Bury has appointed a new mayor at a swearing in ceremony on Wednesday.

North Manor councillor Khalid Hussain is the new Mayor of Bury for the new municipal year (2024/25).

He took over the chains of office from Moorside councillor Sandra Walmsley at the annual meeting of Bury Council yesterday, Wednesday. 

Cllr Hussain, a JP, has lived in the borough of Bury for more than 45 years.

He was educated at St Chad’s CE Primary School, the Derby High School, Peel College, and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) where he gained his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degrees.

He is also a graduate of the Royal Chartered Institute of Marketing (RCIM).

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He was first elected in 2004, becoming the first Muslim Conservative councillor for Redvales ward, and in 2005 he was the first Muslim from Bury to stand for Parliament here. In 2011 he was elected for the new North Manor ward, which he has served ever since.

In his professional career, he was appointed as a magistrate in 2003 and was elevated to the role of Presiding Justice in 2007.

He was appointed in 2005 to serve on the Home Office Task Force following the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London.

He has held a number of roles on the council, including as shadow cabinet member for health and children’s services, for housing, and as the Conservative group whip.

Externally, he was director of Bury Racial Equality Council (REC), CEO of Kirklees REC, a senior manager in HM Prison Service, and director of the British Muslim Heritage Centre (BMHC).

The mayor, who is married and has three grown-up children, has served as governor of Hollymount RC Primary School, and he volunteers with a food bank in Brighouse and community groups.

His Mayoral Charities this year will be Bury Hospice, the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, and the Society for Autistic Children.

The mayor has invited Mrs Carol Bernstein, the wife of fellow councillor and Conservative group leader Russell Bernstein, to be the mayoress. Imam Shoyab Umar of the Islamic School in Ramsbottom will serve as the Mayor’s Chaplain.

Cllr Hussain said: “I am delighted to have been elected by my peers as the new Mayor of Bury. If I can be as half as good as the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Sandra Walmsley, then I think I would have done well.

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"I look forward to working with local community groups, charities, organisations and businesses to showcase the very best of our beautiful borough.

“I intend to implement an ‘open door’ policy where the Mayor's Parlour will welcome as many people as possible throughout the Mayoral year and I look forward to raising much-needed funds for local charities."

At the meeting, members also voted to install Cllr Noel Bayley, who represents Besses ward in Whitefield, as deputy mayor for the coming year.

Medallions were also presented to the outgoing mayor in recognition of the service she has given.