A KEIGHLEY railway group’s book of condolence for Bahamas storm victims has received top-level civic backing.

The Bahamas Locomotive Society’s book has been signed by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley’s MP and the Keighley town mayor.

And the volunteer-run society has been invited to take its book to the full meeting of Bradford Council on October 16 to be signed by other councillors.

The society, based at Ingrow station, opened the book earlier this month to express solidarity with inhabitants of the Caribbean island that gave its name to their historic steam locomotive.

Bahamas is one of the Jubilee class locos built in the 1930s and named after nations of the Commonwealth to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

Keighley town mayor Cllr Peter Corkindale became the first person to sign the book, and he was followed by dozens of visitors during the following fortnight.

Cllr Doreen Lee, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, and Keighley MP John Grogan, signed the book when they visited Ingrow station during Keighley Pride Day which was also the launch of the town’s National Heritage Days programme.

Heritage activities were organised at the station’s Rail Story attraction – which incorporates Ingrow Loco and the Museum of Rail Travel – as well as East Riddlesden Hall and several local churches.

Bahamas Society chairman Keith Whitmore said the Bahamas High Commissioner would be pleased to receive the book of condolence and see kind words expressed by civic leaders, local people and visitors.

He said: “Our visitors hadn’t understood the link between our Bahamas and the islands, so our duty officers have been explaining about the Jubilee class locos.

“We are thinking of the islands at this particular sad time and we are thinking of and praying for the families who have lost loved ones.” and have had their homes and businesses destroyed.”