MORE than 200 stars shone bright at Bradford City Hall tonight to honour absent loved ones or those who have made a significant difference across the district this year.

A procession of people hung their stars on the tree in the Banqueting Hall at an emotional ceremony to mark the end of this year’s Christmas Stars Appeal.

Each year gold stars are dedicated to loved ones who have passed away, or those who people want to keep in their thoughts, as well as those who have made a real contribution to their communities throughout the year.

The event raises money for the Bradford Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which this year is supporting YoungMinds, the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

Hundreds of friends and families gathered to mark the occasion, which began with a performance of festive favourites by the Fairfax Choir.

One of the first in the queue to hang her stars was Lorna Burton, 77, of Clayton, who dedicated three stars to her mum, Dorothy Myers, sister, Julie Deleney, and son, Frank Burton.

“I’ve been coming every year for the past five or six years,” she said.

“I can’t stop clutching at the stars.

“You just love them, you never forget them.

“It is a lovely idea, and all for charity and a good cause.”

Maisie Gillespie, aged ten, was at the event to hang stars for her grandad, Keith Lamb, and uncle, Shaun Durkin.

Her aunt, Karen Lamb, said: “It’s a nice way to remember them, at a time of year when you really do think of them.

“We’ll definitely be coming and doing this as long as the event continues.”

Judith Freeth was attending the event for the first time to dedicate a star to her late father, Philip France.

“He was a World War Two veteran, and he died in July last year, aged 98.

“I’m doing this especially for his 100th birthday, which he would have celebrated on the fourth of December.”

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid, was in attendance to dedicate a star to his friend and former colleague the Reverend Vernon Marsh, who was at Wesley House in Cambridge with him between 1969 and 1971.

He retired as Sheffield Methodist District chairman in 2015 and became chairman of the Touchstone Council in Bradford. Sadly, he died from an incurable brain disease in May.

Addressing the crowds, Cllr Reid said: “This event acknowledges people’s memories at a time of year when they can be particularly sharp.

“The event is part of the normal Christmas calendar in Bradford now, and I hope you feel it is a significant part of your Christmas too.”

Those honoured are:

ABBOTT, Wilf; ALLSOPP, George; ATKINSON, Sheila Ann; BAINES, Mrs E – (friends and relatives of); BATES, Elaine (née Heath); BEDFORD, Steve; BEGLEY, Jordan Roy; BELL, PTE Martin G.M.; BLOWERS, Joyce; BODDY, Arnold; BOOTH, Roland; BOTTOMLEY, Judith; BOWER family; Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure – all past members; BRIMACOMBE, Madge; BROWNSON, Tim; BURTON, Frank; BUTLER, Alan; CAHILL, Stanley; CAHILL, Theresa; CANNING, Joan; CARROLL, Joseph; CARROLL, Vera; CARTER, Frank; CHADWICK, Raymond; CHAPMAN, Barrie; CLARK-PATTERSON, John; CLAY, Carol; CLAYTON, Garry; CLAYTON, Helen; CLEGG, Muriel; CLEMENTS, Jo; COATES, Paul; CONNELL, Dorothy; CONNELL, Dorothy May; COOMBES, Wilf; COULTHARD, Jack; CRABTREE, Stanley; CROFT, Shirley J; CROLLA, David; CROLLA, Molly; CROLLA, Raymond; DAYNES, Phyllis; DELENEY, Julia; DODDS, Austin; DODDS, Rita; DUNN, Francis (Frank); DURKIN, Shaun; DYCHE, Audrey; ECCLES, Gladys; ECCLES, Harry; EDGLEY, Annie; EDGLEY, Arthur; ELSDEN, Arnold; ELSDEN, Rina; FEARNSIDES, Jack; FEATHER, Sam; FEATHER, Samantha; FERRIBY, Geoff; FIRTH, Lee; FORTUNE, Jack; FOX, Neil; FRANCE, Philip; GARNETT, Peggy; GEE, Eunice; GEE, Percy; GIBBONS, William; GOLDSBOROUGH, Fred; GORDON, Grahame; GORMAN, Daniel; GORMAN, Danielle; GORMAN, Kelly; GREED, Harold; GREENWOOD, Hilda; GREENWOOD, Joe; GREENWOOD, Sue; GRIFFITHS, Dennis; HALAFIHI, Johnny; HALL, Margery; HARRISON, Paul; HATTON, Irvine; HILLAM, Jean; HINDS, Ishbel; HINDS, Stanley William; HIRST, Rita; HOBSON, Ethel; HOBSON, Peter; HODGES-RHODES Lillie Grace; HODGSON, Bill; HODGSON, Hervey; HOLDSWORTH, Allan; HOPCRAFT, Barney; HORN, Tony; HOWCUTT, Evelyn; HUMPHREY, Jean; INGLEBY, Harry; INGLEBY, Jessie; JACKSON, Shirley; JOLLY, George; KELLETT, Leah; LAD, Duksha; LAD, Nisha; LAD,Trisha; LAMB, Keith; LE PROVOST, Danny; LE PROVOST, Joyce; LEE, Herbert OBE; LONGBOTTOM, Jim; LYDON, Judith Margaret; McDERMOTT, Daniel John; McEVOY, Peter; McGRATH, Frank; McILVENNY, James Patrick; McILVENNY, James Stuart; McILVENNY, Winifred; McNALLY, Oliver Christian; McNALLY, Peter; MANN, Sarah; MANOGUE, Maurice; MIDDLEDITCH, Flo; MOORHOUSE, Ben; MOORHOUSE, John; MUDD, June; MURRAY, Malcolm; MORRIS, Murray Jnr; MORRIS, Murray Snr and Mrs; MYERS, Dorothy; NAYLOR, Ezra; OWEN, Denif; OWEN, Jean Elizabeth; OWEN, Vera Auntie Pat; PARTRIDGE, Derek; PARTRIDGE, Jackie Pat, Dot and Jimmy; PATTEN, Debbie; PEACOCK, Dennis; PEARSON, Michael Joseph; PENNINGTON, Judi; POTTINGER, Irene; PURDHAM, Molly; QUICK, Peter; RABE, Lilian; RABE, Willi; RACE, David; READER, Dorothy; REDMAN, Nelson; RICHARDS, Moria; RIDLEY, Gemma; ROBISON, Mary; RUSHWORTH,; Norman; RUTH, May; RUTH, Wildred; SELBY, Kathleen; SHACKLETON, Kathleen; SHACKLETON, Philip; SHARP, Denis; SHEARS, Nicolas; SIMPSON, Mike; SIMPSON, Zak; SLINGSBY, Geoff; SMITH, Billy; SMITH, Lily Angel; SMITH, Millie; SNEE, John; SOOTHILL, Derrick; SOOTHILL, Patricia; SOUTHERN, Margaret; STANSFIELD, Clare; STEPHENSON, Mr, Mrs W and son Walter; STEPHENSON, William; STEVENS, John; SURBUTS, Harry; SURBUTS, Keith; SUTCLIFFE, Jim; SYKES, Annie; SYKES, Louis; TARBOTTON, Jim; TAYLOR, Eric; TAYLOR, Jack; TAYLOR, Ralph; TAYLOR, Richard; TENNANT, Michael; THEAKER, Phyllis; THORNTON, Sue; VIRCO, Caitlin; WADE, Kathleen; WAINWRIGHT, Muriel; WALKER, Freddie Patrick; WALKER, Terry Simeon; WHITE, Lynne; WILLEY, Michael; WILLIAMS, Clifford; WILLIAMS, Elsie; WILLIAMS, Karen; WOOD, Alma; WOOD, Edna; WOOD Harold; WOOD, Victor; WOODHOUSE, Julie; ZACCARDELLI, Joe; ZACCARDELLI, Toni Marie

Names as supplied by Bradford Council