kbrouse_banner_example
 
 

ADVERTISING

Rotator Placeholder Image
 

Click to see how you can save a fortune by advertising with the Chesterfield Post

The Copy Shop, Chesterfield. 01246 273044

"I Am Very Lucky!" - An Interview With The Mayor Of Chesterfield


Monday 14th July 2014
Interview by Lia Green



The Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Alexis Diouf, has been in post for two months and says that he is thoroughly enjoying the experience so far.


Talking to The Chesterfield Post in his parlour last week, he told Lia Green that being Mayor of Chesterfield has been a huge honour for a boy born in Senegal, before moving to Chesterfield - a town which he says he has been made to feel at home in.Talking to The Chesterfield Post in his parlour last week, he told Lia Green that being Mayor of Chesterfield has been a huge honour for a boy born in Senegal, before moving to Chesterfield - a town which he says he has been made to feel at home in.

His Worship told us he had wanted to be Mayor, "To pay back people who put so much faith in me, Chesterfield people I see how they value the mayoralty and how they think the mayoralty can make a difference to their lives and I wanted to be part of it, to put back something into the community that had put faith in me! Coming from outside it could have been totally different, but for one reason or another they have put faith in me.

"I enjoyed the Mayor's parade - someone told me it's the best they've seen for a while, and the church was full. People of Chesterfield value their tradition and, for me, the service was a poignant reminder that people value the tradition. The rooms were full of people. It was a day I will never forget."

Cllr Diouf is clear about what he wants to achieve as Mayor, "Coming from a different background, - especially when different backgrounds are seen as a negative (with politics about immigration) - I hope I will be the bridge and people will say not all immigrants are bad.

"There are a lot of people in Chesterfield who are struggling, working in the community to make it better and are not recognised.

"The Mayor is high profile - we don't always get it right - but we want to be there for the people and, again, we can be the bridge, to understand different communities and to make people realise that we all want to make a difference."

Education is a passion for the Mayor, and he explained why he feels so strongly about it, "It opened doors for me. People in the same country who didn't have the fortune to be educated now are struggling. I'm desperate for everyone to have the opportunity to be educated."

Listen to Lia Green's interview with Mayor Diouf in full here...



"Education has always been the key to me, it's not just about degrees - it's about having something which helped to understand the world, to think for yourself - and I have benefitted both from Senegal from my education and also here.

"From 1993 it's been one of my top priorities - to make sure my former primary school has the advantages so every child can have the resources to learn.

"When I hear people say I can't wait to be 16 to leave school, I couldn't understand it. I couldn't wait to go to school! That's why I gave up teaching, as I couldn't understand why people thought that! I have always sponsored other children to succeed in the way I have!"

Talking of his early years in Africa, His Worship was, he told us, born in to "A village of 1,500. My family had a lot of land, which was a marshland - always wet, all year round, so we could grow lots of vegetables.

"We were self-sufficient - we had everything we needed. Gradually, with the droughts, all that is gone. Now, you are lucky to see anywhere where there is water.

"In terms of here it was seen as poverty but if you compared it to now, we were really well off. We didn't have money that is true and this was the problem with education at that time. There were only two people who had an education in my village (the school wasn't built until I was five), because they had relatives in town and they went to live with them.

"When I was six, the catholic missionaries opened a school and I was one of the first to go there. My dad didn't want me to - for him it was a waste of time and he would lose my help in the fields. I would go to the fields but every opportunity I had, I would go to school!

"My mum did everything to put me through school - she did everything to pay for my education - frying fish and everything to pay for it. Although it is hard, each family now has one or two people who are working to help. In rural families you never end up having your head above water. Every family has 30 people who don't work, depending on the wages of one member of the family to survive."

The Mayor added that he carries a part of Africa with him whatever he does, "Every day I discuss things with the youngsters in my own village - tell them what's happening, so I would like to think that I have made a small difference to the lives of those children, as some people made a difference to mine. I will never forget that.

"Yes, I have gone through tough times after the age of 11 - almost a miracle - but I made it. People made a difference - not by giving me things, but by talking to me and telling me things. It helps me keep my feet on the ground. There is no year I haven't been back so it keeps me grounded. I have been one of the lucky ones - to live in two communities and to feel at ease in both!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT STORIES

WELCOMING CHESTERFIELD'S NEW MAYOR, COUNCILLOR BARRY BINGHAM -
Councillor Barry Bingham will become Chesterfield's 375th mayor at a ceremony at the Town Hall this week. More...

MAYOR JOINS
FORCES WITH
ROTARY TO HELP CHILDREN IN BABACK-

Chesterfield Scarsdale Rotary Club along with members of Clay Cross, Chesterfield and Matlock, were invited to a meeting at the Town Hall by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield in order to hold a fund raising event for the Mayor's Appeal. More & Audio...

CHESTERFIELD MAYOR AND MAYORESS LIGHT UP NEW WHITTINGTON -
The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield switched on the Christmas lights of New Whittington this weekend - as the village launched it's first Christmas Market. More...

CHESTERFIELD RECEIVES VISIT FROM NAMIBIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER -
Chesterfield has been pleased to receive the High Commissioner of Namibia, Steve Katjiuanjo, today - to pay tribute to the 20th year anniversary of twinning between the town and Tsumeb in Africa. More...

NEW LOOK FOR AN OLD FAVOURITE -
It's a familiar building to most of us but after internal renovation - The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield were "delighted" to be asked to cut the ribbon for the 'new look' Rose Hill United Reformed Church More...

TRIBUTES PAID TO FORMER MAYOR OF CHESTERFIELD,
TRUDI MULCASTER -

Tributes have been paid to former Chesterfield mayor, Trudi Mulcaster, who, it has been announced today, died on Wednesday after a long illness. More...

MAYOR ATTENDS EVENT CELEBRATING OPENING DOORS FOR YOUNG CARERS -
28th August saw young carers flocking to the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton for a well-earned Celebration Event, attended by VIP guests The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield More...

NAMIBIAN COMMONWEALTH BRONZE MEDALLIST MEETS THE MAYOR -
A Commonwealth Bronze medal winner came to Chesterfield yesterday to see the sights - and meet the Mayor and the society that celebrates the twinning of Chesterfield with the Namibian town of Tsumeb. More...

FORMER MAYOR THANKS CHESTERFIELD FOR ITS SUPPORT -
Former Mayor of Chesterfield, Cllr Paul Christopher Stone, has today announced the total made for his nominated charities during his mayoral year (2013/14). More...

CHESTERFIELD'S NEW MAYOR PARADES THROUGH THE TOWN -
It's been a busy and undoubtedly emotional few days for Chesterfield's 374th Mayor, Senegal born Cllr Alexis Diouf.
More & Video...

CHESTERFIELD'S NEW MAYOR - "I'LL DO MY BEST TO MAKE THE TOWN PROUD OF ME"-
In a sometimes emotional evening, in front of family and friends last Wednesday, 14th May, Cllr Alexis Diouf became the 374th Mayor of Chesterfield. More...

MAYORS APPEAL FUNDRAISER AT THE WINDING WHEEL -
The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield are inviting everyone to a Charity Fundraiser at The Winding Wheel, this evening, Wed 23rd April 2014, 7:30pm. More...

TRIBUTES PAID TO HON ALDERMAN MICHAEL CAULFIELD -
Tributes have been paid to Honorary Alderman - and former Chesterfield Mayor - Michael Caulfield who died on Sunday, 16th June. More...

ANNUAL PROCESSION OF WITNESS TAKES PLACE -
Hundreds of shoppers and residents lined the streets in brilliant sunshine, to watch the annual Procession of Witness (Whit Walk) take place in Chesterfield on Bank Holiday Monday. More...

TOWN TURNS OUT TO SEE MAYOR PARADE TO CIVIC SERVICE -
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Chesterfield yesterday to see the 373rd Mayor of the town, His Worship Cllr Paul Christopher Stone, parade from the Town Hall to the Crooked Spire during his Civic Service. More & Video...

CHESTERFIELD'S NEW MAYOR, Cllr PAUL STONE, TAKES
OFFICE -

Councillor Paul Christopher Stone will, this morning be waking up to his first full day as the 373rd Mayor of Chesterfield. More...

"IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE" HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR LEAVES OFFICE -
The Chesterfield Post spoke with the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield as they carried out their final day of engagements More...

BUY A POPPY AND WEAR IT WITH PRIDE! CHESTERFIELD REMEMBERS -
The 2012/13 British Legion Poppy Appeal was launched in Chesterfield by the Mayor and Mayoress on Saturday as they bought the first 'official' poppy of the campaign More...

ROYAL CELEBRATION FOR OUR DIAMOND COUPLES -
Twenty two couples from Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire attended a special event last week. More...

LOCAL SCHOOL TREATS THE MAYOR -
Schoolchildren from Inkersall Primary, Chesterfield took along their own hand made treats when they went to tea with the Mayor on Friday. More...

STAVELEY ARMED FORCES DAY SOLDIERS ON -
Despite the heavy rain and dreadful conditions underfoot, the Staveley Armed Forces Day is, at the moment, still going ahead tomorrow at Poolsbrook Country Park More...

CHESTERFIELD BASED REGIMENT RECEIVE TOWN'S HIGHEST HONOUR -
Yesterday was Armed Forces Day, dedicated to celebrating & supporting the work of service personnel past and present and honouring the sacrifices made More...

VETERAN TAKES A HIKE FOR THE MAYOR-
One intrepid Chesterfield veteran is about to don his hiking boots in aid of The Mayor's Appeal and walk over 200 miles to raise cash to help serving soldiers and their families More...

MAYOR CELEBRATES AT CIVIC SERVICE -
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Chesterfield yesterday to see the 372nd Mayor of the town, His Worship Cllr Donald Parsons, parade from the Town Hall to the Crooked Spire during his Civic Service More...

INTRODUCING THE NEW MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF CHESTERFIELD -
Cllr Donald Parsons was born in Poolsbrook in 1951 and attended both Shuttlewood school and then what is now Springwell. More...

A PIECE OF CIVIC HISTORY FOR JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS -
The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield have this afternoon accepted a very special medallion. More...

FAIRTRADE GOES BANANAS IN CHESTERFIELD -
As Fairtrade Fortnight comes to an end this week, yesterday saw events taking place in Chesterfield aimed at promoting the scheme. More...

TALENT ON TOUR IN CHESTERFIELD -
The Mayor's Charity held another successful evening with the Talent on Tour night at the Phoenix Suite, Chester Street, Chesterfield on Friday 10th February. More...

CHESTERFIELD APPRENTICES GAIN EMPLOYMENT -
Chesterfield Borough Council's apprenticeship programme has been a major success, with nearly half of those taking part ending up in employment More...

A HEROES WELCOME IN CHESTERFIELD -
The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield, with the support of Chesterfield Borough Council, are introducing the Heroes Welcome Scheme to Chesterfield on Monday Nov 7th More...

THE MAYOR HARPS ON FOR CHARITY -
Despite the dismal weather people turned out in their hundreds to take part in Day One of Chesterfield's Annual Arts and Market Festival. More...

THE TALENT ON SHOW IS A CREDIT TO CHESTERFIELD -
Hundreds packed out Chesterfield's Winding Wheel on Saturday in order to watch 14 acts compete to become the winner of 'Chesterfield's Got Talent 2011' More...

MEETING OF THE MAYORS -
The Mayor of Chesterfield welcomed the Mayor of Kunshan, one of the fastest growing and highly successful areas of China, to the Town Hall this week. More...

MAYOR AND MAYORESS VISIT BIBLE EXHIBITION -
The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield recently visited an exhibition put on by the Chesterfield Christadelphians. More...

MAYOR AND MAYORESS ENJOY A BEAUTY-FUL EVENING-The Mayor and Mayoress recently paid a visit to the Therapy Lounge, Hasland Road, to officially present them with Collin Resultime 5 Star Salon of Distinction Award. More...

PRIDE OF CHESTERFIELD -
16 new recruits to the Army, swore an Oath Of Allegiance to The Queen this morning in front of the Deputy Mayor of Chesterfield at the Town Hall. More...

FORMER MAYOR THANKS CHESTERFIELD FOR KINDNESS AND CASH -
It was a busy year for The Mayoral Couple of 2010/11, Cllr Keith Morgan and wife Pat, as they undertook many duties to raise the profile of the town and it's people. More...

REMEMBERING WHAT'S GONE
BEFORE -

This year marks the centenary of the 9th Duke of Devonshire being Mayor of Chesterfield, and to celebrate the occasion, the current Duke attended a ceremony at the Town Hall. More...

HASLAND ALLOTMENT GOES GREEN BY SPENDING PENNIES -
The Mayor has officially unveiled a new facility on an allotment site in Hasland, believed to be the first of it's kind in the area. More...

SURPRISE FOR CIVIC SECRETARY -
Chesterfield Mayor's civic secretary Vivien Miller has been presented with an award from the Parachute Regimental Association for her work with the Shoebox appeal More...

FORCES SHARE LIFE WITH CHESTERFIELD -
Once again Chesterfield today took part in a week aimed at supporting and honouring Armed Forces connected with the town, past and present. More...

MAYOR FLIES THE FLAG ABROAD -
Last week, His Worship The Mayor, Peter Barr had just returned from a trip to Darmstadt as we spoke with him. More...

TOWN PAYS ITS RESPECTS TO FORMER MAYOR -
Over 100 councillors and council employees lined the steps of the Town Hall today to pay their respects to former Mayor, Cllr Nicky Qazi More...

CHESTERFIELD ARMED FORCES DAY 2011 -
Chesterfield is to honour once again the Armed Forces Community, from current serving troops to veterans. More...

FORMER CHESTERFIELD MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR DIES -
It's been announced that Nicky Qazi, a much respected and admired former Mayor and Councillor of Chesterfield Borough Council has died, aged 81 years. More...

CROWDS TURN OUT FOR CHURCHES -
Despite heavy rain, hundreds lined the streets to watch the Annual Procession of Witness (the 'Whit Walk') through the town centre More...

MICK BAGSHAW, CIVIC THANKS -
We have today received the following Letter from Mick and his partner Ruth asking us to convey the message of thanks to residents of the Borough. More...

THE START OF THINGS TO COME -
Unsurprisingly it's been a quiet but pivotal week for Chesterfield's new Mayor Cllr Peter Barr. More...

NEW MAYOR'S PARADE BRINGS TOWN TO A STANDSTILL -
Today, in a Civic Service, the Mayor was introduced to the town and his Mayoralty celebrated with a service More...

SO WHO IS THE NEW MAYOR OF CHESTERFIELD? -
Peter Barr was born in Chesterfield in 1940 and as a young boy watched the craftsmen working in his Grandfather's coach building business, Metcalf's on Saltergate. More...

THE OUTGOING MAYORS SPEECH -
Cllr Keith Morgan responded to the New Mayor at the swearing in ceremony today with his outgoing speech More...

NEW MAYOR TAKES THE OATH -
Chesterfield has a new Mayor tonight after Cllr Peter Barr was sworn in as the 371st Mayor of Chestefield. More...

ON PARADE FOR THE MAYOR -
It was a case of 'all change' this week as this year's Mayoral Cadets were sworn in at the Town Hall by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield. More...

THE MAYOR DRAWS AT THE B2NET -
The Mayor's Appeal 'Football Raffle' was drawn during half time of the game against Bury on Easter Monday at the B2net. More...

PASTORS, POTATOES AND POPPIES -
It’s been another busy week for the Mayor, beginning with the visit of Camilla to the Royal hospital to officially open the new wards.More...

THE MAYORAL WEEK -
The Mayoral week began with the Complimentary Dinner, a 'thank you' to all the councillors and council workers who've been part of the Mayoral year. More...

PASTORS, POTATOES AND POPPIES -
It’s been another busy week for the Mayor, beginning with the visit of Camilla to the Royal hospital to officially open the new wards.More...

THE MAYORAL WEEK -
Last week was a relatively quiet one for the Mayor, as events pick back up after Christmas but, as ever, a productive one. More...

A DAY TO REMEMBER AND RESPECT -
The Mayor and Mayoress of pay tribute to those who suffered in the Holocaust, signing the Commemoration Book in the Town Hall More...

FESTIVE FUNDRAISING WITH THE MAYOR AND MAYORESS -
It's been a quiet Christmas for the Mayor and Mayoress - but, though there weren't many engagements over the Festive period, it was still a profitable one for their charities More...

PRIDE OF CHESTERFIELD -
Ten young soldiers, after undergoing a gruelling selection process, today swore their Oath of Allegiance to the Queen during an emotional ceremony at the Mayor's Parlour. More...

IN THE COURSE OF ANOTHER BUSY
WEEK -

The Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield had attended Pathways AGM. This Charity, situated on Sheffield Road,... More...

A BUSY WEEK -
Invitations are coming in to the Town hall all the time, unbelievably some already for Carol Concerts, and the Mayor expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Mayor. More...

TABLE TOP SALE AND FAYRE -
The event is part of the Mayors Charity Appeal and is in aid of Fairplay and the Samaritans. More...

CHESTERFIELD DOING WELL - Our Discussion with His Worship the Mayor of Chesterfield this week began on the subject of the Development of Chesterfield. More...

COUNTING CUPPAS- So, just HOW many cups of tea will the Mayor drink during official engagements in his year of office? More...

THE MAYOR AND THE ARMED FORCES. Chesterfield has very close links with all the Armed Forces and those ties remain something which the Town is immensely proud of.
More...

THE MAYOR'S FIRST COLUMN -
The Mayoral Parlour is a real paradox ... steeped in tradition with souvenirs from visiting dignitaries lining the cupboards and robes of office in the corner. More...


News   Community   Sport   Offers & Events   Leisure / Reviews   Public Services
Chesterfield Cranes