LONDON: Yakub Patel, a Gujarat-born Councillor and active member of the local community, has taken over as the new Mayor of Preston, a city in Lancashire county of northern England which has a tradition of having a city Mayor dating back to the 14th century.
Patel, who was born in Bharuch district of Gujarat, moved to the UK after his graduation from the University of Baroda in 1976.
He was first elected as a Labour Party Councillor for Avenham Ward of the city in 1995, becoming the first Muslim councillor in the history of Preston City Council.
Yakub has always been involved with local voluntary and community organisations, the Preston City Council said.
The community leader is said to have been involved in politics since the age of 10 when he started canvassing and delivering leaflets for his father, who was a strong supporter and member of the Congress Party in India.
