It will come as a shock to many people to realise that we are just weeks away from the twentieth anniversary of the Valley Parade fire disaster. The awful events of that day in May, 1985 are still painfully vivid in the memories of those who witnessed them and particularly those who lost someone dear to them or were themselves caught up in the blaze.

It is hard to believe that two decades have passed since this city was left traumatised by the tragedy. During those years Bradford City's ground has been rebuilt and greatly improved. The club's fortunes have risen and declined again. And many people have benefited from the work of the pioneering burns unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary which grew out of the urgent necessity for treatment.

Professor David Sharpe, then a consultant plastic surgeon at St Luke's Hospital, found himself leading a team which helped to deal with 250 victims of the fire. They learned a great deal on that day and in the weeks that followed, and as a result set up the world-renowned specialist burns unit.

It might come as a surprise to some people to learn that this respected unit relies on donations for its funding. The twentieth anniversary of the fire is a fitting time to top up that funding, which is what the proprietors of an Apperley Bridge pub have decided to do.

The charity dinner and auction planned for May 14, with all proceeds going to the burns unit, will hopefully be a great success and send the burns unit into its third decade with a useful boost to its finances.