Welcome for new citizens
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AWIDNES doctor was one of seven people who became British citizens at a ceremony held at Runcorn Town Hall.
The occasion took place in front of the Deputy Lieutenant Of Cheshire Dr Peter Cook and Halton’s mayor and mayoress attended.
Mayor Alan Lowe gave a brief talk on the history of the borough.
Talented 32-year-old doctor Ratna Aumeer moved to the UK from Mauritius in 2004 to study at the University Of Birmingham and now works in Warrington as an acute internal medicine doctor, but lives in Halton.
She said: “This was a very proud moment for me today.
“I have lived here for 13 years and it has been a long and exciting journey.
“The UK has felt like home for many years, and I am very happy to be a citizen now.”
The new citizens also include Erika Hadju, Rupika Soni, Magdelena Tamale, Konrad Ojrzynski, Marta Orjynska, and Boipelo Matabane.
The citizenship ceremony serves to provide an opportunity to formally welcome new citizens and celebrate their contribution to the country.
It concluded with the playing of the national anthem.
Cllr Stef Nelson, Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for the registration service, said: “This ceremony is a right of passage for our new citizens, it formally welcomes them into full membership of the British family.
“They will have made an oath and a pledge to be a faithful subject today. Most of them have had long and expensive journeys to reach this point.
“We welcomed people from Mauritius, Poland, India, Hungary and South Africa today.”