Ripon City Council has issued new covid guidance in the run-up to staging another large public event in the Market Square this weekend.

The guidance follows measures brought in by the government this week to combat the Omicron variant of the disease.

The first of two artisan Christmas markets will be held on Sunday, alongside free fairground rides for children and a festive grotto with Santa (pictured below).

The city council said in a statement:

“Anyone who is planning on attending our events is encouraged to take a lateral flow test beforehand to help to stop the spread of covid.

“Please help us by following the guidance below if you are visiting our grotto, fairground and Christmas market on December 5 and 12.”

The guidance is as follows:

• People going to events are strongly advised to take a lateral flow test at home before attending
• Anyone with a positive test result must stay at home, and household members should follow national guidance for close contacts
• Face coverings should be worn indoors and in crowded spaces
• Keep a respectful social distance between yourselves and people who are not in your group
• Do not travel to the event if you are feeling unwell. If you start to feel unwell whilst at an event, you should leave the site immediately
• Follow all covid-19 measures in place at events, including regular hand hygiene

Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon Julian Smith has resigned from three roles advising businesses that earned him £144,000 a year.

The latest MP’s register of interests, published today, shows Mr Smith ended contracts with Hygen Energy, Simply Blue Management and MJM Marine on November 16.

Mr Smith was dragged into the debate around Tory ‘sleaze’ following the resignation of Owen Paterson MP. Mr Smith is paid an £81,932 salary for being an MP.

He received criticism from Brian McDaid, former parliamentary candidate from the Skipton and Ripon Labour Party, who accused Mr Smith of not focusing his time on his constituents.

Mr Smith resigned from his three roles the day before Prime Minister Boris Johnson proposed to ban MPs from acting as paid political consultants or lobbyists.

All the roles were approved by the Advisory Committee of Business Appointments.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Smith to comment but we did not receive a response.

Read more:

• WATCH Ripon residents give their views on MP Julian Smith’s £144,000 consultancy work
• Ripon MP Julian Smith could lose £144,000 under PM’s plan to end consultancy work

Mr Smith’s second jobs

Mr Smith was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from July 2019 to February 2020.

In August 2020 he began advising Hygen Energy, previously known as Ryse Hydrogen. Its chief executive Jo Bamford also owns Wrightbus, a Northern Ireland bus manufacturer. The contract was for £60,000 for 20 hours of work.

He was also paid to work for 30 to 40 hours over 12 months for MJM Marine, a cruise ship refurbishment company based in County Down. This contract was also for £60,000.

In January 2021 he began another role, advising Cork-based sustainable energy and aquaculture company Simply Blue Management. He was paid £24,000 for up to two hours work per month.

A record £25,000 was raised at Ripon Cathedral’s Christmas Gift and Food Fair, as 2,500 visitors braved Storm Arwen to attend the two-day event.

Proceeds from the fair (pictured above), held last Friday and Saturday, exceeded pre-pandemic levels and will help fund the cathedral’s development plans for the future.

As a covid safety measure, pre-bookable time slots were made available online.

Visitors, who came from Yorkshire and further afield, enjoyed a festive atmosphere, with 100 stalls selling seasonal gifts and food.

Aysgarth School Choir, The Yorkshire Decibelles, Knot Another Choir and Emily and Adrian Roberts were among those providing entertainment.

The pop-up cafe’s offerings included hot turkey sandwiches and homemade cakes, along with tea, coffee and mulled wine, all served by cathedral volunteers. Children’s craft activities, a chocolate tombola and a raffle were also available.

The cathedral’s development campaign manager, Margaret Hammond, said:

“The fair marks the start of the Christmas celebrations for the local community. It was wonderful to see so many people back enjoying the spectacular setting of Ripon Cathedral.

“There are so many individuals to thank for helping to make this year’s Christmas Fair such a truly special event: Freda Bottomley, one of our volunteers, along with Dean John and his team of clergy, raised a record £1,600 selling raffle tickets; 70 volunteers manned the door, served refreshments and baked wonderful Christmas Cakes which were sold on the fundraising stall.

“Ripon businesses including Morrisons supermarket provided raffle prizes and provided the mince pies. Soldiers from Claro Barracks helped set up the event and everyone worked incredibly hard and helped in so many different ways to make sure it was a huge success.

“The event completely relies on the generosity of volunteers giving up their time to help raise funds.”

Two Harrogate brothers who have carried on the work of their grandfather and father have won a top award for their lifetime of work in the toy industry.

Many people in the Harrogate district will have fond memories of Collinsons toy shops in Ripon and Harrogate. Although those shops are long gone, two brothers are still self-confessed ‘toy boys’.

Mark and Paul Collinson got involved in the industry early on at seven-year-olds when their father Ian Collinson showed them the ropes.

After working in the retail side of the business for several years, the brothers moved into the sales side, where they have worked for decades with national and international brands.

Read more:

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• Starbeck mum hoping to grow Solo Mamas support network
• Harrogate district churches urge people to light up their windows for Christmas

Now with around 43 years in the toy industry under their belts, Mark and Paul have won the British Toy & Hobby Association’s coveted Golden Teddy Award.

Inaugurated in 2001, the Golden Teddy awards are for people who have served the industry for more than 15 years and go over and above expectations.

The pair, who have launched major brands like Funko and VTech, were presented with the award at Orchid Restaurant in Harrogate last week. Mark told the Stray Ferret:

“We were both humbled to receive the award. It’s not like us to shout about our work but we are at the end of our careers now and are proud to look back.

“There are lots of people in Harrogate and Ripon over a certain age who still have fond memories of our father’s and grandfather’s shop.

“Back then going to the toy shop was a rare treat for children. The industry has changed massively over the years but young children still have that love for play.”

Toys galore!

Collinsons in the Harrogate district

Fred Collinson opened the first shop in Ripon selling sportswear, toys and leather goods in 1952.

His son, and Mark and Paul’s father, Ian Collinson furthered the family name when he opened a toy shop called Collinsons on James Street, Harrogate in 1972.

An advert, which can be seen in Harrogate Library, said “two whole floors of toys, boxed games and books make Collinsons a veritable children’s (and parents) paradise.”

Ian Collinson died of cancer at 66-years-old in 2001. His sons Mark and Paul eventually went into the sales side of the toy industry and now, after 43 years, they have won a Golden Teddy Award.

Both Mark and Paul are nearing the end of their careers but Paul’s son William Collinson is keeping the tradition alive. He is now the general manager in the UK for the Zuru Toy Company.

Harrogate district churches are urging people to light their windows to spread a message of love and hope at Christmas.

Harrogate Hub, which represents churches across the town, started the initiative, called The Light Shines, last Christmas.

It encourages people to decorate one of their windows and display it during the dark Advent nights, and include the the words ’The Light Shines John 1:5′ somewhere in it.

The displays are plotted onto a Google map and shared online so people can see them as they walk around different neighbourhoods, such as Jennyfields, Oatlands and Bilton. There were also displays in Ripon and Spofforth last year.

The trails will be lit up from December 12 to 19 between 5pm and 8pm.

More than 140 homes took part in the initiative last year.

Anyone can get involved with #thelightshines by decorating a window or walking a trail. To register visit www.theharrogatehub.org/thelightshines.

Read more:

• Rich history of Ripon church opened to visitors
• Harrogate district recycling centres appeal for Christmas toys for kids

The Revd Alan Garrow, vicar of St Peter’s Church in Harrogate, said:

“In the past couple of years we have been reminded that many of the things we take for granted as permanent and normal are in fact temporary and provisional.

“The Light Shines is about focusing on something that doesn’t change: God calls us home.”

The project was developed by trustees of Harrogate Hub, who are mainly church leaders. They include; Alan Garrow, St Peter’s Church; Ben Askew, Kairos Network Church; Adam Price, Hope Church; Wynn James, Life Destiny Church; Ben Clowes, Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit; Nick Gee, Harrogate Vineyard Church and Michelle Hayes, Resurrected Bites.

Harrogate district residents are being urged to donate toys and games at household waste recycling centres in the run up to Christmas.

The aim is to collect 10 tonnes of items, which will be passed on to young people, aged up to 16, who are experiencing hardship this Christmas.

The Re-use Santa Appeal is working with No Wrong Door, which supports young people in or on the edge of the care system at centres in Harrogate and Scarborough, on the initiative.

No Wrong Door replaces traditional council-run young people’s homes with hubs that combine residential care with fostering.

Staff at the county’s recycling centres, which are operated by Yorwaste on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council, will ensure donations are in good working condition before they are delivered to children.

The gifts will be given as part of a Christmas family bag to families in North Yorkshire and York. Surplus items will be distributed to other charities.

There are three recycling centres in the Harrogate district: on Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate and on Dallamires Crescent in Ripon. Drop-off points are located by the containers for household reusable items. Donations will be accepted until December 15.

The sites are also taking donations of new or part-used Christmas wrapping paper and tape as part of the appeal.

Read more:

• Mayor’s Christmas Carol Concert to go ahead at Royal Hall
• Christmas Events: diary of festivities in the Harrogate district

County Councillor Derek Bastiman, executive member for waste management at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Christmas is a time of good will. So we’re asking families who can to add a little light to the festive season this year for many children who are less fortunate.

“I encourage people to check their cupboards for any unwanted toys and games and to donate them in the confidence that their items will go to a good home.”

Last Christmas, people donated more than 2,000 games, toys, puzzles and books, including air hockey tables, dolls’ houses, Nerf guns, bicycles and giant teddy bears.

Cllr Paula Widdowson, executive member for environment and climate change at City of York Council, added:

“It’s critical the donations are clean, well-cared for and in full working order. Thank you once again to everyone who supports this appeal.”

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In November, MPs and their second jobs came under close scrutiny as Conservative MP Owen Paterson resigned after coming under fire for breaching parliamentary standards.

Meanwhile, all Harrogate district MPs voted for a controversial new Health and Social Care bill, which saw some Conservative backbenchers rebel against the government.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

• Mr Jones did not post any news on his website in November.
• He spoke eight times in the House of Commons this past month.
• Among his contributions was to welcome to the government’s integrated rail plan on November 18. This came despite previous comments by Mr Jones in February 2019 when he described the potential scrapping of the eastern leg of HS2 as a “betrayal of the north”.
• He later posted a statement on his Conservative-run website describing the plan as “very positive”.
• On November 22, Mr Jones voted with the government on the Health and Social Care Bill. Some Tory backbenchers raised concern that the government’s proposal will see the poor pay more towards their care.
• Mr Jones’ Twitter account is for ‘retweets only’.

Read more:

• MPs watch: Sweary outbursts, animal testing and Bilsdale

• Ripon residents give their views on MP Julian Smith’s £144,000 consultancy work

• MPs watch: Sewage dumps, commissioner resignations and David Amess

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

• Mr Smith did not update his website during November.
• He tweeted eight times last month. Among his social media posts were tweets congratulating Zoe Metcalfe on being elected North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
• During November, Mr Smith’s extra jobs came under scrutiny in the wake of the Owen Paterson affair. Mr Smith earns £144,000 a year from three advisory roles in addition to his £81,932 MP’s salary.
• Mr Smith voted with the government on its Health and Social Care bill on November 22.
• He did not make any spoken contributions in the House of Commons during November.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

• Mr Adams tweeted four times in November.
• He posted once on his website on November 18 about Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting his constituency during the launch of the government’s integrated rail plan.
• On November 4, Mr Adams voted for the Leadsom amendment during the Owen Paterson affair. The amendment proposed not suspending Mr Paterson, despite breaching parliamentary standards.
• Mr Adams voted with the government on the Health and Social Care bill on November 22.
• He appeared in the House of Commons four times during November to make both spoken contributions and to answer questions as a government minister.

Helen Mackenzie was crowned the winner of Harry’s Heroes yesterday after beating five other finalists for the accolade.

The Stray Ferret launched the competition in partnership with Harrogate Spring Water and former BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration to find the people in the Harrogate district doing exceptional things to help others in the community.

Ms Mackenzie received the most votes in recognition of her work to help families in Ripon.

In 2019, she started a project called Back to Basics (B2B), which gives families ingredients and instructions on how to make meals.

Throughout the pandemic, she has fundraised, shopped, collected donations, packed and delivered food, along with electrical goods and other items, to families in need.

More than 20 people were nominated for exceptional work in their communities. This list was then narrowed down to the final six; Cath Wilson, Greta Knight, Helen Mackenzie, Lauren Doherty, Mark Oldfield and Susie Little.

Read more:

• Harry’s Heroes: listen to inspiring stories and vote for your hero
• Harrogate Christmas lights switched on by ‘Harry’s Heroes’

Once all the 1,300-plus votes were counted, Ms Mackenzie came out top.

Harry Gration visited Ms Mackenzie yesterday to give her the good news.

You can learn more about each hero by listening to their podcasts here.

This article is sponsored by Wolseley.

The UK’s largest plumbing and heating merchant, Wolseley, is recruiting to fill a number of roles in its Ripon support centre and store branches.

The firm specialises in bathrooms and heating as well as infrastructure solutions and cooling products.

Wolseley offers great benefits to all of its staff, with life insurance, an employee assistance programme (including counselling) and flexible working options, on top of the competitive salary, great holiday entitlement, and fantastic pension contribution scheme you’d expect.

Michelle Henstock has worked at the Ripon support centre for more than forty years, and is now payroll and benefits manager. She recalls starting work there in 1981:

“Wolseley, or Yorkshire Heating as it was, was the employer of choice in the Ripon area at the time – everyone wanted to get a foot in the door. Whenever a vacancy cropped up, you wanted to grab it!”

She added that those in her team have always felt like family:

“I think I’ve been really blessed in that respect. I’ve always worked in good teams and with good colleagues that have worked well together and got on. I’ve remained friends with many former colleagues, and I’ve gained new ones too.”

Supporting your wellbeing

The company places a family ethos at the heart of its culture, and wellbeing is a priority. With trained mental health first aiders across the business, there’s always someone there to support you.

Colleagues can also sign up to the special ‘Wolseley Wellbeing programme’, a comprehensive 12-week course that covers exercise, nutrition, sleep, positive psychology, and stress management.

Wolseley recognises how important staff engagement is to wellbeing, so you’ll be able to have your say on how the company is doing and where it’s going.

Pay matters

When you’re looking for work, pay is important. Wolseley wants to attract the very best talent, and pays people a wage that means they want to stick around.

Wolseley always pays above the National Living Wage; what they call the Wolseley Wage is well over £500 more per year than the Living Wage for those aged 23 years and over. The gap is even wider if you’re under 23 years old (where the recommended pay is lower), as they don’t believe someone’s wage should be determined by their age.

To see the roles currently on offer at Wolseley, visit www.wolseleycareers.co.uk

Harrogate Borough Council has said “categorically” that a delay to the opening of Ripon’s new swimming pool is not linked to ground stability issues and the threat of sinkholes.

The six-lane pool on Dallamires Lane was due to open on December 8 but the council said on Friday this had been delayed because a fault with the lining of the pool had been found during testing. The pool is now due to open in January but no precise date has been confirmed.

A council spokesman said pool manufacturer Myrtha would be carrying out additional work to fix the problem, at no extra cost to the council.

A swimming pool liner is a vinyl surface that is attached to the walls and floor of a pool to help keep in the water.

There have been long-standing concerns about sinkholes on the land the pool has been built on. But a council spokesman said the two issues were not linked.

“We can categorically confirm that this issue is related to the lining of the pool and not a ground stability issue.”

Harrogate Borough Council closed Ripon Spa Baths last month in anticipation of the new pool opening. The delay to the Dallamires Lane pool means there is nowhere to go for a swim in Ripon until the new year.

Read more:

• BREAKING: Ripon pool opening delayed until January after fault found
• EXCLUSIVE: Ripon leisure scheme racks up additional £1m cost

Concerns have again been raised recently that the site could be permanently plagued by the threat of sinkholes.

This month, a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.

Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.

Senior councillors voted to press ahead with plans to carry out further work while opening most of the site.

The Stray Ferret revealed last week that Ripon’s new leisure project is now more than £4m over budget.