Bradford Council’s longest serving councillor was sworn in as the district’s first citizen today.

Councillor John Godward donned the robes and chain of the office of Lord Mayor during a ceremony at City Hall.

Coun Godward and his wife Jean succeed Councillor Howard Middleton and his wife Colleen.

Coun Godward said: “It is a real privilege to be selected as Lord Mayor of Bradford and I am delighted that I will be able to support the city and the district’s towns and villages. Bradford is a wonderful city and with my wife Jean I want to ensure that we meet as many people as we can and attend as many events as we are able to promote the city and its people.”

Coun Godward (Lab, Great Horton) has served on the Council since he was elected on May 1, 1980, and was Deputy Lord Mayor three years ago. He selected two organisations to benefit from his charity appeal: Bradford and District Senior Power and the Little Heroes Cancer Trust.

The Lord Mayor said: “I want my appeal to benefit all age groups and families in Bradford and to support them in leading a fulfilling life. Both of the organisations I have chosen are pioneering to bring new services to the people of Bradford and the district and that is extremely important to me.”

Jean Walker, chairman of Senior Power, said: “It is a privilege to have been chosen as one of the organisations for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal this year.

“BDSP committee members have worked ceaselessly this year to push the concept of a city centre base for people aged 50-plus to enjoy and also develop for future generations.”

Colin Nesbitt, director of Little Heroes Cancer Trust, said: “Setting up the charity was something that I needed to do but being selected by the Lord Mayor of Bradford as his charity for the year is one of the proudest things I’ve ever achieved.”

The appeal was being started today with a world record breaking attempt. It is hoped almost 1,000 schoolchildren and staff will break the record of the number of people holding a soft toy in a chain. The existing record stands at 734 people.

Pupils at Byron Primary and Bradford Moor Comm-unity Primary were joining the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress in the record attempt, with Coun God-ward taking Brad Ford Bear, the official mascot of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

“I wanted to launch my appeal in a grand style and what better way than getting hundreds of schoolchildren involved to break a world record?” he said.