Tributes paid to former Lord Mayor

3:31pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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Tributes have been paid to former Lord Mayor of Bradford Danny Mangham who has died aged 79.

Bradford-born Mr Mangham died peacefully at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

He represented the Wyke ward from 1979 to 2002 and became the city's first citizen in 1994 - just three months after having major heart surgery.

Mr Mangham, who had the triple bypass to stop angina attacks, was a staunch Labour man until 2002 when he stood as an Independent.

Today tributes came in from politicians including his friend, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, and leader of Bradford's Labour Group Councillor Ian Greenwood. The flag at City Hall was also flying at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Coun Greenwood said: "He was an outstanding councillor, an excellent Lord Mayor and a staunch Labour supporter and trade unionist for all his adult life.

"He was a decent man who batted for the underdog. He will be greatly missed by all his colleagues, the Labour Party and the Council."

Mr Sutcliffe said: "I'm really sad he's died. I knew him at Council and as a football referee in games I played. He was good-natured and the fairest of people, he cared passionately for others and took his responsibilities seriously. He worked hard in many Council departments, notably recreation."

Mr Mangham was brought up in the Myrtle Street area of Leeds Road, going to St Joseph's and St Bede's School. His first job was working in the dyehouse at Buckle Crossley's mill in Cemetery Road. He was still at school but needed the money to support his mother and sister after his trade unionist dad's death.

He left school with no formal qualifications but built up an education in kind as a shopfloor worker by going on courses as a convenor for the Dyers and Bleachers' Union, now part of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

During his mayoral term his charity appeal brought in more than £99,000 for the Bradford and Keighley branches of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Some of the cash also went into research and to a respite home in York. Mr Mangham had also been a school governor at a number of former Bradford middle schools and had been a keen soccer referee for more than 27 years. He was a life member of Bradford Referees' Association and a past vice-president of the West Riding County Referees' Association.

He lived in Wibsey with his wife Irene.

Friends will join Mr Mangham's family at Scholemoor Cemetery for the funeral service at 2.40pm on Friday. Flowers are family only and donations will be for the British Heart Foundation.

A granddad, he leaves his widow, son Graeme, and daughters Patricia, Valerie, Frances and Ruth. The couple also had another daughter, Hazel, who died.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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