LEADING: Karam and Katari Chand have been married for 89 years and were invited to lead the Girlington Parade earlier this month
LEADING: Karam and Katari Chand have been married for 89 years and were invited to lead the Girlington Parade earlier this month

Annual parade showcases the ‘Joy of Reading’

School children overtook the streets of Bradford earlier this month as the annual Girlington parade proved to be bigger and better than ever, with the sun shining down on the city.

Hundreds of people lined the streets for the return of the community event, which involves school children parading through the streets with banners and costumes all on show.

This year’s theme was a ‘Joy of Reading’, with youngsters producing pieces of art to showcase their passion for literacy, whilst many also dressed up as their favourite storybook characters.

Girlington Primary, Whetley Academy, St Edmund’s Nursery and St Philip’s CE Primary, were the four schools involved in making this year’s event a success.

Leading the parade were local celebrities, the world’s longest married couple, Karam and Kartari Chand.

PARADE: Hundreds of people lined the streets to join in the annual celebrations
PARADE: Hundreds of people lined the streets to join in the annual celebrations

Karam, 109, and his wife Katari, 102, live in Girlington and every year guide the parade through the streets in an open top car, waving to crowds who gather to watch.

They have been married for an incredible 89 years and moved to Bradford in 1965 where they have called home for the past five decades.

Mr and Mrs Chand’s son, Paul, said it was an honour for his parents to be invited once again to lead the celebrations.

“Everyone had a really great time at the parade including my mum and dad,” he said.

“It was a privilege for them to lead the children throughout the day and to see them enjoying themselves was just a fantastic feeling.”

He added: “Thankfully the weather was also sunny throughout the day, only adding to the lovely parade.”