Doncaster gains city status to mark Queen’s Jubilee, thanks to ‘resilience’ from Fishlake and St Leger floods Yorkshire News

Doncaster Council applied for city status in a government competition last year and today’s announcement that it is one of a record number of winners is the culmination of a long-standing ambition.

The council hopes that by becoming a city, they can attract jobs and investment, including the Great British Railways head office, for which they have also made a bid.

The other winners were; Bangor, Northern Ireland; Colchester, Essex; Douglas, Isle of Man; Dunfermline, Scotland; Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire; Stanley, Falkland Islands and Wrexham, Wales.

One of the reasons cited for Doncaster’s success was the “resilience” shown by residents of the town of Fishlake, which suffered devastating floods in 2019. The bid team was also required to highlight its links to royalty, cultural heritage and distinctive local identity.

The competition was held at each of the Queen’s previous three jubilees, with Chelmsford, Lisburn and Newport winning.

Nearly 40 villages entered this time.

The ‘Letters Patent’ that will formally award each of the prizes will now be prepared and will be delivered to the winners later in the year.

Fortunately for Doncaster residents, being part of a town doesn’t mean you have to pay more council tax or business fees.

Community Spirit – Doncaster’s community spirit and resilience was on display during the 2019 floods as the community came together to help. It has more than 70 places of worship and spirituality, with its mosques and gurdwaras serving as pop-up vaccination centers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rich history – Originally a Roman settlement, Doncaster is almost 2,000 years old. Its industrial heritage is based on rail and coal, with The Flying Scotsman and The Mallard built there. Doncaster is synonymous with St Leger, founded in 1776 and the oldest classical horse race in the world.

Royal Link – The link between the royal family and horse racing is central to the relationship between Doncaster and Buckingham Palace, with regular attendance and participation in the St Leger Festival by the royal family. The Prince of Wales (later George IV), the Duke of Clarence (later William IV), Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Her Majesty the Queen have attended the St Leger Festival.