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THE new Lord Mayor of Leicester - Cllr Manjula Sood - has begun her historic term of office. Cllr Sood is the first Asian woman in the country to take on the role of Lord Mayor. "It's a great honour for me to represent the city", she said. "This will be an historic time for Leicester in many ways, and I am really looking forward to doing all I can to promote what's going on here across the world. "I am also very pleased to announce that through my appeal I will be supporting the 2009 Special Olympic Games which Leicester will be hosting next July. "The Special Olympics raise awareness of the capabilities of people with learning disabilities, and give all those who take part the opportunity to achieve amazing things. "They encourage and inspire everyone who is involved in them, and it is my aim to get every citizen involved in the Leicester games in some way". Taking the role of Lady Mayoress is Sheenal Sejpal, who will be marrying Cllr Sood's youngest son - Mitesh - later this month. Mitesh, and her older son Manish will be her consorts. Cllr Sood first became a Leicester city councillor in October 1996, for Latimer ward. She was inspired to take up the role following the death of her husband Paul Sood, who had been the councillor for that ward until his death in May 1996. In May last year she became the first Asian woman to join the city council's Cabinet, with the new portfolio of health and well-being. She is a member of the Leicester Council of Faiths, and a governor at Leicester College. And she has recently joined a national task force for black, Asian and ethnic minority women set up by government minister Harriet Harman. Cllr Sood moved to Leicester from the Punjab to join her husband in 1970. She was a primary school teacher in the city for almost 20 years. More details about the Lord Mayor's Special Olympics' Appeal 2008-2009 are available by ringing the Lord Mayor's office on (0116) 223 2000. This year marks the 800th anniversary of the creation of the Lord Mayor's office. |
