Tributes paid to community stalwart

FARRUKH MIR pictured with her husband Khalil Mir

A FORMER social worker and leading member of the Pakistani community in Oldham has died.

Farrukh Mir died of a heart attack in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday. She was 77 years old.

Mrs Mir had settled in Oldham from the late 1950s and lived with her husband Khalil Mir on Queens Road, Oldham, until they retired to Pakistan around seven years ago.

She had served Pakistani community organisations for many years including women's groups on a voluntary basis. She worked as a social worker with Oldham Council and a local magistrate for many years.

Mrs Mir was one of the leading members of the Oldham Community Relations Council (later the Council for Racial Equality) during the 1970s and 1980s, contributing towards creating harmony and good relations between all the communities of Oldham.

Her personal history is documented in the book "Oldham and It's People", by Freda Millett.

Bharat Sisodia, from the Indian Association Oldham, said: "We are all profoundly shocked to hear this tragic news of the sudden death of Mrs Farrukh Mir.

"Mrs Mir was a wonderful person, always happy and ready to help all those in need.

" She was a very creative person thinking of ways how to bring about unity and harmony within all the communities of Oldham.

Example

"She constantly made great efforts in this field resulting in involving and inspiring other organisations to join in, in this highly commendable work.

"I feel Mrs Mir had set a fine example of an idea way to live peacefully in a multi cultured society such as ours in Oldham, respecting and praising all the good human values taught by all faiths and religions.

"Her sudden death is a huge loss to the society. Our prayers and thoughts are with her husband Mr Khalil Mir and her family."