02
Nov
Words of wisdom from one of Ripon's most respected men
This article is free to read. We publish about 100 articles a week all exclusively focused on local news, including items about community-based organisations and charities in Ripon. Please support independent local journalism by subscribing here. It costs as little as 14p a day.
At a time of unprecedented turmoil in Ripon Town Hall, the wise counsel of one of Ripon's most remarkable citizens could help the city over its current problems.
John Richmond, who earned the sobriquet of ‘Mr Ripon’, represented the city's residents during a long political career.
He carefully avoids taking sides in the ongoing political saga, but hopes his words will help to calm troubled waters.
Ironically, at the age of 90 and with his vision reduced through macular degeneration, John maintains a clear view of what needs to be done to heal the rift between the warring factions.
Show some respect
He told the Stray Ferret:
Ripon is the loser in this unpleasant war of words and, sadly for some residents who have witnessed, for the first time, the extraordinary goings on in the council chamber in recent weeks, the impression left does nobody any good.
It's time for our elected members to start behaving in a dignified way that is befitting of the trust placed in them by voters.
We are one of only four parish councils in the UK to have its own Royal Mace and received a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth II in 1976, which restored Ripon's city status.
Councillors should also bear in mind that, in addition to this very significant honour, King Charles III is a freeman of our city,
Former mayor John Richmond talking at a recent extraordinary meeting.
Political allegiances
When it comes to giving advice on how to behave in the interests of Ripon and its voters, John, who was himself made a Freeman of the City in January 2004, can claim he's been there, done that and got the T-shirt.
Making history as mayor and hornblower
He is the only mayor in Ripon's long history to act as hornblower while in mayoral office. It happened at Christmas 1975, when he maintained the ancient setting of the watch ceremony while the city's regular hornblower was on holiday.
John persuaded the Conservative controlled North Yorkshire County Council to maintain the status of Ripon's ancient grammar school, which was founded in 1555.
Initially elected as a Conservative in 1967, when at the age of 31 he was the youngest member of the the original city council, John subsequently stood as an independent and was elected as the then youngest mayor by his peers in 1975-76.
He soon became known for the skilled way in which he could turn political enemies into allies when debating hotly-contested issues.
In the mayor's parlour at Ripon Town Hall in 1975
During his term of office he represented Ripon, at his own expense, at the United States bicentennial celebrations, where he met the mayors of Ripon Wisconsin and Ripon California at a VIP gathering in San Francisco. The audience was fascinated to learn about the original Ripon and its ancient customs dating back to Alfred the Great.
With chain in place and sergeant-at-mace Cyril Hawley on hand to play one of the city’s horns, the duo received rapturous applause.
A remarkable book
The full story of the transatlantic trip and numerous other incidents in a life of service can be found in John’s book Beyond the Farm Gate, which he published as a first-time author in 2022, aged 87.
The limited edition book, which took two years to write, was produced in memory of his beloved late wife Barbara, who died of breast cancer in 2013 and raised more than £7,000 for Breast Cancer UK.
John's book Beyond the Farm Gate, raised more than £7,000 for Cancer Research UK
Born in October 1935 and raised with his brothers Norman and David and sister Joyce at Carr House Farm in Dallowgill, John recalls:
When I was elected as a Conservative councillor in 1967, I knew more about pigs than politics and was green behind the ears.
My first big idea was to have parking removed from Market Square to make the city centre pedestrian-friendly, but with so many business people on the council, I was a bit naïve to say the least.
They told me ‘if we take away the parking on Market Square there will be a riot from motorists and shop owners will think we’ve gone crazy'.
Learning lessons
It taught him an important lesson:
While I had been laughed out of court, it enabled me to spark a wider debate about the need to create more parking in Ripon to help the city grow and prosper.
There was suitable land both sides of Market Square, if it could be acquired from the various owners, especially the west side.
Then, in the early 70s a plan was unveiled for an inner relief road, which had it been approved would not have provided a total solution to the city's traffic problems.
A more realistic answer to Ripon's acute shortage of parking, came in the east of the city and land largely in the ownership of the cathedral, but the then Dean and Chapter flatly refused the council's approach to sell Deanery Fields, but I encouraged 15 fellow councillors to be bold and go for compulsory purchase, which some felt we had no chance of achieving.
However, much to the council's surprise, the district valuer supported our case and set a price for the land at considerably below the sum that the council had originally been willing to pay!
I saw this as a major win for the city and a means of attracting more visitiors to 'stay awhile amidst its ancient charms' as recommended to motorists on the welcome signs to the city.
Prior to the purchase and development of Deanery Fields for what is now known as St Marygate Car Park, the city had only rudimentary car parking facilities, within the confines of a run down piece of land that housed a bus station and a semi-derelict toliet block.
The area was subsequently renamed the Cathedral Car Park, and given a solid surface as a temporary fix.
Attracting businesses to Ripon
Having led the campaign to free the city from gridlock, John's attention turned to attracting further employment to the city.
This did not suit some senior councillors, who wanted to maintain the status quo and he lost his seat in 1970.
John said:
Six months later, a by-election arising from the death of another councillor provided me with the opportunity to stand as an independent and it was a satisfying sock in the eye to the Tories when I topped the poll,
Within three months of returning to the council chamber, I became chair of the city council's planning committee and in that role was able to review previous correspondence from businesses interested in relocating to Ripon.
This included a plumbing materials business from Leeds then known as Wolseley Hughes, which subsequently became Plumb Centre and is now Wolseley.
Wolseley Centers celebrated its 50th anniversary in Ripon in 2021
At the same time a gentleman called Bill Lupton with a fledgling company manufacturing hedge-cutting machinery, asked me if we had a site where a small factory could be set up.
The derelict Hepworth's Brewery, off Bondgate, was exactly what they needed at that time and within weeks the company known as Econ Engineering was launched and grew hand over fist, much to the consternation of the cathedral, which did not want any industrial uses within the lee of the ancient building.
With its exponential growth, Econ, the UK’s leading manufacturer of gritters and snow ploughs, subsequently moved to Boroughbridge Road.
World-class manufacturer Econ Engineering has thrived in Ripon
A catalyst for growth
After Wolseley and Econ Engineering relocated, a number of small locally-based businesses started developing expansion plans.
Among them were cable contractors FB Taylor, metal recycling specialists Andersons, Ripon Farm Services and construction company Lee Hill – all of which were found pockets of land to facilitate growth.
The upgrade of Dallamires Lane facilitated the industrial development.
It was later linked to the Ripon bypass, which opened in 1996 and provided a suitable route for heavy goods vehicles, enabling them to more readily supply the growing Dallamires industrial estate.
It wasn't all good news: the city suffered a setback when 150 full-time jobs were lost through the closure of long-established varnish company Red Hand. whose premises were subsequently taken over by Wolseley.
The Ripon Bypass opened in 1996.
As a newly-elected county councillor in the mid-1970s, John led a campaign to save Ripon Grammar School from becoming a comprehensive under the then Tory governmnet.
Against all odds, the former Ripon grammar pupil won the day by convincing Conservatives to back him.
He said:
In recent times with the demise of Harrogate Borough Council, we appear to be making some good progress with the unitary authority on a number of fronts, from double devolution to tarmacing of the roads around Market Square and near the bus station.
Looking at the present situation, I feel deep disappointment in the ongoing disarray at the town hall and for the sake of Ripon, our councillors must stop the bickering, act with commonsense, and with total honesty, integrity and transparency.
It's now up to a new generation of local politicans to sort out their disputes and work in the interests of Ripon.
1