Tim Flanagan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Ripon Spa Croquet club offers free sessions at new home

Ripon Spa Croquet Club is enjoying a renaissance in its new surroundings of Studley Royal Cricket Club.

Covid lockdown from March 2020 and the subsequent sale of Spa Hotel, where the croquet players had been based for almost 30 years, signalled the need for relocation.

The move to SRCC is now complete, with hoops in place to play on a lovingly-tended surface adjacent to the cricket pitch.

The aim is to build on the club’s heritage, which saw international matches and world-class players do battle on the lawns of the hotel’s gardens.

The club’s international pedigree

Formed in the early 1990s as Ripon Spa Hotel Croquet Club, It was founded by Croquet Association Federation officer Keith Smith, hotel owner Andrew Hutchinson and managing director Samantha Currie.

It soon attracted players from across the district, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge.

By 1997, Ms Currie, Mr Hutchinson and clubmate Syd Jones all achieved world rankings and took part in the GC World Championships in Cairo.

While the club’s historic achievements provide many happy memories for its older members, the emphasis now is on the future.

Chair and chief coach Ted Flexman told the Stray Ferret:

“With the fabulous facilities that we have at the Studley Royal ground, there is the potential to create one of the best croquet clubs in the north.”

One man went to mow – Studley Royal Cricket Club groundsman Trevor Rose.

The club is offering two free introductory taster sessions on April 25 and 27 to attract new members. The sessions are open to people of all ages and anybody wishing to attend should contact the club in advance. Further details are available by clicking on this link.

Club secretary Sue I’Anson said:

“This is a great game for people of all ages and abilities, with the more seasoned players helping newcomers to master the technique of swinging the mallet and making good contact with the ball.”

This has certainly been the experience of member Rod Grant, who added:

“I’d never played croquet before and then Ted invited me have a game and I have enjoyed taking part ever since.”

Sue I’Anson is pictured with, from the left Ted Flexman, Roger I’Anson and Rod Grant

Top facilities

SRCC, with teams in the York & District Senior League Premier Division and 3 more in the Nidderdale League divisions 2, 5 and 7, has one of the best clubhouses of any amateur cricket club in Yorkshire and its pitch among the biggest in the county.

Mr Flexman said:

“We have been made very welcome here and look forward to a long and happy relationship as we play our complementary sports side by side.

“Both require good hand/eye coordination and we hope that some of the bowlers and batsmen try their hand at swinging a mallet.”

Roger I’Anson, who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:

“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”

Harry Whitaker, the owner of Mastachoice Fencing and Fabrication and apprentice Charlie Lister, constructing a storage shed that will be used to store croquet equipment

Roger I’Anson, who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:

“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”

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The Damned United to feature at Ripon Theatre Festival

Red Ladder’s production of The Damned United, about Brian Clough’s tempestuous time at Leeds United – made famous by the 2009 film starring Michael Sheen – is among the highlights at the first Ripon Theatre Festival.

The radical Leeds-based theatre company captures the feeling of incredulity, dismay, anger and disgust felt in 1974 and beyond, by Leeds fans and players alike, after Clough – who described the team as cheats – was surprisingly appointed manager.

He only lasted 44 days at Elland Road, but went on to greater things at Nottingham Forest, winning the European Cup in 1979 and 1980.

Tickets for a number of events at the festival, which takes place at indoor and outdoor venues around the city from June 23 to 26, are now on sale.

Lempen Puppet Theatre are among the family-friendly performers at the festival.

Other highlights include open-air theatre specialists Illyria, whose production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will be staged in the cloisters at Fountains Abbey.

Ripon’s refurbished Arts Hub, with its newly-installed wheelchair lift, will play host to visits from two North Yorkshire-based touring companies, Fell-Foss Theatre and Pyramus & Thisbe Productions.

Fell-Foss will present Crusoe’s Island – described as “one man’s story of shipwreck, solitude and salvation” as the festival’s opening night show.

A scene from Fell Foss Theatre’s production of Crusoe’s Island

Pyramus and Thisbe will be reviving their Holmes and Watson The Farewell Tour as a comic Sunday lunchtime treat.

Family-focused entertainment

Children and families will be spoilt for choice across the whole weekend.

Ripon Library will welcome back Hoglets Theatre with a twilight show for children, who are invited to come dressed for bed and to enjoy a gentle bed-time adventure with The Sleep Pirates show.

Story Craft Theatre from York also take over the library for an afternoon of crafty tales around the Heading into Space theme.

Puppetry and theatre for families feature heavily on Festival Saturday with back-to-back entertainment both indoors and outdoors across the city.

Skipton-based and internationally-respected Lempen Puppet Theatre take part in an entire day of indoor and outdoor shows and workshops in the Arts Hub, Library and at pop-up open-air locations.

Two more theatre companies with family-focused productions will be in residence in Ripon Spa Gardens for Festival Saturday – Badapple Theatre Company present their Tales from the Great Wood, followed by Strange Twig Theatre Company with Winnie and Warwick’s Magical Menagerie,

These shows sit alongside Punch and Judy puppet shows from Richmond-based Ron Wood and the day kicks off in Spa Gardens with an interactive Musical Bear Hunt for young children.

Festival director Ian Holloway said:

“We are delighted that businesses, local councils and trusts have got behind the festival to a degree that has enabled us to book a wide range of street theatre and “walkabout” acts, helping create a vibe throughout the day.”

Sunday events include pop-up dance theatre from Leeds-based ACCA ColLab to be performed in two café locations and the culmination of a Jubilee-themed living history project at the Ripon Workhouse Museum, before the Festival Finale at Fountains Abbey.

The Ripon Theatre Festival programme also includes pop-up indoor drama, spoken-word and illustrated talk events at the Curzon Cinema, The Little Ripon Bookshop and Ripon Library.

There’s also a puppet-led family trail game around the city centre and on Saturday night, a community revue of sketches and music from local writers and musicians.

The Festival opens on Thursday morning, June 23, with folk fables for grown-ups from “a unique force in storytelling”, Leeds-based Ursula Holden Gill.

A programme of free and affordable events

Sponsorship and local support means that many festival performances are free to watch and prices for ticketed shows have been kept low to encourage residents and visitors to attend multiple events across the weekend.

Ripon Theatre Festival is being organised by a team of community volunteers under its parent charity, The Ripon City Festival Trust.

In addition to main sponsor Wolseley, financial support has been provided by the Ripon BID, Specsavers, Ripon, Elstob & Elstob, MKM, F E Metcalfe along with North Yorkshire County Council, Ripon City Council and the Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation.

Support has also been provided by community groups, including Ripon Rowels Rotary Club, the Charity Pantomime Group and the Ripon Recycling Fund.

A Nidderdale home at last for refugee family

After a number of frustrating hold-ups, Nidderdale Community Welcome (NCW) has finally found a house for a refugee family from Syria.

The group, founded in late 2020, has raised more than £13,000 to fund the initiative and had originally hoped to bring a family here before Christmas.

But the house they had in prospect did not materialise.

Now there is positive news and NCW chair, Peter Wright, told the Stray Ferret:

“A local landlord has kindly agreed the rental of a three-bedroom property in Pateley Bridge for a minimum period of two years.”

With this key element of the resettlement support programme in place, NCW has submitted its application to the Home Office, uprating from ‘approval in principle’ to ‘final approval.’

Peter Wright of Nidderdale Community Welcome, anticipates that a refugee family from Syria will be arriving in Pateley Bridge this summer

Mr Wright, pointed out:

“It is anticipated it will be granted shortly, with a view to a family being welcomed into the Dale in early summer.”

He added:

“We have decided to stay with our original intentions of welcoming a Syrian family, many from Syria are still in camps in the Middle East whilst the conflict in their country continues.

“We have every sympathy with those from other countries displaced by war, Afghanistan and Ukraine who we hold in our thoughts and prayers, we believe the support we can offer best suits a vulnerable family from Syria.

“NCW will assist the family to sign up for all the allowances they will be eligible for as part of our national response and commitment to those displaced by conflict.

“Refugees are keen to be a valuable part of the community they move into, and to integrate as soon as they are able, but many also wish to be able to return home as soon as conditions allow.”

NCW is working in conjunction with Ripon City of Sanctuary and Harrogate District of Sanctuary, who will be helping the family learn English so they can become self-sufficient and participate in daily life. Courses will be run both locally and in nearby towns.

People from around the dale and further afield have already provided funding, resources, and their time and skills towards making the NCW project a success.

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Festival plans ahead as Ripon canal boat makes its return

Alongside Ripon’s iconic cathedral and historic market, canal cruises are on the list of visitor and tourist attractions on a sign guiding motorists to the city centre.

Many of those tempted for the first time to make the turn off the bypass to ‘stay awhile amid Ripon’s ancient charms’ may not realise that this place is also a waterway wonderland, with three rivers, a wetlands area with lake and the hidden gem of a canal.

The arrival of the railway at the height of Victorian Britain’s industrial revolution, spelled the end of the line for the man-made navigation. But far-sighted people in the city saw its environmental, leisure and recreational potential and saved it.

Now there are plans in hand to celebrate the canal’s 250th anniversary in September 2023 — an event that will also give visitors a chance to enjoy Ripon’s wealth of watery assets.

The Ure, Skell and Laver each have their own characteristics and attractions, including wooded walks, along river banks linked by iron, stone. concrete and wooden bridges.

A wooded walk along the River Skell, which runs parallel with Ripon Canal

There’s a ford crossing the Skell that is safe to drive through when water levels allow and stepping stones, which are popular with pedestrians and dog walkers.

Otters have been spotted in the city’s rivers and canal, signalling the fact that water quality has been dramatically improved, thanks to the work of conservation volunteers, the Canal and River Trust and Environment Agency.

The canal’s 250th anniversary

Richard Willis, who owns and operates Ripon Scenic Cruises and provides trips from the canal basin off Bondgate Green, is planning the festival that will celebrate the waterway’s notable milestone.

Richard Willis is planning a festival in the canal basin in September 2023

In this, his 16th season of offering scenic journeys aboard his custom-made Pride of Ripon canal boat, Mr Willis is already looking forward to next year.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“This is a magnificent opportunity for Ripon to put itself in the UK spotlight for enthusiasts and people who enjoy the gentle and idyllic pleasures of waterside or waterborne leisure activities.”

The picturesque approach to the canal basin

He is well-placed to speak about the magnetic attraction that brings people back time and again after they have had their first cruise.

Mr Willis said:

“We have regular customers who have been coming to us for years from across the Harrogate district and further afield.

“They come specifically for a cruise and while here, they visit the cathedral, museums and other attractions in the city – all good for the tourist economy.”

He added:

“The Pride of Ripon was tied up for a lot of last year because of the covid lockdown, but once restrictions lifted in July, we were busy every day.

“At the end of the season we were able to reflect on our best-ever year of operating here.

“That’s why I am so confident that a canal-focused festival in the basin will be a great success.”

Ripon Races set for first meeting of season tomorrow

Ripon Races is under starter’s orders for its first fixture of the new season tomorrow.

Yorkshire’s garden racecourse, as the venue is known, will be hoping for a smooth year after two years of covid restrictions severely curtailed activities.

Gates open at 11am for the first of 17 days racing this year.

Jonathan Mullin, hoping for an uninterrupted season at Ripon Races

Tomorrow’s Easter family day’s first race at 1pm will feature new sponsor Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate.

Jonathan Mullin, operations and marketing manager at the Boroughbridge Road racecourse, told the Stray Ferret:

“After two years of covid restrictions, we are looking forward to what we hope will be an uninterrupted season and plenty of racegoers through the gates.

“At a time when there is a squeeze on family budgets, we are offering reduced price entry to the paddock and club enclosures at all of our evening meetings The reduction will be 23% and 12% respectively.”

William Hill is maintaining its long-term sponsorship at Ripon.

This season’s running of the valuable William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap, on Saturday August 13, has added significance, with 2022 marking the 1,350th anniversary of Ripon’s patron saint founding the city’s cathedral.

New this season is a Stables Championship run in partnership with organic plant-based grooming products manufacturer, Goodbye Flys.

The stable staff of the yard that accrues the highest points total across the 2022 season will be crowned champions and receive a £5,000 cash prize, with £2,000 going to the runners-up and £1,000 to the third placed team.

Titanium Racing Club and Grantley Hall Hotel are both returning race sponsors and NE-Bet is continuing its sponsorship of the owners and trainers enclosure.

The covid vaccination programme

Ripon Races has been a key site in the covid vaccination programme.

Mr Mullin said:

“The racecourse management and course staff were proud to support the NHS and many volunteers involved in setting up and operating the covid vaccination centre here.

“Thousands of people received their jabs and boosters in the Wakeman Bar and we will continue to help the NHS when our facilities are required for the vaccination programme.”

Ripon sends giant birthday card to the Queen

The right royal city of Ripon is sending many happy returns to the Queen — along with a very special card.

The card, larger than any Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle windowsill can accommodate, has been produced in time for delivery for the monarch’s 96th birthday on April 21.

Accompanying eight-year-old Edward Blythe’s giant imaginative creation, will be a book containing thousands of birthday greetings from the people of Ripon.

Edward, a pupil of Moorside Primary School, told the Stray Ferret:

“I decided to have a corgi wearing a crown as my design, because I know they are the Queen’s favourite dog.

“I hope she likes it.”

Edward and his winning design, is pictured with, from the left: The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin, city council leader Andrew Williams, Claire Rowett, headteacher of Moorside Primary School and Jeremy Dunford of Ripon Together

Ahead of its extensive programme of platinum jubilee events in June, Ripon City Council decided it would be a fitting early kick off to the celebrations, if it sent the Queen a special birthday card.

Hundreds of primary and secondary pupils and students at schools in Ripon and the wider area, took part in the project, supported by the council, Ripon Cathedral and Ripon Together.

Cllr Parkin said:

“This city has extremely long royal roots, going back to Alfred the Great in 886 and his donation of a ceremonial horn to his loyal supporters, for fighting off a Viking attack.

“Ripon also fought on the side of the Royalists in the English Civil War and our Royal Engineers have enjoyed the Freedom of The City since 1949.”

Former Moorside primary pupil Cllr Williams, added:

“As well as being a good fun exercise for the schools, asking children to create a special card for the Queen, has provided a creative way of letting them find out more about her incredible 70 years of service to this country.”

Year 3 pupil Edward was congratulated for the striking multi-textured card by Moorside Primary headteacher Claire Rowett, who said:

“This is a fantastic achievement, well done to him.

“We are currently planning our jubilee celebrations as a school.”

Production of the card was handled by Jeremy Dunford, of Ripon Together, who said:

“It will be sent by special delivery – Royal Mail, of course!”

Grantley Hall wins the glittering prizes at Ripon Civic Society awards

Grantley Hall Hotel and Wellness Retreat enjoyed triple triumph at last night’s Ripon Civic Society design awards, presented by mayor Councillor Eamon Parkin.

Owner Valeria Sykes who has spent more than £70 million creating one of the UK’s most luxurious venues, was among the property developers, architects, representatives from organisations and members of the public, present for the awards ceremony at the Workhouse Museum in Ripon.

Also in attendance were members of the Sterne family, whose long-term investments in Ripon, have added significantly to the city’s retail, leisure and hospitality offer.

Grantley Hall was awarded the Price Flagon for best restored building, the Hazzard Silver Cup for best new building and the Helen Whitehead Award for best project.

Grantley Hall Hotel and Wellness Retreat Picture: Jack Hardy

Before leaving with the three trophies, Ms Sykes told the Stray Ferret:

“I have been involved in the restoration and development of a number of historic buildings in addition to Grantley Hall and it is always gratifying to have work recognised.

“Whether you have a major scheme, or a small private development, design awards give encouragement and help to lift standards.”

Sterne Properties can claim to have its fingers in many pies in Ripon, including Appleton’s, whose upper-crust pork creations can be seen in the window of its distinctive premises on Market Place East.

Robert Sterne receives the Taylor Plate for best contribution to city centre revitalisation

Across Market Square, the company’s latest large development earned the first award of the evening – the Taylor Plate for the best
contribution to city centre revitalisation.

RCS chairman and awards compere Christopher Hughes, congratulated the Sternes for their transformation of the former NatWest Bank building, next to Ripon Town Hall.

He pointed out that as well as creating the space for The Claro Lounge cafe bar to locate in the city, the total refurbishment of the building has also brought stylish apartments with stunning vistas, including a view of the cathedral.

Ripon Cathedral’s Fallen Angels Project, was among the eight award winners

There was recognition for the cathedral in this special 1,350th anniversary year for the church of St Peter and St Wilfrid – the foundation stone upon which Ripon has been built.

Its intricate Fallen Angels project, which saw repair and refurbishment of medieval misericords in the quire earn the RCS Craftmanship Shield.

Other winners

In addition to their focus on the built environment, the society’s judging panel looked at the natural environment and rewarded the Pennycroft Restoration Project at High Batts Nature Reserve, with presentation of the Younge Rosebowl for best Environmental Improvement.

Mr Hughes said that the work at the West Tanfield reserve has been ongoing for almost 50 years and a programme of continuous improvements has been carried out by hundreds of volunteers.

The Sustainability Award was presented to the developer of The Stoneyard – a residential scheme off Stonebridgegate and, in a moving finale to the evening’s awards ceremony, the John Whitehead award for Civic Excellence, was awarded for the 2018 Armistice Commemorations led by the Ripon Community Poppy Project.

Presentation of the award, in recognition of a programme of activities that marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, was held up by covid lockdowns.

Last night, however, Councillor Stuart Martin and Hazel Barker, who set up the Community Poppy Project, accepted the trophy on behalf of the many people involved in the commemoration activities.

Ripon fundraisers for Ukraine aim to beat £20,000 target

Fundraising in Ripon is continuing for refugees seeking sanctuary in the UK and elsewhere.

On Saturday evening (April 9) the family of Ripon man Lewis Edwards has arranged a casino and curry evening to support the appeal launched after he fled Kyiv with partner Tanya Bogdanovska and set up a transfer station for fellow refugees in Slovakia.

Though the couple have left Slovakia and are currently in Spain, awaiting clearance for both of them to come to the UK, the money raised by the appeal continues to help Ukrainian people.

At the time of publication, the gofundme page set up in late February has raised almost £19,700 and Ali Edwards, Lewis’s mother, told the Stray Ferret:

“This will be our final fundraiser and it would be fabulous if we could pass the £20,000 target that we set.”

The event, like the music bingo evening last month, will be held at The Magdalens on Princess Road and tickets at £10 apiece are available from the pub.

The Mayor of Ripon Eamon Parkin and his consort Nigel Guy (pictured right) hosted a previous fundraising event for Ukraine at The Magdalens Pub last month.

Attendees will be entitled to a curry and given a fistful of ‘fun dollars’ to buy chips – not to eat, but to play the blackjack table or give the roulette wheel a spin.

Ms Edwards said:

“The response to the appeal has been incredible and reflects the generosity of the people of Ripon.

“We are grateful to so many people, and particularly thank the city’s Mayor Eamon Parkin and his partner Nigel, for the kindness that they have shown in letting us host this and the music bingo event at their pub.”

Sponsors for Saturday evening include Davis and Lund estate agents, Lynne Furlong, owner of DogZone and Ms Edwards’ own business, Pamperyourself Ripon.

A raffle for prizes donated by local independent businesses will also be held.

Battery believed to have caused last night’s fire at Ripon recycling company

A battery in a pile of scrap metal is believed to be have causes last night’s fire at a specialist Ripon recycling company.

Nobody was injured in the blaze at K. A. Anderson metal recyclers on the Dallamires Lane Industrial Estate.

In its incident log, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service says this morning:

“Two crews from Ripon responded to reports of a fire in a scrap yard involving 2M by 4M of scrap.

“Crews used four breathing apparatus, three forty five mm jets, a thermal imaging camera and lighting, as well as a digger, to extinguish the fire.

“This was believed to be caused by a battery within the scrap pile.”

The fire was spotted shortly before 8pm.

Two Ripon fire crews attended the fire

A member of the K.A Anderson management, who was on the main gate to the premises to give fire crews access to the site, told the Stray Ferret:

“Nobody has been injured, it’s simply a fire that has started in a skip.”

The blaze was quickly brought under control by the fire crews

Thick clouds of dark acrid smoke billowed into the sky over Dallamires Lane, as officers worked to put out the fire.

They quickly had it under control.

K. A Anderson, a specialist in all aspects of metal recycling, is a third generation family-run business, operating for almost half a century,

On the company website, it says that the recycler has built a professional reputation for scrappage, processing and raw metals supply throughout the UK.

The company provides a complete metal recycling service, for many businesses and its major clients include Google and Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Fire brought under control tonight at Ripon recycling company site

Two fire crews tackled a scrap metal fire at K. A. Anderson metal recyclers on the Dallamires Lane industrial estate in Ripon this evening.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the large recycling site shortly before 8pm.

Dark acrid smoke billowed into the evening sky