AN ILKLEY pub has been re-named The Sir Gary Verity in tribute to the man who brought the world-famous cycle race to Yorkshire.

For one week only and in the lead up to the Tour de Yorkshire Cycle race which will pass through Ilkley on Sunday, owner Stewart Taylor unfurled a banner on Monday to change the name of his Church Street pub from The Black Hat to The Sir Gary Verity.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, played a pivotal role in bringing the Grand Depart of the Tour de France to Yorkshire last year and there was some consternation, particularly amongst Yorkshire folk, when he was overlooked in the New Year Honours list.

Stewart, who lives in Burley-in-Wharfedale, and was a volunteer Tour Maker in 2014, said he came up with the idea to pay an affectionate tribute to the man who had the vision and determination to bring the Grand Depart to Yorkshire.

“I am a passionate cyclist anyway and I was thinking about what a fantastic effort it was the get the Grand Depart to Yorkshire,” said Stewart. I have never met Gary Verity but I was a Tour Maker and attended an event at Leeds Arena for volunteers where he made a speech. He is an inspirational character.

“I live in Burley-in-Wharfedale and I will never forget seeing the event come through Burley. Everyone in the village turned out to see it and there was a fantastic community spirit on the day and the legacy he has created in not just in the economic benefits, but in how many people are getting on their bikes and seeing the health benefits.”

The third stage of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire race on Sunday, will take cyclists from Wakefield all the way to Leeds.