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