IT was a ‘poignant’ evening of reflection and remembrance as dozens of people gathered in City Hall for the 20th Christmas Star Appeal.
Each year, people dedicate gold stars in memory of family or friends which they place on the Christmas tree at City Hall.
People who dedicated a star were invited to City Hall yesterday for tea or coffee and a mince pie with the Lord Mayor of Bradford.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Gerry Barker, thanked everyone for attending the evening and said: “You’ve really made my evening by coming in such numbers.
“I hope you got some satisfaction from coming.”
Many attendees remarked how much of a tradition the evening has become, a moment for them to reflect on their loved ones and donate money to an important cause.
Three sisters-in-law who have been attending the event for the last 12 years said: “It’s a chance to remember our loved ones in a nice setting.
“It’s lovely to watch and see how many stars there are up already.
“It’s filling up.”
One of the women had travelled from Lancashire for the day, saying it was an important night for remembrance.
Around the room, families sipped their coffees and teas, scrolled through pictures on their phones, and told stories of their loved ones.
This was the sixth year Bethany Hodges-Rhodes placed a star on the tree in memory of her older sister ‘Lillie’ who passed away at four days old.
The family has been putting a star on the tree since the 2013.
Nicky Hodgers-Rhodes said: “It’s part of the run up.
“Bethany’s put the star on for the last six years, normally she get’s help and puts it at the top of the tree but this year she’s done it by herself.”
It was the first year for Claire Hickey, the granddaughter of Maureen Dowling who has been coming for several years.
She said: “ I lost my grandad and I thought I’d come along.
“It’s really nice and it’s not very often you get to come inside City Hall.”
Three generations of women gathered in the corner of the chamber to remember a daughter, sister, aunt and husband, father and Grandad.
Doreen Lydon, her daughter Sue and her granddaughter Chloe said: “It’s a really nice event and it’s tradition now.
“We’re always together for this celebration and it’s for a good cause.
The Full List Of Star Nominees
Abbott, Wilf
Appleby, Eileen
Armstrong, Frances
Baby, Gemma
Barker, Edwin William Granville
Barker , Eunice Shillito
Barron, Bernard
Bell, Private Martin G.M.
Carter, Frank
Carter, Joan
Chadney, Keith Michael
Conlon, David
Crolla, David
Crolla, Philip
Davies, Rosie
Dowling, Dave
Dowling, Nick
Eccles, Gladys
Eccles, Harry
Elsden, Arnold
Elsden, Rina
Fawcett, Freddie
Fawcett, Noah
Firth, David
Firth, Lee
Fortune, Jack
Fowler, Jack
Fowler, Kathleen
Fox, Neil
Greenwood, Felix
Greenwood, Hilda
Greenwood, Peter
Greenwood, Rupert
Greenwood, Sue
Ghulam, Haider
Hallmann, Eddie
Harrison, Jack
Harrison, Mary
Harrison, Paul
Hatton, Irvine
Hodges – Rhodes, Lillie Grace
Holmes, Jean
Hutchinson, Penny Emma
Johnson, Bob
Johnson, Michael
Kenney, Neville
Kellett, Leah
Khan, Bilal
Khan, Imran
Lydon, Judith
Lydon, Tom
Marriott, Lilian
Partridge, Derek
Partridge, Jackie
Pearson, Roger
Plows, Terry
Prior, Dot
Prior, Jimmy
Prior, Pat
Read, Dave
Relton, Donald
Reyaz, Muhammad Asghar
Rhodes, Peter
Rimmington, Ken
Robinson, Alfred
Saville, Ernest
Saville, Florance
Shackleton, Kathleen
Shackleton, Philip
Simpson, Mike
Smith, Lily Angel
Smith, Peter Craig
Smith, Rodney
Smith, Val
Soothill, Derrick
Soothill, Pat
Stansfield, Clare
Surbuts, Dolly
Surbuts, Harry
Surbuts, Keith
Tempest, David
Thornton, Barbara A
The Crolla Family
The Kucharek Family
Waddington, Paul
Walker, Terry
Walker, Simeon, Terry
Wassell, Derek
Webster, Harry
Webster, Mary
Whitaker, Roger DL
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