RESTAURATEUR Naz Islam is pictured with outgoing Mayor of Northampton Cllr Dennis Meredith as he receives a Certificate for Outstanding Community Contribution in recognition of his work for charity and the wider community.
Mr Islam, owner of Saffron restaurant in Castilian Street, has raised more than £90,000 for local charities and established a school and orphanage in one of the poorest areas of Bangladesh with the help of his family.
He said: “As a proud Northamptonian, an honour like this is something I never thought would happen to me. It was a very special moment and one I will treasure forever.”
Mr Islam was thanked at a ceremony in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Guildhall. “Although my roots are well-established in Bangladesh, Northampton is very much my home town and I care passionately about its fortunes,” he said. “It is where I have made my life, raised my family and grown my business. It means the world to me and I am grateful beyond words for this recognition.”
Having left school at the age of 16 he started working in a curry house kitchen and fell in love with the industry, saving up enough money to buy his own restaurant. Saffron has gone on to win multiple awards and was named World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year at last year’s Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.
Guests at the ceremony included Professor Adrian Pryce, from the University of Northampton, Superintendent Rachel Handford of Northamptonshire Police and councillors and dignitaries from across the UK.
Cllr Meredith said: “I have known Naz for many years and he is someone with Northampton in his heart. He has accomplished many wonderful things in the community and I am always grateful for his support and long-standing commitment to fundraising.”
Mr Islam is a previous winner of the Heart of Northampton Award and was last year given an honorary degree from the University of Northampton in recognition of his services to business and community cohesion.