Elias Mattu: Call to raise £40,000 and do former mayor proud
A fundraising drive to gather tens of thousands of pounds in memory of Councillor Elias Mattu has been launched.
Families across the city are being called on to dig deep and pledge to help raise £40,000 in memory of the former mayor of Wolverhampton.
Cash donated by generous city residents will support the much-loved mayor’s six chosen charities.
Good causes set to benefit from the huge cash pot are Street Pastors, Sickle Cell Care, Interfaith Wolverhampton, Alzheimer’s Society, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Central Youth Theatre.
Councillor Mattu died in February aged 59 following a long battle with illness.
Thousands of mourners united with his loved ones as the city centre came to a standstill for his funeral last month.
Speaking at the time, mayoress Asha Mattu said: “To our family, he was undoubtedly our hero – an irreplaceable husband and father whose memory we shall cherish forever.”
Wolverhampton council leader Roger Lawrence said: “Elias was my friend and a loyal, dedicated and loving family man.
“Elias served his city and council for nearly two decades with huge dedication and commitment.
“He was one of our city’s favourite sons, a hugely popular councillor and person, hugely respected by the people he served. He will be profoundly missed.”
Father-of-three Councillor Mattu served as a Labour councillor for the Graiseley ward for 18 years.
He was the city’s 159th mayor, taking on ceremonial duties for 2017/18 after being sworn into the post last May.
Born in Punjab, India, in 1958, he Mattu was just nine years old when he moved with his family to Wolverhampton.
The former Graiseley School student, also studied at Wulfrun College, as well as Wednesbury College of Commerce and Technology.
He went on to study law at the University of Wolverhampton, while working as a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau.
