The City of Bath celebrated a historic milestone with the appointment of its first mayor of Indian heritage in a distinguished ceremony held at Bath Abbey on Saturday, June 7.
Dr. Bharat Pankhania was unanimously elected by the city’s charter trustees as Mayor of Bath, continuing a line of leadership dating back to 1189. He is the 798th mayor in an unbroken succession stretching back to John de Porta, the city’s first recorded mayor in 1230.
Addressing nearly 300 attendees at Bath Abbey, Dr. Pankhania spoke with pride and humility: “Our beautiful city is one that honors its heritage with grace and steps confidently into the future. Serving as mayor of this rare double-inscribed World Heritage Site is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
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In a powerful message opposed to rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, he affirmed: “Despite what some under-educated politicians may claim, diversity is our strength — along with equality and inclusivity. I am your DEI example.”
Marking another first, Dr. Pankhania selected Bath-based humanist Isabel Russo as the city’s first non-religious mayoral chaplain. Russo shared her vision: “I look forward to nurturing an inclusive environment, working alongside people of all faiths and none, fostering a more tolerant and diverse city.”
Born in Kenya and raised in Leicester, Dr. Pankhania credited public libraries for his self-education and success: “I would not be here without those libraries. Education has been my liberation.”
Currently a senior consultant in communicable disease control and a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter, the new mayor announced his year’s theme as “Education is Empowerment.” He is already working to strengthen connections between educational institutions and local communities.
“My education opened doors, created opportunities, and empowered me to contribute meaningfully to society — as an individual, clinician, and academic. It has given me the confidence to advocate for myself and others,” he said.
Dr. Pankhania has served as the Liberal Democrat councillor for Combe Down since 2019. His wife, Alison Pankhania, is the city’s new Mayoress. Ian Halsall, a fellow Liberal Democrat councillor, was elected Deputy Mayor, with his husband James Fox serving as Deputy Mayor’s Consort.
The mayor-making ceremony is the annual meeting of the city’s charter trustees, a ceremonial body preserving Bath’s ancient civic traditions. The mayor also serves as chair of the trustees. Historic regalia, including the city’s ceremonial sword and two maces, were paraded from the Guildhall to Bath Abbey, led by the 93 (City of Bath) Squadron RAF Marching Band and accompanied by a guard of honor from Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
Bath Philharmonia and its Harmony Rising choir performed during the ceremony. As the mayor’s robes and regalia were exchanged, the new mayor and procession departed to an orchestral version of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by the Bath-based band Tears for Fears.