This is the day that all that fund-raising was aiming towards - the day the MRI scanner went into operation at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The patients being examined using the most up-to-date technology are the first of many thousands who will benefit from having this wonderful piece of equipment here in the heart of Bradford rather than having to join the long queue to use the scanner in Leeds.

The chairman of the Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, Linda Pollard, sees the acquisition of the scanner as one of the most significant developments in the local NHS over the last 50 years because it will enable more people to be scanned more speedily, and locally.

For hospital chief executive David Jackson, the scanner is a source of future Bradford pride because it will allow the district to develop its reputation in this field of medical technology and bring it out of the shadow of other centres such as Leeds and Manchester.

That is heartening news - something to look forward to. However, the real moment of pride is not in the future but here and now. This is the equipment that you, the Bradford people, made possible through your marvellous support for the T&A-backed Millenniun Scanner Appeal. Without all your fund-raising efforts, both large and small, it would not have been possible.

We have said it before, and see no harm in saying it again. This is not a prosperous city, but it is filled with wonderfully generous people who rise to any challenge if they believe the cause to be a good one. Today you can take greater pride than ever in your efforts.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.