Eddie Hanson became the new mayor of Camden in Mayor

THE new mayor of Camden has said he wants to inspire people to have belief in themselves to achieve anything after becoming the first person in the role from African descent.

Eddie Hanson left Sierra Leone as a teenager after the west African country’s civil war in the 1990s. He told the New Journal: “Camden’s strength is its diversity, Camden is what gave me a chance.”

While Mr Hanson is well known around his estate, the streets of Kilburn where he is a councillor, and for his time leading tenants’ campaigns, not everybody knows his back story of coming to London on his own and trying to find his feet in a strange city.

“My beginnings are humble beginnings. I moved to the UK on my own as a teenager just after the brutal war. It was very, very challenging. If I’d had the opportunity I would have left much earlier.”

“My uncle picked me up from the airport and brought me to Camden – that was a cold winter. I spoke English but I had problem with my speech, speaking so fast and stuttering. People couldn’t understand me so I had to learn to speak slow and stop stuttering. I was new to the country and my parents weren’t there.”

One of his first jobs when he got here was working in a women’s shoe shop in Hampstead High Street ­– where as a young man he made his first appearance in the New Journal in 2002 talking about the need for shops to use walkie talkies to warn fellow traders of possible thieves.

He went to study at university for a computing degree and worked for a bank, and was later encouraged to stand for the council by Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq, having not mapped out a political career for himself.

He had previously been the first black chair of the District Management Committee in Hampstead ­– the main body where council tenants can outline their views to the Town Hall.

“There were people who said: Don’t do that Eddie. But I never look for negativity or listen to the nay-sayers – I’ve got broad shoulders. There may be people in the room who don’t want you in the room but we were there to promote the work of residents movement.

“Everything I do, and it’s not always easy, is about positivity. It was about starting at the grassroots.”

The father-of-three added: “I want people to look at me coming here and becoming the borough’s first citizen and believe that if that can happen to Eddie, then they can do it to.

“My tagline is ‘excellence and hope’. If I’m going to do things then I am never 50/50 about something. Camden is in my heart and this is me giving back to this great borough.”

Eddie Hanson is known for being a sharp dresser

Cllr Hanson has already appeared at 50 public engagements since being sworn in at an emotional mayor-making ceremony last month, for which relatives flew in and Mr Hanson remarked how proud his late father would be if he could see the proceedings.”

He said this week: “What I’d really like to do is use this role to help open opportunities for people. Give them belief, but also opportunities. There are so many big businesses and institutions in the area, they just need to give young people those first opportunities.”

Mr Hanson’s charitable endeavours while wearing the mayoral chain will largely be aimed at raising money for his chosen cause: icandance.

The charity helps disabled children and young people with special needs to enjoy themselves on a dancefloor and participate in creative performances.

“I chose icandance because I want the money to raise to go where there is the need,” he said.

“This is a chance to help people who haven’t had that opportunity before.”

Cllr Hanson, known for his sharp fashion sense and looking dapper without the usual suit and tie combo worn by most male councillors, said he wasn’t bad at dancing himself.

His partner Kim Taylor agreed – “not bad, he’s got some moves” ­– during the interview with the New Journal in the mayor’s parlour this week.