Ripon has added another possession to its priceless collection of ceremonial and historically-significant items.
Residents and visitors to this proud royal city now have a permanent reminder of the Queen’s platinum jubilee after a specially-commissioned horn was added to a treasure chest including the horn that Alfred the Great gave to the people of Ripon in 886.
That point was made by former mayor of Ripon and Honorary Freeman of the City, John Richmond BEM, as he presented the horn to the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Cllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke.
Mr Richmond, who is 86 and the longest surviving former mayor, remains the only one in the city’s long and distinguished history to perform the setting of the watch ceremony while in mayoral office.
Last night, he told the packed crowd gathered on Market Square:
“I’m here to officially present the horn, but not to blow it this time!”
Mr Richmond who was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in the 2021 New Year’s Honours, added:
“This is another moment in history for this wonderful city and I hope you all remember this day forever.”
Jubilation – John Richmond who served as mayor of Ripon in 1975-1976 presented the new horn to the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Clllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke.
Cllr Hawke, who was recently installed as mayor for a second term of office, said:
“Ripon has always been a royal city and we have been graced by the Queen’s visits with her late husband Prince Philip.
“I can’t think of a better way of marking her 70-year reign than by having a jubilee horn dedicated to her and the lifelong service she has given to this country.”
In May 2019, to mark the end of her third term of mayoral office, Cllr Pauline McHardy, presented the Quest McHardy horn to the city.
The largest crowd of the extended Bank Holiday, estimated by organisers as being in excess of 3,000, was present to see the city receive the Platinum Jubilee Horn.
It, alongside the platinum jubilee horn, will be in regular use as the team of four hornblowers take it in turns to set the watch – in the world’s longest-standing ceremonial activity, dating back 1,136 years.
History of Ripon’s horns
Alfred the Great’s 886 horn was succeeded by the 1690 horn, costing six shillings and eight pence and to mark 1,000 years since the granting of Ripon’s first charter, Ripon received a ceremonial drinking horn from the famous Chillingham herd, presented to the city by the then Dean of Ripon the Very Revd W.R. Freemantle at the millenary festival held on August 25, 1886.
A further 100 years of Ripon’s history was marked in 1986 when an ox horn with ornate copper fittings was created by a local craftsman and financed and donated to the city by Sigma Antiques.
During the covid lockdowns, which prevented them from appearing on Market Square, the hornblowers kept the custom alive by blowing their horns behind closed doors at their respective homes.
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