Brenda Thomson

Brenda is an inspirational member of the community in Bradford and her commitment to local people and the city has touched many lives. As well as bringing up a multi-racial family, including 4 adopted children, her life has been dedicated to promoting racial equality and running activities to bring together all faiths and nationalities in Bradford. Brenda was one of the first students to attend the School of Peace Studies at Bradford University and her Doctorate examined institutional racism in Bradford schools. Whilst working, Brenda was an Education Adviser and set up a multi-faith education centre and in retirement she has worked tirelessly to promote good community relations. She co-ordinates The Big Lunch which attracted 200 local community members and church attendees last year; she set up Bradford City of Peace and developed the Bradford Peace Trail and has been a trustee for Bradford University's Commonwealth Peace Library for 30 years; she has helped set up community groups and a local festival in Girlington - a deprived multi-racial area on the outskirts of the city. Brenda has organised and raised funds for a Tai Chi group for the over 50s which has gone from strength to strength under her stewardship - from fundraising to offering real support and friendship to all group members from different ethnic backgrounds, Brenda is our rock! Open, caring, a thinker and a doer, Brenda goes that extra mile for us and deserves to be recognised as a torch bearer for Bradford.Set up the unique Bradford interface education centre Bradford city for peace, Commonweal peace library in Bradford Uni