THE BRADFORD district paid tribute to the Queen today and looked ahead to the future as the District Proclamation of Accession was read in City Park.
The event began at 2pm and welcomed a number of speakers, including representatives from Bradford’s Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities.
Flags were at half-mast as the Vice Lord-Lieutenant Helen Thomson read the proclamation, with the Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Martin Love, the leader of Bradford Council Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe and the chief executive Kersten England in attendance.
Speaking to a packed and diverse crowd on the day, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Helen Thomson said: “We hereby, with one voice and with consent of tongue and heart, proclaim Prince Charles Philip Arthur George to become our only rightful liege and lord.”
Bishop of Bradford Toby Howarth also spoke to the crowd. He said: “Bradford has a great heritage of different people standing together at difficult times – and this is a difficult time, especially for the poorest, who are facing real economic hardship.
“We are also so aware of the millions affected by floods in Pakistan, drought in Africa and war in Europe, and now we have lost the Queen as our head of state.”
A number of other local figures were also present.
Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, spoke to the Telegraph & Argus after the reading.
“The Queen gave 70 years of public service – even up until a few days before her death, she welcomed a new Prime Minister,” she said.
“She was an example of leadership, particularly for women, in a time where we still don’t have gender equality.
"She was a global leader and our prayers remain with her family and for the future, as a new era begins – we hope King Charles III can follow in her footsteps.”
Ms Shah added that it was “humbling” to see Bradford “united in their grief” as the district came together for the event.
Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe also spoke to the T&A. She said: “I think everybody in Bradford feels the Queen’s loss – she has been a mainstay of our country for all of our lives.
“Her death represents a seismic change, but King Charles III has done good work for many years, and we all support him.
Cllr Hinchcliffe added that it was “lovely” to see everyone together for the City Park reading.
“It’s great to see all communities represented, and it shows that all faiths in Bradford are together and expressing the same sorrow and the same respect for the Queen’s reign,” she said.
“It shows we have so much in common and that’s what binds us together – it demonstrates that people in Bradford get along.”
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