A multi-faith service was held at Bradford Cathedral to celebrate the country’s first Muslim female Lord Mayor.

Councillor Naveeda Ikram, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, gave a reading from the Old Testament ahead of the Lord Mayor’s civic parade to Centenary Square.

There were prayers from Bradford’s Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish leaders for the city and wider district at the civic service on Saturday.

“It was a very humbling experience,” said Coun Ikram. “I was overwhelmed with the support from all the communities and all the faiths.”

The West Yorkshire Fire Service pipe band led the parade, which included the leaders of Bradford Council’s political groups, civic and religious dignitaries and Councillor Ikram’s friends and family.

Army medics from the 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital volunteers saluted the Lord Mayor as they marched across Centenary Square. Coun Ikram, who represents Little Horton ward, joined the parade with her husband and consort Saqib Salam Shah and her young daughter Alisha, seven, who wore miniature mayoral ceremonial robes. Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Val Slater (Lab, Royds) was also among the dignitaries.

Coun Ikram thanked the Dean of Bradford for organising the event to reflect the city’s diverse communities.

Elsewhere in the district sunshine confounded the weather forecasters to help ensure outdoor events were a success. Sergeant Pepper, mods and hippies were spreading peace and love as the swinging sixties returned.

Haworth’s annual 1960s weekend featured bands performing classic 60s music from the era at Parkside Social Club and the Old Hall throughout the weekend.

A tardis and dalek – icons of the 1960s sci-fi, Dr Who – and a lookalike of 60s Doctor, Jon Pertwee, were in Central Park and a scooter rally passed down Main Street. Mike Hutchinson, one of the organisers, said: “It has gone really, really well.” At Harden Memorial Park, families joined in the fun and games at the 38th annual Harden Gala. There were stalls, magicians and kids’ races at the event on Saturday.

Peter Bashforth, a member of the Harden Children’s Gala committee, said: “It went really well and we were very lucky with the weather. There were probably about a thousand people there.”

Bradfordians found out about their family histories during an Open Day at Undercliffe Cemetery on Saturday and fetes were held in Cononley, Sutton-in-Craven and Ben Rhydding. Meanwhile, visitors turned up in their thousands for the annual fundraiser. The Otley Carnival Parade – led by the Town Bellman, the carnival queens present and elect, and the City of Leeds Pipe Band – was cheered on by large crowds all the way down to the showfield at Bridge End.

The dazzling array of floats and walking tableaux included Greek Gods and Godesses, complete with a snake-headed Medusa, iridescent human dragonflies and a tombstones and monster-masks in a spooky display by 2nd Otley Scouts. At the showfield Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Francis crowned the new carnival queen, Sylvia Cullen, as she succeeded outgoing queen Alice Wood.

And the arrival of a Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter – one of the two beneficiaries of this year’s carnival, along with Otley Science Festival – provided a dramatic highlight to the afternoon.

  • Read the full story Monday’s T&A