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So once again my adopted home city is making headlines for the worst possible reason.
As some of you know, I volunteer with an organisation that patrols the city centre on weekends, keeping an eye out for vulnerable people and helping them get home safely. Some of you also know that I've been having issues with the internal politics of the organisation due to some paid work I've been doing for them, but last night reminded me of what it's really about and why I got involved in the first place.
I've not been into Bradford much recently, and though I live only about a ten minutes walk from where the remains of one of the murder victims was found, the events of the past week hadn't really impacted me. I hadn't realised how close knit Bradford could be: last night, walking round with someone who'd often seen the murderer around the city and frequented some of the same pubs and bars, we saw drug users comforting each other for the loss of their friend, exhausted police who - as if the murder investigation wasn't enough - had to contend with a major fire in the centre last night, a doorwoman reflecting on her brushes with men looking for prostitutes, and the usual crowed of revellers, from the group of teenagers belting out ABBA songs in the streets after the 70s show in the theatre to a very drunk young man crouched alone in a dark corner while his friends partied on in a nearby pub. It was a privilege to be there and hopefully provide a little hope and reassurance in dark times.
Those of you who pray, please remember the city and its people in your prayers. Bradford's had a rough time over the last several years, and this was the last thing it needed.
And for the record, I've never felt threatened in Bradford city centre at any time of day or night.
As some of you know, I volunteer with an organisation that patrols the city centre on weekends, keeping an eye out for vulnerable people and helping them get home safely. Some of you also know that I've been having issues with the internal politics of the organisation due to some paid work I've been doing for them, but last night reminded me of what it's really about and why I got involved in the first place.
I've not been into Bradford much recently, and though I live only about a ten minutes walk from where the remains of one of the murder victims was found, the events of the past week hadn't really impacted me. I hadn't realised how close knit Bradford could be: last night, walking round with someone who'd often seen the murderer around the city and frequented some of the same pubs and bars, we saw drug users comforting each other for the loss of their friend, exhausted police who - as if the murder investigation wasn't enough - had to contend with a major fire in the centre last night, a doorwoman reflecting on her brushes with men looking for prostitutes, and the usual crowed of revellers, from the group of teenagers belting out ABBA songs in the streets after the 70s show in the theatre to a very drunk young man crouched alone in a dark corner while his friends partied on in a nearby pub. It was a privilege to be there and hopefully provide a little hope and reassurance in dark times.
Those of you who pray, please remember the city and its people in your prayers. Bradford's had a rough time over the last several years, and this was the last thing it needed.
And for the record, I've never felt threatened in Bradford city centre at any time of day or night.
