Peterborough Town Hall plaque pays tribute to legendary councillor Charles Swift

A plaque paying tribute to legendary Peterborough councillor Charles Swift has been unveiled in the city’s Town Hall.

Charles was a former leader of the city council, Mayor of Peterborough, and was the longest serving councillor in the country when he retired.

Sadly, he died last year.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by The Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Alan Dowson, Deputy Mayor Councillor Nick Sandford, Charles Swift’s family and a senior member of the Ugandan Asian community.

Charles was a key figure in welcoming the Ugandan Asian community to Peterborough over 50 years ago. This came about after negative circumstances surrounding the community’s forced mass emigration from Uganda.

To further celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the arrival of the Ugandan Asian community, the city council has received funding from the Community Lottery Fund to help facilitate a citywide celebration.

Councillor Dowson, Mayor of Peterborough, said: “I know that many people across the city will be pleased to see a plaque going up to honour Charles Swift, he was a highly respected member of the council and of the greater Peterborough community.

“He did a lot to help start the process of making the city what it is today, including his work championing the Ugandan Asian community, which has gone on to thrive amongst the many communities across the city that call Peterborough home.”

Esther Baffa-Isaacs, cohesion and social mobility manager for Peterborough City Council, went on to say: “We are proud to have facilitated this commemoration, in partnership with the community, in memory of the late Charles Swift to recognise the incredibly important work he led in the city. It is a lasting memory of the fact that he championed cohesion and stood against hate during those events.”

Rizwan Rahemtulla, President of Hussaini Islamic Centre, said: “It was a privilege to honour Charles Swift OBE by unveiling a plaque at the Mayor’s parlour as a tribute to him. Although faced with some opposition, Cllr Swift stood firm and instigated the settlement of Asians who fled Uganda in 1972 under such traumatic times and who came here with only £50 and a suitcase.

“He organised homes for 50 Ugandan Asian families and helped many of them to find jobs in rather quick time. He was also instrumental in organising help and confidence to those wanting to set up businesses in Peterborough once they were a little settled. He was wise, thoughtful, caring and hardworking and I certainly miss him.”

He went on to say: “Cllr Swift helped empower my community to build the first purpose-built Khoja Mosque in Europe.

"The least we could do is to honour him in such a way, as well as take the opportunity to personally thank his family (especially his amazing wife Brenda) for their sacrifices and support to us all. Thank you to our Mayor (Councillor Dowson) and Peterborough City Council for their support in organising the unveiling of the plaque.”