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With fuel bills soaring, a guide to more than 40 activities that people can join in to keep warm this winter has been produced by the Ripon Cathedral Community Connections group (C3).
The guide titled Find a Warm Welcome in Ripon, features the activities and facilities that churches, including the cathedral, charities, community groups, the library and other organisations across the city are providing, as people of all ages face a cost-of-living crisis caused by rising gas, electricity and heating oil prices.
Anne-Marie Tarter, of C3, told the Stray Ferret:
“The response from the community to production of the guide has been magnificent – for example, the Ripon churches told me what they were already doing and then added in whole new sessions specifically designed for people wanting a warm place to go this winter.”
Holy Trinity Church is providing a wide range of activities to help people keep warm
She added:
“Before long I had an amazing list of ideas for people looking for a warm place in Ripon and these have been included in a 4-page booklet.”
The activities cover people of all ages from families with babies and toddlers to the elderly and include free play sessions, free breakfasts and lunches, opportunities to become involved with sewing, knitting and other craft groups and indoor bowling.
Full details can be found by clicking here.
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Royal icing on Ripon Library’s birthday cake
Ripon Library, which received a royal seal of approval, when the then Prince of Wales formally opened it two decades ago, is holding a double celebration today.
The Prince, who was proclaimed as King Charles III last month, was made a Freeman of the City in October 2002, in appreciation of his ‘unique contribution to the regeneration of Ripon.’
Part of that regeneration included the opening of a new library and the anniversary of his visit is being celebrated, alongside the fifth birthday of the Ripon Library Action Group (RLAG), whose volunteers work in partnership with permanent staff, to support the provision of services to the community.
The plaque at Ripon Town Hall which commemorates the then Prince of Wales being made a Freeman of the City
To celebrate both the library’s 20th anniversary and the partnership with RLAG, there will be a birthday party for invited guests this afternoon.
Sarah Jacques, chair of trustees of RLAG, said:
“I am really proud of the impact that the Library has in the city and surrounding villages. We are statistically one of the most used and most successful libraries in the county. That is down to the commitment of both the staff and volunteers working closely together.”
The library is central to much that happens in the city, including working closely with the theatre festival, poetry festival, Ripon Museum Trust, the YMCA and others on youth development.
It is also central to children’s education, going out to schools and running the summer reading challenge every year.
Ms Jacques added
“The library and our volunteers were honoured in the recent St Wilfrid’s stars scheme run by Ripon Together. It was wonderful to see that the city appreciates what we do for everyone.”
Ripon’s community heroes receive St Wilfrid’s stars
Organisations, individuals and a business that have made a positive contribution to life in the city, gathered at Ripon Cathedral for the St Wilfrid’s Stars Awards.
The event was organised by Ripon Together as part of the cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary celebrations and more than 150 people were present to discover who had won the trophies designed and produced by Jennyruth Workshops.
At Friday’s presentation evening, the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson, pointed out that the star was the symbol of St Wilfrid, who founded the cathedral in 672 AD.
He said:
“All of those who were nominated are stars for what they do to contribute to the life of Ripon and we thank and applaud them.”
One of the St Wilfrid’s Stars Awards produced by Jennyruth Workshop
Hundreds of knitted stars made by the Ripon Community Poppy Project were hung high in the nave for the presentation evening and there was special mention from Dean John for Alwyn Hartley, who produced more than 200 of them.
The dedicated team of knitters who have decorated the city with extensive displays for the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Remembrance Sunday and the Winter Wonderland at Spa Gardens, were winners of the award for tourism.
Lou Jones, who owns Oliver’s Pantry cafe on North Street with her husband Tim, received the business award and was recognised for ‘boosting the community’s wellbeing and signposting them to all that Ripon has to offer.’
St Wilfrid’s Stars youth award winner Rosie Sturt, is pictured with the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, presented the youth award to Rosie Sturt, for her work in leading a team of young volunteers who have delivered a Lego Club at Ripon Library.
The aim of the club is to help young children to increase their social skills and confidence in the wake of the covid lockdowns.
A St Wilfrid’s Star also went to Sarah Jaques – a Ripon Library volunteer and co-ordinator – who won the community award for her tireless work.
Her citation read:
“Without volunteers, there would be no library and there would be a great gap in the life of the city.”
For the overall volunteer of the year award the panel of judges selected Gloria Sturdy, who has devoted her life to supporting many causes in the city.
This includes the provision of lunches each Thursday at Holy Trinity Church for people in need, to sewing PPE kits for frontline workers during the pandemic.
The culture award was presented to the Ripon Theatre Festival organising committee, in recognition of staging a highly successful inaugural performing arts event from a standing start.
Caroline Bentham, who has supported groups in Ripon through her community scrap fund, which raises money from the sale of recycled metal, received the environment award.
As well as being a supporter of many good causes, she is an active Girl Guide Leader and an assistant county commissioner.
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It’s Libraries Week – here’s what’s happening in the Harrogate district
A host of activities are set to take place in Harrogate district libraries to encourage lifelong learning.
Libraries Week will take place from October 3 until October 9 to highlight a wide range of services, resources and activities taking place in libraries.
Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Ripon libraries will stage events next week.
They include:
- A “Try Something New Fair” at Harrogate Library on October 6 and Ripon Library on October 7.
- Poetry readings at Boroughbridge and Ripon libraries on October 6.
- Learn Something New sessions at Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge libraries on October 3 and 6.
Cllr Greg White, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, said:
“Libraries Week is an opportunity to showcase all of the fantastic activities the service has to offer. This year, it’s all about celebrating the role that libraries play in supporting life-long learning.
“Throughout the week a number of libraries will host an activities fair to encourage residents to find out more about local groups and events. There is so much to choose from so I would urge everyone to get involved.”
For more information on the events taking place, visit the North Yorkshire County Council website here.
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Poetry lovers prepare for a four-day feast in Ripon
Tickets are now available for Ripon Poetry Festival, which has grown year on year to become the biggest event of its kind in Yorkshire.
The four-day feast of readings, performances, workshops and book launches, runs from September 22 to 25 at venues across the city.
Claire Thompson, who is outreach librarian at Ripon Library and one of the judges for the festival poetry competition, told the Stray Ferret:
“We attracted a record 260 entries this year from poets of all ages.
“This prompted us to produce separate anthologies of poems written by children and adults, selected for publication after catching the eyes of judges.”
The respective children’s and adult anthologies will be launched at 5.30pm and 7.30pm on September 24 in the Operatic Hall at Ripon Arts Hub.
Ripon Bowling Club at Bondgate Green is the venue on September 23 for The Testament of Jake Thackray.
Festival curator Andy Croft, who is a talented poet, prolific author and publisher, said:
“We were so impressed with the standard of entries received from children, that we decided they should have a book of their own.
“This will be the fifth time that we have staged the festival and this year’s line-up includes well-known poets Linda France, Helen Mort, Tara Bergin, Henry Raby and Jim Greenhalf.”
The festival will include posthumous launches of new books by Yorkshire poets David McAndrew, who taught English for many years at Ripon College and Vernon Scannell, whose work titled Farewell Performance, is being published to mark the centenary of his birth.
Humorous songs written by the late singer-songwriter, journalist and poet Jake Thackray, will be performed by Mike Wilson and Keith Wilshere in an evening of entertainment at Ripon Bowling Club.
In addition to the arts hub and bowling club, a wide range of venues will be used to increase accessibility to events.
These include Community House, Evolve, The Walled Garden, Jennyruth Workshops, The Leper Chapel on Magdalen’s Road, Ripon Library, The Walled Garden and Thorpe Prebend.
As well as being available through the Ripon Poetry Festival website tickets can be purchased on the door or in advance from the Little Ripon Bookshop on Westgate.
Ripon author wins Swanwick short story competition
Prolific Ripon author Ian Gouge, is joining a distinguished group of UK writers after being selected as the 2022 winner of the Swanwick Short Story Competition.
The sought-after annual literary prize attracts hundreds of entries and his story titled Park’n’Ride caught they eye of the judging panel.
In addition to the prestige of winning the competition, his award includes a week-long place at the famous Swanwick Writers Summer School in Derbyshire.
He will also gain wide exposure through the publication of his story in Writing Magazine.
Ian, who has recently been appointed as the Author in Residence at Ripon Library, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is the first time that I have entered the Swanwick and I was both surprised and delighted when I received an email saying that I had won.”
His 900-word story drew on the experience of overheard conversations on tram journeys that he took while working in the IT industry in Nottinghamshire.
Ian, who is also a publisher and acts as a mentor to fellow creative writers and poets, said:
“If you are a good listener, you will gain a wealth of material that can provide the inspiration for stories and poems that reflect real-life situations.”
His imagination has enabled him to develop characters and storylines from the age of five, when he wrote about a boy who went into space. He also produced accompanying illustrations.
More than 50 years later and with the IT career behind him, Ian has a growing portfolio of published works including six novels, three short story collections, eight poetry and four non-fiction books.
Working with American poets, most of whom live in California, he leads a virtual Transatlantic reading group and has published four international anthologies and a further anthology featuring the poems of Yorkshire-based poets.
With the Swanwick prize now added to his CV, the versatile and experienced author and publisher, has another novel and short story collection in the pipeline and, will continue to help other creative writers to achieve the dream of seeing their name in print.
Families flocked to Ripon’s Hell Wath Nature Reserve at the weekend for the start of a programme of free summer activities that continues until August 18.
FunFest, organised by Ripon Together in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District and with support from sporting and other organisations in the city, has been designed for children of all ages.
On Saturday afternoon, the Friends of Hell Wath (FOHW) staged a number of hands-on forest school activities from a drum and percussion workshop, led by Hayley Watkinson, to supervised river dipping in the Skell, where families could see some of the aquatic creatures that live there.
Natural rhythm – children and parents taking part in the drum and percussion workshop held in a forest clearing
Jeremy Dunford, secretary of FOHW, told the Stray Ferret:
“We were able to hold this event thanks to funding from the Skell Valley Project, and It was encouraging to see so many families coming to enjoy the natural resources that Hell Wath has to offer – from woodland to water and wide-open spaces.”
He added:
“Forest schools are growing in popularity at Ripon’s primaries and are helping young children to become more environmentally aware at a time when the world is witnessing the effects of climate change.”
Forest school’s Helen Gillespie (centre) teaches Chase (left) Harry (grey top) Taylon and Ellie, how to toast marshmallows safely on an open fire.
The focus is on Ripon Grammar School (RGS) and the city’s library for the next FunFest activities on Saturday, August 13.
With the cancellation of the wheelchair rugby demonstration, there is a change in the RGS programme, which will begin at 1pm.
Ripon Together Board member, David Ingham, said:
“It’s a shame that the wheelchair rugby teams cannot now be at our event. However, there will still be lots to enjoy.”
This includes a climbing wall, accessible swimming for people with disabilities, kurling, boccia and large board games in addition to more traditional sports such as basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton.
Ripon Library will be the venue for bicycle MOTs, a Lego event, and sports and information roadshow.
On August 15, 16 and 18, Studley Royal Cricket Club, which now incorporates Ripon Spa Croquet Club, will be the setting for a wide range of sporting opportunities for children, including junior cricket, athletics and croquet coaching, an inflatable obstacle course, air rifle shooting and archery.
Though all events are free, booking is needed for some. Further details can be found by clicking here.
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Ripon Together unveils programme of free summer activities for children
Ripon Together has unveiled its FunFest programme of free summer activities and events for the city’s children and young people.
It is working in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District on the initiative.
Details about the activities, ranging from river dipping in the River Skell to an exhibition wheelchair rugby match at Ripon Grammar School, can be found by clicking here.
The programme, which runs from Saturday August 6 until Thursday August 18, is inclusive and open to people of all abilities at venues with good accessibility.
Simon Hewitt, of Ripon Together, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have built on what we learned from running the post-covid lockdown Summer of Fun 2021 and focused on events that proved popular last year, while adding new activities.”
Ripon Spa Croquet Club, whose lawns are located at Studley Royal Cricket Club (pictured below) is offering the opportunity for young people to try their hand at the sport and child-sized mallets will be available.
The huge natural amphitheatre with its clubhouse, is the principal FunFest venue for events and activities on August 15, 16 and 18, including junior cricket and athletics coaching, an inflatable obstacle course, air rifle shooting and archery and a free hog roast and ice cream, supported by Morrisons supermarket.
Steve Harris, a trustee at the cricket club, said:
“We are very pleased to work alongside Ripon Together, Ripon BID and croquet club members, to support these community activities, which will benefit children and their families.”
The FunFest programme starts on Saturday August 6, with Friends of Hell Wath running forest schools at the nature reserve, funded by the Skell Valley Project.
There will also be a drumming workshop and family groups are invited to see what they can discover about doing some river dipping.
Swimming, climbing and Lego
Ripon Disability Forum in liaison with GB Wheelchair Rugby, has organised and exhibition match between Featherstone’s Yorkshire Lions and County Durham’s North East Bulls at Ripon Grammar School on August 13.
The school on Clotherholme Road will also be offering accessible swimming, a climbing wall and giant board games on that day while, in the city centre, Ripon Library will be the venue for a bicycle MOT, Lego event and sports and information roadshow.
David Ingham of Ripon Together said:
“We hope that as many children, young people and families as possible come to enjoy the free activities and we have made arrangements with YorBus for them to provide free travel to venues.
“This service can be accessed via the YorBus app and bookings for participation in the various activities that we have arranged can be made via the Ripon Together website.”
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Two free events for Ripon literary lovers on Thursday evening
Writers and poetry fans have a choice of two free events to attend in Ripon on Thursday at the library and Curzon Cinema.
At 7pm in the library, Rod Dimbleby from the Yorkshire Dialect Society, will speak about the life and work of John Hartley.
The prolific West Riding poet, author and performer, was born in Halifax in 1839 and was famous in Victorian England for his Yorkshire dialect poems.
After his work, Bite Bigger,was published by Alfred Wilson — a hatter by trade — Hartley’s career took off and was a sell-out hit that had to be re-printed because of demand.
Wilson, who became Hartley’s father-in-law when the poet married his daughter Sophia, published the Clock Almanack (named after the clock outside his hatter’s shop) and Hartley was the editor for more than 25 years.
Those wishing to attend Mr Dimbleby’s talk are asked to book tickets in advance
Write-on Ripon
Also on Thursday evening, with a start time of 7.30, Write-On Ripon is holding its third open mic evening at Curzon Cinema on North Street.
Dion Child, who launched the creative writing group last year, told the Stray Ferret:
“Our free-to-attend weekly meetings on Tuesday afternoons have attracted attendance from people ranging from published authors, such as Maggie Cobbett, to poets who enjoy playing with words.
“The open mic events, which began in February, are a natural extension of the writers’ group and provide a platform for writers to present their work to an audience of like-minded people.”
He added:
“I’m so pleased that they have taken off and we extend a welcoming hand to those among the ranks of Ripon writers, who want to come along.
“Curzon has kindly allowed us to use its facilities free of charge and the vaulted cellar under the cinema, where the acoustics and atmosphere are tremendous, has led us to give it the nickname of ‘the cavern of creativity’ in a nod to the Liverpool venue, from which the Fab Four found fame.”
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Ripon library to close for refurbishment
Ripon library will close next month for a nature-inspired refurbishment.
The library, in The Arcade, will be redesigned with the beauty of the natural world in mind.
The new children’s area will include decorative shelving and brightly coloured furniture, along with a story wall for children to share their reading experiences.
North Yorkshire County Council has also spent £3,000 on reading material that includes picture books, board books and audio books, as well as popular junior fiction and non-fiction titles.
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North Yorkshire County Council’s libraries manager Chrys Mellor said:
“Ripon library is always filled with children and families so news of the refurbishment has been welcomed in the community. We are continuing to invest in new reading material for children in many of the county’s libraries to encourage them to support their local branch and start reading from an early age.
“Unfortunately the library will be closed to the public for a short time but we are doing our best to accommodate users. Loans will be extended over the closure period and arrangements have been made to cover home library service deliveries.”
The library will close for refurbishment at 2pm on Saturday, May 14. From Monday, May 23, it will reopen except for the children’s area, which will be temporarily moved to another space.
The library will operate its full services from Monday, May 30.
The nearest alternative libraries are Boroughbridge community library, Knaresborough library, Harrogate library, Mashamshire community library, and Nidderdale Plus community library.