A CAMDEN councillor whose hearing was damaged when a bomb exploded in the BT Tower will use his new role as Mayor to raise funds for a deaf charity.

Cllr Abdul Quadir, 67, (pictured right) used to live opposite the Post Office Tower, now known as the BT Tower. When an IRA bomb exploded there in October 1971, Cllr Quadir’s hearing was irrevocably damaged.

He now lives in Primrose Hill and was sworn in as the mayor of Camden last night (Wednesday).

In an interview before the meeting, Cllr Quadir told the Ham&High: “My chosen charity is the RNID.

“It does a wonderful job in promoting hearing help, preventing hearing loss and researching cures for deafness and Tinnitus.

“I myself have hearing problems and I’m quite aware of the good work that the RNID does and the NHS.”

After moving to Britain from Bangladesh, Cllr Quadir worked as an accountant. Married with three children, he was re-elected as a Labour councillor for Bloomsbury ward in May last year.

The outgoing mayor, Cllr Jonathan Simpson is a Labour councillor for King’s Cross.

He was dubbed Camden’s “rock’n’roll” mayor as he often dj-ed at gigs and supported muscial events across the borough. Cllr Simpson raised �20,000 for the Roundhouse Trust which gives young people access to the performing arts. He received glowing accolades from opponents and colleagues on Camden Council at last night’s meeting for the good work he did as mayor.