People across the county, and even as far as China, have been getting out their curd tart recipes and Yorkshire flags to celebrate its annual day of celebration. Ripon, which is holding Yorkshire Day’s official festivities, held a parade from the market square with mayors from across the county and a civic lunch. We asked Guardian readers to share their love of Yorkshire.
‘It’s a good excuse to break out my curd tart recipe’ – Jack Smith, 34, from Yorkshire, now living in Beijing
Although we live in Beijing, I do my best to keep my kids in touch with their Yorkshire heritage. I never paid Yorkshire Day much mind until I left the UK for China, but now it’s a good excuse to break out my curd tart recipe and practise “On Ilkla Moor baht’at” with our toddlers.
I grew up exploring the moors around Pickering, travelling the long and winding road from the Hole of Horcum through Ruswarp and Sleights to Whitby. The place names are as evocative as the glorious, forbidding landscape. Some of the best food in the UK – Swaledale cheese, forced rhubarb, Barnsley chops and the abundant shellfish along the coast – can be found here. But what draws me back after a decade in China is the silence of a midnight moor beneath a Yorkshire pudding moon, best shared with my oldest friends.
‘The community spirit is amazing’ – Nick Miller 28, co-owner of Miller’s Fish and Chips, Haxby
We’ll be celebrating by dressing up all of our staff in Yorkshire clothing as we serve up the UK’s best fish and chips with our favourite mushy peas – Yorkshire caviar. The community spirit is just absolutely amazing. We’re on first name terms with the majority of our customers and they’ve always been behind everything that we do. We love that people travel from all over the world to visit Yorkshire.
‘It’s an exciting place to be’ – Deanna Dawkins, 29, York
I’m originally from Florida but I’ve lived in York with my born-and-bred Yorkshire husband for the past six years, so I like to think that’s made me an honorary Yorkshire lass. I’ll be celebrating with a strong cuppa and a new exhibition of Yorkshire artist Clare Haley. Born and raised in west Yorkshire, Clare is a perfect example of the exciting contemporary artists living, working and creating within God’s Own Country.
There’s so many things I love about Yorkshire – its open green spaces and its thriving arts scene. Places like Yorkshire Sculpture Park, CoCA, the Hepworth Wakefield and Salts Mill have really cemented Yorkshire’s place on the cultural map. They radiate this dynamic, creative energy that continues to attract and inspire a range of artists and creatives, making Yorkshire a really exciting place to be.
‘We wear the white rose’ – Louise Reeve, 37, Newcastle upon Tyne, born in Wakefield
Every year those of us Yorkshire folk in exile in the north gather in a pub in Newcastle to mark the day. We wear the white rose, put up flags and bunting, eat Yorkshire delicacies (parkin, brack and curd cheese tarts are popular) and recite the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity.
Yorkshire does not need to boast about what it is, nor does it need to be modest. From the canals and narrowboats of the valleys to the sheep roaming the wolds and dales, it is one of Britain’s loveliest places. The people of Yorkshire may sometimes be cussed and stubborn, but they are loyal to a fault.
‘A special place’ – Holly, 37, Ripon
We moved to Yorkshire in 2007 and have slowly moved north through the county. I’m in Ripon with my sons Barney and Stanley. Ripon is such a special place. It’s lovely to live somewhere where you feel part of the community – my boys are greeted by name wherever they go, it’s so friendly. I can’t imagine bringing the boys up anywhere else.
‘We love Yorkshire beer’ – Bob Brook, Leeds
I’m retired and I’ve been the secretary of Otley Pub Club for five years now. We promote and protect all the pubs in this famous pub town, currently 21 for a population of 14,000, and all 21 are being named after Yorkshire-born celebrities. The banners are up already, and we invited all the celebs to come and visit – Sir Gary Verity, Dickie Bird, Hannah Cockroft and the Brownlee Brothers said yes. Judi Dench, Alan Bennett, Lizzie Deignan, Ralph Ineson, Anita Rani and more have all sent messages of support. We love Yorkshire beer and Yorkshire pubs – full of friendly Yorkshire folk.
‘Yorkshire flags are flying throughout the dale’ – anonymous, Dent
Since local government reorganisation in 1974, Dentdale in the north-west corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has been “administered” (as we like to say) by Cumbria. However, the Yorkshire flags are flying throughout the dale – including from the village church – as we get ready to celebrate Yorkshire Day.
‘I’m having a brew’ – Steve, 63, born in Leeds and lives in Indonesia
Luckily my nephew was visiting last month and brought me some Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea, so I’m having a brew and dreaming of a pint of Tetley’s bitter.
