The Yorkshire Ridings Society

A Ring of Roses Round Yorkshire's Boundary

The Ring of Roses is Yorkshire Riding Society's biggest and most exciting Yorkshire Day project yet.

What better way to mark our boundary than by flying Yorkshire flags in all the settlements on or very close to the boundary on Yorkshire Day. The society will provide the flags free, but we need someone in every settlement on or very near the boundary to raise the flags on 1st August. Will you help us, please?

All we need is the name and address of someone living in each settlement to whom we can send a flag to be flown or displayed in a public place on Yorkshire Day.

It has been suggested that as many flags as possible should be raised at the same time. Wehave a tradition of reading the declaration of Yorkshire Integrity at a ceremony at Mickelgate Bar,York. This year it will be read at 11:38, which represents 1138 years since the Ridings were first mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles.  This would be an ideal time to raise the flags. If it can't be done then, do it as near as possible to that time.

It would be really good if we could display pictures, on this website, of all the flags flying.

We'd be verygrateful if a photograph could be sent to our email address, below of
the raising of the flag. we'll then try get them all on the site during the day.

To obtain a flag to fly as part of the Ring of Roses, please email the address to which the flag should be sent to: admin@yorkshireridings.org.

Perhaps you couldarrange a Yorkshire Day celebration event on the day. It can be anything you like, preferably with a Yorkshire Theme. Please let us know if you’re doing something and we'll list it on the website.

Please help us to make Yorkshire Day even more special this year.

Thanks. 

Flagging up the boundary. 

Settlements on or very close to the Yorkshire Boundary.

We’d like toget a Yorkshire flagflying in each one.

Filey,Gristhorpe,
Leberston, Osgoby, Scarborough, Burniston, Cloughton, Ravenscar, Robin Hood’s Bay, Hawsker,
Whitby, Sandsend, Runswick Bay, Hinderwell, Staithes, Easington, Loftus, Skinningrove, Brotton, Saltburn, Marske, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Thornaby-on-Tees,
Yarm, Worsall, Over Dinsdale, Girsby, Hornsby, Great Smeaton,Dalton-on-Tees,
Croft-on-Tees, Stapleton, Cleasby, Manfield, Cliffe, Eppleby, Ovington, Hutton
Magna,Greta Bridge, Boldron, Startforth, Lartington, Cotherstone, Romaldkirk,
Mickleton, Holwick, Bowes, Keld, Angram, Thwaite, Hawes, Garsdale, Sedberg,
Gawthrop, Dent, Ingleton, and High Bentham, Low Bentham,Slaidburn,
Newton in Bowland, Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell, Great Mitten,Waddington, West
Bradford,Grindleton,Rimington,Newby,Howgill,Barnoldswick,Salterforth,Kelbrook,Cowling,
Laycock, Oakworth, Oldfield, Stanbury, Oxenhope, Peckett Well,  Slack, Blackshaw Head, Todmorden,Mytholmroyd, Cragg Vale, Denshaw, Grains Bar, Delph, Thurston Clough, Scouthead, Austerlands, Grotton, Park Bridge, Mossley, Greenfield,
Holme, Ringinglow, Abbeydale, Sheffield, Rotherham, Rother Valley Country Park, Woodall, Harthill, Firbeck, Tickhill, Bawtry, Austerfield, Robin Hood Airport, Auckley,
Finningly, Blaxton, Eastoft, Fockerby, Adlingfleet, Broomfleet, Elleker, Elloughton,
Brough, Welton, North Ferriby, Hessle,Hull, Paull, Thorngumbald, Keyingham,
Otteringham, Patringto, Welwick, Skeffling, Easington, Spurn, Kilnsea, Hollym,
Withernsea, Tunstall, Histon, Garton, Aldborough, Mappleton, Hornsea, Atwick, Skipsea, Beeford, Barmston, Fraisethorpe,Bridlington, Sewerby, Flamborough, Bempton, Buckden, Speeton and Reighton.

If your settlement has been missedoff this list, sorry. Please let us know and apply for a flag.
Thanks.

Government confirms what we've been saying all this time - now let's get that ring of White Roses around Yorkshire's boundary!

Yorkshire-born Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles marked St George's Day with a formal acknowledgement of England's traditional counties in the life of the nation.

"The tapestry of England’s counties binds our nation together. This government has binned the arbitrary Government Office euro-regions, and instead, we are championing England’s traditional local identities which continue to run deep.

"Administrative restructuring by previous governments has sought to suppress and undermine such local identities. Today, on St George’s Day, we commemorate our patron saint and formally acknowledge the continuing role of our traditional counties in England’s public and cultural life."

Flagging up the Boundary

With impeccable timing, the Association of British Counties has also just published their beautiful new map of Yorkshire. We have the large version in our Yorkshire Map section. More details can be found on ABC website.

 

Association of British Counties - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 UK

 Rupert Barnes Vice-Chairman of the Association of British Counties commented on the Government's announcement:

"The counties are the basic tapestry on which countless generations have made their lives. They have shaped our identities and our view of ourselves and have remained a constant throughout centuries of change to become a vital part of British culture, geography and heritage.

"The counties predate any transient lines drawn for convenience or administration and predate the kingdom itself, rooted in history and cultural identity, so that the ancient counties are of the people not of the state. Statutes on administration have respectfully left the ancient counties alone. This pattern of the counties brought down to us through the centuries then is the pattern around which the nation has grown and grown great, and worthy of celebration."

The Government's timing could not be better for our campaign. Perhaps we could ask the Rt Hon Gentleman to join the relay!

 

Related articles

Flagging Up the Boundary - the Real Yorkshire Relay 2013

Eric Pickles wants England to reclaim historic county names

Historic county names that date back nearly 1,000 years will be brought back to life to champion the 'local history makes us who we are'

Yorkshire's Cultural richness on show! (including Yorkshire Day baby)

The Society enjoyed an extremely successful day at the pilot Yorkshire Cultural Roadshow, held at Airmyn, recently.

During the event, Roger Sewell, Chairman, presented a Yorkshire Day Baby Certificate to Kyle Michael Taylor, who comes from the nearby town of Howden, to mark his birth at Hull Royal Infirmary on Yorkshire Day this year.

Kyle visited the roadshow with his mum, Nicola, dad, Robert, sister, great-grandma and great-grandpa. The family was also presented a Yorkshire Flag to fly on Kyle’s birthdays.

We are keen to hear from the families of any other babies born on Yorkshire Day and will be happy to provide them with a certificate and flag.

The roadshow gave members a wonderful opportunity to talk to visitors and to other stallholders. Several new members were attracted and a presentation about Yorkshire as it exists today was delivered by Chris and Roger Sewell.

Following its success at the very well organised and presented pilot event, the society is looking forward to taking part in future roadshows around the county.

The Yorkshire Cultural Roadshow is gathering momentum – perfect timing for the festive season!

On Sunday, 9th December, Airmyn Memorial Hall near Goole will host the pilot event for businesses, artists and passionate Yorkshire folk, celebrating all things Yorkshire.

As detailed on the website, the day will be packed with local goods, artefacts and services as well as entertainment and information, including a talk from our own Roger and Chris Sewell. Be there at 1.00pm for 'Who Empties Your Bins', and hear their light-hearted take on the onslaught on our Yorkshire boundaries.

Only eleven months to go!

Where does the time go? It's a month since we celebrated Yorkshire Day. It'll be time to start planning the next one soon. In fact, some people have already discussed some ideas.

If you've already  forgotten Yorkshire Day, here's a roundup of some of the events which Michael Smith found in the press. Thanks, Michael.

Yorkshire Day 2012: A Round-Up

 

This year’s Yorkshire Day celebrations coincided nicely with the performance of the Yorkshire athletes at the Olympic games, who, it’s fair to say, did rather well.

(Yorkshire finished 12th in the overall medal table, if it were to be regarded its own country!)

Here’s a round-up of the celebrations that took place across the county (and all over the world) to mark this Yorkshire Day 2012.

The Reading of the Declaration of Integrity 

Yorkshire Day’s longest standing tradition; The Reading of the Declaration of Integrity, took place as usual at the Bars in the Walls of York.

The reading commenced at the time that coincides with the number of years since the first recorded reference to the three Ridings of Yorkshire in the year 876.

 

Yorkshire Day at Wentbridge House

For the second year running, the Wentbridge House Hotel in Pontefract held a festival celebrating everything about Yorkshire in aid of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

An estimated 1,500 – 2,000 people turned out to join the celebrations, with many taking part in events such as flat cap flinging, archery and clay pigeon shooting. 

The event raised over £4,000 for charity, with further donations continuing to be made.

Catherine Harrild, Wentbridge House Hotel Manager and organiser of the Yorkshire Day celebrations, said:

“We worked very hard to put on a good ‘Yorkshire Day’ show and were delighted with the number of visitors that came along to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

“Our aim was to offer as many ‘Yorkshire’ goings on as possible - all in one place and all on the same day - as we’re extremely passionate about all thing Yorkshire.”

For more information and photos from the day, visit the Wentbridge House website.

A Festival of Yorkshire, Scarborough

More than 150 mayors, civic leaders and members of The Yorkshire Society from across Yorkshire paraded along Scarborough’s seafront as part of Yorkshire Day celebrations in the town, as part of “A Festival of Yorkshire, Scarborough”. 

Highlights of the festival included an exhibition by world-famous Yorkshire artist David Hockney and the Wykeham Gathering mini music festival, which took place just outside of Scarborough.

Yorkshire Day Down Under

 A small rural town in New Zealand became the first community in the world to celebrate Yorkshire Day this year.

The celebration was organised in Waiuku by Ron Bird, who is originally from Pocklington near York. His family immigrated to New Zealand with his wife and children over 43 years ago.

Mr Bird told the Press Association:

“It's a great way to remember what we left behind, although there are plenty of us here. Being surrounded by so many Yorkshire people, we've both still kept our accents.

"This will be the third year we have held such a celebration in Waiuku.

"The first year we got 68 ex-pat Tykes, then 89 last year, and we are hoping for 100 this year."

Pork Minster

This round-up wouldn’t be complete with a mention for Hinchcliffe’s Pork Pie Shop, who made a giant pork pie in the shape of York Minster.

The farm shop, which is based in Holmfirth, created the giant pie to mark Yorkshire Day and to raise money for the York Minster Fund.

The Saddleworth White Rose Society were so excited about Yorkshire Day that they couldn't wait to celebrate so did so on the Sunday before (actually they celebrate on the nearest Sunday). They presented local readings and songs and read the Declaration of Yorkshire Integrity. A Yorkshire Flag lead a procession, complete with Brass Band to the local park/ playing field where a country fayre was held. The event was well attended despite showery weather. 

The North Riding Group of YRS also started early, selling Yorkshire Roses on the Satuday before 'the day'. They read the Declaration in Redcar on August 1st and then held a Yorkshire Day celebration in Thornaby on Tees the following Saturday.
 
We've also heard that Yorkshire flags were displayed in Market Weighton for a week before and a week after Yorkshire Day.

Other people, of course, fly their flags every day. 'Every day is a Yorkshire Day when you live here,' they explain.
 
We'd like to know about any other events which took place this year. And then, there's next year, actually slightly less than eleven months away. 

We've been proud of our Olympians, now what?

Never mind where we would have finished in the medal table. We're just incredibly proud of all our Olympians medal winners or not.

Hopefully our Paralympians will do as well, or even better.

In the meantime, what else can we be proud of? Why no tell us. And...if you are 'Proud to be Yorkshire', we'd like to hear from you too. See below.

Just a thought, How many other county flags did you see supporting athletes?

Well done all those who proudly waved their Yorkshire Flags.

Who are the Yorkshire Paralympians in 2012?

The successes of Team Yorkshire in the 2012 Olympics already has us looking forward to the Paralympics. Win or lose, these remarkable sportsmen and women, some Yorkshire born, others just lucky enough to live and train in England's largest county, are sure to give us even more reason to feel proud. Proud to be Yorkshire.

TERRY BYWATER   Wheelchair Basketball, Cleveland

CLAIRE CASHMORE   Swimming, City of Leeds Swimming Club

HANNAH COCKROFT   Athletics, Halifax

JAMES CRISP   Swimming, Sheffield

So many reasons to be Proud to be Yorkshire!

The Yorkshire Olympians have already made a great contribution to the fantastic successes of Team GB 2012, prompting the suggestion in this BBC News report there must be something in the water (although Yorkshire bitter gets a mention, too!).

We think being part of Yorkshire is worth celebrating for many, many reasons, and we're hoping to hear from sons and daughters of Yorkshire (native and adopted) about why it matters to them, too.

The Yorkshire Ridings Society being what it is, we want to include all of Yorkshire, to the boundaries of all three ridings, and we aim to celebrate with a new campaign and a brand new Proud to be Yorkshire website.

One Hundred Yorkshire Faces

But first, we need your face! We know that, on the whole, Yorkshire people can be incredibly shy (cough!). Nevertheless, to launch the site we're asking people to come forward with the reason they're proud to be Yorkshire and to send us a photo of their face to be added to 100 faces on the website.

If you're Proud to be Yorkshire and you want to let the world know it, get involved by clicking here to fill in a simple form and sending us a photo of you with your best Yorkshire face on.

Happy Yorkshire Day 2012!

What a year for celebrations!

Now, we're not saying this is the best celebration of all (we're biased) but there are thousands of people wishing each other a Happy Yorkshire Day today (we've already seen some of them on Twitter) and we know there are many more plans to celebrate than the few we have detailed.

Tell us your feelings about Yorkshire and your Yorkshire Day celebrations by clicking on the Comments link below. We'd love to know what it means to you.

Support all our Yorkshire Olympians!

While it may not be a definitive list, we hope this collection of Team GB members with a Yorkshire connection will give you some idea of the Olympic talent that has been nurtured in the county.

You can follow the #YorkshireOlympians on Twitter via the @YorkshireRiding list Yorkshire Olympians 2012, and get involved with our Proud to be Yorkshire campaign here.

 UPDATE:  We have started a list of Yorkshire Paralympians here. Only three weeks to go!

NICOLA ADAMS   Boxing, Leeds    GOLD Boxing 

LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD   Road Cycling, Otley    SILVER Womens Road Race 

SARAH BARROW   Diving, Leeds

ALICIA BLAGG   Diving, Leeds

RACHEL BRAGG   Volleyball, York