Renowned educationist and former Mayor of Rugby, Dr Cllr James Shera, Sitara-e- Pakistan and MBE, has made a record by getting elected as a councilor consecutively for the 11th term, from Benn Ward of Rugby Council, a ward from where he has been continuously contesting elections and elected since 1981.
He was elected Mayor of Rugby in 1988, first Pakistani to become a Mayor. Dr Shera has a wide range of honors on his credit to make Pakistanis in Britain proud of their heritage. In April 2017 he received “Freeman of the Borough of Rugby” Award. The Award was proposed by the Leader of the Council Cllr Mike Stoke and seconded by Mrs Clare Edwards and Jerry Roodhouse. It was for the time that all three major parties, the Conservative, the Labour and the Liberal Democrats unanimously seconded the Award.
Expressing his gratitude to the community for reposing trust in his services, Dr Shera reiterated his commitment to continue to serve the council with greater zeal. Dr Shera said that he was proud of being Pakistani and British and cherishes serving community irrespective of ethnicity and religion. He called upon Pakistani diaspora particularly younger generation to play an active role in the service of communities and in the realm of politics. He said the respect and confidence he earned from the community was merely due to his dedication for serving people to the best of his abilities.
In various roles, Dr Shera has been rendering outstanding services in the fields of health, education and taxation. He had served as governor on the boards of two British Universities, the Coventry University and Newman University Birmingham, and had been governor of Warwickshire college, which is consortium of five colleges, for seven years.
In recognition of his services particularly his campaigns as chair of council of fellows of Warwickshire College, a road has been named in Rugby as ‘James Shera Way’ making him the only Pakistani to enjoy this honour. He was conferred with honorary doctorate of Business and administration. Dr Shera Was the leader of Labour Group for 8 years.
