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Dec 2020

Last Updated: 01/01/2021

Community

History-making Ripon mayor receives New Year honour

by Tim Flanagan

| 31 Dec, 2020

John Richmond was made a freeman of the city of Ripon in 2004 and has been a Methodist lay preacher for more than 40 years. His service as a councillor and Rotarian has been recognised with the award of a British Empire Medal.

ripon-30-dec-2020-john-richmond-blowing-the-horn-1-scaled

A history-making former Mayor of Ripon has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community.

At the age of 39, in May 1975, John Richmond became the youngest person appointed to the city's mayoral office.

Seven months later he achieved another unique feat, as the only serving mayor to carry out the hornblower ceremony, which dates back to AD 886.

Mr Richmond told the Stray Ferret:

"The hornblower was taking time off over the Christmas period and we urgently needed a stand-in to carry out the task of setting the watch - but who would do it?

"As chair of Ripon City Council, I called for volunteers, but nobody wanted the job, so in a fit of pique, I said, 'ok then, I'll have to do it.'"

Mr Richmond had no experience of blowing a horn so over three weeks of discreet coaching sessions in the cellar of Ripon Town Hall, the city's Sergeant at Mace and former hornblower, Cyril Hawley, taught him the technique.

His historic debut performance at 9pm on December 22, 1975, attracted an audience of 200 on Market Square, which applauded spontaneously after he completed four blasts on the city's large African horn.

John pointed out:

"Part of the hornblower tradition involves announcing to the mayor that the watch has been set - so I was effectively informing myself!"

There were many more notable milestones in a 14-year career of civic service that started in 1967 when John was elected to Ripon City Council.

He subsequently won election to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

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Against all odds, as an independent attending his first full meeting at county hall in 1977, he persuaded councillors of all political colours, in a Conservative-dominated authority, to support a reference back and re-think on proposals to turn 500-year-old Ripon Grammar School into a comprehensive.

Mr Richmond, who was a pupil of the school from 1947 to 1951, said:

"I was told I had no chance, but I decided to give it a go and with fellow independent Jack Blakey seconding me, we forced a re-think."

Margaret Thatcher gave the UK's remaining grammar schools a lifeline after she became Prime Minister in 1979 and Ripon Grammar survived, following further public consultation,

Mr Richmond's other highlights included meeting with the mayors of Ripon, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin, when he was invited to go to the USA in 1976 to join the country's bicentennial celebrations.

Always by his side was his wife of 55 years, Barbara, who died in 2013.

Mr Richmond said:

"She was my driving force and I wouldn't have achieved anything without her. Though she is no longer with us, Barbara shares this honour with me."

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History-making Ripon mayor receives New Year honour

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