Yorkshire Day at York Friday 1st August 2014

Members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS) will meet at Micklegate Bar at 11.15 am to lead the annual walk around the ‘Bar Walls’ of York carrying the Yorkshire flag.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read at the 4 Bars (Gate) starting at Micklegate Bar (West Riding) 11.39 followed by Bootham Bar (North Riding) Monk Bar (City) and Walmgate Bar (East Riding).

The time 11.39 am for the first reading coincides with the number of years since the first written reference to the Ridings of York in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles. Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read in the four languages used in the area since that time. Latin, Old Norse, Old English, and Modern English.

The ceremonial party then moves on to St Helen’s Square for an afternoon of entertainment in cooperation with City of York Council. The Deputy Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Julie Gunnell, will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Modern English at 1pm and there will be a reading of Doreen Brigham’s popular poem A Song for Yorkshire by Mrs Judith Preston Anderson, President of YRS and YRS York member Mr Peter Hindle.

At 4 pm the Declaration will be made again by Henry Cryer (pictured above) the well-known Town Crier of Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham, who makes a special guest appearance.

The Yorkshire Flag presented to the City of York by the Yorkshire Ridings Society after it was registered by them in 2008 will be flown from the Mansion House on Yorkshire Day.

Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2014

Your attention please:

I, (reader’s name) being a (native of) and resident in the East/North/West Riding of Yorkshire

(City of York if within the walls) declare:

• that Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York with these boundaries of one
  thousand, one hundred and thirty nine years standing;
  
  
• that the address of all places in these Ridings is YORKSHIRE;
  
  
• that all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshire
  men and women;
  
  
• that any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the
  aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.
  
  
                         These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2014
  
  
                         YORKSHIRE FOREVER!
  
  
                         GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

Actor Chris happy to play his distant relative Captain Cook at Redcar

Writer and actor Chris Foote Wood, brother of top comedienne Victoria Wood, will be reading the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at Redcar Town Clock this Friday, August 1st, Yorkshire Day at 11.39am. Mr Foote Wood plays a different character each year.

This is the fourth year in succession that Chris as led the Yorkshire Day celebrations at Redcar. Last year he was Charles Dickens, and this year it is the famous Yorkshire navigator and explorer, Captain James Cook.

“Research at the family history centre in Whitby shows that I am very distantly related to Captain Cook,” said Mr Foote Wood, “Cook, who was born in Marton, Middlesbrough, has no direct descendants as all his children died without issue.

“I am doubly pleased to be playing Capt Cook, who learned his trade at Whitby, as two of my direct ancestors, my great great and great great great grandfathers were both Whitby sea captains, a very prestigious position in the town. Each commanded a three-masted bark, exactly like HM Bark Endeavour in which Cook made the first of his round the world voyages.

“These ships, known as Whitby Cats, were originally built for the coal trade. They were strong and wide with a shallow draught, and ideal for close inshore work as well as sailing the oceans. I am so pleased a full-size replica of the Endeavour is berthed at Stockton.

“My only problem is that I am shortly to play Charles Dickens in my one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe with a beard, so Capt Cook, who is usually depicted as clean shaven, will have to be bearded on this occasion.”

6’8” John Curr of Redcar will appear as a mighty Viking and will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Old Norse. Silk white roses will be on sale at £1 and all proceeds go to Redcar Lifeboat. This year the event will also be attended by the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Carole Simms. There will be stalls and attractions for all.

As a tribute to the Tour de France people will be cycling in from neighbouring towns carrying the Yorkshire flag.

Ian Swales Hails Economic Recovery

Liberal Democrats have helped to restore the UK economy to pre-crash levels, figures released today show.

The UK economy has grown by 0.8% over the last quarter, ensuring that the UK economy has now returned to the same level it had before the banking crisis in 2008.

Commenting, MP for Redcar, Ian Swales said:

“Today is a big day for Britain. The rescue is working and Britain’s economy is the same size as it was before the crash. This is fantastic news for local people. Things continue to improve and good news keeps on coming.

“Delivering this recovery is why Liberal Democrats took the brave decision to enter coalition in 2010 and I am proud that we have helped rescue the British economy and get it growing at the fastest rate of any major economy.

“Our area has received over five times more government investment per year than under the previous government and I remain focussed on pushing for more and continuing to build a stronger economy and a fairer society for my constituents. Things are really on the up!”

Yorkshire Day at Redcar on Friday 1st August 2014

Captain James Cook will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at Redcar on Yorkshire Day.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity is a statement of allegiance to Yorkshire. It is read at each of the three Bars (gates) of York, to represent the Three Ridings of Yorkshire and once within the City of York. The ceremony has been held around the walls of York every Yorkshire Day since 1975. The Declaration has been read at Redcar each year since 1997. Chris Foote-Wood, brother of Comedienne, Victoria Wood, who last year led the proceedings as Charles Dickens, will this year appear as Captain Cook. Chris is pictured, right, on Yorkshire Day 2012 in his Town Crier outfit.

Fun for all the family

The annual Reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, at Redcar takes place at 11.39am, on Yorkshire Day, Friday 1st August 2014 at Redcar Town Clock.

This year it will be read by Captain Cook (Chris Foote-Wood) in modern English but there is also a mighty Viking (John Curr) who will read it in Old Norse. Silk white roses will be on sale at £1 and all proceeds go to Redcar Lifeboat. This year the event will also be attended by Her Worship the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Carole Simms. A number of local organisations will have stalls and there will be attractions for all, including a band, puppets and tombola. A special cake will be raffled.

The declaration is read this year at 11.39 as this represent 1139 years since the earliest known written reference to the Ridings of York in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of 876. This takes account of changes to the calendar. Next year it is read at 11.40.

Cycle in with the Yorkshire flag

In order to pay tribute to the Tour de France being held in Yorkshire this year,  the Yorkshire Ridings Society is hoping that people from neighbouring towns will cycle in with the Yorkshire flag in time to present it prior to the 11.39 am start and represent their town or village at the ceremony. Participants are free to arrange sponsorship for any charity of their choice. Those wishing to take part should contact Councillor Chris Abbott on 01642 487557  or email. They would need to carry out their own risk assessment but YRS would be happy to supply a Yorkshire flag.

Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2014

Those residents unable to attend the ceremony at Redcar may wish to arrange a reading of the Declaration of Integrity in their area.

"I, (Your Name) standing here in the North Riding of Yorkshire declare:

That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1139 years standing; 

That the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire; 

That all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshiremen and women; 

That any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status. 

These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2014.

Yorkshire forever, God Save the Queen!”

 Celebrate Yorkshire on Yorkshire Day

Yorkshire Day can be celebrated by wearing a white rose, flying the Yorkshire flag or having a special Yorkshire Day meal. Above all it is a day to show your pride in the Britain's largest County.  The Association of British Counties describes our County heritage as “something to be treasured and nurtured by society, not tossed aside simply because the Counties are no longer considered suitable as a basis for administration.”