East Ham town hall can be a place where dreams come true, writes Aidan White

A couple stand before two union jack flags — Azhar with his wife Mary

A trip to East Ham town hall can be a life-changing experience for many people in Newham particularly those celebrating their marriage, but it’s also the place where other dreams come true.

For Pakistan-born Azhar Mahmood on 25th January it was where he finally achieved his goal of British citizenship.

“I am so happy, this is what I have always wanted,” he said after the formal ceremony that confirmed his new status which was reinforced a few days later with the arrival of his first British passport.

Regular ceremonies granting citizenship take place at the town hall and on the morning of Azhar’s induction he was joined by other new citizens with backgrounds in India, Cyprus and Somalia.

The transition to British citizenship for people from outside Europe can be a long and expensive process. Azhar himself faced bureaucratic hurdles and had to fight and win a court battle after a visa application was turned down some years ago.

But he never gave up. For Azhar and his wife Mary, who live around the corner from the town hall, it was a day to be proud.

The formalities (a signing ceremony, taking the oath of citizenship and standing for the national anthem) take place in a room overseen by a huge photo of the late Queen and giant Union Jack flags, but the stuffy atmosphere is lightened by a sense of relief after years of waiting.

“It was all worth it,” he says, proudly showing his certificate of naturalisation. After a celebration cup of tea and cake it was back to work – at the garage in Stratford where he and his brother Waqar operate their tyre repair service.

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