Author: gp

The World of James Herriot will be unveiling the James Herriot Statue in the James Herriot Hall, followed by a black tie dinner in the Thomas Lord Suite at Thirsk Racecourse on Saturday, 4^th October 2014 from 7pm. Christopher Timothy who played James Herriot in the TV series, members of Alf Wight’s family, and Jim Herriot, former Birmingham City goalkeeper, whose name, in 1969, Alf Wight chose as his pseudonym is attending together with Sean Hedges-Finn, the sculptor of the Statue and Gary Verity, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire.

The James Herriot Statue and Legacy Fund has been developed as a tribute to Alf Wight, author of the books about the life of a country vet, which inspired two films and the long running and immensely popular TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

Ian Ashton Managing Director of the World of James Herriot said:

“The aim is to provide bursaries for people wishing to embark on a career concerning the welfare of animals, and for whom the James Herriot stories may well have been an inspiration. The launch dinner is an opportunity to support this vision. The fund has already reached £30,000. The initial aim is to double this figure to £60,000, which would finance the completion of the statue and allow the first bursaries to be allocated.”

The Legacy Fund* began with a very generous bequest made to the Friends of the World of James Herriot by the late Mr Thomas Frank Blinks who lived in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, and was a life member of the Friends of the World James Herriot.

Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight, speaking about the Legacy said: “This is a unique opportunity to develop a legacy to support young people who wish to become veterinary surgeons, or to pursue a career dedicated to animal welfare. Our father would be proud to be associated with this initiative and we consider the statue to be a very fitting tribute.”

A fine dining meal will be provided by chefs from Yorebridge House, Bainbridge in the Yorkshire Dales and a fund-raising auction will be held after the meal by John Tennant of Tennant Auctioneers, Leyburn. A limited number of places are still available and can be booked online at www.worldofjamesherriot.com

The Old Lodge Malton in North Yorkshire is to ask guests when making an accommodation booking or at check-in whether they are ‘Larks or Owls’

The new question, as part of the reservation and check-in procedures is to allow the reception team to allocate the most appropriate room in the hotel dependent on guest’s sleep pattern preferences – i.e. whether they are either ‘morning’ or ‘evening’ people.

Sleep researchers have known for some time that there is some biological truth to the adage that people come in ‘morning’ or ‘evening’ types, also called ‘larks’ or ‘owls’. Now the hotel is putting this fact into a practical service that caters for the ‘type’ that guests consider themselves to be.

“Hotels are in the business of providing somewhere to sleep so it seems to me that it is our duty to find better ways for guests to get the best sleep possible. By taking a serious approach to their ‘type’ preference, we intend to improve the delivery of a good night’s (or good day’s) sleep at this hotel.” comments hotel director Tracey Holroyd.

The hotel is preparing for the differing needs of ‘larks’ and ‘owls’ by planning staff levels to match the ‘type’ levels on any one night, for example, ensuring more breakfast staff if the majority of guests are ‘larks’.

“Accommodation is our core service and whilst many hotel companies boast about how good their beds* may be, we are taking a more scientific approach.

It is our guests circadian rhythms that we want to know about so that we can be better prepared for them when they are at their best.” added Tracey. *Allegedly, our mattresses, made by WL Jackson of Wakefield are similar to the type used by Her Majesty the Queen.

‘Mindfulness moments’ focus provides antidote to modern hurry.

‘Mindfulness Moments’ is to be introduced at The Old Lodge Malton in North Yorkshire in a move to help guests to enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable stay.

Mindfulness is a way of calming and connecting yourself, improving your awareness and shutting out negative thoughts. It does this without the kind of snobbery that might be associated with transcendental meditation.

Mindfulness feels rather like yoga without the physical postures. At its most basic it involves being still, closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. When your mind wanders you try to bring it back. This is far more powerful than it sounds and much harder, for it is really about leaving behind the anxieties that plague us.

“The Old Lodge is a place where guests can practice mindfulness because we provide the space where people can take advantage of our stress free environment and especially the extended lawned gardens that are just perfect for easing anxiety. When guests tell us how relaxed and refreshed after a stay with us, I believe they have had a taste of ‘mindfulness’.” comments hotel director Tracey Holroyd.

The hotel is also encouraging guests to adopt a technique recently pioneered in schools called ‘dot be’, which is shorthand for ‘stop, breathe and be’ which claims to help people in a variety of situations, whether in be facing business challenges, bullying or getting ready for a presentation in a conference or a sporting performance.

“By having a focus on ‘mindfulness moments’ guests, both business and leisure, will leave relaxed and ready for their next challenge.” added Tracey.

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For further information please contact: Tracey Holroyd, director.

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.

Hotel introduces ‘Wait and Make Better Decisions’ initiative for business guests with complimentary tea and coffee.

The Old Lodge Malton in North Yorkshire has introduced a new initiative for business guests that encourages them to take a slower approach to decisions and is providing complimentary* tea or coffee to encourage guests to stay longer and think.

The hotel has taken up suggestions provided by Professor Frank Partnoy a leading expert on finance from the University of San Diego whose recently published book ‘Wait: The Useful Art of Procrastination’ provides the inspiration.

Professor Partnoy argues that the onslaught of modern technology is leading us to forget that age-old wisdom and lose the art of waiting. He writes that the ‘crunch of technology’ dives us ‘to make instant decisions’ and follow our short-term animal instincts.

“When I read this, it occurred that many of our business guests may be in this situation for example, racing up and down the A64 to and from meetings and that they could take a leaf from Professor Partnoy’s book. The Old Lodge is an oasis of calm and we have introduced this to enable business guests to take a longer stop and an extra tea or coffee fill up so that they can have more thinking time.” comments hotel manager Eileen Lowery.

Business guests are encouraged to make the time to stop and will be provided with tips from Professor Partnoy’s book whilst enjoying their tea or coffee in the hotel’s extensive lounges and meeting rooms. (*Daily limits apply.)

Snydale Care Home celebrates 30th anniversary of continued family ownership – invitation to join ‘Memories and Moments’ charity initiative.

Snydale Care Home near Normanton is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and is inviting families whose parents or relatives, past and present have enjoyed the services and facilities at the Home to contribute to a new ‘Memories and Moments’ dementia research charity initiative.

Snydale Care Home was conceived and developed by local builder Arthur Westerman in 1984 when he could not find a care home that would be suitable for his then ageing father-in-law.  Arthur’s unfulfilled quest was satisfied when he found the site at Old Snydale near Normanton in 1974 and began building the care home to his own specification.  Snydale Care Home was the first ever purpose-built in the area and is now one of five strong in the Warmest Welcome Group in Yorkshire.

The new charity initiative is being launched to coincide with the anniversary and will raise funds for dementia research which is an increasing condition amongst the population and which management and staff are experiencing amongst residents at Snydale and other homes in the group.

“When my father set up Snydale Care Home it was for all the right reasons and we are very proud to have been able to continue his original vision to deliver person-centred kind of care for our residents.” Comments Warmest Welcome chairman Tracey Holroyd, the founder ‘s daughter.

Families are invited to send photographs and letters about their relative’s experience at Snydale and to contribute to the new fund. Every pound raised will be matched by the company to double to fund, which will be put to dementia care charities.

“Dementia is the increasingly prevalent condition today and we hope that by raising the issue and taking practical steps to contribute to more research it will help to reduce the effects this has on families in the long term.. Added Tracey.