Yorkshire calls for Gary Verity knighthood

Gary Verity,Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, who helped bring the Tour De France Grand Depart to the county

Last night, at the Courier Community Spirit Awards evening, held at Bertie’s @ La Cachette, judge and chief executive officer of Community Foundation for Calderdale, Steve Duncan, backed the call for the knighthood of Gary Verity in his speech to guests of the awards ceremony.

Mr Duncan told the audience at the awards: “I am still riding on the euphoria and excitement from the Tour de France, Grand Depart weekend and the Community Spirit Awards reminds us all that Calderdale is a special place, with special generous and committed people.

“These qualities that our wonderful people in Calderdale have were in full view when the Tour de France came to our area – not only did we witness a great sporting spectacle we witnessed also the sense of humour, the enthusiasm and creativity from residents, businesses and voluntary organisations.

“Well done people of Calderdale and well done Gary Verity, you deserve a knighthood for your vision and determination. I hope you get one.”

The Community Spirit audience responded in a round of applause and cheers.

Calderdale did Yorkshire proud with an incredible 200,000 people taking to the route of the race through our district to watch the Tour de France.

Over the two day Grand Depart, July 5-6, a staggering 2.5million people lined the streets, lanes and roads of Yorkshire to welcome the Tour de France in one of the best crowd turn-outs in the history of Le Tour.

Politicians and others have been calling for the knighthood of Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive Mr Verity for his role in putting Yorkshire on the Tour de France map.

Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, has called for a House of Commons debate on the success of the Tour and said Mr Verity should be recognised in the next honours list.

He said: “A debate would highlight the strength of feeling in Yorkshire that Gary Verity, who did so much to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire, and also for other things he’s done, should be recognised in the next honours list, perhaps with a knighthood.”