Ripon is planning for a right royal celebration next year.
In June 2022, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her milestone of 70 years as monarch, will be celebrated with four days of events across the UK.
To enable Ripon to plan well in advance, the city council has set aside £105,000 from its reserve fund.
City council leader Andrew Williams received unanimous support for proposals to roll over monies that were not spent in the current financial year.
He pointed out:
“From our experience of hosting the UCI cycling event in 2019, we know that we need to put money aside now.
“That will enable us to put all arrangements in hand for a programme of events, which will require the booking of a variety of equipment and facilities.
“We want to do a proper job to mark the queen’s incredible service to this country.”
The government has unveiled plans for a long weekend of celebrations, which has seen the late May Bank holiday moved to Thursday June 3 and an additional Bank holiday added on Friday June 3, creating a four-day weekend.
Ripon has a long and proud royal heritage, having been awarded a ceremonial horn in AD 886 by King Alfred the Great after townspeople fought off a Viking attack,
During the English Civil War, the city was on the royalist side of Charles I and the cavaliers who battled against Oliver Cromwell’s troops on Market Square.
The clock tower erected for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was commemorated in 1897 with the erection of a clock tower at the junction of Palace Road, North Street and Princess Road.
In 1985, the queen visited Ripon Cathedral and the town hall for Royal Maundy, when the monarch gives silver coins to older people on Maundy Thursday.
All her milestone anniversaries, from the Silver Jubilee in 1977 to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, have been celebrated in the city.
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Besides planning for next year, Ripon City Council is also looking ahead to this summer.
Councillors voted an additional £30,000 of funding for the refurbishment of play equipment and fencing at Quarry Moor Park.
This brings total funding to £60,000, which will enable the swings and roundabouts to be replaced in time for the lessening of lockdown restrictions.
