A MAYOR'S duties are never done. With a few days left to go before a new person is offically sworn in, Councillor Asad Omar, is ready for his final tasks in a year that has kept him consistently busy.

He said: “One week I had eight engagements in a day starting at 9 in the morning and going on until 10 at night.

“It was certainly a very long day and exhausting but I survived and it was well worth it.

“The people you meet and the events you attend are at the centre of the community. Everyone is happy to see you and that makes the job worthwhile.”

Cllr Omar, sworn in last May, was previously deputy mayor in 2004/5 and had a thanksgiving ceremony at Harrow Central Mosque last month. This was the first time the annual ceremony was held in a mosque.

Cllr Omar said: “I am proud to represent the community and I think the community feels it is good Muslims have been recognized in this way.

“I have lived almost half my life, 34 years, in Harrow and I have no doubt in saying it is the best place to live. I remember when there was a demonstration against the Harrow Mosque a few years ago and how all communities came together to deal with the problem. It was good to see that and how well people worked together.

“My theme this year was the celebration of diversity and I opened up the Mayor’s parlour for the first time for staff members and the public to celebrate all the festivals.

“We had Eid in September, Diwali in November, followed by Hannukah and Christmas in December and finally Vaisakhi.”

One area that Cllr Omar will miss is his attendance at school assemblies. He added: “Children usually ask all sorts of questions. Going to school assemblies has been the time when I have most enjoyed myself.

“I will normally wear the mayoral chains over my suit but wearing the robes fascinates the children. I’m not sure why but it always does.”

Cllr Omar has raised £74,500 for charities he has promoted as mayor this year including Ovarian Cancer Action and the Pakistan Flood Appeal.

Cllr Omar’s wife, Kausar, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2005. Just more than four years later she passed away in September 2009.

He said: “My wife died eight months before I started my term and this year as mayor I have been to many places where I have had a opportunity to talk about ovarian cancer.

“I was actually giving a talk at an Asian women’s association and spoke to a lady who had just come back from India. After I finished my talk she came up to me and said she had the symptoms I had described. I told her to get herself to a doctor as soon as possible.

“It is important people know how to diagnose the cancer. I’ve been to at least 50 or 60 groups to talk about this and I hope that has helped people.”