TRIBUTES have been paid to a hard-working Bradford window cleaner who has been described as a “kind gentleman who always put others first”.

Bradford man Kenneth Haran, who was born in Manningham, died peacefully at the age of 96 on October 21.

Mr Haran took over General Cleaning Co, which was based at Well Street in Bradford in the late 1950s.

His company, which employed more than 40 window cleaners and 200 part-time office cleaners, had contracts with most of the shops and offices around Broadway including C&A, British Home Stores, and Midland House providing a daily cleaning service.

Jean Holmes, centre, with her late mum Edna and dad Ken Haran, who died recently at the age of 96Jean Holmes, centre, with her late mum Edna and dad Ken Haran, who died recently at the age of 96 (Image: UGC)

His daughter Jean Holmes, of Oxenhope, said: “He started as a window cleaner at the age of 17 and eventually worked his way up into management.

“He was a proper worker,” she said. “He never had a day off in his life and many times worked seven days a week.

“He did enjoy the work, going up and down all of those big buildings to clean the windows.

“They eventually knocked down all of those shops. There was a big hole in Bradford for 10 years.

“He knew a lot about the history of Bradford.”

Mr Haran worked until he was 84 years old and decided to retire when he was due to have hip replacement surgery, leaving the company to his sons, Geoff and Peter.

Mrs Holmes said: “If it hadn’t been for those new hips and going up and down ladders all of those years, he probably would have worked until he was 90.”

Mr Haran was born at Westbourne Place in Manningham in June 1928.

He and his late wife Edna, who were wed at St Paul’s Church in Manningham, were married for more than 70 years and the couple had three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Kenneth and Edna HaranKenneth and Edna Haran (Image: UGC)

Mr Haran and his family lived in Heaton for 30 years before moving to Cullingworth. For the past two years, he lived at Lindisfarne Care Home in Haworth.

Mrs Holmes said: “My dad loved football and was an avid Manchester United fan but being a Bradford lad he always wanted to know how Bradford City did.

“My dad kept his sense of humour right up until the end and even at age 96 he remembered everything.

“He always said he had a wonderful life. He was a special man.

“He was highly thought of and was a kind gentleman who always put others first.”

Mr Haran’s funeral will be held at 1.30pm on Thursday, November 14, at the Shay Grange Crematorium in Heaton.