City walls lit up in tribute to philanthropist

York paid tribute to Joseph Rowntree with a light display on the city's historic walls

York's city walls have been lit up in blue and orange in tribute to philanthropist Joseph Rowntree on the 100th anniversary of his death.

A successful confectionery businessman, Rowntree built the village of New Earswick in York to create affordable housing, donated Rowntree Park to the city and established the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to better understand the causes of social problems.

The display on Monday marked Rowntree's "lasting impact" on the place of his birth, City of York Council said.

Michael Pavlovic, the council's executive member for housing, planning and safer communities, said: "The lighting of the walls reminds us of his remarkable legacy and the values he instilled in York."

"Joseph Rowntree's vision of social justice, alongside his entrepreneurial spirit, has shaped York into the city we know and love today," he added.

Meanwhile, Pete Kilbane, deputy leader of City of York Council, said Rowntree's influence on the city "cannot be overstated".

Joseph Rowntree has been hailed for his influence on York

Under Rowntree's stewardship, his confectionery company's products became famous all over the world.

By 1923, it employed more than 7,000 people in York, according to The Rowntree Society, an educational charity based in York.

However, the society - whose work is enabled by grant funding from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust - has acknowledged how the firm had earlier benefited from slavery and forced labour in its global supply chains.

Nick Smith, the society's executive director, said: "The impact Joseph Rowntree had, particularly on York, is still felt today - both through the tangible assets he provided for us which still exist and with the example he gave in making life better for so many people."

York's city walls were lit up in blue and orange on Monday

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which the entrepreneur set up in 1904, continues its work today.

It describes itself as an "independent social change organisation working to support and speed up the transition to a more equitable and just future".

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