FOLLOWING the announcement that North Yorkshire’s county town’s square is to be renamed to honour our sporting greats, Spectator has heard chatter about other places which could be dedicated to inspirational figures from the area.

Top of the list of contenders appears to be for the top of Sutton Bank, to be renamed Wight’s Sight, as it was the James Herriot author and Thirsk-based vet’s favourite view.

Other ideas doing the rounds include renaming the River Leven for its stretch through Great Ayton as Cook’s Brook, as it passes the explorer’s schoolroom museum, but the most outlandish of all seems an idea to rebrand a central area of Ripon simply as Wonderland, after author Lewis Carroll’s ties with the city.

On the subject of rebranding, Spectator understands those behind the area’s most prestigious annual canine extravaganza, being held this weekend, are not considering changing its name. Despite the annual Darlington Dog Show having been held more than 30 miles away in Ripon more than ten times, it will continue with the name with which it has forged a strong reputation since the 1860s.

PLANS to change the boundaries of North Yorkshire’s constituencies have created a bit of a stir among those interested in the county’s politics.

Ahead of the last election Tories in Thirsk and Malton, and also in Richmond constituency, selected contrasting candidates in Kevin Hollinrake and Rishi Sunak.

The proposals would mean the MPs would each take on Conservative Party members in parts of the other’s current constituency who didn’t choose them. Even those with a poor memory will remember the long-standing feud among local Tories following the previous changes to the constituencies’ boundaries.