Ripon’s week of events to remember and honour the dead of two world wars and other conflicts, began today at the Royal British Legion Garden of Remembrance next to the cathedral.
Canon Ailsa Newby led prayers at a ceremony of blessing for the garden, which was created by the Ripon branch of the RBL in 2018.
The event, attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, saw representatives of all armed forces gather, along with standard bearers (pictured below) veterans and members the Ripon branch of the Royal Engineers Association.
Canon Ailsa said:
“In this coming week tokens of remembrance will be placed in memory of those who fell in the cause of freedom for our country.
“In the name of the Royal British Legion we pledge ourselves to help, encourage and comfort others and to support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of nations.”
The ceremony included a two-minute silence and afterwards small wooden poppy crosses, were placed near the RBL plinth in the garden by a number of attendees.
A serving officer with the Royal Engineers puts a poppy cross in place
Remembrance Sunday
Attention now turns to Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday service, which will be held on November 13 at the war memorial in Spa Gardens.
There will be a two-minute silence before wreaths are laid in honour of the fallen, by civic dignitaries, members of the armed forces, the RBL and representatives of other organisations.
Those planning to attend are asked to arrive by 10.30am.
On completion of the service at the war memorial, the civic party will proceed to the town hall where there will be a march past and salute.
The march past, including members of the Royal Engineers, standard bearers, veterans, Ripon City Band, cadets, scouts and guides and representatives of other organisations, will head down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a service will be held.
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Benches are restored in Ripon’s Garden of Remembrance
The Ripon Royal Engineers Association and the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion have joined forces to restore benches in the city’s Garden of Remembrance.
The restoration was carried out by former serving Sapper Keith Riley and the re-painted wooden benches with their brass plaques gleaming again, are back in place ahead of the service of blessing at the garden on November 5.
Mr Riley, who learnt carpentry along with many other skills during a 37-year career in the Royal engineers, told the Stray Ferret:
“It was an honour to be asked to carry out this work and I was pleased that I was able to do my bit.”
The newly restored benches
Kenn Hart, former serving Sapper and Ripon REA chair, said:
“I noticed that the three benches in the memorial garden were in a terrible condition, so I contacted Keith, who I know has expertise in restoration work of this nature.
“He was supported by two more former serving Sappers Alec Lutton, representing the Ripon RBL and Hamish Hamilton of the REA.”
How the benches looked before they were restored
All bills for the work were paid by the REA, on behalf of the community of Ripon.
Mr Lutton, who cleaned the memorial plaques on each of the benches added:
“We are grateful to H.A.Green & Sons, who have cleaned the plinth in the garden.
“It is important to keep the benches usable, for the many visitors who walk in the garden and may wish to sit and reflect on the past and the sacrifices made by our wonderful forces.”
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Firefighters put up poppies as Ripon prepares for services of Remembrance
Key locations in Ripon are being decked with thousands of knitted poppies ready for this year’s remembrance events.
Over the weekend, members of Ripon Community Poppy Project were given a helping hand from city firefighters as displays were put in place at the town hall.
Hazel Barker, who founded the project in 2018 with former mayor Cllr Stuart Martin, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have knitted thousands of new poppies to replace some of the ones that have been used in previous years.”
She added:
“We are grateful, as ever, to the fire brigade for the tremendous help they have given us in putting up the town hall display.”
To support the work of the Community Poppy Project, a Concert of Remembrance featuring Ripon City Band, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir and the Duchy Belles, will be held at Ripon Cathedral on November 10, starting at 7.15pm.
Tickets are £12 and available from Stuff 4 Offices on Fishergate and the Wakeman’s House Cafe on Market place.
Hazel Barker and Councillor Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, are pictured with the crew Ripon’s Red Watch, from the left: Firefighters Turner, Harvey and Foster and crew managers Fagg and Thwaites.
Meanwhile, the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) has confirmed details of services to be held on November 5 and 13.
On Saturday November 5, the Garden of Remembrance created by the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion in 2018, following donations from the public, authorities and the business community, will be blessed by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson.
The blessing ceremony, followed by a two-minute silence at 11am, will be attended by the Mayor of Ripon Cllr Sid Hawke, serving officers, members of the RBL and standard bearers.
Guests and other attendees will have the opportunity to place a poppy cross in remembrance of the fallen who died, not only in the first world war, but all war and conflicts since.
Remembrance Sunday Service
Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday service will be held on November 13 at the war memorial in Spa Gardens, where there will be a two-minute silence before wreaths are laid in honour of the fallen, by civic dignitaries, members of the armed forces, the RBL and representatives of other organisations. Those planning to attend are asked to arrive by 10.30am.
On completion of the service at the war memorial, the civic party will proceed to the town hall where there will be a march past and salute.
The march past, including members of the Royal Engineers, standard bearers, veterans, Ripon City Band, cadets, scouts and guides and representatives of other organisations, will head down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a service will be held.
Jeet Bahadur Sahi, chair of the RBL Ripon Branch, said:
“We remember those who lost their lives on active service in all conflicts, from the beginning of the First World War right up to the present day. We also remember all those who have served and their families.
“Remembrance events encourage communities to come together to honour those who served and remember their sacrifices.
“We unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.”
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