Eee, by gum, what a reyt good Yorkshire Day party!

The sight of the White Rose and the sound of On Ilkla Moor Baht ’At conjured up great pride in God’s Own County across the Bradford district yesterday – an’ ah’ll tell thi that fer nowt.

In Bradford city centre, Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, got the celebrations under way by reading the Yorkshire Day declaration on the steps of City Hall.

The bells rang out at noon, playing the Yorkshire anthem On Ilkla Moor Baht ’At. Dignitaries then enjoyed a lunch in City Hall of Yorkshire puddings with onion gravy and roast beef, washed down with Yorkshire Tea.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain, had travelled north to represent the district at the county’s celebrations in Skipton, the official host for this year’s Yorkshire Day.

More than 200 civic dignitaries arrived in the town, first by sailing up the Leeds-Liverpool canal from Snaygill and then marching up the historic High Street for a service in Holy Trinity Church, conducted by the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev Nick Baines.

More than 50 Lord Mayors, Mayors and council chairmen took part in the parade, including representatives of Skipton’s French twin-town, Erquinghem-Lys.

Skipton Town Council chief officer Dave Parker said: “Skipton can always punch above its weight.”

In Ilkley, hundreds of people congregated in the town centre and the fun started with a Dixieland jazz band on The Grove before moving to the bandstand where women in the crowd were handed white roses.

Town Crier Chris Richards read out the Yorkshire Day declaration on the town hall steps and Clifton Brass Band then played On Ilkla Moor Bath ’At as the crowd sung along. Ilkley councillor Anne Hawksworth said: “In my view Ilkley is the capital of Yorkshire and we get a lot of visitors coming in for events just like this.”

Ilkley residents Pauline Forman, 76, and Audrey Murray, 71, were in the crowd, waving Yorkshire flags during the singing.

Audrey said: “I’m really proud to be from Yorkshire. You look round and it is such a great place.”

Yorkshire Day celebrations will take on an international flavour for diners at Deeva Restaurant.

Calverley businessman Zulfi Hussain and his business partner Sanjeev Johar stepped in to offer their Farsley venue for a Yorkshire celebration dinner today – and have also signed up to become corporate members of the Yorkshire Society.

“It was a great way to lend support and encourage some more traditional members to think of Yorkshire cuisine in another light,” says Zulfi.

Keith Madeley, chairman of the Yorkshire Society, said: “We are not precious about it being celebrated with a roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner, so Zulfi’s offer is great. It proves how diverse our membership is.”

Meanwhile Deliciouslyorkshire yesterday released its list of finalists in its 2013 awards, with everything from goat ice-cream, Yorkshire green garlic and edible flowers on the shortlist.

Several businesses from the district have made the shortlist, including Keelham Farm Shop for its Pick of the Picnic Range product and the Aaagrah for its Mango Chutney with Saffron.

And remember – See all, ‘ear all, say nowt. Eat all, sup all, pay nowt. An’ if th’ivver does owt for nowt, allus do it for thissen.