Congratulations Bradford, City Of Culture 2025

The announcement that Bradford is to become the UK City of Culture in 2025 sent me straight to my archives to find a suitable image to celebrate the honour that has been bestowed on the city of my birth. It did not take me long to identify the perfect candidate: a photograph from, I think, the late 1920s or early 30s, which has been handed down from generation to generation in my family. It shows a chapel concert party from the Great Horton area of the city, and that is my grandfather, Enoch Burnett, with the bowler hat and shawl, second from the right on the back row. His eldest daughter - my Aunty Miriam - is also part of the troop; that is her looking very stylish in the centre of the front row.

I do remember that when my father passed the photograph on to me - thirty or more years ago - I had the good sense to get him to provide some names of others featured in the photograph. So we have father and son, Rubin and Jack Hudson who, I believe, ran the local fish and chip shop. We have Rita Thomas and Harry Booth, and Harry Foulger as well.

Following the announcement, Bradford now has the best part of three years to prepare for its year in the limelight. No doubt, much thought will be given to the various manifestations of that most difficult term, "culture". The spotlight will inevitably shine on the great authors, musicians and artists that came from the city, or the stunning buildings that still grace it, and the wonderful diversity that is such an element of Bradford today. Hopefully the culture that emanates from the ordinary people of Bradford will not be forgotten: the brass bands and steel bands, the choirs and rap artists .... and the chapel concert parties.