Tim Flanagan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Ripon’s largest pub re-opens for early risers

The Unicorn, Ripon’s largest pub, re-opened its doors prompt on the eighth chime of the Cathedral clock this morning.

There was a quiet trickle of customers arriving for their first breakfast or coffee at the pub since it went into lockdown in March.

Owned by hospitality giant Wetherspoon, the pub and hotel in Market Place, has put many safety measures in place in readiness for up to a maximum of 135 customers at a time on its premises, which include a beer garden to the rear.

Duty manager Dawn Tull (pictured) told The Stray Ferret:

“We are keeping a count on numbers and if we are at capacity, customers will need to wait outside at social distance until space becomes free.”

On entry, pub goers will be required to complete an NHS Test and Trace form which is designed to assist health professionals in contacting individuals in the event of a local coronavirus outbreak.

Perspex screens have been fixed at the bar and other locations; a one way system in and out has been introduced and leaflets handed out to customers asks them to keep themselves, other pub goers and staff safe, by following guidelines, which include customers only entering the premises if they feel well; washing hands on arrival with the sanitiser provided; making contactless payments and using an app to order at table, where possible.

Wetherspoon has pointed out on its leaflets:

“Our adjustments follow extensive consultation with employees at all levels and incorporate advice from government, health and safety advisers and UK Hospitality.

“As part of the process, pub managers have carried out a risk assessment in their own pub, leading to a pub-specific operating plan.”

Doors close on the first day back after lockdown at midnight and Dawn, said:

“We look forward to welcoming our customers back.”

Desperate for a trim -6am queue outside Ripon barber

On a normal Saturday, City Barbers in High Skellgate Ripon, would open at 9am – but this was no normal Saturday.

A queue of men of different ages, with different hair lines and lengths of hair, started to form from 6am and waited in orderly fashion for their turn in one of the two chairs.

Adam Blackburn, a customer of the shop for more than 15 years and with a full head of hair, told The Stray Ferret:

“I just couldn’t wait to get it cut, so got up early, but when I arrived here at 6.30, there were 17 people ahead of me!”

The queue stretched up High Skellgate and, at the time writing, up to 25 men were waiting for their first post-lockdown hair cut.

Desperate for a trim – it’s been 3 months since many had a trip to the barbers

At the Fadezone Hair Studio on North Street, where three barbers were in operation from 9am, customers also waited patiently on the pavement, some reading newspapers as they awaited their first trim in more than three months.

At both shops and all other hairdressing businesses around the city, owners have put social distancing and hygiene arrangements in place, including the installation of perspex screens to protect customers and staff, along with the wearing of face shields and masks, use of hand and surface sanitisers and prominently displayed signage.

Ripon hairdressers ready to cut hair and chat

Scissors, trimmers, combs and brushes, along with face shields, masks, hand and surface sanitisers, are at the ready as Ripon’s hairdressers prepare to cope with the pent up demand tomorrow..

For Sharon Bielby, who owns and runs a men’s barbers shop bearing her name and Deborah Chalmers, owner of Love Hair and Beauty Boutique, it’s going to be a busy weekend.

The new post-lockdown reality means no magazines to read, a strict one in, one out system and chat kept to the absolute minimum.

Both women,say it’s going to be strange re-acquainting themselves with customers who have become more like friends than clients, but they appreciate that the hygiene and social distancing measures are there to protect everybody.

Photograph of hair and beauty specialist wearing face shield

Deborah Chalmers, in her hair and beauty boutique

Deborah, who has been involved in the beauty business since leaving Ripon Grammar School aged 15, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have had a refurbishment over the past few weeks and are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.

“Unfortunately, that means no conversations while we cut and style hair, which will be difficult, because I haven’t been able to see customers face to face for ages.”

Sharon, whose North Street shop is approximately 100 yards down the road from Deborah’s, is booked to provide dozens of haircuts over the weekend. She said:

“It will be odd cutting hair while wearing a face shield and that in itself will make speaking difficult.”

In spite of being closed since 23rd March, her premises, have provided a shop window for bird houses and bee homes made by adults with learning disabilities at the Jennyruth Workshops charity.

Sharon, pointed out:

“Jennyruth had the shop before I took it over six years ago and I thought it would be nice to help them raise funds. I’m pleased to say that I have been able to sell quite a few during the lockdown, as people rang me to ask for them and I’ve delivered to their homes.”

For Deborah, the coronavirus crisis meant she has temporarily lost out on revenue that would have come from her core business of providing hairstyling and make up for brides and bridesmaids.

Since March, she has had 40 wedding postponements and though this was a devastating blow, she felt the need to give something back during the lockdown to her home city.

She turned her hand to supporting friends Annette and Nathan Kite, by volunteering to cook hot meals for 14 weeks, which were delivered to people in need around Ripon.

Deborah, added: “This gave me a purpose that helped me to get through these difficult months.”

Police ask Ripon parents to help reduce anti-social behaviour

Ripon police has called for parents to be more vigilant to help tackle anti-social behaviour in the city,

Making a direct appeal for assistance, sergeant Clare Mayes of North Yorkshire Police’s Ripon Neighbourhood Policing Team said:

“Parents, please take responsibility and find out where your children have been, what they’ve been up to and who they have been with – before you receive a knock on the door from a police officer. “

Many of the reports received by the police identify young people at the heart of the problems being experienced in the community.

A vandalised window at the Lamb and Flag pub in High Skellgate, Ripon

Sergeant Mayes pointed out:

“We all have a part to play in helping everyone to stay safe and feel safe in their homes and any behaviour which undermines this will be dealt with accordingly

“We are absolutely committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and will be doing everything we can to ensure our communities remain safe and pleasant places to live.”

She added:

“We know that lockdown has caused many of our community members to become isolated from their normal social groups and practices, but nothing excuses the unacceptable behaviour we have recently seen and had reported.”

Ripon Neighbourhood Policing Team says it is working with partner agencies to deal with incidents that are reported, but would urge the public to ensure reports are made by calling 101.

It advises that updates given by members of the community via Facebook or other social media accounts cannot be used as a formal reporting method. Anyone witnessing any anti-social behaviour or crime should report this to by ringing 999 if the incident is ongoing or 101 if it has already happened.

By doing so, witnesses are not only helping the police to deal with incidents in real time but also to build up a picture of what is happening so they can proactively target problem areas.

The police add that any evidence to support reported incidents such as CCTV or mobile phone footage is very helpful in identifying those involved, particularly as it finds suspects may have run away or dispersed when the police arrive.

Witnesses to incidents are advised not get involved in any situation; take whatever details it is safe to obtain and contact the police immediately.

Ripon photography competition on life in lockdown

Ripon’s citizens are being asked to capture, in one compelling image, what living through the coronavirus pandemic means to them.

Ripon Grammar School has launched a community-wide lockdown photography competition, to be judged by an award-winning documentary photographer, whose work has appeared in National Geographic and Time magazines.

Organiser Ruth Savage, said:

“Perhaps people have already captured their lockdown image over the past three months, or may wish to explore the simple pleasures of appreciating something anew as lockdown restrictions are slowly eased and we adapt to a new way of life.”

Judge Mark Read, whose work has also appeared a range of high-profile UK publications including The Sunday Times, Telegraph and Guardian said the brief was wide.

An example of lockdown art caught on camera

The RGS past pupil, who is now based in Los Angeles, said:

“It’s an interesting time and many people are looking to art to represent how they are feeling. You should feel that you can express your relationship with the current times in any way you feel fit. I’ll be looking for something that feels personal, arresting and thoughtful.”

Mrs Savage added that the competition is also open to past and present RGS students, parents and staff and entries will be displayed in an online exhibition on the school website:

“Each photo will be assessed more on the story and emotions it conveys than on its technical expertise. We want people to use their camera lens to provide a window into their world during the extraordinary times we are living through.”

Headmaster Jonathan Webb said he was looking forward to seeing entries:

“Our freedom of movement may have been restricted – but our freedom of expression knows no bounds. It will be interesting to see how people choose to use their cameras to reflect on their experiences during these very strange and challenging times.”

The competition is open now and throughout the summer holidays, with prizes donated by Ripon Business Services. Email your image to Ruth Savage on SavageR@ripongrammar.com by Tuesday, September 1st, providing your name, age if under 18 and connection with RGS, if any.

Young Ripon artists display work at Royal Academy

Three talented Ripon Grammar School artists have been selected from more than 17,700 students to have their paintings on display in a national exhibition.

The works by Isaac Henson, Hugo Wade and Milly Lennox will sit among those by 400 young artists picked by a panel of experts for the Royal Academy Summer Show, which launches online on July 12.

Milly, 15, from Ripon, said of her still life of a fish in acrylic:

“I really enjoyed using tone and texture and using my imagination to enhance the painting. I love being creative and find art a good break from other lessons, which don’t allow as much personal input.”

Isaac, 15, from near Kirkby Malzeard, enjoys exploring different forms and shapes and his painting of a building designed by architect Frank Gehry was chosen for the Royal Academy show.

Issac who is also from an artistic family hopes to continue creating art.

Young artist Hugo with his painting

Hugo, 13, from Studley Roger (pictured above) revealed that his painting was inspired by a photograph of a building in Ripon. He said:

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard I had been selected. It was very exciting.”

He would now like to go to art school and pursue a career in art, perhaps as a graphic designer.

Open to students up to 19 years old, the Young Artists’ exhibition, which provides a national platform to recognise particularly high quality student work, is now in its second year.

RGS head of art Fiona Henson said it was a real honour to be picked for such a prestigious national art show:

“We are thrilled to have three students selected and this was made even more special as we were determined lockdown was not going to stop our submission.”

Supported by philanthropist Robin Hambro, the judging panel consisted of Royal Academician Cathie Pilkington, curator and head of the Royal Academy Schools, Eliza Bonham Carter and RA Schools students Catinca Malaimare and James Lomax.

Mr Hambro, said:

“It is such an important exhibition of artworks from young people, and the standard is very high. The enthusiasm for this exhibition shows how important art is for young minds and must always be a part of their educational life,”

More charity shops re-open across the Harrogate district

Further charities with shops in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon have reopened their doors this week.

In Ripon, where nine different charities have retail outlets, The Salvation Army has reopened after being shut since March 23.

The Cancer Research UK shop, located on Market Place, is also back trading in the city, while its shops in Knaresborough Market Place and Oxford Street, Harrogate, have also reopened.

The reopenings follow news reported in The Stray Ferret of last week’s opening of St Vincent’s on Knaresborough High Street, which raises money to support the community work of the St Vincent de Paul charity.

Victoria Smith, manager of Ripon’s Salvation Army shop, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have introduced strict social distancing and hand hygiene arrangements and have also fitted a perspex screen at our counter. Just six people at a time are allowed in.”

Victoria added:

“It has felt like a long time since we had to go into lockdown and we look forward to welcoming back our customers and the people who have supported us in the past through the donation of items for sale.”

The Salvation Army, which has more than 400 shops across the country, is a pioneer, having opened its first shops in the 19th century to provide affordable clothing to people who otherwise could not afford them.

Cancer Research UK is a research and awareness charity formed in February 2002 through the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

The charity has 600 shops in the UK and Isle of Man and money raised through them is used to support its aim of reducing the number of cancer deaths.

Di Illingworth, who manages the Cancer Research UK Ripon shop (pictured above), said: “We are so pleased to be back. All charities rely heavily on the money raised through their retail outlets.”

Ripon Museum Trust receives £40,000 Lottery boost

Ripon Museum Trust has received £40,100 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to safeguard its heritage buildings and provide much-needed support for essential costs during the coronavirus crisis.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began, Ripon Museum Trust has been without the visitors, volunteers and staff essential to the upkeep of the three museums – The Workhouse Museum & Garden, The Courthouse Museum and the Prison & Police Museum.

Museum Trust Ripon

Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust said:

“Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we are in a much stronger position to emerge the other side of the pandemic with the strength to welcome visitors again and to reach out to our audiences. We’re grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time – it’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.”

The emergency funding has come from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has made £50 million available to assist those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund will address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.”

She added:

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Ripon Museum Trust during this uncertain time.”

Like Ripon Museum Trust, other charities and organisations across the UK that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600 million of repurposed money from The National Lottery. This money is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and spans the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.

Through National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, including heritage of local and national importance.

Museum buildings across the Harrogate district remain closed, but at the weekend Ripon Workhouse Museum launched the ‘Inside Out Museum Trail’ which will see its Front Garden, Master’s Garden and Victorian Kitchen Garden open to the public on selected days in June and July. Places on the trail are limited to ensure social distancing is maintained and booking is via the Museum Trust’s website.

Fountains Abbey’s gentle re-awakening after lockdown

Fountains Abbey, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the National Trust’s leading attractions, is having a gentle re-awakening with a limit of 1,000 visitors a day allowed to visit the abbey ruins, parkland and Studley Royal water garden.

Since re-opening on 8th June, people have been able to pre-book on a Friday for a visit in the following week and the popularity of the site has seen it quickly booked up for all of the days that it has been open so far.

Entry is via the visitors centre from 10am until 4pm, with the site closing at 5pm.

A National Trust spokesperson said:

“We knew that once we started a gradual opening of our gardens and parklands, tickets for our places would be very popular; particularly with such fine weather. We’ve made careful decisions about which gardens and parklands can open, and we have limited their capacity to ensure everyone can adhere to social distancing to maintain the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, which remains our top priority.”

The spokesperson, added:

“We are so thankful that our members and supporters have stood by us as we work through these unprecedented times, and we ask for their continued support as we make this gradual transition a success so we can get back to offering nature, beauty and history for everyone.”

Further changes to social distancing announced by the government on Monday, have meant the National Trust is able to take bookings once more for the 14 holiday cottages and houses located on the Fountains estate.

The abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by Henry VIII, the site became the largest monastic ruins in Britain.

The Studley Royal water garden, with the river Skell running through it, was created in the 18th century by John Aislabie, – a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was expelled from the Whig Parliament in 1720 for his part in the South Sea Bubble financial scandal.

Brimham Rocks, the other National Trust owned property in the Harrogate district is now open daily from 8am until 9pm, although there is limited space available in the car park and the trust advises those who cannot find a parking space, to return at another time and not park on the roadside, to avoid blocking access for emergency vehicles.

Ripon Workhouse Museum to open gardens experience

No museums in the Harrogate district will be re-opening their indoor facilities to the public on 4th July, but there will be one new museum experience in Ripon from today (Friday 26th June).

The dates for re-opening of museums in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale, are to be confirmed – in part because volunteers involved in the day to day running of the facilities need to be available.

However, Ripon Workhouse Museum, run by charity Ripon Museum Trust, will re-open its gardens to the public from today.

The ‘Inside Out Museum Trail’ will see the gardens of the former workhouse in Allhallowgate, open on selected days during June and July, with pre-booked timed slots to ensure that visits are spread out through the day so the site does not exceed a safe capacity.

The trail will help visitors discover features of the Workhouse Museum from the outside as well as an opportunity of enjoying the Front Garden, the Master’s Garden and the Victorian Kitchen Garden.

The Royal Pump Room in Harrogate remain closed

The museum buildings will not be open to the public, but a peak inside the windows will give a glimpse of how people lived in the workhouse. Some of the exhibits, photographs of life in the Workhouse and information boards have been moved nearer to the inside of the museum windows, so people can see them from the outside.

Director of Ripon Museum Trust, Helen Thornton, said:

“We wanted to open up our beautiful outdoor spaces at the Workhouse Museum for all to enjoy as soon as it was allowed and safe to do so. The Workhouse site has so much to tell us about how the poor lived and inspires us to think about these issues today.”

The Prison and Police Museum and The Courthouse Museum which are also run by Ripon Museum Trust, but re-opening dates are yet to be announced.

There is also no opening date for the Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge.

Museum chair Sue Welch, said:

“Our re-opening date is under discussion, but it won’t be July 4, as we have some matters to resolve first regarding staffing.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council, said that no dates have yet been agreed for the reopening of the Royal Pump Room, Knaresborough Castle and Courthouse Museum and Mercer Gallery.

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