Councillor Abid Hussain installed as Lord Mayor of Bradford at City Hall

Councillor Geoff Reid passed on his chain and robes to Councillor Abid Hussain after a year in the post at Bradford Council’s annual general meeting at City Hall today.

Cllr Hussain (Labour, Keighley) will hold the role for the next 12 months, and said he is “delighted” to by the district’s new Lord Mayor.

He said: “I’m delighted to be the new Lord Mayor of Bradford.

“I will be working with all faiths and will try to build some lovely bridges between the communities and all faiths and organisations, work with young people and in education, and I’ll try to build good relationships with everyone.

“I am particularly delighted to be a Lord Mayor from Keighley, and my Deputy Lord Mayor is also from Keighley.

“I look forward to working with the Bishop of Bradford Toby Howarth, and I would like to thank my LAbour group for nominating me as Lord Mayor.”

Cllr Doreen Lee is taking over as Deputy Lord Mayor from Cllr Alun Griffiths.

After a year as Lord Mayor, Councillor Geoff Reid admitted he was getting fatigued towards the end of his tenure, but said he is looking forward a short break to Prague to recharge his batteries before resuming his role as a Lib Dem Councillor in Eccleshill.

He said: “It feels right to be handing over the role of Lord Mayor to Cllr Hussain, and I have enjoyed my year in the role.

“I have also been very happy with the support for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal in the last year.”

The new Lord Mayor has also unveiled the charities he will be supporting through the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

This year’s appeal will be in aid of Bingley-based charity the Down Syndrome Training and Support Service, and the Wishing Well Appeal, which gives out small grants to smaller charities and organisations around the district.

Toby Howarth, the Bishop of Bradford, said the role of Lord Mayor is “huge”.

He said: “It gives us a civic space within which to honour people, institutions and events in a way which is non-political.

“It’s particularly important that we have a Lord Mayor from Keighley.

“I’m also grateful that the new Lord Mayor has been so supportive of Believing in Bradford, a project we launched last year bringing a whole range of people from different backgrounds, faiths and communities together to represent the district.”

Jerry Lepine, the Dean of Bradford Cathedral, added that the appointing of a new Lord Mayor is a “very significant moment in civic life”.

“It’s a very important role in the life of the city,” he said.

“When the Lord Mayor turns up to an event it gives a certain kudos to them, and I think it is a vital role for the city.”