THE Queen has visited Bradford five times in her 70-year reign. Her first visit was on Thursday, October 28, 1954, nearly 18 months after her Coronation.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen came to Bradford as part of a nationwide tour which followed months of state visits to Commonwealth countries. It was the city’s first royal visit since 1942 when the Queen’s parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, toured wartime Bradford.
Among the crowds in town that Thursday in 1954 was 17-year-old David Hockney, a student at Bradford Art College.
A highlight of the royal couple’s visit was at the cricket ground at Bradford Park Avenue, where 30,000 schoolchildren sang to them. They then visited Perseverance Mills, Dudley Hill, to be greeted by a large gathering of mill-workers.
On November 12, 1974 Her Majesty returned to Bradford to officially open the city’s new police headquarters. After unveiling a plaque to open the new Civic Precinct, she asked the Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Hall, to explain the origin of the word Tyrls.
The centenary of Bradford’s royal charter as a city was marked with the Queen’s third visit, on Thursday, March 27, 1997. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, she went to Bradford Cathedral, to distribute Maundy Money, before walking to the newly-named Centenary Square to unveil a plaque and pay respects at the Bradford City fire memorial.
After lunch at City Hall with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Gordon Mitchell, and Lady Mayoress Peggy Mitchell, the royal couple were driven to Valley Parade to open the football club’s new £1.5 million Ciba stand.
A decade later, on May 24, 2007, the Queen and Prince Philip returned to Centenary Square. They arrived at Bradford Interchange and were introduced to a line-up of dignitaries including the Lord Mayor, Councillor Robin Owens and West Yorkshire’s Chief Constable, Sir Norman Bettison. Hundreds of cheering people turned out in Centenary Square as the royal couple emerged from a limousine, and the Queen received a posy of flowers from the five-year-old Lydia Beshenivsky, daughter of murdered Bradford policewoman Sharon Beshenivsky.
During a walkabout in Centenary Square, the Queen stopped to talk to three women dressed in Union Jack hats, waving flags. One of them, Veronica Quantrill, 76, told the T&A: “It has been absolutely fantastic. It was great to see them so close up.”
Margaret Spencer, 79, added: “The whole day has been wonderful. She really is our gracious Queen.”
Detective Constable Cate Jackson, family liaison officer for the Beshenivsky family, said: “I went to London last week to pick up my police medal from the Queen and, when she saw me today, she said ‘I have seen you before - I presented you with that
medal’.”
Seated on a specially built stage in Centenary Square, the royal couple enjoyed a performance by 70 children from the Bradford Schools Choir, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service wind band and Queensbury’s famous Black Dyke Band, with a repertoire of patriotic classics, including Rule Britannia. The Lord Mayor gave a welcoming speech, before showing the Queen details of Bradford’s regeneration plans, including the Broadway shopping centre.
Visiting a £3 million Hindu temple on Leeds Road, the Queen took off her black patent court shoes as she entered the prayer room. Crowds lined the entrance to the Shree Lakshmi Narayan Temple, while inside the royal couple were presented with floral garlands and greeted by around 200 people, including pupils from St Mary’s and St Peter’s Primary School, Netherleigh and Rossfield Independent School, Bradford Grammar Junior School and Spinning Top nursery.
After unveiling a bronze plaque to mark the opening of the temple, the Queen was presented with a picture of the temple and a shawl. Seven-year-old Aaveesa Khan, who presented Her Majesty with a bouquet, told the T&A: “She asked me what school I went to. I liked her jewellery.”
On July 19, 2012 Saltaire was awash with red, white and blue when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the World Heritage Site as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour of the nation.
Crowds gathered in Victoria Road to welcome the Royal visitors as they arrived for lunch at technology company Pace plc. Onlookers cheered and waved flags as the Queen, wearing a dress and coat in beige and cream tweed with matching hat, was greeted by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Dale Smith, and Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Dr Ingrid Roscoe.
Pupils from Glenaire Primary School, wearing crowns made for the occasion, were among the crowd. Pamela Firth of Bingley, who was there with her 92-year-old mother, said: “It’s fantastic she’s come to Saltaire. It gives people who wouldn’t normally see her the chance to do so.”
Kathy Bartle, who was with her three-year-old grandson, said: “It means a lot to the people of Saltaire that she’s come here, in her Diamond Jubilee year.”
The royal couple joined guests including Bishop of Bradford Nick Baines and the Lord Mayor, for lunch. Councillor Smith said: “It was a magical experience for the Bradford district.”
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