The History of the Ripon Wakeman and the longest ongoing daily ceremony of `The Setting of The Watch` by the Ripon Hornblower which has taken place on Ripon market square every night at 9pm and has not been missed, not for one single night, in 1125 years. `The Setting of the Watch` dates back to the year 886 when King Alfred the Great visited the Ripon. He was so impressed by the beauty of the place and of the support he was given by the local population in his battle against the vikings decided to grant the community a Royal Charter. As it was a spontanious decision he didn`t have such a thing as a nice parchment scroll prepared, so he gave them a Horn as a symbol of the Charter. He suggested that as it was troubled times, they should appoint a Wakeman to keep watch all night, and he could use the Horn to sound one blast at each corner of the market cross at 9pm each evening, to let the people know he was now on patrol keepin watch, and they could retreat to their homes knowing full well it was safe for sleeping. Not been missed, not for one night since then. The present Hornblower since 2004 is 75 year old Mr.George Pickles.