COLUMN: Lets get behind Yorkshire Day

The annual event is held to officially celebrate everything great about the county we call home.

But to say this is a day in which the whole of Yorkshire is meant to join together in celebration, there are some areas that seem to embrace it more than others.

The event was first celebrated in 1975 in Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire by the Yorkshire Riding Society.

It was held as a protest movement against local government re-organisations which were seen by some as a threat to Yorkshire’s identity and historic boundaries.

The date of August 1 was chosen because of its links to the Battle of Minden, fought on that day in 1759, before which Yorkshire soldiers picked roses to wear into battle with their German allies.

Since then, the event seems to have been widely embraced in towns and cities across East, West and North Yorkshire with major city centre celebrations accompanied by smaller community events.

It has, however, been a largely different story in South Yorkshire.

While I don’t doubt that events have taken place in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster in previous years - it is only recently that such celebrations seem to have been given more prominence south of the border. Indeed last year Doncaster was chosen as the official host of Yorkshire Day, and dignitaries and civic leaders gathered in the town for a parade and series of events.

Doncaster is celebrating the occasion again this year with festivities taking place around the outdoor market a few days after the official day on Saturday, August 6, from 10am to 3pm.

So with support for Yorkshire Day seemingly gathering momentum, we may as well get behind it.

I’m not saying that when the alarm clock rings on Monday morning everyone should be skipping out of bed in some sort of hysterical, joyous display of elation.

But maybe see what your town or city is doing to mark the occasion and join in the festivities.

If you’re not keen on that then maybe a quiet celebration at home with a Yorkshire pud or a pint of Barnsley Bitter.

As much as anything it’s an excuse for a celebration in the middle of summer.

May as well make the most of it, winter will come swooshing in before you know it.