Tributes to ‘exceptional’ Ripon charity volunteer who died in car crashFormer Ripon mayor’s book raises £6,300 for charityThe importance of donations that support the work of Breast Cancer UK was emphasised in Ripon Town Hall last weekend.
Thalie Martini, the charity’s chief executive, made the 440-mile round trip from London on Saturday, to receive a cheque for £6,300 from Freeman of the City and former mayor John Richmond.
All proceeds from the sale of his book Beyond the Farm Gate, which was dedicated to his wife Barbara, who died of breast cancer in 2013, were donated to the charity.
Ms Martini, thanked Mr Richmond for his generosity and said:
“Our focus is on the prevention of breast cancer and this money will prove invaluable to our work.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but research has shown that more that 30 percent is preventable.”
In addition to the donation, Ms Martini was given a signed copy of the book.
Mr Richmond’s 280-page memoirs take the reader on a journey from his childhood and growing up on a farm at Dallowgill, to becoming a history-making mayor of Ripon in 1975-1976.
During that period, he became the only person to carry out the nightly hornblower ceremony of setting the watch. While in mayoral office he also went on to represent Ripon at USA bicentennial celebrations held in San Francisco and attended by the mayors of Ripon California and Ripon Wisconsin.
Beyond the Farm Gate was published as a limited edition in March and sold out within a month — including a consignment of 20 books bought by people living in California.
At Saturday’s presentation Mr Richmond said:
“Having sold the first 400 copies so quickly, I ordered a reprint which also proved in great demand.
“The initial intention was to raise £6,000, but I am thrilled that the amount for donation to Breast Cancer UK increased to £6,300.”
The presentation was attended by the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, members of Mr Richmond’s family and friends.
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New horn is the jewel in the crown of Ripon’s royal celebrationsRipon has added another possession to its priceless collection of ceremonial and historically-significant items.
Residents and visitors to this proud royal city now have a permanent reminder of the Queen’s platinum jubilee after a specially-commissioned horn was added to a treasure chest including the horn that Alfred the Great gave to the people of Ripon in 886.
That point was made by former mayor of Ripon and Honorary Freeman of the City, John Richmond BEM, as he presented the horn to the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Cllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke.
Mr Richmond, who is 86 and the longest surviving former mayor, remains the only one in the city’s long and distinguished history to perform the setting of the watch ceremony while in mayoral office.
Last night, he told the packed crowd gathered on Market Square:
“I’m here to officially present the horn, but not to blow it this time!”
Mr Richmond who was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in the 2021 New Year’s Honours, added:
“This is another moment in history for this wonderful city and I hope you all remember this day forever.”
Jubilation – John Richmond who served as mayor of Ripon in 1975-1976 presented the new horn to the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Clllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke.
Cllr Hawke, who was recently installed as mayor for a second term of office, said:
“Ripon has always been a royal city and we have been graced by the Queen’s visits with her late husband Prince Philip.
“I can’t think of a better way of marking her 70-year reign than by having a jubilee horn dedicated to her and the lifelong service she has given to this country.”
In May 2019, to mark the end of her third term of mayoral office, Cllr Pauline McHardy, presented the Quest McHardy horn to the city.
The largest crowd of the extended Bank Holiday, estimated by organisers as being in excess of 3,000, was present to see the city receive the Platinum Jubilee Horn.
It, alongside the platinum jubilee horn, will be in regular use as the team of four hornblowers take it in turns to set the watch – in the world’s longest-standing ceremonial activity, dating back 1,136 years.
History of Ripon’s horns
Alfred the Great’s 886 horn was succeeded by the 1690 horn, costing six shillings and eight pence and to mark 1,000 years since the granting of Ripon’s first charter, Ripon received a ceremonial drinking horn from the famous Chillingham herd, presented to the city by the then Dean of Ripon the Very Revd W.R. Freemantle at the millenary festival held on August 25, 1886.
A further 100 years of Ripon’s history was marked in 1986 when an ox horn with ornate copper fittings was created by a local craftsman and financed and donated to the city by Sigma Antiques.
During the covid lockdowns, which prevented them from appearing on Market Square, the hornblowers kept the custom alive by blowing their horns behind closed doors at their respective homes.
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Fears that 15 cockerels have been shot on moors near RiponStray cockerels cared for by volunteers on moors near Ripon have gone missing amid fears they have been killed and fed to dogs or ferrets.
Animal lover John Richmond, a former mayor of Ripon, and eight volunteers set up a daily rota to tend to up to 30 abandoned birds.
But last week only 15 could be found at ‘Cockerel Corner’ between Kirkby Malzeard and Dallowgill, where they normally gather to be fed.
Following a thorough search of the moorland undergrowth, one of the birds was found dead with a pellet hole in its chest.
Mr Richmond told the Stray Ferret:
“I believe that the birds, who have become very tame and trusting, came out expecting to be fed and half of them were shot by a person or persons with air rifles and the carcasses taken off in a vehicle to be fed to dogs or ferrets. I have reported this to North Yorkshire Police.
“In the meantime the team of volunteers, who come from Harrogate, Ilkley, Knaresborough and Masham are determined to keep feeding the remaining hungry cockerels, though it is proving difficult to get the birds to come out of the undergrowth at feeding time.
“The birds clearly remain traumatised by what they have experienced and we are at a complete loss to understand why anybody would do this to harmless creatures.”
The former mayor, who was awarded the British Empire Medal last year for services to the community, took over feeding the cockerels when his cousin Ken Ellis became too poorly to continue the daily task.
Mr Ellis died in July and since then a growing number of volunteers have been assisting Mr Richmond in looking after the birds.
Mr Richmond, who is 86, added:
“I am still looking for more volunteers who can help out with looking after the cockerels and if they want to know more, they can contact me on 01765 607 096.”
History-making Ripon mayor receives New Year honourA history-making former Mayor of Ripon has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community.
At the age of 39, in May 1975, John Richmond became the youngest person appointed to the city’s mayoral office.
Seven months later he achieved another unique feat, as the only serving mayor to carry out the hornblower ceremony, which dates back to AD 886.
Mr Richmond told the Stray Ferret:
“The hornblower was taking time off over the Christmas period and we urgently needed a stand-in to carry out the task of setting the watch – but who would do it?
“As chair of Ripon City Council, I called for volunteers, but nobody wanted the job, so in a fit of pique, I said, ‘ok then, I’ll have to do it.'”
John Richmond was recognised for his services to the city.
Mr Richmond had no experience of blowing a horn so over three weeks of discreet coaching sessions in the cellar of Ripon Town Hall, the city’s Sergeant at Mace and former hornblower, Cyril Hawley, taught him the technique.
His historic debut performance at 9pm on December 22, 1975, attracted an audience of 200 on Market Square, which applauded spontaneously after he completed four blasts on the city’s large African horn.
John pointed out:
“Part of the hornblower tradition involves announcing to the mayor that the watch has been set – so I was effectively informing myself!”
There were many more notable milestones in a 14-year career of civic service that started in 1967 when John was elected to Ripon City Council.
He subsequently won election to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
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Against all odds, as an independent attending his first full meeting at county hall in 1977, he persuaded councillors of all political colours, in a Conservative-dominated authority, to support a reference back and re-think on proposals to turn 500-year-old Ripon Grammar School into a comprehensive.
Mr Richmond, who was a pupil of the school from 1947 to 1951, said:
“I was told I had no chance, but I decided to give it a go and with fellow independent Jack Blakey seconding me, we forced a re-think.”
Margaret Thatcher gave the UK’s remaining grammar schools a lifeline after she became Prime Minister in 1979 and Ripon Grammar survived, following further public consultation,
Mr Richmond’s other highlights included meeting with the mayors of Ripon, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin, when he was invited to go to the USA in 1976 to join the country’s bicentennial celebrations.
Always by his side was his wife of 55 years, Barbara, who died in 2013.
Mr Richmond said:
“She was my driving force and I wouldn’t have achieved anything without her. Though she is no longer with us, Barbara shares this honour with me.”
