PREPARATIONS are being put in place across the Bradford district to mark the funeral of HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.

A Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving will take place at Bradford Cathedral at 6pm tonight. This service is not open to the public due to Covid-19 but it will be streamed live on their social media platforms.

The funeral service will begin with a national one minute’s silence at 3pm tomorrow, and people from across the district are encouraged to observe this in their own way at home or where ever they are.

Businesses and organisations wishing to pay their respects are also encouraged to hold their own minute’s silences and will make their own announcements to customers and staff.

Although the funeral will be shown live on the Big Screen in Bradford city centre, people are encouraged to watch this at home.

At 3.01pm the bells of Bradford City Hall will begin to toll once a minute for 99 minutes, to mark each year of the Duke of Edinburgh’s life.

There will be a moment of reflection on Sunday in Keighley which will be led by the Reverend Dr Jonathan Prichard, with attendance from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and representatives of local faith communities.

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In line with the national protocol marking the death of HRH Prince Philip, flags across the district, which have been at half-mast since the announcement of his passing, will remain at half-mast until 8am on the day after his funeral, when they will be raised to full mast.

Buildings across the country including in Bradford city centre have been lit in purple since the day of the announcement and will continue to be lit up as a mark of respect until Sunday. This is in line with national protocols

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Doreen Lee, has written a letter of condolence on behalf of the people of the District to the Monarch’s Private Secretary, asking that condolences be passed to the Royal Family.

In line with national protocols the online Book of Condolence that was opened on Bradford Council’s website will be closed at 5pm on Sunday. The comments will be collated and printed out to be kept in the council’s archives.

People from across the district, including in Bradford city centre, Keighley and Ilkley, have used the time since the announcement of the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh to pay their own tributes and observe moments of reflection on his life.

There was a Civic Service of Remembrance a Bradford Cathedral on Sunday 11 April which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Bradford and representatives of all faiths. This service is still available to view on Bradford Cathedral’s website.

Places of worship, from the many faith groups across the district, have also been remembering the Duke in their own way, since hearing of his passing, with many being open throughout the week for private prayer and reflection.

Faith representatives from across the district took part in a socially distanced multi-faith remembrance on Sunday 11 April.

This was attended by the Lord Mayor of Bradford who laid a wreath on behalf of the people of the district.

It also included a mourning lament in Hebrew from Rudi Leavor BEM, Chair of the Bradford Synagogue; a reflection on the visit of HRH Prince Philip and HM The Queen who opened the Hindu Temple on Leeds Road; a tribute from the Head Prefect at Bradford Grammar School (Shaan Aziz), who has completed the Duke of Edinburgh Awards; as well as tributes from the Council for Mosques, the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras. It was organised by the Bishop of Bradford with support from Bradford Council.

Flowers were also laid in Keighley by the Mayor of Keighley on Monday at a small socially distance gathering with prayers led by Reverend Dr Jonathan Prichard.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Doreen Lee, said: “Although I, along with many others, never met the Duke of Edinburgh, I know his life and service to the county, Her Majesty The Queen and the Commonwealth, has had an impact on a great many people’s lives. This has been evidenced by the overwhelming tributes and reflections from individuals and organisations from across the whole of the Bradford district.

“Due to Covid-19 we are encouraging people to observe the minute’s silence at 3pm on Saturday in their own way at home or where ever they are, rather than gathering at City Park or in town centres across the district as we may have done.

“Businesses and organisations will, I am sure, be making their own tributes and people are asked to observe these in a respectful way.

“The online Book of Condolence will remain open until 5pm on Sunday and I would encourage people to use this to pay their own tributes.”

The online Book of Condolence can be found on Bradford Council’s website at www.bradford.gov.uk