Rejoicing in Ripon: Ripon’s Yorkshire Day bid for Top of the Tykes title

 

Ripon has announced plans designed to position the city as the leading Tyke destination when Yorkshire Day arrives on August 1.

The day for celebrating all that is best about God’s Green Acre 🌿 coincides this year with the annual St Wilfrid’s Procession in honour of the man who literally put Ripon on the map, and Councillor Andrew Williams, who heads the ruling independents group on Ripon City Council, told fellow councillors at last night’s (Monday’s) full council meeting:

“This is our opportunity to put Ripon at the top of the Yorkshire league table of towns and cities.” ⚪️🔵⚪️

The bid to keep the city in the spotlight follows the attention‑grabbing and much‑filmed and photographed illuminated I Love Ripon sign ❤️ on Market Square that has proved popular with residents and visitors alike.

Now, the city council, in partnership with Ripon BID, is aiming to show the county, the region and the nation why it is the most Yorkshire of Yorkshire places 🏞️.

But what are its credentials for such a bold claim to fame?

For readers who may be sceptical, here are some of the reasons supporting the bid to be known as top of the Tykes:

  • Our magnificent Medieval cathedral ⛪ with roots dating back to AD 672 makes Ripon the undisputed Cathedral City of the (Yorkshire) Dales.
  • In the ninth century, hard‑to‑intimidate Ripon Tykes earned royal recognition for the city by seeing off a Viking incursion ⚔️.
  • It was a feat of bravery that brought the gift of a ceremonial horn 📯 from King Alfred the Great in AD 886 and led to the introduction of the world‑famous nightly setting of the watch ceremony, which has been performed without fail for 1,140 years, surviving wars, plague and the Covid pandemic, among other things.

Speaking after last night’s council meeting, Cllr Williams, who is also a member of the BID board, told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:

“The evidence is there for all to see and the St Wilfrid’s procession will be the centrepiece of the day when we stake our claim to being top of the Tykes as the most Yorkshire of Yorkshire places.” 🎉

Ripon BID manager and “hopeful honorary Yorkshirewoman” Lilla Bathurst said:

“We’re aiming to have 50 Yorkshire flags flying proudly around the city centre and on the route of the procession 🚩, while the council, in liaison with the procession committee, is looking to extend the programme of family‑friendly events on Market Square to 8.45pm prior to a four‑fold Yorkshire Day blast from the city’s team of Hornblowers.” 📯📯📯📯

The fabulous four hornblowers Steven, Gunner, Allison and Wayne will join forces to give a Yorkshire Day blast in Ripon.