News Release                                                                                January 2016

Over 1000 local residents visit world of James Herriot during ‘residents weekend’ arranged with Hambleton District Council

‘The World of James Herriot’ opened its doors to local people for free over the weekend of 23^rd and 24^th January and over 1000 visitors passed through the Centre.

All Hambleton residents were offered free admission to the £1.4 million Thirsk attraction for two days, which was valid on production of proof of residency such as a utility bill or driving licence.

“Not only did we have people coming through to look around the recreated 1940s home but many came especially to see the latest addition to the centre – a life size bronze statue of Alf Wight  (James Herriot) set in the garden of the attraction. We had queues outside at one point and were literally rushed off our feet.” said Kate Pawlett, centre manager.

Previously owned by the local council, the World of James Herriot is now a privately operated company whose management has a vision to continually develop it and attract more visitors including the launch of the James Herriot Foundation Trust initiative which aims to provide bursaries for people wishing to enter the animal care world and for whom the James Herriot stories have been an inspiration.

The centre also won ‘Best Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ in the 2015 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, following the Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Award for the ‘Best Yorkshire Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ in 2014.

“We are delighted that so many local people came to see the Centre and the new Alf Wight Statue.” added Kate.

Pictured: Local residents at the Alf Wight (James Herriot) Statue:  Sharon Powell, Katy Hassan, Jazmine Hassan, Malik Hassan, Cameal Hassan, Charis Mclurken and Richard Mclurken.

For further information please contact:

Ian Ashton, World of James Herriot, 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1PL

Tel: 01845 524234 E-mail: mail@worldofjamesherriot.com

Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential. Tel: 07967 032623

E-mail: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors: The World of James Herriot is located in the original home and surgery of the author in the market town of Thirsk. The attraction was formally owned by Hambleton District Council and is now operated as a private business. It is the focus for the Herriot Country Tourism Group, the destination marketing membership organisation that includes hotels, guesthouses, self-catering and other visitor attractions i

Groundwork and big society at Carlton Lodge Activity Centre

North Yorkshire Youth, (NYY) based at Carlton Lodge Activity Centre near Thirsk, North Yorkshire is demonstrating the ‘big society’ in action with its on-going relationship with the Groundwork charity by providing activity events that support the charity’s aims.

Groundwork’s initiatives aim at bringing out the best in young people by helping them to improve their local area, getting people back into work by creating green jobs and building strong communities by improving green space. Groundwork help people into work through training and practical experience and also support young people to help them to reach their potential.

“We are delighted that Groundwork has entrusted North Yorkshire Youth and Carlton Lodge Activity Centre to deliver the activity courses for the first week of the National Citizenship service”. comments David Sharp chief executive.

Volunteers recruited by Groundwork have been using the Carlton Lodge Activity Centre dry stone walling activity as one of the team organising activities that engages the students. It helps them to continue building and to complete the wall under the instruction of a master dry stone waller.

For further information please contact:

David Sharp, chief executive

North Yorkshire Youth, Carlton Lodge, Carlton Miniott, Thirsk, YO7 4NJ

Tel: 01845 522 145 ?e-mail: david@nyy.org.uk North Yorkshire Youth: www.nyy.org.uk Carlton Lodge Activity Centre: www.carltonlodge.org.uk

Notes for Editors: North Yorkshire Youth provides opportunities for children and young people to learn and grow by:

•    Supporting youth work in North Yorkshire communities

•    Providing adventurous activities from Carlton Lodge Activity Centre

•    Providing training opportunities for young people and those who work with them

Beat Blue Monday at Cober Hill, North Yorkshire Moors and Coast Hotel.

Cober Hill Hotel and Conference Centre near Scarborough is opening its doors for a week of FREE special events that will help to combat the alleged ‘most depressing day or week’ of the year that in 2016 will be on 18th January.
The week of events starts on 18th January in 2016 until Friday 22nd January 2016 and the initiative includes a theme every day in the week, each with an uplifting topic, interactive workshops which guests can take part, learn new skills and enjoy new experiences with the hotels’ compliments.

Topics include ‘what’s your purpose’ by an intuitive life coach; ‘reptiles and raptors’, birds of prey and reptiles; ‘wheely good’ cycling fun; ‘Jurassic jollys’ and unlocking secrets of team work and problem solving. All days begin at 10am with tea and coffee on arrival, session one is from 10.30am, a buffet lunch is included and afternoon session 1.00pm to 2.30pm with coffee or tea on departure.

“Our ‘beat blue Monday’ week is an excellent way to banish the ‘blues’, learn a new skill that can provide self-improvement, see Cober Hill’s facilities close up and talk to us about their future plans or even experience a life-changing moment!” comments general manager, Lyndsay Chamberlain.

The hotel operates a year-round programme of activities that help individuals and teams to develop their skills using the hotel grounds, the surrounding countryside and onsite conference, meetings and event facilities.

For further information please contact: Lyndsay Chamberlain, general manager
Tel: 01723 870310
Email: enquiries@coberhill.co.uk
Cober Hill Hotel, Cloughton Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Y013 OAR
Cober Hill’s accommodation includes 64 rooms of various sizes, all with en-suite facilities and stunning views of the beautiful grounds and coast.
In addition well-appointed, versatile and dedicated conference facilities.
It is perfect for midweek breaks, holidays, conferences, educational visits and social interest groups.

Minster Quarter Workshops launched in first in a series of FREE workshops for local businesses and organisations for ‘World First’ GAMBIT project.

When: Wednesday 13th January at 16.00-19.00
Where: Bedern Hall York

York’s Minster Quarter is holding the first of a series of FREE workshops for the organisation’s members at Bedern Hall York and as part of the new GAMBIT project, the working title of a ‘World First’ application that Science City York (part of Make it York) has been developing with Bosch, ARUP, Virtual Viewing and Fosse Games. It is a totally new APP that is set to transform how people interact and buy from business and enjoy their visitor experience in the City. The first workshop for the initiative is to be at Bedern Hall York on Wednesday 13th October from 16.00-19.00.

Retailers and attractions in the historic area that includes the most preserved elements of the City of York’s Roman origins, in order to highlight the many interesting and high quality establishments in this area of the City established the Minster Quarter in 2007.

“The Minster Quarter is historically, probably the most important part of the City with York Minster as its jewel and the workshops are designed to involve businesses and organisations in the Minster Quarter so that they can influence how the area is promoted. GAMBIT is set to transform the way visitors interact and we are delighted to be the first business group to be involved in the project. The workshop will include sessions on how businesses can take advantage of the new APP”. comments Frank Wood, chairman of the Minster Quarter and Owner of Braithwaite Jewellers of Goodramgate.

The workshops at Bedern Hall will include two sessions, the first to involve people in an ideas-generating session about the overall marketing of the Minster Quarter and the second focusing on GAMBIT and what businesses want to include. Places on the FREE workshop can be booked online at: http://bit.ly/MQWorkshop

“This is a great opportunity for businesses and organisations in the Minster Quarter to get involved and help us to revitalise the group in 2016 with their own ideas and using GAMBIT as a new tool to attract the next generation of visitors to their businesses in this most important part of the City. We have received excellent support from Make it York and Science City York plus a small grant from the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership”. adds John Gallery, project director.

Lord Faulkner of Worcester presents 2015 National Railway Heritage Award to the Wensleydale Railway

Lord Faulkner of Worcester presented the 2015 National Railway Heritage Awards at a ceremony held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Wednesday 2 December 2015.

The purpose of the awards ceremony was “To recognise, acknowledge and reward, for the public benefit, the very best in restoration, conservation and re-use of our historic railway infrastructure.”

The Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award for the best-restored structure supported by funding from the Trust was won by the Wensleydale Railway Trust for its superb restoration of the small station at Scruton. The restoration work began in 2011, being completed in 2014.  The work was carried out largely by the Wensleydale Railway volunteers and with the help of apprentices at Darlington College.

Andy Savage, Trustee of the NRHA and Executive Director of the RHT, said:  ‘I am delighted that Scruton Station has won the RHT Conservation Award.  The RHT was very happy to support the restoration project, and was most impressed with the quality of the work that the Wensleydale Railway’s volunteers have carried out in restoring this rare survival of a small Victorian station.   I was also happy when the NRHA adjudicators chose this project for the RHT conservation award, as this has given the Scruton team well deserved national recognition.’

A new initiative that encompasses Victorian Etiquette and engages the hotel’s employees to provide a more courteous and polite approach to guests and to each other has been introduced at Cober Hill Hotel near Scarborough. Inspired by the founder of the hotel, which was originally a Victorian Manor house that was developed in 1905 by John Wilhelm Rowntree, eldest son of the chocolate manufacturer Joseph Rowntree, who had planned Friedenstahl, a detached house in large grounds at Scalby, as a guest house.

“We do see in society many examples of poor behaviour and manners and this initiative is designed to remind us that there is a way to provide a polite and helpful service that will be recognised.” comments general manager, Lyndsay Chamberlain.

The hotel has joined the ‘National Campaign for Courtesy’ which works to retain courtesy and politeness in everyday life and business and will be promoting the aims of the charity.

“We are in the hospitality business and it is important that we set the highest standards of courtesy and welcome and we can learn much from our Victorian forefathers – I am sure our founder would be very pleased.” added Lyndsay.

More information: please contact: Lyndsay Chamberlain, general manager

Tel: 01723 870310? Email: enquiries@coberhill.co.uk

Cober Hill Hotel, Cloughton Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Y013 OAR

Notes for Editors: Cober Hill’s accommodation includes 64 rooms of various sizes, all with en-suite facilities and stunning views of the beautiful grounds and coast.

In addition well-appointed, versatile and dedicated conference facilities.

It is perfect for midweek breaks, holidays, conferences, educational visits and social interest groups.

Staff off duty skills at the Old Lodge Malton have been identified as a new team building and motivation initiative.

The wide range of skills such as being a Qualified English Federation of Body Builders judge, a film screen writer, an author and an accomplished linguist are just some of the skills members of staff have explained they do when off duty.

A staff briefing session identified individual members of staff and Hotel manager of the hotel, Eileen Lowery decided to harness their collective skills as part of the personal development and motivational activities within the team.

“It’s amazing what is right under your nose and when we started thinking about the potential for the team in being able to use their other interests to further their work and at the same time help them to enjoy it more, it became obvious that we should try to harness it” Comments Eileen Lowery, hotel manager.

Nicola Evans is the screenwriter and will now be putting those skills to use in preparing descriptions for the hotel’s special events. Marina Kottermair is a German linguist and as well as her mother tongue, speaks fluent English, French and Latin and will be responsible for all translation in print, online and in person, Adam Grey is a writer and is to take over the role of copy writing and checking hotel print and online written collateral.

“My team are very accomplished generally and this will hopefully add more fulfilment to their everyday job here at the hotel. As for myself, I am the qualified English Federation of Body Building judge, so I can make sure they are on top form!” added Eileen.
– ENDS –
For further information please contact: Eileen Lowery, hotel manager.
Tel: 01653 690570 Email: info@theoldlodgemalton.co.uk
Press contact: John Gallery, Tel: 07967 032623 Email: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk

Notes for Editors: The Old Lodge is a stunning Tudor mansion set in beautiful grounds, on the edge of the historic Market town of Malton, near Pickering, North Yorkshire with 20 en-suite rooms, all with TV, DVD/CD player, tea & coffee facilities, plus a further 8 rooms in a renovated public house about 50 metres away, called The Old Lodgings. The Old Lodge has a beautiful antique wood panelled boardroom. It has adequate natural lighting, supplemented with overhead lights and lamps, with a window that can be shuttered to block out light if necessary.

The World of James Herriot has received a major boost for its James Herriot Foundation Trust Fund that was set up to provide bursaries for veterinary nurses.

Malton-based Vetsonic has donated £5000 to the fund and is also to provide a long-term fund-raising contributions with further donations as it also agreed that a proportion of the revenue from one of their leading product ranges, Nutriscience, will be donated to the fund. NutriScience manufactures a comprehensive range of supplements for companion animals, which are uniquely formulated, based on the most recent scientific research in nutrition, at their food-grade facility in Waterford.

Dr. Sarah Vermont and Clare Walsh, two of Vetsonic’s directors have been invited to be members of the selection panel for the James Herriot Foundation Fund.

Ray Rochester, founder of Vetsonic said; “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to give something back to the industry by helping people to progress their veterinary nursing career. Alf Wight was one of my earliest customers and it is a delight to see how well the original surgery has been retained and maintained as the World of James Herriot. We are very pleased to be the first major supporter of the James Herriot Foundation Fund and through our product revenue contribution will build a long-term relationship between us.”

Previously owned by the local council, World of James Herriot is now a privately operated company whose management has a vision to continually develop it and attract more visitors. It attracts over 28,000 visitors from around the world each year.

The Wensleydale Railway had a meeting of ‘bubble cars’ recently when David Garner, chairman of the Messerschmitt Owners Club visited the railway. David is also a railway enthusiast and was keen to see and ride on the Wensleydale Railway’s own Class 121 “bubble car” so he brought his own Messerschmitt ‘bubble car’ to ‘meet’ the railway’s ‘bubble car’ at Leeming Bar station.

David is now intending to undertake the Wensleydale Train Driver Training Course.

“When I heard about the Wensleydale Railway “bubble car” from their PR agent, I thought what a great opportunity to put my two interests together and take the Railway’s engine driving course”. Comments David

The Wensleydale Railway “bubble car” no: 55032 was acquired earlier this year and is one of sixteen Class 121 single-car, double-ended driving motor vehicles that were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten single-ended trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 (later renumbered 54280–54289).

They have a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes. The driving motor vehicles were nicknamed “Bubble cars” by some enthusiasts (a nickname now endorsed by current commercial operator Chiltern Railways). The Class 121 is Britain’s longest serving DMU, having been in service for 55 years as of 2015.