HARROW’S outgoing Mayor said he ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ his time in office after attending more than 500 events, including the extraordinary and prestigious royal visit.

Councillor Mrinal Choudhury (pictured) handed over the chains of office at the full council meeting on Tuesday evening.

The 73-year-old said: “I was privileged to be the first citizen of the borough.

“I have gone to 500 appointments.”

Mr Choudhury, nearly always accompanied by the mayoress, his wife Rama, enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime events such as meeting The Queen and Prince Philip when they toured Krishna-Avanti Primary School, in Edgware, in March as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour.

He also handed the rare Freedom of the Borough accolade to former Harrow County School for Boys student and Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Sir Paul Nurse.

“Some of the previous mayors were joking they were jealous because I got to meet the Duke of Edinburgh three times, Princess Anne, Princess Alexandra and The Queen,” he said.

“And I met Johnny Robinson at the switching on of the town centre Christmas lights and gave Sir Paul Nurse the freedom of the borough, so I can’t complain.”

Mr Choudhury, whose chaplain was Sruti Dharma Das from the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple, near Watford, visited various places of worship and countless schools and colleges.

He said: “I always wear the robes because the children love the robes.

“They ask lots of questions like ‘do I live in a castle?’ and ‘how many servants do I have?’.

“Their imaginations go wild.”

Mr Choudhury also visited Harrow’s twin town of Douai in France in July and marked both Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day.

Donations and fundraisers raised £10,365 for his chosen charities, Harrow Association of Disabled People and Harrow Mencap.

Councillor Nizam Ismail was elected Mayor of Harrow for 2012/13 and Councillor Nana Asante was elected deputy mayor.

Mr Ismail has been a Labour ward councillor for Queensbury since 2002.

He said: “I have been meeting with the community and visiting more than 80 events during my term as deputy mayor and it’s been really enjoyable.

“Obviously my mayoral year is going to be very busy with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics and I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s a challenge for me.”