The Ripon Mayor's column with Pauline McHardy

Remembering the airmen that gave the ultimate for us all is always a very touching and emotional time.

Following the service the airmen and the band paraded on the Market Square looking immaculate and showing how proud they were to be in our wonderful city exercising their freedom.

It was very pleasing to see one of the airmen carrying and displaying the scroll that was awarded to RAF Leeming in my previous mayoral year granting them the Freedom of the City.

The Station Commander David Arthurton and I took the salute on the Dias as the airmen completed their march past.

I could tell he was purring with pride, as was I, at the performance and appearance of his men.

Members of the public gave them a rapturous round of applause.

In Ripon we certainly hold our armed forces in great esteem.

Wednesday 20 September – I attended a concert which was part of the international festival week at St Wilfrid’s Church.

Barrie Price warmly greeted everyone, and he and his wife Elizabeth hosted me for the evening.

The concert comprised of a quartet from the Brighouse and Rastrick Band.

These were four very talented musicians who came from Sweden, Australia Luxembourg and Scotland.

They gave a varying performance of classical and popular music which the whole audience enjoyed.

I spoke with the performers at the end of the concert and they said how much they had enjoyed themselves and thought St Wilfrid’s Church to be a beautiful venue.

Of course we all know and appreciate St Wilfrid’s Church is another of Ripon’s jewels and I am looking forward to seeing the restorations completed.

I am sure it will be an amazing sight.

Friday 22 September – The deputy mayor Cllr Charlie Powell, Geoffrey Johnson, the mayor’s serjeant and I attended the Street Food Event at Newby Hall.

This was a great event with food stalls from across the world and various other stalls.

It was quite exciting trying to dodge the three 20ft dinosaurs that were wandering around the grounds pretending to take food from people.

These dinosaurs had come from Holland to attend the event, and members of the public and stallholders were quite intrigued by them.

They were so life like and such tormentors.

There was a cinema at this event which was open in the evening, and guess what the film was that was to be shown?

Yes that’s right – Jurassic Park.

I am sure Geoffrey will have strong memories of these dinosaurs as they were very persistent when troubling him.

Seeing this made Charlie and I laugh so much we were almost crying.

I did manage to video this scene and periodically I will play it back to Geoffrey.