A team of dedicated knitters are creating Ripon’s royal miles of bunting to wrap around the city in celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The all-woman Knit and Natter Club has combined needlecraft and design skills to make masses of red, white and blue bunting emblazoned with golden crowns and the initials E:R.
With less than two months to go until the extended June bank holiday jubilee weekend, organiser Hazel Barker told the Stray Ferret:
“We have received hundreds of requests from shops, businesses and other organisations in Ripon, who want to decorate their buildings to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
“We’ve still got a little way to go, but we are getting there.”
Collectively, thousands of hours of unrelenting effort has gone into this proud production line.
Mrs Barker, who was made a Freeman of the City of Ripon, for services to the community, said:
” At our homes we are spending every spare minute beavering away making the various elements of the bunting, from flags to the emblems of the four UK countries.
“A group of us then meet on Mondays to create the displays in readiness for them to go on everything from railings to retail premises, the town hall and the entrance to Spa Gardens.”
The knitters meet weekly at Hazel House, in the grounds of Community House
The weekly meetings are at Hazel House – a building in the grounds of Community House, named in honour of Mrs Barker for her work with the Girlguiding Association.
In addition to this, other knitters work from home, with regular supplies of wool provided for them.
The team, totalling 30, is also responsible for the countless hours of behind-the-scenes work that creates Ripon’s Remembrance displays.
They are part of the Ripon Community Poppy Project, founded by Mrs Barker and Councillor Stuart Martin, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 2018.
Funding for the project
The community project is funded by donations from members of the public and businesses and supported by organisations such as the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and an army of volunteers who put up the displays.
For the platinum jubilee display, £2,500 of the sum used to buy the wool, netting and other materials was raised from the sale of decorative covid masks with Christmas designs on them.
And it comes as no surprise to discover that those whose painstaking work will be seen on the city streets in June, are the women behind the masks as well.
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Newby Hall’s Jubilee Avenue will be enduring celebration of the Queen’s reign
A new avenue of locally-sourced English oak trees has been planted by Newby Hall’s gardeners as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project.
The UK-wide initiative is designed to provide a lasting and eco-friendly reminder of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
A blessing ceremony conducted by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson, was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Mrs Jo Ropner, and pupils from nearby Skelton Newby Hall CE Primary School.
The children helped to plant the last of the 34 trees that make up the avenue. They and future generations of pupils from the village school, will assist with maintenance of the oaks as they grow to maturity.
The new avenue of English oak will add to the sylvan splendour of Newby Hall
The avenue, south of the hall’s main gates and on a popular walking route for local residents, replaces lime trees that had reached the end of their life.
To be known as Jubilee Avenue, it will provide a backdrop for a bench being supplied by Skelton Cum Newby Parish Council.
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Grade I listed Newby Hall, which remains in private ownership as the family home of Mr and Mrs Richard Compton. is one of the UK’s finest Adam Houses.
It was first opened to the public in the 1950s and the 2022 season starts on 1 April.
Mr Compton said:
Leading Ripon Conservative councillor calls for PM to resign over parties“We are delighted to play our part in enhancing our environment by planting this wonderful avenue of oaks which will not only benefit future generations but creates a legacy in celebration of Her Majesty’s 70 years of service and leadership of our great nation.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson should resign over his ‘lack of leadership’ in handling the partygate scandal still hanging over Downing Street.
That’s the view of Ripon councillor Stuart Martin, chair of the Conservative-controlled North Yorkshire County Council, who will not be standing for re-election after 23 years in local politics.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“In my time as a firefighter and crew manager, I knew that I was duty bound to set an example and I don’t think the prime minister has done this in his handling of the partygate issue.
“He should step down because of the lack of leadership that he showed.”
Cllr Martin, pointed out:
“I must stress that I am not speaking on behalf of the council, but from a personal perspective.”
In March 2020, when the country was in its first covid-lockdown and he and his wife April were serving as the Mayor and Mayoress of the Harrogate District, she contracted coronavirus and went into two weeks of self-isolation.
The Mayoress’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she was rushed into Harrogate District Hospital where her life was saved in the intensive care unit.
At the time, Cllr Martin, said:
“I had to say goodbye to her in the ambulance and I didn’t know whether or not I would ever see her again.”
A second chance
Former nurse April, who is still suffering from long covid, said:
“Because of the skill of everybody at the hospital, we were given a second chance and that was in our thinking, when we looked to the future and Stuart decided it was time to step down.”
The couple, who will celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary in June, have two grown-up daughters and plan to spend more time with them and their six grandchildren, aged from five to 16.
The frightening experience of two years ago remains fresh in their minds and with daughter Gemma working as a paramedic, they have an everyday reminder of the vital role that front-life staff continue to play in tackling the pandemic and keeping people safe.
This was highlighted at Christmas, when the lack of rapid flow test kits put additional strain on the emergency services.
Cllr Martin, said:
“It was a chaotic and ridiculous situation, with paramedics urgently requiring testing kits to ensure that they were clear of the virus and able to care for others.”
Continuing work in the community
The Queen and Prince Philip, pictured in 2004 with the then Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Stuart Martin and his wife April
As the government eases the restrictions on daily life, the Martins will continue to remain vigilant as they carry out their community work in Ripon and further afield.
Cllr Martin, one of the founders of TASC Madagascar which is helping disadvantaged people in the island country, will continue as a trustee for the charity.
He will also maintain his role as chair of trustees at Community House in Ripon, whose services are supporting hundreds of families and individuals trapped in food poverty.
Awarded an MBE IN 2010 for his charity work in Ripon and Madagascar, Cllr Martin will be playing active roles with the Ripon Community Poppy Project and as chair of the Friends of Hell Wath.
April, a former district commissioner for the Girl Guides, will continue to run a local Brownie group.
Looking back over the past 20 years, in which they have been Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon as well as the Harrogate district, a special memory came in 2004 when the Queen and Prince Philip visited the city to mark the 400th anniversary of the Royal Charter awarded by James I.
Cllr Martin, said:
“We were extremely privileged to meet them on that day and proud to have represented the people of Ripon.”
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Ripon sets aside £105,000 for four-day platinum jubilee extravaganza
Ripon City Council has set aside £105,000 for four days of celebrations to mark this year’s queen’s platinum jubilee.
To celebrate the queen’s reign as the longest-serving British monarch, Ripon will stage events for people of all ages over an extended Bank Holiday weekend from June 2 to 5.
There will be a civic service on the morning of June 2 at Ripon Cathedral (pictured below) and a street party the following day. Other activities will range from concerts to light shows that will turn buildings red, white and blue.
The city has deep royal roots dating back to Alfred The Great, who allegedly awarded Ripon its charter horn in 886,
In an echo of this, the city is commissioning the production of a new platinum jubilee horn in honour of the queen.
It will be used by a member of the hornblower team in the setting of the watch ceremony, which takes place nightly at 9pm at the obelisk in Market Square.
Four-day ‘extravaganza’
A peal of bells will sound at on February 6 to signal the platinum jubilee.
The bells will mark the 70th anniversary of the death of the queen’s father, King George VI.
His death in 1952 saw his elder daughter, the then 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth, take the throne.
Council leader Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are aiming to create a four-day jubilee extravaganza that can be enjoyed by all members of the community. Beyond the bank holiday, the new horn will provide a lasting legacy and reminder of the queen’s remarkable service.
“The council is working in partnership with Ripon Cathedral, Ripon BID and Ripon Together in planning the many activities and events that will take place.”
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Ripon plans to celebrate two major events next year
The Royal, loyal and religiously-significant city of Ripon is looking forward to two landmark events next year.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the 1350th anniversary of Ripon Cathedral coincide in 2022.
Huge city-wide celebrations will be held, with plans to turn buildings and streets red, white and blue.
Earlier this month, Ripon City Council set aside a budget of £105,000 to enable advance planning to take place.
Running from 2 June to 5 June, the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday will mark 70 Years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Ripon Cathedral, founded by St Wilfrid in 672AD will be playing a key role in the festivities.
At last night’s virtual meeting of the city council events committee, the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson, said:
“This is a marvellous chance to celebrate two events – the like of which we have never seen before.”
He added:
“Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was commemorated with the building of the clock tower, which has been a city landmark since 1897 and we have the opportunity of marking The Queen’s history-making service to the UK in a very special way.”
The Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson is looking forward to a year of dual celebration for The Queen and Ripon Cathedral
Dean John was among representatives from a wide-range of voluntary organisations taking part in the meeting.
He congratulated the city council for the strong lead it is taking in planning for 2022.
Chair of the events committee and council leader Andrew Williams, pointed out:
“We want to ensure a year of well-organised events to be enjoyed by all.
“We will mark the start of it at one minute past midnight on New Year’s Eve, with our fireworks display.
“It will end in a burst of red, white and blue, signalling the start of a year of celebrations.”
Plans are being put in place now, so that equipment ranging from fairground rides for young children and staging for performers, can be booked well in advance.
The full programme has yet to be confirmed and the events committee remains open to suggestions.
Councillor Pauline McHardy, suggested that a large poster of The Queen be hung on the front of Ripon Town Hall throughout 2022.
She said:
“This would be a constant reminder of what our wonderful Queen has done for all of us for seven decades.”
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Ahead of the Platinum Jubilee, Councillor Chris Hardisty pointed out:
“The Duke of Edinburgh will be 100 in June and we should find a way of celebrating his birthday.”
Cllr Williams said that this suggestion will be put on the agenda for the April meeting of the committee.
Ripon plans £105,000 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrationsRipon is planning for a right royal celebration next year.
In June 2022, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her milestone of 70 years as monarch, will be celebrated with four days of events across the UK.
To enable Ripon to plan well in advance, the city council has set aside £105,000 from its reserve fund.
City council leader Andrew Williams received unanimous support for proposals to roll over monies that were not spent in the current financial year.
He pointed out:
“From our experience of hosting the UCI cycling event in 2019, we know that we need to put money aside now.
“That will enable us to put all arrangements in hand for a programme of events, which will require the booking of a variety of equipment and facilities.
“We want to do a proper job to mark the queen’s incredible service to this country.”
The government has unveiled plans for a long weekend of celebrations, which has seen the late May Bank holiday moved to Thursday June 3 and an additional Bank holiday added on Friday June 3, creating a four-day weekend.
Ripon has a long and proud royal heritage, having been awarded a ceremonial horn in AD 886 by King Alfred the Great after townspeople fought off a Viking attack,
During the English Civil War, the city was on the royalist side of Charles I and the cavaliers who battled against Oliver Cromwell’s troops on Market Square.
The clock tower erected for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was commemorated in 1897 with the erection of a clock tower at the junction of Palace Road, North Street and Princess Road.
In 1985, the queen visited Ripon Cathedral and the town hall for Royal Maundy, when the monarch gives silver coins to older people on Maundy Thursday.
All her milestone anniversaries, from the Silver Jubilee in 1977 to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, have been celebrated in the city.
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Besides planning for next year, Ripon City Council is also looking ahead to this summer.
Councillors voted an additional £30,000 of funding for the refurbishment of play equipment and fencing at Quarry Moor Park.
This brings total funding to £60,000, which will enable the swings and roundabouts to be replaced in time for the lessening of lockdown restrictions.