The new Lord Mayor of Oxford has already made history despite only being sworn in yesterday (Wednesday, May 17).

Councillor Lubna Arshad became the youngest ever Lord Mayor and also the first woman of colour and first Muslim woman of intersectional background to hold the position.

The bells of Carfax Tower were rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers to commemorate her appointment at a traditional ceremony in Oxford Town Hall.

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Guests and fellow councillors watched as the retiring Lord Mayor Cllr James Fry officially stepped down and handed over his chains of office to Cllr Arshad.

Cllr James Fry was appointed Deputy Lord Mayor and Cllr Mark Lygo was appointed Sheriff.

Cllr Arshad said: “It is an honour of a lifetime to serve a city where I am born and raised, to be valued and respected and have an opportunity to serve the people of the city.

“As a public servant I am always ready to serve our nation and I pray for peace and justice to prevail across the globe.”

Cllr Arshad was elected as a city councillor in 2018, representing Cowley Marsh initially, and later, due to electoral boundary changes, serving Temple Cowley.

She is a former MEP candidate for the South-East region and has also represented on various committees including the scrutiny panel, planning and the housing panel.

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She has advocated for initiatives to close the gender pay gap and protect religious freedom.

Her chosen charities for 2023 to 2024 are Humanity First, Oxford Community Action and Asylum Welcome.

Cllr Arshad said: “Humanity First supports works with disaster struck and socially disadvantaged individuals and families in the poorer communities of the world and nationally with food banks. My brother, sister and I have all helped raise funds for disaster relief.

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“I also volunteer for Oxford Community Action and have seen at first-hand the massive difference this charity has made to families who are still struggling with energy bills and enduring food poverty.

“Asylum Welcome do a wonderful job in helping those who have been persecuted and experienced trauma in their home countries including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan.”

The Lord Mayor generally carries out more than 300 engagements each year.

These cover a wide range, from royal visits and leading the city's annual remembrance Sunday service, to small community group meetings and charity events.

The first recorded Mayor of Oxford is Laurence Kepeharme, 1205-1209, and Mayors’ names stretch in an unbroken line until 1962 when the dignity of Lord Mayor was granted to Oxford by Queen Elizabeth II.