COUNCILLOR Shibley Allam has been confirmed as the 50th Civic Mayor of Tameside.
She is the first woman born in Bangladesh to be a mayor of Tameside or any authority in the north of England.
Tameside Council says she will take office at the local authority’s annual meeting at Dukinfield Town Hall on Tuesday (May 20) for the forthcoming year.
Cllr Alam – who has been the Deputy Mayor for the past year – will succeed Cllr Betty Affleck in taking over the mayoral chains.
“I am proud and deeply honoured to be asked to serve as Civic Mayor of Tameside for the coming year,” she said.
“I would like to pay tribute to my friend and colleague, Cllr 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.
“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.”
Cllr Alam came to the UK when she was eight years old and later made Tameside her home.
She is married to Mr Mohammed Khairul Alam, who will be her consort.
Elected in 2019 as a representative of the Hyde Werneth ward, she is deputy chair of the health and adult social care scrutiny panel, as well as being a member of speakers panel (licensing) and the south strategic neighbourhood forum.
Cllr Alam is also a trustee of Hyde War Memorial and Hyde Millenium Park, Croft Street.
Away from public duties, she spends time with family and friends and helping people, as well as enjoying cooking.
Cllr Alam’s chosen charities are Willow Wood Hospice, the Dukinfield branch of the Women’s Trust Fund, and Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Association.
Her chaplain will be Mr Mohammed Abdul Hamid.
The new Deputy Mayor of Tameside will be Councillor Helen Bowden, who represents the Hyde Newton ward. She will be supported by her husband Leslie as Deputy Mayor’s consort.