News
Flags raised as city marks death of patron saint
Thursday 23 April 2009
RIPON is flying the flag for St Wilfrid as the city marks 1,300 years since his death.
Dozens of flags and banners are going up in the city centre to mark the death of Ripon's patron saint and a year-long festival is taking place – largely centred on the cathedral founded by Wilfrid in the seventh century – which is expected to attract a large number of visitors to the city.
(Flying the flag for St Wilfrid are, from left, Lt Col Ian Horsford, tourist information officer Paul Darbyshire, Archdeacon of Richmond the Ven Janet Henderson, Coun Bernard Bateman and Deli on Duck Hill owner Don Grundy)
County Coun Bernard Bateman, of the Ripon Marketing Group, said the idea of the banners was to brighten up the city and give it a real festival atmosphere.
"The anniversary is being marked elsewhere in Europe where St Wilfrid is known and we are expecting a lot of visitors to Ripon for the festival," he said.
The St Wilfrid 1300 Festival features lectures, exhibitions, music and dance, and full details are available by visiting www.wilfrid1300.org.uk.
