Lt Col. Perry Bishop, the commanding officer of the Ripon-based 21 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, admitted to having an emotional moment when he saw knitted soldiers adorning the bollards in Ripon city centre.

He told a large crowd of civic dignitaries, volunteers, schoolchildren and members of the public, who gattered this morning  on the lawns of Ripon Inn for the launch of the city’s D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration and celebration events:

“In my 20 years of army service, I’ve never known a town or city whose people have such a close affinity with the corps of soldiers who are based here.”

Lt. Col Bishop, who is coming to the end of his two-and-a-half year posting in Ripon in the next month, added:

“I must admit, that when I saw the knitted figures of sappers on the bollards around the Market Square, I had tears of pride in my eyes and I could not have a better send off than being here today to unveil this incredible tank made of wool and wood.

“It’s a manifestation of the respect that the people of Ripon have for the Royal Engineers and in return the respect that we have for the citizens of this wonderful city.”

The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, along with the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, were among those present for this morning’s launch

Today’s unveiling of the replica Churchill bunker buster tank signalled the start of D-Day anniversary events in the city

The badge of the Royal Engineers has been faithfully reproduced in wool by the knitters of Ripon Community Project

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For a community proudly wrapped in rich military history, where the Royal Engineers have enjoyed Freedom of the City for 75 years, the countdown to the 80th anniversary, which marks the D-Day landings on five Normandy beaches, have a very special meaning.

On June 6 1944, one in four servicemen involved in Operation Overlord — the code name for the huge military operation that paved the way to the liberation of western Europe — were Royal Engineers, many of whom were trained in Ripon in readiness for their key role in clearing the way for troops who followed on behind them,

Among the weapons at their disposal was the Churchill Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) tank which was used with terrifying effect to blast enemy bunkers with huge and uncompromising shells

The life-size replica, which is 24 feet long, nine feet wide and seven feet high,  has been created through a collaboration between Ripon Community Poppy Project and the city’s Men’s Shed who worked together in a hangar provided by the Engineers at Claro Barracks.

The tank, is a striking and symbolic centrepiece that will be seen at selected locations around the city between now and June 6, when an anniversary concert will be held at Ripon Cathedral, before Jack Churchill the great-grandson of war-time leader Sir Winston Churchill lights a beacon on the cathedral’s piazza,

Five of the people involved in creating the replica tank are pictured here, from the left: Carol Dunkley, Hazel Barker, Stuart Martin (Ripon Community Poppy Project) and Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon Men’s Shed,

Hazel Barker, who was joint-founder of the poppy project with former mayor of Ripon Stuart Martin, told the Stray Ferret,

“We hope that the tank and D–Day anniversary decorations, which have taken tens of thousands of stitches from our tireless team of non-stop knitters, will remind local residents and visitors of the crucial part that the Royal Engineers played in securing allied victory in World War Two.”

Pictured above are some of the knitted servicemen that brought tears to the eyes of Lt Col Bishop, while a silhouette of a lone soldier can be seen below with other displays in Spa Gardens.

The D-Day heroes are remembered in this display (below) on railings in Ripon city centre

Main image: Lt Col Perry Bishop (pictured left) with Hazel Barker and Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project

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The countdown to Ripon’s D-Day commemoration and celebration events has begun and the unique life-size knitted tank created through a massive volunteer effort is ready to take up its central role.

Created through the collaborative input of Ripon Community Poppy Project and Ripon Men’s Shed, with back-up support from businesses and individuals across the community, the replica tank made of wood and wool, will be on the lawn at Ripon Inn on Tuesday (April 30) for the launch event.

Measuring 24 foot long, nine foot wide and seven foot high, it has been built in a hangar at Claro Barracks provided by 21 Engineer Regiment.

The replica tank will first go on display at The Ripon Inn and then move to other locations in the city

It is modelled on the Churchill AVRE bunker busting tank that was employed by Royal Engineers to clear the way for troops after they landed on the five Normandy beaches on June 6 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, which led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Western Europe.

Stuart Martin of Ripon Community Poppy Project, told the Stray Ferret:

“The Royal Engineers who were awarded Freedom of the City of Ripon in 1949, in gratitude for the crucial role they played in the allied victory, can count the D-Day landings and what happened afterwards among their finest hours.

“This has been recognised across the Ripon community with volunteers collectively clocking up 100,000 hours of work since last year to ensure that we do them proud.”

The launch event starts at 11am on Tuesday and is open to members of the public. It will be attended by civic dignitaries, schoolchildren, volunteers and representatives of organisations and businesses that are playing a part in the D-Day 80th anniversary,

At the launch, there will be a display featuring the work of the trustees of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust, who are fighting to save priceless heritage buildings, bridges and other structures at the barracks site that are in danger of being bulldozed to make way for the 1,300-home Clotherholme development.

Events culminate on June 6, with the lighting of a beacon at 9.15pm on the piazza of Ripon Cathedral, by Jack Churchill, great-grandson of the legendary wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill.

D-Day 80th anniversary concert

Before the beacon is lit a concert will be held in the cathedral at 7pm. It will feature Ripon City Band, The Duchy Bells, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir and Charlotte Potter.

Proceeds will be shared between Ripon Community Poppy Project and Help the Heroes, the armed forces and veterans charity.

Tickets costing £15 are now on sale online from Eventbrite and from Ripon’s Stuff 4 Offices in  Fishergate and the Wakeman’s Cafe on Market Place South.

Stuart Martin (centre) is pictured with his Ripon Community Poppy Project colleague Hazel Barker and Richard Thomson of Ripon Men’s Shed

The stunning centrepiece model Churchill AVRE tank, has been created, along with other display items by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project.

Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon’s Men’s Shed, built the wooden frame of the mighty model war machine from timber valued at £2,500 that was donated by the Ripon branch of MKM Building Supplies.

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With the clock ticking down to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, an army of Ripon volunteers has spent thousands of hours engaged in a military-style operation as the city prepares for the landmark celebration and commemoration.

On June 6 and in the weeks running up to it, the fruits of their collective labours over an estimated 100,000 hours, will be seen in one of the largest events to be held anywhere in the UK.

The stunning centrepiece, is a life-size model Churchill AVRE tank, recreated with hundreds of thousands of stitches from the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project, working in collaboration with Richard Thomson and Gordon Woods of Ripon’s Men’s Shed, who have built the wooden frame of the mighty model war machine.

It is 24 feet long, nine feet wide and seven feet high and timber valued at £2,500 was donated for its construction by MKM Building Supplies.

Stuart Martin (centre) and Hazel Barker of Ripon Community Poppy Project are pictured with Richard Thomson of Ripon Men’s Shed on board the replica tank before the turret was fitted.

Known for its bunker busting capabilities, the tank has been painstakingly recreated in wool and wood in a hangar at Claro Barracks, where space was made available by the 21 Engineer Regiment.

Richard, a former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer who spent part of his army career based at the barracks, said:

“This type of tank struck terror in the hearts of the enemy when it came into sight, because of the size of shell that it fired and the destruction that it brought to those unfortunate enough to get in its way.”

With transportation being provided free of charge by Ripon Farm Services, the giant replica will be moved to a number of locations in the city, starting with the Ripon Inn on April 30 and culminating on June 6, with placement on the piazza at Ripon Cathedral, where Jack Churchill, the great-grandson of wartime leader Sir Winston, will light an 80th anniversary D-Day beacon at 9.15 pm.

D-Day 80th anniversary concert

Before the beacon is lit a concert will be held in the cathedral at 7pm. It will feature Ripon City Band, The Duchy Bells, The Dishforth Military Wives Choir and Charlotte Potter.

Proceeds will be shared between Ripon Community Poppy Project and Help the Heroes, the armed forces and veterans charity.

Tickets costing £15 are now on sale online from Eventbrite and from Ripon’s Stuff 4 Offices in  Fishergate and the Wakeman’s Cafe on Market Place South.

Alwyn Hartley of Ripon Community Poppy Project working on the huge D-Day 80th anniversary display

Ripon and the Royal Engineers

The anniversary of the D Day landings in Normandy that led to the liberation of Europe and, ultimately, the end of World War II, has special significance in Ripon thanks to a long and treasured association with the Royal Engineers, who have had Freedom of the City since 1949.

The Royal Engineers’ annual freedom march through Ripon has taken place since 1949.

The Royal Engineers provided the technical skill and engineering expertise that paved the way to allied victory.

The advance of troops from the beaches of northern France and across Europe was made possible by their construction, among other structures, of Bailey Bridges, using techniques perfected on the training grounds of Ripon barracks.

A Sherman Firefly tank on a Bailey Bridge constructed across the Santerno River river in Italy in April 1945. Picture Wikipedia

The Royal Engineers’ world-leading bomb disposal team in Ripon, which taught the Americans how to deal with unexploded ordnance in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941, also proved a fundamental factor in maintaining the military momentum.

Stuart Martin, co-founder with Hazel Barker of the Ripon Community Poppy Project, said:

“The city’s long and deep association with the Royal Engineers makes this year’s commemoration and celebration of D Day extra special.

“By coincidence, this year also sees the 75th anniversary of the Engineers being granted Freedom of the city and the 75th anniversary of 21 Engineer Regiment.”

A military-style operation

The former mayor added:

“In a military-style, meticulously-planned operation that started last year, the Community Poppy Project has asked for and received help from individuals, businesses and organisations across the city and all have given their time, materials, labour and logistical advice free of charge.

“They include Jennyruth Workshops, whose workers have cut materials to size for various displays, Calverts Carpets, which has provided imitation grass for display areas and Tates garden centre which is helping with logistics.

He added:

“It has been a magnificent community-wide project collectively involving almost 100,000 hours of volunteer input and has been made possible because of the generosity of the city’s organisations and businesses.”

Main image: The replica Churchill AVRE tank. Picture Ripon Community Poppy Project.

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Blessed with bright spring sunshine, today’s annual Palm Sunday procession from Ripon Market Square to the city’s magnificent cathedral, heralded the start of Holy Week.

With Easter Sunday just a week away, people of all denominations congregated on the square for an ecumenical open air service led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson (pictured below).

Christ’s triumphant journey to Jerusalem was re-enacted as clergy and choristers carried large palms and followed Lily the donkey attended by 12-year-old Phoebe and her 13-year-old cousin Liza.

The procession went from the city centre and down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a Sung Eucharist service was held.

Donkey Lily was led by cousins Phoebe (left) and Liza

The walk, with choristers singing and led by the Cathedral’s director of music, Dr Ronny Krippner, took the procession along Market Place East before the turn into Kirkgate and into the ancient church for the 10.30 service.

Phoebe and Liza, pictured before they led the procession with Lily the donkey

Along the route, they passed an array of Easter-themed decorations created by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project. Two of their eye-catching designs can be seen below.

Crowning glory. The post box on Market Place East wearing its own Easter bonnet

Knitted Easter eggs adorn the trees around Market Square

Main image: Choristers on Kirkgate in Ripon’s annual Palm Sunday procession

Remembrance Sunday is three weeks away and Ripon is wrapped in a ribbon of red, with poppy displays at key locations and routes into the city.

Ripon Community Poppy Project, founded by Hazel Barker and former mayor of the city Stuart Martin, created its first display in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice signed in November 1918.

Every year since then thousands more poppies have been produced by a team of tireless knitters, whose painstaking work adds to the displays that respectfully honour the dead of two world wars and other conflicts.

In addition to Ripon Town Hall, the knitted poppies adorn the bandstand (pictured above) and gates (below) at Spa Gardens, where a Remembrance Sunday Service will be held at 11am on November 12.

The display at the junction of Kirkgate and Duck Hill.

The poppy displays can also be seen on planters outside the cathedral, railings in the city, at roundabouts and all access routes.

On November 9 the Community Poppy Project is holding a Concert of Remembrance at Ripon Cathedral.  Starting at 7pm, it will feature Ripon City Band, the Dishforth Military Wives Choir and a performance from Brackenfield School, Harrogate.

Tickets costing £13.50 are available from Stuff 4 Offices on Fishergate and the Wakeman’s House Cafe at Market Place South. Proceeds from the event will help to support the project’s continuing work.