Redvales councillor Shaheena Haroon is the new Mayor of Bury

Redvales councillor Shaheena Haroon is the new Mayor of Bury for the municipal year 2022/23.

Cllr Haroon took over the chains of office from Holyrood councillor Tim Pickkstone at the annual meeting of Bury Council on Wednesday (25 May).

Cllr Haroon was elected to Bury Council in 2012, becoming the first female Muslim councillor in Bury’s history.

She was born in Kalri (Bhimbar, Azad Kashmir) Pakistan in a family that served the British Army, the Indian Army and the Army of Pakistan since the Second World War.

She began her political career in 1983 in Pakistan, helping women in communities where economic opportunities were severely limited. She also supported the homeless and unemployed, and became an advocate for women who were wrongly imprisoned.

In 1999 Shaheena moved to the UK with her family and, in 2010, was awarded the title of Bury Woman of the Year due to her work and dedication in supporting homeless families, acting as an interpreter, and supporting victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.

She is a founding member of Bury Asian Women’s Centre (now Bury Active Women’s Centre), becoming its vice-chairman, and she is currently employed at the centre facilitating support and help to those in need.

Her husband Raja Haroon Khan will serve as the Mayor's Consort and her daughter, Cllr Ayesha Arif, will be her Mayoress.

Cllr Haroon said: “I am extremely honoured to become the Mayor of Bury and am looking forward to my new role over the year ahead. I love meeting people from all walks of life, and this is a great opportunity to meet people from all Bury's diverse communities.

“I’m also looking forward to encouraging and supporting local charities and promoting local businesses, attending local community events, youth groups and activities, as well as championing the borough and representing the council at official functions.”

The mayor’s charities will be Bury Veterans Hub, Jigsaw, Bury Hospice, Jinnah Day Care Centre and Bury Defence Academy.

The Mayor's Chaplain will be Imam Hassanat Ahmed from Noor Ul Islam Mosque.

At the meeting, councillors voted to install Moorside councillor Sandra Walmsley as deputy mayor for the coming year.

Medallions were also presented to the outgoing mayor, Tim Pickstone, and his consort Wayne Burrows, in recognition of the service they had given.

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 June 2022.

Picture: The new Mayor of Bury, Cllr Shaheena Haroon, with her husband Mr Raja Haroon Khan who will serve as the Mayor's Consort and her daughter, Cllr Ayesha Arif, who will be her Mayoress.