Knitting for Victory – Ripon Cathedral

Thousands of hours, millions of stitches – the Ripon Community Poppy Project is working in partnership with Ripon Cathedral for a shared moment of commemoration and celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, VE80.

Knitting for victory – eighty years on.

The knitters are currently busy knitting red, white and blue bunting, knitted plates with knitted sandwiches and knitted cakes, and intend to cover Ripon to remind people of the day the German forces surrendered to the Allied Powers, Victory in Europe Day on May 8th followed on Friday 15 August by Victory in Japan Day.

Over the last six years its forty volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours to knitting amazing displays, (there’s a regular ‘Knit and Natter’ group on Monday mornings) and to creating installations and organising events.

And the Ripon Community Poppy Project has recently been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This award is the equivalent to an MBE – and is the highest award given to voluntary groups in the UK.

In June last year Ripon Cathedral hosted a full-sized knitted tank for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing, knitted by the Poppy Project.

This Easter, post boxes and lamp posts will be adorned with knitted baskets of eggs and Easter chicks.

And the people of Ripon will be united on the anniversary, Thursday 8 May with a VE Day Proms Celebration in the Cathedral at 7.15pm

VE Day Proms Celebration

7.15pm on Thursday 8th May 2025 in Ripon Cathedral.

Ripon Community Poppy Project working in partnership with Ripon Cathedral