She will be the 50th mayor of Tameside after an official ceremony in Dukinfield Town Hall
New civic mayor of Tameside, Coun Shibley Alam, in her mayoral robes(Image: Tameside Council)
The first-ever female Bangladeshi mayor has taken on the civic chains in Tameside.
Coun Shibley Alam was officially sworn in as the 50th civic mayor of Tameside Council at a ceremony in Dukinfield Town Hall on May 20.
Not only is she the first woman born in Bangladesh to be a mayor of Tameside, but of any authority in the north of England.
After taking over from outgoing mayor, Coun Betty Affleck, she said: “I am proud and deeply honoured to be asked to serve as civic mayor of Tameside for the coming year.
“I would like to pay tribute to my friend and colleague, Coun Betty Affleck, for the fantastic job she has done and I will do my very best to live up to the high standards she has set.
New civic mayor of Tameside, Coun Shibley Alam, with her husband and consort Mr Mohammed Khairul Alam(Image: Tameside Council)
“Although I know the coming year will be very busy, I’m really looking forward to it and expect it to be very rewarding. I want to meet as many people as possible across our wonderful borough – from schools and volunteers to community groups.”
Currently serving as the borough’s deputy mayor, Coun Alam came to the UK when she was eight and later moved to Tameside, making it her home. She is married to Mr Mohammed Khairul Alam who will be her consort.
The new mayor has represented Hyde Werneth ward since she was elected in 2019. At the latest town hall meeting in Dukinfield, council leader Eleanor Wills threw her support behind Coun Alam, saying she would be an ‘exemplary’ mayor for the borough.
The new deputy mayor, destined to become the next mayor, is Coun Helen Bowden. The Hyde Newton ward representative will be supported by her husband Leslie as deputy mayor’s consort.