Leeds
Churchyard, Leeds Minster Churchyard, Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 7EG
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The Leeds memorial to the British Nuclear Veterans was the result of the activities of the West Yorkshire Branch of the BNTVA. Sited in the grounds of Leeds Minster its care was given over to the Minster who continue to tend the memorial today. As part of the Remembrance Project of the NCCF, the memorial was restored and re-dedicated on the 7th October 2018. In the following Evensong Service, the Standard of the West Yorkshire Branch of the BNTVA was laid up in the Minster. https://nucleartest.online/leeds-minster/
BNTVA Newsletter Christmas 2003 - Leeds on Parade.
"West & North Yorkshire branch celebrated the dedication and Blessing of their new Standard and the 51st Anniversary of the first British Atomic Test on October 5th 2003.
The service was held in Leeds Parish Church and lead by the Revd Canon Graham Smith, together with the clergy of the Parish Church. Members came from far and wide to attend this very special occasion. The parade was commanded by Leut. Col Jarrett.
The parade consisted of the Leeds Rifles, Royal British Legion, Leeds Sea Cadets, Leeds Air Training Corps; also attending were Sean Morris of the Peace and Emergency planning unit, Leeds MEP Michael McGowan, George Mudie MP plus too many councillors to mention.
Our special guests were Tieri Pollard leader of the Kiribati Dancers, and His Excellency the High Commissioner of the Republic of the Fiji Islands and his wife Mr & Mrs E L Boladuadua. John Lowe BNTVA National Chairman and Peter Fletcher our President worked very hard to help make the day a success, we are very grateful to them Everyone enjoyed themselves marching behind the band to the Royal Armouries, especially Peter Fletcher who was the only one not out of breath when we arrived (he was pushed in his wheelchair).
On Sunday 19th October, I was invited to Leeds City Hall to meet the Lord Mayor of Nagasaki Mr Iccho Itoh and the Lord Mayor of Hiroshima Mr Tadatoshi Akiba, who are on a peace mission around the world. It was a very moving experience listening to their stories about the bombings, they were both babies in arms at the time. The two Lord Mayors sang a song about Japan unaccompanied.
Well that's all folks from Yorkshire so until we meet again take care."
Wally Holdsworth
Branch Representative
BBC Look North 2008 at Leeds Parish Church.
These photos were originally sent to the BNTVA by Wally Holdworth Branch Representative
In 2023 our curator Wesley visited and cleaned the memorial before remembrance Sunday.
