There was warmth, emotion and laughter as Dewsbury West councillor Mumtaz Hussain became the new Mayor of Kirklees.

Warmth in the tributes to him from fellow public servants, and from the new mayor to the people that have supported him on his journey.

Emotion as he recalled the relatives that could not be present to witness his “historic day” in the knowledge that they would have been overwhelmed with pride.

And laughter as he recalled the year of his birth – 1966 – and promised fellow members and council staff that England will one day win the World Cup.

The ceremony in Huddersfield Town Hall saw Clr Hussain take over from Clr Gwen Lowe. His wife Noreen will be Mayoress.

Clr Hussain will have two charities during his year as Mayor: The Samaritans and Diabetes UK. He himself suffers from diabetes.

Holme Valley South councillor Nigel Patrick was elected as Deputy Mayor, with his wife Judith becoming Deputy Mayoress.

In his speech moving the nomination for Clr Hussain to become Mayor his friend and fellow Dewsbury councillor Masood Ahmed paid tribute to the immigrant’s son who became First Citizen of the borough.

He said: “Our fathers came to the UK in the early ’50s as economic migrants, travelling overseas with a desire for economic prosperity, to find and engage in paid work to better their families’ standard of living.”

He told how their fathers would work double shifts to provide for their families, and of their pride in helping to re-build post-war Britain.

And he recalled overcoming the “potent and divisive force” of racism, witnessing the power of faith and the dignity of working people.

“On these streets and communities is where we learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged, and come together to demand it.

“We didn’t know it at the time but our future was slowly being shaped.

“Today we will be choosing a son of a migrant as the First Citizen of our great town.

“His parents would have been proud.”

Clr Hussain said he was born in 1966 and on being elected in 2006 received exactly 1,966 votes.

He joked: “I am convinced eventually we will win the World Cup again – as long as you keep voting for me.”

And in thanking those that had helped him along the way to “this historic day in my life” including wife of 31 years Noreen, who he described as “a fantastic person” and “the backbone of my career” he acknowledged his late parents and brother.

“I am sure that they will be looking down on me thinking that today I have done them proud.”

Deputy Mayor Clr Nigel Patrick said to be elected was “a very humbling experience” and joked, “It feels good to win a vote at council.”

He added: “I am looking forward to lifting my eye from politics and getting out and about.”

CAPTION: New Mayor of Kirklees Clr Mumtaz Hussain and Mayoress Mrs Noreen Hussain. FREE USE TO ALL NEWSWIRE PARTNERS

CAPTION: Deputy Mayor Clr Nigel Patrick pictured with new Mayor of Kirklees Clr Mumtaz Hussain. FREE USE TO ALL NEWSWIRE PARTNERS