Ripon rocked last night, as a large crowd massed on Market Square for an evening of music and entertainment.

The finale was a spectacular fireworks display that lit-up the night sky above the city’s elegant town hall.

A five-hour programme started with talented local singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary and ended with a convincing Freddie Mercury sound-alike.

Tribute acts had the audience singing along to Elton John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’ and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ among many other iconic British pop songs.

In a county where Tykes are known for their care when it comes to money — the icing on the Yorkshire Day Weekend cake, was the fact that it was all for free.

With the covid lockdown lifted, hundreds came to let their hair down on Market Square.

The day of fun for all the family, organised by Ripon City Council, was the first large-scale event to be held in the city since the coronavirus pandemic brought an abrupt end to all public gatherings.

From 2pm until 8pm, children with their parents and grandparents had Market Square North to themselves, as two free fairground rides and a climbing wall ensured enjoyment for all families, without the need to reach into purses and pockets.

The rides were still spinning as the music started on the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall.

Ripon-based singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary was the opening act.

Freddie Cleary, singing some of his own songs and a selection of favourite tunes, was followed by the Elton John tribute act, with white piano in what was a fitting celebration of one of Britain’s best-known musical Knights.

The tribute performed hit after hit from Sir Elton’s songbook.

Before the Elton John tribute did his second set, an Amy Winehouse look and sound-alike sang in the distinctive style of the late legend.

Then came the finale and a scintillating rendition of the songs made famous by rock legend Freddie Mercury.

An emotional and power-packed tribute to Amy Winehouse, who died ten years ago

The Queen tribute act front man had the audience wrapped in the palm of his hands, as he sang ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’

For the citizens of Ripon, the free entertainment continues today as the fairground rides and climbing wall will be open from 10am until 4pm.

Rock and rockets around the Ripon Town Hall Clock

And parents who saved money on the free rides may be spending some of it at the Little Bird Artisan Market, that will be open on Market Square South from 10am until 3pm.

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Two Harrogate district taxi drivers have spoken out against a new £5 charge at Leeds Bradford Airport to pick up and drop off passengers.

The airport introduced the new charge on May 28 but with flights only slowly beginning to return, some taxi drivers are only just discovering the increase.

Leeds Bradford Airport has said the charge is necessary to help it recover financially from covid. It previously cost £3 to wait for up to 10 minutes.

But Richard Fieldman, owner of Ripon and Harrogate firm A1 Cars, told the Stray Ferret he took an older couple from Ripon to LBA for a flight to Dublin on Sunday and was shocked to discover the charge had increased to £5, which he called “extortionate” and “scandalous”.

The charges apply to anyone picking up or dropping off at the airport but taxi drivers are particularly affected because they make regular airport trips.

Mr Fieldman said:

“I have no sympathies whatsoever.

“Joe Public and taxi drivers are getting a raw deal. We’ve suffered enough.”

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The Stray Ferret also spoke to John Higgins, owner of Harrogate firm Spa Taxis, who called the charges a “nightmare”.

He said taxi drivers could stop in the free car park but that was a 15-minute walk to the terminal — not ideal for people carrying luggage.

The pick-up and drop-off charges increase to £7 for a 10 to 20-minute stay, £9 for a 30 to 60-minute stay and £11 for longer than an hour.

It means if a customer has pre-booked a taxi but is held up at the airport, it could end up costing them over £50 for a journey to Harrogate.

Mr Higgins said the price increases will put him off doing airport runs in the future.

He added:

“These increased charges have snuck in over covid. I do have sympathies for the airport but we have to work together.”

‘Competitive prices’

An LBA spokesperson said the airport “continues to be impacted by the global pandemic” and the changes will “help us recover to a firm financial footing”.

They said the pick up and drop off tariffs were “very low” compared to other major and regional airports.

The spokesperson added:

“LBA continues to provide competitive prices on parking. We look forward to welcoming back travellers in ever increasing numbers and providing improved accessibility options in the pick up and drop off area.”

The charity that runs Ripon Walled Garden has launched a £22,000 fundraising campaign to buy new facilities for the disabled people it helps.

Ripon Community Link, which provides day support services for people with learning difficulties, operates from two sites in the city area — St Wilfrid’s Bungalow and Ripon Walled Garden.

Many of the people it helps work at the walled garden. The fundraising campaign will help to finish and furnish a new building on the site which they will use.

The building, which includes four classrooms, a reception and toilets, has already been paid for by grants and donations.

Victoria Ashley, Ripon Community Link chief executive, said:

“The new building is the next phase of our improvements for the walled garden to benefit members, customers, staff and volunteers.

“The opening of the toilet block was a major step for us, and now we are setting our sights on this new building, specifically aimed at benefitting our members. Our aim is to have this new facility fully opened in autumn”

Read more:

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• Charity launches community grocery shops for Harrogate and Knaresborough

A charity gold day at Rudding Park on August 19 is among the events planned to support the fundraising campaign.

To donate, click here.

A Leeds-based architecture firm is seeking the views of Ripon people to help it devise a masterplan to regenerate the city.

Harrogate Borough Council appointed Bauman Lyons Architects in February on an £85,000 contract to devise a Ripon renewal plan.

The plan will provide a framework for future development in the city that also considers current initiatives, such as the regeneration of the former Ripon barracks.

The council said yesterday it wanted to hear from people in the city, in particular young people, to help shape the new vision. As part of the scheme, the council is creating a citizens’ panel, which will involve attending some two-hour workshops this year.

Bauman Lyons haș already consulted with 60 organisations and held a campaign for people aged 16 to 30 to ‘speak up and speak out’ about their ideas for the city.

Among the issues identified are more things for young people to do, fewer cars on the roads around the market place, affordable housing and pedestrian and cyclist priority in the city centre.

There were also calls for better traffic management on Low Skellgate and Westgate and a new green route to link the Workhouse Museum and cathedral.

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Trevor Watson, director of economy, environment and housing at the council, said:

“It is a priority project for us and we want to work with the community in Ripon to build upon the work already undertaken by the local community in drawing up the city’s Neighbourhood Plan and the many other opportunities and assets Ripon has to develop a joined-up and detailed masterplan.”

Irena Bauman, from Bauman Lyons Architects, said:

“Ripon is a wonderful gem, but it needs to adapt to be relevant to young people and to their futures. We are looking forward to working with everyone, especially the young, towards a common vision of 21st century Ripon.”

Ripon people can have their say on the project online here and express an interest in joining the panel here.

There was Olympic disappointment for Jack Laugher and his diving partner Daniel Goodfellow in Tokyo this morning as they finished out of the medals in seventh place.

Laugher, who was born and bred in the Ripon area, still has the opportunity of adding to the gold and silver medals he won in Rio when he competes in next week’s individual three-metre springboard event.

His mother Jackie, who watched with her husband, David, at their Littlethorpe home, told the Stray Ferret:

“From the start it didn’t look like it was going to be their day, but they are a relatively new team.

“I’m immensely proud of Jack, he’s a wonderful son, great sportsman and role model, but above all he’s a lovely person who will always call Littlethorpe his home.”

Jack Laugher (left) and Daniel Goodfellow making their opening dive

Family friend Helen Mackenzie, who was in Rio with Jackie to see Jack’s gold and silver medal performances in 2016, said:

“It is testimony to their determination and mental toughness that, following five below par dives, he and Daniel achieved their best score in the final one which, with a tariff of 3.9, is  the world’s most difficult dive.

“This bodes well for next week, when Jack takes part in the individual event.”

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Gemma Williams, who like Jackie and Helen is a member of Ripon City Netball Club, said:

“I love and feel pride by proxy, seeing Jack and Dan compete – not the result they would want, but still an amazing achievement.”

Leanne Jalland, chair of Harrogate District Diving Club, where Jack used to train, also spoke of its pride in the pair despite today’s outcome.

“It was a high standard competition but unfortunately it was not their day today. That’s diving as a sport for you, anything can happen and it all comes down to the dives on the day.

“That last dive showed a glimpse of what they are capable of and we are confident that both Jack and Dan have got the strength of character to come back stronger from this.”

Ripon 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.

The highways boss of North Yorkshire County Council has expressed confidence that the authority will win most of the £1.5m it is bidding for under the latest round of active travel projects.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, approved the bid to the government’s active travel fund at a meeting on Friday.

The application includes funding for four projects, two of which are in the Harrogate district. They include traffic calming measures in Ripon and a feasibility study into the creation of a 7km cycleway and footpath between Knaresborough and Flaxby Green Park.

The bid is being made to the third round of the active travel fund. The council only secured half of the £266,000 allocated to it by the Department for Transport in the first round but won almost all of the £1m it bid for in the second round.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“We have been told to expect roughly around the same amount we received in tranche two and as soon as we know what this value is our bid will be submitted with the government.

“Clearly there are various sources of money for these kinds of projects in the future. The government has set aside £2bn as part of its active travel fund and I believe it has only allocated around a quarter of this so there will be plenty more to come.”

Under the latest plans, around £550,000 would be spent on the development of “sustainable travel corridors” in the west of Ripon. These could include footway widening, better crossing facilities and traffic calming measures.

The council also said feasibility work for the proposed 7km cyclepath between Knaresborough and Flaxby Green Park would cost £50,000 and that it would link with wider plans to improve connections to York.

There are also plans for schemes in Craven and Ryedale.

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Under earlier rounds of the fund, cash has been earmarked for cycle lanes and junction upgrades on the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as similar improvements in the Victoria Avenue area of Harrogate town centre.

There were also plans for a one-way traffic system and junction filters on Oatlands Drive but these were scrapped after a fierce backlash from residents.

Instead, the council is carrying out a feasibility study this summer to look into what other improvements could be made not just on Oatlands Drive but also the surrounding area.

The aim for the A59 and Victoria Avenue schemes is for construction to start in November with completion in March 2022.

A government decision on the third round bid is expected in autumn and, if successful, the funds must be spent before March 2023.

A Ripon councillor who voted in favour of the city’s new swimming pool and leisure centre refurbishment, is now supporting calls for an independent investigation into the scheme.

Sid Hawke was one of eight councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee that approved an application two years ago for a new six-lane pool to be built alongside the existing leisure centre, which would be refurbished.

But following fresh concerns about sinkholes, Cllr Hawke, an independent who represents Ripon Ure Bank on Harrogate Borough Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“If I knew then, what I know now, I would have definitely voted against it.

“I’ve wanted a new swimming pool for Ripon for years, but the public interest must come first.

“I fully support an independent investigation looking into safety issues, so we can get them all sorted out.”

Also on the planning committee, which met on June 25, 2019, was Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader on Harrogate Borough Council, who was one of three councillors to abstain. Conservative councillor Nigel Simms voted against, because of misgivings about the suitability of the site two years ago.

Last week Cllr Marsh called for an independent investigation into the multi-million pound development at Camp Close, off Dallamires Lane.

Her comments followed safety concerns raised in a report by the multi-national consultancy Stantec, which were amplified by Dr Alan Thompson, a leading authority on the gypsum and sinkhole issues affecting all types of development in the Ripon area.

Cllr Pat Marsh

Cllr Marsh’s call came in the wake of the Stray Ferret’s exclusive story about safety concerns that came to light after Stantec’s inspection of a cavity discovered close to the leisure centre entrance in September.

The cavity, in the area where the new pool is due to be attached to the existing leisure centre, is in close proximity to a sinkhole that opened up on the centre car park.

That sinkhole arose 16 months before the planning meeting where the new pool was voted through.

Cllr Marsh, said:

“I’m pleased that Cllr Hawke supports my call for an investigation and I hope that other Ripon councillors will follow suite.

“The people of Ripon deserve a new pool — but there have been long-term ground stability issues in this area, as I know from the time when the leisure centre was being built.

“With this in mind, I couldn’t vote for further development at Camp Close as I thought that other site options should have been considered.

“We will see what the investigation commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council says about the cavity and then press for an independent safety investigation.”

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said last week:

“The multi-million pound investment project at Ripon Leisure Centre shows our commitment to providing modern, fit-for-purpose leisure facilities for the people of Ripon.

“Given the well-known ground conditions in Ripon, we employed qualified and experienced geologists and geo-technic engineers to carry out necessary investigation works and advise on what would be required to provide this much needed facility.

“A total of 441 grouting sites received 3,043 tonnes of grout which, along with the casting of a reinforced concrete slab, provides the foundation for the new swimming pool building.

“The void which is underneath the existing leisure centre is understood to have been present a number of years. This was only discovered as a result of the work to prepare the new swimming pool site.

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“It is now being investigated and should any remedial work be required then it will be carried out.

“We are committed to providing this much-needed facility that will encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle for our residents and something they can be proud of.”

A former military man has been jailed for nearly two years for soliciting sex with underage ‘girls’ and “prowling” the internet to chat with children.

Mark Crompton, 46, formerly of Ripon, was caught out after indulging in cocaine-fuelled chats with what he thought to be a like-minded individual who had a 10-year-old daughter, York Crown Court heard.

In fact, the ‘father’ was an undercover police officer patrolling the internet and he spoke to Crompton while posing as a dad with an unhealthy interest in children.

Prosecutor Paul Abrahams said Crompton joined the ‘Kids Chat’ website with the username ‘School Teacher’ and sent a message to the undercover officer. They then moved on to the secure KIK app to continue their debauched conversations where Compton used his real name. 

Mr Abrahams added:

“In that chat, the defendant requested images including those of sexual acts (by the ‘daughter’).”

Crompton, who was living in Whitcliffe Lane at the time, also asked the ‘father’ if he could meet his ‘daughter’ in Cambridgeshire, where the officer told him they lived.

Mr Abrahams said:

“(Crompton) talked about the sexual abuse of children and sent pictures of a child in a skirt to the undercover officer.”

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Acting on evidence gathered by the decoy, police raided Crompton’s home in Ripon in August 2019.

Crompton told them:

“It’s all other people as well – they have been sending me pictures. I didn’t know it was a crime.”

He told police he had lost his job and had been sleeping in a van, and that he had been “talking online because I have no one else to talk to”.

Officers seized electronic devices from Crompton’s home including a mobile phone on which police found 21 different chat logs with “numerous users” including those identifying as children, two of whom lived in the UK.

One of those was a 13-year-old girl but Mr Abrahams said the Crown couldn’t prove that she was a real child. 

The chats with this ‘girl’ occurred during a one-week period between June and July 2019, when Crompton asked to meet her after photos were exchanged and “talked about going away with her to Spain and having children with her”.

Mr Abrahams said Crompton’s plans involved “potentially raping her” as a girl of her age could not give consent in the eyes of the law, although there was no evidence to suggest he intended to meet her.

Police also found 35 indecent images of children on Crompton’s phone, as well as nine prohibited photos of minors.

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He had installed encrypted software on his mobile to download vile images of children between three and eight years of age. 

Crompton was arrested and brought in for questioning but told officers he never intended to meet any of the ‘children’ and put his behaviour down to “cocaine use”.

He was charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing prohibited images of minors.

Crompton, who had since moved to Blackpool, admitted all charges and appeared for sentence on Friday.

Mr Abrahams said that Crompton had been involved in a network of online paedophiles who sent him pictures from chatrooms. He had three previous convictions for “unrelated matters”.

Defence barrister Joseph Hudson said Crompton had led a “decent life (and had) a good job until middle age” when “problems emerged”.

He added that Crompton, who was a full-time carer for his partner, had since been seeing a psychiatrist.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Crompton: 

“You were skulking around the internet looking for communications with teenage girls (and wanting) to talk about sex.”

He said that although no actual arrangements were made to take one of the girls to Spain, Crompton thought “that person was real, and it was vivid sexual chat”.

He said although Crompton had led an otherwise “good and industrious life” and served his country in the army in his younger years, “you have brought complete shame (upon yourself) and you are responsible for your own downfall”.

The judge added:

“Everything has come crashing down and as a result of your behaviour you ended up in a psychiatric hospital for a short period… and I dare say it was the drink and possibly the drugs that loosened your inhibitions [on the internet].”

Crompton, of Lord Street, Fleetwood, will serve half of the 23-month jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence. 

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made subject to a six-year sexual-harm prevention order designed primarily to curb his internet activities.