Ripon’s replica tank goes on tour ahead of D-Day anniversaryFollowing its official unveiling at the end of last month, ‘Ripon’s remarkable replica tank is now on a tour of locations in and around the city.
From the lawns at Ripon Inn, where a large crowd gathered to see it unveiled on April 30 by Lt Col. Perry Bishop, commanding officer of the 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, the life-size model is now relocated and attracting a lot of attention at Tate’s Garden Centre on Studley Road.
It will remain in situ there until May 23, before being moved to Fountains Abbey, where it will be in place from May 24 to June 4.
The life-size model measuring 24-foot long, nine-foot wide and seven-foot high will then be transported by Ripon Farm Services on a low loader trailer to the piazza at Ripon Cathedral on June 5, in time for the D-Day 80th anniversary concert on the evening of June 6 featuring Ripon City Band, The Duchy Belles, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir
and Charlotte Potter.
The event will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Royal Engineers being granted freedom of the city and, following the concert at 9.15pm, a D-Day 80th anniversary beacon will be lit on the piazza by Jack Churchill, the great grandson of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill.
Created from wool and wood by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project in conjunction with Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods – members of Ripon Men’s Shed, the tank is the stunning centrepiece of Ripon’s D-Day commemoration and celebration events.
The tank builders pictured at the Ripon inn, from the left: Carol Dunkley, Hazel Barker and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, with Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon Men’s Shed
Stuart Martin, who co-founded the project in 2017 with Hazel Barker, said:
“We have asked for and received help from individuals, businesses – including Tate’s Garden Centre and Ripon Farm Services – and organisations across the city and all have given their time, materials, labour and logistical advice free of charge.
“It has been a magnificent community-wide project collectively involving almost 100,000 hours of volunteer input and has been made possible because of the generosity of the city’s organisations and businesses.”
Main picture: The ‘on tour’ tank, which can now be seen at Tate’s Garden Centre
Reconstruction work scheduled for popular riverside path in RiponReconstruction of a stretch of riverside path in Ripon that has been fenced off for public safety will begin next month after works were given the go-ahead by the Environment Agency.
The section, from Borrage Green Lane to High Cleugh, is in danger of collapsing into the River Skell and has been blocked off for several weeks with six foot high fencing at each end.
Parts of the path on the popular riverside route have been undercut by high and fast-running waters caused by higher than average rainfall.
Karl Battersby, corporate director of environment for North Yorkshire Council, said:
“The Environment Agency permit for us to undertake the works on the River Skell footpath in Ripon has now been issued with a window for the works to take place between June 16 and September.
“Due to the popularity of the path we will do whatever we can to complete the work towards the beginning of the window but completion dates will depend on contractor availability and river levels which we have no control over.”
The recently-repaired wooden bridge over the Skell near High Cleugh is part of the route.
Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, who also represents the Minster and Moorside division on North Yorkshire Council, told the Stray Ferret:
“North Yorkshire’s rights of way team will be paying for the reconstruction work and I would like to commend them for the swift way in which they have responded to our request.”
Image: Part of the section of path that will be reconstructed
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Ripon Men’s Shed seeks funding to secure futureRipon Men’s Shed, which has tripled its membership since it was launched in the summer of 2021, is looking to raise funds to secure its long-term future.
The group has set up a gofundme page and is selling hand-made goods created by members at craft fairs as it bids to raise £45,000.
Shed manager Barry Sutton told the Stray Ferret:
“With the growth we have achieved in less than three years we have the potential to increase our numbers to 100, but to do this at our present location, we need to raise £45,000.”
The charitable incorporated organisation currently rents premises that belong to New Life Church on Water Skellgate. Now the adjacent church building itself has become available, providing an opportunity for expansion the shed’s management would dearly love to take.
Mr Sutton (pictured on the left in the main image) pointed out:
“Our initial membership in 2021 was around 12 and we now have 36 regular active members who come here over three days each week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“However, with our current size and restricted space we are unable to recruit further at present, but that would change immediately if we were able to secure the necessary funds to purchase the premises that we currently rent and the church building “
Workshop space is limited, but would increase dramatically with expansion into the adjacent church building
The men’s shed movement, which addresses issues of loneliness and social isolation, has a specific focus on the older male population, but women are welcome too.
Its aim is to improve physical and mental health by providing a safe space in the form of a welcoming friendly workshop where members can make friends and share life skills and experiences.
Since its launch the shed has been involved in numerous community-based projects, among them the creation, in collaboration with the knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project, of a life-size replica Churchill AVRE bunker-buster tank, which is the stunning central feature of Ripon’s D-Day commemoration and celebration events.
Members Gordon Woods and Richard Thomson who were respectively in the Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers before retiring from their service careers, built the wooden frame of the tank.
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Ripon campaigners prepare for post D-Day battle with the bulldozers
Planning update
Last week, the government agencies Homes England and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation provided an update on the Clotherholme proposals in a planning report published on North Yorkshire Council’s website.
The report pledged to “work with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust on a heritage strategy which will balance the urgent need for new homes for local people with a strategy for preserving and recording the unique history and heritage of the barracks”.
The trust’s continuing concerns
But the trust, which has launched a website as part of a campaign to preserve key aspects of the site, believes the agencies have shown little desire to co-operate since Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission in February last year and their pledges remain vague and opaque.
Trust chairman Guy Wilson said:
“We are hugely disappointed that after 15 months of engagement with Homes England, the current outline planning application lacks any provision for the preservation of even a single example of the rare and unique huts at Deverell Barracks.
“Neither has any land been allocated to allow for the relocation and re-use of these heritage assets. Both were specific requests that the Harrogate Borough Council planning committee called for in February 2023.
“It has sadly become apparent that none of the parties to this development has any real interest in preserving the heritage of the site and none has made any attempt to work constructively with us. All they are interested in is appearing to do enough to get their present plans passed without alteration, in which case the result will be that significant heritage assets will be lost and this we very much regret.”
The planning update said the housing scheme will preserve the main military roads and names as well as provide information signs
Trustee Michael Furse told the Stray Ferret:
“The city has a rich and deep military history and has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the Royal Engineers.
“We and many Ripon residents strongly believe that the important heritage assets at the barracks site are worth fighting for.”
Main image: Field-Marshal Montgomery recognised the important role that Ripon’s Royal Engineers played in the installation of Bailey Bridges, such as this one in Italy. Picture Wikipedia
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Gallery: Tears amid military decorations as Ripon gets ready for D-Day 80th anniversaryLt Col. Perry Bishop, the commanding officer of the Ripon-based 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, admitted to having an emotional moment when he saw knitted soldiers adorning the bollards in Ripon city centre.
He told a large crowd of civic dignitaries, volunteers, schoolchildren and members of the public, who gattered this morning on the lawns of Ripon Inn for the launch of the city’s D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration and celebration events:
“In my 20 years of army service, I’ve never known a town or city whose people have such a close affinity with the corps of soldiers who are based here.”
Lt. Col Bishop, who is coming to the end of his two-and-a-half year posting in Ripon in the next month, added:
“I must admit, that when I saw the knitted figures of sappers on the bollards around the Market Square, I had tears of pride in my eyes and I could not have a better send off than being here today to unveil this incredible tank made of wool and wood.
“It’s a manifestation of the respect that the people of Ripon have for the Royal Engineers and in return the respect that we have for the citizens of this wonderful city.”
The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, along with the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, were among those present for this morning’s launch
Today’s unveiling of the replica Churchill bunker buster tank signalled the start of D-Day anniversary events in the city
The badge of the Royal Engineers has been faithfully reproduced in wool by the knitters of Ripon Community Project
Community link
For a community proudly wrapped in rich military history, where the Royal Engineers have enjoyed Freedom of the City for 75 years, the countdown to the 80th anniversary, which marks the D-Day landings on five Normandy beaches, have a very special meaning.
On June 6 1944, one in four servicemen involved in Operation Overlord — the code name for the huge military operation that paved the way to the liberation of western Europe — were Royal Engineers, many of whom were trained in Ripon in readiness for their key role in clearing the way for troops who followed on behind them,
Among the weapons at their disposal was the Churchill Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) tank which was used with terrifying effect to blast enemy bunkers with huge and uncompromising shells
The life-size replica, which is 24 feet long, nine feet wide and seven feet high, has been created through a collaboration between Ripon Community Poppy Project and the city’s Men’s Shed who worked together in a hangar provided by the Engineers at Claro Barracks.
The tank, is a striking and symbolic centrepiece that will be seen at selected locations around the city between now and June 6, when an anniversary concert will be held at Ripon Cathedral, before Jack Churchill the great-grandson of war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill lights a beacon on the cathedral’s piazza,
Five of the people involved in creating the replica tank are pictured here, from the left: Carol Dunkley, Hazel Barker, Stuart Martin (Ripon Community Poppy Project) and Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon Men’s Shed,
Hazel Barker, who was joint-founder of the poppy project with former mayor of Ripon Stuart Martin, told the Stray Ferret,
“We hope that the tank and D–Day anniversary decorations, which have taken tens of thousands of stitches from our tireless team of non-stop knitters, will remind local residents and visitors of the crucial part that the Royal Engineers played in securing allied victory in World War Two.”
Pictured above are some of the knitted servicemen that brought tears to the eyes of Lt Col Bishop, while a silhouette of a lone soldier can be seen below with other displays in Spa Gardens.
The D-Day heroes are remembered in this display (below) on railings in Ripon city centre
Main image: Lt Col Perry Bishop (pictured left) with Hazel Barker and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project
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Gallery: Tears amid military decorations as Ripon gets ready for D-Day 80th anniversaryLt Col. Perry Bishop, the commanding officer of the Ripon-based 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, admitted to having an emotional moment when he saw knitted soldiers adorning the bollards in Ripon city centre.
He told a large crowd of civic dignitaries, volunteers, schoolchildren and members of the public, who gattered this morning on the lawns of Ripon Inn for the launch of the city’s D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration and celebration events:
“In my 20 years of army service, I’ve never known a town or city whose people have such a close affinity with the corps of soldiers who are based here.”
Lt. Col Bishop, who is coming to the end of his two-and-a-half year posting in Ripon in the next month, added:
“I must admit, that when I saw the knitted figures of sappers on the bollards around the Market Square, I had tears of pride in my eyes and I could not have a better send off than being here today to unveil this incredible tank made of wool and wood.
“It’s a manifestation of the respect that the people of Ripon have for the Royal Engineers and in return the respect that we have for the citizens of this wonderful city.”
The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, along with the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, were among those present for this morning’s launch
Today’s unveiling of the replica Churchill bunker buster tank signalled the start of D-Day anniversary events in the city
The badge of the Royal Engineers has been faithfully reproduced in wool by the knitters of Ripon Community Project
Community link
For a community proudly wrapped in rich military history, where the Royal Engineers have enjoyed Freedom of the City for 75 years, the countdown to the 80th anniversary, which marks the D-Day landings on five Normandy beaches, have a very special meaning.
On June 6 1944, one in four servicemen involved in Operation Overlord — the code name for the huge military operation that paved the way to the liberation of western Europe — were Royal Engineers, many of whom were trained in Ripon in readiness for their key role in clearing the way for troops who followed on behind them,
Among the weapons at their disposal was the Churchill Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) tank which was used with terrifying effect to blast enemy bunkers with huge and uncompromising shells
The life-size replica, which is 24 feet long, nine feet wide and seven feet high, has been created through a collaboration between Ripon Community Poppy Project and the city’s Men’s Shed who worked together in a hangar provided by the Engineers at Claro Barracks.
The tank, is a striking and symbolic centrepiece that will be seen at selected locations around the city between now and June 6, when an anniversary concert will be held at Ripon Cathedral, before Jack Churchill the great-grandson of war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill lights a beacon on the cathedral’s piazza,
Five of the people involved in creating the replica tank are pictured here, from the left: Carol Dunkley, Hazel Barker, Stuart Martin (Ripon Community Poppy Project) and Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon Men’s Shed,
Hazel Barker, who was joint-founder of the poppy project with former mayor of Ripon Stuart Martin, told the Stray Ferret,
“We hope that the tank and D–Day anniversary decorations, which have taken tens of thousands of stitches from our tireless team of non-stop knitters, will remind local residents and visitors of the crucial part that the Royal Engineers played in securing allied victory in World War Two.”
Pictured above are some of the knitted servicemen that brought tears to the eyes of Lt Col Bishop, while a silhouette of a lone soldier can be seen below with other displays in Spa Gardens.
The D-Day heroes are remembered in this display (below) on railings in Ripon city centre
Main image: Lt Col Perry Bishop (pictured left) with Hazel Barker and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project
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Tank will be on the Ripon Inn lawn for launch of D-Day anniversary celebrationsThe countdown to Ripon’s D-Day commemoration and celebration events has begun and the unique life-size knitted tank created through a massive volunteer effort is ready to take up its central role.
Created through the collaborative input of Ripon Community Poppy Project and Ripon Men’s Shed, with back-up support from businesses and individuals across the community, the replica tank made of wood and wool, will be on the lawn at Ripon Inn on Tuesday (April 30) for the launch event.
Measuring 24 foot long, nine foot wide and seven foot high, it has been built in a hangar at Claro Barracks provided by 21 Engineer Regiment.
The replica tank will first go on display at The Ripon Inn and then move to other locations in the city
It is modelled on the Churchill AVRE bunker busting tank that was employed by Royal Engineers to clear the way for troops after they landed on the five Normandy beaches on June 6 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, which led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, told the Stray Ferret:
“The Royal Engineers who were awarded Freedom of the City of Ripon in 1949, in gratitude for the crucial role they played in the allied victory, can count the D-Day landings and what happened afterwards among their finest hours.
“This has been recognised across the Ripon community with volunteers collectively clocking up 100,000 hours of work since last year to ensure that we do them proud.”
The launch event starts at 11am on Tuesday and is open to members of the public. It will be attended by civic dignitaries, schoolchildren, volunteers and representatives of organisations and businesses that are playing a part in the D-Day 80th anniversary,
At the launch, there will be a display featuring the work of the trustees of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust, who are fighting to save priceless heritage buildings, bridges and other structures at the barracks site that are in danger of being bulldozed to make way for the 1,300-home Clotherholme development.
Events culminate on June 6, with the lighting of a beacon at 9.15pm on the piazza of Ripon Cathedral, by Jack Churchill, great-grandson of the legendary wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill.
D-Day 80th anniversary concert
Before the beacon is lit a concert will be held in the cathedral at 7pm. It will feature Ripon City Band, The Duchy Bells, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir and Charlotte Potter.
Proceeds will be shared between Ripon Community Poppy Project and Help the Heroes, the armed forces and veterans charity.
Tickets costing £15 are now on sale online from Eventbrite and from Ripon’s Stuff 4 Offices in Fishergate and the Wakeman’s Cafe on Market Place South.
Stuart Martin (centre) is pictured with his Ripon Community Poppy Project colleague Hazel Barker and Richard Thomson of Ripon Men’s Shed
The stunning centrepiece model Churchill AVRE tank, has been created, along with other display items by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project.
Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon’s Men’s Shed, built the wooden frame of the mighty model war machine from timber valued at £2,500 that was donated by the Ripon branch of MKM Building Supplies.
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BT answers Ripon Civic Society’s call to repair historic city centre telephone kiosks
Telecoms giant BT has answered a call from Ripon Civic Society to carry out repair work on the four vandalised telephone kiosks that stand in line in the city centre.
Richard Taylor, co-chair of the heritage watchdog, raised concerns about the dangerous condition of the kiosks, which have had glass window panels deliberately smashed over a period of time.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“They were not safe to use and we are delighted to see this action being taken by BT and also look forward to the kiosks being re-painted in due course.”
Mr Taylor was in contact with BT last week to remind them the K6 Kiosks, which were given grade II listed status by English Heritage in 1987, were still awaiting repairs that he had been requested in December.
Above is how the vandalised kiosks looked in December and below how they now look after broken panels have been replaced
He said:
“It is rare to have a grouping of four telephone kiosks of this vintage – particularly in a city of Ripon’s size.”
Mr Taylor pointed out:
“They stand in close proximity to the cabmen’s shelter – another grade II listed building – and together they are part of Ripon’s heritage and are of special architectural interest.
“It would be great to eventually see the kiosks being used as something like an information hub, where local people and visitors to Ripon could find out more about the history of our ancient city.
“Ideally, one of the phones should be kept operational, as some people do not have mobiles.”
Designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935, the K6 kiosks are iconic structures still seen in many places across the UK.
Main Picture: Nick Ions and Patricia Barrie, who are members of the BT maintenance team which looks after a thousand telephone kiosks in Yorkshire, carried out the repairs.
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Black Dyke Band to give fundraising concert in RiponThe world-famous Black Dyke Band will provide a boost to fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support at Ripon Cathedral next week.
The band, which won the 2023 National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, has waived its fee for the concert on the evening of Thursday, May 2 and the money it would have received is being donated to the charity.
Wendy Richardson, co-organiser of the fundraiser with Canon Wendy Wilby, a member of the cathedral clergy whose composer husband Philip regularly writes pieces for the band, told the Stray Ferret:
“Tickets are going fast, but some are still available and we hope that it is a sell-out event as we bid to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan’s important work in the community supporting people with cancer and their families.”
The concert will include a performance of Procession to the Cathedral written by Philip Wilby.
Stalwart charity fundraiser Ms Richardson, whose brass band-loving husband David died of cancer in 2019, added:
“The incredibly warm-heated gesture of the Black Dyke Band, which has won the national championship for a record 24 times and is the most successful brass band in history, has given us a massive boost and we are also extremely grateful for the support that we have received from the cathedral and the local committee of Yorkshire Cancer Research.
“One of the highlights of the evening will be the band’s playing of Procession to the Cathedral, which has been specially composed by Philip Wilby.”
Professor Nick Childs, an award-winning band conductor, has chosen a wide and varied programme that will showcase the band’s brass soloists.
Tickets for the concert priced at £20 for adults or £5.00 for children are available from the cathedral shop or on line.
Main image: The multi-award winning Black Dyke Band has waived its fee for the charity concert. Picture: Black Dyke Band
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Entries open for the 2024 Ripon Poetry FestivalThe search has begun for entries from people of all ages for the seventh Ripon Poetry Festival competition.
This year’s event runs from September 19 to September 22 and the closing date for entries is July 31.
Advising would-be entrants, festival curator Andy Croft (pictured) said that the poems “can be serious or funny, solemn or silly. And they can be on any subject you like”.
He added:
“If you are looking for inspiration – how about writing about Hope? The wars in Gaza and Ukraine? climate change, the cost of living, polluted rivers, the refugee crisis, plastic in the oceans – at the moment we could all do with a bit of Hope…”
The best of the entries will be collected in three books published during the festival. Everyone who has a poem in one of the books will be invited to read at the launches on Saturday 21 September, where they will receive a free copy.
The categories are:
- Under-11s ( with a £2 entry-fee per poem)
- 12-18 year-olds (£3 entry-fee per poem)
- Adults (£5 entry-fee per poem)
Festival highlights
Highlights of this year’s programme include well-known performance poets Kate Fox and Adisa the Verbaliser, readings by Jackie Litherland, Marilyn Longstaff and Joe Williams.
There will also be poetry-workshops for children and grown-ups, an open-mic evening and book-launches by local poets Trevor Vaughan and Ian Clark.
The 2023 festival proved a huge success with sell-out performances and a record entry for the annual poetry competition.
More information about the poetry competitions or about the festival can be obtained from Andy Croft on 07721890778 or info@smokestack-books.co.uk.
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