Surinder Biant

Surinder Biant was a councillor for Spotland and Falinge ward and mayor of Rochdale. Cecile Biant, who was also a councillor and worked as a school teacher, spoke to us about her husband’s life and legacy.

Surinder was born in Kenya and trained to become a teacher in Uganda. On his way to his new teaching job in Canada, Surinder stopped off in England to see his brothers and decided to stay.

After moving to Rochdale in 1969, Surinder became deputy head of the English Teaching Centre, a head of department at Greenhill School and Principal Education Officer with Rochdale Council. Surinder had a passion for helping all different communities within Rochdale and on top of presenting the first Asian radio show in the North West, he was heavily involved in charity work from fundraising and community events to youth clubs and cricket clubs.