Latest news with #CityOfCulture
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
King says he's ‘on the better side' of cancer
The King has revealed he's now 'on the better side' of his cancer treatment. He spoke candidly to a former cancer patient during an away day with the Queen to celebrate Bradford's status as the UK's City of Culture. The monarch has been receiving weekly treatment since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in early 2024. Florist Safeena Khan said he gave her the 'thumbs up' when she asked about his health, and told her: 'I'd like to think I'm on the better side (of my cancer journey)'. 'He asked me how I was, and I asked him how he was. There was some pleasantries towards the end, but it was a lovely conversation.' The King stepped up his workload at the start of the year, following positive progress with his treatment, which has continued despite a 'bump in the road' when he was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing temporary side effects in March. On Friday, the monarch was joined by his elder son for a service at Westminster Abbey, during which the Prince of Wales was installed as a Great Master of the Order of the Bath. Prince William attended the historic service for the first time, having been appointed to the ancient order last year. Meanwhile, the King took part for the first time as sovereign of the order, which is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary work and this year celebrates its 300th anniversary. Father and son, both dressed in the order's billowing crimson satin robes, arrived at the Abbey's Great West Door separately, shortly after 11am to be greeted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle. Inside, the King greeted his son warmly, with an affectionate pat on his shoulder; before they enjoyed a brief, jovial conversation with the dean in the Chapel of Saint George. They then processed through the church with officers, knights and the Dame Grand Cross of the order before taking their seats in the Quire. The King was accompanied by his young page, Guy Tryon, 10, the son of his godson, Lord Charles Tryon, and the grandson of the late Lady Dale Tryon, an Australian socialite who enjoyed a close relationship with the King in his younger years. The service was conducted by the dean, who read the lesson from St Paul's epistle to the Philippians chapter 4, verses 4 - 8 and gave the address. The service for the Order of the Bath takes place every four years, with the monarch traditionally attending on only every other occasion and the Prince of Wales, as Great Master, attending every service. The King, as the Prince of Wales, last attended in May 2022. This year's service was brought forward by a year to coincide with the 300th anniversary, meaning that the next one will not take place until 2030. The order consists of up to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 295 Knights and Dames Commander, and 1,455 Companions, in addition to the Sovereign and the Great Master. It is the fourth most senior order of merit, after the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, and of St. Patrick. The late Queen last attended the service in 2014, when, due to her frailty, the then Prince Charles stepped in to perform her duties by making the offering, a task that involved climbing steep wooden steps in full regalia. King Charles will be flying to Canada for the opening of the Commonwealth country's parliament at the end of May and after a busy summer period will be hosting a state visit by France's President Emmanuel Macron when the royal diary is normally winding down.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
King Charles offers major update on his cancer journey
King Charles has revealed he's 'on the better side of his cancer journey'. Speaking to a former cancer patient during a visit to Bradford to celebrate its status as the UK's City of Culture, Charles spoke to florist Safeena Khan about his recent treatment, adding that he has been given a 'thumbs up' about his health. Charles visited the Impact Hub Yorkshire to meet local business owners supporting diverse communities in Bradford. Ms Khan presented the King with a bouquet inspired by the garden of his Highgrove home. 'He asked me how I was, and I asked him how he was,' she said. 'There was some pleasantries towards the end, but it was a lovely conversation.' The King undergoes regular treatment as an out-patient at the London Clinic and the Bradford florist said he gave her the 'thumbs up' when she asked about his health, and told her: 'I'd like to think I'm on the better side (of my cancer journey)'. The King stepped up his workload at the start of the year following positive progress with his cancer treatment and that has continued despite the 'bump' of spending a short stay in hospital after experiencing temporary cancer treatment side effects in March. It comes just weeks after Prince Harry says he does not know how long Charles has left to live in an emotional interview after losing his appeal in court over his security. The Duke of Sussex claimed his father is not speaking to him because of his battle over taxpayer-funded police bodyguards. He said there had been 'so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family', as he admitted he couldn't see a world in which his family would return to the UK. But, amid another devastating broadside reopening wounds with the Royal Family, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation'. 'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live. The King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer, speaking in his most poignant update on his illness since being diagnosed 15 months King, 76, is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides have previously said his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking. He said: 'There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family this current situation that has been now ongoing for five years with regards to human life and safety is the sticking point it is the only thing that's left. 'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book, of course they will never forgive me for lots of things. 'But you know there is, I would love reconciliation with my family there's no point in continuing to fight anymore, as I said life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff but it would be nice to reconcile. Earlier, in the day the King was left 'flabbergasted' by magician Steven Frayne when he turned newspaper into £20 notes. Bradford-born Frayne impressed Charles at the start of his tour of the Yorkshire city where he recognised another famous son, painter David Hockney, while the Queen visited the nearby home of the Bronte sisters. Teenager Florence McGrellis surprised the King with an impromptu hug when he toured the Hockney Gallery at Cartwright Hall. Florence, 15, who has Down's Syndrome, said afterwards it was 'awesome' adding, 'I'm friendly and I'm very helpful, and I'm a hugger', and the King seemed to enjoy the gesture, smiling and patting her on the back. Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, showed the King new tricks he had been working on like an 'athlete' training, when Charles met a group supported by his King's Trust at a refurbished venue which will play a key role during Bradford's cultural year. He told the King he had just finished a run of 50 shows and was making a TV programme and joked 'you should come on it, we've got to tell our story, we go way back'. The entertainer, whose big break came after he was awarded a grant by Charles' trust, added: 'I wouldn't be doing magic today without the support you gave me.' The King replied: 'But it was your determination – you studied.' He produced a handful of note-sized pieces of paper and told the King 'I've got some newspaper clippings but I've been trying to take any bad news and turn it into good news', and as he tapped the paper pile it turned into £20 notes and Charles held the money to verify it. The classic 'pick a card' trick with a twist followed and Charles' apt selection of 'King of Hearts' became the new name for a string of wifi hotspots in the Bradford Live venue when the King named his card. Charles burst into laughter and Frayne said later: 'I've been fortunate to visit him in the royal estate, but it's nice to bring him back to my hood, to my estate – from council estate to royal estate. 'He's created an opportunity for someone (who felt) I'm invisible, there was no hope. It's almost come full circle as now he's back in Bradford, 2025, we're the capital of culture and he's once again inspiring hope and he's inspiring his own type of magic in all these incredible people.' Asked about the King's reaction to the magic, the entertainer replied: 'He just said it was absolutely phenomenal and a lot of amazing words that made my magic sound incredible, he said keep going, and said he was flabbergasted.' Charles was granted honorary membership of the elite magician's club in 1975. Afterwards Frayne sounded emotional as he spoke about the King and the opportunity his charity had given him. 'I would never have got where I am today without his support, ' he said. 'The amount of young people he has helped is incredible. 'I've been to the royal estate to entertain him, so it's nice to bring him to my estate [Bradford]. 'I wasn't sure when he became king whether the [Prince's Trust] could keep going and now it's the King's Trust and is still creating opportunity. I felt like there was no hope and he gave it to me. Once again he is still inspiring and bringing his own kind of magic.' The King, accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, were in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on a classic royal 'away day', starting with a colourful song and music-led greeting. Highlighting the region's year as UK City of Culture, The Majesties arrived at 'Bradford Live', a new 3,000-capacity entertainment and event venue, where they were greeted by a performance of eight musicians from Paraorchestra, an integrated ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, and huge, cheering crowds. Inside the recently-regenerated entertainment venue, which has stood in the city centre since 1930, The King and Queen also watched a rehearsal by pupils from Riddlesden Saint Mary's Primary School of 'Sing, Dance, Leap', an education programme in schools across the city run by the Royal Ballet and Opera with Northern Ballet and Opera North. The king asked the youngsters how they were enjoying rehearsals - 'are you getting better and better?' he asked, and whether they would be back in time for school lunch, while Camilla told them: 'It's so exciting. All those people are going to be here clapping and clapping you.' Afterwards they joined a reception attended by artists and contributors to the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme. Charles and Camilla meet with local school pupils at Bradford Live, to celebrate the city's year as UK City of Culture Charles beamed as he greeted and spoke to the young performers after their rehearsal The royals posed for a snap with school pupils at Bradford Live Meanwhile a beaming Charles looked smart in a grey suit which he paired with a purple shirt and matching tie as he was greeting by officials Charles shook hands with a women before making his way into the music venue Outside, the crowds had swelled to easily more than a thousand people, clapping and cheering the couple. The King made his way along the crash barriers shaking the hands of hundreds of well-wishers calling his name, while his wife was left in a fit of the giggles after encountering Jackie Heron, 87, who had dressed regally in red, white and blue with a tiara, not once but twice. Waving a flag she shouted: 'Camilla, Camilla…Your Majesty' and when she went over to shake her hand, 'Oh, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, thank you very much.' Minutes later Mrs Heron appeared further up the line, prompting Camilla to laugh and say: 'Haven't we just met?', shaking her hand again. Mrs Heron said afterwards: 'She told me she liked what I was wearing.' At the conclusion of the walkabout Charles and Camilla went their separate ways, with the Queen jumping on an old yellow American school bus - now the Bradford Story Bus - for an event with the National Literacy Trust, of which she is patron, to celebrate its work raising literacy levels in the region. Around 150,000 books have been donated to children in the city in recent years, many of whom had never owned one. She also met schoolchildren engaging with the charity's Young Poet Laureate programme and sat with local schools who have been engaging with poetry through traditional means as well as more modern types such as rap. 'It seems a brilliant idea,' she said. In an off the cuff speech she urged them to keep reading and writing, saying it had been a 'real treat for me'. 'You must keep on doing this, just keep on reading, it will change your life,' she said. The King's final engagement of the day was visiting Cartwright Hall, an art gallery and community cultural space in Lister Park which has a David Hockney gallery, dedicated to the life and career of the Bradford-born artist. Keen artist Charles is known to love Hockney's work and recently visited him privately when he returned to the UK to live. The King also met local people involved in grassroots cultural activities and community groups in the city. And he watched a glorious performance by the Bantam of the Opera choir, a group of local Bradford City Football Club fans taught to sing opera by BBC Radio Leeds. 'Would you like a photograph? 'he asked to cheers. 'When is your next match? I hope you have a good year.'
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Forty years on from Bradford fire disaster, club are force for good in city
Things got a little hectic in Bradford city centre last Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to cheer Graham Alexander's Bradford City team as they made their way on an open-top bus from the Valley Parade Stadium to City Park, where celebrations for gaining promotion after six years marooned in League Two could begin in earnest. Everywhere there were fans seeking vantage points to watch the bus trundle past. Many in search of a better view were climbing the lampposts, all of which were decorated with banners proclaiming Bradford to be this year's UK City of Culture. Football meets high art: it was some melting pot. 'It was all a bit surreal,' says Hiron Miah, a regular at Bradford games. 'You felt like you were at the centre of everything. For the city itself, what with all the City of Culture stuff and being promoted, there is such a strong feel-good factor around. Bradford is back all right.' How different from what happened here exactly 40 years ago. On May 11, 1985, Bradford City were also saluting promotion. Ahead of the game against Lincoln at Valley Parade, the Third Division (these days League One) trophy was presented with suitable fanfare. Then, just 40 minutes later, disaster struck: a fire broke out in the venerable, creaking main stand. Such was the speed, spread and scale of the flames, 56 people lost their lives, while another 265 were injured. For everybody who witnessed it, it quickly became a scene of unimaginable horror. 'I was six years old at the time,' recalls Miah, who these days works for the local authority in the city. 'We lived right next to the main stand. I remember coming out of the house and seeing this inferno. We were terrified it was going to set the whole street alight.' This was no one-off accident. Rather, it was a sign of the times. The first of a series of footballing disasters in the eighties, the Bradford fire, like Heysel and Hillsborough to follow, was symptomatic of the kind of neglect, ignorance and under-investment that not just tarnished the game but put its supporters in mortal danger. Lord Justice Popplewell's inquiry into the fire discovered it simply should never have happened. It was not merely preventable through their neglect, those in charge had conspired to let it happen. Safety advice was ignored The wooden Valley Parade main stand, designed by the great stadium architect, Archibald Leitch, opened in 1907. Unusually, it was built on a hill, so the entrance turnstiles were at the top. By 1985, it had reached the end of its life and City's board had sought local authority permission to replace it with a steel structure. When the planning officer came to visit, he noted the pile-up of rubbish in the hollow beneath the wooden seats. While he was happy to authorise the new building, he told the club the debris was a fire hazard and should be removed immediately. Nothing was done. Then, as the game against Lincoln City meandered into end-of-season irrelevance, a fan dropped a lit cigarette through the floorboards into the pile-up below. Almost immediately smoke began to billow from the smouldering rubbish. As fans made their way up the stand to the exits to escape the gathering flames, they found the gates were locked. The place had become quickly engulfed, and, unable to get back down to escape on to the pitch, people were trapped at the back. Within just four minutes, 56 people had lost their lives. As the ground was evacuated, and hundreds of fans fled the scene choking on the foul, black smoke, the occupants of the terraced houses surrounding the stadium opened their doors and invited in those escaping to wash their faces and use their telephones. Which was a complete change from how they normally reacted to the match-goers. Manningham, the ward in which the stadium is situated, had long been the place where those arriving in West Yorkshire from Bangladesh had settled. And on match days, the locals preferred to make themselves scarce, shutting themselves off from what was regarded as a fortnightly invasion. 'We'd lock ourselves in the house from fear,' says Miah. 'In the Eighties, the perception we had of football was of hooliganism and racism. My parents would say on Saturday afternoons: don't go out today, stay indoors. We literally shut the game out.' As the fire raged, opening up the door to help was, for locals and fans alike, a revelation. Both sides discovered their prejudices were wrong: these were just people, after all. 'In a sense it was the first time we'd met each other,' says Miah. 'That day we didn't think of them as someone who'd attack you. We just thought: they need our help.' Not that the experience immediately turned the locals into fans. It was not until the early Nineties, when he was a teenager, that Miah himself started to go to games with his mates. By the time Bradford reached the Premier League in 1999, he found more and more Manningham residents alongside him, a few of whom stuck around as they plunged back down through the divisions, propelled by financial missteps, over the next decade. Yet, without the kind of embedded culture in which fathers pass down the habit of match-going to their sons, Asians still remained in a minority among the Valley Parade crowd. What really changed things was an initiative started just over 10 years ago, run jointly by the club and Anwar Uddin, the former Dagenham and Redbridge player who worked with the Football Supporters' Association. By a combination of free tickets, coaching sessions in schools and the establishment of a facility in the middle of Manningham to train up local kids with the hope of a pathway into the club academy, the plan was to encourage youngsters to go to games with their parents. As part of the scheme, in 2015 Miah established the Bangla Bantams group. 'We try to target people who have never been before, take them to matches, break down the stereotype,' he says of his group. 'We try and get women with hijabs to go to a game. And when they do, they feel comfortable. We try to help them appreciate it is nothing like the community's perception was.' It has worked. In the decade since Bangla Bantams began their evangelical work, hundreds of Manningham locals have become regulars at the game. 'I'm not going to say we alone increased diversity,' he says. 'We're just one group of people showing the way, showing it's safe and enjoyable whoever you are. Showing everyone that they can be supportive of the city we live in.' Though what, he adds, would give real uplift to the scheme would be if a local player of South Asian background could get into the first team. 'A Manningham lad out there on match day, that would be the ultimate,' he says. 'It will take time, but we've got several in the academy.' Mind, it is not just from Manningham that the club have sought to draw supporters these past few years. Cheap ticket schemes (as little as £5 for a one-off match, with children's season tickets for next year working out at 18p per game) have swelled the numbers going to games. Four times this last season, crowds of more than 20,000 came to Valley Parade. What a change that is from the Eighties. In 1985, a crowd of 11,076, nearly double that season's average of 6,610, came to the fateful final game. Last Saturday, 24,033 were in attendance, a record for the fourth tier. And looking at the pictures of fans pouring on to the pitch at the end to celebrate promotion, it is noticeable how many of them are Asian. There is a particularly striking image of a beaming Alexander surrounded on one side by an Asian father and son and on the other by a white lad in a Burberry checked cap. More to the point, however, none of those engaged in collective exuberance last weekend was in any danger. Every single person who attended the game went home safely. How different from 40 years ago. Indeed in Bradford the very idea that things were so much better in the good old days would be laughed out of court. 'When I compare it to living round the stadium in the Eighties and now, well, there is just no comparison,' says Miah. 'Thanks to the work the club has done, it feels so much more welcoming. For the people here in Manningham, you feel like this is your town, your home, your club.' From the ashes of '85, in Bradford it seems nothing but good has emerged.
