever manhunt.
Now the family hopes a more lasting tribute will be erected in memory of the young Harrogate father who sacrificed his life serving others.
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Trees in new Bilton woodland to be dedicated to covid victims
A new woodland in Bilton will be planted next month with trees dedicated to lives lost during the covid pandemic.
Around 500 trees will be planted by Bilton Conservation Group volunteers in Bilton Fields close to the viaduct.
It will be called Victory Wood, as it was originally intended to mark VE Day, with the trees planted in the shape of a V.
However, covid has delayed the planting by several years. Keith Wilkinson, chair of the group, said planters can dedicate a tree to a friend or family member that has died from the virus.
The dedication will be private as trees will not be identified with a plaque.
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Planting will take place on Saturday May 21 from 10.00am.
Twelve species will be planted, including oak, cherry and hazel trees.
If you’d like to plant a tree and make a dedication, contact Mr Wilkinson: niddgorge2016@icloud.com
The woodland has been sponsored by the Harrogate Lions.