Member Article

Yorkshire's Sky-High Serenade: Cornet Player Plays “Ilkley Moor Bar Tat” from Scissor Lift Stage!

Yorkshire-based powered access specialists, Horizon Platforms, are taking Yorkshire Day celebrations to new heights with a number of traditionally Yorkshire activities. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re from Sheffield, Leeds, York, or beyond; on Yorkshire Day, we’re all part of this glorious Yorkshire family.

Yorkshire Day is an annual celebration on the 1st August to celebrate the historic county of Yorkshire. Established back in 1975, this tradition has been gaining momentum faster than a Yorkshireman running for the last pint, with individuals and businesses across the county joining in the celebrations. It’s a day where flat caps are the height of fashion, and folks happily trade their greetings with a friendly “Ey up!”

The Horizon Platforms event celebrated all things Yorkshire including traditional pie and peas, a flat cap throwing competition and the highlight, 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. The “Ilkley Moor Bar Tat” is a folk song from Yorkshire, sung in the Yorkshire dialect, and considered the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire.

Roger is an English cornetist who has been critically acclaimed for his performances across the world. Having played the cornet as a child, his talent soon began to show with Roger joining Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band in 1971.

Roger shares more about his history with the cornet; “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. Fast forward to today, and this once-small 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, shares his excitement around the Yorkshire Day celebrations; “We’re a national supplier of powered access that are immensely proud of our Yorkshire roots. As such, we wanted to celebrate our heritage by having a few events from our super-depot in Normanton. 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. And again, 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”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lora Thornton .