HUNDREDS of people gathered in Centenary Square today to remember the 56 people who were killed in the Valley Parade fire disaster on May 11, 1985.

Representatives from Bradford City, the emergency services, Bradford Council and both sporting and civic dignitaries from Lincoln – who Bradford were playing on the day of the fire – attended a service and laid wreaths at the fire memorial.

Bradford City chaplain the Reverend Andy Greiff opened the ceremony, followed by a reading from the Reverend Sarah Jemison, chaplain to the Lord Mayor.

Andy Jolley, Archdeacon of Bradford, then addressed the crowd, and the Reverend Paul Maybury, precentor at Bradford Cathedral, led the crowd in prayer.

Bradford City’s first team squad attended the service, along with manager Stuart McCall, who was playing for the Bantams on the day of the fire, and owners Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp.

James Mason, City’s chief operating officer, said: “This is so important for the club, and why we have this memorial every year and a private reception for the families up at the club.

“It’s part of our DNA so it’s something we are always respectful of, and it shows the city in a great light where we all come together.

“It’s great to see the whole community come out because the whole community played its part back in 1985, the local Bangladeshi community around the stadium were on hand giving out blankets.

“All the emergency services and all Bradfordians really came to rally round the fans on that day, and that’s why it’s lovely to see them all here today to show their support for the families who were affected by the disaster.”

Alison Gray, from St John’s Ambulance, who was at Valley Parade on the day of the fire and helped treat injured people, said the memorial always brought back her memories of the fire.

She said: “It’s so important to the Bradford community and the whole society.

“It’s nice to see so many people come out and remember what happened and show their support.”

The Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Yvonne Bodger, joined Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Geoff Reid at the ceremony, and said it was “essential we continue to remember the tragedy” which claimed the lives of two Lincoln City fans, along with 54 Bradford supporters.

She said: “It was an extremely moving service.

“We also need to continue to learn from the tragedy, but also it has given us a great camaraderie and friendship between Lincoln and Bradford.”

Cllr Reid added: “This is something that Bradford does very well and rightly so.

“It’s good to have the different groups represented that we have and it’s been a very moving occasion towards the end of my year as Lord Mayor.

“After Remembrance Sunday, this is the other very special remembrance event for Bradford and the crowd’s understanding of what it all means was palpable.”

Ronnie Goldwater, station commander at Bradford Fire Station, who came off duty the morning of the fire, said: “This day is important as it is a focal point for the whole city to remember the terrible events and ensure that the lives of those 56 are never forgotten.

“Everyone has a chance to get together and it shows the community spirit that exists in the city.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said the event highlighted how significant the disaster was to so many people in Bradford. “It was a hugely tragic event for the city that still resonates to this day, so it’s important we remember it and the people and families who are still affected by it to this day, who lost loved ones in the disaster,” she said.

“People rightly feel very affected by the event still, and it also shows our young people how important it is to remember this as a city.”

During the service, Archdeacon Andy Jolley shone a particular light on the community, many who originated from Bangladesh, around the stadium and their actions on the day.

He said: “Those were dark days in football, not only with the fire but with hooliganism, and the local community sometimes lived in fear.

“But, on this day people gave help to strangers, and local people opened their doors to offer help. What their actions showed that day was the overwhelming human spirit in the community overcoming fear.”