There was no marching in Ripon today as celebrations of the city’s patron Saint Wilfrid had to be significantly scaled down because of social distancing requirements.

The procession around the streets traditionally in step to the music of Ripon City Band, along with accompanying children’s funfair on Market Place, Morris Dancing and a service in the cathedral, were all cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, some citizens were still determined to ensure that a celebration of St Wilfrid would still go ahead, albeit in a reduced form.

For Pearl Abbot, the loss of this year’s procession came as a great disappointment, as she has been actively involved in the event for 30 years – many of which saw her working within a team to create elaborate themed floats for Ripon power contractor FB Taylor of Dallamires Lane.

Mrs Abbot told the Stray Ferret:

“I was sad when I heard that the procession could not go ahead this year. With it also being Yorkshire Day, my friend Val and I had planned to go  along wearing costumes designed out of the Yorkshire Flag.”

With no city-wide celebrations this year, Mrs Abbot decided to transform the front garden and fencing at her home in Quarry Moor Lane, Ripon, into a carnival-style display featuring yellow, blue and white balloons, flags, hand-made paper flowers and an extensive exhibition of photographs from processions held in previous years.

Ripon Morris Dancers Band performed in Church Street

She hoped the display, assembled with help from granddaughter Joanne, would provide an enjoyable walk down memory lane for passers by. It will be in place over the remainder of the weekend.

Like the Hornblower’s nightly ceremony, which has been temporarily forced to take place behind closed doors and May’s VE Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations, activities had to be limited to protect public safety.

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Ripon City Swimming Club, which usually has a float in the annual procession, erected a static display at the Spa Baths, with the message ‘Just Keep Swimming’ and not far away, in Church Street, Ripon Morris Dancers Band provided socially distanced entertainment.

The musicians, along with dancers, have been taking part in the St Wilfrid’s day event since 1983.

The covid pandemic may have prevented many large scale public gatherings but it is not going to stop Ripon celebrating its patron saint on Saturday.

For centuries, processions and mass events in honour of St Wilfrid have been held to venerate the man who shares equal billing with St Peter at the cathedral, which is located on the site where Wilfrid established a church in AD 672.

Born in Northumbria in AD 634, Wilfrid’s name can be found on street signs, a primary school, cafe and Catholic church within the ancient city and other towns and cities across the country.

It’s 912 years since King Henry I granted permission for the city to hold a fair to celebrate the birth of the saint and Ripon – a city that takes great pride in its heritage – has held on to this tradition.

In normal years, St Wilfrid’s procession sees large crowds line the streets of Ripon

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In normal years, a large procession would circle the city, led by an actor on horseback playing St Wilfrid and concluding with a service in the cathedral.

The procession, including Ripon city band and floats representing clubs, schools, businesses and neighbourhood groups, would pass the market place, where fairground rides, Morris dancers and much more would be present for the enjoyment of people of all ages.

Social distancing rules brought in by the government in a bid to beat coronavirus, mean that this year’s celebration will, like the VE Day 75th anniversary celebration in May, be largely restricted to window displays, bunting  and floral tributes along the route that the procession would normally take.

The Ripon City Morris Dancers Band will be performing in the garden of 12 Church Lane from 2pm and details of other activities can be found on the St Wilfrid’s Procession FaceBook page.

To help raise awareness of Saturday’s event, Paul Simms dressed as St Wilfrid and his wife Sue, walked the processional route, where they met Mayor of Ripon, councillor Eamon Parkin, outside his Magdalens pub.

Cllr Parkin, said:

“It’s a shame that we can’t have the usual celebrations of our patron saint this year. This is a big annual event for the city that draws large crowds, but public safety is paramount and once we have defeated coronavirus, we will be able to have the large-scale events once more.

“Thanks to Paul and Sue and others involved with the St Wilfrid’s procession, we will still mark the day – but in a quieter way this year.”

Council tax payers will have to pick up the removal costs after fly tippers dumped items on a site on the corner of Priest Lane and Stonebridgegate in Ripon.

The secluded area of grass and trees, little more than 100 yards from the city’s police station, has had a sofa and chair and other house clearance-style items deposited on it for some days, and has been reported to Harrogate Borough Council by local residents.

One resident, who did not want to be named, told The Stray Ferret:

“It’s an absolute mess and I just can’t understand the mentality of the person or persons who did this. It looks like somebody has moved house and just couldn’t be bothered to take their unwanted items to the tip.”

They added:

“I’ve reported it to the council and hope that they come and clear the eyesore as quickly as possible – it’s been here for a few days now.”

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A spokesperson for the council said that the tipped items would be removed as soon as possible. He said:

“Fly tipping is a serious criminal offence. We have the power to seize vehicles, issue a fixed penalty notice of £400 or to prosecute. This could result in an unlimited fine and/or up to five years in prison.”

An initiative named Operation Eyeball has been formed to tackle fly tipping in rural parts of North Yorkshire and anybody who witnesses this criminal activity is asked to report it at www.harrogate.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling the council on 01423 500600.

Councillors in Pateley Bridge are preparing for their first face-to-face meeting since March, when coronavirus brought a temporary end to physical gatherings.

Mike Holt, the town’s Mayor, told The Stray Ferret:

“Our next council meeting on August 4 is, hopefully, going to be a physical meeting in the Memorial Hall.

“Councillors and officers from Pateley Bridge Town Council and Bewerley Parish Council, assisted by staff from Nidderdale Plus, made the Memorial Hall covid-secure earlier this month.”

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The hygiene and social distancing measures enabled the hall to be used to sell resident car parking permits for the current financial year. The annual permits costing £12 are usually sold across four days, but Cllr Holt said:

“In the current circumstances it was felt that one day was enough. However, permits are still available for anyone who missed the sale day.”

The meeting in the Memorial Hall will also provide a safe venue to interview the four candidates who have put their names forward for co-option to the council.

There are two vacancies to fill, following the retirement in March of councillors Chris Hawkesworth and Christine Skaife, who between them served for more than 50 years.

• Local residents wishing to purchase a parking permit can obtain one by sending a stamped, addressed envelope, with a cheque for £12 per permit, and the vehicle registration numbers to the Town Council Clerk, The Council Chamber, King Street, Pateley Bridge, HG3 5LE

A petition headed ‘Save Your Market’ is being launched in Knaresborough tomorrow.

Market traders in both Knaresborough and Ripon hope public support will force Harrogate Borough Council to cancel rent increases of more than 25% from Saturday which, they say, will put some of them out of business.

The petition, which will be available to sign at stalls at Knaresborough Market tomorrow and Ripon Market on Thursday, calls for ‘urgent’ public support to make the council think again about the increase. It says:

“Increasing the cost of rent and stall assembly to traders by over 25% will mean that it will not be financially viable to continue trading for several market traders.

“Other local councils helped market traders who could trade during lockdown providing essential food products. This was through charging no rent or discounting rent.

“When non-food traders were allowed to return, after not being able to trade for 3 months, full rent was charged despite other local councils providing financial assistance.

“This 25% increase is being introduced on August 1 and excludes VAT which is charged by Harrogate Borough Council but not by other councils, most traders are not VAT registered so cannot recover the VAT.

“This will lead to the loss of more traders from the ancient markets of Knaresborough and Ripon.

At a full council meeting earlier this month, Councillor Andrew Paraskos, the HBC cabinet member whose portfolio includes the markets across the Harrogate district, said:

“There is a rumour going around that Harrogate Borough Council is wanting to get rid of the markets. This is not true.”

In response to questions raised by Ripon Independent councillor Pauline McHardy, he said measures had been put in place to support and promote the markets – including the waiving of fees for those traders who were not allowed to attend for 11 weeks because of government restrictions and the holding of rental levels at the 2019-2020 rates from April until July.

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Stephen Teggin, pictured, president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and a long-time supporter of the town’s market – which is the longest continuously operating in England – described the council’s handling of spending across the district as ‘unfair’.

In response to news that the council plans a multi-million pounds package of spending on Harrogate Convention Centre, Mr Teggin told The Stray Ferret:

“It’s all about Harrogate. We are struggling like mad to keep Knaresborough going and attract tourists and the council finds £50m to keep something going that already loses money.”

On most Sunday mornings a section of the car park  just off Pateley Bridge High Street, is packed with a leather and denim clad brigade who come to town on motorcycles of many colours and engine sizes.

This stop-off point for men, women and their machines has been firmly-established on the motorcyclists’ map for decades and this year, more than any other in recent times, they are providing a welcome boost for a local economy emerging from the coronavirus lockdown and attempting to make up for lost time and lost earnings.

Cafes, takeaways and shops are among those to benefit from the flow of business brought by riders who are seeking refreshment, before setting off on the next stage of a journey that takes many of them through the Dales and on to destinations on the East Coast.

Motorcyclists head out of Pateley Bridge and onto their next stop-off point

Nidderdale, with its combination of long, winding and steep stretches of road, was in the national and international spotlight when the Grand Depart of the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in July 2014.

It is a Mecca for travellers on two wheels – both pedal and petrol-powered, who are out in force on summer Sundays.

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For friends Mike Haste, Alexander Kubansky and Keith Weston, who hail from West Yorkshire, Pateley Bridge is akin to a resting point on a pilgrim path that leads to the sea and home again, with return journeys often covering 200 miles plus.

Mike, whose 1700cc Harley Davidson is one of a limited edition model produced in 2013 to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the world-famous motorcycle maker, told The Stray Ferret:

“Every Sunday, if there’s blue in the sky, we are on our bikes and heading for Pateley Bridge – our first stop-off point.”

He added:

“Over the years you get to know the places that are biker-friendly and we share that information with other motorcyclists.”

Alexander, whose pride and joy is a 21-year-old Honda Valkyrie with a 1500cc engine, said:

“Pateley Bridge is a nice place to come to. We can park up safely, have a cup of tea or coffee and use the public toilets before heading off again.”

Keith, with his BMW K 1300 GT, started taking part in rides with his friends a few years ago and highly recommends it. He said:

“It’s a great way to enjoy a Sunday day out.”

With the Pateley Bridge stop off lasting between 15 and 30 minutes, riders who head for the road are soon replaced by the next group, providing a stead stream of customers, who come to rest awhile and take refreshment beside the River Nidd.

Messages of hope and encouragement have been ringing out from a Ripon retailer to craftsmen and women in Rajasthan.

Liz and Kevin Hill, who own and run clothing and gift shop Karma in Kirkgate, have remained in regular contact with tailors, jewellers and leatherworkers in the north India state, where the majority of the goods they sell are produced.

Throughout the crisis, Liz has been writing messages inside a rainbow heart in the shop window – the latest being: ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’

Liz Hill, pictured on a visit to Rajasthan with leatherworker Chandra Goyal and his wife Anu (Photograph courtesy Karma, Ripon)

Others include: ‘Follow your dreams, they know the way’ and ‘kindness is free, sprinkle it everywhere.’

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Liz, told The Stray Ferret:

“The vast majority of people have been through a hard time in recent months and we hope that the messages give those who read them a bit of a lift – from passers by, to others many miles away who see them on WhatsApp.”

Kevin, added:

“This technology has enabled us to keep in touch with the leatherworkers, jewellers and tailors in Rajasthan, who make items ranging from handbags, to earrings, rings and dresses made from up-cycled saris. They are more like an extension of our family than suppliers.”

The Hills, who opened their Kirkgate shop in 2017, became lovers of India’s culture and customs when they first visited the sub-continent more than 20 years ago.

They sell goods that are ethically sourced, made and priced and have supported their suppliers during the difficult trading period by providing cash advances ahead of the supply of items, where production and delivery was interrupted because of the pandemic.

A throng of 10,000 paper angels will be looking down from on high in Ripon Cathedral early next month.

When the doors of the cathedral closed in March due to Covid-19, its development team was tasked with creating a new project to support the community during lockdown.

This led to the Wing and a Prayer initiative, which was run in partnership with Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

With the cathedral out of bounds, even for private prayer for many weeks, the project enabled people to pray for loved ones and key workers by sending prayers online through the cathedral website.

The prayers were then said by the cathedral’s priests during online services.

Phase two of project saw the creation of thousands of origami angels to reflect the prayers offered.

The final phase will see the creation of an awe-inspiring art installation of the angels that will fly over the nave of the cathedral. Its aim – to inspire quiet reflection and contemplation during these challenging times.

Donations to the appeal have raised more than £130,000, which will be shared between the cathedral and YAA.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, said:

“We never anticipated that this project would capture the imagination of people right across the region in the way that it has.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has raised valuable funds through the Wing and A Prayer project (Photograph courtesy of Yorkshire Air Ambulance)

“The thousands of angels speak of gratitude and prayer; adorning the wonderful space that is the nave of Ripon Cathedral. They will be a spectacular arrangement of beauty for all, and an expression of praise for the faithful.”

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YAA and the cathedral appealed for volunteers to help create the angels and within four weeks they had been made.

The volunteers, whose ages range from three to 90 – all live in the area covered by YAA. A number of schools also became involved with making the angels.

Volunteers are now invited to come to the cathedral to help with the preparation of the angels ready for hanging from Monday. They will be attached to a large net that will be fixed in place high across the nave.

The installation will be in place during August and September. Further details are available on the cathedral’s website.

Ripon Cathedral has taken the first step towards seeking approval for a £6 million extension of the ancient building.

If successful, plans which will be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) following public consultation, would see the first major extension in hundreds of years, for a building containing the oldest built fabric of any English cathedral –  St Wilfrid’s crypt – dating back to 672 AD.

The church attracts visitors and pilgrims from around the world and in autumn 2019, launched the Ripon Cathedral Renewed project.

Key elements of  the plan are the provision of toilets. which will include Ripon’s only adult changing room; a cafe and creation of rehearsal space for Ripon Cathedral Choir, which currently rehearses in a former burial vault.

With the provision of new storage space, it is also intended that large areas within the cathedral will be opened up to the public for the first time in centuries.

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An initial approach has been made to the council and the Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, told The Stray Ferret:

“We are at an early stage of our formal engagement with HBC as we look to develop our plans and work out what would be needed for a planning application.”

He added:

“There will be a presentation of plans in the cathedral from mid-August  – showing people where our thinking has got to and asking for their comments.”

The plans are part of the cathedral’s strategic vision Growing God’s Kingdom which aims to see the cathedral as a force for good, serving both the church and wider community – locally, regionally and nationally.

When the Ripon Cathedral Renewed project was launched, Dean John (pictured above), said:

“It is clear that the development of the cathedral is vital to bring this national treasure into the 21st century.

“As custodians of this fantastic building we are only too aware of the legacy we uphold. We have this ancient history, this wonderful architecture – what we haven’t got are the facilities that people need.

“Each generation has, over 13 centuries, taken on what has been handed to it and made its own contributions. We take none of this for granted and we have a responsibility, in our generation, to make our contribution now.”

He added:

“Over the last few years it has become increasingly obvious to a growing number of people that the development of Ripon Cathedral is vital as we seek to serve the communities of the region now and in the future.”

A joint ‘save our markets’ petition will be raised by traders in Knaresborough and Ripon, who say above inflation rent increases will make them financially unviable in both centres.

The joint action by Knaresborough and Ripon traders comes after Harrogate Borough Council confirmed the cost per stall is to increase by more than 25 percent.

David Tomlinson, who sells stationery and is a spokesman for Knaresborough stallholders,  told The Stray Ferret:

“The last time Knaresborough Market was under threat, we raised a petition of more than 3,000 names and there was a meeting at Knaresborough House in December 2017 that attracted so many people who were against the council’s plans, that they backed down.”

A stall at Knaresborough Market

The 2017 plans involved the ending of council-supplied stalls and meant all traders would have to provide their own. It was a proposal that the majority of traders found unacceptable.

Mr Tomlinson, said:

“I hope the council will see sense and realise that putting rents up is not the answer, it will make many stallholders financially unviable and force their withdrawal from the markets here and in Ripon, making both less attractive to the shoppers we are desperately trying to win back.”

He added:

“Even though social distancing rules have been relaxed, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and some regular customers – particularly the elderly – are staying away as they remain self-isolated. Others do not want to travel to Knaresborough on public transport and the coaches that used to bring in trips on market  day are not running at present.”

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Among traders who will be asking the public to support a petition is Sonya Johnson, who sells women’s handbags and accessories at both Ripon and Knaresborough markets.

She, said:

“I wasn’t able to trade for 11 weeks and since I came back my takings have been down by 70 per cent. I did a little better in Knaresborough yesterday, but if I make a loss in Ripon today, I am seriously considering not coming here again.”

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, said

“The costs for market stallholders, that were agreed in February and put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, will be introduced from August 1st now that markets are able to trade normally.

“Depending on the trader, they may actually pay less this financial year. The pitch rental remains the same as 2019/20 and we have offered traders an incentive if they erect their own stalls of a £5 reduction per week.

“Those who don’t wish to erect their own stalls will pay the same rate as 2019/20 but will pay a surcharge to cover the costs of us erecting a stall on their behalf.”