ALLEZ-LUIA graffiti spray painted on Wakefield Cathedral roof
GRAFFITI artists will spray paint ALLEZ-LUIA! on the roof of Wakefield Cathedral to celebrate the city’s role in the Tour de Yorkshire
The black and red lettering – and bike - will span the nave section of the cathedral roof – some 28 metres long - where just six days later the city’s iconic building will play host to some of the biggest names in the cycling world as it welcomes Stage 3 of the Tour De Yorkshire on Sunday 3 May.
The graffiti is part of a range of fun activities to celebrate Wakefield’s role in the first ever Tour De Yorkshire when the city hosts the start of the 167 kilometre third leg of the event which will see the peloton make a return to some of the roads raced in the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
While the cyclists register and form up, Wakefield Cathedral is hosting a VIP reception, family fun and craft activities including antics from the clowning duo, the Rapide Brothers. A family BBQ and refreshments, and cycling themed arts and crafts in the refurbished nave will continue following the ceremonial start of the race at 12.15pm.
The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said: “ It’s an honour to have been chosen as the public face of Wakefield to host this momentous occasion and we are pleased to have been able to work closely with the council to achieve this and together play our part in putting our city firmly on the map.”
Bunting and banners will go up round the cathedral this weekend to mark the landmark building’s role in the Tour in time for Martin Hayhurst of Graffiti Artists 2 Hire to transform the cathedral roof with his spray paint early next week.
The Cathedral has just been awarded a grant from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repair Fund – which means the spray paint graffiti will be on show for a couple of days after the Tour before work starts on renewing that section of the roof.