City mourns Lady Mayoress

Flags on civic building are flying at half mast

Bradford City Hall's minute bell tolled for an hour on Monday to mark the death of the city's Lady Mayoress.

Pauline Hillary died on Sunday in Bradford Royal Infirmary after being ill with cancer for several months.

Mrs Hillary had been admitted to the hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell at a fair at Eccleshill Methodist Church.

Bradford-born Mrs Hillary became Lady Mayoress in May when her husband Allan was elected Lord Mayor.

She was educated at local primary schools, then Belle Vue Grammar School before becoming a teacher.

The Lady Mayoress was also a steward at the church, a former lady captain of Baildon Golf Club and a member of Baildon Flower Club.

Her concern for people was fuelled by her strong Christian faith Bereaved Lord Mayor Allan Hillary

The council's minute bell tolled for an hour, striking a note once a minute for the duration.

Union flags on City Hall and town halls across the district are being flown at half mast and will remain there until the funeral, which has yet to be arranged.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Allan Hillary said: "Pauline will be very much missed by so many people. She touched the lives of people in all walks of life across the district."

"Her concern for people was fuelled by her strong Christian faith which she expressed particularly through her active involvement in Eccleshill Methodist Church.

"She had worshipped there from being a child and held many different offices over the years. It is also the church where we were married."