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Mar 2021

Last Updated: 26/03/2021

Community

Ripon plans to celebrate two major events next year

by Tim Flanagan

| 28 Mar, 2021

Councillors and community organisations are starting to put plans in place for two major celebrations in the city next year.

ripon-19th-october-2020-poppies-at-ripon-town-hall-scaled

The Royal, loyal and religiously-significant city of Ripon is looking forward to two landmark events next year.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the 1350th anniversary of Ripon Cathedral coincide in 2022.

Huge city-wide celebrations will be held, with plans to turn buildings and streets red, white and blue.

Earlier this month, Ripon City Council set aside a budget of £105,000 to enable advance planning to take place.

Running from 2 June to 5 June, the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday will mark 70 Years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ripon Cathedral, founded by St Wilfrid in 672AD will be playing a key role in the festivities.

At last night's virtual meeting of the city council events committee, the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson, said:

"This is a marvellous chance to celebrate two events - the like of which we have never seen before."

He added:

"Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was commemorated with the building of the clock tower, which has been a city landmark since 1897 and we have the opportunity of marking The Queen's history-making service to the UK in a very special way."

Dean John was among representatives from a wide-range of voluntary organisations taking part in the meeting.

He congratulated the city council for the strong lead it is taking in planning for 2022.

Chair of the events committee and council leader Andrew Williams, pointed out:

"We want to ensure a year of well-organised events to be enjoyed by all.

"We will mark the start of it at one minute past midnight on New Year's Eve, with our fireworks display.

"It will end in a burst of red, white and blue, signalling the start of a year of celebrations."

Plans are being put in place now, so that equipment ranging from fairground rides for young children and staging for performers, can be booked well in advance.

The full programme has yet to be confirmed and the events committee remains open to suggestions.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, suggested that a large poster of The Queen be hung on the front of Ripon Town Hall throughout 2022.

She said:

"This would be a constant reminder of what our wonderful Queen has done for all of us for seven decades."

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Ahead of the Platinum Jubilee, Councillor Chris Hardisty pointed out:

"The Duke of Edinburgh will be 100 in June and we should find a way of celebrating his birthday."

Cllr Williams said that this suggestion will be put on the agenda for the April meeting of the committee.

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Ripon plans to celebrate two major events next year

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