war memorial Archives - Page 4 of 4

24-hour vigil in support of Ukraine to begin in Harrogate tomorrow

A 24-hour vigil will begin at the war memorial in Harrogate tomorrow to show support with Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The vigil, which has been organised by Christopher and Lindis Percy, will start at 10am and finish at 10am the following day.

Anyone is welcome to stay for as long as they want. Warm clothing is advised.

Ms Percy, who has been a well-known peace campaigner in the district for many years, said:

“The news is very dire and we thought we must do something. It is a very dangerous situation in Ukraine. We hope people will join us”.

The Stray Ferret is running a live blog about people in the district who are helping people affected by the war in Ukraine.

If you know of an initiative to provide help or support run by a person, charity, church, community group or business, let us know by calling the newsroom on 01423276197 or by emailing us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate council asked British Legion about helter skelter location

Harrogate Borough Council has said it asked the Royal British Legion if it had any objections before placing a large helter skelter next to the war memorial.

The attraction appeared on the grass in front of the memorial on Tuesday. Harrogate BID, Visit Harrogate and the council hope it will encourage footfall during the festive season.

The Victorian-style ride has received some online criticism from residents who say it is disrespectful because of its close proximity to the memorial and its appearance just two days after Remembrance Sunday.

Others say the war dead would have wanted life to continue as normal and welcomed the idea of children playing on the rides.

A council spokeswoman told the Stray Ferret that it had chosen where to put the helter skelter “very carefully”. She added the council had received six complaints from residents about the structure.

The spokeswoman said the council asked the Royal British Legion if it had any objections beforehand, adding the charity did not but asked the council to monitor anti-social behaviour caused by the attraction.

The spokeswoman said:

“We considered the location of the Helter Skelter very carefully and as part of our pre-event planning we consulted with the Royal British Legion on the proposed site. We received no objections but agreed with their only request that we are vigilant for anti-social behaviour in the area, which we are happy to do.

“We will monitor any anti-social behaviour caused by the attraction over the period and will act accordingly.

“The council have received half a dozen complaints in relation to its location, however we have also received a significant number of positive responses towards our Destination Christmas campaign.

“This includes many positive comments on Facebook from veterans and those whose relatives fought for the country, who are hugely supportive of what we are doing.”

More than 4,000 gather for Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday

More than 4,000 people gathered at Spa Gardens and on nearby city streets, as Ripon remembered the dead of two world wars and other conflicts this morning.

Civic services were held at the war memorial and in Ripon Cathedral.

Spa Gardens, which like all other parts of the city was ablaze with thousands of red hand-knitted poppies created by the Ripon Community Poppy Project, provided a fitting backdrop for the ceremony at the memorial.

It was here that Andrew Cowie, president of the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion, read out almost 400 names that appear on memorials at the gardens and in the cathedral.

Ripon’s civic Remembrance Sunday service attracted a large gathering in Spa Gardens and along city streets leading to the cathedral

Wreaths were laid by the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin, Ripon councillor and chairman of North Yorkshire County Council Stuart Martin, other dignitaries and representatives of all branches of the armed forces and the emergency services.

Members of the Royal Engineers are pictured in Spa Gardens prior to the start of formal proceedings

More than 200 Royal Engineers from Claro Barracks, were present, alongside retired service men and women and members of the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion.

The service included hymns played by Ripon City Band and the Last Post played by a bugler, which preceded the two-minute silence.

A lament by a lone piper, was followed by a prayer read by the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd. John Dobson, for fallen soldiers, sailors, air crew and civilians, who laid down their lives in conflicts across the globe.

Photo of Dean John and Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley

A prayer and a blessing were read out respectively, by the Dean of Ripon, and the Bishop of Ripon.

The ceremony concluded with the National Anthem and a blessing from the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley and was followed by a march past from Spa Gardens to the cathedral, where a Remembrance Service was held.

Soldiers of the Royal Engineers took the salute as they passed Ripon Town Hall en route to the cathedral service

The march past was led by the Royal Engineers – whose regiment has enjoyed the Freedom of the city since 1949 and continues to maintain a significant presence in Ripon.

Soldiers and all of those who followed behind them, were saluted, and applauded as they passed the town hall.

Wreaths laid at newly restored Harrogate war memorial

Wreaths were laid this morning at a newly restored memorial at Grove Road cemetery that contains the names of 16 men from the Bilton and High Harrogate areas who lost their lives in the First World War.

It was attended by around a dozen people who listened to the Last Post and observed a two-minute silence at 11am to mark Remembrance Day.

Paul Haslam, a Conservative councillor who represents Harrogate Old Bilton on Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council, spearheaded a campaign to see the dilapidated memorial restored in time for Remembrance Day.

Cllr Haslam said:

“In 2018 we promised to restore it to its former glory. Three years later we have achieved it.

“It commemorates the sacrifice of those who died and the tragedy of war.”

Mayor of Harrogate Trevor Chapman and Cllr Paul Haslam laid wreaths.

When the nearby methodist church was converted to flats, the memorial was relocated to the cemetery where it was left in parts on pallets, almost forgotten in the undergrowth. Work to restore it cost about £6,000 and was paid for by Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Haslam’s wife Kath researched the histories of the men it names.

These include Fred W.C Horner, who was only 19 when he was killed. Charles V. Bell and John W. Fishburn both were killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Dean Alexander and Nathan Proctor, two Ripon-based builders who are also ex-Royal Engineer soldiers worked to restore the memorial.

Mr Alexander said:

“It was a great honour to rebuild it.”

Harrogate’s ‘forgotten’ war memorial restored to former glory

A dilapidated war memorial in Harrogate’s Grove Road cemetery has been restored.

The memorial contains the names of 16 men from the Bilton and High Harrogate areas who lost their lives in the First World War.

When the nearby methodist church in which it stood was converted to flats, the memorial was relocated to the cemetery.

It was left in parts on pallets and had remained there since, almost forgotten in the undergrowth.

Work cost about £6,000 and was paid for by Harrogate Borough Council. It was completed by local builders Dean Alexander and Nathan Procter, who are both ex-servicemen.

Dean Alexander and Nathan Procter

Cllr Haslam said he was “delighted” to see it finished.

He added:

“We look forward to Armistice Day when people can commemorate the sacrifices these people made with the fitting memorial restored to as it was intended”.

Silent vigil in Harrogate for victims of Israeli/Palestinian conflict

Around 30 protesters stood for a silent vigil at Harrogate War Memorial today with placards that said ‘Palestine needs our help’.

The protest was organised by Harrogate and District Green Party and the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases.

Organisers said the aim was to show they stood for peace and justice for Palestinians and campaign for an end to conflict.

The escalation of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in recent days has brought worldwide attention.

Tensions are often high between Israel and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. But as the deaths, on both sides, increase people in the Harrogate district are taking a stand.

Current reports have recorded at least 139 Palestinians, including 39 children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Monday. About 950 others have been wounded. Nine people in Israel have been killed.

One of the protesters, Darius Samadian, said:

“I think it’s so important to talk about what is happening in Palestine. We need to show support. I don’t think people properly know what is happening, these are just normal people getting hurt. We want to stand up for the oppressed and people without a voice.

“Peace is not one side or the other it’s both sides coming together. We need to work for one side coming together.

Those who attended wanted to take a stand against the conflict in Israel.

The 30 people stood on the grassy verge at the front of the war memorial for around an hour today.

They stood in silence holding numerous placards calling for peace. People read poems they had written about the conflict and gave speeches about what they believe the next steps need to be.

Shan Oakes, local green party co-ordinator, said:

“When something as dreadful as this is happening in the world, we need to do something about it. We can all do something, write to our MPs and come out here and show we care. There’s a saying ‘evil prevails when good people do nothing’ – people may feel like they can’t do anything by they can.

“Just generally giving solidarity with all the people in the Middle East in this struggle. There are things we can do.”

Lindis Percy, co-Founder of the Campaign for the Accountabity of American Bases, said:

“I think it’s really important that we actually speak out. There are a lot of people that feel desperately about this situation and don’t know what to do. It’s been going on for years but I think it’s very very serious now. It’s terrible some of the stories coming out and we just want peace.”

Black Lives Matter rally passes off peacefully in Harrogate

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the Stray today as part of a rally to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Observing social distancing, with many also wearing masks, they spread across the top of Montpellier Hill to hear a series of speakers sharing their views and experiences.

Heavy showers as the event got under way did not deter audience, who were supported by car horns sounded by passing drivers. Speakers referenced everything from the history of slavery in the British Empire to what residents can do today to eliminate racism in the Harrogate district.

Black Lives Matter

Organiser Josephine Caven told the crowd:

“The black voices and lives have been ignored for too long. And we have been silent too long. Our silence is violence on the black community, we cannot be complacent or silent any longer, because if we don’t be strong and listen and speak, it will be our neighbour, friend, relative that suffers.

“Now is the time to learn, speak and fight for change that will create true equality for the black community. We must be allies to this cause. Now being an ally won’t be easy, you have to admit your failings, have difficult conversations with yourself and others. We will also stand corrected and try really hard to eliminate the ingrained beliefs and biases we have within ourselves thanks to institutionalised racism that we all grow up and accept.

“But this learning curve will bring us all together with the love and respect we have for each other and we will stand united strong and never divided.”

A small number of people had gathered separately by Harrogate’s war memorial, following attacks on statues commemorating historic figures associated with the slave trade and people who held racist views. However, the 45-minute demonstration by the Black Lives Matter supporters passed off peacefully, with police officers observing both groups from nearby.

It ended with applause and chants of “Black Lives Matter”. As supporters dispersed, Josephine told The Stray Ferret the atmosphere had been positive, with the rain adding weight to supporters’ determination to stand against racism.

Individuals and groups of family members joined the protests

A few people had gathered at Harrogate’s war memorial while the rally took place

Supporters had brought home-made banners for the demonstration

Black Lives Matter protest in Harrogate, June 20, 2020

Protestors came out despite heavy rain at the start of the rally

Participants were largely observing social distancing between households

Clapped and cheered

Supporters clapped and cheered as the protest ended.

Silent protest in Harrogate supports Black Lives Matter movement

Members of the community showed their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement this afternoon in Harrogate.

Unlike other protests seen around the world, in Harrogate it took the form of a five-minute silence, maintaining social distancing.

Individuals and families gathered near Harrogate’s war memorial at 3pm this afternoon. Once gathered, each took a knee and fell silent for five minutes from 3.15pm. The protest ended with applause at 3.30pm.

Organisers Bill Rigby and Shan Oakes said:

“We, the residents of the Harrogate district, want to express our great sadness at the murder of George Floyd, and our solidarity with black and other oppressed groups in communities worldwide.”