Conference goes ahead despite fire at top hotel

The national associations of Round Table & Ladies Circle were due to hold their annual conference – 18 months in the planning – in the famous spa town.

One hundred and fifty of the Majestic's bedrooms were booked and the highlight of the weekend, the joint President's Ball scheduled for tomorrow night was being held in the Ballroom.

But organisers had to move fast after a major fire broke out at 5am last Wednesday resulting in one death.

They have now secured alternate conferencing facilities at the Harrogate International Centre and accommodation in other hotels around the town.

Vicky Perry, Media Officer for Ladies Circle said: "The fire at the hotel was a complete tragedy for all concerned, but our conference team have really pulled it out of the bag to save the most special event in our organisations calendar.

"The support from the Tablers and Circlers up and down the UK has been amazing and we are really looking forward to coming to Harrogate this weekend.''

Meanwhile, tests on the body recovered from the fire-ravaged Majestic Hotel have failed to identify who died.

North Yorkshire Police said the post mortem examination also failed to establish a cause of death and it may take weeks to identify the person who died.

They could, therefore, not confirm whether it was missing Nigel Butterfield, 41, a kitchen porter at the hotel.

Up to 90 firefighters tackled the blaze which began in staff accommodation on the fifth floor before spreading to guest bedrooms on the floor below.