The focus was on family fun in the sun as Ripon Theatre Festival’s outdoor performers took centre stage over the weekend.

Yesterday’s bright sunshine brought hundreds of children, along with parents and grandparents to Spa Gardens, where they saw puppets, pirates, a Noah’s Ark show (pictured below) musicians, singers, dancers and many more entertainers.

Among them was Rhubarb Theatre (see main picture), which provided an interactive experience for the audience combining street entertainment with family games, featuring characters inspired by Lewis Carroll’s wonderland creations.

On Saturday, Ripon city centre Market Square, Minster Gardens, The Arcade, North Street and Kirkgate and Westgate, were among the venues for a eclectic mixture of alfresco theatrical performances, while the Flying Dodos and other puppet characters roamed the streets.

The Flying Dodos on North Street

Ripon Arts Hub, the cathedral, Curzon Cinema, the Claro Lounge, Wetherspoon’s Unicorn Hotel, the library and The Little Ripon Bookshop and Workhouse Museum, also hosted indoor festival events.

The Strange Twig pirates in Spa Gardens

Ian Gouge 

At Curzon Cinema, Ripon-based award-winning author and poet Ian Gouge, gave a premiere performance of his dramatic poem Crash while on Market Square, a large crowd gathered for a whole host of acts, including The Giant Balloon Show (pictured below).

Just a hop and a skip away at the cathedral, Ripon City Morris Dancers  attracted a large gathering as did dancers of a different kind when Sarita McDermott and her team of Bollywood-style performers, Bethany, Matthew and Martin, from Jennyruth Workshops, performed in Spa Gardens.

Ripon City Morris Dancers

Sarita McDermott (right) with the Bollywood dancers.

While it was a weekend for enjoyment across the city, the daily hardship of a life in poverty was given a dramatic twist at the Workshouse Museum.

Through interactive displays and presentations, volunteers in period costume told the story of what it was like for some of Ripon’s Victorian forebears.

Volunteers Lindy (left) and Judy showed visitors what wash day in the Workhouse was like for its Victorian inmates

The finale of Ripon’s second theatre festival came yesterday evening with Illyria’s action-packed production of Robin Hood  at Fountains Abbey and as the curtain came down on this year’s event, festival director Katie Scott (pictured below) told the Stray Ferret:

“It has been a great success. Building on last year’s launch we have seen increased ticket sales and hundreds of people attending the free outdoor events and pop up shows.

“This gives us a tremendous platform for next year.”

Festival director Katie Scott

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Following the departure of its director of museums, Helen Thornton, Ripon Museum Trust has begun the search for her successor.

Ms Thornton, who was director for four covid-affected years, has left the heritage sector to take up the post of town clerk for Baildon in West Yorkshire.

The trust, which since 2020, has been awarded financial support totalling more than £500,000 from Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund said in a statement it was seeking a new director “to provide inspiring and collaborative leadership”.

It added the successful candidate would be “a transformational leader” with “proven management and leadership experience, that will enable Ripon Museum Trust to realise their potential to become a museum with a national profile”.

The new director will be involved in shaping the strategic direction and delivery of the The Workhouse, Prison & Police and Old Courthouse museums at a pivotal point in the trust’s 41-year history, amid a development phase bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Richard Taylor, chair of the board of trustees said:

“Ripon Museum Trust is a close-knit community with strong values of fairness, ambition, community, team-work and learning. We are really excited to be recruiting for this role and look forward to welcoming a new director of museums at this important part of our journey.”

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The hot topics will be climate change and a range of environmental issues, when Ripon Together holds its first-ever Green Fair in the city on Sunday June 25.

Running from 10am until 4pm, the event will be held at Ripon Town Hall and on Market Square, where city councillor Jackie Crozier, owner of Little Bird Artisan Markets, has allocated space for a number of environmentally-focused organisations to have stalls.

Ripon Together director David Ingham, said:

“We picked the date to coincide with the market, knowing that several regular stall holders are green businesses and we hope to attract a similar or overlapping audience.”

Ripon Cathedral, the National Trust at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, are also involved in organising the fair.

A key aim of  the event is to raise awareness of the environment in Ripon and the surrounding area and how to help to look after the city’s three rivers, canal, local wildlife and green spaces, through reducing waste, collecting litter and limiting the use of plastics.

In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, there will be a focus on public transport, electric vehicles, walking and cycling more, while looking at how homes and businesses can reduce their energy use and save money.

Advice will be available on retrofit, renewable energy and insulation and visitors will be able to find out how making small changes in their daily lives can make a difference.

Mr Ingham, pointed out:

“We’d like to see what people, and especially young people, are interested in, to give or find them reliable advice and to help to achieve change.

“We are trying to provide information and opportunities and must all work together to reduce carbon emissions, have cleaner air, rivers and seas, warmer and greener homes, save money and help reverse climate change.”

Separately from the Green Fair discussions have been held with local schools about solar projects to reduce their massive energy bills.

Ripon Together has a good range of contacts with people who are involved in many established organisations and is well placed to help make the environment a priority in Ripon.

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 St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church in Ripon has received a £4,000 boost from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT).

The award, which will go towards the restoration of the three altars at the eastern end of its nave and aisles, comes just weeks after the Grade II* listed building was attacked by vandals who damaged leaded windows.

St Wilfrid’s, in Coltsgate Hill, was built in 1862 and is recognised as one of the finest parish churches in England, featuring ornate reredos screens designed by the renowned  Victorian church architect Edward Pugin.

Parishioner Barrie Price, who chairs the restoration appeal, said:

“We were delighted to receive this grant from the YHCT. The church opened its doors over 160 years ago and continues to be a special place for all who visit.

“Preserving this Yorkshire jewel for future generations is a daunting task, but with the help and support from organisations like to the YHCT, and the fundraising efforts of the local community, we are able to undertake the much-needed restoration works.”

Tom Ramsden, chair of the YHCT said:

“As well as being a place of worship, many of Yorkshire’s churches and chapels provide much needed support services to the local community.

“Many parishes face severe challenges in keeping their buildings open and in good repair, but thanks to the generosity of our friends and donors, we are delighted to be able to help preserve these wonderful historic buildings and help secure their future”.

In summer 2021, St Wilfrid’s reopened following the first phase of a £500,000 restoration, which took two years and was held up by the covid 19 pandemic.

The money for the the work was raised by churchgoers, supported by awards from trusts and boosted by a £75,000 grant from Historic England.

In 2022, YHCT awarded £93,000 to 24 places of worship across Yorkshire. Grants continue to be available for urgent repairs, restoration and maintenance to churches of any Christian denomination, including feasibility studies to help churches develop longer term projects.

Musicians busked in the bright Bank Holiday sunshine in Ripon as performers in many different musical genres attracted extra footfall to the city’s streets.

The Ripon Indie event, organised by independent traders and featuring a host of highly-talented local and regional artists, was supported by Ripon Business Improvement District.

There was a large gathering on Kirkgate, where performers included the rock band Time Machine (main picture) and singer-songwriter Alannah Creed, pictured below.

The day also featured a Little Bird Artisan Market in the city centre which, alongside the musical entertainment and a team of Bollywood-style dancers, brought hundreds of people in to Ripon.

Buskers were strategically placed in Market Square, Westgate, North Street and The Arcade and their music acted as a magnet to those wishing to follow the busking trail.

Popular Ripon performers Lily Worth (above) and Freddie Cleary (below) were among the entertainers who showed the depth of young musical talent that the city boasts.

Yesterday’s event proved a natural follow-on from the successful street party held on Kirkgate on Easter Monday, which ran under the umbrella of the independents’ Totally Locally Campaign backed by Ripon BID.

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The name of Major Bill Rudd MBE, a much loved and highly respected Royal Engineer, will live on in Ripon following a dedication and remembrance service during the regiment’s Freedom Weekend.

Veterans, serving soldiers, friends and family gathered in Spa Gardens on Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of a bench installed in his honour.

The installation was made possible with support from the Ripon Commando and Airborne branches of the Royal Engineers Association.

Facing onto the city’s War Memorial, the bench is a fitting tribute to the retired major who died six years ago following a distinguished army career.

This included service with both the 9 Parachute Squadron and 59 Independent Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

Former and serving men and women came from far and wide to attend the dedication and remembrance ceremony led by the Revd Stephen Wilson.

Prior to becoming a commissioned officer, Major Rudd served as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 38 Engineer Regiment based at Claro Barracks.

He maintained his connection with comrades through setting up the Yorkshire Branch of the Airborne Engineers Association with fellow Sappers Dave Edmonds and Charlie Dunk and was made a lifetime vice-president of the association.

Major Rudd lived across the road from Spa Gardens and was a regular visitor to the parkland area, where the Ripon War Memorial is the focal point for annual Remembrance services.

Royal Engineers’ veteran Jim Phillips. who was involved, with his wife Trudie in raising money for the installation of the bench, said:

“Whenever there is a service in Ripon, I am sure Bill’s bench will serve as a meeting place for old comrades to sit, laugh and remember our friend.

“Thanks to all who contributed to this memorial and very special event.”

Our main picture shows members of the Yorkshire Branch of the Airborne Engineers Association who were among those present for the dedication ceremony

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It was a day of tradition, ceremony and civic pride in Ripon, with the Royal Engineers’ freedom march and the installation at the cathedral of councillor Sid Hawke as city mayor.

Among those in attendance for both of yesterday’s events  was Major-General Eldon Millar who, as Defence Services Secretary, played a key role in the organisation and delivery of this month’s coronation celebrations for King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Involving more than 6,000 armed forces members, it was the UK’s largest military ceremonial operation in 70 years.

Major-General Eldon Millar, Defence Services Secretary, in Ripon yesterday

Although the freedom march was on a much smaller scale, hundreds of soldiers from 21 Engineer Regiment accompanied by the British Army Band from Catterick ensured a spectacular display as they marched to the beat of a drum with bayonets fixed.

The mayor and mayoress on their way to the cathedral with sergeant at mace David Coates and hornblower Allison Clark.

North Yorkshire Council is arranging for Ripon’s War Memorial to have a deep clean to rid it of dirt and algae.

Since it was unveiled in October 1921, the memorial in Spa Gardens has been the focal point of  the city’s Services of Remembrance, commemorating those who served and died for their country in the conflicts of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.

Each year hundreds of people, ranging from scouts and guides to former servicemen and women and civic dignitaries, gather in the gardens to pay respect to the fallen.

In recent years, some of the 339 names of Ripon men who died in the two world wars have become obscured by green algae.

This led Ripon City Council to call on the former Harrogate Borough Council to carry out a thorough clean.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“We raised the issue of the condition of the memorial on at least two separate occasions with officers at Harrogate council and were told 18 months ago that the memorial was on annual spring cleaning programme, but nothing happened.

“I’m pleased to say that we have had an immediate and positive response from the North Yorkshire parks and environmental services team.

“We have been advised that they have inspected the memorial and have instructed a specialist contractor to undertake cleaning in the coming weeks to bring it back up to the standard required.”

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Ripon’s Royal Engineers, who have had the Freedom of the City since 1949,  carried out their freedom March this morning.

In this video they can be seen marching towards the Cathedral for the Sung Eucharist Service .

The service saw the installation of the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke, following his election as mayor earlier this month.

The British Army Band based at Catterick, accompanied the Royal Engineers on the march.