Ripon Community Poppy Project - Remembrance

Each year during November, we commemorate the end of the Second World War with a spectacular display of knitted poppies and a fantastic concert at Ripon Cathedral

A Concert of Remembrance in Ripon Cathedral

5th November 2026

Doors open 6.45pm, Concert starts 7.15pm.

Tickets £17

Available from:
Big Bites, 6 Queen Street, Ripon
& The Wakeman Café, 33 Market Place, Ripon

or online via EventBrite link below (fees apply)

BUY CONCERT TICKETS ONLINE

Our 2026 Performers

East Cleveland Brass (formerly North Skelton Band) represents the latest chapter in a long and proud brass band tradition rooted in the mining communities of East Cleveland.
The present band was formed through the merger of North Skelton Band and Lockwood Brass. North Skelton itself evolved from the former Langbaurgh Brass, while Lockwood Brass was established in 2000 through the merger of Yarm & District and Lingdale Silver Band.
The adoption of the name East Cleveland Brass reflects the band’s strong connection to the region and its rich brass band heritage — a tradition closely associated with the ironstone-mining communities that flourished throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The band’s motto, “Forged from iron. Honed in brass,” celebrates this heritage while looking firmly towards the future.
Following a period of consistent and impressive performances at the Regional North of England Brass Band Championships, East Cleveland Brass will compete in the Championship Section from January 2027. The band currently sits at the top of the three-year North of England First Section table for 2024–26, having achieved the strongest aggregate record in the region.
Away from the contest stage, East Cleveland Brass maintains a busy programme of performances throughout East Cleveland and North Yorkshire, bringing live brass music to communities across the area. The band is particularly honoured to have been invited to return to Ripon Cathedral for the 2026 Festival of Remembrance.

Born in 2000 in North  Yorkshire, Charlotte Potter is rapidly gaining the highest acclaim for her performances in the UK and overseas. Charlotte recently finished her training at The Guildhall School of Music &  Drama, and before this, attended the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.

In 2017, Charlotte was honoured to sing at Westminster’s Central Hall, London and 2018 saw her singing at the Proms in the Priory with the London Gala Orchestra.  In 2019 she was invited, by Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, to sing with Lesley Garrett.

Charlotte has been invited for four summers to perform a number of recitals in Bagni di Lucca, Italy. In 2020 Charlotte appeared in Season 7 of ITV’s Endeavour, playing the role of an Oxford University Music undergraduate.

In 2022, Charlotte was part of a SATB recording of 'A Song for the Commonwealth' ‑ heard around the UK and Commonwealth as beacons were lit in celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Charlotte has had the great honour of joining the Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at Durham Cathedral as their soloist for the Festival of Remembrance for 3 years, and has been the principal soloist for 2 years at The Great North Proms at the O2 City Hall, Newcastle.

Charlotte first performed at Ripon Cathedral in June 2024 to celebrate the anniversary of D-Day and again for the Festival of Remembrance in November. She is delighted to be back singing in this beautiful cathedral again tonight.

Mark Sidwell - Born in 1972 Mark started playing the trumpet at the age of 8, moving quickly over to the cornet. After studying conducting with Major Peter Parkes, Mark accepted an invitation at the age of 20, to become the resident conductor of the Northeast based Championship section band, Northumbria Police.

Mark has conducted ever since and has continually enjoyed various conducting posts through all of the grading sections.

Today Mark divides his time between freelance performance as a brass player, conducting and teaching brass instrumentalists both privately and in many local schools.

Richard Martin is an organist and pianist based in Nidderdale.

Originally from Bradford, he spent two years as the organ scholar at Leeds Cathedral before studying engineering at Durham University.

Whilst at Durham, he was the Director of Music at the Catholic Chaplaincy and studied organ with James Lancelot and piano with Ruth Armishaw.

Working in partnership with Ripon Cathedral

Supported by Your Harrogate

Alongside our dedicated volunteeers, the Ripon Community Poppy Project Concert of Remembrance has been made possible by the support of the following businesses:

Refreshments kindly sponsored by