The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan in 2010 has called Bradford Council inspirational for creating a war memorial honouring those killed since the end of the Second World War.

Wendy Rayner, of Odsal, whose husband Sergeant Peter Rayner was killed in Helmand province, had called for a new memorial to carry the names of the district’s war dead shortly after her husband’s death.

Now that memorial has been completed and Bradford Council is trying to get a dignitary to open it.

The new memorial has the names of those killed in active service or terrorist action since the Second World War, including Private Martin Bell, 24, killed in Afghanistan in 2011 while trying to rescue a wounded colleague, and Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, killed last year alongside five other soldiers when their armoured vehicle was blown up.

It has been painstakingly decorated by a craftsman, with the Bradford Crest on one side and the Joint Services crest depicting air, land and sea on the other side, and a Yorkshire Rose at the bottom of the low wall.

It is situated behind the war memorial in the memorial gardens near the Alhambra Theatre and can be viewed but the Council want a dignitary to open it in a ceremony. They have written to all the families whose loved ones names appear on the memorial to update them on what they are trying to do.

Mrs Rayner said: “I received a letter last week and the Council is trying to find a dignitary to open it.

“I have been down and seen it and it recognises the efforts from those in conflicts. It is nice for all the families and gives you somewhere to go to pay your respects.

“I think Bradford Council should be an inspiration for other councils to do the same. We come from a multi-cultural society in Bradford, and Bradford has done the service personnel proud to be honest. They have taken on board what I have asked them to do and have done it. All the families will be very proud because Bradford Council has honoured and respected our loved ones and I am really pleased.”

Councillor Andrew Thornton, the executive member on the Council, for environment, thanked Mrs Rayner for the compliment.

He said that if they did not get confirmation of a dignitary within the next three months, they would look at alternative arrangements for the opening. “We want to do it properly,” he said.

“I would like to thank Mrs Rayner very much for the compliment and I think we have done the right thing and it is a fitting memorial.

“I would go on to say it doesn’t stop there. We want to make sure our support for the families of those in the armed forces doesn’t stop with this memorial and does continue going forward.”

The following services will take place on Remembrance Sunday this Sunday.

l In Addingham at 10.30am it will be the Service of Remembrance at St Peter’s Church, Church Street, Addingham, then at 11.45am the Parade from St Peter’s Church to the War Memorial, Main Street and at noon, the wreath laying ceremony.

l At 3pm there will be a service at Allerton War Memorial, Lady Hill Park, off Allerton Road.

l In Baildon at 1.15pm there will be a service and wreath laying ceremony at Tong Park War Memorial, Baildon Then a parade to Baildon Methodist Church and 2.30pm a service at Baildon Methodist Church. At 3.30pm, a Parade to War Memorial, Browgate, Baildon for wreath laying ceremony.

l In Bingley, at 10.20am the parade forms-up outside Bingley Arts Centre and at 10.40am a march to War Memorial in Myrtle Park. At 11am a service and wreath laying ceremony at War Memorial in Myrtle Park.

l At 2pm, it starts at Bolton Woods Community Centre, and at 2.30pm there is a service at Bolton Woods Community Centre and at 3pm, a Wreath laying at the War Memorial, Livingstone Road, Bolton Woods.

l In Bradford, The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain, will attend the 11 am service at the Cenotaph.

l In Burley-in-Wharfedale, at 10.45am there will be a service at St Mary’s parish Church, Main Street, Burley-in-Wharfedale, followed by wreath laying at the War Memorial, (corner of Station Road and Main Street).

l In Clayton at 10.30am there will be a Service of Remembrance at the Parish church of St John The Baptist, Clayton Lane, followed by walk to the Cenotaph in Victoria Park. At noon there will be an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.

l In Cullingworth, at 10am there is a Remembrance Service at Methodist Church, Dellside Fold, off Greenside Lane. At 10.50 am the congregation will proceed to the Cenotaph, Halifax Road, Cullingworth for Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony.

l In Denholme there will be a 10am service at Denholme Shared Church and 10.45am the parade will assemble at Parkinson Road to walk to cenotaph. At 11am the Service of Remembrance and wreath laying will take place at the Cenotaph, Foster Park.

l In Eccleshill at Eccleshill War Memorial, Stonehall Road at 3pm the Remembrance Service and laying of wreaths takes place.

l At Greengates at 10am there is a service at Greengates Primary School, Stockhill Road, at 10.40am a parade to Cenotaph, Harrogate Road, wreath laying at 11am and parade back to school at 11.10am.

l In Harden at 11am Wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial and 11.15 Family service for Remembrance Day at St Saviour’s, joint with Congregational Church.

l In Haworth, at noon, an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph at the bottom of Bridgehouse Lane.

l In Ilkley at 3pm, the Remembrance Service and wreath laying ceremony in the Memorial Gardens, The Grove.

l In Keighley, at 10.40am Parade to Town Hall Square, at 11am wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph followed by two minutes silence and at 11.15 Parade to march off Town Hall Square via North Street into Bow Street.

l In Low Moor at 1.45pm, there will be a Remembrance Service & Wreath Laying at the Cenotaph, Rose Garden, Harold Park.

l In Menston at 10.15am there will be a short Service and laying of wreaths at Menston Cenotaph.

l In Oakworth at 10.45am a Remembrance Service and wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial in Oakworth Park.

l At Oxenhope, at 10.45am there will be a Service of Remembrance followed by wreath laying ceremony in St Mary the Virgin Church, Oxenhope.

l In Queensbury, at 10.55am, an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph and at 11.10am a Parade to Holy Trinity Church for Service of Remembrance.

l In Shipley at 9.45am a Remembrance Service at St Paul ‘s Parish Church, Kirkgate, Shipley followed by Parade to Cenotaph in Crowgill Park and at 10.55am an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony.

l In Silsden at 11am the service and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, Memorial Gardens, Kirkgate.

l In Steeton at 11am a wreath laying ceremony at Steeton War Memorial including two minutes silence.

l In Thornton at 11am a Service of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial.

l At Tong at 10.45am assemble at War Memorial for a Wreath laying ceremony at 11am.

l In Wibsey at 3pm there will be an act of Remembrance and wreath laying at Wibsey Cenotaph.

l At Wilsden at 10.30am Assemble at War Memorial Main Street, Wilsden, at 10.45 Act of Remembrance.

l In Wyke at 12.30pm, a short service and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph on Cleckheaton Road.