Category: News

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Centenary Anniversary of famous veterinary surgeon and author Alf Wight

Alf Wight (James Herriot) & dog

Centenary Anniversary of famous veterinary surgeon and author Alf Wight OBE FRCVS, (‘James Herriot’) with original cast members of the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ BBC TV series.

When: Saturday 1st October 2016 from 7pm
Where: Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn.

Special guests from the cast of “All Creatures Great & Small” will be attending on Saturday, 1st October 2016 from 7pm at a black tie gala dinner at Tennants Garden Rooms in Leyburn, to celebrate the life and work of the famous vet and author Alf Wight OBE FRCVS (James Herriot) on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Paying tribute to 100 years of the life of Alf Wight will be his son and daughter Jim Wight and Rosie Page plus family members, friends and colleagues.
The evening will include performances by music icon Lesley Garrett CBE and hosted by BBC TV’s Harry Gration MBE.

Alf Wight’s stories, based on his very own experiences of being a young veterinary surgeon who worked amongst the North Yorkshire farming communities, have sold in their millions and have touched readers from all over the world.
Ian Ashton Managing Director of the World of James Herriot said:
“The Alf Wight 100th Anniversary gala dinner will be a fabulous evening and we are delighted that so many of the original cast of All Creatures Great and Small are able to attend. The event will bring together so many family, fans, friends and colleagues of Alf Wight and adds up to a fantastic tribute to a very special man, vet and author.”

Actor Christopher Timothy who played James Herriot is to attend the dinner alongside BAFTA winner Robert Hardy Esq, CBE, FSA (Siegfried Farnon), Peter Davidson, (Tristan Farnon and also the 5th Dr Who), multi award-winning actress Carol Drinkwater (Helen Herriot), Andrea Gibb, who played Deirdre McEwan in Series 4-6 and who is now a BAFTA nominated writer and her latest movie “Swallows and Amazons” has recently set sail into UK cinemas and Ali Lewis who was a local schoolgirl picked for the role of Rosie Herriot in the final series in 1990. Ali had the advantage of knowing the real Rosie, who was her Doctor! Ali has followed in the footsteps of James Herriot and is now an award-winning writer herself.

“To have all the main cast of All Creatures Great and Small together on this wonderful occasion is a real coup and will likely never happen again. The books, films and TV series are THE biggest thing to ever have happened to promote Herriot Country’ including the Dales and Moors of North Yorkshire which have become world renowned.” added Ian Ashton.

A fund-raising silent auction will be held during the evening and proceed will go to the James Herriot Foundation Trust that 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 Gala evening said: “This is a lovely opportunity to celebrate our father’s legacy and to support the James Herriot Foundation Trust that has been established to help young people who wish to pursue a career dedicated to animal welfare. Our father would be proud to be associated with this initiative and we are delighted that the dinner has been organised and supported by so many friends and colleagues together with the original cast for the tribute to his life and work.”
A limited number of places are still available for the event and can be booked online at bit.ly/HerriotHundred

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Nelson Oak Investigation at Sutton Hall Resort Garden Open Day

Nelson Oak at Sutton Hall Resort

Nelson Oak Investigation at Sutton Hall Resort Garden open Day

Sutton Hall Resort GARDEN OPEN DAY 10th September 2016Yorkshire Air Ambulance will benefit once again from the proceeds of Sutton Hall Resort’s Garden Open Day.

An investigation will also be undertaken into the background of the ‘Nelson Oak’ to try and identify who planted the tree. It is said to come from one of Nelson’s Oaks planted in the Forest of Dean over 200 years ago. Gardner Susan Langdale met the gentleman who planted the tree but he did not reveal his identity at the time as things happened so quickly.

“The gentleman had already planted the tree when he began to tell me the Nelson Oak history but he left very quickly before explaining why he had wanted to plant the oak here. I would really like to find out more so hopefully someone will come forward and solve the ‘mystery’ and to thank him for his contribution to our lovely gardens.” commented Susan.

This is the opening passage of his memorandum that is now in the Nelson Museum, Monmouth.  Nelson wrote: “The Forest of Dean contains about 23,000 acres of the finest Land in the Kingdom, which I am informed, if in high cultivation of Oak, would produce about 9200 loads of timber fit for building Ships of the Line every year; that is, the Forest would grow in full vigour 920,000 trees….”

In addition to the Nelson Oak, a hidden Japanese garden has been identified in the grounds of the Hall and the open day provides an insight into the historic heather and rock gardens, its valley gardens and a woodland walk.

The Hall is an 18th century manor house, originally built in 1700 when Francis Smyth owned it.  It was passed to his daughter Mary Smyth when she married Thomas Thrust who was a commander in Nelson’s Navy. James Harry Edwards who became the owner in 1901 created the re-discovered garden, designed in a Japanese style.

“There may be a connection between the past owners of the house and the oak tree planting and it would be very interesting to learn more from the ‘mystery’ owner who planted it”. added Linda Barnard, manager of Sutton Hall Resort.

Opening of the gardens will be from 10am to 3pm and entry is £3 per person. Refreshments will be available. All proceeds will be donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity.

The gardens are normally only available to the Resort’s resident guests and include a croquet lawn, a walled garden, tennis courts and a woodland walk where natural habitat and wildlife are abundant.

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Church Welcomes All Creatures

Sophie Ashton with Lady Margaret Hunton Church Warden Tracey Taylor Ark Club Leader

Church Welcomes All Creatures

Where: St Mary’s Church, Kirkgate Thirsk North Yorkshire, YO7 1PR
When: Sunday 18th September 2016 at 10.15am

As part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the birth of local vet and author Alf Wight – better known as James Herriot – St Mary’s Church in Kirkgate, Thirsk, is to host an Animal Blessing Service.

The appropriately named Revd Canon Ian Fox will bless animals and give special prayers and readings at the service at 10.15am on Sunday 18th September when all creatures – large and small – are invited to accompany their owners to an informal service.

“This is an All Age Worship service, open to all, with or without their pet, where anything might happen!! “ comments Ian Ashton, managing director of the World of James Herriot.

Taking part in the service will be children of St Mary’s Ark Club (Sunday School) and at least one of the “Yorkshire Vets” has promised to attend.
Churchwarden, Margaret Hunton, said “We are looking forward to welcoming a variety of animals into the church, just along the street from the World of James Herriot, where Alf and Joan Wight were married”.

The James Herriot Foundation Trust aims to provide bursaries for veterinary nurses was recently launched following the installation of a statue of Alf Wight (James Herriot) in the gardens of the World of James Herriot, Alf Wight’s former home and surgery in Thirsk. Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight (James Herriot) are Trustees.
On Saturday 1st October at Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn a black-tie dinner with silent auction in aid of the James Herriot Foundation Trust is to be held to celebrate the Anniversary. Opera star Lesley Garrett will sing at the event, which will be hosted by Harry Gration of BBC TV’s Look North. http://bit.ly/HerriotHundred

Sophie Ashton with Lady Margaret Hunton Church Warden Tracey Taylor Ark Club Leader
Sophie Ashton with Lady Margaret Hunton Church Warden Tracey Taylor Ark Club Leader
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Ditch the directory in favour of fresh, innovative venue and suppliers

Charlie Brunsden-Parsons

Ditch the directory in favour of fresh, innovative venue and suppliers where service and quality is the priority says meetvenues.com

‘Ditch the directory’ is the mantra from meetvenues.com, a new venue and event supplier website offering inventory in the UK and overseas with the key requirement to meet a “fresh and innovative” identity.

Research by meetvenues.com amongst its buyer network has identified that the two most important elements is the guarantee of quality experiences and innovative design and service for their delegates at events.

Charlotte Brunsden-Parsons, marketing director said: “meetvenues.com is not just another directory, it is a full online programme for venues and suppliers with the requisite ‘fresh and innovative’ credentials. Clients are savvy and know what they want when it comes to service delivery, which means it is no longer acceptable to simply present them with a list of venues without first checking quality, innovation and other key deliverables. meetvenues.com does this for them. The service is by invitation only but we are actively seeking partners with the right profiles.”

meetvenues.com creates an individual online publishing platform that venue managers and owners use to communicate directly with a sophisticated buyer audience. This builds relationships and extends their individual brand presence backed by the resources of hotel and events industry specialists with experience, knowledge and connections who develop the strategy with the venue. Experienced client-facing professionals in the team have worked on events and venue selection projects around the world for many years, covering small dinners and meetings up to very large meeting programmes and congress projects for over 4,000 delegates.

“The world has moved on from mere online listings and now event bookers, venues and suppliers need to engage more closely to align their products and services to meet today’s connected business community’s needs. meetvenues.com captures this for all partners involved and puts ‘fresh and innovative’ at the centre of the relationships for venues, suppliers and buyers”, adds Brunsden-Parsons.

meetvenues.com incorporates distinct marketing elements where venues and suppliers can take advantage of its digital marketing expertise, opportunities to publish news and updates on meetvenues.com’s editorial channel, social media support and integration of full-scale online marketing plus access to over 5000 buyers, both corporate and association contacts.

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Multicultural weddings growth at heritage venue

Stoke Rochford Hall

Multicultural weddings growth at heritage venue

More weddings at Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham are of a multicultural nature than ever before report managers at the heritage venue.

In a record year for weddings, the hotel has become accomplished at delivering a wide variety of wedding ceremonies and receptions after a rise in the number of multicultural weddings.

Requests from couples come in a wide range and complexity such as adding a little bit of each culture in significant ways and with more than one culture, inevitably there comes more than one language.

Food is an easy way to bring two cultures together and many couples give guests a taste of dishes they haven’t tried before. As a tribute to one bride’s Latina heritage, one couple had their guests sip on sangria during cocktail hour and enjoy paella for dinner.

“It is a really interesting combination of the beautiful heritage style of Stoke Rochford Hall with the multiple ways in which different couples from different cultures are presenting their guests when making the start in their married life. It certainly makes it interesting, if sometimes challenging, for the team here but they are getting more and more accomplished each time we cater for these events.” comments Barry Clark, general manager at Stoke Rochford Hall.

The hotel recently won a Highly Commended award at the annual Conference and Hospitality Show Awards 2016 in the Best External Space Category.

“Many of the new enquiries are from couples in the Grantham area but we have noticed an increase coming from the Leicester, Nottingham and Peterborough areas, so it seems our reputation is spreading”. adds Barry Clark.

Stoke Rochford Hall is set in 28 acres of landscaped grounds with quiet seating areas, lake and charming woodland walks. Stoke Rochford Golf Club is adjacent to the hotel where resident guests can book tee times and enjoy a special price for a round.  The hotel is easily accessible directly from the A1 just south of Grantham.

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‘Scrufts’ conference agency weekend at Stoke Rochford Hall.

Labrador Russell barking commands at Stoke Rochford Hall

‘Scrufts’ conference agency weekend at Stoke Rochford Hall.

Labrador Russell, owned by general manager Barry Clark at Stoke Rochford Hall near Grantham has issued a personal invitation to the pet dogs of around 20 UK conference booking agencies for a pet friendly familiarisation visit to the hotel on Bank Holiday weekend, 28th and 29th August.

As ‘host’ Russell‘s invitation includes a programme that includes:
•    A canine afternoon tea on arrival with Woof ‘n’ Brew biscuits, speciality teas including ‘Mint Breath’, ‘Shiny Coat’ and ‘Health & Vitality’
•    A dog agility class
•    Barking barbecue (minus hot dogs)
•    Hounds Hunt – a treasure hunt around the hotel grounds with prizes for owners and their dogs.

Barry Clark said: “This all started when we announced our ‘pets welcome’ scheme that includes opportunities for conference delegates to walk Russell and I began to wonder some days where Russell had gone as delegates love walking him so much.”

Trident Hospitality director, Kevan Holland who is “leading’ the familiarisation visit promises that the weekend will create an appreciation of dog-friendly conferences, the positive effect pets have on people and the known fact that dogs in a room have a calming influence on delegates,

The hotel is a registered ‘pet friendly’ hotel and welcomes dogs, cats and other guest pets as part of the service. Pets receive their own booking service and welcome letter as well as a welcome pack of treats and a toy. Dog walking of guest dogs is included and carried out by members of staff plus, care for pets when delegates are in their meeting or event.

“Naturally the grounds at Stoke Rochford Hall are the main attraction as they are so large and a great asset where delegates love to bring their dogs, let them free and have no worries about traffic or other perils. Russell is really looking forward to meeting his new friends and guests”. adds Barry Clark.

Stoke Rochford Hall is set in 28 acres of landscaped grounds with quiet seating areas, lake and charming woodland walks. Stoke Rochford Golf Club is adjacent to the hotel where resident guests can book tee times and enjoy a special price for a round.  The hotel is easily accessible directly from the A1 just south of Grantham.
– ENDS –
For further information please contact: Barry Clark, general manager, Stoke Rochford Hall Hotel, Stoke Rochford, Grantham, NG33 5EJ Tel: 01476 530337 Email: b.clark@stokerochfordhall.co.uk
Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential T: 07967 032623
E: johngallery@greatpotential.co.uk
Notes for Editors: Stoke Rochford Hall, near Grantham in Lincolnshire is a unique 96 room hotel, conference and banqueting centre. A Victorian country mansion set within formal landscaped gardens and 28 acres of parkland.

Labrador Russell barking commands at Stoke Rochford Hall
Labrador Russell barking commands at Stoke Rochford Hall
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The Yorkshire Society at Wensleydale Railway for Yorkshire Day ‘Prequel’ on 31st July 2016

The Yorkshire Society at Wensleydale Railway for Yorkshire Day 'Prequel' on 31st July 2016

The Yorkshire Society at Wensleydale Railway for Yorkshire Day ‘Prequel’ on 31st July 2016

The Yorkshire Society held a special ‘prequel’ for its annual Yorkshire Day commemorations with a trip through the Yorkshire Dales on the Wensleydale Railway on Sunday 31st July.

Two-dozen members of the Yorkshire Society enjoyed a sunny Sunday trip on the heritage railway with lunch on board in a pre-Yorkshire day excursion to recognize the Wensleydale Railway’s importance as part of Yorkshire’s tourism and heritage sector.

“After presenting the Wensleydale Railway with the Yorkshire Society’s annual Award for Tourism Business of the Year we very keen to experience the journey through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales. We were able celebrate Yorkshire Day a day early on board where Society members and their guests enjoyed some wonderful Yorkshire scenery and an excellent lunch served by the friendly volunteers”, commented Keith Madeley, ‘Mr. Yorkshire’ chairman of the Yorkshire Society.

The Yorkshire Society heralds the annual 1st August Yorkshire Day in a different town or city each year. In 2016 the official Yorkshire Day declaration takes place in Halifax and the Wensleydale Railway ‘Prequel’ event was arranged to recognize the Railway for its efforts to promote Yorkshire through its unique location running through the Yorkshire Dales and Herriot Country.

Keith Madeley, at the tender age of 16 joined British Rail in Bradford and on gaining a promotion went to work in the South East and became Britain’s youngest Station Master at the age of 21, an achievement which Keith is still immensely proud of today.

“Railways are in Keith’s blood and we were delighted to be able to welcome the Yorkshire Society for this special event on board.  Each guest table included a Yorkshire Rose and the train was decorated with Yorkshire flags and bunting to mark the occasion”, added Nigel Park, general manager of the Wensleydale Railway.

The Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates a daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire with Wednesday and Saturdays for the Northallerton-Leeming Bar section. The Railway is considering an extension of the line from Redmire to Aysgarth Falls, a return to the centre of Northallerton, and a general upgrade of the line, stations and trains.

Yorkshire Society 31st July at Wensleydale Railway
Yorkshire Society 31st July at Wensleydale Railway
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New August general opening announced at Bedern Hall York

Roger Lee Bedern Hall

New August general opening announced at Bedern Hall York

Bedern Hall, the historic meetings and event venue in the centre of York has announced a new programme to open the Hall to the general public during August 2016 and will open every weekday from 10am to 3pm.  A ‘popup’ café will provide coffee/tea, cake and other refreshments within the Hall, the courtyard or shady garden terrace.

Visitors will see how the hall was restored, view the amazing scissor beamed roof, created when it was the Refectory for the Vicars Choral of York Minster, and will learn about their lifestyle, how they built the Hall and discover some of the things they left behind.

The historic venue, located in the heart of the City of York, has been seeking ways to open the Hall to new users and managers hope that the new opening arrangements will also raise awareness for its future development plans, which follow the recent 30th anniversary of the Hall’s restoration and establishment of the Bedern Hall Foundation.

“Bedern Hall is one of York’s small but important historic venues and as we seek new ways for visitors to experience and learn about the Hall, this is a new opportunity for local people learn about the Vicars Choral Story and the Hall’s restoration plus our future plans for development”. comments Roger Lee of the Bedern Hall Company and Time and Place catering, who operates Bedern Hall and is also a Freeman of the City.

The historic venue has installed a series of modern amenities to enable the venue to be fully up to speed with the demand for technology as part of the meetings and events market it serves in the City of York. Its customers include corporate organisations, private companies, social services and local community groups, family gatherings and couples for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

“The new programme is part of a series of related initiatives including new interpretation materials and plans to upgrade of the Hall in the near future, to make it accessible to a wider audience. The aim is to bring the Hall to the attention of visitors and local people and its continuing benefit to the City as one of York’s important medieval meeting halls.”  added Roger Lee.

For further information please contact: Roger Lee, Time and Place Caterers, Bedern Hall,

St Andrewgate , Bedern, York YO1 7AL Tel: 01904 646030  Email: roger@bedernhall.co.uk

Website: www.bedernhall.co.uk  Press Contact: John Gallery, Great Potential,

Tel: 07967 032623, Email: john@greatpotential.co.uk

Note: Bedern Hall caters for up to 60 delegates for a sit-down meal or conference in the main hall plus a smaller suite for up to 25 guests.

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Malta School Group visit to the World of James Herriot Thirsk

Malta School Group visit to the World of James Herriot Thirsk

Malta school group visit to the World of James Herriot Thirsk.

A group of 25 Grade 7 students and four staff from San Anton School Malta (http://www.sananton.edu.mt) visited the World of James Herriot recently.

Regulars to England for visits, this is the second time they have visited The World of James Herriot, partly because the teacher who organised the trip is a big Herriot fan. The group stayed in York and after the visit they went off to Sutton Bank to fit in another Herriot connection.

“We get a lot of overseas Language Centre visitors in July at the beginning of the school holiday period, demonstrating that the World of James Herriot is a key destination for schools and students from other countries as part of their study programmes”. comments Ian Ashton, World of James Herriot managing director.

A schoolroom is available within the World of James Herriot where students can spend time researching the books and other aspects of the veterinary surgery which was also his own home and where he spent much of his time writing his world famous books about the life of the country vet.

The recently launched James Herriot Foundation Trust aims to provide bursaries for veterinary nurses. The Foundation Trust was established in 2015 following the installation of a statue of Alf Wight (James Herriot) in the gardens of the World of James Herriot, Alf Wight’s former home and surgery in Thirsk. Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight (James Herriot) are Trustees.

2016 is the 100th anniversary of the vet and author’s birth and a fundraising black-tie dinner is to be held on Saturday 1st October at Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn to celebrate and raise funds for the Trust. Opera star Lesley Garrett will sing at the event, which will be hosted by Harry Gration of BBV TV’s Look North. http://bit.ly/HerriotHundred

*Attached image: School children from San Anton School Malta pictured at the World of James Herriot.

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Yorkshire Society Celebrates Yorkshire Day ‘Prequel’

Keith Madeley Inspecting Wensleydale

The Yorkshire Society Celebrates with Yorkshire Day ‘Prequel’

The Yorkshire Society is to hold a special ‘prequel’ for its annual Yorkshire Day commemorations with a trip through the Yorkshire Dales on the Wensleydale Railway.

“After presenting the Wensleydale Railway with the Yorkshire Society’s annual Award for Tourism Business of the Year we are very excited about our visit and celebrating Yorkshire Day on board where Society members and their guests will enjoy some wonderful Yorkshire scenery”.  comments Keith Madeley, ‘Mr. Yorkshire’ chairman of the Yorkshire Society.

The Yorkshire Society heralds the annual 1st August Yorkshire Day in a different town or city each year. In 2016 the official Yorkshire Day declaration will take place in Halifax and the Wensleydale Railway ‘Prequel’ event has been arranged to recognize the Railway for its efforts to promote Yorkshire through its unique location running through the Yorkshire Dales and Herriot Country.

Keith Madeley, at the tender age of 16 joined British Rail in Bradford and on gaining a promotion went to work in the South East and became Britain’s youngest Station Master at the age of 21, an achievement which Keith is still immensely proud of today.

“Railways are in Keith’s blood and we are delighted to be able to welcome the Yorkshire Society for this special event on board and will be decorating the train with Yorkshire flags and bunting to mark the occasion”. Added Nigel Park, general manager of the Wensleydale Railway.

The Wensleydale Railway is one of the longest heritage railway routes in the country and operates a daily service in the main season between Leeming Bar and Redmire with Wednesday and Saturdays for the Northallerton-Leeming Bar section. The Railway is considering an extension of the line from Redmire to Aysgarth Falls, a return to the centre of Northallerton, and a general upgrade of the line, stations and trains.