How one of the city's first Asian shopkeepers became a trailblazer

GROCERY STORE WAS A FOCAL POINT FOR HELPING MIGRANTS TO FIND HOMES AND JOBS

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

MUMTAZ Begum Khalique arrived in Nottingham from Pakistan in 1957. Her husband Abdul had arrived two years earlier, leaving his wife and children behind while he forged a new life for them in England.

After two years of hard toil at Beeston Boiler Company and Stanton and Staveley Ironworks, he was in a stable enough financial position for the family to join him. They made their home in Bangor Street, St Ann's.

For Mrs Khalique, it was a wrench leaving her parents, brothers and sisters and friends behind - or as she put it, "her whole world" - to come to the UK.

But motivated by the prospect of her children having the opportunity of a better future, she pushed her emotions aside to make the epic change.

Born in 1934, she went on to become a role model within Nottingham's Asian community for young and old and, although she wasn't one for the limelight, she found herself in the spotlight when honoured for her hard work and dedication.

In 1960 Mr Khalique switched careers to run a grocery shop in Woodborough Road in St Ann's, called Continental Stores. It was one of the first Asian shops of its kind in Nottingham.