A BELOVED ex-mayor and councillor has been honoured at a Town Hall reception hosted by Rugby’s first citizen.
Freeman of the Borough Dr James Shera was welcomed to the Mayor’s Parlour by Mayor Carolyn Watson-Merret, alongside representatives from the Forman Christian College (FCCU) in Pakistan, and prominent Pakistani community leaders in the UK.
The reception was a belated celebration of the FCCU awarding Dr Shera with an honorary Ph.D in arts and letters in recognition of his services to community relations and interfaith relations.
Dr Shera received the Ph.D in 2020, but the pandemic meant he was presented with the honour during a ‘virtual’ ceremony.
FCCU’s rector and president Jonathan Addleton and registrar Dr Nayer Fardows took the opportunity to travel to Rugby to congratulate Dr Shera on his honorary Ph.D in person during a trip to the UK.
The delegation from the FCCU were joined at the Town Hall by Dr Peter David and Coun Morris Johns, prominent Pakistani Christian leaders in the UK.
Coun Watson-Merret said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dr James Shera back to the Town Hall and invite the delegation for tea in the Mayor’s Parlour.
“While Dr Shera’s reputation in Rugby was forged during 40 years serving on the borough council, his dedication to promoting community and interfaith relations has had a real impact across the world, none more so than in the country of his birth, Pakistan.
“Dr Shera has received a host of honours over the years in recognition of his service, including being made an MBE, being awarded the prestigious Star of Pakistan and receiving the Freedom of the Borough, the highest honour the borough council can bestow.
“I’m delighted he now has an honorary Ph.D from the Forman Christian College and an honorary doctorate from Coventry University, awarded earlier this year, to add to his list of accolades.”
