Plans to make Yorkshire Day celebrations best yet

LEADING FIGURES have issued a rallying cry in a bid to make this year’s Yorkshire Day the biggest and best yet.
Alistair BrownleeAlistair Brownlee
Alistair Brownlee

With just days to go until the annual celebration of all the things which makes God’s own county great, residents are being encouraged to fly the flag of the white rose.

Heading up Friday’s festivities is a parade which invites mayors and other representatives from across Yorkshire to take part, which will take place in host town South Kirkby. With a population of around 10,000, it is the smallest place which has held the largest gathering of civic dignitaries at any one time in the UK. Diane Hickes, town council clerk, said: “We’re going to put on a great show. As we’re smaller than previous hosts everyone is pulling out all the stops. Everyone will be saying if South Kirkby can do it, we can too.”

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A string of other events will take place across the region, including a three-day celebration which includes a Yorkshire Pudding eating contest and ferret-racing in Holmfirth, Kirklees. The action, organised by Holmfirth Enterprise and Development, lasts from Friday until Sunday. Huddersfield Tourist Information Centre will celebrate Yorkshire Day with a tea party. Mayor of Kirklees Coun Ken Smith will start the celebrations by pouring the very first cuppa at 10am.

And Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive Gary Verity and Mr Yorkshire himself, Keith Madeley, have joined the Yorkshire Evening Post’s campaign to capture on the strong show of local pride which was on fine display during this summer’s Grand Départ. The region has celebrated other sporting sucess at the Commonwealth Games, which saw Leeds’ Alistair Brownlee win gold in the men’s triathlon.

Mr Verity said: “Yorkshire Day gives the entire county a chance to show their county pride all at the same time, and it’s always a delight to see how creative and passionate people are about doing this. This year’s will be even more special given the phenomenal success of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ of the Tour de France, an event which perfectly highlighted how welcoming, passionate and unique our county and its people are.

“There has never been a better time celebrate everything about this great county.”

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The buzz which has lingered on has been noticed by Mr Madeley, chairman of the Yorkshire Society, which has overseen celebrations since 1985. He said: “I always say we don’t shout about ourselves enough. The Tour showed what we can do.” Tell us about your pride in Yorkshire by tweeting your comments using the hashtag #myyorkshire.

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