At the recent 2023 Mayor Making ceremony two residents were honoured to receive recognition for their long-term services to the local area, bestowed upon them by the newly appointed Mayor of Hyndburn, Cllr Terry Hurn.
Freedom of the Borough was presented to Cath Holmes, Chair of Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum and a member of Hyndburn’s Cultural and Heritage Investment Board, and Jawid Hussain, local business leader, entrepreneur and founder member of the iconic Raza Jamia Masjid in Accrington.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Marlene Haworth, and Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Munsif Dad BEM JP, both gave speeches to the guests in the council chamber, highlighting the contributions and work of Cath Holmes and Jawid Hussain, who are both known across the borough for their commitment to the local area and continued voluntary/charity work.
Councillor Haworth, Leader of Hyndburn Council, said:
“You will struggle to find a person in Hyndburn who isn’t aware of the fantastic work Cath Holmes has achieved over the years for our borough. The award of Honorary freeman, the highest honour a local authority can bestow, is very well deserved.
“Not only has Cath dedicated her time to preserving parks and green spaces throughout all of the townships, she has been a champion for our local heritage and history, keeping the memory of the Accrington Pals alive for the next generation.
“Her work is never done, from volunteering and rallying the community together, to supporting funding bids and advocating for residents at all times. Cath’s collaboration with Hyndburn Council and various local groups has resulted in an amount of funding I just don’t have time to add up!
“Most recently she was instrumental in securing hundreds of thousands for local playgrounds and funding to improve the Accrington Pals Memorial. Congratulations Cath, this honour is very well deserved.”
Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP, Leader of Hyndburn Labour Group, said:
“Mr Jawid Hussain, Accrington resident and entrepreneur, is a key figure within local business and the wider Hyndburn community. Jawid has a long-standing history of business success in the region and is committed to securing further long-term private sector investment to create jobs and wealth within the Borough.
“Alongside his support for the local economy Jawid is an active member of the local community and involved in various charitable work. He was a founding member of the Raza Jamia Masjid, a facility has achieved so much in serving the needs of the whole community both before, during and after the pandemic. It is a centre for worship, education, community events, training, businesses meetings and more. His charity work involves being a trustee of the JMWM Hussain Foundation, who are dedicated to supporting small charities, the voluntary sector and the wider community.
“Jawid’s contribution to business, the local community and his charitable works demonstrate his eminent service to the Borough of Hyndburn. I hope that this honour is a suitable reward for his efforts and contributions. I would like to say thank you to him, on behalf of our local community.”
