Fun in Ripon

So, what was going on in Ripon? Well, it turned out to be a parade! In the market square there were all manner of performers, rides and activities to entertain the children. This lady had a big net and some bubble solution so that when she shook the net in the breeze a huge stream of bubbles released, much to the joy of the little ones. I've blanked out most of their faces but there was one small girl whose face just showed such delight that I've opted to leave her visible. 

Outside the Town Hall there was a group of clergy from the Cathedral; the Mayor (Councillor Sid Hawke) and his wife, the Mayoress; and the Hornblower (see HERE to read about this ancient tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages).  

Crowds had started to gather on the streets. By a stroke of luck I managed to find a decent place to watch, on a corner, which was amazing considering I'd just stumbled across the event. 

And then it came... the St Wilfrid's Procession, led by Ripon City Band. The procession is a unique and historic event, dating back to 1108, when King Henry I granted the town a royal charter to hold an annual fair. It traditionally marks the Feast of St Wilfrid, the patron saint of Ripon and founder of the cathedral. 

Here is St Wilfrid, on horseback, accompanied by some monks. 

As St Wilfrid passed the Town Hall, the clergy, the mayoral party and the Hornblower slotted into the procession behind him. The procession then wound its way around the streets, covering seven and a half miles in about three hours, before making its way to Ripon Cathedral for a short service.