I am very disappointed, I was hoping that this blog was going to be full of wonderful stories of my trip to India and Pakistan with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and photos of me riding elephants and sat outside the Taj Mahal, but sadly they decided that I should I should stay at home to look after the Lord Mayor’s Rooms and greet guests visiting City Hall whilst they were away. I cried and sulked, I may even have stamped my paw at one point but it didn’t get me anywhere, they flew off to Delhi and I was left in Bradford!
I have however very kindly agreed to write about the Lord Mayor’s visit and post some photos so that you can see what the visit to India and Pakistan was all about. See my separate blog entry about the visit to India and Pakistan.
In hindsight it may be just as well that I did not go as it was so hot and I would probably have suffered from heat stroke as unlike the Lord Mayor I cannot remove my robes and hat. But I do feel that I missed out on some wonderful sights and of course lots of lovely food, I made Alexis take me to my favourite restaurant Zouk Tea Bar and Grill twice whilst the Lord Mayor was away just so that I could have a lovely curry or two and dream of being somewhere else!
Since my last blog there has been a real mix of events happening for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
BIAC Social Night, Friday 13th April, Copper Beech Club, Baildon.
On Friday 13th April I had a fantastic night at the Copper Beech Club in Baildon with lots of friends from BIAC (Bradford Integrated Activities) it was not an unlucky Friday 13th as I won a prize on the Tombola, although as it was a jigsaw I may need some help from someone. As well as a Tombola there was a Raffle and Auction and the event has raised £600 for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. After a couple of lemonades it was not long before my tummy started to growl and the DJ kept teasing me by saying that the buffet was ready and then changing his mind, finally it was open and I rushed off hoping to be first in the queue only to find everyone else was faster than me and that I was at the back! I was amazed at how packed the dance floor was all night and how much energy everybody had, by ten o’clock I was ready for bed and yawning but I think it might have been in anticipation of the very early wake up call the next morning.
Because on Saturday the 14th April I did something ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, I JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE AT 10,000 FEET!
Parachute Jump, Peterlee Parachute Centre, County Durham, Saturday 14th April
The day started with the alarm ringing at 5am, I wished I had gone to bed earlier the night before and I am sure Alexis was wishing she had not had that 3rd pint of Cider! I rushed around getting ready, making up a flask, packing a bag and checking we had all the paperwork and directions, whilst Alexis did a lot of moaning and muttering about there only been one five o’clock in a day. Tony one of our very smart and helpful Lord Mayor’s Officers arrived at 6am to pick us up for the journey and then we all went to pick up the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the Lord Mayor like me was bright eyed and raring to go, the Lady Mayoress like Alexis was still half asleep! We had to go all the way to a Parachute Centre in Peterlee, County Durham but thankfully Tony didn’t need help with the directions until we turned of the A1 by which time Alexis, who was scarily in charge of the navigating, was awake.
We arrived at the airfield at 8.15am to be met by others from our group of 15 brave souls, who must have got up even earlier. Others drifted in and by 8.30am everyone was there, some were laughing and joking and others were very quiet, it was hard to tell who was just being brave and who was genuinely scared, but I don’t mind admitting that by 9am my knees were knocking and my paws were shaking and suddenly this bright idea of the Lord Mayor’s didn’t seem so clever after all. All the way up the weather had been very foggy and it had looked as if we might be having a wasted journey but slowly and surely the cloud lifted and the sun started to shine.
Eventually everyone went into the hangar to go through all the paperwork (which seemed to take forever) and for the training (which seemed surprisingly short to say how important it was). As time went on people got quieter and began concentrating harder as the nerves seemed to take over. We did have a giggle in training though as Councillor Ward was made to sit on the instructor’s knee and was told to snuggle up close and as we all had to get down on the floor and practice our jump and free fall positions; rather worryingly it looked like we were saying our prayers!
Once the training was over the waiting began and for some it was a very, very long wait, having arrived at Peterlee at 8.30am the last of our group did not jump until 6.30pm and all we can do is thank them all enormously for their patience. Thankfully the sun continued to shine and some people took advantage and laid back and basked in its rays, others killed time by sloping off to do a bit of shopping and sightseeing.
Then at 10 o’clock the Catering Van arrived, hurray, everyone rushed to get cups of tea and coffee and snacks, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were been taken out to lunch by the Chairman of Easington District Council so they didn’t have anything to eat but it didn’t stop me having a delicious hot bacon sandwich.
And then at 10.30am the announcement came over the public address system, ‘would the Lord Mayor and Brad Ford make their way to the hangar to prepare for their jump’, all of a sudden I felt very sick and wished I had not had a late breakfast after all. We pulled on our very attractive flying helmets and jumpsuits and went off to do some photos with our tandem master, the Lady Mayoress and the Chairman of Easington District Council, Cllr Charlie Walker and his wife Joan who had very kindly turned up to support the Lord Mayor.
Then everyone disappeared and it was just us walking out to the plane, I know now how those astronauts feel when they have to walk out to the Shuttle, it seemed to take ages to go such a short distance.
Once up in the plane, my stomach seemed to settle and I enjoyed the 15 minutes it took us to circle the North East, it was beautiful and we could see the football ground at Sunderland, Durham cathedral, the fantastic sweep of the rugged coast and even the Metro Centre! And then we were there, the moment had arrived, there was no going back. In the plane with us was Rizwan Malik a friend of the Lord Mayor’s and there had been much debate as to who would jump first. If Rizwan was doing a tandem jump strapped to an instructor, then what were we doing, the Lord Mayor was strapped to an instructor and then I was strapped to the Lord Mayor?
Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I would love to tell you that this was the best experience of my life, that the view was spectacular, that I can’t wait to do it again but I was terrified, I had my eyes shut all the way down and when we did get back on the ground I was sick! Never again.
However the Lord Mayor loved it, he was so good at steering the chute, his descent was so graceful and the landing so smooth. The Lord Mayor marvelled at the sights, was amazed at how long the descent seemed to take and was totally exhilarated by the whole experience. I heard everybody cheering as we cam in to land and finally dared to open my eyes only to see the ground rushing up towards me and what worried me most was that if we rolled over I would be at the bottom of the pile!
As soon as we got down the Lord Mayor was up on his feet punching the air and telling everyone how fantastic it had been and asking if he could go again, I think that was when I was sick!
I felt so bad that when the Cllr Walker took us out for Lunch I stayed in the car and had a sleep and you know it is not like me to refuse food.
After lunch we went back to the Drop Zone to see some of the others do their jumps, Cllr Ward and his son Sam and daredevil Jacqui Metcalf from Baildon, other people had a really long wait and didn’t jump until late afternoon which was a shame as the Lord Mayor had to get back to Bradford for another engagement in the evening and so we could not watch everyone. But everyone landed safely and apart from me I think everyone else really enjoyed it.
Tony dropped me off at City Hall and I snuggled up on the sofa in the Lord Mayor’s Rooms despite how tired I was and what a long day it had been I couldn’t sleep as every time I closed my eyes I dreamt I was free falling
doooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnn and my chute did not open.
There is still sponsor money to come in so we do not know yet how much money we will have raised but it is looking good. Thanks to everyone at Peterlee Parachute Centre, Flt Sgt Jason Everett from 4 Para, Easington District Council, Ayaz Hussain (the Consulate of Pakistan), Cllr Charlie Walker & Mrs Joan Walker and the brave jumpers Cllr David Ward, Cllr Lynn Joyce, Cllr Hawarun Hussain, Riswan Malik, Jacqui Metcalfe, Mena Monnan, Lyndsey Jarvis, Ian Beardmore, Joshua Zamarko, Jenny Bass, Paul Kitching and Pauline Montgomery.
Ten Pin Bowling Competition, Wednesday Club, Keighley 17th April.
The Lord Mayor said at the beginning of the year that he wanted to take an active part in the Appeal and I think that with the football tournament, abseil, parachute jump and horse riding he had already proved the point but even after the jump at the weekend there was no let up as on Tuesday we were taking part in a Ten Pin Bowling Competition in Keighley. This is an annual event organised by Bradford Sport & Recreation Association for People with Disabilities and each year they give the proceeds to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal so this year was particularly special as they would be raising money for themselves as one of the Lord Mayor’s chosen charities. It was a very friendly event; lots of the disabled athletes had met the Lord Mayor at other events earlier in the year and were really pleased to see him again. The Lord Mayor and I could have just sat and watched the teams compete but of course the Lord Mayor wanted to take part which meant I had to too, which I didn’t mind but getting a paw into a bowling ball is not easy. Of course there was a raffle but this time I was not lucky but the arrival of some food soon cheered me up.
Civic Lunch for Freemason, Friday 20th April, Banqueting Hall, City Hall.
Bradford led the way in holding the first Masonic Civic Lunch in 2004 when W. Bro Keith Madeley was the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Chairman. The event sold out and was equally successful in 2005 and 2006 when the lunch was a joint event with Lady Masons and this year with some of the Provincial Grand Lodge overseas the Lady Masons were in the majority! Following on from Bradford’s success both Sheffield and Leeds have followed our lead and opened their civic doors to freemasons. As the event was close to St George’s Day the Lord Mayor had asked everyone to wear a Red Rose, something which some proud Yorkshire folk found difficult to stomach but as the Lord Mayor made a speech about the balance organisations need to strike between moving with the times and protecting traditions including references to some very quirky English customs they soon realised why he had wanted indulging in this. The Lord Mayor also thanked both the Province of Yorkshire West Riding and the Order of Women Freemason for the support they gave to the Civic Office, the encouragement they had given to himself and the Lady Mayoress during their Civic Year and for all the work that Masons continue to do for the benefit of their community. Doctor Eileen Senior who is the Grand Inspector of the Order of Freemasons replied and thanked the Lord Mayor on behalf of all fellow Masons. Dr Senior also very cleverly managed to get in a mention for the Lady Mayoress’s May Fair (more of that later) at which as member of Soroptimist International of Bradford she would be helping to run a stall. I had my photo taken with Dr Senior and the Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary for White Rose the Masonic magazine in Yorkshire. Dr Senior is a good friend of mine and later this year she will be taking a clutch of Brads to the Soroptimist International Conference in Glasgow where all delegates have been asked to take a bear for a photo call, after the conference all the bears will be donated to children in need.
Bradford – Hamm Cycle Ride Thursday 26th April – Monday 30th April
One of the events which Bradford Sport & Recreation Association for People with Disabilities has been planning all year for is the Bradford – Hamm Cycle Ride. Now because the Lord Mayor has just come back from India, because he has already visited Hamm this year and because his diary is so busy as the year comes to an end he could not spare five days to cycle to Hamm (well that is his excuse anyway!) so guess who he volunteered to go instead? Yes his cute and cuddly Civic Bear. taking part, all ages, all abilities, of us taking part with an excellent back-up team. Rob Cooper from BSRAPD had been encouraging me all year and making sure, along with Francine Hoddy, from We Are Not A Gym, that I got in plenty of training but to my amazement Rob who had done so much of the planning and hard work organising the event stayed at home to go to his sister’s wedding! The group have been out in all weathers for months training and organising all sorts of additional events to raise money as well sponsorship Francine asked me to join her at Morrison’s where we cycled the distance to Hamm and back on mountain bikes, I think that Francine had the easier task as she was cycling in lycra and is was cycling in my Robes!
Cycle Ride Day 1 Bradford - Hull
At 10am on Thursday 26th April after a rapturous Civic Send Off we finally set off for the first leg of the journey to Hull, where we would catch the ferry to Rotterdam. The first big challenge was getting to the top of Wakefield Road towards the end of the morning rush hour! As the miles trundled past I soon found my place in the pack, at the back; well my legs are very short in comparison to everyone else’s! After a stop for lunch in Snaith we were soon back in the saddle. Malcolm has promised that I can borrow his Dog Oil tonight, I am not quite sure what it is but Malcolm assures me that it is used on greyhounds to ease their limbs after races and so it should be safe for us on little bears too. We arrived at Hull 5 minutes ahead of schedule and in time to get a quick shower before dinner. For dinner I thought I had better Carb up with Pasta, Pasta and more Pasta but then I saw the puddings and thought I should have desserts too!
Cycle Ride Day 2 Rotterdam –Nijmegen
11 hours in the saddle riding from the Europort in Holland over 100 miles to the end of day two at Nijmegen.
It was bit wind and at times I was afraid that a gust might blow is into one of the many dykes.
The weather was glorious and we had to stop several times to reapply the factor 15.
Been on a bike in Holland is such a pleasurable experience compared to the UK cars have to stop at junctions; there are signal-controlled cycle crossings and everywhere has cycle lanes and not the pathetic excuses we have on the roads in Bradford. These are full width two lane surfaced roads.
On Saturday we set off on the last leg of the marathon, the 100 miles from Nijmegen to our twin town of Hamm. There was a full civic reception laid on and then we went to a massive street party to celebrate the demolition of a famous shopping complex.
Cycle Ride Day 3 Nijmegen to Hamm
Woke up to find that my nose is badly burnt from the sun yesterday, not funny.
And today for the ride into Hamm the weather was just as scorching. We all need to drink plenty and then need stop for calls of nature!
We finally reached the meeting point to be met by 3 members of the Hamm Cycling club, who led us through the town towards the youth hostel where we are staying.
I felt very proud as the team from Bradford forget their aching muscles and assorted injuries not to mention the fatigue and rode single file through the streets of our twin town. It was a moving sight as the riders, of all ages and abilities came to terms with what has been achieved to date.
On arrival at the youth hostel there was a warm reception and I was presented with a posy of flowers- to welcome us to Hamm. There was champagne, beer and soft drinks were and soon the tiredness faded and we got ready to party.
The team outside the youth hostel in Hamm shortly after being escorted into the town
Yes! It was true, the town of Hamm threw a massive party to celebrate the demolition in three weeks time of a 25-year-old shopping centre - about the size of John Street market with two floors. Hundreds of people turned out as rock bands played and beer and food flowed. Makes you wonder if Bradford has missed out on a trick or two there.
Earlier during a meal the Oberburgermeister of Hamm, Herr Huntsteger-Petermann popped in to the restaurant and presented each of the team with a certificate of achievement.
Day 4 At Leisure in Hamm
Who’d have thought that today a little bear would 35 metres up the trunk of the world's largest elephant.
We were taken on a tour of the town. One of the stops was to the Bradford City fire memorial - a replica of the one in Centenary Square. At least one of the team was in the Valley Parade ground on that fateful day. The then Lord Mayor of Hamm was there too.
As we walked round one of the oldest parts of Hamm one of the sites was a war memorial and graveyard for the German fallen in both the first and second world wars.
If and when you visit Hamm you will notice there are elephants all over the place they are the City’s mascot a bit like our Wild Boar I suppose, although why elephants in Germany is beyond me. Some are made out of flowers, others brightly coloured fibre glass sponsored by companies. It's nothing to do with ancient history, but all to do with the conversion of a former coal mine and industrial land into a super open space. Part of which was building the front end of a glass elephant on the end of one of the old mine buildings. It is 35 metres high and you go up inside it to get a panoramic view of the area and park.
It's now off for a swim and sauna before a meal tonight and then back on the open road tomorrow to head back home. I had a peaceful and relaxing time but Malcolm Hoddy, Editor of the Keighley News got into a spot of bother, he was minding his own business and relaxing when he was told to take his clothes of or leave, unbeknown to Malcolm he had wandered into the nudist area, he blamed it on poor eyesight and a lack of understanding of the German language, we believe you Malcolm!
After a wonderful meal at a Chinese restaurant by the riverside it was back to the youth hostel to prepare for the journey to Europort and then back home.
The visit to the Bradford City fire memorial
The glass elephant
Day 5 Hamm to Rotterdam
An early start to make sure we arrived in Rotterdam in time for the ferry!
We cycled back across Germany and Holland arriving at the Europort in Rotterdam with just two minutes to spare! We were slightly delayed by taking an unexpected detour around the architectural wonders of Rotterdam city centre. So we finally got to the port at 7.28pm - ready for a 7.30pm sailing. There's not much you can do on a bike when you are late - you can't just go faster not when you’re so tired and have been in the saddle for so long..
So we took the overnight ferry across the North Sea loads to eat and more stocking up on the carbs at dinner and a full English breakfast before arriving at Hull in the morning all set for the final leg back to Bradford.
Day 6 Hull - Bradford
Malcolm says he has often dreamed of crossing the finishing line of a cycling race and being showered with champagne. I’ve often dreamed of being showered with champagne but never has there been a bike involved.
But for Malcolm his dreams came true in front of the Hilton Hotel in Bradford city centre. Yes, we all made it back home after achieving the final leg of this exciting charity challenge.
I have scars to prove that I made it but more importantly I have some wonderful memories and met some lovely people. And most importantly we raised one hell of a lot of money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal!
Here we are approaching the finish.
And here are the triumphant travellers after getting back to Bradford.
Thanks to all the riders for taking on the challenge, to their friends and family for such enthusiastic fundraising and to all the back up team for making sure everything went so smoothly and everyone came home safely and not too much the worse for their adventures! And thanks to the Telegraph & Argus and Keighley News for all the positive press coverage.
The event would not have been possible without the support received from Sunwin Renault, Sovereign Healthcare, United Co-operatives, Hilton Bradford and the Oberburgermeister and citizens of Hamm.
