Yorkshire Day in York Monday 1st August 2016

Yorkshire Day in York begins this year at Micklegate Bar, at 11.41am, with a landmark 40th annual reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity.

The readings are in Old English, old Norse, Latin and modern English, the four languages used in Yorkshire since the earliest known written reference to the Ridings, appeared in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of 876.

Micklegate Bar is where the West Riding meets the City of York. The readers will then walk the walls to Bootham Bar for the North Riding, then

inside Monk Bar for the City and finally to Walmgate Bar for the East Riding.

A further reading at 1 pm kicks off a fun afternoon of events in St Helen’s Square.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2016

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE:

I (your name) being resident in the (East/North/West) Riding of Yorkshire declare:

that Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York with these boundaries of 1141 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 afore-mentioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.

These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2016.

Yorkshire for ever!

God save the Queen!

Yorkshire Day in Redcar Monday 1st August 2016

Yorkshire Day at Redcar in the North Riding of Yorkshire, takes place at the town clock on the High Street from 10 am to 4pm on Yorkshire Day, Monday 1st August 2016.

Actor Chris Foote-Wood (brother of the late much loved comedienne Victoria Wood), will once again be leading the proceedings.

Chris, who comes as a different character each year, will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at 11.41 am  as Henry Bolckow a Victorian industrialist and Member of Parliament, acknowledged as being one of the founders of modern Middlesbrough.

The Declaration will be read in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Barry Hunt and Mrs Olwyn Peters.

There will be stalls and other attractions, including a local dance group. Latex white roses are sold, price £1, for people to wear on Yorkshire Day and all proceeds are to be shared between Redcar Lifeboat and Zetland Lifeboat Museum.

Yorkshire Ridings Society’s North Riding Group, who organise the event, will have a stall selling YRS Products and a Tombola to raise funds to send pupils of local schools on the Yorkshire border for cricket coaching at Headingley.

PICTURE - Chris Foote-Wood pictured on Yorkshire Day 2015 as Samuel Plimsoll.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2016

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE:

I (your name) being resident in the (East/North/West) Riding of Yorkshire declare:

that Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York with these boundaries of 1141 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 afore-mentioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.

These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2016.

Yorkshire for ever!

God save the Queen!

Yorkshire is three Ridings and the city of York

Yorkshire is three Ridings and the city of York.

It is our county and our heritage.

Changes to local and regional government have never resulted in the abolition of the Ridings and there is no evidence that Yorkshire the county as a whole has ever had a local or regional government purpose.

Yorkshire's existence does not depend on artificial local or regional government boundaries. Local and regional government boundaries can be changed at any time at the whim of bureaucrats and government. And so they should as the demographic and economic situation demands. Local and regional government boundaries are for the purpose of delivering services and their boundaries should not determine who we are.

“The identity of our counties is marred by a confusion of geographical and administrative boundaries created in the middle of the last century and perpetuated to this day."                                                                                                                       Association of British Counties

Yorkshire Day in Redcar

Excellent coverage of Yorkshire Day in Redcar by @zetlandfm. Thanks also to @CoastalView for attending the event.

Yorkshire Day at York Saturday 1st August 2015

Members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS) will meet at Micklegate Bar at 11.15 am to lead the 39th annual walk around the ‘Bar Walls’ of York carrying the Yorkshire flag.

The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will be read at the 4 Bars (Gates) starting at Micklegate Bar (West Riding) 11.40 followed by Bootham Bar (North Riding) Monk Bar (City) and Walmgate Bar (East Riding).

The time 11.40 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 York City Council. The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Modern English will be read 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 (pictured above at Walmgate Bar).

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.

Fun for all on Yorkshire Day in Redcar

Yorkshire Day (1st August) this year falls on a Saturday and organisers are hoping for a bumper turnout on the day for the celebrations, which take place at the Redcar town clock on the High Street from 10 am.

Leading the proceedings as usual will be actor Chris Foote-Wood who will read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity (a statement of allegiance to Yorkshire) at 11.40 am. This equates to 1140 years since the first written reference to Yorkshire appeared in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of 876.

Chris, who turns up as a different character each year, is pictured as this year’s character, Samuel Plimsoll "The Sailors' Friend" who is said to have been inspired to invent the Plimsoll Line, a safety mark for loading ships, in 1876, while staying in a house on Redcar High Street and now marked by a blue plaque. There will be stalls and other attractions for all the family.

Latex white roses are sold, price £1, for people to wear on Yorkshire Day and all proceeds will be shared between Redcar Lifeboat and Zetland Lifeboat Museum.

Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2015

"I, Chris Foote-Wood standing here in the North Riding of Yorkshire declare:

That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1140 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 2015.

Yorkshire forever,

 God Save the Queen!”

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.

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.”

YRS offer to provide Historic North Riding of Yorkshire signs at bridges over River Tees

As Chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS), I have today emailed Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Borough Council and Mr Neil Schneider, Chief Executive pointing out that YRS has offered to pay for traditional county signs to be erected at the bridges on the Yorkshire side of the River Tees in the Borough of Stockton.

This was in response to Stockton Labour Candidate, Louise Baldock's call for "Welcome to Yorkshire" signs on the bridges in the Borough of Stockton on Tees.

According to Saturday's Evening Gazette Stockton's Council Leader is willing to consider it following the overwhelming vote of Yarm residents in favour of 24% voted in the Yarm 4 Yorkshire poll last Tuesday 27th May 2014, 1465 'Yes' and 177 'No.' I like to think that they took note of my comments on BBC Tees on Wednesday when I suggested ways they could identify with Yorkshire without re-organising local government in the areas and my recent  blog on the subject.

I wrote to them as follows:

"The Yorkshire Ridings Society has offered to pay for signs to be erected on bridges on the Yorkshire side of the River Tees in the Borough of Stockton on Tees on numerous occasions over the past 10 years. We paid for seven signs to be erected in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland.

"We are delighted the Leader of the Council is now prepared to consider this. We will be happy to discuss with the Council our offer to raise the money to pay for them."

Whilst I think "Welcome to Yorkshire" signs would be a little naff. I hope the Council would agree to have Historic North Riding of Yorkshire signs instead.

Pictured above is one of a number of Historic West Riding of Yorkshire signs erected on all roads on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border. These were provided by Yorkshire Ridings Society in partnership with Saddleworth White Rose Society and Friends of Real Lancashire. Former Labour MP Phil Woolas is in the foreground.

Below is a picture of the Lancashire signs which were provided on the opposite side of the road.

Yarm is already in Yorkshire so no need for a vote

The 1972 Local Government Act, which came into force on 1st April 1974, put Yarm in a newly created County of Cleveland, under the administration of Cleveland County Council and the Borough of Stockton on Tees. It abolished North Riding County Council, under which Yarm had previously been administered, but it did not abolish the North Riding of Yorkshire. Government statements at the time and since confirm that the "changes were for local government purposes only. For all other purposes Yorkshire is still Yorkshire."

The 1992 Local Government Act, which came into force on 1st April 1996, abolished both Cleveland County Council and the County of Cleveland. It created a new Unitary Council of Stockton on Tees, which included Yarm. But in addition to that new "Ceremonial" Counties were created which legally put Yarm in North Yorkshire for all cultural and ceremonial purposes.

This should be perfectly clear to people and there should be no question at all about Yarm being well and truly part of Yorkshire but there are two problems which muddy the waters and create confusion.

One is the Labour Councillors and activists who see being part of Yorkshire as handing control to "Tory North Yorkshire." They refuse to see it simply as a question of geography - Yorkshire is from the River Tees to the River Humber, from the Pennines to the sea.

The other is the local media who have their readership catchment area that crosses the Tees so they look for a name that lumps us all together and Teesside fits the bill. It is so easy to turn it into a is it Yorkshire is it Teesside debate. The difference is Teesside is not a county Yorkshire is, end of argument.

Yarm's referendum result can be the catalyst for the powers that be alongside the River Tees to accept that south of the Tees we are part of Yorkshire for all cultural, ceremonial and sporting purposes.

It is perfectly legal and proper for the residents of Yarm, indeed all those living immediately south of the Tees, to use Yorkshire as part of their postal address; Councils can erect Yorkshire/Durham boundary signs on the bridges that cross the Tees; and mapmakers can include traditional county boundaries on maps along with local government areas and celebrate Yorkshire Day on 1st August. That is how you show your pride in Yorkshire. It is not about who controls the Council.

Yorkshire Day at Redcar on Thursday 1st August 2013

The annual Reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, at 11.38am, at Redcar Town Clock.

This year it will be read by Charles Dickens (Chris Foote-Wood, right) in modern English but there is also a mighty Viking (John Curr, below) who will read it in Old Norse. Silk white roses will be on sale at £1 and all proceeds go to Redcar Lifeboat.

The event will also be attended by His Worship the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Vic Jeffries.

There will be stalls and attractions for all.

We’re part of the ring of roses around Yorkshire

There will be a ring of roses around Yorkshire on Thursday. The Yorkshire Ridings Society has sent out well over a hundred Yorkshire white rose flags in an attempt to ensure they are flown on Thursday in every settlement on or close to the real Yorkshire boundaries.

If you have a Yorkshire Flag please fly it on Thursday.

Thanks to all those people who have agreed to take part in the Ring of Roses.

Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity 2013

"I, Chris Foote-Wood standing here in the North Riding of Yorkshire declare:

That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1138 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 2013.

Yorkshire forever, God Save the Queen!”

The Yorkshire Ring of Roses is almost complete.

There will be A Ring of Roses round Yorkshire on Thursday.

The Yorkshire Ridings Society has sent out well over a hundred flags so far and these, in addition to many others which are due to be flown on Thursday. Orders are still arriving and members are delivering the last few flags.

 So great has been the interest that the society has had to order more flags.

Hopefully, all the flags which have been ordered will be  flown on Yorkshire Day.

If you have a Yorkshire Flag please fly it on Thursday.

Thanks to all those people who have agreed to take part in the Ring of Roses.

Pictured: Ian Swales MP for Redcar with the Yorkshire flag.

A Ring, A Ring of Yorkshire Roses For Yorkshire Day

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

The Yorkshire Ridings Society (YRS) would like to arrange for a Yorkshire Flag to be flown in all the settlements on, or very close to the Yorkshire Boundary, on Yorkshire Day.

The Yorkshire Ridings Society will provide the flags and post them out free, but need someone in every settlement, on or very near the boundary, to display the flags on 1st August. Will you help?

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

To obtain a flag to fly as part of the Ring of Roses, please click on the link and email the address to which the flag should be sent to.

They will be sent out in July to arrive to arrive in time for Yorkshire Day .

Roger Sewell, Chairman Yorkshire Ridings Society said:

"Please help to make Yorkshire Day even more special this year. If you do not feel you can help us, please can you pass on this message to someone in your community who might like to help?"

Flagging up the boundary - Settlements on or very close to the Yorkshire Boundary.

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, 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,

Happy Yorkshire Day

Today is Yorkshire Day and the Yorkshire Ridings Society's annual reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity will take place at Redcar Town Clock at 11.37 a.m.

This year the declaration will be read by Chris Foote-Wood (pictured above).

Chris is the former Town Crier of Bishop Auckland and former LibDem candidate for Mayor of Middlesbrough. He is directly descended from two Whitby sea captains related to Captain Cook.

The Ridings Society's North Riding Group is donating all proceeds from their sales of white roses (£1 each) to Redcar Lifeboat. Each year since 1997 the North Riding Group has raised thousands of pounds for local charities from the sales of white roses on Yorkshire Day.

Yorkshire Ridings Society raises more funds for Redcar Lifeboat.

The Yorkshire Ridings Society's North Riding Group raised £159. 50p for Redcar Lifeboat from sales of white roses. Events included the annual reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity on Yorkshire Day (1st August) in Redcar High Street. This year it was read by Chris Foote-Wood.  "It is not as much as in previous years but considering the weather its not bad." said group secretary Mrs Nancy Hudson.

Yorkshire Day raises £468 for Redcar Lifeboat

Yorkshire Ridings Society, assisted by the Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild and Redcar MP Ian Swales raised £468 for Redcar Lifeboat on Yorkshire Day from the sale of white roses.

Happy Yorkshire Day

A full day of fun events has been organised in Redcar town centre to celebrate Yorkshire Day on Sunday 1^st August.

The mighty Viking, Sicga Draugluin, (played by Corus steelworker John Curr) will be present to deliver the annual Reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Old Norse at 11.35am near Redcar Town Clock. Redcar MP Ian Swales will read the modern English version.

All proceeds from the sale of white roses will go the Redcar Lifeboat.

From 11am to 3pm in the High Street there will be craft stalls, trampolines, kiddies rides, tombola and a circus performer. There is a children’s treasure trail to look for 12 pictures of white roses in Redcar shops. On the beach, between 12 noon and 2pm there will be kiddies rides and sports,

The events have been organised by Councillor Irene Curr and the Yorkshire Ridings Society, with the support of Redcar & Cleveland Council’s Town centre management and events team.

Real county boundary signs back after 36 years

 Glynis and Charlotte are pictured with Howard Sykes at the Lancashire boundary sign

Over the years local authorities have been extremely difficult when it comes to erecting boundary signs for real Lancashire and Yorkshire but when Saddleworth White Rose Society stalwart, Roy Bardsley, wrote to Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough, six months ago, he got a very positive response.

Lib Dem Howard said YES and today we travelled to Grains Bar at Saddleworth to witness the unveiling of the first of what we hope are many West Riding and Lancashire signs at the historic boundary.

The signs, paid for by Saddleworth White Rose Society, Yorkshire Ridings Society, Association of British Counties and the Friends of Real Lancashire, were erected on the wall of the former Toll Bar house (Lancashire) and on the original West Riding plinth.

On behalf of the hosts, Saddleworth White Rose Society, The Town Crier welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Councillor and Mrs Jim McArdle, James the Youth Mayor of Oldham, Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Councillor Howard Sykes, the Lady Chairman of Shaw & Crompton Parish Council Councillor Mari Wiswell, the Leader of Saddleworth Parish Council Councillor Brian Lord, Phil Woolas MP, representatives of Friends of Real Lancashire, Yorkshire Ridings Society, Association of British Counties and several elected Councillors.

The Lancashire sign was unveiled by the Lady Chairman of Shaw & Crompton Parish Council Councillor Mari Wiswell and the West Riding sign by Councillor Brian Lord Leader of Saddleworth Parish Council.

After the event we were treated to a hot pot lunch at the Rams Head Inn at Denshaw.

The original signs were removed following local government re-organisation in 1974 but organisations like SWRS, YRS, FORL and ABC have long campaigned to have them replaced. The 1972 Act of Parliament that resulted in Saddleworth becoming part of the Borough of Oldham in Lancashire, abolished the West Riding County Council but it did not abolish the West Riding of Yorkshire, nor did it abolish real Lancashire. As Government statements made clear at the time, the changes were for administrative purposes only - "for all other purposes Yorkshire is still Yorkshire."

Yorkshire Ridings Society 35 years and still going strong

The Yorkshire Ridings Society held its first meeting in Beverley in November 1974 and may be one of the longest running campaign groups in the United Kingdom.

At its Triennial General meeting held last night in the Black Swan at York Redcar Councillor Chris Abbott, who was re-elected Chairman of the Executive Committee, said:

"We must be one of the longest running campaign groups in the United Kingdom. We were formed in response to the 1974 re-organisation of Local Government to campaign for the continued recognition of the three Ridings of Yorkshire in spite of the fact that some parts of the county were transferred to other "counties" for administrative purposes.

"Encouraged by Government statements that the changes were for administrative purposes only and for all other purposes Yorkshire is still Yorkshire, the Ridings Society has doggedly fought to keep alive the historic three Ridings. The earliest known written reference appears in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of 876.

"We successfully campaigned for the abolition of Cleveland County and Humberside and our role since has been to ensure that the Ridings of Yorkshire remain in existence for all cultural, ceremonial, sporting and postal purposes. Local Government changes make no difference as long as we accept that our historic counties exist alongside them.

"To this end the Society successfully introduced Yorkshire Day in 1975 (the first county in the UK to have its own special day 1st August) which has grown in popularity each year since. We have also been successful in arranging for the erection of Ridings boundary signs on the roads in many areas along the boundaries of historic Yorkshire. At our next meeting in December we are meeting to review our aims and plan for the next few years of campaigning."

Founder member, Mr John Dargan of Goole was re-elected Treasurer, a position he has held since the day the Society was formed. Other officers elected were President - Mrs Judith Anderson of Hull, Vice Chairman - Mr Roger Sewell of Goole, Secretary - Mr Gavin Gibb of London, Minute Secretary - Mrs Hilary Holt and Membership Secretary Miss Hilary Slights of Hovingham.