Cllr Anjana Patel has been officially appointed as the new Mayor of Harrow following a special Mayor-making ceremony held at the annual council meeting on Thursday, 15 May.
She takes over from the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Salim Chowdhury, who was thanked by the council for his service as he handed over the Mayoral chains to Cllr Patel.
Now serving as the 73rd Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Patel also makes history as the UK’s first British Tanzanian/Indian born Mayor. Her chosen theme for the year is “kindness, caring and respect”, with a focus on unity and bringing joy to the borough.
Her nominated charities are VIA, which supports people affected by drugs and alcohol, and Samaritans, who provide emotional support during difficult times.
Cllr Patel, who moved to Harrow in 2000, first became a councillor in 2002 representing West Harrow for eight years. She has been representing Belmont ward for the last seven years. Over her time on the council, she has held cabinet roles for Community and Culture, Schools and Children’s Development, and most recently, Environment and Community Safety.
Highlights from her work include leading Harrow’s first day of action, taking a firm approach to fly-tipping and littering, and working closely with schools on educating young people about street cleanliness. She has received recognition for her contributions to the community over the years.
Outside of her political duties, Cllr Patel enjoys theatre and concerts. She is a mother to two sons and grandmother to four grandchildren, with whom she spends much of her time.
Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Anjana Patel, said: “It’s an honour and privilege to be appointed Mayor of Harrow.
“As deputy Mayor, I met many residents and organisations who do amazing thing in Harrow – and I am proud to serve a diverse and vibrant borough. My theme is about kindness, caring and respect.
“This year is a special year as we mark our diamond jubilee – and I look forward to celebrating 60 years of our history, culture and heritage.
“I would like to thank the outgoing mayor, and I will build on his legacy to bringing people together. I encourage everyone to support my charities, Via and Samaritans who carry out vital work to help those most in need. I look forward to meeting many of our residents and community groups over the next year.”
Rupesh Patel was appointed Consort to the Mayor during the ceremony, and Cllr Yogesh Teli was named Deputy Mayor.
Harrow Online has spoken with the new Mayor and will be sharing a follow-up piece with more from Cllr Patel soon.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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