I came to Manchester from Dublin in 1967 as a child of 2 with my mother and siblings to live with our Grandparents. My Grandfather, whilst being very much Irish, was also supportive of British traditions as he had been a serving soldier. This was vital for our sense of belonging as we experienced racist abuse and attacks for being Irish in the days of ‘No Black's, No Dogs and No Irish’.

I became familiar with Sheffield through supporting my sisters in the 1980s when they were heavily involved in social justice struggles including the miners and steel workers strikes. Since arriving here to live and work in 1989 I have always been involved in issues of community safety and cohesion.

My wife’s migrant journey from Bangladesh had many similarities to my own. Our families hold strong Yorkshire values but also have unique ethnicities and traditions that are part of the rich cultural tapestry that makes Britain so Great.