A KASHMIRI immigrant whose father founded Oldham’s first Asian grocery store has been sworn in as the borough’s mayor.

Werneth councillor and father-of-three Javid Iqbal was presented with the chains of office at the official mayor making ceremony at the Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 23.

He becomes the 45th ‘First Citizen’ of the borough, taking over from the departing mayor and mayoress, Coun Shadab Qumer and his wife Sobia Arshi.

In his acceptance speech, Cllr Iqbal said: “I’m big, and I’m bald and together let’s inspire to aspire Oldham to go forward.”

His wife Tasleem Akhtar and daughter Smeaha Iqbal will jointly share the mayoress duties over the next year.

His fellow ward councillor Shoab Akhtar, who proposed Coun Iqbal to the mayoral role, told the meeting that he came from a family of entrepreneurs and has an ‘abundance of energy’.

“I’ve never met anyone who works as hard as him,” Coun Akhtar said.

“For him there’s not enough hours in the day. Javid has integrity and sincerity and I believe he will make an excellent Mayor.”

Born in Mirpur, in Azad Kashmir, the new mayor arrived in England as a three-year-old in 1967 with his mother.

They joined his father, who had relocated to the UK in 1965, moving to Oldham in the same year and setting up the borough’s first Asian grocery shop on Manchester Street a year later.

As a child he helped his father and uncles carry out home deliveries.

The shop had to move three times as each premises were demolished as part of a compulsory purchase order by Oldham council.

“At this stage they were wondering has Oldham council got something against us,” Coun Akhtar joked.

The store finally ended up on Werneth Hall Road, where it remains open today.

Cllr Iqbal also worked part-time in security, at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and the Manchester Arena where he met artists such as Madonna, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

He retired from his security work as it didn’t go ‘hand in hand’ with his political work, Coun Akhtar said.

“He might have barred someone from an event the night before, and the next day he might be canvassing and asking the same individual for their support. You can imagine what the answer would be”, he added.

At the age of 30 and already with a family, Coun Iqbal qualified with an IT degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Currently he is employed by Computacenter and based at the British Council, who have allowed him to take a year sabbatical to focus on being mayor 24/7.

Cllr Iqbal said: “My story is of a person whose family were one of the early settlers choosing to make Oldham their home.

“The message is, never ever give up hope. If we lose hope we lose everything we have.”

A keen photographer who once had his own dark room, Mayor Iqbal described himself as a ‘wannabe David Bailey’ and his other hobbies include cycling and rambling.

“My theme is going to be health and wellbeing, health and wellbeing is the key aspect for a better life”, he told councillors.

Saddleworth West and Lees Cllr Adrian Alexander was also inaugurated as the borough’s new Deputy Mayor.

The mayor’s charities this year are Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Action Oldham Fund, Maggie’s Oldham, MIND and St Thomas’ Church in Werneth.