A RECEIPT from a visit to a Bradford district café made in the Queen’s Coronation year has inspired two town businesses to produce goods to mark the Platinum Jubilee 70 years later.

The Loft Cafe Bar has produced T-shirts for its staff to wear featuring the cafe's logo as featured on a receipt belonging to Martha Robarts, who visited there in March 1952. The shirts feature ‘God Save The Queen’ written on its front. 

The receipt was handwritten using a fountain pen, and Martha ordered cakes during her visit to The Loft that day. The receipt also features the name of the business, which was known as The Loft when it was open in the 1950s.

Martha’s great-great niece, Julia Maher-Clarke, who owns Flower Couture, also on Main Street, has also marked the occasion by producing a Martha-themed bouquet of flowers.

This red, white and blue-coloured bouquet, priced from £30, features a host of seasonal flowers including roses, lilies and chrysanthemums.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Martha's handwritten receipt from The Loft in 1952Martha's handwritten receipt from The Loft in 1952

Meanwhile, Sadie Graves, owner of The Loft, is selling platinum jubilee scones to mark the Queen’s milestone occasion next week.

The Loft also has a patriotic jubilee garland of flowers and union jack bunting on display outside the café.

Martha’s receipt from March 1952 is now going to take pride of place on display in The Loft as a valuable piece of the site’s history.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Martha Robarts whose receipt has inspired Platinum Jubilee products in her memoryMartha Robarts whose receipt has inspired Platinum Jubilee products in her memory

Julia said: “I was looking through some old family photos and I came across the receipt for The Loft.

“This is a lovely connection between the two businesses.

“This receipt is a bit of local history too.

“Martha lived in Bingley and Cottingley. My mum used to look after her. Martha used to love watching wrestling on the television and loved a tipple. She passed away in the mid-1980s when I was a teenager.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sadie Graves, owner of The Loft Cafe Bar, in her commemorative T-shirt Sadie Graves, owner of The Loft Cafe Bar, in her commemorative T-shirt

Sadie said: “Finding the receipt is lovely for us. It had been called The Loft Café in the 1950s.

“A lot of our elderly customers remember coming to the café as a treat in the ‘50s.

“We’re jubilee’d up with what we’re doing for it.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Julia Maher-Clarke, owner of Flower Couture, with her great-great aunt's receipt from The Loft in 1952Julia Maher-Clarke, owner of Flower Couture, with her great-great aunt's receipt from The Loft in 1952

The Loft Café Bar is also taking pre-order bookings for its Jubilee afternoon tea. These will be served at the café between noon and 3pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 2 to 4. It is priced £19.95 per person which includes a ‘Raspberry Royale ‘cocktail and tea.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Martha Jubilee Bouquet created by Flower Couture in BingleyThe Martha Jubilee Bouquet created by Flower Couture in Bingley

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Platinum Jubilee scones which are available at The Loft Cafe Bar in BingleyPlatinum Jubilee scones which are available at The Loft Cafe Bar in Bingley