DO you recognise this woman? Chances are that you probably do. Former Mayor of Southampton Parvin Damani has one of the best-known faces in the city after her 13-month tenure as Southampton's first citizen.

Plaudits have been heaped on the 55-year-old health professional since she took over the job in May last year.

She attended an astonishing 711 engagements during her term and raised £10,500 for her chosen charities, SCRATCH (Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship) and Southampton Voluntary Services.

But the huge number of people she met during her tenure as the city's first citizen does not begin to capture the sheer impact that Cllr Damani's presence as mayor has had on the city.

The Bargate ward councillor, who was first elected to the City Council in 1996, grew in stature and confidence as the year went by.

As the city's first Muslim mayor, she helped to raise the profile of ethnic minorities - particularly important during a worrying period of international tension between the world's Muslim and Christian people.

She even introduced an innovation which her successor to the role, Dennis Harryman, pledged to emulate during the city's annual mayor-making ceremony on Wednesday.

From the start of her tenure, Cllr Damani appointed a group of seven "faith advisers" to reflect the multi-ethnic and multi-faith make-up of Southampton.

The widely praised idea came to be seen as one of the many "stamps" which Cllr Damani placed on one of the city's most ancient offices.

Her tenure may have ended but her legacy to the city will continue to resonate for many years.

In her closing speech to hundreds of dignitaries from the south at the mayor-making she spoke of the importance of her faith and the support from her NHS employers which had made her tenure so successful.

She spoke of the significance of her being only the 22nd woman mayor of Southampton's 781 previous holders of the historic post - and the first to be an Asian Muslim.

Cllr Damani cited her meeting with the Queen during the naming of the superliner Queen Mary 2 as one of the most memorable of the 711 engagements she had attended.

She said: "It has been the most historical and the most magnificent year of all the 55 years of my life. It has been a whirlwind romance with the people and city of Southampton. I thank mighty God for getting me through it.

"It has given me confidence, lots of skills and people have touched my heart. Not everyone gets to be mayor."

According to two of the city's former mayors, each incumbent puts their own indelible stamp on city life - as well as having the important role of representing the city to the wider world.

Councillor Derek Burke (mayor from 1998 to 2000) said that the first citizen was the public "face" of the city.

He said: "I think every mayoralty brings its own style. I was the 777th mayor of the city. It is tremendously important."

Former Conservative mayor Councillor Brian Parnell (2002 to 2003) said it was the chance to meet people in the mayor's parlour who would not normally get to see inside council life.

He said: "From the Conservatives' point of view, we very strongly support the offices of mayor and sheriff. It is the historical side of the city.

"People love to see the mayor and love to see him or her in full regalia. I think it is good to have those sorts of traditions."

Cllr Damani's role as the "public face of the city" was widely praised by the leaders of all three political parties on Southampton City Council.

Labour group leader Councillor June Bridle said: "In May last year, I think it is fairly safe to say she was not the only one who wondered how her term of office would work out.

"For Parvin and the city, this was a massive step. We elected the first woman Muslim mayor."

She added: "She is a very determined woman. She is strong in her political views and religious beliefs. As the year went on, she grew in confidence and could be seen, I am sure, going backwards and forwards across the city. She attended hundreds of events and met thousands of people. She put her unique mark on this city and I am sure she will be remembered for a very long time."

Council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "Our city has been fortunate in recent years in having a selection of extremely able, committed and dedicated mayors. I hope members of the ethnic communities feel she has done them proud as I believe all of our citizens should feel she has done them proud. She has been the first citizen of all citizens of Southampton."

Cllr Alec Samuels, leader of the Conservative Group on the city council added: "Coming from a minority community, she brought a new dimension to public life in Southampton."

PARVIN DAMANI, Mayor of Southampton 2003-4:

Age: 55

Married

Born, Mombassa in Kenya.

Came to the UK 37 years ago

Educated in Mombassa.

Trained as a State Registered Nurse and State Certified Midwife at the Royal London Hospital in Mile End.

Achieved a Masters Degree on Health Promotion at Southampton University.

Received an MBE in July 2001 for her work on community and race equality in the NHS.

Chairman or former chairman of a number of city organisations including Southampton Voluntary Services Board and Southampton Council of Faiths.

First elected to Southampton City Council in May 1996 for St Luke's Ward. Later elected in 2002 for Bargate Ward.