An Oldham man stood just metres away from King Charles III as he was on his way to being crowned at the Coronation today. Proud family and friends snapped pictures of Afruz Miah when he appeared on their screens as one of the 2,000 people invited to witness the King’s Coronation inside Westminster Abbey.
Afruz, who is known locally for his tireless charity work, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tony Blair, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak inside the Abbey after witnessing the historic moment Great Britain received a new monarch.
Speaking to the MEN about the ceremony, 49-year-old Afruz said: “When I first got invited it didn’t sink in. When I travelled it didn’t sink in. This morning it felt like something was there. When I went into the Abbey the room was full of people where I felt out of place.
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"I didn’t think I deserved to be there, there was people with five, six medals on their chest. Different people from different backgrounds, communities.
“It was overwhelming, it was a proud moment, I know that I am representing the community and this wasn’t about me. I felt honoured to represent my community.
“Hopefully it will inspire and motivate my community and the next generation to do what they are passionate about and also get the recognition they deserve too!
“Today I’ve had so many messages sent to me, screenshots of me. To get a front row seat reserved next to one of the privy council was amazing. I took photos with every single dignitary. They said no photos but I wasn’t bothered, I took photos with everybody."
A former teacher, Afruz got into running after receiving a health scare and was told he could be at risk of a heart attack if he did not change his lifestyle.
He decided to take up running as a healthy exercise but has since been running for charity, making himself a household name in his community in Oldham after raising hundreds of thousands of pounds.
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