Newcastle has elected a new Lord Mayor and made a historic appointment to another of the city's highest civic roles.
Coun David Cook was confirmed on Wednesday as the city's newest first citizen, taking over from David Down.
His Labour colleague, Coun Habib Rahman, was also chosen to become the Sheriff and Deputy Mayor of Newcastle - the first BAME person to hold those ceremonial titles.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said: "At long last the diversity of this great city is being recognised in the highest of our civic offices."
Coun Rahman, who will now become Lord Mayor next year, was described as an "absolute inspiration to us all" by fellow councillor Dipu Ahad.
The new Sheriff moved to Newcastle from Bangladesh when he was 12 years old and was unable to speak a word of English.
In 1977, his father had moved to the city in search of a better life - but was killed just 10 days later, stabbed in the Wallsend restaurant where he worked by a customer who was unhappy about the size of a takeaway curry.
After being sworn in on Wednesday afternoon, Coun Rahman paid an emotional tribute to his mother as "the single source of everything I have learned - she has been a teacher to me and an inspiration to me and my brothers."
She will now serve as his official Sheriff's Lady, though Coun Rahman announced in the ceremony at Newcastle Civic Centre that he will be introducing her as 'Mama Sheriff' instead.
Coun Cook, who represents the Lemington ward, moved to Tyneside as a student in the 1960s from Yorkshire.
The retired biochemist has lived in Lemington since 1971 with his wife Liz, who will be his Lady Mayoress, and served as a councillor for the ward since 2010.
Nominating him for the role of Lord Mayor, Coun Kim McGuinness said he had an "encyclopaedic knowledge" of Newcastle and would bring a "fabulous sense of humour" to the civic position.
He has chosen to raise money for Diabetes UK and the Friends of Walbottle Campus during his year in office.
Coun Cook said it was a "huge honour" to take the role, adding: "I hope I have become an adopted Geordie. I have learned the meaning of such expressions as 'wor lass' and 'howay the lads', I know all the verses to the Blaydon Races but I won't sing them for you."
He was also described as a big fan of cricket, rugby league, and football - though he will have split allegiances when his beloved Sheffield United come to St James' Park next season.
