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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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.

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith has said the supply of covid tests is improving after complaints that the system is in “chaos”, with health workers and residents left empty handed.

Mr Smith was told at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting on Friday that there have been no lateral flow tests available at Skipton’s pharmacies with staff at the town’s vaccination centre also unable to get tested as demand soared over the festive period.

Conservative councillor Mike Chambers, who represents the Ripon North division, described the system as being in “chaos” after people in the city have struggled to get test kits.

Mike Chambers

Independent councillor Andy Solloway, who represents Skipton West, told the meeting the shortages were putting a strain on the local economy and had also led to some residents launching abuse at pharmacy staff. He said:

Conservative MP Mr Smith said the government recognised there has been a surge in demand for tests and that while supply chains were improving, he would write to Health Secretary Sajid Javid to highlight the issue.

He said:

“The government is aware there was a big crunch point just after Christmas and they are now more confident on supply.

“This is an important issue as we need to get people confident to go to their workplaces, particularly health workers and others on the frontline.”

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‘Ridiculous situation’

Friday’s meeting also heard complaints from Conservative councillor Stuart Martin that health workers – including a family member – had been unable to get tested.

Stuart Martin

Councillor Martin, who represents Ripon South and is also chairman of the county council, said:

“My daughter is a paramedic and some of her colleagues came to my door over the Christmas break as they were unable to access any testing kits whatsoever.

“Luckily we had a couple of tests that we were able to give them, but this is a ridiculous situation.”

It comes as the government has said the current Plan B covid restrictions will remain in place for now.

Changes from tomorrow

It has also been announced that people who test positive with a lateral flow test do not need a follow-up PCR test if they do not have symptoms. These changes come into force from tomorrow.

Mr Smith told Friday’s meeting that he believed the Plan B rules – which include working from home, face coverings on public transport and in public places, and NHS covid passes – were “relatively soft” and that the decision to stick with them was “proportionate”. He said:

“It feels as if that judgement has been correct, but obviously there are still very strong crosswinds on parts of the NHS.

“We are not out of the woods yet and we all need to do whatever we can to encourage the following of the rules.”

A boulder has been installed at Skelton Newby Hall Primary School in an effort to help children’s physical development.

The boulder, which was paid for using the school’s PE and sport premium grant, was unveiled this week at an opening ceremony.

Cllr Stuart Martin, the Harrogate borough councillor for Ripon Moorside, joined pupils at the school to unveil the project.

The school said the idea behind the project was to give children the chance the climb, run and jump and help their physical development.

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A spokesperson for Skelton Newby Hall Primary School, which has an open day for prospective new pupils on November 13, said:

“After listening to the views of the children and undertaking research into children’s physical development, the boulder was installed.

“Much of the time we use our lower bodies and therefore we wanted something that would allow the children to use their upper bodies.  This also strengthens the muscular structure needed for handwriting.”

A Ripon councillor has been elected as the new chairman of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Stuart Martin, a retired firefighter who has represented Ripon south on the authority since 2017, was voted in at a meeting yesterday. He will chair the county council for the next 12 months.

Although Cllr Martin is a Conservative, the role of chairman is apolitical. He will be responsible for promoting the council at civic and ceremonial events as well as chair full county council meetings.

Cllr Martin was until last month mayor of Harrogate borough. He also represents Ripon Moorside ward on both Harrogate Borough Council and Ripon City Council.

Cllr Margaret Atkinson, who represents the Conservatives in Masham and Fountains division, has been elected as deputy chair of the county council.

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Cllr Martin said he wanted to commemorate Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day more appropriately during his time in the position.

He said:

“I am looking forward to supporting organisations and charities as much as possible as we open up and I am looking at setting up a chairman’s fund, because so many charities have taken such a hit over the last 18 months.

“It is essential that the civic side of things carries on and whoever is in this role continues to support businesses and the community. I know from previously being mayor of Ripon and of Harrogate district how appreciative businesses and organisations are of that support.

“It is vital we open slowly and don’t try to rush things, but as things open up I am keen to help. I think it is important that we all try to do our bit to help.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Chapman has tonight been virtually voted in as the new Harrogate district mayor.

He takes over from Conservative councillor Stuart Martin, who held the role since 2019 and served an extended term due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking at a virtual annual meeting tonight, cllr Chapman said:

“Let’s hope we can return to some form of normality following events over the last year so that I can fulfil the role fully.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the outgoing mayor Stuart for not only carrying out his year of office but also standing in as caretaker during this unprecedented year.

“Stuart, you and April have carried out your duties in an exemplary manner for which I thank you very much.”

Cllr Chapman, who represents the Bilton Grange ward, was chosen to take on the role in March last year before the handover was cancelled because of the pandemic.

It has meant cllr Martin has stayed in the post for an extra 12 months during the same year that his wife, mayoress April Martin, became critically ill with covid.

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After tonight’s meeting, councillor Martin said in a statement:

“As my time as Harrogate district mayor comes to an end this evening, I’d like to say thank you to everyone for their help and support over the past two years.

“Both April and I have thoroughly enjoyed being mayor and mayoress, and we have met some truly incredible organisations and charities during that time.

“I am delighted to be able to pass on the chain of office to councillor Trevor Chapman, who I know will make an excellent mayor. It has been a great pleasure and I will leave with many happy memories of my two years in office.”

The role of the mayor is to chair full council meetings and represent the borough at ceremonies and events.

The mayor also raises money for charities and is required to put his or her political affiliations aside to be impartial.

Councillor Chapman has selected Supporting Older People, Citizens Advice and Friends of Harrogate Hospital as his chosen charities.

Christine Willoughby elected deputy mayor

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillor Christine Willoughby, who represents Knaresborough Eastfield and served as mayor for the town, was also elected as deputy mayor for the Harrogate district at tonight’s meeting.

She takes over from Conservative councillor Zoe Metcalfe, who represents the Claro ward.

Conservative council leader Richard Cooper also announced at tonight’s meeting that no changes have been made to the cabinet, while a raft of committee chairs, vice-chairs and members were also voted in.

The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Cllr Stuart Martin, has had his mayoral year extended after Harrogate Borough Council was unable to hold its annual mayor-making ceremony in May. However, that was just one minor event in what has been an extraordinary year for Cllr Martin and his wife April, as he tells the Stray Ferret:

Little did I know when 2020 started that it would be a year like no other and one that would have a great personal impact on myself and my wife April.

I had been elected to the office of the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate in May 2019, which was a great honour. A very busy year ensued, with April and I attending many different and varied events. About February, approximately eight months into our Mayoral year, news was circulating around the world of a virus that was making many people seriously ill and unfortunately resulting in many of those infected, dying.

We had our main fund-raising activity planned and it took place in the March, a Black-Tie Ball event raising £10,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The ball was a magnificent affair and everyone really enjoyed it. We didn’t know it at the time but this was to be our last event before the whole country went into the first lockdown.

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Sadly, the week following our ball, April began to feel unwell – at this stage we were unsure if it was coronavirus. However, within a few days she started displaying symptoms that suggested it was. She had developed an awful hacking cough so we followed the government guidance and self-isolated for 14 days just in case.

As time went on, April became worse, necessitating a call to 111, however the paramedics who visited didn’t feel April was ill enough to go to hospital, which was something April as a former nurse wanted to avoid. However, despite continuing to care for her at home she became so breathless, made even worse by the continued hacking cough. We had no alternative but to call 999; this time April was taken to Harrogate A&E.

This was to become one of the darkest moments of my life. I was told I was not allowed to go with her but I could say goodbye in the back of the ambulance, which I did and I went back inside my house.

This is when I realised, I may never see or speak with April ever again. April was admitted through the emergency department where she was stabilised before being sent to the Intensive Care Unit. We are a close family, but we were not allowed to meet other members of the family. I was left feeling bereft and alone: what do I do, who do I turn too?

Later that night, I had a conversation with the consultant who informed me that April was critically ill and only time would tell if she would pull through.

The turning point was when April came onto a normal ward, still very ill but at least we were able to speak and see each other through modern technology – what a relief and joy that was. In time, April was discharged home and her slow recovery began; in fact, some six months later she still experiences breathlessness and fatigue.

Harrogate’s Mayor Cllr Stuart Martin with his wife April, in their formal robes and chains.

My thanks go to not only the skilled medical staff who did save her life and to whom I will be forever grateful, but also to the ancillary staff who played an enormous part in April’s recovery, many of you who I know offered your own prayers and words of kindness at this terrible time. We were so grateful to those people who dropped off meals at our door and for all the good wishes we received.

Thankfully, we were able to move on with our year, many meetings being held over zoom. We have managed to attend events albeit socially distanced and wearing masks around the district, these included planting of bulbs in the Valley Gardens, visiting an elderly lady for her birthday, attending Remembrance services in a very different way and very early in the morning, to name but a few. However, we now have hope for the future with the vaccine rolling out across the country.

My thoughts are with all of those families who were not as lucky as myself: over 60,000 and the death toll continues to rise. I hold deep in my heart the staff at Harrogate District Hospital. My thoughts also go to the many local and national businesses who have suffered greatly, so many people have lost jobs. Finally, in the festive season, I think about our communities and the efforts and sacrifices made by everyone.

I wish everybody a very Happy, healthy Christmas, stay safe, enjoy the festivities with those you can and look forward to rebuilding our lives in 2021.

Main photo: Andrew Dobbs Photograph