Flaunt Digital has been helping Yorkshire-based powered access specialists, Horizon Platforms, spread the word about its high-flying Yorkshire Day celebrations today.
The annual celebration of all things Yorkshire has taken place on August 1 each year since the day was established in 1975 – the date was chosen by the Yorkshire Ridings Society to commemorate the passing of the Abolition of Slavery Act 1833, which Yorkshire MP William Wilberforce played a key role in.
Following two years of cancelled celebrations due to covid in 2020 and 2021, the reborn event has been gaining momentum faster than a whippet getting a final pint of bitter in at last orders.
Horizon Platforms’ event included traditional pie and peas, a flat cap throwing competition and the ‘high’ light of the day – Yorkshire-born, world-renowned cornetist Roger Webster playing Ilkley Moor Bar Tat supported by Michelle Rushworth, Adrian Nurney and Ginette Nurney on a scissor lift in Normanton.
For those that are not in the new, Ilkley Moor Bar Tat is a folk song from Yorkshire, sung in the Yorkshire dialect, and considered the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire.
Webster has been critically acclaimed for his performances across the world, from humble Yorkshire beginnings when he joined the Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band as a child in 1971.
The renowned cornetist said: “As players, we have all played at a very high level, from Black Dyke, Grimethorpe, BBC Philharmonic, and current British Open Champions Brighouse. We thought we’d try taking it up a notch and play at the highest level for Yorkshire Day.”
Horizon Platforms first opened its doors in 2008, when Ben Hirst and Matthew Fray ran the business from a rented warehouse in West Yorkshire. Since then the business has transformed into a thriving, employee-owned business with its HQ in Wakefield, home to a dedicated team of 78.
David Webster, finance director at Horizon Platforms said the company had big ambitions for this year’s celebrations: “We’re a national supplier of powered access that are immensely proud of our Yorkshire roots,” he explained. “I have a memory of Brian May performing the National Anthem on Buckingham Palace, and wanted to replicate this. While I don’t have Brian May on speed dial, I do have my Dad.
“Although it’s not quite Buckingham Palace, performing the Yorkshire Anthem on top of some of our state of the art equipment outside our fantastic facilities while the team enjoy pie and peas is a great way to begin August, and celebrate Yorkshire Day.”
Eeh by gum, he’s not wrong.
