What's Happening in Harrogate blog

One charity run has led to another for a hotel manager who is now the town’s marathon man. Simon Cotton, general manager of Harrogate’s Best Western Cedar Court Hotel and president of Harrogate’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce, recently ran the half marathon the Great North Run, in Newcastle, to raise money for charity.

NightSafe Marshals will be seen on the streets of Harrogate thanks to a Home Office grant. The three-year grant has provided a pool of four marshals, two of whom will patrol Harrogate town centre during weekend nights to help keep members of the public safe during busy periods.

Talented young chef Francesca Leyshon has scooped third prize in a national cooking competition. Francesca, a pupil at Harrogate Ladies College, was awarded the prize by TV chef James Martin, after beating hundreds of competitors to make it through to the Red Tractor beef and lamb Mmmake it with Mince Challenge 2011 North East regional heats.

Pupils from a referral unit wowed parents and teachers with a display of skills after spending four days of intensive training at Harrogate Fire Station. The group of six boys and one girl from the Harrogate PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) were challenged to take part in the training by Ian Hankin and Mick Dobson of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.