A BRADFORD community figure has been invited to speak at a major event at the Houses of Parliament this October.

Jerry Crawford will give a talk at the Black History Month celebrations, which have been organised by another Bradford man, Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez.

Jerry, who heads up Bradford organisation Collective Impact and has carried out vital community work for decades, said he was honoured to have been given the opportunity.

“It’s a major occasion and I couldn’t be any prouder to go there and represent Bradford,” said Jerry, 61.

“Black history is world history, but it hasn’t been as included over the years. We want to pay homage to the people who died, those whose names we never knew, and to those who survived and kept the fight up.

“We’ll be celebrating them and looking at where we are today.

“All of us, no matter our race, must learn and educate each other so we can move forward.

“Black History Month is also about sharing – sharing our culture with others, and others sharing theirs with us.

“I was shocked to hear I’d be speaking – I wasn’t expecting Jerry from Bradford to be going to Parliament, but I’m really looking forward to it!”

The event will take place on Friday, 28 October.