Ripon memorial bench is dedicated to an outstanding Royal Engineer
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
Freedom march caps a day of civic celebrations in Ripon
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 regiment was awarded Freedom of the City status in 1949 and Major-General Millar, who earlier in his army career served as adjutant at Claro Barracks, said:
“I’m delighted to be back in Ripon to share in this wonderful and significant tradition.”
The Royal Engineers and musicians marched to the cathedral for the sung Eucharist service, which included the installation of Cllr Hawke as mayor.
The mayor and mayoress on their way to the cathedral with sergeant at mace David Coates and hornblower Allison Clark.
The service, led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson, was also attended by members of Ripon City Council (pictured below) and other invited civic dignitaries.
On Saturday, the Royal Engineers staged a display on Market Square designed to give members of the public a close-up view of equipment, engineering techniques and construction skills, including bridge building, bricklaying, concreting and plumbing, employed by the regiment, at many different locations.
In recent years, 21 Engineer Regiment’s main focus has been on providing support to UN peacekeeping operations and has included deployments to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Poland, Somalia and South Sudan.
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.”
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.
Ripon Proms concert to raise money for two charities
Two charities are set to benefit from a Last Night of the Proms concert being staged by the Rotary Club of Ripon at the city’s Holy Trinity Church.
Ripon Community Link Walled Garden and Yorkshire Dales Motor Neurone Disease Support Group will share proceeds from the sale of tickets for the event being held on June 30.
The concert will feature soloist Jessa Liversidge, accompanied by Ripon City Band and include a performance by the community link Sing and Sign Choir.
Event organiser Wendy Richardson said:
“During pandemic the café at the walled garden had to close to become a classroom as members had to be taught in small groups.
“When the pandemic ended it was decided that it would give members wider life-skills and more catering opportunities to convert the café to a proper catering kitchen. This is working well with members preparing food to sell at the shop and outdoor café which of course had to close in the winter months.”
The foundations are being put in place for the new development at Ripon Walled Garden
She added:
“Planning permission has been granted for the new café and shop and work is already under way, with the aim of opening later in the summer. funds permitting.”
David Stubley, Rotary Club of Ripon’s new president, who takes over the post at the end of June, lost his father to MND and this prompted him to choose Yorkshire Dales Motor Neurone Disease Support Group as one of his charities for 2023/24
There are at least six known sufferers of MND in Ripon alone and the club wants to help by contributing to the ever-growing research funds raised by rugby players Rob Burrows, Kevin Sinfield and the late Doddie Weir.
Tickets for the June 30 concert cost £14 and can be obtained by clicking here.
They can also be purchased from The Little Ripon Bookshop on Westgate and Stuff 4 Business on Fishergate.
See Ripon’s Royal Engineers display equipment and skills on Market Square
An impressive display of machinery and skills used by Ripon’s Royal Engineers in many parts of the world can be seen on Market Square until 3pm today.
Since 1949, the Engineers have had the Freedom of Ripon and the right to enter the city with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed.
Lance Corporal Craig Kerr (left) and Sapper Conner Bull, who have charge of this Terrier tractor, used in mine clearance and other tasks.
They will exercise that right tomorrow morning, when hundreds of members of 21 Engineer Regiment based at Claro Barracks will march through the city streets.
Ahead of this, today’s Freedom Weekend activities are designed to give members of the public a close-up view of equipment, engineering techniques and construction skills, such as bricklaying, concreting and plumbing, employed by the regiment, at many different locations.
In recent years, 21 Engineer Regiment’s main focus has been on support to UN peacekeeping operations and has included deployments to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Poland, Somalia and South Sudan.
Among their key skills is bridge construction, dating back to World War II, when Engineers based in Ripon were involved in the development and installation of Bailey bridges, which played a crucial role in many theatres of war.
Today, people will be able to see displays showing how a medium girder over bridge – a modern-day successor the bridge invented by Donald Bailey – is constructed.
Attendees will also be able to see gymnastics displays, visit information stalls and meet with members of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust, whose aim is to protect priceless heritage assets at Ripon’s barracks site when it is redeveloped for housing.
Our main picture shows Lance Corporal Adam Smith (left) and Corporal John Rogers in front of a Mastiff Mk III armoured vehicle used for force protection.
Internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017, is returning to the city to take part in this year’s event.
The author, whose works include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, features in a packed programme that also includes theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
The festival, which will run from September 21 until October 1, is the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and will also see performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops for children and adults and an open mic evening organised by Write-on Ripon and Ripon Writers Group, Tim Harrison, former director of music at Middlesbrough Cathedral is joining forces with author, poet and festival curator Andy Croft for the world premiere of a chamber oratorio.
At the heart of the festival is a competition for poets of all ages who are being invited to submit their creative work for consideration by an independent panel of judges.
Entries are now open for three categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults.
Those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges. More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
Dog-loving Ripon bistro owners have created a menu designed to attract customers accompanied by canines.
Lou Grant and her husband Tim, have launched Olly P’s Doggy Diner at Oliver’s Pantry on North Street, so that man (and woman’s) best friend can tuck into a meal or snack alongside their owners.
The menu includes Pooch’s Brekkie comprising sausage, scrambled egg and buttered toast, Scooby Scrambled, with eggs cooked to order and WaggyChino cups of whipped cream.
Ms Grant, pictured above with her two-year-old Labradoodle, Wilma, told the Stray Ferret:
“We trialled our doggy menu at Easter and got such an amazing response that we decided to make it a permanent part of our offer.
“Each of the dishes created for our canine customers has been tried by Wilma and her favourite is definitely the Scooby Scrambled.”
People wanting to dine with their dogs can use the downstairs and garden areas at the bistro, while upstairs is for humans only.
Ripon military heritage campaigners to hold public launch
An organisation fighting to save forgotten but nationally important military heritage will hold its public launch in Ripon on Saturday.
Members of Ripon Military Heritage Trust (RMHT) will be on hand at Market Square from 10am to tell people about the campaign to protect and preserve structures and buildings currently threatened by demolition as part of a redevelopment of MoD property by the government agency Homes England.
The redevelopment area at Clotherholme is currently occupied by Claro and Deverell Barracks and the Laver Banks Training Ground.
Trust chairman Guy Wilson, former Master of the Royal Armouries (RA) who played a leading role the creation of the RA museum in Leeds, said:
“Ripon has a long and rich military heritage but its key role in helping secure the liberation of Europe in the Second World War and then maintain it has been largely forgotten.
“The redevelopment site at Clotherholme contains a number of unique and very rare military buildings and structures, worth preserving on their own account, but even more so when what was happening in and around them is understood.”
The relocation of the Royal School of Military Engineering to Ripon in 1940 meant the city played a huge part in training combat engineers.
It was here that the famous Bailey bridge, in its many varieties, was tested and perfected before seeing use in theatres of war across the world. So important was bridge building and the other engineering activities in Ripon that the US Army formed its own ‘American section’ to train its key engineers.
Early in the war British army bomb disposal training was centralised on the site and in the aftermath of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour, a secret delegation of US Army personnel, led by Major Thomas Kane, came to the city to train.
On completing the course they were presented with Royal Engineer ‘Bomb Disposal’ patches and given the unique honour of being able to wear them on their US Army uniforms.
Kane returned to the Unites States where, with British help, he set up his own version of the Ripon School. He is regarded as the father of US Army Bomb Disposal.
Saving some of the remaining structures at Clotherholme that tell this story and its continuation into the Cold War is the RMHT’s first important task. But it has a wider remit and is dedicated to researching and preserving Ripon’s long and varied military heritage.
The trust aims to preserve a number of the surviving structures on a site at Laver Banks and develop a military heritage centre alongside countryside trails which will interpret the city’s unique military heritage.
Pictured above are members of the trust on the Heavy Girder Bridge at Laver Banks. From the left: Lt Col Bob Lisle (ret’d), Jane Furse, Stuart Martin MBE, Guy Wilson and Michael Furse. Picture: Ripon Military Heritage Trust.
Dignitaries gather for Ripon’s mayor making ceremony
Local dignitaries, alongside representatives from the Royal Engineers, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Police, gathered at Ripon Town Hall to see Councillor Sid Hawke elected as the city’s mayor for a third term in office.
Ripon City Council’s annual meeting and mayor making ceremony was held last week and this coming Sunday Cllr Hawke will be installed as mayor at a civic service to be held in Ripon Cathedral.
He will be accompanied by his wife Linda, who will be mayoress during his mayoral year.
Local dignitaries pictured during the mayor making Ceremony
Speaking following his election, Cllr Hawke, said:
“I am proud to be elected as the mayor of this wonderful city for a third time and thank my fellow councillors for their continuing confidence in me.
“I would also like to thank the many people who supported me throughout the past year, particularly in helping to raise thousands of pounds for my chosen charities Ripon Dementia Forward and Harrogate and District Mind.”
Born and bred in the city, Cllr Hawke is semi-retired and has previously served in the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.
He was elected to represent the Ure Bank ward on Ripon City Council in 2002 and became mayor for the first time in 2008-2009.
His recently completed second mayoral year proved a busy one, including the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June, the mourning of Her Majesty’s death in September, the subsequent proclamation of King Charles III and coronation celebrations – all of which involved major civic events in Ripon.
On being elected as mayor for the third time, Cllr Hawke matches fellow Independent councillors Eamon Parkin and Pauline McHardy, both of whom served three terms in mayoral office.
At the mayor making event Cllr Parkin was elected to serve as Cllr Hawke’s deputy.
Main picture: The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda (middle row, centre) with Serjeant at Mace, David Coates, councillors and the Dean of Ripon the very Revd. John Dobson, following the mayor making ceremony.
