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Bradford
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Centennial Square

Bradford Fire Disaster Memorial

(Wikipedia)

Jockel Reisner
Schwab Guß (Münster)
1986

Bradford / Bradford Fire Disaster Memorial

Description

The bronze sculpture shows three ethereal figures imoving in a broken circle. The broken circle represents the damaged stadium, whilst the figures symbolise the divide between life and death and the rescuers running to offer help. The bronze figures and base are covered in the names of those who lost their lives.

Inscription(s)

Around the base of the sculpture:

in memory of the victims of the bradford city disaster

city of hamm - city of bradford

Signature

h.j. reisner fecit
guss schwab münster

Information Sign

BRADFORD FIRE DISASTER MEMORIAL

this memorial is a gift to the people of bradford
from the people of hamm, bradford's twin city in
germany and commemorates the tragic fire of
may 11th 1985, at bradford city football ground in
which 56 people lost their lives. stadium, extend out to touch the cloaks of the
three figures symbolising the eternal bond between
the living and the dead.

Sculptor Joachim Reisner 1986.

Annotation

The sculpture commemorates the disastrous fire at the Bradford City Football ground, 11 May 1985, where 56 people died and more than 300 were injured. The artist said: "As I cast each letter of each name, I began to reallse how enormous had been the damage done by the fire. In some cases the same surname occurred again and again. It was then that I knew how cruel the tragedy had been for those left behind."

It is a gift from Bradford's twin city Hamm in Germany. The memorial is unveiled by Lord Mayor Councillor Mohammed Ajeeb and Oberbürgermeister of Hamm, Prof. Frau. Sabine Sech, 11th May 1986. Also present Neil Kinnock (then Labour Leader).

Sculptor

Jockel (Joachim) Reisner (Marl 1938), German sculptor (Information).

Sources & Information

Jane Winfrey, Bradford's Sculpture Trail, Bradford City Centre Management, 2003 (PDF on-line).

Locatie (N 53°47'33" - W 1°45'14") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbyh004; Photograph: 31 July 2012
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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