So what was "Hayride" all about?
The Hayride traditionally took place each year on the third Sunday in June, a colourful procession of splendid heavy horses pulling ancient corn wagons; superb light horses and vintage carriages.
The cavalcade, accompanied by hundreds of collectors in beautiful Victorian costumes, left the stackyard and fields of Northlands Farm at 1.00pm.
Sadly, by 2006, the dwindling size of the procession and the logistics (plus associated costs) of organising Hayride were a serious cause for concern. Rather than allow the event to simply fizzle out the decision was made to go out in style. 2007 saw the 40th and last Hayride procession.
Since then the village has continued to stage a variety of events on the third weekend of June (barn dances, garden parties, cricket tounaments etc) and suppport for local charities continues too.
Look at the other Hayride pages (left) for pictures and other memories of this very special village tradition.
Where did it go?
The procession made its way through the village of Walkington and onwards to Bishop Burton, one of the most delightful villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire. We stay awhile on the verdant Green at Bishop Burton to rest the horses and sing those beloved songs of yesteryear, concluding of course with Land of Hope and Glory (sung with great gusto and feeling by everyone, spectators included).
We left Bishop Burton and proceeded to Beverley's glorious Westwood to be greeted again by very enthusiastic crowds. We sang to them and dwelt awhile before proceeding through the historic North Bar into the beloved old town of Beverley - one of the highlights of the occasion.
We then turned homeward bound for Walkington and our valiant horses and the collectors know it of course. We arrived back at Northlands Farm generally at about 6.00pm, bouquets verbal and flowery were given out; pies and peas were eaten; the horses fed and watered and yet another Hayride was over.
Something to be proud of
Our Victorian Hayride was absolutely unique, nowhere else in the length and breadth of Britain does such an event take place. In more than thirty years of its existence, we have raised over £250,000 for charity, of which we are rightly proud.
Ernie Teal