A Whitehill & Bordon councillor has received recognition from royalty for his hard work and dedication to public service.

A letter, the contents of which remain confidential, was sent to Cllr Adeel Shah in recognition of his work bringing communities together.

Cllr Shah wears many hats, serving as a Whitehill Town councillor and East Hampshire district councillor, while also working as an imam for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and with Press Ahmadiyya.

He said: “When I became a councillor in 2023, I did so because I believed our town had so much more to give. I spoke to many residents in those early months, and a common feeling was that we weren’t always getting the recognition or attention we deserved.

“That stayed with me. It motivated me. I was delighted to join the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party and be elected alongside Andy Tree and our other colleagues.”

He said the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party had made it a priority to help put the town firmly on the local, regional, national and even international map for all residents, including young people, families, elderly residents, businesses, volunteers and organisations.

“So to receive a letter from His Majesty The King acknowledging that work, recognising the collective effort that has gone into helping so many, was deeply humbling,” he said.

“It wasn’t just a letter for me. It was recognition for everyone who has rolled up their sleeves for our town. Thank you to all local volunteers who give up their time to help others.”

Cllr Shah’s latest achievement for Whitehill & Bordon is securing a visit from Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

She will visit the town to discuss housing targets and the challenges facing the Whitehill & Bordon community.