New mayor takes office

Oldham Mayor Councillor Fida Hussain and his wife Tanvir.

A FATHER-OF-FIVE who arrived in the borough from Pakistan in 1969 began his year as Mayor of Oldham today.

Councillor Fida Hussain, who takes over from retiring Mayor Councillor John Hudson, was born in Attock on the northern border of the Punjab province and arrived in Oldham with his family, who worked in the local textile industry.

The former pupil of Freehold Junior School and Hathershaw School was elected for Werneth ward in 2002 and has since served on several council committees. He has chaired the West Oldham District Partnership and licensing committee and currently serves on the Freehold Primary School governing body.

Mahdlo Youth Zone, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, the Co-operative Oldham Fund and Christies at Oldham are his chosen charities for the year, but the mayor also plans to donate to other charities along the way.

Councillor Hussain and Tanvir Hussain, his wife of 25 years and now mayoress, live in Werneth. They have five daughters — Sairah, Aisha, Bushrah, Sumiya and Saffa.

The new deputy mayor is Ateeque Ur-Rehman, whose wife Yasmin Toor is deputy mayoress.