Goole will host mayors from across the region at a civic celebration to mark Yorkshire Day, coinciding with its bicentenary anniversary.
Mayors from across the region, and dignitaries including HM The King’s representative in the county the Lord Lieutenant James Dick, and chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council Linda Johnson, will celebrate in the town after Goole Town Council was selected by The Yorkshire Society to host Yorkshire Day 2026. Yorkshire Day was established in 1975 and is marked by a civic gathering of Mayors, Lord Mayors their attendants and other dignitaries in full costume and regalia. It is the biggest gathering of first citizens and civic leaders in the UK.
Yorkshire Day is held on August 1 as it alludes to the regimental anniversary of the Battle of Minden and the wearing of roses in the headdress on that day. In the case of the Light Infantry, successors to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, a white rose. The date is also the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834 for which Hull MP William Wilberforce campaigned. On Yorkshire Day this year, the mayors will arrive at Goole Town Cricket Club where they will be served breakfast. They will then attend Junction Theatre where they will have group photographs taken, take part in a video link with ex-pats in New Zealand and watch a short film about Goole. A parade will take place outside Junction between 10.45am and 11am, which the public is invited to. This will be followed by a service at St John’s Church at 11am, which is also open to the public.
As part of the service, there will be performances from local community groups, and Parkside Primary School pupils who visited West Field Care Home to speak with residents about what it was like growing up in Goole. The winner of the poetry competition will be picked by the Mayor of Goole, Cllr Kevin Flynn and James Dick will read out the winning poem. The party will be taken on a heritage tour of Goole, viewing historic landmarks such as the The Lowther, ABP, the Clock Tower and the Salt and Pepper Pots. It will then visit West Park at around 12.15 for refreshments and bandstand performances, which are open to the public, before heading back to the cricket club where Goole will take on Drax. The mayors and dignitaries will enjoy a three course meal, speeches and a handover to the next host. Brain Robertson, clerk to Goole Town Council, said: “Goole Town Council is delighted to have been selected by the Yorkshire Society to host Yorkshire Day 2026, particularly as this coincides with the town's bicentenary. “The first Yorkshire Day Civic Celebration was held in York in 1985 and since then different towns and cities have had the honour of hosting it. This year that honour belongs to Goole. “There is now an established format comprising breakfast reception and robing, street parade of all the dignitaries and guests and a formal lunch to conclude. It is also traditional for a live link to be made with ex-pats living in New Zealand. “Goole will have the honour and prestige of being the official Yorkshire Day town for a full calendar year before handing over the flag to the next host, Hedon. ‘We hope that the residents of Goole will turn out in their numbers to give a warm Yorkshire welcome to our visitors.”
