“The Minster” BBC One 4:45pm today

Illuminating York Minster

BBC documentary series goes behind the scenes at York Minster

TV viewers will get the chance to see behind the scenes of one of Britain’s great historic buildings today.

A small team from the BBC filmed at York Minster for most of 2013 – capturing the unsung heroes whose work ensures the largest medieval Gothic cathedral north of the Alps is kept open and vibrant for all to enjoy.

The results will be seen in the first of a three-part documentary series called The Minster which starts this Sunday at 4.45pm on BBC One (Yorks and Lincs and North East).

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Tour de France updates

Community artwork of the ‘Road Through York’ to celebrate the Tour de France

Residents with an eye for the bigger picture are invited to book to join in the community painting collaboration called the “Road Through York”. The project aims to create an enormous painting in which hundreds of local people have had a hand and which “will help welcome the Tour de France to York”.

TdF

A painting by local artist and art tutor Karen Winship features York landmarks and will be scaled up and broken down into 320 panels. Each metre-squared panel will be painted by individuals joining in the project, who will see their work laid out when the completed montage, totalling 320 square metres, is exhibited on the Knavesmire on 6 July for the aerial cameras to film and relay to the world.

Any individual or any organisation who wants to join in and make its mark on the Road Through York must email theroad@york.gov.uk or call 07990 774 420 to secure a place at a number of painting day s organised throughout the coming weeks. Find out more at http://www.experiencetherace.com/ .

Information Meetings

In the face of bitter opposition from local residents the Council I now saying that the proposed spectator hub will be on Monk Stray will be “be sited at the northern end of the stray near to the A64, away from the majority of residents, with access from Malton Road. It will have a temporary infrastructure of toilet, washing and water facilities and it’s likely to have a food tent offering breakfasts and camping supplies.”

On Thursday 10 April, from 5.30pm at the Rowntree Park Reading Café, there will be a second dedicated TdF information meeting. There, people can expect to find out more about routes and traffic management, about camping and caravanning, plus information on the cultural festival called York: Be Part of It, and plans for the exciting spectator hubs where people can enjoy the celebrations.

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Tour de France – mystery continues?

 

An invitation is being issued to residents, businesses and local groups to come along and find out more about making the most of the build-up to and the Tour de France itself, at a series of information sessions held across the city.

Tour de France

Tour de France

The move comes despite the failure of the Council to explain how much of the Council Taxpayers £1.6 million investment will be recouped through fees, charges and sponsorship?

People can find out more on arrangements for routes and traffic management, and about camping and caravanning in the city.

There has been widespread criticism of the Councils plan to turn Monk Stray into a camping site for the event. Residents have demanded to know why the Knavesmire or University were not considered as alternative venues.

There will also be information on how to get involved in the cultural festival called York: Be Part of It, and plans for the exciting spectator hubs where people can enjoy the celebrations.

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International Women’s Week events in York

Woman cricketer
International Women’s Week, from 8-15 March will be marked with a vibrant and thought-provoking series of events this week by City of York Council’s libraries.

An event, ‘Find your words, Find your voice’ will take place on Wednesday 12 March from 10.30am-1pm at Dringhouses library. Join Pauline Kirk, novelist and editor, and Rose Drew, poet and editor, and enjoy developing the craft of writing and publicly sharing work. Tickets are £4 and include refreshments. They are available from dringhouses.library@york.gov.uk or phone (01904) 552674.

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Richard III

City of York Council’s Archaeologist will be leading a series of walks retracing Richard III’s steps around York, this Spring.

Richard III head

Richard III head

The walking tours are open to the public, and have been devised by John Oxley FSA in response to public interest in the identification of the monarch’s remains and as part of the collaborative Richard III: Rumour and Reality project.

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