HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

I am delighted to report that a number of worthy local people have been recognised in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

It is also gratifying that, again, this includes some people whose work in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised in this special way.

I have written to these recipients in our district to congratulate them on their achievement and to thank them for their work.

RETIREMENT OF THE VERY REVEREND JERRY LEPINE, DEAN OF BRADFORD

It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that we bid a fond farewell to the Dean of Bradford, The Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, as he retires this month after an eight year tenure at Bradford Cathedral.

Dean Jerry recalls arriving in Bradford on Bastille Day, 14th July 2013 from Nottingham and experiencing a great sense of welcome and respect for the Cathedral as a key institution in the City.

He has built on the Cathedral’s fine reputation as a worship space and a meeting place for all the city’s communities – always with the emphasis placed on a warm welcome.  Engagement with the community has run through his term, as has an accent on interfaith matters and also great music being performed within the Cathedral.

The Dean has been very active over his time with us and has brought both fresh ideas and a cheery optimism to carrying out his often challenging work. 

His collegiate manner has strengthened the relationship with Bishops, sister Cathedrals and the broader Civic and Diocesan families.

He looks back with fondness on many highlights, not least being involved in the formation of the new diocese - the only diocese in the Church of England with three Cathedrals, Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield and, naturally, the marking of the Cathedral’s centenary year in 2019. 

Dean Jerry treasures the open-hearted warmth and generosity of the people of the district and will carry those memories with him always.  I attended the Dean’s farewell service and also presented him with an inscribed Boar’s Head statuette to remind him of his years with us. 

The Dean leaves the Cathedral in good heart as it looks to appoint a new Dean and during the vacancy, the Reverend Canon Paul Maybury will be the Acting Dean.

I am sure Members will wish to join me in wishing Dean Jerry, and his wife Christine, much happiness in the future and to thank the Dean for his remarkable and compassionate pastoral work.

INTERMENT OF THE ASHES OF CAPTAIN SIR TOM MOORE

The ashes of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who captured the hearts of the nation through his fundraising efforts, have been interred at Morton cemetery.

Bradford Council and Keighley Town Council have worked together, closely liaising with Captain Sir Tom’s family, to help honour the memory of this great man. 

Representatives from local Keighley organisations, services and schools provided a guard of honour for the family, before a short service was held at the graveside and his ashes interred.

Captain Sir Tom Moore, who was born and raised in Keighley, captured the hearts of people across the UK and around the world with his indomitable spirit and optimism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deciding, on the eve of his 100th birthday, to raise money for NHS Charities Together, he walked laps of his garden using his walking frame. His goal was to raise £1,000, but his determination soon caught the attention of the world’s media and, as the news travelled, donations flooded in and he raised over £32 million and attracted considerable global admiration and affection.

I am sure Members will agree with me when I say that we are all immensely proud of Captain Sir Tom who is a son of our district, born and bred in Keighley.  His stoicism and determination to get the job done showed true Yorkshire grit and immense character. 

I am delighted that we have worked with his family and Keighley Town Council to bring him back to his home of Keighley and, in doing so, recognising and honouring his memory and remarkable legacy.

‘THANK YOU’ DAY AND CATHEDRAL SERVICE

Sunday 4th July 2021 marked the first national ‘Thank You’ Day, when we took the opportunity to appreciate all the front line workers, those who have isolated and everyone who, in whatever walk of life, has helped us cope, given support and kept the wheels turning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Individually, and as communities, we have been challenged as never before and it has been a hugely difficult period for everybody.  Yet, it has also been rewarding and gratifying to see people coming together to help one another through the stressful times we have all had to endure.

A theme of white roses appeared across the district from Friday 2nd July in the form of street art and over 1000 real roses and textile roses popped-up and were handed out to those who have protected and served the district during the demanding past few months. 

The white ‘Thank You’ roses made a great visual impact, with waves of white roses in different crafted forms, ranging from knitted waves in the city centre to painted pebbles in our green spaces and a walk of roses in the streets.  They were crafted not only from within the district but also further afield, reflecting a spirit of coming together for the common good. The white roses help to initiate a moment of reflection and appreciation for all those who did their bit – be they front line workers, neighbours offering a friendly chat at the gate or a ‘phone call to someone isolated, lonely or vulnerable, or those tireless people who kept our essential deliveries getting through.

On the official thank you day on 4th July, a multigenerational choir sang a specially-written song on the steps of City Hall while standing amid a stream of textile roses.

Together with others, I passed out long-stemmed white roses with a note of thanks to our Registration Services team and also to the Covid testing site team in Centenary Square.

Other activities throughout the day included a giant rose flag hanging from the side of MMT and roses being handed out to members of the public, tourism workers and others affected by the pandemic.

National Health Service front line workers were shown our appreciation with some of our key buildings illuminated in NHS ‘blue’ light in the early part of the month, in recognition of their wonderful work.

On 7 July, Bradford Cathedral held a special ‘Thank You’ service, at which the magnificent efforts of many people  throughout the pandemic and front line workers, including representatives from all Council departments, were recognised.  Bishop Nick Baines delivered the address. 

MARKING ARMED FORCES’ WEEK AND THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE OF THE BRADFORD PALS

While not taking their usual form owing to the ongoing pandemic, events were held in June to mark both Armed Forces’ Week and to remember the sacrifice made by the Bradford Pals on 1 July 1916.

A flag-raising ceremony in Centenary Square heralded the start of the week, while online short films throughout the week reflected on a variety of subjects - the Armed Forces’ Covenant, the role played by soldiers from Commonwealth countries in both World Wars, the work of the Bradford World War One Group and one film also shed light on the valuable work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

On Saturday 26^th June we held a combined service of remembrance at Bradford Cathedral.  This service blended elements of our traditional annual Drumhead Service, together with the gathering held every year to recall, with gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the Bradford Pals.  Wreaths were laid during the service.

Wreaths were also laid privately at the Bradford Pals’ stone in the cenotaph memorial gardens on the 1^st July, the anniversary of the Pals’ tragic loss of life in battle on the Somme.