Farouk Haider
1941 – 2025
Farouk’s legacy is the countless hours of selfless service he has given in his local community dedicating much of his life to public service.
He was a resident living in Roundhill Road, Stoneygate and a JP for 21 years from 1989 to 2010. In these two roles, as a community worker and JP, Farouk was able help many projects for the good of all, setting an example of what ‘people power’ can do to encourage Leicester City Council by showing them what can be achieved in his local Highfields area.
Here is a list of his projects he was involved in:
Establishment of Highfields Primary School
Development of Uplands Primary School
Improvements to Sparkenhoe Primary School buildings
He helped create play areas at Stoughton Street, Prebend Street and Highfields Adventure Playground
He helped improve the brook in Spinney Hill Park.
He helped introduced the No 17 Highfields Circular bus route.
He helped with the establishment of Highfields library.
He helped with many other improvements to St. Peter’s Estate, Highfields.
He served the BBC Radio Leicester Advisory Council for two terms during which a Bengali Service was introduced and to improve Bengali programmes further, he introduced an influential presenter, which opened up the way for Bengali Youth to get employment with the BBC. He was also able to introduce BBC World Service News to the local radio station. His greatest desire was fulfilled when a purpose-built home for BBC Radio Leicester was built.
Within the prison service, he was keen to promote the idea that prisoners need to receive counselling from their own religious or secular counsellors.
As a Muslim he also worked for improvements within mosques, getting the Adhaan System approved. (The Adhaan system calls Muslims to prayer for mandatory worship and is a reminder about core Muslim beliefs and community unity.)
This obituary will be posted on the Evington Echo website at evingtonecho.uk as a permanent reminder of the life and generous work of Farouk Haider.
Mokhtar Hussein.
