Raja Mohammad Yaseen: Cohesion champion dies suddenly

Raja Mohammad Yaseen (in white) with Councillor Daalat Ali, Councillor Iftikhar Ahmed and Councillor Shakil Ahmed

Raja Mohammad Yaseen of Moss Street, Newbold died suddenly on the morning of 17 August.

Raja came to Rochdale in late 1960s, worked in textile industry and later owned a small business.

He lived in Newbold for the last 30 years where he worked tirelessly for community cohesion.

Projects he had been involved in included Pothwari/Pahari language movement, local mosques, he was very active member of the area forum where he always advocated for community safety, clean and green initiatives, reaching out to refugees and asylum seekers and anti drug campaigns. He also raised funds for the disadvantaged in third world and his native village, he raised funds for a girl's school for clean water and other sport and leisure facilities.

Kingsway councillors paying tribute to him said: “He will be greatly missed, he always held councillors to account for the area development and drove leisure facilities, including community allotments at Robinson's Common.”