Ripon man’s poem to commemorate The Queen and Prince Philip

A Ripon man has composed a poem for the late Queen and her husband Prince Philip.

Amateur poet Peter Moonscion told the Stray Ferret that he was interested in the relationship The Queen had with her husband, Prince Philip:

“I was inspired by the longevity of their relationship and their devotion to each other and when Philip passed away I started thinking about it.

“The poem is trying to look past her title and look at the person – it is not about Queen or Empire.

“I was considering using the title ‘Dutys End’ — in the sense that, now in heaven, she can focus on being herself and on her husband and not being our Queen.

“It was an inspiration that even into their old age couples can still love each other deeply and one has to pass away before the other”.

Mr Moonscion (pictured left) says he generally writes a poem quickly when the thought and mood comes to him and it can take only an hour or so to write.

He has already posted it on social media groups where it was well received:

                           

To sleep

I lay me down at your side.

And comforting, my brow you stroke.

And smiling warmly with such pride.

Heaven’s sense, your eyes evoke.

 

Your lulling scent now brings me peace,

like incense whispers Paradise.

It takes me back onto the Heath.

Where met we in another life.

 

Then as your lids begin to give,

you mouth three words I last you gave.

A tender phrase for which we live

and quiet times like this we save.

 

And while you sleep, I watch you still.

In awe of beauty’s faithfulness.

Though sweeter now as I fulfil

My promise, to the end caress.

 

Your warmth one last time bids me sleep.

A shorter rest than yours my dear.

And so, I pray time may soon reap

the one you leave behind in tears.

 

Now gently, as our eyes are closed

I find your hand and softly tether

two halves of a dream proposed

so long ago amidst the heather.

 

And as we sleep here side by side,

two vessels full dusk leaves behind.

Then floating with life’s ebbing tide,

one vessel empty dawn will find.

 

Goodbye my dear, I love you so

and pray that we’ll soon meet.

Farewell my love I hope you know,

you made my life complete.

Peter Moonscion

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‘I was so very lucky to have met her’: Former director of Great Yorkshire Show pays tribute to the Queen

The former director of the Great Yorkshire Show, Bill Cowling, has paid tribute to the Queen who he chaperoned during her last visit in 2008.

Mr Cowling, who is also a retired Deputy Lieutenant of North YorkshireDeputy , said her death was a “tremendous shock” and it felt like losing a family member.

He described the Queen’s visit to the showground in Harrogate as one of the highlights of his career.

He recalled talking to her in the back of a Range Rover and enjoying lunch with her at the president’s pavilion.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was so very lucky to have met her. To think I sat and talked to her over an extended period of time was a huge honour. It’s something I shall remember forever.

“Her ability to put me at my ease – and everybody else she met – was an amazing thing. She was such a consummate professional at what she was doing.”

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Mr Cowling said not only was the Queen a lover of animals, but she also had a great appreciation of agriculture and rural life.

He said:

“She knew what she was looking at in the way of horses, but also cattle and sheep. She had a huge interest in all the exhibitors and their livelihoods.”

The Queen unveiling a plaque to commemorate the start of work on the Regional Agricultural Centre in 2008.

Mr Cowling said, like the rest of the nation, he will now start coming to terms with the change.

He said:

“There’s no doubt a change has happened. But I’m confident King Charles III will make a splendid King. Again at the show, I was privileged to have met him a few times and his interest and empathy with rural life is the same.”

Flags raised back up to full mast across the district as Charles III proclaimed new sovereign

Flags across the Harrogate district have been raised back up to full mast, on the occasion of the proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III.

They will return to half mast tomorrow in observance of the period of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Residents are continuing to pay tribute to the Queen following her death on Thursday afternoon.

Flowers have been have been laid by mourners by the War Memorial in Harrogate, with some featuring heartfelt messages.

One family wrote:

“Flowers for HRH Queen Elizabeth in thanks for the love, protection and stability you gave our nation. Rest in peace.”

Churches remain open today for tributes, reflection and mourning.

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Special services in commemoration of the Queen are also taking place across the district, including at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate town centre and Ripon Cathedral.

The Rev Judith Clark, assistant curate on placement at St Peter’s, said:

“The church will remain open between 9.30am and 6.30pm during the official mourning period. People can come and write in the condolence book and light a candle and have a period of quiet prayer if they wish.”

Yesterday around 100 people signed the book of condolence at the church, which will hold a special prayer service today at 12pm.

Ripon Cathedral will hold a special Choral Evensong at 5.30pm with prayers.

Later today church bells will ring out once more to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign. This time it will be a celebratory peal and the bells will be unmuffled.

‘Fondly’ remembering the Queen’s visits to the Harrogate district

The links between the Queen and the Harrogate district stretch back decades, including a visit in 1952 before her coronation.

They include appearances at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate to her trips to Ripon, including her 2004 visit for another important anniversary – 400 years since the granting of the city’s Royal Charter.

Reflecting on her visit on December 10, 1998, a spokesperson for Harrogate Theatre said:

“Harrogate Theatre fondly remembers her visit and the warmth she extended to our staff and members of the public. Our sincere condolences go out to the Royal Family.”

The Queen visits Harrogate Theatre in 1998. Photo: Harrogate Theatre.

The Queen touched the lives of all those who met her, including residents in the district. Many recalled those occasions just recently, when communities celebrated her platinum jubilee.

Janine Jennings, from Hampsthwaite, said:

“It was her Silver Jubilee 1977 and I was pulled out of the crowd to meet her and as I presented her the flowers, she asked if I had grown them myself. I said yes, but actually, my mum, Mrs Johnson and I borrowed them from the empty police house next to us. So I lied to the queen!

“This picture (below) appeared in the paper, my mum kept it framed in her bedroom. It was really very special to meet the Queen and I remember it clearly to this day and always will.”

Claire H Beresford-Robinson said:

“I was lucky to meet the Queen when she visited the Great Yorkshire Showground and our tent ‘Growing up in North Yorkshire’.

“I attended Woodlands School at the time. It was our moment to shine. The Queen looked at the work I was doing and said “splendid work”. I will never forget this moment.

“Our school was chosen to attend the same day the Queen was coming. I’ll never forget the fabulous feeling at age 11 to be told I was selected to meet the Queen.”

Claire H. Beresford-Robinson also sent the above photograph of the Queen looking at the work of Woodlands School pupils.

She said:

“This is me and my friends at Woodlands School with headteacher Mr Dunmore in the background.”

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Karen Wenham said:

“I remember when I was in my last year at Starbeck CP School and the Queen came to visit in 1977. We all went up to the Great Yorkshire Showground and I took a posy of flowers for her. It always sticks in my mind.

“A couple of years ago I was invited to go to the palace, as I am an ambassador for a charity, and Sophie Wessex was lovely and we chatted.

“We were told the Queen was in residence that night and not to be surprised if she came down with her corgis, as she likes to surprise people.”

Rick Vai sent the photo below of the Queen visiting Knaresborough, which sparked memories from other residents.

Karen Allan said:

“They passed along King James Road, fronting King James School. We were all lined up for her.”

Sarah Brown added:

“I remember this. I was one of those school children lined up outside King James School in Knaresborough.”

Harrogate district schools support pupils following death of the Queen

Schools across the Harrogate district are supporting pupils following the death of the Queen.

Many have spent the day commemorating the life of her Majesty and have paid tribute to the “constant in all our lives”.

At Ripon Grammar School there was a sad, sombre atmosphere in school as students reflected.

Silences were held in assembly and tutor groups, while classes engaged in discussions about the significance of the Queen’s death.

Addressing students this morning, headmaster Jonathan Webb said:

“As a school we will reflect on how we can commemorate the life and work of Elizabeth II as we enter now a period of 10 days official national mourning.”

In a letter to parents David Thornton, headteacher at St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate, said:

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the Royal Family and everyone in our community as we process this news.

“As a school we have an important role to play in reassuring and supporting our students at times of sadness, particularly when caused by significant national and global events.

“Staff at St Aidan’s will be available to support the school community over the coming days. Our students will be offered the opportunity to reflect on the life and significance of Her Majesty the Queen in assembly and during tutor periods.”

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Amy Ross, headteacher at Hampsthwaite Primary School, said the main priority would be to continue to support children and the wider community through this “upsetting and difficult time”.

She said:

“We will be spending time reflecting on and paying tribute to Her Majesty the Queen, both in class and as a whole school.”

A statement on Harrogate’s Ashville College website said:

“Everyone in Ashville’s community will share the sadness at the news of the death of the Queen. Her Majesty has been a constant in all our lives and very few of us will have known any other monarch. Our thoughts and prayers are with our new King, Charles III, and all the Royal Family.”

Also paying tribute, Harrogate High School, wrote:
“Our school community is saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we join with people across the UK and around the world in offering our condolences to the Royal Family.”
Ripon hornblower holds two minute silence to mark Queen’s death

In the heart of the city of Ripon tonight, Her Majesty The Queen’s passing was marked with a respectful and dignified silence after the 9pm setting of the watch.

The ceremony, with its royal roots dating back to 886 AD and Alfred The Great, was performed by the obelisk on Market Square in the shadow of Ripon Town Hall, with its Union Jack Flag at half mast.

In June, this same space was the centre of the city’s celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with large numbers in attendance.

A small group bowed their heads after the fourth blast of the horn by hornblower Patricio Maglio, as they joined him in the two-minute silence.

The silence marks the start of what will be many tributes the city and its residents will pay the Queen in the days of mourning to come.

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