Bernard Atha
Bernard Peter Atha is a former Lord Mayor of Leeds and a major figure in the arts and sport in West Yorkshire and elsewhere; he has also appeared in a number of films.
Atha was born in Leeds and educated at Leeds Modern School, now Lawnswood School, and the University of Leeds.
In Ken Loach's film Kes Atha played the part of the careers officer who "throws Billy on the scrap heap".
He was Lord Mayor of Leeds 2000–2001. 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.
He was appointed CBE in the 2007 Birthday Honours "for services to the Arts and to the community in Leeds", having earlier been appointed OBE in the 1991 New Year Honours "for services to Sport, particularly Sport for the Disabled".
