Tuesday 1 August is Yorkshire Day, and Hull Trains has chosen the town of Beverley for a town crier to launch the day's festivities.
Yorkshire Day was first held in Beverley in 1975. It takes place every year on 1 August, which is also the date on which Parliament began debating the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.
Yorkshire politician William Wilberforce was a strong supporter of the law, and his name is now associated with the anti-slavery cause, even though many others also fought against slavery, including enslaved people themselves.
A public vote in 2022 chose Wilberforce's name to appear on the side of a Hull Trains Paragon locomotive. Four other locally-significant names were also chosen through this process, including ‘Bee Lady‘ Jean Bishop.
Since being named, the William Wilberforce train has travelled over one hundred and fifty thousand miles and will make its seven hundredth journey hauling 07:53 service from Beverley on Yorkshire Day.
Michael Wood, Town Crier for East Riding and Yorkshire, who is a three-time Town Crier World Champion, will send the train on its way. He has performed this role previously.
Celebrations will continue during the journey and on other Hull Trains services. Refreshments made in Yorkshire will be served to passengers, including Yorkshire Parkin, Henderson's Relish ‘Hendos' potato snack crisps, and cupcakes with Yorkshire flags.
Town Crier Michael said: “Beverley was the birthplace of Yorkshire Day and quite rightly it should be celebrated as such. Hull Trains leaves here every day with folks heading off to visit elsewhere, but they know they will later be returning to the best county in Britain!
“The train may also bring folks who are possibly visiting our region for the first time or rekindling their relationship with us, and what a treat that is for us all.”
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Hull Trains, said: “We're thrilled to be a part of the Yorkshire Day celebrations. We're proud of our links to the local region and this annual event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything that is great about the place we call home! What better way to kick off the day's celebrations than sending off our William Wilberforce service with the iconic cry of a Town Crier. We're equally proud to be serving a range of Yorkshire items onboard, having served Yorkshire Tea on our trains for many years. Yorkshire Parkin will be completed by Henderson's Relish ‘Hendos' potato crisps, a ‘strong and northern' delight heralding from Sheffield which is becoming an increasingly popular market for Hull Trains users with an easy change to/from our services at Doncaster.
We look forward to treating our customers to a great Yorkshire Day celebration!”
