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St Wilfrid celebrations brought thousands of people to Ripon’s Market Square on Saturday, but after the procession was over, one tradition featuring the city’s patron saint was still to be carried out.
Since 1986, when Ripon celebrated the 1100th anniversary of its Royal Charter granted by King Alfred the Great, the Wakeman Mummers have, without fail, performed a short, humorous play about the history of the city as a postscript to the Wilfrid festivities.
Performed in rhyme and including music from melodeon player Roy Hardacre and a Morris dance finale, the play can be seen for the third night running this evening at 8.45 near the obelisk and facing onto Ripon Town Hall.
Jim Coulson, who wrote the words and takes the part of the Wakeman, will be joined by fellow mummers Peter Meese in the role of St Wilfrid, Andy West as King Alfred, Bellman Dave Blight and Ted Dodsworth as the Ripon Citizen.
The Morris dance finale
Mr Coulson told the Stray Ferret:
“The idea of the play is to tell, simply and with humour, the story of the granting of Ripon’s Charter in 886 AD coupled with the name of the city’s patron saint.
“The week of St Wilfrid’s Feast, which follows on from the procession, was chosen as the most appropriate time of year to perform this play.
“Because all traditions must start somewhere, we can claim that, having performed it every year since 1986 without a break, the “St Wilfrid Play” – as it is popularly known – has now become a well-established tradition in the city.”
This evening’s performance will be the last in the short run, but those who are unable to see it can be assured the Wakeman Mummers will be back again next year.
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GALLERY: St Wilfrid’s Procession brings thousands to Ripon’s streets
Arrival at a Ripon Cathedral bathed in early-evening sunshine, signalled the conclusion of the 2023 St Wilfrid’s Procession.
It was the end of a 7.5 mile journey along residential streets and into the city centre, where thousands of people had gathered.
For the actor playing the part of the city’s patron saint and Colin the 19-year-old Cob Cross Clydesdale, there was a guard of honour provided by Ripon City Morris Dancers, as horse and rider approached the iconic building in time for a service of celebration.
Prior to that the rousing music of Ripon City Band (pictured above) resounded on Kirkgate as the procession made up of decorated floats and people in fancy dress carefully navigated the ancient street.
There was a carnival atmosphere throughout the day as crowds lined the streets to watch the parade go by and gathered in the Market Square for a Saturday afternoon of free family-focused activities and entertainment organised by the volunteers of the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee.
Time to celebrate for these members of the procession
Among the musical entertainers were the One For All Choir, who performed to a large crowd in front of Ripon Town Hall.
Also singing and dancing throughout the day, were those who circled the city streets on the 20 decorated floats that took part in the procession.
The floats came with many imaginative themes and designs from superheroes, to one inspired by the TV comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.
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Ripon to rock until 10pm tomorrow after St Wilfrid’s Day celebrations extended
Ripon businesses have worked together to ensure tomorrow’s St Wilfrid’s Day celebrations continue until 10pm.
Budget cuts and the cost of living crisis looked set to restrict the day’s activities, which include the procession and a free climbing wall and bungee jumping on Market Square, to a 5.30pm finish.
But businesses, helped by a £829 grant from North Yorkshire Council, didn’t want one of the city’s biggest days of the year to be cut short.
So they arranged for the Kirkgate road closure to be extended into the evening and organised a night of eclectic live music, which includes two rock bands, a harpist and a singer.
It is hoped restaurants will put tables in the street and stay open later to encourage café culture that adds to the festive vibe.
Antony Prince, chairman of the St Wilfrid’s Procession committee, said:
“We are constrained with a reduced budget this year but, thanks to local volunteers, the council and local business sponsors, we are putting on a fantastic day of celebration for St Wilfrid.”
Ripon businesses worked with the St Wilfrid’s Procession committee and Ripon Business Improvement District to organise the evening of free entertainment at short notice.
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Local musician Alannah Creed will sing from her latest album and Lucinda Taylor will give a harp recital. Later in the evening, Knaresborough Vista Social Club and Time Machine will play live.
Kevin Hill, who runs Karma shop on Kirkgate and was one of the traders determined to extend the day’s festivities, said:
“These days, if money is tight, we are finding that events can still happen as long as we work together. We are all dedicated to supporting local business and also supporting local artists in the entertainment we provide.
“All the bands are from the Ripon area and they are of really high calibre.”
Richard Hughes, owner of Manchega Tapas restaurant, said,
“We are dedicated to supporting the economy of Ripon and the rural hinterland. St Wilfrid’s Day is a great opportunity to party whilst bolstering local business.”
How the day shapes up
Tomorrow’s celebrations get underway with the 7.5-mile procession starting on Studley Road at 1.30pm.
The St Wilfrid’s Procession route
An actor on horseback, playing the role of St Wilfrid, will parade through the streets in honour of Ripon’s patron saint. The procession, accompanied by Ripon City Band, will include 20 decorated floats.
Free entertainment will take place on the market square throughout the afternoon. It includes a climbing wall, bungee jumping, stilt walkers and face painters.
Kirkgate will then take centre stage for the evening of live music.
Thousands expected in Ripon for St Wilfrid’s Procession on Saturday
One of the most notable days in Ripon’s annual calendar occurs on Saturday with the St Wilfrid’s Procession and celebrations on Market Square.
Crowds line the streets and create a carnival atmosphere for the historic annual event, which is held in honour of Ripon’s patron saint and founder in 672 AD of the city’s iconic cathedral.
The procession’s origins date back to 1108 when King Henry I granted a royal charter to Ripon to hold an annual fair in celebration of Wilfrid’s life and work and the tradition has been maintained by a hard-working committee made up of volunteers.
Led by an actor on horseback, playing the role of St Wilfrid, the procession, which sets off from Studley Road at 1.30pm, will be accompanied by the award-winning Ripon City Band and will include 20 decorated floats with designs created by businesses and organisations.
A map showing the route.
The 26-stage procession, which covers 7.5 miles, will circle the city centre and outlying streets, before finishing at the cathedral, where a celebratory service will be held at 4.30pm.
The route, which will see numerous temporary road closures, can be seen by clicking here.
In addition to the procession, there will be free family-friendly activities on Market Square between 1pm and 6pm, followed by musical entertainment on Minster Gardens, where Time Machine and Alannah Creed will be among the performers.
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.
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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.
A large annual parade that has taken place in Ripon for about 1,000 years is under threat.
Thousands of people turn out for St Wilfrid’s Procession, which celebrates the city’s patron saint.
The procession sees decorated floats travel around the city led by an actor playing St Wilfrid on a horse, followed by musicians, dancers and finally the Wakeman of Ripon.
There are also stalls and events on the Market Square for what is one of Ripon’s main events of the year.
The parade traditionally takes place on the last Saturday of July but covid prevented it taking place for the last two years.
Most funding comes from street collections on the day. But when the organising committee applied for a street collection permit for this year’s event, on July 30, it discovered Harrogate Borough Council had already granted a permit to another organisation — and only one a day is allowed.
The council told St Wilfrid’s Procession committee it was unable to reveal the identity of the other organisation because of data protection legislation.
This prompted the committee to put an appeal on social media asking for anyone who knew who it was to get in touch to see if a solution could be reached.
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A committee spokesman said:
“We want an open discussion with whoever has the permit to see if they are able to switch days.
“Without a permit, the procession won’t take place next year because most donations are made on the day from people who give to fundraisers with buckets.”
The spokesman stressed nobody was to blame for the “unfortunate coincidence” and the council was trying to help find a solution.
The Stray Ferret contacted the council but did not receive a reply.