Sam Ford, 12, was proud to tell the world “I’m from Ilkley and I love Ilkley. I wanted to show everyone how great it is”.

He was one of the hundreds of people who gathered at the Cow and Calf rocks last weekend to sing the Yorkshire Anthem, On Ilkla Moor Baht ’at.

A video was being made to accompany a reworked version of the song to promote Yorkshire and help raise money for the Yorkshire Regiment and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

As that was happening, the Ilkley Shopping trail – designed to highlight just what is on offer at shops in the town – was underway. Organisers were delighted by the positive outcome.

This week details of another pioneering idea – The Best of Yorkshire Food Festival – being staged in July at the Kings Hall, were revealed.

It is the brainchild of event promoter Jonny Ross, of Addingham, and Master Chef finalist Tom Rennolds, of Silsden.

That event is expected to attract up to 6,000 people over three days.

Add to that the Ilkley Business Forum summer showcase, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events, the Olympic celebrations – plus the hugely successful carnival already under the belt – and it has the makings of a great year for celebrating just what is on offer in Ilkley, and of course the surrounding towns and villages.

It only takes a few more people like young Sam to start shouting from the rooftops about the area to help maintain the drive to ensure both the economic and social future of the area keeps moving forward.

Well said Sam.