Ganshyam Patel, Chairman of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Art and Culture Centre, has been recognised among local heroes with a Bolton Civic Medal for services to the community.
The medal is the highest civic honour that the town in Greater Manchester can award to recognise outstanding achievement or distinguished service. Last month the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Andy Morgan, announced that the reintroduction of the Bolton Civic Medal to honour outstanding contributions to life in the borough. After receiving dozens of nominations, the four recipients chosen by the independent panel were announced at Full Council meeting last month.
Patel was still a teenager when his family migrated to the UK from Uganda with only 90 days’ notice. Following studies at Bolton College and Bolton Institute of Technology, he qualified as an Associate of the Textile Institute. He started his life in Bolton with little more than a determination to succeed and to help others.
Around 1984, he became closely involved with the Swaminarayan Temple; an organisation and active place of worship of which he remains a committed and active volunteer. His involvement as a volunteer, including as a Chairman, helped the organisation to grow from a place of worship, to being recognised as the Swaminarayan Mandir Art and Culture Centre.
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Patel fondly remembers a carnival in 1992, arrange to celebrate the arrival of a visiting priest from India, which helped to bring the vibrant culture of India and the Hindu faith, to the streets of Bolton. He has enthusiastically used his volunteer positions in the Swaminarayan Temple to support countless individuals to settle and feel a sense of belonging in Bolton.
Speaking of his love for the town, Patel is proud of the friendly, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of Bolton.
Cllr Morgan said: “Reading through the dozens of nominations was a welcome reminder of how lucky we are to have so many truly outstanding and dedicated individuals here in Bolton.
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“Selecting just four worthy recipients was tough, but I feel these four are a great representation of our supportive, diverse and caring community.
“I am so proud to be mayor in the year this great tradition has been revived and I look forward to seeing many more Civic Medals awarded into the future.”
*Info: Bolton Council