Blessed with bright spring sunshine, today’s annual Palm Sunday procession from Ripon Market Square to the city’s magnificent cathedral, heralded the start of Holy Week.
With Easter Sunday just a week away, people of all denominations congregated on the square for an ecumenical open air service led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson (pictured below).
Christ’s triumphant journey to Jerusalem was re-enacted as clergy and choristers carried large palms and followed Lily the donkey attended by 12-year-old Phoebe and her 13-year-old cousin Liza.
The procession went from the city centre and down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a Sung Eucharist service was held.
Donkey Lily was led by cousins Phoebe (left) and Liza
The walk, with choristers singing and led by the Cathedral’s director of music, Dr Ronny Krippner, took the procession along Market Place East before the turn into Kirkgate and into the ancient church for the 10.30 service.
Phoebe and Liza, pictured before they led the procession with Lily the donkey
Along the route, they passed an array of Easter-themed decorations created by the non-stop knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project. Two of their eye-catching designs can be seen below.
Crowning glory. The post box on Market Place East wearing its own Easter bonnet
Knitted Easter eggs adorn the trees around Market Square
Main image: Choristers on Kirkgate in Ripon’s annual Palm Sunday procession
Callous vandal attack on small Ripon cafeThe owner of one of Ripon’s smallest cafes, has been dealt a devastating blow caused by an act of mindless vandalism.
Helen Slater, who has run the Cathedral View Cafe for six years, arrived at work this morning to discover that one of the windows at her Bedern Bank premises had been smashed with a rock.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“I was absolutely heartbroken, this has never happened to me before and the timing could not have been worse.”
Ms Slater who arrived in festive dress, ready for a hard day’s work, added:
“With the Ripon Cathedral Gift and Food Fair taking place across the road, I was expecting this to be one of my busiest weekends of the year, as I serve breakfast sandwiches and other food and drink items for people who have stalls at the fair.
“But with a broken window, it wasn’t safe to open and I lost all of that breakfast business, as I had to spend three hours cleaning up, contacting my landlord and reporting the vandal attack to the police.”
With the window boarded up, Cathedral View was able to open in time for the later morning and lunchtime trade and it will be business as usual again tomorrow.
Ms Slater, said:
“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow traders, customers and other people who have sent me supportive messages, made offers of help and dropped by with flowers and chocolates,
“The generosity of the local community has again shone through and I would particularly like to thank Ripon Walled Garden who cheered me up with the gift of a Christmas tree.”
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Knaresborough banking hub officially opens
A banking hub in Knaresborough has officially opened its doors to customers.
An opening event was held at the site on Kirkgate this morning.
Cash Access UK, the not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash, is behind the new facility.
Officials from the company, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, local councillors and the town crier were all in attendance at the official opening.
Cat Farrow, chief operating officer at Cash Access UK, said:
“Knaresborough is really thriving.
“It has got a lot of small businesses and people who need access to cash.”
Mr Jones, who cut the ribbon, described the hub as a “huge community asset”.
Knaresborough town crier at the opening of the banking hub.
The hub, at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.
It also provides a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.
The hub is open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm and the community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week: NatWest on Mondays, Halifax on Tuesdays, Santander on Wednesdays, HSBC on Thursdays, and Barclays on Fridays.
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Plan approved to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
A plan has been approved to convert part of a grade-II listed former Knaresborough mill into a banking hub.
Cash Access UK submitted the proposal to North Yorkshire Council for the building on Kirkgate in the town.
The mill was built in the 18th century and was most recently used as a tile showroom.
It will see the ground floor of the former mill converted into a banking hub, which will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The company identified the former mill as its site for the banking hub in June.
At the time, Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access UK, said:
“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.
“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough.”
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Sneak peek: Ripon’s newest hospitality venue opens today
The newest addition to Ripon’s hospitality sector opened its doors at 12 noon today (Saturday).
Adam Coulson, owner of the Portly Pig on Kirkgate, invited the Stray Ferret to an eve-of-opening sneak peek to find out what the independent bottleshop and taproom has to offer – and there was plenty to see.
The focus is on serving real ales, craft beers and ciders on tap in bottles and cans, while spirits and wines are also on the drinks menu.
The bottled and canned drinks are principally produced in Yorkshire.
Mr Coulson told the Stray Ferret:
“The majority of the drinks have been sourced from independent breweries, distilleries and wine suppliers based in Yorkshire.
“We’re offering something a bit different that we hope adds to the attraction of Ripon as a city with a great community of independent businesses.”
Dog owners and their dogs are welcome.
The Portly Pig’s historic premises, which have been converted to include a ground floor bar and upstairs seating areas, have seen a variety of uses over two centuries.
Number 5 Kirkgate will be known to many as the former Oasis Florists and those with longer memories will recall it being the offices of the Ripon Gazette newspaper.
A civic society plaque by the front door shows that before then it was a Town (Council) House from 1835 to 1851and then a borough police station with four cells between 1875 and 1887.
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Plan submitted to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
A plan has been submitted to convert part of a grade-II listed former Knaresborough mill into a banking hub.
Cash Access UK has lodged the plan for the building on Kirkgate in the town.
The mill was built in the 18th century and was most recently used as a tile showroom.
The developer plans to convert the ground floor of the former mill into a banking hub, which will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The company identified the former mill as its site for the banking hub in June.
At the time, Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access UK, said:
“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.
“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough.”
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Cash Access UK is owned and funded by 10 of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.
Read more:
- Knaresborough banking hub could open this year
- Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building
Last summer concert brings hundreds to Ripon Market Square
Hundreds of people gathered on Ripon Market Square yesterday for the last large-scale public event of the summer organised by the city council.
Families with children from tots to teenagers came early in the afternoon to ride the Ferris wheel and roundabout, both of which proved a constant draw until dusk, when tribute acts took centre stage in front of the town hall.
The queue for the Ferris wheel stretched the length of Market Square
Evening entertainment was provided by tribute acts playing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, while the Big Boyband Reunion, played a selection of the chart-topping songs made famous by leading boy bands.
The crowd on Market Square steadily grew throughout the evening.
One of the concert highlights came when the Neil Diamond lookalike and soundalike sang Sweet Caroline, the adopted anthem of the England women’s football team.
Sweet Caroline struck a chord with the Ripon crowd
The Robbie Williams tribute act
Elton John’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me rang out before sunset arrived and at 9pm Allison Clark, a member of the Ripon hornblower team (pictured below) provided a reminder of the city’s ancient roots, by performing the nightly setting of the watch ceremony, which has reputedly been carried out without break for more than eleven hundred years.
You can watch a live video from last night on our Facebook page.
More free Bank Holiday entertainment
The free family-focused entertainment continues in Ripon on Monday, with a street party in Kirkgate from 11am until 4pm and a Spanish-themed fiesta on Minster Gardens from 5pm until 9.30pm.
Organised by independent businesses in the city as part of the Totally Locally initiative developed with Ripon BID, the Bank Holiday event will see the closure of Kirkgate from 9am.
An independent bottle shop and taproom is set to open in the heart of Ripon.
The Portly Pig will operate in a building on Kirkgate that has seen a variety of uses over two centuries.
Number 5 Kirkgate will be known to many as the former Oasis Florists and those with longer memories will recall it being the offices of the Ripon Gazette newspaper.
A Civic Society plaque shows that before then it was a Town (Council) House from 1835 to 1851and then a borough police station with four cells between 1875 and 1887.
The Ripon Civic Society plaque
Now, Adam Coulson is transforming the premises into The Portly Pig Bottleshop and Taproom. He told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re really looking forward to opening at this great location in a building with such a fascinating history.
“We are on target to open in early September and are delighted with the positive responses on social media that we have received since putting an ‘opening soon’ sign in our windows.”
Mr Coulson added:
“Our focus will be on serving real ales, craft beers and ciders, both on tap and in bottles, along with spirits and wines.
“The majority of the drinks will come from local independent breweries, distilleries and wine suppliers.”
Finishing touches being made to the premises will include permanent signage – but where did the name come from?
Mr Coulson explained:
“I was on holiday in Portugal with my wife Katrina and we had just had a delicious meal, when the idea of The Portly Pig came to us. It’s as a name that we hope will catch the eye.”
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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.
Ripon busks in bright Bank Holiday sunshine
Musicians busked in the bright Bank Holiday sunshine in Ripon as performers in many different musical genres attracted extra footfall to the city’s streets.
The Ripon Indie event, organised by independent traders and featuring a host of highly-talented local and regional artists, was supported by Ripon Business Improvement District.
There was a large gathering on Kirkgate, where performers included the rock band Time Machine (main picture) and singer-songwriter Alannah Creed, pictured below.
The day also featured a Little Bird Artisan Market in the city centre which, alongside the musical entertainment and a team of Bollywood-style dancers, brought hundreds of people in to Ripon.
Buskers were strategically placed in Market Square, Westgate, North Street and The Arcade and their music acted as a magnet to those wishing to follow the busking trail.
Popular Ripon performers Lily Worth (above) and Freddie Cleary (below) were among the entertainers who showed the depth of young musical talent that the city boasts.
Yesterday’s event proved a natural follow-on from the successful street party held on Kirkgate on Easter Monday, which ran under the umbrella of the independents’ Totally Locally Campaign backed by Ripon BID.
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