Tom Tate has a personal reason for installing a defibrillator at the Ripon garden centre and nursery that bears his family's name, The family-run business, which was founded by Fred and Frank Tate more than 80 years ago, faced a worrying time when Tom's son Freddie —...
Tim Flanagan
Senior Journalist
Tim Flanagan is an experienced journalist and communications professional, who has lived in the Harrogate district for all his working life. He was employed by the Ackrill Newspapers Group from 1977 until 1988 and in that time became chief reporter for the Harrogate Advertiser. Tim will have specific responsibility for covering Ripon where he now lives.
Sneak Peek: New-look Halls of Ripon reopening tomorrow
Halls of Ripon, the city's only department store, will re-open with new traders from tomorrow morning (Wednesday, March 13). The store on Fishergate closed for a major revamp and reconfiguration in January. Ahead of tomorrow's reopening, the Stray Ferret was invited...
Bin collections enhance Ripon canal walks
Canal-side walks in Ripon have become a pleasant experience once more after North Yorkshire Council stepped in to clear dog poo packages. Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, who also represents the Minster and Moorside division on the council, told the Stray...
Ripon to blow its horn at major tourism show
With its history, heritage attractions, magnificent cathedral, traditions, customs, rivers, canal and garden racecourse, Ripon has many reasons to blow its own horn. It will be doing just that later this month when Allison Clark, a member of the city's hornblower...
Councillors reject ‘ridiculous’ replica suggestion for Ripon military heritage site
Homes England's suggestion that extremely rare military buildings on the Ripon barracks site could be demolished and replaced with replicas, was greeted with derision at last night's city council meeting. Council leader Andrew Williams drew laughter from fellow...
Your chance to experience the sights and sounds of Ripon free of charge
Would you like to be shown the ropes at bell ringing? or find out what life was like behind bars in Victorian Ripon? On Saturday March 9, local residents have the opportunity to enjoy, free of charge, the Sights and Sounds of the city at an event centred on the...
Peacocks opens in Ripon today
The latest addition to Ripon's retail scene, Peacocks, opened its doors to the city this morning. Store manager Shirelle Wallace-Hoyle (pictured) will be a familiar face to shoppers, as she previously managed the M&Co store that formerly occupied the site, before...
Ripon firms discuss ways to become more disability friendly
Ripon, with recent investments in retail and hospitality and upcoming £720,000 road improvements, can look forward to an economic boost from the purple pound. An estimated £274 billion per annum of disposable income belonging to disabled people in the UK is available...
Peacocks is being primed for Thursday opening in Ripon
The countdown is on for the opening of Ripon's newest retailer with Peacocks scheduled to greet its first customers on Thursday morning. The value fashion retailer is putting the final touches to its large premises in Fishergate formerly occupied by M&Co, which...
Bid to make Ripon businesses more disability friendly
Ripon has the opportunity to follow in Chester's footsteps and become recognised for its accessibility to all people. That's the aim of Ripon Disability Forum, which will launch its Access Ambassadors programme in the city on Monday evening at the Ripon Inn (7pm-8pm)...
Wormald Green grandmother hopes for end to water woes
Grandmother Liz Cooper, who often finds herself marooned in her home at Wormald Green near Ripon, is awaiting flood relief. After months of waiting for the waters that lap up against her garden gate to subside, she and her husband Mike called on the Stray Ferret for...