To mark the launch of our 366-day programme of celebration, Our Year – Wakefield District 2024,<br />Wakefield Council has enlisted the help of Royal Navy Petty Officer and Wakefield-born poet Ben<br />Taylor with an exclusive poem capturing the spirit of our District.<br />Written under his pen name Yorkshire Prose, Ben performed the piece live for the first time in<br />Wakefield Cathedral. This was part of a 24 in 24 event which saw 24 events take place across the<br />district as a taste of what’s to come throughout Our Year.<br />On the launch of Our Year 2024, Cllr Michelle Collins, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport<br />at Wakefield Council, said: “This year is Wakefield’s time to shine and we want people to be dazzled<br />by the breathtaking spectacles and unique activities we have in store. With this in mind, we knew we<br />needed to do something pretty special to kick things off. So, from curated tours of the National Coal<br />Mining Museum to plant pot painting at Pontefract Castle, our 24 in 24 event brought together our<br />communities to start Our Year with a bang.<br />“Ben’s headline performance set the tone perfectly for everything the year holds. We hope his<br />words inspire people to celebrate our district with us. Discover the brilliant things on their doorstep.<br />And encourage those from further afield to come and experience what Wakefield District has to<br />offer.<br />“There are hundreds of ways you can get involved in Our Year right across the District. With a<br />calendar of 366 things to do during 2024 there really is something for everyone. We’re looking<br />forward to creating memories which last a lifetime, and supporting a year which will have a long-<br />lasting cultural legacy for our district.”
