Bernard Atha

Bernard Atha
Lord Mayor of Leeds
In office 2000–2001
Preceded by	Keith Parker
Succeeded by	David Hudson
Leeds City Councillor for Kirkstall Ward
In office 1973–2014
Preceded by	R. Robertson
Succeeded by	Fiona Venner
Leeds City Councillor for Holbeck Ward
In office 1969–1973
Preceded by	W. Smith
Succeeded by	Ward abolished
Leeds City Councillor for City Ward
In office 1957–1968
Preceded by	E. Stubbs
Succeeded by	Ward abolished
Personal details
Born	Bernard Peter Atha 27 August 1928 Leeds, England
Died	22 October 2022 (aged 94)
Political party	Labour
Education	Lawnswood School
Alma mater	University of Leeds

Bernard Peter Atha (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.

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.

In Ken Loach's film Kes (1969) Atha played the part of the careers officer who "throws Billy on the scrap heap". 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. 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.

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", 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". He died on 22 October 2022, at the age of 94.