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If you’ll permit me, here’s a little story about Yorkshire Day, and the time I was dragged in to the incredible world of Andy Strangeway.
I PROMISE it’s worth 5 minutes of your time
#YorkshireDay2020 #YorkshireDay
I PROMISE it’s worth 5 minutes of your time
#YorkshireDay2020 #YorkshireDay
When I first started at @mydoncaster, a man named Andy Strangeway contacted the press office to request our help.
He had successfully campaigned to get Yorkshire’s first ever boundary sign erected at the side of a local A-road.
He had successfully campaigned to get Yorkshire’s first ever boundary sign erected at the side of a local A-road.
He was organising an unveiling event and had invited the local press, and wanted the Mayor to attend.
As a young, inexperienced press officer I was eager to please and tried to get it in the Mayor’s diary.
As a young, inexperienced press officer I was eager to please and tried to get it in the Mayor’s diary.
Mayor Ros wasn’t available, and Andy was gutted. I felt bad too.
As it turns out, the Mayor’s packed diary was the biggest blessing imaginable.
A couple of weeks later, I received a video from Andy of his unveiling event.
(It turns out the media had been busy too)
As it turns out, the Mayor’s packed diary was the biggest blessing imaginable.
A couple of weeks later, I received a video from Andy of his unveiling event.
(It turns out the media had been busy too)
The first thing I noticed was that the sign was next to the A60. Like, RIGHT next to it.
As Andy starts his speech, a car absolutely pelts it by him at 60mph.
The thought of the Mayor stood next to him amongst the weeds made my blood run cold.
As Andy starts his speech, a car absolutely pelts it by him at 60mph.
The thought of the Mayor stood next to him amongst the weeds made my blood run cold.
The video was slightly...odd. I paused it to google Andy Strangeway.
Turns out, he has his own Wikipedia page.
Turns out, he has his own Wikipedia page.
As you can see, he has that rare combination of councillor/adventurer/decorator that you so rarely see these days.
He’s also the first person to have slept on all of Scotland’s islands of 40 hectares and above, obviously.
He’s also the first person to have slept on all of Scotland’s islands of 40 hectares and above, obviously.
Brilliantly, he also once accompanied Uri Geller on a trip to a remote Scottish island.
Having seen Andy’s history, the video made a lot more sense.
The sign was unveiled following a dedication to The Queen, the city of York, and all Yorkshire folk.
Andy’s wife Ruth then sang Symphony for Yorkshire.
The sign was unveiled following a dedication to The Queen, the city of York, and all Yorkshire folk.
Andy’s wife Ruth then sang Symphony for Yorkshire.
(There’s a wonderful moment where the beauty of the line ‘the lapwing’s cries above you take the place of traffic roar’ is immediately undermined by a Nissan Micra steaming past)
And with that, the unveiling was complete.
So why do I share this story?
So why do I share this story?
Let me be clear, I’m not doing it to take the mickey out of Andy and Ruth.
In fact, it strikes me that in many ways, Andy Strangeway is a walking symbol of Yorkshire.
Beautifully eccentric, fiercely proud and unashamed.
In fact, it strikes me that in many ways, Andy Strangeway is a walking symbol of Yorkshire.
Beautifully eccentric, fiercely proud and unashamed.
In what other county in the UK would someone be SO outraged by the lack of a boundary sign that they lobby the local council (and even the government!) to install one?
So here’s to you, Andy Strangeway. Happy Yorkshire Day.
