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01

Jan 2023

Last Updated: 01/01/2023

Ripon revellers singing in the rain to celebrate the New Year

by Tim Flanagan

| 01 Jan, 2023
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The Bishop of Leeds The Rt. Revd Nick Baines, joined Ripon residents on Market Square last night to welcome in the New Year

ripon-31st-dec-2022-crowd-on-market-square
The New Year's Eve event traditionally draws the biggest gathering of the Year pn Market Square





When hornblower Allison Clark (pictured below) set the watch on Market Square at 9pm, only a handful of people were present, but by the stroke of midnight Ripon's New Year's Eve revellers were singing and dancing in the rain.

Yesterday's heavy showers that threatened to turn the evening of celebration into a damp squib, relented by 11pm and the crowds poured in to enjoy the free music that heralded in 2023.

Hornblower Allison Clark

Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke, who joined with his wife and Mayoress Linda, Ripon city councillors and other civic dignitaries in a torchlit procession from the cathedral to Market Square, led the countdown to midnight, flanked by the Bishop of Leeds The Rt. Revd Nick Baines and the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson.

The Mayor, the Bishop and the Dean on Ripon Market Square

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, pictured with The Bishop of Leeds The Rt Revd Nick Baines and The Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson



The Bishop and Dean John,  were among the clergy who had taken part in the Watchnight Service at the cathedral that preceded the procession to Market Square, where a blessing was given.

Throughout the evening the tribute acts Exelle, Beyond Faith and Parklife, braved the elements to perform a broad repertoire of songs, ranging from the chart-topping numbers of girl bands to  George Michael classics and the Britpop tunes of the 1990s.

Exelle tribute act

The Weather Girls' 1979 hit It's Raining Men, was among the songs performed by Exelle (pictured above) while George Michael lookalike and soundalike Beyond Faith (pictured below) also wowed the crowd.

Beyond Faith tribute act

Last night's concert organised by Ripon City Council, saw the curtain come down on an epic year that saw the city's ancient square stage historic events including celebrations of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June to the mourning of her death in September and the subsequent proclamation of Charles III as King.



Read more:



  • Ripon charity's vital fundraiser

  • How Ripon mourned The Queen's death