Cllr Helen Chuah: First Chinese Liberal Democrat Mayor

News has just reached OBV, that  Malaysian-born Cllr Helen Chuah was inaugurated recently as the first ever Mayor of Colchester to have been born outside of the UK as well as the first Chinese Liberal Democrat Mayor in the UK.

At a packed ceremony attended by local press as well as Malaysian and Chinese TV stations, tributes were paid by her fellow councillors of Colchester Borough Council for Helen's dedication and hard work over the last 13 years.

Bob Russell the local MP was also present at the ceremony and expressed his delight at this historic event, where Colchester has truly embraced multi-cultural Britain.

Dressed in traditional sarong kebaya under her Mayoral robes, Mayor Chuah made part of her acceptance and thank you speech in Bahasa Malayu (after first warning the audience that she would be doing so for the purpose of the Malaysian TV viewers and that she would not be swearing at them).

Merlene Emerson, Chair of Chinese Lib Dems and London Assembly candidate 2012 said of the inauguration: 'I was privileged to have been at Colchester townhall to witness this historic event. I am very proud of and thankful to Helen for being such an inspiration to the rest of us!'

The new Mayor was raised in Penang before coming to UK to train as a mental health nurse, Helen commented "Penang is known as the Pearl of the Orient, but Colchester is the Oyster".

Mrs Chuah is married to Cllr Mike Hogg who was himself Mayor 10 years ago. She worked full time as a qualified nurse after completing her training also raising a family. She served as a Councillor for St Anne’s Ward since 1998, and joined Colchester Centurion Rotary Club about 9 years ago to encourage international understanding, goodwill and peace throughout the world. 

The Mayor's theme for her Mayoral Year is "Working with the Community for the Benefit of Colchester".