New mayor elected but old wounds remain in RiponDignitaries gather for Ripon’s mayor making ceremony
Local dignitaries, alongside representatives from the Royal Engineers, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Police, gathered at Ripon Town Hall to see Councillor Sid Hawke elected as the city’s mayor for a third term in office.
Ripon City Council’s annual meeting and mayor making ceremony was held last week and this coming Sunday Cllr Hawke will be installed as mayor at a civic service to be held in Ripon Cathedral.
He will be accompanied by his wife Linda, who will be mayoress during his mayoral year.
Local dignitaries pictured during the mayor making Ceremony
Speaking following his election, Cllr Hawke, said:
“I am proud to be elected as the mayor of this wonderful city for a third time and thank my fellow councillors for their continuing confidence in me.
“I would also like to thank the many people who supported me throughout the past year, particularly in helping to raise thousands of pounds for my chosen charities Ripon Dementia Forward and Harrogate and District Mind.”
Born and bred in the city, Cllr Hawke is semi-retired and has previously served in the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.
He was elected to represent the Ure Bank ward on Ripon City Council in 2002 and became mayor for the first time in 2008-2009.
His recently completed second mayoral year proved a busy one, including the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June, the mourning of Her Majesty’s death in September, the subsequent proclamation of King Charles III and coronation celebrations – all of which involved major civic events in Ripon.
On being elected as mayor for the third time, Cllr Hawke matches fellow Independent councillors Eamon Parkin and Pauline McHardy, both of whom served three terms in mayoral office.
At the mayor making event Cllr Parkin was elected to serve as Cllr Hawke’s deputy.
Main picture: The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda (middle row, centre) with Serjeant at Mace, David Coates, councillors and the Dean of Ripon the very Revd. John Dobson, following the mayor making ceremony.
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Mayor of Ripon nominated to serve a third term in officeRipon City Council has announced that the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, has been nominated to serve a third mayoral term.
He was the city’s mayor in 2008/09 and has now been nominated as mayor elect for 2023-24.
Cllr Hawke’s wife, Linda will accompany him during his year in office as mayoress.
Elected to Ripon City Council in 2002, he represents the Ure Bank Ward on both Ripon City Council and on Harrogate Borough Council.
Cllr Hawke said:
“I am delighted to be nominated by Ripon city councillors in the selection for the position of mayor for the second year running.”
Born and bred in the city, Cllr Hawke is semi-retired and has previously served in the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.
The current mayoral year has proved a busy one for the mayor and mayoress, including the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations in June, the mourning of Her Majesty’s death in September and the subsequent proclamation of King Charles III – all of which involved major civic events in Ripon.
The city’s annual mayor making ceremony will take place on May 10 and on May 21. Cllr Hawke will be installed as mayor in a service at Ripon Cathedral.
On becoming mayor for the third time, he will be matching fellow Independent councillors Eamon Parkin and Pauline McHardy, both of whom served three terms in mayoral office.
Cllr Parkin will serve as Cllr Hawke’s deputy.
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New Ripon mayor joins a rollcall rich in historySid Hawke received warm applause from fellow councillors, civic dignitaries and family and friends when he received Ripon’s ornate and historic chain of office this week.
The newly-installed Right Worshipful The Mayor of Ripon, was born and bred in the city.
He previously served as mayor from 2008-2009, meaning his name now appears for the second time on a roll of honour dating back to 1604, when Hugh Ripley became Ripon’s first mayor.
The celebrated rollcall of former first citizens. includes George Frederick Samuel Robinson, the First Marquess of Ripon and Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884 , who was born at 10 Downing Street on October 24, 1827 when his father, Viscount Goderich, was briefly resident there as Prime Minister.
After serving as mayor in 1895-1896 he presented Ripon Town Hall to the municipality in 1897 — just one of his many acts as a major benefactor in the city, that also saw fittings from St Mary’s Church on the Studley Royal estate where he had lived, bequeathed to St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, following his death in July 1909.
In a city steeped in history, the stately Regency period town house that became Ripon Town Hall, has been a fitting setting for the mayor making ceremony since it was first used as the location for council meetings,
Following age-old tradition, Cllr Hawke was ‘dragged’ into the elegant council chamber before accepting his place in the hot seat, with the unanimous approval of his fellow councillors.
Councillor Sid Hawke was ‘dragged’ into the council chamber by fellow councillors Andrew Williams and Peter Horton.
Cllr Andrew Williams who also received unanimous support when he was re-elected as leader ‘strong-armed’ the ‘reluctant recipient’ of Ripon’s highest office into the chamber, with assistance from Cllr Peter Horton.
He quipped:
“I don’t think Sid will be winning any acting awards.
“Cllr Hawke’s heart and soul is in this city and I am delighted to propose him as mayor, sure in the knowledge that he and his wife Linda as mayoress, will represent Ripon with dignity in this year of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.”
Councillors voted unanimously to install Sid Hawke as the Mayor of Ripon.
There were equally warm words for Cllr Eamon Parkin who, from May 2019 to May 2022, made history by becoming the first mayor of Ripon to serve in three consecutive years.
Civic duties in much of his period in office were severely curtailed by covid lockdowns and Cllr Williams said:
“You and your consort Nigel have represented Ripon through a most difficult time and done so in a most gracious way. We thank you for all that you have done for this council and for the city.”
Cllr Parkin, who has accepted the post of deputy mayor, thanked the many volunteers and unsung heroes that supported the community during his term of office and also thanked those who supported his charity appeal, raising £14,000 to be shared between Vision Support Ripon and the city’s Christmas Lights fund.
The chain of office continues in the hands of newly-installed mayor Cllr Hawke, who said:
“The last few years have been hard for everyone because of covid, but I’m not going to look back and instead, Linda and I are looking forward to representing Ripon and seeing our city go from strength to strength.”
Picture: Ripon’s newly-installed Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Hawke and his wife Linda, are pictured with their Chaplain, The Rt. Revd Bishop of Ripon Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, the city’s serjeant at mace Jonathan Owens (left) and city councillors.
Sid Hawke to be Ripon’s next mayorIndependent councillor Sid Hawke is to be Ripon’s next mayor.
Cllr Hawke, who previously served as mayor in 2008/09, will replace fellow Independent Eamon Parkin at the annual mayor making ceremony on May 23.
His term will coincide with celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee on June 2 to 5 as well as Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary.
Ripon-born Cllr Hawke is a semi-retired window cleaner who has also served as a retained firefighter for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.
Elected to Ripon City Council in 2002, Cllr Hawke represents the Ure Bank ward on both Ripon City Council and on Harrogate Borough Council.
He lost to Liberal Democrat Barbara Brodigan in last week’s North Yorkshire Council election for Ripon Ure Bank and Spa division.
Cllr Hawke said:
“I am delighted to be nominated by Ripon city councillors in the selection for the position of mayor and I am looking forward to representing the city in this very important year of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.”
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The mayor will be formally installed in a service at Ripon Cathedral on July 3.
Cllr Hawke’s wife, Linda, will accompany him on mayoral engagements. Cllr Parkin will be deputy mayor.
The Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Harley, Bishop of Ripon will remain as the mayor’s chaplain.
Mayor of Ripon to continue in office until SeptemberThe Mayor of Ripon will continue his duties until September 15, when the city council will hold its civic annual meeting.
Cllr Eamon Parkin was elected to the mayoralty in May 2019 and his period in office has been extended because of the coronavirus crisis.
His deputy, Cllr Charlie Powell, will also remain in post for the next two months.
The city council’s first face to face meeting since March 2020, was preceded by its annual meeting.
Before the unanimous vote confirming his continuance in office, Cllr Parkin was thanked for his service.
Council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“In spite of a very difficult mayoral year, limited by covid, Cllr Parkin has continued to represent Ripon with great dignity.”
The mayor, who chairs council meetings, has been conducting them virtually via Teams, since social distancing requirements came into force.
The city council will hold its civic annual meeting at Ripon Town Hall on 15 September
The coronavirus crisis brought the cancellation of civic events that would have come within the mayoral year.
These include the celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Battle of Britain Day, Remembrance Sunday and the annual St Wilfrid procession.
As a publican operating in Ripon, Cllr Parkin has personally experienced the difficulties that lockdown brought for small businesses in the city.
However, he has remained optimistic about the future and in his New Year message, told the Stray Ferret:
“Against this backdrop of hardship and heartache, Ripon’s independent spirit has shone through
“Though the civic year has been severely curtailed by covid, I have either witnessed or been told of hundreds of acts of kindness across our proud and ancient city.”
A new mayor and deputy mayor will be elected to serve from September.
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