A NORTH Yorkshire bishop is taking part in Yorkshire's longest-running cycling memorial service in May.

Bishop of Selby, The Reverend Canon Dr John Thomson will be among 300 cyclists expected in the village of Coxwold, near Thirsk, at St Michael's Church on Sunday, May 8 for the 90th annual Service of Remembrance.

The Coxwold service started in the years after WWI, as one of 200 such services across the UK established by cycling groups to honour fallen colleagues and to celebrate the safe return of fellow riders.

By the 1960s many of these had dwindled away and today, aside from Coxwold, there is just one similar surviving Cyclists’ Memorial Service, held annually in Meriden, near Coventry. Both events have seen something of a revival in recent years as the popularity of cycling has increased.

Dr Thomson, a cyclist himself, will be the guest preacher at the 45-minute service. Many participants ride to the service from miles around, in groups or alone, while others whose long-distance years are behind them often ride just a short way through the village to the service itself.

Local branches of the Cyclists’ Touring Club arrange rides to the service from Hull, York, Leeds, Malton and Teesside, and other cycling clubs often attend, too.

Local residents and visitors are also most welcome. Refreshments are on sale at the village hall from 11am, and after the service, which begins at 1.30pm.