Bradford City AFC is saddened to learn of the passing of Jockel Reisner, designer of the Valley Parade Fire Memorial sculpture in Centenary Square, Bradford, aged 85.
A German humanist and pacifist, Reisner passed last week, following a short illness.
Along with his wife Joyce, Jockel was seen as the face and driving force of the town twinning between Hamm and Bradford in 1976. They met as Jockel visited Bradford as a foreign exchange student in the 1950s, and married in 1964.
He was inseparably linked to the Valley Parade Fire Disaster as Joyce and then-Mayor Sabine Zech did not attend on 11th May 1985 by chance.
To commemorate the tragedy, Jockel designed and crafted the bronze sculpture which stands in City Park, with a duplicate at Hamm Town Hall.
Jockel retired in 1992, with an exhibition of his work then held in Lister Park's Cartwright Hall. He also donated some of his pieces to the University of Bradford.
The thoughts of all at Bradford City AFC are with Jockel's family, Joyce, his loved ones and all those who knew him - at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.