Calendar

Sep
29
Fri
2023
Westmorland Day: Creation of Earldom of Westmorland
Sep 29 all-day

Westmorland Day takes place annually on 29 September.

It marks the date in 1397, when King Richard II created Ralph Neville the first Earl of Westmorland.

A poll at the Westmorland County Show (2013) chose this day.

Other options included: 30 January – birth of Lady Anne Clifford; 30 July – death of Thomas de Strickland; 1 October – battle of Tinghai; 21 October – death of Earl Ralph Neville; 18 December – battle of Clifton (perhaps the last battle on English soil).

Oct
1
Sun
2023
Lincolnshire Day: Anniversary of the Lincolnshire Uprising, 1536
Oct 1 all-day

Lincolnshire Day takes place annually on 1 October.

It commemorates the Lincolnshire Rising, which began at Louth on 1 October 1536.

The rebels were protesting against the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Oct
19
Thu
2023
Oxfordshire Day: Feast of St Frideswide
Oct 19 all-day

Oxfordshire Day takes place on 19 October, the principal feast day of St Frideswide (c.650–19 October 727).

Frideswide is the patron saint both of the city of Oxford and of the University of Oxford.

She was an English princess and abbess, who by legend founded a monastery later incorporated into Christ Church, Oxford.

 

Oct
22
Sun
2023
British Virgin Islands: Feast of St Ursula
Oct 22 all-day

The Virgin Islands celebrate the feast of St Ursula annually on 22 October.

Christopher Columbus named the Virgin Islands in honour of the saint in 1493.

Oct
25
Wed
2023
Northamptonshire: Feast of St Crispin
Oct 25 all-day

Northamptonshire Day takes place annually on 25 October, the feast of St Crispin.

St Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers, cobblers and leather workers – an important industry in the county.

This date was selected by public vote from a shortlist of five.

The four other options were:

  • 5 January – death of Philippa of Lancaster (1430), queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden
  • 26 February – radar first demonstrated in Upper Stowe (1935)
  • 31 May – death of Waltheof (1076), 1st Earl of Northampton, the last of the Anglo-Saxon earls
  • 28 July – battle of Talavera (1809), battle honour of the Northamptonshire Regiment, the ‘Heroes of Talavera’

Northamptonshire

Oct
26
Thu
2023
Essex Day: Feast of St Cedd
Oct 26 all-day

Essex Day takes place annually on 26 October, the feast of St Cedd.

Cedd (c.620–64) was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop who was an evangelist among the East Saxons.

Nov
14
Tue
2023
British Antarctic Territory: Birthday of HM The King
Nov 14 all-day

The British Antarctic Territory celebrates the Birthday of HM The King annually on 14 November.

Falkland Islands: Birthday of HM The King
Nov 14 all-day

The Falkland Islands celebrate the Birthday of HM The King annually on 14 November.

Nov
27
Mon
2023
Lancashire Day: Lancashire First Represented in Parliament
Nov 27 all-day

Lancashire Day has taken place annually on 27 November since 1996.

It commemorates the day when Lancashire first sent representatives to Parliament, the Model Parliament of King Edward I (1295).

Nov
28
Tue
2023
Bedfordshire Day: Birthday of John Bunyan
Nov 28 all-day

Bedfordshire Day takes place annually on 28 November.

The date, chosen by popular vote, commemorates the birthday of John Bunyan.

Several alternative options included:19 January – earldom (later dukedom) of Bedford recreated (1550); 12 April – Bedfordshire County Council granted its coat-of-arms (1951); 20 June – siege of Bedford Castle begins (1224); 13 August – Blenheim Day, celebrated by the Bedfordshire Regiment and its successors; 12 September – birth of prison reformer John Howard (1726); 14 October – first flight of the airship R101 from Cardington (1929); 6 November – 1st and 2nd Battalions Bedfordshire Regiment meet at Bailleul en route to Ypres (1914); 15 November – first High Sheriff of Bedfordshire appointed (1575); 25 November – feast of St Catherine, patron saint of spinners, weavers and lacemakers; 15 December – birth of Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams (1899).