Read more:
- Ripon's key role in two world wars
- Stray Ferret backs campaign to save Ripon’s military heritage
- Ripon campaigners prepare for post D-Day battle with the bulldozers
Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
15
May 2024
Last Updated: 29/05/2024
Ripon's replica tank goes on tour ahead of D-Day anniversary
Duncan and Fran from Harrogate shared their love story with The Piano's audience. Image: Channel 4
Following its official unveiling at the end of last month, 'Ripon's remarkable replica tank is now on a tour of locations in and around the city.
From the lawns at Ripon Inn, where a large crowd gathered to see it unveiled on April 30 by Lt Col. Perry Bishop, commanding officer of the 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, the life-size model is now relocated and attracting a lot of attention at Tate's Garden Centre on Studley Road.
It will remain in situ there until May 23, before being moved to Fountains Abbey, where it will be in place from May 24 to June 4.
The life-size model measuring 24-foot long, nine-foot wide and seven-foot high will then be transported by Ripon Farm Services on a low loader trailer to the piazza at Ripon Cathedral on June 5, in time for the D-Day 80th anniversary concert on the evening of June 6 featuring Ripon City Band, The Duchy Belles, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir
and Charlotte Potter.
The event will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Royal Engineers being granted freedom of the city and, following the concert at 9.15pm, a D-Day 80th anniversary beacon will be lit on the piazza by Jack Churchill, the great grandson of wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill.
Created from wool and wood by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project in conjunction with Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods - members of Ripon Men's Shed, the tank is the stunning centrepiece of Ripon's D-Day commemoration and celebration events.
The tank builders pictured at the Ripon inn, from the left: Carol Dunkley, Hazel Barker and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, with Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon Men's Shed
Stuart Martin, who co-founded the project in 2017 with Hazel Barker, said:
“We have asked for and received help from individuals, businesses - including Tate's Garden Centre and Ripon Farm Services - and organisations across the city and all have given their time, materials, labour and logistical advice free of charge.
“It has been a magnificent community-wide project collectively involving almost 100,000 hours of volunteer input and has been made possible because of the generosity of the city’s organisations and businesses."
Main picture: The 'on tour' tank, which can now be seen at Tate's Garden Centre
0