CHARTER Trustees appointed Cllr Chauhdry Shafique as Mayor elect last night.

The Labour councillor will take over the High Wycombe mayoralty from the incumbent Mayor Cllr Chaudhary Ditta in May.

Cllr Shafique, who is chairman of the Council for Christian Muslim Relations and was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his services to community cohesion, will be ‘weighed in’ during the historic Mayor Making ceremony.

Nominating Cllr Shafique, leader of the Wycombe Labour Party Cllr Victoria Groulef said: “He has lived here since 1963 and his children were born here.

“He has worked for voluntary organisations and served both district and county councils. He is a man of Wycombe and truly cares for the district.

“He has had a profound effect on me. He will make an excellent mayor.”

Cllr Sebert Graham – who was re-elected in May’s elections and is a former mayor of the town – will be the deputy for the forthcoming mayoral year.

Mayor Ditta said: “My congratulations to you. I hope you both have a lovely year as mayor and deputy mayor.”