Latest news with #Ryhope
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ryhope's stolen pony statue replaced by mystery artist
Villagers have awoken to a replica pony standing tall in place of a bronze metal statue which was cut down to its hooves last original in Ryhope, Sunderland, was stolen in August 2024, while an identical statue at the other end of the village was sliced down by thieves in 2021, with nobody ever traced for either new bronze-coloured, fibreglass effigy by a secretive sculptor appeared on one of the concrete plinths welcoming visitors to the village on Friday families of miners previously said they were heartbroken by the theft of the statues, which they said were memorials to those who worked at Ryhope pits. Councillors previously estimated it could cost £34,000 to replace each original, and that the council faced "financial pressures". The person behind the replacement artwork, who is only willing to be identified on social media as Ryhope Horse, said they had been "vexed" every time they passed the remains of the original statue."It annoyed me to see the cut-off feet every time I drove passed it," they told the BBC."[It was] just a matter of local pride, I wasn't going to let the thieves spoil it for Ryhope." The same sculpture was first installed at the village's other plinth in 2023, but was repeatedly damaged and the same mystery artist replaced it with a more sturdy concrete statue."Once that [concrete statue] was made, I concentrated on repairing this one and making a suitable base to fit it to the taller plinth," the artist said. "Now we have two again."Villagers were left baffled in 2023 when the replacement statue first appeared, hailing the cryptic creator who had "gone to so much trouble" to make the pony. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
09-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sunderland vicars complete more than 1,000 parkruns
A group of Church of England priests who have completed more than 1,000 parkruns say it helps "keep them sane".The five vicars turn out every Saturday to take part in the Silksworth event in Sunderland, one of hundreds of free weekly 3.1m (5k) runs that take place in parks around the Reverend David Chadwick, Vicar of St Paul's, Ryhope began taking part in 2012 and persuaded other ordained colleagues to join him."I've done funerals and other services for families because people know me from parkrun, it's how I meet parishioners who don't come to church," he said. "When I became a curate, people kept feeding me cake," Mr Chadwick said. "I went on a tour of the Sinai peninsular and there's a photograph of me on a camel and it was difficult to see which was which so I decided I needed to start running."There's something about running that I find very uplifting and very life giving, it keeps me sane and helps me think. "When I have a problem I can usually sort it out when I'm running." Over time, he persuaded five other vicars in the Sunderland area to join him, including the Reverend Jen Bradshaw, Team Rector of North Wearside Parish, who has now completed 316 parkruns. "Silksworth is not even the nearest one to where I live, but we've built such a community there, not just with the clergy but with the other runners," she said."It's just so lovely to be among friends and feel like you're part of a wider group." The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, is also a keen runner and completed the Great North Run in both 2023 and then she said "It's so iconic how could I not do it?"Yes running's tough at times, but it's getting through that challenge which is so life-affirming." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
