Staff and students of the College of Ripon and York St John packed out Ripon Cathedral yesterday as they said their final farewells to the city.

The college has finally departed from the historic city, to concentrate it's campus in York's Lord Mayor's Walk - where massive expansion plans are underway.

A thanksgiving service was held yesterday, to commemorate the 150 years of tradition associated between the college and Ripon.

Present and past students, staff and friends of the college gathered for the special service led by the college chaplain, the Rev Jeremy Clines.

Updated: 11:12 Monday, June 11, 2001