'Love it or hate it' nightclub's legacy celebrated

BBC News, Yorkshire

The legacy of an "important and symbolic" city nightclub famous for its free prawn crackers and decades-spanning pop playlist is to be celebrated at a special show.

The Willow was a family-run Cantonese restaurant and disco which was a nightlife staple in York for over 40 years between 1973 and 2015.

Marking the 10th anniversary of its closure, the free exhibition in the city would let people relive "the stories, the friendship, the love" through archive footage, memorabilia and anecdotes, organisers said.

Vicki Fong, daughter of Willow owner Tommy Fong, said: "Some people hated it, some people loved it - but it just evoked so many different emotions."

The Willow Experience exhibition, being held on Friday 13 June as part of York Festival of Ideas, would feature a series of six short archive films exploring the venue's 42-year history, Ms Fong explained.

It would include punters' memories from over the decades, interviews with the Fong family, and footage from the final club night.

There would also be memorabilia, merchandise emblazoned with the "Love It Or Hate It?" logo - and even prawn crackers to snack on.

"To be able to put together the legacy of my family's business, and for it to be visible and available to everybody, is incredible," Ms Fong said.

Her parents had not previously understood the huge role The Willow had played in York's nightlife for such a long time, Ms Fong explained.

"I think for my parents, they were just working really long hours," she said.

"[My dad] was just consumed in the job and I don't think he realised the impact he had on people.

"Trying to explain to him how important and symbolic it became in people's lives, I think it's only since we started putting the archive together he's starting to understand."

Ms Fong said The Willow Experience exhibition was a collaboration between the digital consultancy agency she had co-founded and the StreetLife York project, led by the University of York in partnership with the city council, York Civic Trust and York Music Venues Network.

Running between 2022-23, and originally focused on the history of Coney Street, Ms Fong said that after so many contributors to StreetLife York mentioned The Willow, the university made the venue the subject of a separate project.

"I think that's what's really lovely about it. When you talk about The Willow, it does evoke different responses," she said.

"Some people hated it, some people loved it - but it just evoked so many different emotions."

Ms Fong said that as part of Friday's event, she would divulge some behind-the-scenes secrets about The Willow, including the story behind the famous hand-drawn illustrations decorating the nightclub's walls.

She said she still regularly received emails from people wanting to put on "a Willow-themed hen do or a Willow-themed wedding".

She explained she had even received a request from a couple who had recently had a baby and wanted a customised artwork celebrating the nightclub to hang over her crib.

"The concept of that is just bonkers - having artwork from a late-night disco that was also a Chinese restaurant," Ms Fong said.

"When you look at the business, you think nobody would ever propose that as a business model. But it just seemed to work.

"There's something really beautiful about that, and I think the beauty is the stories and the friendship and the love."

The Willow Experience is due to take place at The Basement, City Screen Picturehouse, on Coney Street, between 18:00 BST and 19:00 BST on Friday 13 June.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

A funding boost has been announced to support community buildings across York and North Yorkshire.

The 2025/26 Community Building Programme will see £1.35 million spent on such spaces as village halls and cricket grounds, according to a spokesperson for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The scheme is being delivered in partnership with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council and is funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: "I want to make it easier for people to look after each other in their own communities, wherever they are in the region.

"This is particularly key in our rural areas.

"They are vast and beautiful, but often the people who live there feel more isolated than those who live in towns and cities.

"I have visited community buildings from Hawes to Whitby, and so many places in between.

"It might be a village hall, or a cricket ground, but it’s the passion of the people who make these into more than places - into anchors for local life.

"That is why community buildings are essential to be able to create healthy, thriving, and connected communities right across the region."

Following on from previous UKSPF funding rounds that supported 43 village halls and community buildings, Mayor Skaith has committed £600,000 from his Mayoral Investment Fund to help more than 20 hubs.

Councillor Heather Phillips, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for stronger communities, said: "We are looking forward to working with our partners on the delivery of this programme.

"These buildings are incredibly important to local communities, particularly in rural areas where it may be the only meeting place for that village.

"They bring the community together, often by providing services and activities for all age groups."

Councillor Pete Kilbane, deputy leader of City of York Council, said: "Community venues like village halls are so much more than just buildings.

"They are places where people get to know each other, make new friends, host family celebrations, play sports, and access key services that enable people of all ages to lead happier, healthier lives.

"In short, they are the places where community is built."

David Burton, chair of Great Ouseburn Village Hall Management Committee, said: "I know how difficult it can be to help run a village hall, but I would encourage anyone in my position to keep an eye out for grants from the Combined Authority and apply where possible.

"This grant process has been extremely straightforward, and the changes made possible with this money have already made a huge impact on our community."

Funding applications will be open till August 4, and applications can be made at https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/community-buildings-programme/

BBC News, Yorkshire

A private school in North Yorkshire is to close after 125 years, with VAT on school fees and other "mounting financial pressures" being blamed.

A statement on Queen Margaret School for Girls' website stated a "strategic review of funding options" had been undertaken and "every possible avenue" had been pursued to find fresh investment, but all had been unsuccessful.

The school, near York, would close on 5 July and, as it was unable to meet the costs of closure, a notice of intention to appoint an administrator had been filed, it said.

The decision was "heart-wrenching" and would be "deeply distressing" for the whole school community, according to Terry Burt, chair of the board of governors.

The independent boarding and day school, which was founded in 1901, is situated in 75 acres (30 hectares) of woodland six miles (9.5 km) from York and provides education for girls aged 11 to 18.

The statement from Mr Burt said "despite the tireless efforts" of the school and board, it had been unable "to withstand mounting financial pressures".

Labour's introduction of VAT on school fees, as well as "increased national insurance and pension contributions, the removal of charitable-status business rates relief, and rising costs for the upkeep and operation of our estate", were all behind the closure, it said.

'Low pupil enrolment'

In his statement, Mr Burt said that over the past 18 months the board had worked hard to respond to the challenges the school faced by "proactively managing resources, introducing energetic new leadership, and expanding our marketing efforts".

The board had looked at a possible merger or sale of the school, which led to "advanced discussions with interested parties", but that was ultimately not successful, the statement said.

It added that pupil enrolment for this September was "below the viable level required to keep the school open beyond the current academic year".

"Our priority is the wellbeing of our pupils, their families and all our incredible teaching staff, and we are committed to ensuring as smooth a transition as possible for everyone", it added.

"We will work closely with every family to achieve the best possible solution for every pupil and will provide ongoing support to all members of staff."

The statement said that education and the day-to-day running of the school, including external exams, would continue as normal until the end of the summer term.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

York and North Yorkshire’s mayor has said he is incredibly disappointed following the spending review despite investment being announced for the region.

Labour Mayor David Skaith said he welcomed investment into York Central and a bus franchising pilot but the Spending Review had not gone far enough for the region, particularly on transport.

He added the combined authority was expecting further announcements on infrastructure next week as work with ministers to address an £18.5m shortfall for the York Station Gateway scheme remains ongoing.

The mayor’s comments come after Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the Government’s spending plans for the coming years on Wednesday, June 11.

The Labour chancellor told Parliament the review aimed to deliver security, economic growth and make the NHS fit for the future.

Pledges in the Spending Review include £244m to complete planned Government Hubs which aim to move civil servants out of London.

The Government Hub site planned at York Central where around 2,600 civil service staff will be based is among those receiving a share of the funds.

A pilot to explore bus franchising in York and North Yorkshire is also set to receive a backing from a £750m-a-year fund to improve services.

Mr Skaith said support for the York Central hub was welcome given it was a key anchor development for the wider site.

He added the franchising pilot would help the combined authority explore how buses would work in the future in rural areas as the region’s geography continues to present challenges.

But he said the Government had not done enough to address decades of neglect and decline faced by the region’s rural and coastal areas.

Mr Skaith said: “We’re incredibly disappointed about wider funding for transport and the future of devolution.

“We’re exploring what the bus franchising announcement means and what it will entail, but we haven’t seen the level of investment in transport needed to grow our region and bring economic prosperity.

“Investment into the York Station Gateway site and to have projects like that up and running is key, there’s going to be an infrastructure announcement next week and we’ve been working with the Government on that.

“We have a great opportunity here to showcase how devolution can be done outside major cities, we need to show that it can work in rural and coastal areas.

“We’re looking to drive investment into York and North Yorkshire because we’ve been left behind for decades, these announcements fall well short of what we need to deliver the full ambitious we have for our region.”

Meanwhile, York Central’s Labour MP Rachael Maskell increases in invesment including £39bn for affordable homes and extra cash for schools and the NHS was long overdue.

Ms Maskell said: “Today’s announcements outline Labour’s purpose, with a welcome return to the core issues that matter to residents.

“I will hold the Government to account on its promises, I want and know that our Labour Government must be ambitious, radical and deliver change that is felt by all.”

One of York’s most historic buildings has hosted one of York’s hottest fundraisers.

More than 220 diners attended the Yorkshire Big Curry Lunch at the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall in Fossgate.

It was the third such event in York, in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund, raising more than £20,000 for the charity.

The popular event attracted York’s Normandy Beaches war veteran Ken Cooke, 99, who was presented with a birthday cake from Betty’s from Mrs Jo Ropner, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

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However, whilst diners feasted on a Chicken Hyderabadi, along with pickles, poppadoms, onion potato bhaji, daal tarka, Ken told the Press: “I don’t have curry. I’m having a chicken sandwich.”

For his 100th Birthday, in August, Ken also told me it wasn’t up to him and people were planning ‘a surprise.’

Political leaders at the lunch included City of York’s leader Cllr Claire Douglas; York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, York’s Lord Mayor and Mayoress Martin and Elizabeth Rowley and former Lord Mayor and Mayoress Chris and Joy Cullwick.

The event attracted members of York’s business community, with business sponsors including Theakstons, Cobra Beer, Yorkshire Distillery, Bettys of Harrogate, City Cruises, Thor’s, Pulse Fitness, Hugh James, Rift Tax Refunds, and Burflex Scaffolding.

In addition to curry from MyLahore, the event featured music from pianist, Sergeant Mike McSharry (150 Regiment RLC), an ensemble from the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and pipers from the Royal Dragoon Guards.

Adding more colour were Chelsea Pensioners, the Two Signals Regiment of York and Merchant Adventurers members in their finest red costumes.

Merchant Adventurer Ashley Mason, whose idea it was for York to hold its own version of the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry, which has raised four million over 17 years in London, says this year’s event was a record with more than 220 diners.

More than £20,000 was also raised for the Army Benevolent Fund courtesy of ticket revenues, raffles and an auction.

Cllr Mason said: “It was an excellent afternoon and so pleasing to see the hall full of people wanting to support this worthy cause.

“There was a buzz in the air and it was clear everyone was having a great time. The food was fantastic and praised by all the guests!”

He looked forward to the Merchant Adventurers hosting the lunch again next year.

Lord Mayor Cllr Martin Rowley said the Yorkshire Big Curry Lunch was ‘brilliant.’

He told the Press: “It’s great that it’s come north, that it has also raised awareness of the Army Benevolent Fund. There was also the show of support from York’s business community and the amazing networking in the splendid environment of the Marchant Adventurer’s Hall.”