DEATH OF COUNCILLOR, AND FORMER LORD MAYOR, ABID HUSSAIN

The Lord Mayor reported the shock and sadness in learning of the death of Councillor, and former Lord Mayor, Abid Hussain on 24 December 2020. He was a great advocate for Keighley and its people, and he worked closely with his ward colleagues to promote and enhance the town and its prospects. 

Abid became a Labour Councillor for the Keighley Central Ward in 2010 and sat on a number of Council committees, and was currently Chair of the Education Appeals Panel, and Deputy Chair of the Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel and Keighley Area Committee. As Lord Mayor in 2017/2018, supported by his wife Shahnaz as Lady Mayoress, it proved to be a busy, varied and highly rewarding Civic year.

The Lord Mayor had written to Councillor Abid Hussain’s widow, Shahnaz, and family, to express sorrow at his passing.

DEATH OF COUNCILLOR MICHAEL ELLIS

It was also the very sad duty of the Lord Mayor to formally report to Council the death of Councillor Mike Ellis, which occurred on 12 January 2021. 

Councillor Ellis was Conservative Group Chief Whip and a Bingley Rural Councillor.  He was first elected in 1991 and represented constituents in the Worth Valley ward until 1995.  From 2006 he served the people of the Bingley Rural ward Mike served on numerous Council committees, covering nearly every aspect of the local authority's business, as well as contributing to many outside bodies.

The Lord Mayor had written to his widow, Kath and their family, to convey deep sympathies in their loss.

DEATH OF FORMER LORD MAYOR, TONY CAIRNS, OBE

With great sorrow the Lord Mayor reported the death, on 14 February 2021, of former Lord Mayor Tony Cairns, OBE, at the age of 89. Tony was elected as a Labour Councillor for the Tong Ward and served his constituents from 1984 until 2010. Between 1994 and 1997 he was the Leader of the Council and in 1997/98 he, and his late wife Jean, served as Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. Tony served on many Council committees and was at one-time Chair of Social Services and Policy and Resources. He also served as Chief Whip and Chair of the Labour Group. On outside bodies, Cllr Cairns served as Deputy Chair on the board of Leeds Bradford International Airport and also sat on Bradford University Council.

The Lord Mayor had written to Tony’s son and family to offer condolences, on behalf of the district, in their loss.

The Lord Mayor recognised that the loss of two serving Councillors, and a distinguished former Councillor and Lord Mayor, would be felt profoundly by Members and throughout the district and placed on record this Council’s gratitude for their many years of eminent service.

Members paid tribute and observed a minute’s silence.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN SIR TOM MOORE

On 2 February 2021, Captain Sir Tom Moore passed away, at the age of 100.  Captain Sir Tom had been admitted to hospital in Bedfordshire suffering from pneumonia and later tested positive for Covid. Born in Keighley, to a school head teacher mother and a father who worked in the building trade, the young Captain Sir Tom was educated at Keighley Grammar school.  His remarkable fundraising effort, by walking 100 laps of his garden, raised £32.8m for the Health Service’s charitable wing, NHS Charities Together. 

An online condolence book was opened in his memory and the Lord Mayor had written to his family to express sadness and sympathy in their loss.

DISTRICT MARKS 1,001 DEATHS FROM COVID-19 RELATED CAUSES

On 26 January 2021 a solemn milestone was marked as official figures showed that there had been 1,001 deaths across this district from Covid-19 related causes. Flags were lowered and 1,001 electronic candles were placed, in the twilight, on the steps to City Hall marking this sad commemoration, along with other lights displayed at hospital entrances and in the chapel at Airedale.

Every death was a tragedy affecting many people, both family and friends; each one a person who loved and was loved.  No community had escaped the grief or the anguish of this devastating illness and Council’s thoughts were with all those who had lost people close to them.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST

It was reported that a number of local people had been recognised in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

The Lord Mayor had written to the recipients in our district to congratulate them on their achievement and to thank them for their work.