A procession led by mounted police and the Queensbury Scouts Marching Brass Band passed through Barkerend to start the Lord Mayor's civic service yesterday.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Tony Miller, and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Elsie Miller, were joined by the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Mike Bower, and his wife Marie in a ceremony held at St Mary's Church in East Parade.

Each year the incumbent Lord Mayor chooses the venue to worship with the people of Bradford. Coun Miller chose St Mary's because he was a pupil at St Mary's First School.

Meanwhile, in Shipley bikers met to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind at the Shipley and District Social Club in Saltaire Road.

Vintage, classic and custom-built bikes were on show, including two Shipley-built Scott motorcycles.

Gary Wharton, chairman of the White Rose Motorcycle Club said: "We had a brilliant day - a couple of thousand people turned up.

"We're hoping to stretch the event to a full weekend next year, and after today I'm sure we'll have no problems attracting the people."

The best in show prize went to a custom-built BMW trike. And a special prize was also given to the owner of a rare Elgrin Vincent machine.

In Girlington hundreds of poetry lovers packed into the Melborn Hotel to meet Jeff Lawton and poets from the Interchange group, and to listen to music from local bands.

The event was organised by the MIND charity in Bradford and went on throughout Saturday.

Landlord Eamon Halloran said: "It was a great day and the acts were terrific. We were proud to be associated with it."

At Stoney Lee Middle School in Cottingley, pensioners were entertained by the Wilsden Junior Band and Keighley gala queens Tania and Serena Gunputh.

And a French Festival held at Ilkley Middle School and featuring music, dance and puppetry kicked off a season of events organised by the Yorkshire Dales Workshops.

Highlights included a puppet show by the Theatre du Blaiseron and music tuition from Gilbert Carriere, who taught visitors tunes from Provence and the French Alps region.

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