Bernard Atha

Bernard Peter Atha CBE (27 August 1928 – 22 October 2022) was an English politician and actor. He served as Lord Mayor of Leeds and was a major figure in the arts and sport in West Yorkshire and elsewhere; he also appeared in a number of films.

Bernard Atha
CBE
Lord Mayor of Leeds
In office
2000–2001
Preceded byKeith Parker
Succeeded byDavid Hudson
Leeds City Councillor
for Kirkstall Ward
In office
1973–2014
Preceded byR. Robertson
Succeeded byFiona Venner
Leeds City Councillor
for Holbeck Ward
In office
1969–1973
Preceded byW. Smith
Succeeded byWard abolished
Leeds City Councillor
for City Ward
In office
1957–1968
Preceded byE. Stubbs
Succeeded byWard abolished
Personal details
Born
Bernard Peter Atha

(1928-08-27)27 August 1928
Leeds, England
Died22 October 2022(2022-10-22) (aged 94)
Political partyLabour
EducationLawnswood School
Alma materUniversity of Leeds

Life and career

Atha was born in Leeds on 27 August 1928, and educated at Leeds Modern School, now Lawnswood School, and the University of Leeds.[1]

In Ken Loach's film Kes (1969) Atha played the part of the careers officer who "throws Billy on the scrap heap".[2] He also had small roles in the Ken Loach films Family Life (1971) and Black Jack (1979). Atha's television credits include roles in the series All Creatures Great and Small, Sherlock Holmes, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Last of the Summer Wine.

Atha served as Lord Mayor of Leeds from 2000 to 2001.[3] During his mayoralty he selected 18 "high-profile, well-known Yorkshire women" to act in turn as his Lady Mayoress, a role traditionally taken by the spouse or another family member of the mayor.[4]

Atha was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2007 Birthday Honours "for services to the Arts and to the community in Leeds",[5] having earlier been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1991 New Year Honours "for services to Sport, particularly Sport for the Disabled".[6] He died on 22 October 2022, at the age of 94.[7]

References
  1. "Bernard Atha CBE: Chairman & President". Board of Directors. UK Sports Association. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. Golding, Simon W. (2014). "Bernard Atha OBE - Youth Employment Officer". Life after Kes. Andrews UK. ISBN 9781910295311.
  3. "Lord Mayors & Aldermen of Leeds since 1626" (PDF). Leeds City Council. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  4. Hutchison, Helen (18 May 2001). "Bernard and his Ladies". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  5. "No. 58358". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 2007. p. 7.
  6. "No. 9". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 9.
  7. Newton, Grace (23 October 2022). "Hands-on former Leeds councillor Bernard Atha who had acting roles in Kes and Coronation Street has died". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2022.


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