Here are just some of the many highlights from the Barwick-in-Elmet Maypole Festival 2025.
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00:00This is my eighth Maypole, 23 years I think I've been doing it.
00:04The thing that always strikes all of us, I think, when I say all of us, I mean the committee,
00:08we slowly put things together and then before we know it, it's Maypole Day and there's 3,000 people in the village.
00:15There's a lot of other help as well that goes on, obviously closer to the day.
00:19I've been coming to this event since 1984 and four children who've all taken part in it,
00:25but they're all grown up now, so it's just a nostalgia trip now.
00:30The children enjoyed going on the floats and the tractors.
00:33All the children from nursery onwards are in that.
00:37I've still got a wardrobe full of emergency white dresses.
00:41It's a wonderful tradition.
00:43We've had this for I don't know how many years now.
00:46It escapes my attention, but it's a fabulous day.
00:49I go back so long with it now to when there were horse-drawn trailers.
00:56Barrick's a beautiful place to live and it's a tradition that should never, ever be forgotten.
01:02I've recently moved into Barrick, only at the end of October.
01:05Not knowing anybody, we thought we'd volunteer to help
01:09and been involved in putting up bunting and everything for the last week or so.
01:13Then the day started at 6am, putting up market stalls
01:17and then I've been in charge of one of the lines holding the pall up
01:23and just doing jobs around the village as much as we can,
01:26just getting to know people. It's been wonderful.
01:29I've got two children who have both taken part in the event.
01:32It's really special to the village, really enjoy the atmosphere.
01:36It's just something that we look forward to every three years.
01:39We had a bit of a delay in COVID, but we're delighted it's back again.
01:43We got roped, do you see what I did there?
01:45We got roped into holding the rope and yeah, I didn't think it was going to be so long
01:50and I didn't think we were actually holding the tension, but we were.
01:55So yeah, no, great day, great organisation from the village.
01:59It's just a big thing in Barrick, really, that it keeps going every three years
02:03and it's changed a lot over the years, given the health and safety considerations and other things.
02:09It's quite a family affair for you guys as well, isn't it?
02:11It is, yes, a family event.
02:12Jim's twin brother is part of the crew in there and his wife is also part of the committee
02:17that has helped with organising everything that happens today,
02:21so it's really nice to come and support them as well.
02:23We need to really keep the old things up and going because it makes your community,
02:27I think it's, yeah, all part of, you know, what's going on and keeps your people together.
02:32Yeah, I think it's really good.
02:34The weather did try to let it down for us a little bit, but we've persevered.
02:39Barrick shows up whether it's raining or not, so we only missed out on the climb, but Dan had a really good go at it.
02:44So he can be thoroughly proud and the village is proud of him as well.
02:49It's gloss-paped on that pole and you've took a load of water at it.
02:53It's slippery as anything.
02:56Well done, Dan, for trying.
02:58Really well done.