IT was a poignant pause from the gathering pace of the festive season in Bradford, as dozens joined together to hang a Christmas Star on the City Hall tree in recognition of absent loved-ones.

The Telegraph & Argus Christmas Star Appeal takes place every year to allow those who have people missing from their lives to remember them and support the Lord Mayor's Appeal.

This year's was a particularly heartfelt moment for Lord Mayor of Bradford Mike Gibbons because he had personal stars to hang, in memory of fellow Councillor Valerie Binney who died earlier this year and Vivienne Miller, the wife of Cllr Glen Miller who passed on recently.

A further star was also hung in memory of Denis Sharp, the late husband of Lady Mayoress Mrs Elizabeth Sharp.

Hanging gold stars on the Christmas Tree at City Hall is a highly visible way for those feeling a loss to remember their loved ones but it also allows them to contribute to making a difference to other people's lives throughout the year.

Donations made by those who hung stars on the tree will go towards Cllr Gibbon's appeal, which this year is supporting Marie Curie and his own Make It Happen scheme, which will support community based projects throughout the district.

This year's event has proved more popular than last year, with more than 200 dedications for the tree, which is an increase on 2013 and includes some who have begun to make an annual tradition of the event.

Cllr Gibbons told the Telegraph & Argus: "This remembrance is of a personal nature and people feel very strongly about their loved ones.

"It is wonderful to be able to help recognise each and every one of these people by the hanging of these stars.

"I know it gives much comfort and joy to the individuals concerned and it is good to see the level of support it gets each year.

"This year more than 200 stars are being hung on the civic Christmas tree and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in helping to make it happen," he said.

The tributes have been made by a wide range of individuals, from close family members to friends and colleagues.

Those who have been remembered this year include Duksha Lad and her daughters Trisha and Nisha.

The star was hung by a colleague at Bradford Council who worked with Mrs Lad before her death. Police are still investigating the circumstances of their deaths and that of Mrs Lad's husband Jitendra, who was also found at the family home in Clayton during October.

Others who visited to hang stars included Susan Ferriby, of Low Moor, who attended with her daughter Andrea and brother in law Philip Ferriby to remember her husband Geoff.

She said: "It is for my husband and this is our first Christmas without him.

"Marie Curie helped us with him so we thought we would support them, which is what we do anyway," she said.

Natalie Moorhouse, of Allerton, turned up with her daughter Lloretta-Clare, aged six, to pay tribute to her nan, Clare Stansfield and also her aunt and uncle, Jackie and Derek Partridge, by hanging stars for each of them.

"We have done this for quite a few years, for my nan since she passed away and now for my uncle who passed just after Christmas," she said.

"It is a really nice way to remember them and it is a really nice event. There is the charity involvement too, which is an extra thing that helps to make it worthwhile.

"It is not a sad event, it is nice to be able to attend," she said.

Lloretta-Clare added that she wanted to hang a star in memory of her nan (corr) "because she was so special".

Leanne Taylor, of Shipley, was at City Hall to pay her respects to her father Terry Walker and took her three children along too.

Leah, aged 10, Thomas, four and Harry, two, were there to hang the star and to keep the memory of Mr Walker in their minds.

"I just think it is a nice thing to do to remember him by. We do it every year.

"We have been coming for six years and it has become a family thing.

"It means something to the kids because they can remember him through coming to do this," she said.

Others who took the opportunity to remember absent loved ones were Julie Hodgson and Linda Nolan, who use the Christmas Star as an act of memory for their late mother, Evelyn Howcutt, who died two years ago.

Mrs Hodgson, 51, said: "It's something me and my sister and our daughters do together to remember mum. We go to the event and go out for a meal and talk and reminisce about the things mum used to say.

"She'll never be forgotten, but this is such a nice thing to do to remember someone special, plus it benefits a fantastic charity too."

Although many used the event to remember absent loved ones, it was also open to those who wanted to hang a star in recognition of those who had made a difference during the course of the year.

The event was supported by the female group the Fairfax Singers who provided a selection of seasonal songs during the session, which took place in the banqueting suite at City Hall where the tree will remain throughout the festive period.

Grange Technology College teacher Derek Radcliffe assisted those hanging stars by climbing a step ladder to place the higher ones.

Meanwhile, pupils from the school helped with the catering arrangements as part of their long-standing connection with the Lord Mayor's Charity.

The college is the city's only school to have a regular place on the committee and pupils helped to serve drinks and mince pies to those who attended.

Mr Radcliffe said the school would be further supporting the Lord Mayor's appeal through staff taking part in a forthcoming walk of Yorkshire's three peaks.

THE NAMES ON THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS STARS ARE:

Alec Allan, Stanley Allott, Sheila Ann Atkinson, To all our absent loved ones Baines family, John Bannon, Emma Bannon, Paul Bannon, Victor Bannon, Jim Longbottom, Nigel Moore, Frank Burton.

Dorothy Myers, Julie Delaney, Alan Butler, Bower Family, Ducksha Ladd, Trisha Ladd, Nisha Ladd, Arthur Bennett, Madge Brimacombe, Kathleen Selby, Joan Canning, Dorothy Connell, Freddie Patrick Walker, Dorothy Connell, Lee Firth, Barrie Chapman, Zak, Ollie-Mac, Jordan, Zakari, Gary Simpson.

May Ruth, Wilfred Ruth, Thomas Cooper, Michael Delves, Audrey Dyche, Frank McGrath, Morris Murray JR, Raymond Chadwick, Jack Fortune, Jack and Gordon, Harold, Morris Murray JR, Jack Fortune, Helen Clayton, Dennis Griffiths, Ishbel and Stanley Hinds, Jack and Martha Gaunt, Grahame Gordon.

Jack Groves, Kathleen Verechio, Evelyn Howcutt, Alma Wood, Harold, Irvine Hatton, Jean Humphrey, Grace Sugden, Johnny Halafihi, Elsie Ingleby, Mr Ingleby, Jessie Ingleby, Sarah Mann, Harry Ingleby, Leah Kellett, Frank Carter, Shaun Durkin, Keith Lamb, Zak Simpson, Zak Simpson, Harry Lofthouse.

Basil Ingleby, Morris Murray , Francis Senior, Ben and John Moorhouse, Jackie and Derek Partridge, Clare Stansfield, Jackie and Derek Partridge, Jackie and Derek Partridge, Shirley Lloyd, Dave Lloyd, Grahame Thornton, N Ledman, Mr and Mrs Stephenson and Son, Morris Murray JR, Annie Edgley.

Arthur Edgely, Daniel John McDermott, Frank McGrath, Evelyne Howcutt, John McNulty, Dorothy Smith, Geoff Slingsby, Eric Slingsby, Keith Hallsworth, Ralph Taylor, Kenneth Tame, Joan Canning, Joyce and Danny LE Prevost, Nick Sheard, Neil Fox, Steven, Betty Bolton, Patricia Soothill, Derrick Soothill.

Gladys Eccles, Harry Eccles, Harry Surbuts, Keith Surbuts, Frank Fieldhouse, Mam Dad and Brother, Valerie Binney, Vivienne Miller, Chris Musgrove, Denis Sharp, Ian Wilson, Anna Rawnsley, Joseph Rawnsley, Shirley Kiwczak, Malcolm Field, Peter Fitzgerald, Francis Kevin Dunne, Malcolm Murray.

Ralph Gayle, Private Martin Bell GM, Hilda Greenwood, Sue Greenwood, Terry Hartley, Geoffrey, Grandad, Weffy, Geoff Ferriby, Geoff Ferriby, Samantha Feather, Frank Anthony Holmes, Gareth Hammond, Rina Elsden, Arnold Elsden, Kevin Parratt, John Stevens, Joyce Blowers, Mary Robinson.

Jean Bain, Ann Gibson, Arthur Stead, Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure, Linda Bellingham, Moira Richards, Dennis Peacock, Diane McDermott, Steven Parry, Brian Pickford, Geoffrey Shepherd, Diane McDermott, Kathleen Shackleton, Phillip Shackleton, Paul Smith, Sarah Phillips, Toni-Marie Zaccardelli.

Joe Zaccardelli, Toni-Marie Zaccardelli, Phyllis Davies, Sheila Vaux, Eunice Gee, Percy Gee, Caitlin Verco, Michael Tenant, Billy Smith, Millie Smith, Grahame Gordon, Kathleen Wade, Ernie Waddington, Michael Waddington, Jack Broadly, Annie Broadly, Moira Oldroyd, Roxanne Brankin, Terry Walker.

Terry Walker, Matthew Ward, Jack Whitehead, Christopher Wilkes, PALS Officer, Daphne Sharpe, Paul Andrew Harrison, Ian Wilson, Jack and Evelyn Waterhouse, Arthur Bennett, Alma Wood, the Eccles and Surbuts family.

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