The definitive A-Z of all that Yorkshire has to be proud of

Yorkshire is a county full of great people, places and produce. So much so that we thought it would be fun to create our own A to Z on the White Rose. Read our effort below and why not let us know what you think by sending in your own version. Email: [email protected]

A is for ARTS - Yorkshire is the home of Opera North, Northern Ballet, David Hockney, Alan Bennett, Brian Blessed, Kaiser Chiefs, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore. And Black Lace, who recorded Agadoo, but we don’t talk about them.

B is for BEER - The county’s waters produce some of the world’s best bitters and craft ales from brewers such as Timothy Taylor (Keighley), Ossett Brewery (Wakefield), Copper Dragon (Skipton), Wold Top Brewery (Driffield) and Sam Smith’s (Tadcaster).

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C is for CYCLING - Yorkshire is the country’s cycling capital, proven by the huge success of the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire, and our cycling superhighway,which is hugely popular with motorists across the county.

D is for DICKIE - Mr Bird was a cricket umpire who earned legendary status. Not lacking in confidence either - “They all rated me the best: Sobers, Richards, Lillee, Botham,” he said. Stop it Dickie, we’re filling up...

E is for EMMERDALE - Set in a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales, the TV soap has brought us serious storylines surrounding crashes, fires and explosions. And it’s better than Corrie and Eastenders, we say.

F is for FULL MONTY - How can Gaz make money to see his son? He and a group of fellow unemployed men have a solution. Set in Sheffield, this film about stripping has serious messages.

Rural Nidderdale in summer sunshine. Picture: Adrian Murray (14090323AM1)Rural Nidderdale in summer sunshine. Picture: Adrian Murray (14090323AM1)
Rural Nidderdale in summer sunshine. Picture: Adrian Murray (14090323AM1)
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G is for GOD’S OWN - This is a phrase often used as a tongue-in-cheek reference to our county. After reading this A to Z, how can you argue?

H is for HULL - City of Culture 2017. John Prescott comes from here. So does Lucy Beaumont. And Ronnie Pickering. And chip salt, which is good on patties.

I is for ILKLEY MOOR - Inspiration for a proper song. About a proper love affair, a proper death and a proper duck dinner. Don’t forget to leave your hat on (see F).

J is for JOE ROOT - World’s No 1 cricketer from the country’s No 1 cricket team. And, just so you know, we’ve won the county championship in back-to-back seasons. How good is that?

Former Cricketing umpire Dickie Bird. Picture: James HardistyFormer Cricketing umpire Dickie Bird. Picture: James Hardisty
Former Cricketing umpire Dickie Bird. Picture: James Hardisty
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K is for KIRKSTALL ABBEY - Picturesque ruins on the outskirts of Leeds. Don’t just expect peace and quiet when you visit here though: the Kaiser Chiefs have played live.

L is for LIQUORICE - Grown in Pontefract since the 11th century after being taken there by Crusaders returning from the Holy land. And allsorts of other places.

M is for MALHAM COVE - A geological wonder - even at 40 miles from the sea, we have a cliff better than anything in Lancashire. And it sometimes doubles up as a waterfall. What’s not to like?

N is for NATIONAL PARK - Enjoy our beautiful scenery at a national park. In fact, we’ve got two and a bit of these; the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales and parts of the Peak District.

Emmerdale (Picture: PA)Emmerdale (Picture: PA)
Emmerdale (Picture: PA)
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O is for OLD MOTHER SHIPTON - Legendary 15th century southsayer who lived in a cave in Knaresborough. Property prices in the town were steep even then.

P is for PUDDING - Pour gravy on one of these and stick some beef alongside it - and you’ve found yourself a beautiful way to spend a Sunday lunchtime.

Q is for Mary, QUEEN of Scots - Imprisoned in Bolton Castle, North Yorkshire, in 1568. And on the Manor estate in Sheffield in the 1570s. We’re saying nothing else.

R is for RUGBY LEAGUE - The sport born in Huddersfield in 1895, featuring the biggest derby in British sport (Hull FC v Hull Kingston Rovers) and the strongest team in treble winners Leeds Rhinos.

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S is for SEASIDE - An east coast with some wonderful holiday gems such as Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Bridlington, Staithes and Hunmanby Gap, which confusingly doesn’t have a shop selling jeans.

T is for THORNTONS - Life is like a box of chocolates. And it’d much more palatable if it was all Thorntons. Or Rowntree’s. Or Terry’s. Or Fox’s.

Fans Cheer on cyclists as they tackle the Holme Moss climb on the Tour de France in 2014. Picture by Simon HulmeFans Cheer on cyclists as they tackle the Holme Moss climb on the Tour de France in 2014. Picture by Simon Hulme
Fans Cheer on cyclists as they tackle the Holme Moss climb on the Tour de France in 2014. Picture by Simon Hulme

U is for UNDERNEATH THE STARS - Weekend folk festival held annually at Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley and featuring the world’s best folk musicians, including Barnsley’s own Kate Rusby.

V is for VIKINGS - The county has always been proud of its Viking ancestry. Our limited-overs cricket team is named after them. And much of our dialect comes from Viking times, Danelaw’s National Newspaper.

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W is for WHITE ROSE - Represents purity, innocence and humility. Synonymous with Yorkshire. Stop laughing at the back.

X is for XSCAPE - The French can’t even outdo us by claiming we don’t have ski slopes. There’s one for you right here in Castleford with real snow 365 days a year. Like being at Odsal top, only indoors.

Y is for YORK - The centre of the universe and our county town. It’s also the most haunted city in Europe. As the look on the faces of the drivers who have to pay to park there will confirm.

Z is for ZOO - Flamingo Land is the home of zebras, giraffes and lions. Also sponsors Hull City. But not the circus that is Leeds United.

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