YORK has been nominated as one of ten most romantic destinations in the UK in a new ‘Romantics’ award contest.

Romantic fiction publisher Mills & Boon is holding an awards ceremony in London later this month, at which the winners from each of 12 categories, such as venue, restaurant/bar, destination and gift, will be chosen by a panel of expert judges.

Ten qualifiers from each category have been nominated by the public and the voting will continue up until April 20.

York competes for most romantic destination against Bath, Brighton, St Ives, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Lake District, Brecon Beacons, Edinburgh, Orkney Islands and Oxford.

People voting have a chance of winning prizes including £300 to spend on a luxurious mini break, a romantic hotel escape for two, a Virgin balloon flight and a night in a luxury hotel.

To vote, go to romanceawards.millsandboon.co.uk/voting-cats.aspx?id=destination

 

Battles are Rob’s field

York Press:

A YORK-based historian is leading a series of courses focusing on local battles.

North Yorkshire was the scene of the bloodiest battle fought on English soil at Towton, in 1461, and also reputedly the biggest, the Battle of Marston Moor, when 40,000 men drew up against each other on a summer’s evening in 1644. Dr Rob Wright, above, will delve into this bloody history in a series of short courses for cultural charity PLACE.

He said: “It’s astonishing that so many crucial battles have been fought in Yorkshire.” The six two-hour talks run from April 29 to June 3 at Bedern Hall, York, at 7pm. The cost is £25 (£20 for unwaged or retired people). To book places contact place@yorksj.ac.uk

 

Scooter rider left with wrist injury after trying to avoid oncoming car

A MOTORCYCLIST suffered a wrist injury after the white Honda scooter he was driving left a road in East Yorkshire.

Humberside Police said yesterday that the accident happened at 6.40am on the A614 just outside Carnaby, near Bridlington, last Wednesday.

A spokesman said the 23-year-old motorcyclist from Bridlington collided with the grass verge as he avoided an oncoming vehicle.

“The approaching vehicle, a red Vauxhall Astra car was overtaking a lorry on the opposite carriageway,” he said.

“The car did not stop following the incident.”

The driver of the Astra or anyone with information is asked to call 101.

 

Land Rover theft

THIEVES stole a red Land Rover Discovery, registration V578 KVN from a petrol station on the A19 at Eggborough, between 11.30am and noon on Sunday.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious can phone North Yorkshire Police on 101.

 

Cliff fall girl still critical

A TEENAGE girl who fell from a cliff top in North Yorkshire remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The 15-year-old fell from cliffs close to the Blue Dolphin holiday park, near Filey, on Thursday, April 9.

North Yorkshire Police said the girl suffered head injuries in the fall and remains in a critical but stable condition.

 

Military wives to perform

A MILITARY wives choir is set to perform in the grounds of a stately home to raise funds for a charity dedicated to providing practical support and assistance to servicemen and women.

The choir, which is based at Dishforth Airfield, near Thirsk, which is home to the 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, will perform numerous popular songs at Alnwick Gardens on Saturday, including Wherever You Are, a Vera Lynn medley and Stronger Together as well as hymns including Jerusalem. The concert hopes to boost funds for the SSAFA charity.

A spokeswoman for the group, which includes the wives, fiancées and mothers of personnel, said that other upcoming shows included one at Bridlington Methodist Church on June 6 as well as another at Guisborough Choral Society for Remembrance on November 7.

 

Eight years of joy on the allotments

York Press:

THE Cawood Allotment Society is beginning its eighth year this month.

The allotments were started by David Lewis and others who formed a society to rent land from local farmer Geoff Liddle and form workable plots for keen gardeners.

More than 40 plots were created, and the site was blessed by the Rev Ian Ellery on April 1, 2008. They have gone from strength to strength since then, with fruit and vegetables grown by keen gardeners.

Arthur Cass, chairman of the society, said: “It’s a good way to exercise at your own pace, with the benefit of fresh veg and fruit as a result. The soil is nice and light and spending a couple of hours here and there will soon see you get results.”

Ron Wharmby, committee member, said: “We have a great bunch of people here, always willing to offer their gardening knowledge.”

Full and half plots are still available. Go to cawoodallotments.btck.co.uk or phone Arthur on 01757 268731.

 

Scientist wins prize

A BIOLOGIST from the University of York has won a major European accolade.

Doctor Ellie Harrison won the first ever graduate student prize for her paper Sex Drives Intracellular Conflict In Yeast by the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

Dr Harrison, a post-doctoral researcher in the laboratory of Professor Mike Brockhurst at York, used experimental evolution in yeast to show sexual reproduction can drive the evolution of selfish genetic elements within cells that do not contribute to, and may even reduce, the fitness of the organism. She said: “It’s fantastic to win an award, especially for this study which involved so much work for myself as well as Austin, Craig and Vasso.”

 

Business competition

BUSINESSES in Selby can win a cash prize of £1,000.

Selby Town Enterprise Partnership (STEP), have urged businesses to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de Yorkshire in Selby by decorating their windows and submitting photos for the chance to win.

Pictures can be submitted on Twitter by tagging @SelbyDC, on Facebook tagging Selby District Council, or can be sent by email to communications@selby.gov.uk.

Entries close at 5pm on April 20, and the prize, which includes free advertising in local newspapers, will be presented on May 2.

 

Weekend of wonder for gardeners

GARDENERS are being invited to head to Harrogate at the weekend for expert advice and an action-packed programme of family events.

The Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr is hosting a spring gardening and wildlife weekend to round off National Gardening Week, the UK’s biggest celebration of gardening.

“Garden expert Martin Fish will be on hand to offer tips and advice on how to get started gardening at home,” said a spokeswoman.

“There will be a plant fair featuring rare and unusual plants as well as those designed to attract wildlife, a chance to bring along your soil samples to a compost clinic for analysis and a cookery demonstration by top French chef, Lionel Strub.”

For more information, visit rhs.org.uk/harlowcarr