THE LONGEST-serving councillor in Rugby has broken local and national records by getting elected for a tenth consecutive term.
Dr James Shera became the first Rugby Borough councillor to reach ten terms – and the longest-serving Pakistani councillor in the UK – when he was re-elected as a representative of Benn Ward last week.
He has held his seat since he first won it in 1981.
He said he was grateful to the community for re-electing him, and reiterated his commitment to serve the council with greater zeal.
He added: “I am proud of being Pakistani and British, and cherish serving the community irrespective of ethnicity and religion.”
He said the respect and confidence he earned from the community was merely due to his dedication for serving people to the best of his abilities.
“I am so proud to be part of the Benn Ward and Rugby,” he said. “People are very grateful in this town. When you want to do something and you’re genuine and sincere, they will support you.
“Credit goes to the people of Rugby. I am very proud to be part of this town and this borough.”
He called upon the Pakistani community, particularly the younger generation, to play an active role in the community and in politics.
Coun Shera became the first Pakistani to serve as Mayor of Rugby in 1988, and only the second of his countrymen to become a Mayor in the UK.
In 1992, he was awarded the Star of Pakistan by the country’s President for services to community and interfaith relations, and remains the only recipient of the honour to live outside Pakistan.
He was awarded an MBE in 2007.
In April 2017 he was made an Honorary Freeman of Rugby Borough, the highest honour available to the borough council, for his outstanding contribution to interfaith and race relations – the first time all three major political parties unanimously seconded the award.
James Shera Way was named after him for his campaigns as chair of council of fellows of Warwickshire College.
