I believe that the Yorkshire Icon
Initiative can play a big part in
raising the ambitions and aspirations
of young people in the region...
I believe that all the young people in
the region have the capacity to be the
new entrepreneurs and innovators,
the new sports and cultural icons,
the new humanitarians of the
21st century.
Rose Winterton, Minister For Yorkshire and Humber
Those attending this year’s
inaugural Yorkshire Icons event
were in good company, as over
100 inspirational Yorkshire fi gures
from the worlds of business, sport,
entertainment, music, politics
and the community assembled
for a lavish awards ceremony at
Yorkshire Bank’s headquarters
in Leeds. Supported by partners
including Yorkshire Bank and
the Yorkshire Society, the aim
of the initiative is to celebrate
the achievements of Yorkshire’s
leading lights in all walks of life
and provide positive role models
for young people.
After an introduction by ITV
Yorkshire’s Calendar presenters
Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood,
and the saying of ‘Grace’ – the
specially composed, witty “An
Ode to Icons” by Jonathan Hick
of Directorbank – the evening
kicked off in high style with a fourcourse
gourmet dinner provided
by renowned Yorkshire chef Simon
Gueller and the Michelin-starred
Box Tree restaurant.
This was followed by a key note
address by the newly appointed
Minister for Yorkshire, Rosie
Winterton, and the formal launch
of the initiative and website,
www.yorkshire-icons.com,
by Glenn King, Director of
Yorkshire Bank.
The evening culminated with the
announcement of the ‘magnifi cent
seven’ Icons chosen for induction
into the Hall of Fame, who are
Dame Judi Dench, Ashley Jackson,
Sir Ken Morrison CBE, Sir Michael
Parkinson, Freddie Trueman,
Jane Tomlinson CBE and William
Wilberforce. Each Icon was awarded
a specially commissioned statuette
designed by Barnsley-based
sculptor Graham Ibbeson. They
also had dedicated executive suites
named after them in the newly
refurbished Head offi ce of
Yorkshire Bank, at Merrion Way
in Leeds and received honourary
lifetime membership to the
Yorkshire Society. Building on the
success of this inaugural event,
the Yorkshire Icons awards is set
to become an annual fi xture.
One thing’s for sure: with so much
Yorkshire talent, the voting public
will have their work cut out.