Councillor Saeed Chaudhary has been officially appointed Mayor of Burnley for 2026/27.
The appointment was made at the Annual Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 at Burnley Town Hall.
The ceremony was attended by councillors, civic guests, family, friends and invited guests, who gathered to mark the start of Councillor Chaudhary’s mayoral year.
Councillor Chaudhary takes on the role after a lifetime of service to Burnley, including working in the town’s textile mills, serving local people as a bus driver, representing workers as a trade union representative, working in schools, serving on the Employment Tribunal, and representing residents as a Burnley councillor.
He was first elected to Burnley Council in 1991, representing the Coal Clough with Deerplay ward, and later served the Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward.
As Mayor, Councillor Chaudhary will be supported by Mayoresses Naseem Akhtar, Sobia Saeed, Amira Akram and Iqra Mahmood.
Councillor Alan Hosker was also appointed Deputy Mayor of Burnley.
Councillor Chaudhary has lived in Burnley for more than 50 years and has described the borough as the place that gave him not only a home, but a purpose.
His working life began in Burnley’s textile mills before he went on to become a bus driver, serving local people across the borough for 12 years. He later became a shop steward with the Transport and General Workers’ Union.
During his time as a councillor, Councillor Chaudhary worked closely with residents, listening to their concerns and raising issues on their behalf.
Beneficiaries for the Mayor’s charities will be confirmed in due course.
Councillor Chaudhary said:
“Burnley did not just give me a place to live. It gave me a purpose.
“The same energy I gave to the factory floor, I will give to this office. The same commitment and dedication shown in the classroom, I will show to every community across this borough. The same fairness I upheld in the tribunal, I will uphold in everything that bears Burnley’s name.
“It is truly an honour to serve, and I look forward to giving back to the community that has given me so much.”
The Mayor of Burnley is the borough’s first citizen and acts as an ambassador for Burnley, attending civic occasions, community events, charity functions and official engagements throughout the mayoral year.
Post expires at 3:10pm on Saturday August 22nd, 2026