Ripon revellers singing in the rain to celebrate the New Year
When hornblower Allison Clark (pictured below) set the watch on Market Square at 9pm, only a handful of people were present, but by the stroke of midnight Ripon’s New Year’s Eve revellers were singing and dancing in the rain.
Yesterday’s heavy showers that threatened to turn the evening of celebration into a damp squib, relented by 11pm and the crowds poured in to enjoy the free music that heralded in 2023.
Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke, who joined with his wife and Mayoress Linda, Ripon city councillors and other civic dignitaries in a torchlit procession from the cathedral to Market Square, led the countdown to midnight, flanked by the Bishop of Leeds The Rt. Revd Nick Baines and the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson.
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, pictured with The Bishop of Leeds The Rt Revd Nick Baines and The Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson
The Bishop and Dean John, were among the clergy who had taken part in the Watchnight Service at the cathedral that preceded the procession to Market Square, where a blessing was given.
Throughout the evening the tribute acts Exelle, Beyond Faith and Parklife, braved the elements to perform a broad repertoire of songs, ranging from the chart-topping numbers of girl bands to George Michael classics and the Britpop tunes of the 1990s.
The Weather Girls’ 1979 hit It’s Raining Men, was among the songs performed by Exelle (pictured above) while George Michael lookalike and soundalike Beyond Faith (pictured below) also wowed the crowd.
Last night’s concert organised by Ripon City Council, saw the curtain come down on an epic year that saw the city’s ancient square stage historic events including celebrations of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June to the mourning of her death in September and the subsequent proclamation of Charles III as King.
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Special vigil service and setting of the watch in Ripon last nightIn special Evensong and Vigil services last night led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson, the congregation joined in one voice to remember the late monarch and offer sympathy and support for the new king – a Freeeman of the City for 20 years.
From the opening of the doors at Ripon Cathedral to the setting of the watch on Market Square events in the city underlined its deep royal roots.
It began with private prayers at the cathedral from 8am until 9pm and throughout the day people wrote messages in the books of condolence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Books of condolence were signed throughout the day and will remain in place in the north transept of the cathedral for people to leave their messages.
The Bishop of Ripon the Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley gave blessings at the end of the Vigil Service in the cathedral and the setting of the watch ceremony
After the service the senior clergy and mayor of Ripon walked to the market square for the setting of the watch.
A plaque by the front door of the town hall, says that the honour bestowed on King Charles III in October 2002, when he was the Prince of Wales, was ‘In deep appreciation of his unique contribution to the regeneration of Ripon.’
Standing on the same steps that The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stood on in May 2004, when Ripon celebrated the 400th anniversary of its Royal Charter, Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke was joined by the bishop and dean, canons Ailsa Newby, Michael Gisbourne and Richard Cooper and head verger Charlie Brown, as hornblower Allison Clark, announced that the watch had been set. (see main image)
Today there will be hourly prayers at the cathedral from 8am and a special choral Evensong at 5.30pm, to mark the proclamation of the King.
Tomorrow at 10.30am there will be a sung Eucharist service led by the Bishop of Ripon, followed by a choral Evensong at 3.30pm.
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Ripon hornblower holds two minute silence to mark Queen’s deathIn 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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Ripon’s historic St Wilfrid’s Procession returns to huge crowds
Thousands of people lined the streets of Ripon to watch the return of the historic St Wilfrid’s Procession.
It was a party atmosphere as the crowds clapped and cheered as the parade made its way around the city, which is celebrating its 1,350th anniversary.
Led by an actor on horseback playing the role of St Wilfrid, the parade was accompanied by the award-winning Ripon City Band.
An actor on horseback playing the role of St Wilfrid.
It featured a colourful assortment of decorated floats, with designs created by businesses and organisations, including Bishopton Vets, Ripon Farm Services and Winksley cum Grantley Young Farmers Club.
You can watch a video of the procession on the Stray Ferret Facebook page here.
The parade was unable to go ahead in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Bishopton Vets’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory float.
But it was back in force today, with a total of 16 floats taking part.
Antony Prince, chairman of the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee, said:
“It has been a huge success. It’s fantastic that it is able to take place again.
“The community and public have really got behind it. There is no procession without all the people who put it together. They are all volunteers and all the money raised goes back into keeping it going.
“The weather has held off and it is just fabulous to get the community back together again.”
The parade started on Studley Road at 1.30pm and finished at Ripon Cathedral at 4.15pm, where a service was held and awards were given out for the best floats.
Ripon Farm Services’ Top Gun float.
Held on either the last Saturday of July or the first Saturday in August each year, the St Wilfrid’s Parade is a unique event, whose origins date back to 1108 when King Henry I granted a royal charter to the City Of Ripon to hold an annual fair.
St Wilfrid is celebrated as the man, who in AD 672, founded the church in the location where Ripon’s iconic cathedral now stands and the stonework in the crypt, dating back to that year, is the oldest remaining building remnant to be found in any English cathedral.
Ripon City Council event
While the revelry was on-going around Ripon’s streets, the city council held a Celebrating Yorkshire Day event, which included free fairground rides, a climbing wall, face painting and Punch and Judy shows.
At 6pm, local singer songwriter Freddie Cleary, kicked off an evening of free musical entertainment and he will be followed on stage by tribute acts, either side of the 9pm setting of the watch ceremony performed by one of the Ripon hornblowers.
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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Ripon is ready to rock this weekendRipon will be rocking on Saturday when four musical acts perform in the city’s ancient square.
The Yorkshire Day Weekend will also feature free fairground rides for children, fireworks and a Little Bird Artisan Market.
The weekend has been arranged by Ripon City Council, which is funding the events from the parish precept paid by council tax payers.
It will be the city’s first mass public gathering since the relaxation of covid restrictions on July 19.
In line with the council’s family-friendly policy, two free fairground rides for young children will operate from 2pm until 8pm on Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sunday.
For older children, a climbing wall will be in place for use free of charge.
Ripon’s first Little Bird Artisan Market this year was held on Market Square in May.
Music takes centre stage from 5.45pm on Saturday, when local singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary performs.
He will be followed by Elton John, Amy Winehouse and Queen tribute acts, whose respective performances will begin at 7pm, 7.45pm and 9.45pm.
A more traditional performer will be on Market Square at 9pm, when a hornblower’s blasts at the four corners of the obelisk will signal the setting of the night watch.
Ripon’s day of fairground fun and entertainment will be brought to a sparkling crescendo with a Saturday night fireworks display.
Cupcakes by Ripon-based When the Cake Door Opens will be among the items for sale at Sunday’s market.
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Between 10am and 3pm on Sunday’s Yorkshire Day, the Little Bird Artisan Market will showcase more than 50 businesses, selling goods handmade or produced in the Yorkshire area.
Last month the market attracted many local people and visitors to the city centre, who browsed stalls selling an array of crafts, homeware, skin products, candles, clothing, photography, wood crafts and other goods.
Returning Ripon hornblowers welcome fourth team memberRipon’s famous hornblower ceremony has taken on a new international angle.
When the 9pm ritual returned to Market Square for the first time in 16 months on Monday, Patricio Maglio was unveiled as a new member of the team.
Mr Maglio, who was born and bred in Argentina, told the Stray Ferret:
“When I saw there was a vacancy, I just had to apply.
“It’s an absolute honour to be part of this rich Ripon tradition, which is part of the history of this fantastic city.”
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, with the city’s hornblowers – from the left: Alison Clark, Richard Midgley, Wayne Cobbett and Patricio Maglio
Mr Maglio, who moved to the UK 13 years ago, works in the corporate team at Asda’s Leeds headquarters.
He and Ripon-born partner Rebecca live within earshot of the nightly blasts of horns that will now signal the nightly setting of the watch on the city’s ancient Market Square.
Covid social distancing requirements and lockdowns meant that the hornblowers had to perform behind closed doors for more than a year.
But, working on a rota basis, they did not miss a single night and maintained a tradition dating back to 886 AD.
The four hornblowers brought the 9pm ritual back to Market Square on Monday
After the newly-enlarged team played their part in the ceremony, they shared details of the history of hornblowing and their respective instruments, with a crowd of appreciative onlookers.
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This included the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, who said:
“We’ve now got a fab four and it’s great to have the hornblowers back and able to perform in public.
“As well as being a part of Ripon’s heritage, they play an important role in attracting visitors to the city.
“For citizens and visitors alike, the setting of the watch each night, should make us all feel a little safer.”
When will the Ripon hornblower return?Ripon’s nightly hornblower ceremony has been performed behind closed doors since March last year.
So the return of the city’s three hornblowers, who share the task, is keenly anticipated. But it seems the trio won’t be seen again on Market Square for almost two months at the earliest.
Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“It is not possible to make concrete plans until we have certainty over the total lifting of limits on social distancing.”
Stage four of the government roadmap out of lockdown says the removal of all limitations on social contact will take place no earlier than 21 June.
The obelisk and Market Square, where the nightly hornblower ceremony has taken place for centuries.
Cllr Williams said:
“The council has received numerous enquiries about when the hornblowers will be seen again at the obelisk.
“Naturally, we hope that there are no mishaps along the way to the lifting of restrictions.
“We are as keen as our residents, businesses and visitors to the city, to see and hear them on Market Square.
“We will keep people informed.”
The 9pm ceremony has been performed continuously, without fail, since Ripon was granted its first charter in 886 by the Saxon king Alfred the Great.
During lockdown, the hornblowers have ‘set the watch’ by blowing the horn at their own homes.
People have been able to watch this on Facebook.
Hornblowers Wayne Cobbett, Alison Clark and Richard Midgley are employed by the city council.
They perform the ritual on a rota basis.
In pre-covid times, this involves them making blasts of the horn at the four corners of the obelisk and a brief talk on the history of Ripon.
The event can attract large gatherings, particularly in summer months.
Each hornblower has their own instrument from a collection of five, which still includes the ancient horn said to have been given to the city by King Alfred.
It’s a prized and priceless item, only on display at civic occasions.
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Last March, before the ceremony had to go behind closed doors, Mr Midgley said:
“Over the centuries, Ripon has had to fight off many threats from war to plague.
“The sounding of the horn and setting of the watch reminds us that we can and will overcome adversity – as we have done for centuries.”