YORK threw one of its biggest parties as Rowntree Park marked its 90th birthday.
The celebrations, attended by the Friends of Rowntree Park, City of York Council’s park ranger team and Coun Sonja Crisp, included more than 40 community and charity stalls, bouncy castles, face-painting, model trains and cars, henna tattooing, juggling, street sports and falconry.
The park was given to the people of the city by the Rowntree company on July 16, 1921, in memory of the chocolate firm’s workers who died during the First World War. Elsewhere, coins were laid around York Minster to help raise vital funds for the battle against heart disease.
The challenge, organised by the British Heart Foundation’s York committee, saw a circle of money being laid around theinster to mark the charity’s 50th birthday.
Schools and businesses across the city sponsored a length of 50p pieces and held collection days to pile up spare change for the challenge, while residents and visitors were encouraged to go along and help on the day.
Andy Kirby, chairman of the charity’s York branch, said: “The British Heart Foundation invests in York by funding a group of researchers at the University of York who undertake pioneering research into heart disease,” said “It also funds the continuous training of BHF heart nurses, who work in the York area.”
Meanwhile, at Escrick, a charity fun day was held yesterday to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The air ambulance flew over the event, which boasted various stalls plus an aution of items donated by local firms.
The event ended with a pop concert.
One of the organisers said: “The rain deterred visitors from attending, which was a pity as it was for such a worthy cause.”
The weekend also saw the conclusion of the annual Barmby Moor Feast.
Sacrifice for park
JOSEPH Rowntree was probably York’s greatest philanthropist and his legacy lives on in the trust named after him; a campaigning force that fights for wrongs to be put right, however uncomfortable it may be for our elected representatives.
But he also left another, more pastoral, legacy for this city; a green oasis we all know as Rowntree Park which, yesterday, was 90 years old. The park was created as a memorial to the cocoa works staff who fell in the Great War and as we celebrate its ninth decade, we should also pause to pay tribute to those men who lost their lives.
It’s because of their sacrifice that we have the freedom to enjoy this great open space on a summer’s afternoon.
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