LABOUR’S Shiraz Khan says he will strive to “make life a bit better for people”
after being installed as the new Mayor of Derby.
The Arboretum councillor replaces Fareed Hussain and will serve as the city’s first citizen for 12 months.
Kashmir-born Mr Khan, 54, was voted in by councillors at a ceremony at the iPro Stadium.
Mackworth councillor Paul Pegg was elected as his deputy.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Mr Khan said he was delighted to be Derby’s new mayor.
The father-of-five said: “It is a very proud moment for me and for my family.
“I hope to highlight some of the issues concerning people’s lives, whether it be homelessness or people needing voluntary services.
“I will do my very best to try to make life a bit better for people in the city.”
Mr Khan was nominated by Labour cabinet member Martin Repton.
Addressing council members at the ceremony, Mr Repton said Mr Khan was a “principled, articulate and hard-working” man, who also has an “excellent sense of humour”.
Mr Repton said: “I’ve known and worked with Shiraz since 2004 when he first became councillor for Arboretum.
“He is all about public services. His energy, enthusiasm, honesty and hard-working nature will make him an excellent ambassador for the city.”
The ceremony was told Mr Khan’s first love was his family and his second love was “the two reds” – Liverpool Football Club and the Labour party.
And Mr Khan, who also follows the fortunes of Derby County, told the ceremony: “It’s almost been a perfect year. Derby nearly got promoted and Liverpool almost won the Premier League.
“But it is not turn out all doom and gloom. Derby still finished above (Nottingham) Forest and Leeds, and Liverpool finished above Manchester United.”
Mr Khan was born in the disputed territory of Kashmir and came to England, along with his mother to join his father, who had been living and working in England since 1959.
He was six years old when the family arrived in Derby and they have lived in the city ever since.
The new mayor went to St James Infant School, Shelton Lock Junior School and later Shelton Lock Senior High School.
He left school and went to Wilmorton College where he studied for his ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.
He left college in 1979 and worked for six months at Rolls Royce. In 1980 he left the engine-maker and opened a grocery shop in Normanton Road. He worked there from 1980 to 1983, after which he was a proprietor of a taxi firm up to 1989.
Since 1989 to present he has been running a sub-post office and newsagents just outside Derby, at Sawmills.
He is married to Taj Begum and they have five grown up children as well as two grandchildren.
Mr Khan stood as a Labour Party candidate in 2004 and was elected at the first time of standing. He narrowly lost his seat in 2008 but was elected again in 2010.
As well as football, his interests include cricket, playing snooker and listening to country music.
In accepting the mayoral role, Mr Khan praised his predecessor and fellow Kashmir-born councillor, Mr Hussain, for his performance as role over the past year.
Mr Khan, who served as deputy mayor under Mr Hussain, said: “I would like to thank Fareed for the excellent job he has done. I’ve enjoyed working with him.”
The new mayor then joked: “He kept some of the best jobs for himself but I forgive him for that.”
Mr Hussain also addressed the ceremony. He said his time as mayor had been “tremendously enjoyable” and called for Derby’s “diverse” community to continue working together to ensure the city prospers.
The Arboretum councillor replaces Fareed Hussain and will serve as the city’s first citizen for 12 months.
Kashmir-born Mr Khan, 54, was voted in by councillors at a ceremony at the iPro Stadium.
Mackworth councillor Paul Pegg was elected as his deputy.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Mr Khan said he was delighted to be Derby’s new mayor.
The father-of-five said: “It is a very proud moment for me and for my family.
“I hope to highlight some of the issues concerning people’s lives, whether it be homelessness or people needing voluntary services.
“I will do my very best to try to make life a bit better for people in the city.”
Mr Khan was nominated by Labour cabinet member Martin Repton.
Addressing council members at the ceremony, Mr Repton said Mr Khan was a “principled, articulate and hard-working” man, who also has an “excellent sense of humour”.
Mr Repton said: “I’ve known and worked with Shiraz since 2004 when he first became councillor for Arboretum.
“He is all about public services. His energy, enthusiasm, honesty and hard-working nature will make him an excellent ambassador for the city.”
The ceremony was told Mr Khan’s first love was his family and his second love was “the two reds” – Liverpool Football Club and the Labour party.
And Mr Khan, who also follows the fortunes of Derby County, told the ceremony: “It’s almost been a perfect year. Derby nearly got promoted and Liverpool almost won the Premier League.
“But it is not turn out all doom and gloom. Derby still finished above (Nottingham) Forest and Leeds, and Liverpool finished above Manchester United.”
Mr Khan was born in the disputed territory of Kashmir and came to England, along with his mother to join his father, who had been living and working in England since 1959.
He was six years old when the family arrived in Derby and they have lived in the city ever since.
The new mayor went to St James Infant School, Shelton Lock Junior School and later Shelton Lock Senior High School.
He left school and went to Wilmorton College where he studied for his ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.
He left college in 1979 and worked for six months at Rolls Royce. In 1980 he left the engine-maker and opened a grocery shop in Normanton Road. He worked there from 1980 to 1983, after which he was a proprietor of a taxi firm up to 1989.
Since 1989 to present he has been running a sub-post office and newsagents just outside Derby, at Sawmills.
He is married to Taj Begum and they have five grown up children as well as two grandchildren.
Mr Khan stood as a Labour Party candidate in 2004 and was elected at the first time of standing. He narrowly lost his seat in 2008 but was elected again in 2010.
As well as football, his interests include cricket, playing snooker and listening to country music.
In accepting the mayoral role, Mr Khan praised his predecessor and fellow Kashmir-born councillor, Mr Hussain, for his performance as role over the past year.
Mr Khan, who served as deputy mayor under Mr Hussain, said: “I would like to thank Fareed for the excellent job he has done. I’ve enjoyed working with him.”
The new mayor then joked: “He kept some of the best jobs for himself but I forgive him for that.”
Mr Hussain also addressed the ceremony. He said his time as mayor had been “tremendously enjoyable” and called for Derby’s “diverse” community to continue working together to ensure the city prospers.
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