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Author: Lizzie Murphy
Publication: Yorkshire Post
Date: may 25, 2007
URL: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=55&articleid=2906210
THE Queen was presented with a burgundy shawl - a perfect match to her outfit - after she opened a £3m Hindu temple in Bradford.
The gift was presented after she unveiled a plaque at the Bradford Hindu Temple which will be one of the largest outside London once it opens later this summer.
Local residents gathered outside to watch
her arrive with the Duke of Edinburgh, as musicians played traditional pipe
and
drum music in the background.
Before the visit builders had to remove scaffolding from the building on Leeds Road as part of it has yet to be completed. The area outside the building was decorated with England flags.
The Queen toured the building and met fundraisers, community leaders and designers of the temple.
She removed her black patent court shoes and wore white pumps when she visited the prayer room and a garland of lilac flowers was placed around her neck.
Nine-year-old Dishaa Joshi, from Bronte House
School in Apperley Bridge, near Bradford, also presented
her with a bouquet of flowers.
Dishaa said afterwards: "The Duke of Edinburgh asked my name and what school I go to.
"My friends were all jealous because I was meeting the Queen. They all wanted to come along too."
Manoj Bhardwaj, son of the president of the Hindu Cultural Society Baldev Krishan Bhardwaj, enjoyed a joke with the Queen as she met community groups and project organisers in the temple's meeting room.
Afterwards, he told the Yorkshire Post: "I
said it was a pleasure to meet the Queen and a great honour." Referring
to George Bush's gaffe in Washington earlier this month when he started to
say 1776, rather than
1976, when talking about a previous visit by the Queen, Mr Bhardwaj said:
"I said to her, 'unlike George Bush, we will always remember the day
you came here'. She had a giggle and said 'that is lovely'."
As she left the temple, the Queen met local children who were waiting outside.
Gurneet Kang, aged eight, a pupil at Netherleigh
and Rossfield School in Bradford, said:
"I've been feeling very excited about meeting the Queen but she was different
to how I
thought she would be.
"I thought she was going to be really tall with lots of make up on.
"I was surprised she wore a hat because I thought she would be wearing a crown."
The Queen was greeted in Centenary Square by music from the Black Dyke Band and the Bradford Schools Choir.
Lord Mayor of Bradford Coun Robin Owens welcomed
her and Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves told her
about regeneration plans.
She was introduced to the political leaders of the main parties in Bradford before meeting members of the public including pensioners Margaret Spencer, Veronica Quantrill and Doreen Luciw who were all dressed in Union Jack colours.
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