VE Day 80th anniversary services held in Bradford
People across the Bradford district have joined many others across the nation in marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day - the day World War Two ended in Europe.
A number of events and services took place as part of wider efforts to celebrate, commemorate and reflect the events of 8 May 1945.
A special service was held at 11:00 BST at the Bradford War Memorial in the city centre, with Lord Mayor Councillor Beverley Mullaney hosting a multi-faith service led by Bradford Cathedral.
Services were also held in Keighley, Ilkley, Wibsey, East Morton and Shipley, while Bingley's commemorations are due to take place on Saturday.
At the Bradford War Memorial service, which was attended by about 150 people, the Lord Mayor said: "The sacrifices made are enabling all of us who are here today to live our lives freely - and for that we should always remember.
"It is important we take this opportunity to remember those sacrifices, as well as the resilience of those who have gone before us."
She said her grandfather, Joseph Platt, had fought and was injured in World War Two: "He went off and he came back minus a leg, in a wheelchair. My other grandad, he was off serving too.
"And then there were the family members who were shipped away when the war was on. They had to go and live with other families out of Bradford until the war ended.
"I think we should learn from history. Peace is what we all need at the moment around the world, not just here in England but everywhere around the world."
The Reverend Canon Ned Dunn, Bradford Cathedral's canon for inter-cultural mission and the arts, led the multi-faith service, which was attended by representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Sikh and Hindu faiths.
He said: "Remembrance is always a time not just to look back to remember and to honour those who fell in previous conflicts, but also to make recommitments to the people, the citizens of where you live - commitments to fellow human beings to the pursuit of peace."
The Reverend Canon Dunn also referred to current conflicts across the globe, "particularly Kashmir and particularly in the Middle East - these are not just headlines, this is not just another conflict for the people of Bradford, these are personal".
"These are family members, friends, ancestral homes, which again are continually returning to uncertainty, fear and violence," he said.
VE Day events were also held in a number of other places across the Bradford district including Keighley, Ilkley, and Wibsey.
Meanwhile, an exhibition opened at the East Morton War Memorial Institute which runs until Sunday, looking at local soldiers who served in the war, with a commemoration event planned for Saturday.
Several other VE events are also due to take place in Bingley on Saturday.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
New home for one of port's last deep-sea trawlers
A new home for one of a port's last surviving deep-sea trawlers is expected to open to visitors next year. The visitor centre at North End Shipyard in Hull, which is part of a major regeneration project, will host Arctic Corsair. With views along the River Hull, the venue will provide a space to explore the area's maritime history and include a learning space for schools. Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: "This new visitor centre is not only a place to explore Hull's maritime past – it's a vision for the future." Built in 1960, Arctic Corsair was involved in the Cod Wars with Iceland in the 1970s and rammed an Icelandic gunboat during the dispute. The ship, which has been restored, will be the star exhibit at the new maritime museum after it sets sail to the North End Shipyard and is berthed in the dry dock. Visitors to the building, which is funded by the local authority and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be able to learn about the life of a trawlerman, with first-hand stories from former crew members. Gillian Osgerby, the council's interim assistant director for major projects and infrastructure, said: "The story shouts about what makes Hull really special." A restored Scotch Derrick crane, which is a survivor of the River Hull shipbuilding that ended in the 1990s, will also return to the site later this year. The council said the new two-storey facility would be one of the most energy-efficient cultural buildings in the UK. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Crane repair part of city's maritime history Cod Wars weapon presented to museum Cod War captains meet for first time since clash Hull City Council
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
American Baptist College president retiring after Nashville HBCU's 100th anniversary
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In North Nashville, an historic college celebrates a major milestone with its 100th anniversary. A quarter of American Baptist College's legacy had Dr. Forrest Harris, Sr. at the helm. He's now readying for retirement in June after 25 years as president. 'For any institution to exist 100 years, it has built a significant legacy,' he said. 'Producing, in our case, students who lead in areas of social justice. And I'm very proud of that legacy.' The school sits on what's known as the 'Holy Hill' — a small campus towering over North Nashville just above the Cumberland River. 'Beyond those black steel gates is nothing but a big family from the students who stay on campus and share resources to the faculty and staff who will check in on you,' said ABC alumnus Mondale Smiley. 'It's a really vibrant campus but it's one of those hidden gems.' News 2 On Tour | Explore the communities that shape Middle Tennessee He discovered that hidden gem by what can only be seen as divine intervention from an American Baptist College graduate, and his pastor, all the way in Detroit, Michigan. 'I'd heard nothing about American Baptist,' he recalled. 'But as I continued to progress, I just felt like God was really wanting me to give it a try. I tried to submit my security deposit for the other institution several times and it never worked.' He graduated last year and now stands on the shoulders of the school's legendary students. 'The Reverend C. T. Vivian, public intellectual, the Dr. Bernard Lafayette, who was the former president that I took over from,' said. Dr. Harris. One of American Baptist College's most notable alums was Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and late Congressman, John Lewis. From Freedom Rides throughout the South and integrating segregated lunch counters in Nashville, his non-violent fight against social inequality began between classes at ABC. 'They tell a story that he didn't even make it to his own graduation from American Baptist College because he was actively in jail,' said Smiley. 'They have videos of him right behind us on the Cumberland bank telling stories about how he doesn't understand why his family would push up against the grain of him being here.' Well before Lewis' fight during the Civil Rights Movement, American Baptist College opened in 1924 as American Baptist Theological Seminary. It was founded through an unprecedented collaboration between the all-Black National Baptist Convention USA and the all-white Southern Baptist Convention to educate rural Black clergy for leadership in their communities. 'This school's mission is to prepare, educate and train, equip young leaders for Christian service and social justice in the world,' said Dr. Harris, adding that they also do much more than the school's name might indicate. 'We provide the kind of educational experience curriculum that gives them a lens to see whatever vocation they choose, to see the way in which justice factors into their decisions as a professional.' Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More As he passes the torch to the school's next leader, Dr. Harris hopes they can continue their mission in the digital age while helping communities understand the critical roles of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 'Nashville would not be the Nashville it is today without American Baptist College, without the contributions that our students have made and all the other HBCUs in Nashville,' said Dr. Harris. 'If HBCUs cease to exist, the nation will lose a valuable asset for education and development of citizenship, both locally and globally, to advance this country in its vision for democracy.' A Legacy of Leadership Gala event on June 28 will launch a leadership and legacy fund to help sustain of the future of American Baptist College. It's at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College. Email roadto100@ for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Pastor opens dialogue on Christianity and LGBTQ+ in Rockford
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford pastor is working to bridge Christian theology with the LGBTQ+ community by hosting a conversation on Biblical scripture and sexuality. 'Just because it's not listed [in the Bible], that there are others within that spectrum, it doesn't mean that they're not God ordained,' said Zion Lutheran Pastor Mike Thomas, who led a conversation on Christian scripture and its relation to sexuality on Tuesday afternoon at Katie's Cup, 502 7th Street. Thomas said it took him 30 years to become an LGBTQ+ ally. 'I wasn't advocating. I was spineless,' he said. Today, Thomas is using Pride Month to open a conversation on how Christianity and sexuality intersect. 'We celebrate having conversations like this one today here, as well as at church on Sunday, to talk about what does the Scripture say about people who are in the gay community,' Thomas said. In many denominations, views interpreting homosexuality as a sin or aberration have softened, with recent studies showing a growing number of Americans support the LGBTQ+ community. 71-year-old Debbie Raymond said attitudes toward gay people have come a long way. 'At the beginning, it was very tough. You basically lived in a closet, you know, you didn't talk very much,' she recalled. Now, she's a proud member of the Lutheran church. Raymond credited events such as the one at Katie's Cup for helping to bring her and others back to religion. 'Go talk to pastors, go talk to congregations. You know, do your research, understand the first rule: I was born this way,' she said. 'It's wonderful to be able to change people's perspective on understanding what Scripture says, as well as what the central message of God's grace and mercy, through Christ. In the Gospels, that's the emphasis that we focus on,' Thomas said. Thomas also said he saw more Christian denominations than ever before at this year's on Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
