The numbers may not have been all that they could or indeed should have been.

But the inter-faith rally held at Cougar Park last weekend was memorable and inspiring, and is set to put Keighley once more on the world stage.

There could be no more powerful endorsement for the meaning of the event than the words of John Battle, Minister of State at the Foreign Office, when he said the event was a beacon for others to follow globally.

The Rev Michael Ipgrave was right to point out the work done over the past 50 years as we have become a multi-faith and multi-cultural society.

The new leader of Britain's Methodists, the Rev Inderjit Bhogal, put a more blunt view - that we have to treat each other with enormous respect - the alternative being ethnic cleansing. Lord Mayor Stanley King called on people to start something which was unstoppable. Let us make sure that happens

The event was the result of an idea and a lot of hard work by the organising committee. One person above all needs to be singled out for public praise - Charlie Bhowmick. Being the man he is, Charlie will reject such plaudits and point to the work of others.

If ever there was a role model - a human beacon - it has to be Charlie. He is a lovely man and Keighley is much richer for having him and others like him in its midst. On behalf of Keighley, thank you.