The prolific knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project have stepped up a gear with their latest imaginative creation – a multi-coloured quilt for a car!

Designed to catch the eye, the vehicle with its hand-crafted fitted cover will be on display on Ripon Market Square for three days starting tomorrow (July 14) and a further three days from July 21, before featuring in the St Wilfrid’s Procession on July 29.

Hazel Barker, co-founder of RCPP and organiser of the project’s Knit and Natter Group, told the Stray Ferret:

“We came up with the idea as a means of publicising the Ripon Old Cars Classic Gathering at Ripon Racecourse on July 30, which will raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK and 10 local charities.”

The car with its knitted quilt

She added:

“The event has been held for almost 30 years and proceeds from it have been donated to charities and local good causes.”

Following the 2022 gathering, Guide Dogs received an award of £5,000 and previous beneficiaries include the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Knit and Natter Group, which meets each week at Hazel House on Allhallowgate and other knitters who work from home, have had a busy year so far.

They have created themed city centre decorations for the Easter holiday and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, while continuing to knit thousands more poppies that will be in place for this year’s Remembrance events in Ripon.

The Stray in Harrogate has been chosen as one of three locations for a new UK fundraising walk.

Dementia research charity Alzheimer’s Research UK is staging five-kilometre Walk for a Cure events in Harrogate, London and Edinburgh in July.

The event on the Stray will take place on Sunday, July 23 and people are being encouraged to take part and raise £100 each.

Sara Hoxhaj, north of England and Yorkshire fundraising officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“Almost one million people are living with dementia in the UK today. Tragically, not one of them will survive. Alzheimer’s Research UK exists to change that.

“Come and join us on the Walk For A Cure.  Your support will help us fund pioneering dementia research, that will help us to save people from the heartbreak of dementia.”

Read more:

• New opening dates for Harrogate and Knaresborough leisure centres revealed
• Ramshackle phone box transformed into Stray information point

Besides the walk, there will be a host of activities to help people understand their brains and the things they can do to look after them in an area on the Stray that will include:

• A large wooden brain sculpture to capture visitors’ thoughts and reflections on dementia.
• A range of craft activities – colouring, making paper brain hats.
• A giant game of brain health Kerplunk.

Local supporter John Hirst will take part to raise money for dementia research in memory of his wife Pat, who died with frontotemporal dementia aged just 66.

Mr Hirst said:

“I know that one day there will be a cure for the diseases that cause dementia and I’m proud to be doing my bit to help us get there.”

More details of the walk are available here.