THIS is the picturesque photo that has led to the discovery of a touching coincidence for one local councillor.
Newly-elected Labour councillor for Queensbury Hazel Parsan is proud to represent the ward where was born.
And in a bizarre twist of fate, she learned that her current home was also the home of the last Labour councillors to serve Queensbury more than 20 years ago.
Early last year, the Telegraph & Argus asked readers to share wintry photographs from across the district to its Facebook page, so Hazel posted a view from the spare room of her home at Clayton Heights.
The picturesque photo prompted a number of comments, including one from a woman called Philippa who said she thought she recognised the view as being from her childhood bedroom window.
Councillor Parsan said: “To cut a long story short, it turns out that Philippa was the daughter of the last family who lived here many years ago.
“We got chatting and she told me that her Mum and Dad were the last Labour councillors in Queensbury before me!
“They were called Christine and Harry Mason. Harry, who tragically died of Motor Neurone disease, also served as the Lord Mayor of Bradford and was very much loved by the local community and right across the political spectrum.”
The T&A reported at the time how Cllr Harry Mason collapsed in July 1999, just two months after becoming Lord Mayor, and was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he was not expected to live long.
He vowed to battle on after being given the terminal diagnosis and his wife Christine helped him carry out his duties from his wheelchair. He even continued to fight on for Queensbury residents after becoming bed bound in the later stages of his illness.
Philippa has said she is happy to know that thanks to the touching coincidence it is home once again to the new Labour councillor for Queensbury, some 22 years on from her parents.
Cllr Hazel Parsan said: “I feel privileged to have the chance to serve the people of Queensbury ward where I was born and to follow in the footsteps of Harry and Christine Mason, who will be a tough act to follow.
"It was amazing to learn of the coincidence with our little piece of local history that links my home and my new role as a councillor here to another era of Labour councillors for Queensbury.”
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