VISIT TO NEWBURY MOSQUE

I was invited to attend the Mosque in Pound Street on Friday 14 December at 2 p.m. for a cheque presentation on behalf of the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal. And so I walked down from the Town Hall to Pound Street with my attendant for the morning, Rod Thomason and arrived down at the Mosque in Pound Street. There is nothing to identify it as such as it is the last terraced house on the south side of the road. I was met by Nadeem Soomro, whom I had met previously at the Fringe Festival and had shown me around the food tent. He invited me to take off my shoes before entering which I did and was introduced to Lucky Niazami, the vice-president of the Bangladesh Welfare Centre. He said that all the Indian restaurants and takeaways in Newbury and Thatcham had organised charity events in the last couple of weeks and the proceeds would be sent through the Welfare Centre directly to Bangladesh to help the victims of the flooding caused by the recent cyclone. I then presented the cheque for £5,500 which the restaurants had raised and commended them for their generosity and the money would be gratefully received. I was then taken on a tour of the ground floor, which included the prayer room, the library and meeting room. I was told that there was accommodation upstairs which was used by students. Friday morning was the time for men’s prayers while the women also worship but at a different time.
Despite my army service in Aden and Malaya, I had not been into a mosque before so it was a unique experience. I was also told that I was the first Mayor of Newbury to attend their Mosque, so it was a double first. The meeting with them was very friendly and cordial and I hope I am invited again.