This week our nostalgia focus turns to some of Bradford's famous visitors from down the years. From film stars to political greats and many more...

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TOM JONES 1968:

Singer Tom Jones signed autographs for young admirers after performing at the Gaumont Cinema October 1968. A few years earlier he had seen his first hit, It’s Not Unusual, hit the charts while appearing at the Lyceum Rainbow Club in the city.

FYFE ROBERTSON 1962:

BBC TV reporter Fyfe Robertson, filmed outside City Hall October 1962 for the Tonight programme, putting together a feature about Bradford City Hall’s carillion – the set of bells which serenades the city twice a day with (usually) tuneful ringing. On this occasion, Robertson, with bluff Scots charm, persuaded City Hall’s staff to ring out between tunes, so to speak, for the sake of the programme. City workers and shoppers were treated to the theme from the TV series Doctor Kildare.

LES DAWSON 1972:

With its atmospheric setting the old Bradford Exchange Station was the perfect location for an episode of the Les Dawson’s sketch show, Sez Les, in October 1972. Made by Yorkshire Television, Les and his co star actress Damaris Hayman became the star attraction.

SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI 1969:

Sir John Barbirolli conductor of the Halle Orchestra was always a popular visitor. Pictured here in May 1969 John works on a score with accompanist Rayson Whalley and soloist Paulina Stark at St George’s Hall.

EDWARD HEATH 1970:

Pint in hand, Conservative Party Leader Edward Heath meets the people in the Queen’s Hotel, Bridge Street, Bradford, after addressing an eve-of-election meeting at St George’s Hall, June 1970. Two days later he was in Downing Street.

DENIS HEALEY 1969:

Defence Minister Denis Healey, old boy of Bradford Grammar School and Labour’s ‘intellectual bruiser’, helps celebrate the first birthday of Thornton Labour Club in December 1969.

ALBERT GELDARD 1974:

Bradford-born England international footballer Albert Geldard returned to his old school, Whetley Hill, in 1974 to partake in a little bit of football with some of its students.

VIC FEATHER 1973:

TUC general secretary Vic Feather returned to his Bradford birthplace to take part in a BBC television film making his impending retirement in 1973. He is pictured, left, walking around Undercliffe with BBC reporter David Taylor and the film’s director, Alan Thompson.

CHARLTON HESTON 1952:

Film star Charlton Heston is pictured with young fans while visiting Bradford promoting his new film The Greatest Show on Earth in 1952. It was showing at the Odeon in Manchester Road.

ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO:

Hemmed in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistan People’s Party, addresses a rally on Infirmary Fields at the bottom of Lumb Lane in 1969. The rally was to have taken place in the Textile Hall, but there were too many people wanting to hear him speak.

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