ELECTIONS

The Lord Mayor warmly welcomed everybody to the Annual Meeting of Council, and extended a special welcome to those elected for the first time. 

Members and Officers joined him in wishing them all a productive and rewarding time serving their constituents.

On behalf of Elected Member colleagues, the Lord Mayor then expressed gratitude for the effective and efficient work carried out by staff and volunteers during the Election period, especially as the pandemic had called for many new arrangements to be undertaken to ensure the safety of staff, the public and candidates.

DEATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH

The Lord Mayor reported that the district, together with the rest of the nation and farther afield, was saddened to learn of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 09 April, aged 99. 

His late Royal Highness was greatly respected for the steadfast support he has given Her Majesty The Queen throughout their long lives together.  His strength of character, quick wit and forthright views endeared him to many and he succeeded in bringing a modernising agenda to the institution of monarchy.

His deeply held belief in the intrinsic value of service to the community took full flower in 1956, with the launch of the highly successful Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme.   The scheme has enjoyed great popularity locally.  Based on the firm principles of rescue and public service training; initiative development; science and natural history and fitness, its experimental launch soon caught the public imagination and countless young people across the country, and in more than 50 other nations, have benefited from the skills they learnt under its aegis.

With his passing, a chapter has closed.  On behalf of local residents, the Lord Mayor wrote to Her Majesty The Queen to express profound sorrow and sympathy in her loss. 

DEATH OF FORMER LADY MAYORESS, MRS IRENE MANGHAM

It was with sadness, that the Lord Mayor reported to Council the passing of former Lady Mayoress, Mrs Irene Mangham on 10 May 2021.

Mrs Mangham served as Lady Mayoress during the Civic term of her late husband, Danny Mangham, in 1994-1995.  She played an important part in supporting her husband, reaching out to community groups and helping raise funds for the Bradford and Keighley branches of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which was their very successful Civic Appeal.

Theirs was a busy Civic year and they undertook their varied schedule of visits and receptions with great enthusiasm.    All those whom they met during that memorable year were immediately put at ease by their disarming warmth and approachability.

The Lord Mayor had written to Mrs Mangham’s family to offer condolences in their loss.

DEATH OF FORMER COUNCILLOR RUPERT OLIVER

It was also the sad duty of the Lord Mayor to report the recent death of former Councillor Rupert Oliver.

Mr Oliver served as a Labour Councillor for the Bowling and Barkerend Ward from 2006 until 2008, having earlier served as a Liberal Democrat (and briefly as an Independent) Councillor from 2003, before moving to the Labour benches. He was noted for his hard work within his ward, serving his constituents with dedication and commitment.  On Council, his interests lay in the areas of transportation, education and health improvement.

The Lord Mayor had written to Mr Oliver’s mother and family to express his sympathy at his passing.

36^th ANNIVERSARY OF BRADFORD CITY AFC FIRE DISASTER

Tuesday 11^th May 2021 marked the 36th anniversary of the Bradford City AFC fire disaster, a tragedy in which 56 people sadly lost their lives and many others were injured or affected by what they experienced.

Owing to the ongoing pandemic situation the service was, for a second year, held online and featured footage of an earlier private laying of floral tributes by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor (on behalf of the City of Lincoln) and the Chief Executive Officer of Bradford City AFC.

A host of contributors, including the Club’s Chaplain, Bishop Toby Howarth, the Dean of Bradford, representatives of the emergency services and the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, reflected on the disaster and its effects in a service which also featured moving renditions of ‘Abide with Me’ given by Lizzie Jones, MBE and the Cathedral choir.

LORD MAYOR’S APPEAL 2021-22

It was announced that the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2021-2022 would support the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford and Bradford Community Kitchen.

Members stood in silent tribute to those cited in the Lord Mayor’s announcements who had sadly lost their lives.