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Staff, parents and children from Holy Trinity School in Ripon have been paying their respects to the three members of a Ukrainian family killed in a car crash on Sunday.
The family members were named by North Yorkshire Police yesterday afternoon as Daria Bartienieva (known as Dasha), 35, her son, Ihor Bartienieva, aged 6, and Daria’s step-daughter, Anastasiia Bartienieva.
Ihor had been a pupil of Holy Trinity School.
From 2.30pm yesterday, a steady stream of people visited the quiet space created in Holy Trinity Church to light candles, write messages and sign a book of condolence.
A poignant message posted online yesterday by Holy Trinity Church, said:
“We have lost mother, Dasha, daughter Anastasiia (known as Staci) and Ihor. Dasha was 35 and had lost her husband in February this year. Staci had been in this country only 5 weeks and was just 15 in June.
“Ihor had his 6th birthday last month. Liza at 16 was not with them in the car and has now lost all her immediate family. Please pray for Liza at this terrible time, and for her family abroad and friends here as they support her.”
A fundraising appeal to raise money for Liza has now generated more than £11,000. You can donate here.
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- Police release names of Ukrainian family members killed in crash
- Candles to be lit in Ripon for children and mother killed in crash
Ripon’s Holy Trinity Junior School was unable to open today for the start of the new academic year because it had no water supply.
The Church Lane school was without water from Friday, when a major leak was discovered but will be back open tomorrow morning (Wednesday) after water engineers and plumbers completed repair works this afternoon.
Executive headteacher Sue Sanderson, who confirmed that the water is now back on, told the Stray Ferret:
“We were forced to close the site to children as there was no water for toilet, hygiene, cleaning etc. The caretaker’s bungalow has also been without water since Friday.”
The water pipe junction
Ms Sanderson added:
“We discovered a major water leak on the junior site which involved the water supply being turned off on Friday afternoon for essential repairs – a junction on the main supply pipe urgently needed replacing.
“The replacement part arrived on Monday and was fitted. However, we were informed later in the afternoon that the supply could not be turned on for a further 24 hours. I’m pleased to say that the water is all back on now.”
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Ripon’s YMCA charity shop closes suddenly
The YMCA’s charity shop at the Marshall Way retail park in Ripon has closed at short notice less than seven months after it opened.
The closure was announced on Friday in a brief message posted on the shop’s Facebook page. It said:
“It is with great sadness to announce the closure of our shop. Unfortunately, we had no notice to inform our customers and we ceased trading at 5.30pm today.
“Thank you to all our staff, volunteers, customers and to everyone who donated.”
The Stray Ferret visited the retail park this morning and discovered that all but a handful of items had been removed from the premises, while a handwritten sign on the door thanked customers and pointed out that the closest YMCA shop is in Boroughbridge.
The shop, part of a portfolio of 100 plus YMCA stores in England and Wales managed by the charity’s national retail team in London, opened in February in the unit formerly occupied by Argos.
Staffed by a manager and two assistant managers, with assistance from volunteers, it sold a range of items, including furniture and electrical goods.
The Stray Ferret contacted the YMCA’s London office to ask why the shop had closed so suddenly, what was going to happen to the staff and what was happening with goods that had been donated by members of the public. No reply has been received so far.
A Nidderdale-based company has been awarded a £4.6 million contract from the Ministry of Defence to supply advanced anti-drone weapon sights.
The equipment is described as a ‘game-changer’ for the battlefield enabling soldiers on the ground to shoot down small drones.
Viking Arms Ltd, on the New York Industrial Estate in Summerbridge, was founded in 1965 as a small family business. It has grown to become a leading distributor of arms, ammunition and ancillaries produced by the world’s major manufacturers.
After placing the order for the distributor to supply 225 of the sights, the MOD, said:
“The British Army’s close combat soldiers will soon receive a cutting-edge weapon sight that will give them a tactical advantage countering uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“The SmartShooter SMASH Smart Weapon Sight Fire Control System will give dismounted soldiers the ability to achieve a high probability of a hit against micro and mini UAVs.
“The capability is able to recognise a target, track its movements, and maintain a lock on the target even if it or the user moves.
“This Counter-Small Uncrewed Air Systems (C-sUAS) capability will initially be fitted to the SA80 A3 assault rifle and can also be fitted onto other in-service individual weapons.
“An initial £4.6 million order for SMASH sights has been agreed under the new five-year Framework Agreement, worth up to £20 million for delivery to Operational readiness units across the Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) community by the end of this year.”
The contract will allow further sights to be delivered over the next few years to the Army, Navy and RAF.
Managing director, Sam MacArthur, said:
“We are tremendously proud to have been selected to supply the UK MOD’s C-sUAS Smart Weapon Sight capability.
“The need for C-sUAS capability is very evident and we feel the SMASH solution is truly game changing. We are honoured to be supporting our British Armed Forces with technology that will provide significant battlefield advantages, whilst the contract builds on our continued success as a trusted supplier within the UK Defence Sector.”
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The focus turned to Kirkgate and Minster Gardens yesterday, as Ripon’s extended weekend of Bank Holiday entertainment continued with a fiesta of food and live music.
Saturday had seen fairground rides and a concert featuring tribute acts on Market Square, in the last large-scale public event of the summer staged by Ripon City Council and paid for from the parish precept.
Sunday and Monday brought a Little Bird Artisan market to the square and yesterday, independent businesses in the city, with administrative support from Ripon BID, joined forces for the second Bank Holiday street party of the year.
The Little Bird Artisan Market
Kirkgate closed to traffic and an al fresco dining and entertainment from the junction with Duck Hill to Minster Road.
In the evening the party moved to Minster Gardens, where there was a paella picnic, including performances from violin virtuoso Nadia and guitar duo Bailey Brown (pictured below).
Richard Hughes, owner of the Manchega Tapas Restaurant, who was one of the organisers of yesterday’s event told the Stray Ferret:
“This shows what can be achieved when independent businesses come together and stage events that are designed to attract more visitors and local residents onto the city’s streets.”
Richard Hughes
He added:
“Working alongside Ripon BID, the council and all other interested parties in Ripon, we are looking to build on this success, with the aim of doing even more next year, with the objective of making the city a must-visit destination.”
Summerbridge Players have put out an urgent call in a search for actors, lighting/sound technicians and people who can perform various backstage roles.
With a proud history of many performances over 73 years, the players are looking to the future.
The Rev Alastair Ferneley, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Dacre Banks, who in May was in the cast of Give us a Sign – a comedy of errors written by award-winning playwright Tony Domaille – said:
“We are asking the Nidderdale community to help keep our local theatre group going – and have fun doing it.
“Anybody who feels that they can play a role – whether acting or behind the scenes – will be made most welcome at the open day we are holding at Dacre and Hartwith Village Hall on Saturday, September 9.”
Those who visit between 11am and 2pm will have the opportunity to find out more about the players and their planned future productions and further details about the open day can be obtained by emailing Sue Wright on suewr1ght@yahoo.co.uk
Since its foundation as an independent group in 1950, the Summerbridge Players have performed a broad portfolio of plays, ranging from The Vicar of Dibley to The House of Frankenstein.
Other notable productions include Oliver!, My Fair Lady, Jonah and the Whale, Twelfth Night and A Christmas Carol.
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Last summer concert brings hundreds to Ripon Market Square
Hundreds of people gathered on Ripon Market Square yesterday for the last large-scale public event of the summer organised by the city council.
Families with children from tots to teenagers came early in the afternoon to ride the Ferris wheel and roundabout, both of which proved a constant draw until dusk, when tribute acts took centre stage in front of the town hall.
The queue for the Ferris wheel stretched the length of Market Square
Evening entertainment was provided by tribute acts playing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, while the Big Boyband Reunion, played a selection of the chart-topping songs made famous by leading boy bands.
The crowd on Market Square steadily grew throughout the evening.
One of the concert highlights came when the Neil Diamond lookalike and soundalike sang Sweet Caroline, the adopted anthem of the England women’s football team.
Sweet Caroline struck a chord with the Ripon crowd
The Robbie Williams tribute act
Elton John’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me rang out before sunset arrived and at 9pm Allison Clark, a member of the Ripon hornblower team (pictured below) provided a reminder of the city’s ancient roots, by performing the nightly setting of the watch ceremony, which has reputedly been carried out without break for more than eleven hundred years.
You can watch a live video from last night on our Facebook page.
More free Bank Holiday entertainment
The free family-focused entertainment continues in Ripon on Monday, with a street party in Kirkgate from 11am until 4pm and a Spanish-themed fiesta on Minster Gardens from 5pm until 9.30pm.
Organised by independent businesses in the city as part of the Totally Locally initiative developed with Ripon BID, the Bank Holiday event will see the closure of Kirkgate from 9am.
Ripon prepares for a Bank Holiday weekend of free family entertainmentRipon is preparing for another bank holiday weekend of free family-focused entertainment, featuring live music, fairground rides and a Spanish-flavoured fiesta.
Tomorrow (Saturday) a ferris wheel and Mini Miami ride will be among the attractions on Market Square from 12 noon until 8pm, as part of the last public event of the summer organised by Ripon City Council and financed through the parish precept.
From 7pm until 11pm music will take centre stage, with tribute acts performing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, before the Big Boyband Reunion provides a rousing end to the entertainment.
Popular tunes and ancient tradition will come together at 8.55pm when a member of the Ripon hornblower team sets the city watch with blasts of their horn at the four corners of the obelisk.
The Easter street party in Kirkgate brought hundreds of visitors to the city
Bank Holiday Monday street party
As a follow-up to the highly-successful Easter Bank Holiday Monday street party held in Kirkgate, Ripon’s independent businesses have joined forces once more to arrange an event designed to draw visitors into the city and entertain local residents.
Kirkgate will close to traffic from 9am, for a day of entertainment running from 11am until 4pm and including buskers and on-street food and drink offers.
Between 5pm and 9.30pm, Minster Gardens will be transformed into a musical fiesta venue, with decorative lighting for a paella picnic among the trees.
The entertainment will be provided by Knaresborough Vista Social Club, Bailey Brown and virtuoso Ukrainian violinist Nadia.
There will be a horsebox bar and a pop-up paella restaurant supplied by Manchega Tapas Restauarant, whose owner, Richard Hughes, said:
“Ripon should be the destination for anyone visiting the north of England! It has everything to offer.”
He added:
“This whole event is an example of the local business community promoting a can-do attitude. It has been funded almost entirely by donations from local businesses and also by sponsorship from Voneus Broadband, along with ongoing administrative support from the Ripon BID, as part of the excellent Totally Locally initiative.”
Fashion retailer Peacocks recruiting staff for new Ripon store
Value fashion retailer Peacocks looks set to come to Ripon after advertising for staff on a number of websites.
The company, which sells men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, has advertised vacancies for a Ripon store manager, assistant store manager and sales assistant, on the Indeed recruitment site.
The store manager advert, which can also be found on the SimplyHired and Retail Human Resources) sites said:
“Here at Peacocks we have a fantastic opportunity for a store manager based in our new store in Ripon.
“If you would like to be part of a forward-thinking business and have a job with excellent career prospects, we would love to hear from you.”
When approached today by the Stray Ferret, Peacocks’ head office in Cardiff would not say when they will be opening in the city, how many people they will employ and which vacant unit they will be taking.
However, a hint towards a possible Ripon location came last month when the retailer opened a store at premises in Market Place, Driffield, previously occupied by M&Co, which went into administration in December.
The former M&Co unit on Fishergate closed in April and later that month specialist retail publication Drapers Online reported that Peacocks was aiming to take 20 stores from the M&Co estate.
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Ethical dilemmas to be discussed in Pateley Bridge
Sex, death, war and artificial intelligence will be discussed in a series of monthly Food for Thought talks by a leading theologian in Pateley Bridge.
Dr Peter Vardy, who has written extensively on religion and ethics and was vice-principal of Heythrop Jesuit College in London, from 1998 to 2011, will lead the events at St Cuthbert’s Church.
For more than 30 years he has run conferences for GCSE and A level students in this country and overseas.
Dr Vardy, whose first talk will take place next month, said:
“The aim of this initiative is to engage those attending with contemporary issues, but also to explain different approaches particularly to Christian understandings of ethical dilemmas.”
Everyone from within the parish and beyond is welcome to attend the Food for Thought events.
The Vicar of St Cuthbert’s, Revd Darryl Hall, said:
“Our mission action plan inspires us to grow confident Christians, devoted to growing deeply as disciples.
“We have a dedicated team looking after the youth ministry in the parish and also a team looking after adult discipleship – which is where Food for Thought first came from as a confirmation course during Lent.
“It proved to be so popular that we ran a second series before taking a break for the summer.
“We are very fortunate that Dr Peter Vardy kindly offered to run a monthly series on Christian ethics from September to February.”
Starting on September 6 with the subject of ‘how to make ethical decisions’, the 45-minute talks will start at 7pm followed by 15 minutes for questions. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm.
The other subjects to be covered are:
- Euthanasia and Death (October 4)
- Sex, Fertility, New Methods of Reproduction and Marriage (November 8)
- Can Wars be Just? (December 6)
- Money, Power and Economic Justice (January 10)
- Artificial Intelligence (February 7)
To find out more and to help with managing numbers, attendees are asked to email darryl.hall@leeds.anglican.org
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