The hands of time are moving once more in Kirkby Malzeard after the clock on St Andrew’s Parish Church was fixed by a horological specialist.
The village timepiece has been repaired and re-set, after being stuck on 11.38 and 30 seconds since the morning of August 18, when a failed spring caused its pendulum to drop and stop swinging.
Installed in 1909 as part of a major restoration following a fire that destroyed the 12th century church in the previous year, the tower clock has been chiming the hours for 111 years.
An example of Edwardian precision engineering, it was built by William Potts & Sons at their former Cookridge Street Works in Leeds and the company, now part of the Smith of Derby group, has been carrying out an annual inspection and service ever since.
Time to celebrate – specialist clock engineer Kevin Ireland (left) and Christopher Slater with the clock at St Andrew’s Parish Church in Kirkby Malzeard working again
For the past 18 years, much of the maintenance work has been carried out by horological engineer Kevin Ireland – who was on hand to get it working again this week.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s a flatbed clock designed for ease of maintenance and features a compensated pendulum made from metals that expand and contract depending upon changes in temperature, to ensure that an even swing is maintained.
“The pendulum is fundamental to accuracy of the time kept and this one also includes gravity escapements – parts of the mechanism that ensure the movement of the hands of the clock are not affected by weather conditions such as high winds.”
This same device forms part of the internal workings of the large Ripon Cathedral clock, also installed by Potts.
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Seeing the St Andrew’s hands back moving again provided a moment to celebrate for parish sexton and verger Christopher Slater. He has been looking after the clock for half a century and spent 33 of those years climbing the 30 stone steps to the ring room twice each week, to carry out winding duties with a huge metal key.
In 2003, with support from the community, Mr Slater, his wife Mary and daughter Susan, raised the funds for an electronic mechanism to be added, which automatically winds both the clock and its chimes.
That installation was also carried out by Potts. Mr Slater, said:
United call to protect Ripon and Knaresborough markets“On behalf of all who live in Kirkby MaIzeard, I would like to thank Kevin and his colleagues for ensuring that we all know exactly what time it is.”
Harrogate Borough Council is facing a united call to protect the ancient markets in Knaresborough and Ripon.
Following in the footsteps of Ripon Independent councillor Pauline McHardy, Knaresborough Town Council has called on HBC to rule out any additional charges to traders.
At a full meeting of HBC in July, Cllr McHardy called for fair treatment of market traders and sought an assurance that no more rent rises were in the pipeline.
A motion proposed by Liberal Democrat councillor and former town mayor of Knaresborough Andrew Willoughby was supported by the town council, which will now write to HBC’s chief executive Wallace Sampson calling for Knaresborough’s market to be protected.
Cllr Willoughby said:
“For the second time, Harrogate Borough Council are trying to push through a move to ‘self-erect’ market stalls, which will make trading impossible for some, mean more cancelled markets due to the less durable nature of these stalls and, as we have seen in Ripon, a much diminished market.”
Ripon Market.
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An increase of more than 25% for the supply and assembly of market stalls for traders in both Knaresborough and Ripon came into effect from August 1.
Speaking at the same meeting where Cllr McHardy called for no further increases, Cllr Andy Paraskos, HBC cabinet member with responsibility for the district’s markets, pointed out that a number of measures have been put in place by the council to both support market traders and promote the markets.
This included waiving fees for traders unable to attend markets because of government restrictions during the covid lockdown period and promotion of market days on social media.
He added:
Ripon Grammar named best school in the north“There has been a rumour going around that Harrogate Borough Council is wanting to get rid of the markets. This is not true.”
Ripon Grammar School has been named the top grammar school in the north of England.
The school, which was founded in 1555, received the accolade from Corporate Vision magazine’s national awards.
The awards highlight educators who are considered to be leaders in their field.
Chloe Smart, education and training awards coordinator at Corporate Vision, said:
“Skills, personality, outlook, ethos, drive, hobbies and ambition, are all rooted in early life.
“The role of an educator is utterly fundamental to the fabric of our society.”
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The Corporate Vision education and training awards were open to organisations including boarding schools, independent schools, early education organisations, adult education institutions, training centres, vocational schools and grammar schools.
Ms Smart said:
Church wall repair planned after six-month road closure“The education and training awards were launched to spotlight the paragons of education and training and we have endeavoured to showcase those that have truly come to define the sector they work in.”
Harrogate Borough Council will have to grant itself Listed Building consent before a 40 metre section of church wall in Kirkby Malzeard can be reconstructed and repaired.
The large retaining wall partially collapsed during wet weather in February, causing the closure of a key transport route between Kirkby Malzeard and Masham.
While the reconstruction is necessary before the road can be reopened to through traffic, it is also required to protect the integrity of the ancient churchyard of St Andrew’s Parish Church.
Graves have been left in a precarious position because of the collapse of a ten metre section of the wall, which saw stone fall onto Church Street, forcing the closure of the road.
A planning application for the reconstruction, in addition to the repair of a further 30 metre section of the wall, is being submitted by the council and is currently at the consultation stage, which finishes on September 15. Comments can be submitted on the council’s planning website, using application number 20/02721/LB.
St Andrew’s Parish Church in Kirkby Malzeard
However, the matter is not straightforward, because St Andrew’s is a Grade I listed building and special permissions are required.
The churchyard dates back to the 12th century and consultee Historic England said in a letter to the planning authority:
“The church complex, including the churchyard and wall is considered to have exceptional heritage significance which derives from its architectural styles, legible plan-form, good surviving historical fabric and its continued focal point for rural community life.”
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Government legislation says that if graves need to be disturbed for works, such as construction or the provision of utility services, licences and/or faculties will be required.
A report by archaeologists employed by HBC said:
Ripon hedgehog rescue centre forgotten in coronavirus crisis“The overriding objective of the archaeological mitigation will be to avoid, or keep to a minimum, any disturbance of archaeological deposits, specifically graves and grave monuments.
“The objective of the mitigation strategy is to ensure that any archaeological deposits that might be uncovered can be recorded and that any human remains that are disturbed are treated appropriately.”
It is six years since animal lovers Jacqui and Peter Morrell set up the HAPPY hedgehog rescue centre in Ripon.
Since 2014, they have saved the lives of hundreds of the endanger creatures through Hedgehog Appreciation Prickly Pals Yorkshire – an acronym that Jacqui thought up on a day out in Scarborough.
From that trip to the coast, the couple could hardly have expected the demand that there would be for their services, which have seen them involved in the rescue of up to 1,000 hedgehogs.
Jacqui told the Stray Ferret:
“We get calls day and night from people in many parts of the country who have found an injured or poorly hedgehog. If they are calling from somewhere that is a long way from Ripon, we refer them to the hedgehog rescue centre that is closest to them.”
HAPPY is part of a nationwide network of hedgehog rescue and preservation organisations and Jacqui and Peter can also refer callers to centres in Italy and Cyprus if required.
In good hands – a hoglet that is being looked after by HAPPY
The need for these organisations has increased year on year. In July The International Union for the Conservation of Nature put hedgehogs on its Red List for British Mammals classified as being ‘vulnerable to extinction’.
It is ironic that the announcement should come in a summer when rescue centres across the UK have had fears for their own survival, as fundraising and awareness events, including Hedgehog Awareness Week in May, were cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.
Jacqui, pointed out:
“We feel we are the forgotten victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that the need for our services has increased.”
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HAPPY, which is registered with the British Hedgehog Society, has achieved a 75% success rate in the rehabilitation and return to the wild of creatures that are among the country’s best-loved animals.
Jacqui and Peter, who have become skilled in the care and treatment of the animals in the HAPPY Hogspital Unit and the hedgehog hotel they have created in their garden, are thankful for the support received from Bondgate Pet Supplies, Bishopton Vets practice and the Ripon community.
With fundraising activities such as talks to community groups currently suspended, the need for help in cash and kind continues and anybody who would like to help them in their work can find out more on the HAPPY Facebook page.
Ripon’s ‘ring of bright water’ brings otter sightingsSightings of an otter in Ripon Canal, have provided a silver lining to a lockdown summer overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic. The animal recently featured on social media and recorded at play in the canal.
Jonny Hart-Woods, the Canal and River Trust’s senior environmental specialist for Yorkshire and the North East, told the Stray Ferret:
“The great news is that improvements in water quality brought about by environmental legislation, have seen increased fish stocks and when the right conditions come together wildlife will return.”
Sightings remain rare, but Mr Hart-Woods pointed out:
For the European otter, the dish of choice for most days is salmon or sea trout and the rivers and canals, where these fish are in plentiful supply, provide the ideal habitat for this large top of the food chain predator.
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In addition to water quality improvements, the work of the Canal and River Trust in maintaining bankside trees and bushes and looking after adjacent wetland areas, has created an environment that has attracted birds and other creatures that feature in a hungry otter’s daily diet.
Sadly the otters are also vulnerable to being killed by cars with one recently killed on the Boroughbridge road.
Mr Hart-Woods said:
Offensive graffiti removed from wall near Ripon Cathedral“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for otters to be killed or injured while crossing a road. While it is sad, people who are thrilled by the thought of one day seeing these incredible creatures, can take heart in the knowledge that the otter population in the river Ure catchment is increasing.”
North Yorkshire Police are continuing to investigate an incident in which graffiti, including an expletive, was daubed on a wall across the road from Ripon Cathedral.
The offensive message targeting the Conservatives has now been removed after being reported to the police last Friday morning.
Harrogate Borough Council tweeted today that although the graffiti did not appear on council land, it had decided to remove it “given the language used”.
Police ask anybody who has information about the perpetrators to call 101 and quote the reference number 12200150072.
The wall is yards from the cathedral on Minster Road – one of the main traffic and pedestrian thoroughfares in Ripon.
The graffiti is another example of anti-social behaviour in the city.
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Other incidents include vandalised windows and fly-tipping.
Some of the anti-social acts have been carried out by children and earlier this year Ripon police called for parents to be more vigilant.
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.
Sergeant Mayes added:
“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.
Ripon councillor criticises Dawn French following Stray FM’s demiseIndependent Ripon Councillor Andrew Williams has called on the actress Dawn French to distance herself from Bauer Media following the demise of Stray FM.
Bauer rebranded Stray FM as Greatest Hits Radio today in a move that has upset many local people.
Ms French has been the voice of Greatest Hits Radio since signing a deal with Bauer in December 2018.
Cllr Williams, who serves on Ripon City Council, wrote to her agent Kate Davie of United Agents saying he thought Ms French “would not wish to be associated with the closures of Stray FM and Minster FM”.
He added:
“Perhaps your client might wish to distance herself from such a travesty. She risks her own reputation being tarnished and damaged.”
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Cllr Williams claimed the switch from Stray FM to Greatest Hits Radio was a “complete decimation of the local radio stations that have played an integral part within our local communities for decades”.
He said he had emailed Ms French’s agent both as a private resident and as a member of Ripon City Council, which falls within Stray FM broadcast area.
At the time of publication, neither Cllr Williams nor the Stray Ferret had received a response from Ms French or her agent.
In a press release in December 2018, when Ms French was announced as the ‘voice of the station’ Greatest Hits Radio, said:
“Nothing short of a comedy legend, Dawn embodies the station’s brand values and is well known to the UK public for decades of award-winning comedy and acting roles including playing the irrepressible Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley.”
Ripon schoolgirl’s kind-hearted donation
A seven-year-old Ripon girl will carry out a double act of kindness to help others next month.
Lacey Dyason is donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust, while also taking part in the Macmillan Cancer Support Brave The Shave fundraising challenge.
A pupil of Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School, Lacey decided to donate her long brown hair after seeing a television programme featuring children who have lost their hair because of illness.
She asked her parents Louise and Barry:
“Will they get bullied by other children because they haven’t got any hair?”
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Louise told the Stray Ferret:
“She couldn’t bear the thought of another child suffering embarrassment or hurtful comments because they have lost their hair through an illness and her mind was made up – she wanted to help.”
The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.
Lacey, pictured with her parents Louise and Barry Dyason
While finding out more about the work of the charity, Mr and Mrs Dyason spoke with Lacey, asking her if she was absolutely sure she wanted to make the donation. The answer came back ‘yes’ every time.
As well as seeing the programme about the children who lost her hair, Lacey saw television advertisements about the Macmillan Cancer Support Brave the Shave challenge.
After talking about it with her parents it was agreed that she could also take part in this fundraiser and attempt to raise £500.
At the time of going to press she had beaten the original target on her fundraising page https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/lacey-dyason in a matter of days and hopes more people will support her.
Louise, added:
“She is a thoughtful, but determined girl and Barry and I and her elder brother Mckenzie are so proud of her.”
The cutting and collection of Lacey’s hair will be carried out at the Saks salon in High Skellgate, which works with The Princess Trust.
The head shave will go ahead after her long locks have been safely packaged in readiness to send to the charity.
Louise added:
“We decided to select October for both the hair cut and the shave, so that we can let Lacey’s teachers and friends know in advance what she is doing and why she is doing it, so it won’t come as a shock when they see her temporary changed appearance.”
Since 2006, The Little Princess Trust has supplied more than 8,000 wigs to children and young people and invested £5 million into ground-breaking childhood cancer research.
More than 30 organisations operating in the Ripon area – including the city council, retailers, the cathedral, schools and heritage attractions – are featured on a colourful community jigsaw organised and assembled by the Jennyruth Workshops charity.
The project, in which participants were each given a single jigsaw piece to decorate with messages and logos, was made possible with a grant from Ripon City Council.
Anna Smith, Jennyruth Workshops’ publicity and media officer, said:
“Our aim was to involve as many people, places, organisations and establishments that make up the wonderful city of Ripon as we can, in creating a vibrant and unique jigsaw-style display to be showcased around various venues in the city.”
She added:
“It paints a picture of our community and all the diverse ways that we work together, live alongside each other, help and support each other and forge links together, through good times and bad.”
The Pet Shop in Old Market Place, Ripon, is the first to display the jigsaws in its window and owner Jane Fisher told the Stray Ferret:
“We are delighted to be involved with this community project. Jennyruth is a wonderful charity, doing great work and producing very high quality items.”
The jigsaws will remain in The Pet Shop window for two weeks and then move on to another prominent location in Ripon.
The Jennyruth Workshops charity was founded by Barrie and Sue Evason and provides learning through work for adults with learning disabilities.
With support from full-time staff and a team of volunteers, the workers make brightly-painted wooden goods at the charity’s base in Bridge Hewick near Ripon, with products ranging from bee homes and bird houses to Christmas decorations and bespoke goods.
One of the two community jigsaws produced by the Jennyruth Workshops charity
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Despite the coronavirus lockdown, production has continued with the workers – who are aged from 19 to 73 – working from their homes and maintaining contact through daily zoom meetings and an online newsletter.
Barrie, who raised money to set up the workshops through a series of sponsored long-distance walks with son Jonathan, died in February and his ashes will be buried later this year in an urn at a memorial garden created on the workshops site.