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Next month’s Edinburgh Fringe will provide a high profile platform for Ripon singer-songwriter Alannah Creed to unveil a newly-created repertoire of original songs.
Her Fringe debut will see the 20-year-old classically-trained singer perform 12 songs written in collaboration with her mother and co-lyricist Kathryn Creed, a counsellor and hypnotherapist, who is also a Reiki master teacher and practitioner.
The duo have combined their musical and therapeutic skills to compose pieces designed to be in harmony with the healing power of nature.
Living close to the Studley Royal Deer Park, where they regularly walk Yorkshire terrier Katie, there is plenty in the natural environment to inspire them.
Alannah and Kathryn Creed with Yorkshire Terrier Katie
Alannah told the Stray Ferret:
“The songs, which I describe as classically inspired pop infused with electronica, draw on many different uplifting personal experiences, such as seeing the sun shining through trees and hearing the sound of birds singing.”
She added:
“I believe that music is a superpower for stress relief, enjoyment and healing and I want those who come to my concerts to feel happy, empowered, energised and renewed. “
Pianist Alannah, who also plays acoustic guitar, is currently an unsigned artist but has been working with producer Grant Henderson at Loom Studios in Birstall near Leeds, with the aim of releasing her work this autumn or in the spring of 2024.
Her 11 shows at Edinburgh Fringe will be staged in venue six at the Lauriston Halls complex and before heading to the Scottish capital, she will provide a sneak preview of her original works in the Harrogate Theatre Studio on the evening of July 21.
Alannah will also perform her repertoire in Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate all 8pm on August 4, where tickets will be available on the door.
Those who go to see her in Edinburgh, Harrogate or Ripon, can expect dramatic performances as she is also an actor and dancer who trained in Contemporary Performance at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, before studying acting at the Stella Adler Academy in New York.
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Learn how to save a life with free training in Ripon
Defibrillators can be found at an increasing number of locations across Ripon and surrounding areas, but would you know how to use one to save somebody’s life?
The Defibs-Ripon group has organised a free CPR and defibrillator familiarisation lesson to ensure the vital skills are shared with as many people as possible.
The 90-minute lesson is being provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and attendees will have the opportunity to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the service’s training dummy, as well as being taught how to use a defibrillator.
Alec Lutton of Defibs-Ripon said:
“Handling the defibrillator and trying out CPR helps take away the fear of having to do this for the first time in an emergency and may help save the life of a loved one, or a complete stranger, some day.”
The training session will be held at Ripon Bowling Club on Tuesday, August 22. Places are free but must be booked in advance by emailing ripondefibs@gmail.com.
Mr Lutton added:
“Over the last seven years we have tried to encourage as many people as possible to attend these lessons. However, some think it will never happen to them or their friends.
“The important thing to remember is that it can happen to anyone at any time, and anywhere.”
The closing date for the sixth Ripon Poetry Festival competition is fast approaching.
The competition is at the heart of the festival and poets of all ages are being invited to submit their creative work by July 31 for consideration by a panel of judges.
There are three age categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults — and those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges.
Those whose entries are included in the anthologies will be invited to read them at Ripon Arts Hub (pictured below) on the evening of Saturday September 23.
Headlining this year’s festival is internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017.
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.
Running from September 21 until October 1, the festival has grown year on year to become the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and among this year’s highlights will be performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops and an open mic event, 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.
More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
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Hopes for Ripon pub to reopen after sudden closure
One of Ripon’s largest and most prominently located pubs is seeking a new long-term tenant after being shut since early May.
South Lodge’s sudden closure prompted speculation on social media about its future.
A spokesperson for the Heineken-owned pub business Star Pubs & Bars, which is marketing the premises on Harrogate Road at an annual rent of £29,775, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have had to close South Lodge on a temporary basis. We hope to open it again in the next few weeks with the same temporary licensees.
“Longer term, we are seeking a suitable person to take on the lease.”
The spokesperson added:
“South Lodge is in a great location half a mile south of the (city) centre in a desirable, residential area. It is a stunning building and, in addition to serving food and drink, can host live entertainment, pub games and pool. “
The pub, which stands in its own grounds and has a beer garden, is located by the busy A61 on the route of the 36 bus service between Ripon and Harrogate.
In its search for somebody to take on the lease, Star Pubs & Bars said it was looking for a person with extensive experience in the hospitality business.
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Playground to close at Ripon’s Quarry Moor Park
The playground at Ripon’s Quarry Moor Park is to close following repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Ripon City Council agreed the measure at an extraordinary meeting last night.
An arson attack this month became the latest in a long list of damage and destruction wrought by vandals at the park.
Edward Brandie, who lives close to the site, told councillors:
“I called the fire brigade after seeing youths deliberately setting fire to an area of woodland and fortunately, the firefighters came quickly and put it out, otherwise It could have been disastrous.”
Last night’s meeting was held to enable councillors to agree actions required to address ongoing concerns about vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the playground.
Members of the public at last night’s meeting.
It was attended by members of the public, who heard councillors approve a radical plan involving the closure of the the playground, removal of the hut on site and development of a longer-term programme of improvements for the park.
All playground equipment and broken fencing is to be removed and trees and bushes trimmed back with the aim of creating an enlarged open picnic and recreation area, that can be safely used by families and other people who visit the site for legitimate reasons.
City councillors voted unanimously for the measures after Cllr Julie Ann Martin-Long, chair of the Alderman Spence Quarry Moor Trust Committee, said she and deputy chair Cllr Tony Duncan had been regularly monitoring the park and appalled at what they had seen.
Cllr Martin-Long said:
“In addition to graffiti on the play equipment that is lewd, crude and racist, the equipment has been vandalised and is no longer safe for children to use.
“Fences have been broken down, signs damaged and dens created on the site by youths. We have also had a problem of rats on the site because of discarded rubbish.”
City council leader Andrew Williams said he believed an area of the site was being used as a drop-off point for people handing over ‘substances’. His recommendation that the gate to the site car park be locked at 5pm each day from October onward, to prevent vehicular access, was agreed.
Councillors also agreed to a proposal by Cllr Barbara Brodigan, for Ripon residents to be invited to attend a public meeting later this year to discuss longer-term improvement plans for Quarry Moor Park.
Cllr Martin-Long said:
“We have been working closely with the police and taking their advice on how to tackle the issues we are facing. There’s no quick fix, but this area used to be one of Ripon’s crowing glories and we want to get it back to that once more.”
Remediation works costing £3.5 million are underway at the Ripon leisure centre building which closed in late April.
North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for culture, leisure, archives and libraries, Jo Ireland, said:
“We can confirm the ground stabilisation works at the former Ripon Leisure Centre have now started.”
Hoardings and fencing have been put in place around the 28 year old leisure centre building.
He added:
“These works came about following the discovery of a void underneath part of the original leisure centre.
“The void is understood to have been present for a number of years and was discovered when the reinforced concrete slab, which provides the foundation for the new swimming pool, was cast.
“By addressing these historic issues, it allows us the opportunity to ensure future generations will be able to access modern sport and leisure facilities in their city for many years to come.
“Once the works have been completed the original leisure centre facility can be refurbished as planned – which includes an extended gym, two new activity studios, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities – and complement the 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool that opened last year.”
Work is scheduled to go on until spring 2024 and in the meantime a temporary gym will remain in use on the car park near the entrance to the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The £300,000 facility, operated by Brimhams Active on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, includes Technogym equipment.
Customers are able to use the changing and shower facilities at the swimming pool as well as the sauna and steam suite. Group exercise classes continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
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An extraordinary meeting of Ripon City Council will be held this evening (Monday) to ‘consider the urgent matters on the site at Quarry Moor and to agree appropriate action.’
The children’s playground at the park has been closed since March after being attacked by vandals. It has suffered vandalism and anti-social behaviour on a regular basis.
The meeting, which starts at 7pm, will be held in the council chamber at Ripon Town Hall and is open to the public, who can question, seek clarification, or make
representation to members of the council.
On June 12, councillors attending a full council voted for the playground to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
The extraordinary meeting will be held in the council chamber at Ripon Town Hall.
The decision was taken in private session and confirmed in a statement on the council’s Facebook page, which said that the council:
“regretfully resolved not to reinstate the playground at Quarry Moor at the present time”.
It added:
“Unfortunately the site is being vandalised almost daily. We are working with North Yorkshire Police who are responding to the regular reports of anti-social behaviour when they occur.
“Until we can plan a way forward with our partners that includes measures that impact on the behaviour at the site we are unable to commit funds to the playground.
“We appreciate that this is caused by a small minority and that it is affecting our residents using the site. We are actively seeking solutions to the issue (and) will provide a further update as soon as possible.”
Quarry Moor is funded with an annual grant from the city council and the budget for 2023-24 financial year is £15,000.
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Spiralling costs force closure of award-winning Ripon cafe
The cost of living crisis, increased energy bills and spiralling inflation are forcing an award-winning Ripon cafe to close its doors in a month’s time.
Caffe Tempo, based at The Arcade since the summer of 2017, has won the Restaurant Guru Best Coffeehouse in Ripon title for six consecutive years, along with Tripadvisor awards last year and in 2020.
But it said numerous financial challenges outside of its control have made the business unviable.
Owner Tina Whincup (pictured above) told the Stray Ferret:
“Our annual turnover has grown to around £220,000, but we haven’t been able to make a profit because all of our bills have gone up.”
Office for National Statistics figures released this week showed year-on-year inflation remaining at 8.7%, but Ms Whincup said:
“The reality is that many of the raw products that we use for the items that we bake, have increased between 100% and 300%.
“To transfer this to the items that we sell makes them so expensive that they go from every day purchases made by our customers, to a once in a while treat.”
She added:
“Although we have remained busy every day, the average spend per person has reduced significantly and it is with great sadness that we are calling time on Caffe Tempo. Our last day of trading will Saturday July 22.
“This has not been an easy decision for us, but unfortunately the challenges the hospitality industry has faced and continued to face have reached the point of no return.
“Our industry has had the worst three years in modern history, with two years of on-off closures, a cost of living crisis and also a shortage of staff.
“When we add in the increase in minimum wage, energy costs at over £900 per month, which could increase to £1,800 per month, when our current contract comes to an end, we find ourselves in a situation that is no longer viable.”
Staffing shortages have seen Ms Whincup working 70 hour weeks since the years of covid closures to keep the business going, but she is now looking elsewhere for employment, along with her two members of staff, including her daughter Elise.
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Ripon museum artworks to tell stories of people with disabilities
Life in Ripon’s workhouse was hard enough for abled bodied people, but what was it like for those with mental or physical disabilities?
Tomorrow, between 10am and 12.30pm, people of all ages and abilities are invited to work alongside disabled artists Kate Lovell and Aisling Gallagher to produce artworks that ‘respond to the language of disability and its evolution through history’.
Taking its inspiration from the lives and experiences of people with disabilities who were inmates of the former Ripon Workhouse, the interactive event titled ‘Reclaiming Lunacy’ is free to attend and has been made possible with an £11,000 grant from Historic England’s Everyday Lottery Fund.
Saturday’s art session follows research carried out as part of the project, by the museum’s curatorial volunteers, who uncovered unseen histories of disabled people who were at the workhouse between the Victorian era and the early 1900s.
As well as being artists, Ms Lovell is a theatre-maker and writer, while Ms Gallagher is a director and creative access practitioner.
Rachael Warren, marketing manager at Ripon Museum Trust said:
“We are thrilled to be welcoming Kate and Aisling to Ripon Museums to run this open session and make a start on creating a new display which will explore the lives of disabled people at the former workhouse.
“These are important stories to tell and we are thankful to Historic England for enabling us to tell them”.
The Everyday Heritage grant scheme was launched by Historic England earlier this year to support community-led projects and further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.
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Ripon cafe owner retains humour despite break-in
It was business as usual this morning for one of Ripon’s most popular cafe bistros following a break-in in the early hours.
The entrance door to Oliver’s Pantry was extensively damaged by criminals when they forced their way in.
Tim Grant, who jointly owns Oliver’s Pantry with his wife Lou, told the Stray Ferret:
“Words fail me, we could have done with this like a hole in the head.
“Things are hard enough for the hospitality sector, but we’ve just had to get on with sorting things out.
“We’ve been in contact with the police and our insurers, have carried out a clean up and we are open.”
The couple managed to retain their sense of humour by putting up a sign telling people they were still open — and had cake.
The Grants have run the business on North Street for 12 years and Mr Grant added:
“Fortunately whoever did this didn’t steal anything, but they smashed the door in and caused a mess.”
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