Ripon Cathedral is preparing to host Yorkshire Day celebrations on August 1st – just a few days after the Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines was in debate with Sir Gary Verity at an event with the title “What’s the Point of Yorkshire?”
The debate was part of the Cathedral’s new series of ‘Wilfrid Conversations’. Bishop Nick and Sir Gary, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, spoke about the ‘great potential’ of Yorkshire. Chairing the debate was the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson, who commented afterwards, “It was an engaging conversation at Ripon Cathedral exploring priorities for this region.
“The need for unity within Yorkshire and integration with the country seem clear. Three top priorities? Transport; rural strategy; reliable digital comms?
“Why bother with Yorkshire? Its great potential!”
To celebrate Yorkshire Day, Ripon Cathedral will host a civic service at 11am on Wednesday 1 August, Yorkshire Day’ , to which all are invited, and then host a picnic in the park in the Dean’s Garden, the Beer Festival site on the south side of the Cathedral, from 6pm.
Paula Benson, clerk to Ripon City Council, says "We will be receiving 200 dignitaries from around the county; there’ll be a civic procession, a service in the cathedral, and a civic lunch — as there is whenever Yorkshire Day takes place."
A civic procession will leave the Ripon Spa Hotel at 10am and make its way to the cathedral for a celebratory service at 11am to which everyone is invited. The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps at Catterick will lead the parade and will be playing at the service. Their performance will feature the Yorkshire Day anthem by Annie Hinchcliffe. Singing will be led by The Yorkshire Voices.
A civic lunch for 250 people will then take place in a marquee in the Dean’s Garden.
Seeing an opportunity for a party the cathedral has organised a Picnic in the Park – with families invited to come and picnic in the Great Yorkshire Day Marquee from 6pm to 8.30pm.
“We have a great opportunity to celebrate the delights of Yorkshire with our Yorkshire neighbours when Ripon hosts Yorkshire Day 2018 on Wednesday 1 August”,adds Dean John.
“The City Council and Ripon Together have worked hard with all the different sectors of the city to offer activities and attractions for everyone. The main event is the creative and imaginative civic service in the Cathedral on Wednesday 1st at 11am – everyone is welcome to join us for that.
“Later in the day we are hosting Picnic in T’ Park – a community event to which all are invited.”
The Yorkshire Day theme will continue for three days with various activities taking place throughout the city including Family Activity Days in the cathedral on Thursday and Friday from 10 til 3pm.
The annual St Wilfrid’s Procession will take place on Saturday August 4 and will end as usual with a community service in the cathedral at about 4pm – depending on the rate of progress of St Wilfrid and his horse
