Brad Ford Bear
Brad Ford Bear is the official mascot of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. You can find out what Brad has been getting up to and learn more about life in the Civic Office and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal by reading Brad’s Blog.
Don’t forget that if you already the proud owner of a Brad Bear to let us know what your bear has been getting up to. Send us your photos to alexis.jenner@bradford.gov.uk and we will add them to Brad’s Gallery.
If you don’t yet have a Brad but would like one they are on sale at Bradford Tourist Information Centre in City Hall, priced £8.00 each with £3 from the sale of every bear going to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal to support local charities.
Brad's Blog
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal hosted a ‘Reet Yorkshire Lunch’ at the Great Victoria Hotel on the 31st July 2009. We had a fantastic time, the rain just about held off long enough for the Persephone Women’s Morris dancers to entertain us with some Northern Clog Dancing, as we sipped our Pimms and Black Sheep outside. Lunch was a traditional Yorkshire Fish and Chip affair with lots of Bread and Butter, Mushy Peas and Yorkshire Tea. After lunch we were entertained by Ian Dewhirst, Ian who is a former Keighley Librarian had everyone laughing helplessly with his humorous reflections on the Yorkshire character and anecdotes. I was a little lost with the few bits which were in dialect but thankfully there were plenty of people on hand to translate. We hope very much to invite Ian back to speak at another event later in the year. The day was rounded with some Yorkshire themed fundraising and a couple of auction items.
We’d like to thank the The Great Victoria Hotel, Persephone Morris, Ian Dewhirst, The Yorkshire Society, The Calendar Girls, David Wheeler, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, The Black Dyke Band and Bradford Tourist Information and everyone who attended the event for their support.
Yorkshire Day is of course really on the 1st August but we had celebrated a little early as I was flying off to Canada with the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Chair, Geoffrey Green and his wife Janet.
August 1st began very early at 5:30 am to be precise.
I went in a taxi to Manchester Airport and was flying on to London Heathrow and then Toronto in Canada. I had my photo taken in the airport and soon it was time to get on the plane. I was a bit nervous when I saw everybody and all the seats.
At Heathrow I had another photo taken while we were waiting for the plane.
When we were having our lunch on the plane, I had another photo taken.
We went to the hotel by taxi and when I got into our room I tried the bed. It was very comfy. I also decided to find out what was on the TV during dinner time.
How exciting, I went on to visit the Mayor of Toronto in City Hall. What a lovely man. He liked the gift and the badge – he put it in his lapel before going for a TV interview. He signed my passport.
On the train journey from Toronto and Vancouver I met some very nice people including a lady who worked for the railway, who took our photo when the train stopped at Homepayne.
At the hotel in Vancouver, I had a lovely room with a view and I saw some wonderful sights around the City. When I went to the City Hall, the Mayor was not there, but the lady liked the gift and she put an official sticker in my passport. She also gave me a gift for our Lord Mayor.
All too soon it was time to come home to Bradford, but what a treat! I was able to sit on the flight deck of the 747 with the pilot and other members of the crew. To say thank you I gave them all a badge.
I had a lovely trip, but I am glad to be back home. Travelling makes me tired.
Although at Christmas I am flying across the Atlantic again, this time to Minneapolis in the USA.
Thank you to Janet and Geoffrey for looking after me so well and making sure I was well fed.
Now I am back in Bradford I am looking forward to a busy Autumn out and about at lots of fundraising events with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
Brad Ford Bear Merchandise
I have been helping the nice people at Autograph Promotional Gifts Ltd to design some new Brad Ford Bear merchandise which we hope will be in City Hall in time for Heritage Open day on the 12th September, these will include a Brad Bear Activity Book, Brad Bear Balloon, Lord Mayor’s Tricorn Hat and already in stock from the guys at House of Logos we have new Mayor’s Bear badges and Mayor’s Bear Trolley Tokens. All items are at pocket money prices and would make good stocking fillers for Christmas, I will be out and about at various events selling these over the next few months so watch out for me or you can contact Alexis in our appeal Office on 01274 434965 for more details on how you can purchase items.
Brad Ford Bear's correspondence with Bradford's Poet Laureate Gerard Benson:
Dear Gerard,
I got a bit giddy whilst talking to Mark at House of Logos and couldn't say Mayor's Bears Badges. Mark who is just as daft as I am thought we should have tongue twisting type ditty about Mayor's Bears on the webpage. So when I emailed him back with an order I added my little rhyme below, Gerard I know you will appalled by my attempt but thought it may make you smile none the less!
I'm a Mayor's Bear by Brad Ford Bear, official mascot of the Lord Mayor's Appeal and THE original Mayor's Bear.
I'm a Mayor's Bear,
a Civic debonair bear,
a bear who cares, bear,
a bear with no airs, bear,
a bear who really dares, bear,
a bear who opens Fayres, bear,
a dapper knows what to wear, bear,
a bear with soft, toffee coloured hair, bear,
a bear who doesn't sleep in a lair, bear but on a plush, plump chair, bear,
a bear for whom there is not a pair, bear, in fact a bear who's a very rare, bear.
From Brad Ford Bear
Dear Brad
You've made me smile. It's lovely. Brad for Laureate? Is "debonair" too complicated a word. I feel there's a place for it.
All good wishes, Gerard
Dear Gerard,
I'm only bear of little brain (to quote that other famous bear Pooh) and didn't get to such clever rhymes! I will add in a line now and post on our webpage I think.
Thanks for the tip.
Brad
Thanks Brad,
Pooh also wrote rhymes so you're in good company. And wasn't there someone called Bruin? or was it Browning? And then there was Bearon and of course Bearcheman. And then (this is true) a writer right up your street who was one of the early pilgrims who went to America, Mistress Anne Bradstreet, a very good poet indeed.
Signed, Poet Laureate G Be(ar)nson
