At the General Election earlier this month, many of you will have noticed that something was different – the name of the parliamentary area.
When I was first elected to represent you in 2015, and subsequently in 2017 and 2019, the name of the constituency was Richmond (Yorks).
That name dated back to 1585 but this year it was effectively abolished and a new constituency came into being at the election. The new name is Richmond and Northallerton which is certainly a better description of our very large rural area even if the historical link with the old name is lost.
There was also a change to the boundaries. The Bedale, Aiskew, West Tanfield and Leeming (including the RAF base) areas ‘moved’ into the neighbouring Thirsk and Malton seat held by my friend and colleague Kevin Hollinrake.
I was sad to lose those communities which it was a privilege to represent for nine years but the electorate – the number of voters – in the old constituency had become too big.
An independent body – the Boundary Commission – was tasked with making sure the number of electors in each of the UK’s 650 constituencies was roughly equal at around the 73,000 mark. As the old Richmond (Yorks) constituency had an electorate of well over 80,000 it had to be reduced.
As part of these boundary changes, the Siltons and Kepwick became part of the Thirsk and Malton seat while South Otterington and Newby Wiske are now in Richmond and Northallerton.
Since the election I’ve visited the school at South Otterington and, today, I’ll be calling at the famous Shepherd’s Purse Cheese. The Bell family farm where the award-winning cheese business is based falls within my new constituency boundary by a matter of a few hundred feet.
While in South Otterington last Friday, I called in for lunch at a new business, Spencers Café Team and Gift Shop at Newsham Grange, just off the main road between the village and Northallerton.
It’s a delightful conversion of an old stable block and the culmination of a dream for sisters Jackie Soanes and Karen Johnstone. I had a fantastic lunch in the sun-drenched courtyard. I highly recommend a visit.
I would also suggest visiting the re-opened village shop at Morton-on-Swale. Following the retirement of Robert and Angela White from their renowned butchers 18 months ago, the store was only one left in the village.
On my way to attend the leavers’ assembly at Askrigg Primary School last Friday, I dropped in to congratulate the Sharp family on the wonderful job they have made of opening up and modernising the premises. Wherever possible they are selling Yorkshire produce, including Groovy Moo ice cream made in North Yorkshire.
Now it looks like we are going to get some ice cream weather I’m sure it will be popular.
