The Yorkshire Ridings Society

Yorkshire Day News

Appearing here - the latest news about the society's activities, especially about the next Yorkshire Day, Saturday 1st August 2009. For updates on the York to Minden walk, see the special White Rose to Minden section

Yorkshire Day 2009 Events.

York: The traditional reading of the Declaration of Yorkshire Integrity will take place on Yorkshire Day at four of the Bars (gates) of York. The first reading will be at Walmgate Bar at 10.45. The reading at Mickelgate Bar will be at 11:34 indicating the 1134 years since the first reference to Yorkshire and its Ridings. Further readings will then take place at Bootham Bar and Monk Bar with a final reading in St Sampson's Square, at about 1 PM, where a Yorkshire Day event, featuring two brass bands, has been arranged by York City Council. There is a Yorkshire Day  Beer Festival at the Bay Horse, Marygate which will run throughout the day.

Hessle, East Riding: An East Riding event has been held for a number of years. This year it is at Hessle Square. It will feature music and food as well as the reading of the Declaration of Yorkshire Integrity. Start is around 10.00.

Saltburn: The North Eastern branch of the Ridings' Society is organising its annual Duck Race and a Yorkshire Day Country Fair at Saltburn on Sea.

Pickering: A day of activities including music and dance is taking place in Pickering to celebrate the county's special day.

Leeds: A Yorkshire Day barbeque is being organised at Temple Newsum in the evening.

Sunday, August 2nd, Saddleworth: Yorkshire Day celebrations in Upper Mill with a procession, Reading of the Declaration of Yorkshire Integrity, music and a country fair.

 

There are many other events taking place all over the county. Details may be in local newspapers or announced on local radio.

To Germany with a White Rose. 250 miles for 250 years.

Why would anyone walk 250 miles to Germany carrying a white rose bush?

Well Tony Hawks travelled round Ireland with a fridge, so it's perhaps not as strange as it first seems.

YRS members Christine and Roger Sewell will set off from the Mansion House in York on the 16th July to walk to the site of the Battle of Minden, in Germany. The battle took place on 1st August 1759. August 1st is also Yorkshire Day and the walk is intended to create a link between the two days.

A Yorkshire Infantry regiment, The 51st Regiment of Foot, fought in the battle and local reports state that English soldiers wore roses, picked locally, on their uniforms either during or after the battle, possibly in memory of fallen comrades. The tradition of wearing roses on Minden day has been carried on by English regiments which have connections with the battle of Minden. In the case of Yorkshire Regiments these are white roses. The white rose has been used as  a badge showing association with the county for some time.

The rose bush which is being carried is to be planted near the monument to the battle so that white roses will, in the future, bloom, hopefully for Minden Day / Yorkshire Day, at the site of the battle. The roses will serve as a memorial to the Yorkshiremen who fought in the battle and as a reminder of the link between Minden Day and Yorkshire Day.

Read more on the background to the walk, and keep up to date with Chris and Roger's progress in this section of the website.

Yorkshire Day 2009

Yorkshire is preparing for Yorkshire Day (1st  August) which is, this year, on a Saturday. Plenty of time to celebrate. Have you planned your event yet?

Anyone can organise an event to celebrate the County's special day. There are events of all sizes from large public galas and fairs to small private parties.

YRS would like to know how you celebrate the day. Please let us know at admin@yorkshireridings.org

Yorkshire Day in Pickering

A day of events, including music and dance, is being planned in Pickering to celebrate Yorkshire Day. More details to follow shortly.

Yorkshire Flags available from YRS Products.

YORKSHIRE FLAGS are available, by post, from YRS Products. Please go to the YRS Products page for details of the flags, prices and how to order.

Order your flags ready for YORKSHIRE DAY. These flags make great presents.

A home for the ceremonial flag

Following the success of the Yorkshire flag registration, the unfurling ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and the walk from Hull to York, the Ceremonial Flag was installed in the Guildhall at York by the Lord Mayor of York, on Wednesday 7th January 2009.

The White Rose is displayed alongside the Union Flag, the flag of the City of York and the European Union Flag.

The event began with a civic procession which was led by the mace and sword bearers and included the Lord Mayor and theSheriff of York in full ceremonial robes. They were accompanied by their wives.

 

Following the reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, by Judith Preston-Anderson, YRS President, the ceremonial flag was carried into the hall by Chris Sewell and was escorted by most of the Hull to York walkers.

In accepting the flag into the City’s care, The Lord Mayor of York referred tho the event as, 'An important day in the history of the City of York and the County of Yorkshire.' He went on to express his pride in the county and in being able to take part in the ceremony. 

Roger Sewell, YRS Vice Chairman, said, ‘It is a great honour for the Yorkshire Ridings’ Society that the flag is being displayed in such an historic setting’. He then gave a brief account of the registration process, the benefits of registration and the walk to York.  He thanked the City Council for their support of the society and Yorkshire Day.

Chris Abbott, YRS Chairman, presented the Sheriff with a copy of the Registration Certificate for the City of York. It is hoped that this will be displayed near the flag

The event was attended by, members and representatives of York City Council, members of the society and the walkers who carried the flag from Hull to York following the registration ceremony in July.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to the Mansion House for refreshments. The executive then held a meeting in the splendid dining room of the Mansion House

 

The Society extends sincere thanks to all who assisted in the flag registration process and ceremonies.

Yorkshire Flag Registered

At the request of the Yorkshire Ridings' Society, the Yorkshire Flag has been entered on the register of flags maintained by the UK Flag Institute.

The flag is now exempt from planning regulations and charges which apply to many other flags. You can now fly your Yorkshire Flag without the need to apply for permission.

To celebrate the registration of the Yorkshire Flag, a ceremony was held at Hull on 29th July. During the ceremony the Lord Mayor of Hull  unfurled a new ceremonial flag commissioned by the society. The flag was then be carried to York by a group of walkers. It arrived at York on Friday 1st August to take part in the Yorkshire Day celebrations.

More background on Flying the Flag

Yorkshire Day 2008

The society invites you or your organisation to Celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1st each year.

In 2008 Yorkshire Day is on a Friday, so there is a great opportunity to celebrate in the evening.

Yorkshire Day, a day to celebrate everything Yorkshire, but especially the integrity of the county, was introduced by the society over thirty years ago.

Each year, on that day, members of the society read a declaration of the integrity of Yorkshire at four of the Bars of York.

A reading is held facing into each of the three ridings and into the city. In 2007 a reading was held in the city centre too.

Many celebrations of Yorkshire Day now take place all over the county.Yorkshire Day Celebrations range from gatherings of family and friends to civic ceremonies. Celebrate in any way you like. We know many events take place but we rarely receive any details. Please click on the Comments link and leave details of any events in which you take part or which you hear about.