Afzal Anwar was the guest speaker at Nelson and Colne College ''Adults Awards Evening'' at the Municipal Hall, Colne

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th May 2009

Afzal Anwar the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Pendle said how pleased and honoured he was to be asked to be the guest speaker at such a prestigious event. The Principal, Lyn Surgeon, the Chair of the College's Board of Corporation, Andrew Buchanan, and the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Shelagh Derwent, praised Afzal for an inspirational speech.

The text of Afzal's speech is given below.

"It has taken me twelve years to be invited to an awards ceremony so I say to all the students here today that you are already twelve years ahead of me in that sense! Awards ceremonies mark the rite of passage of individuals who have made significant progress in their particular disciplines, and as a result are recognised with awards to celebrate this success. Everybody follows their own chosen path and each one is special and unique.

This is mine! I was born in Nelson and was brought up by parents who never had a formal education and yet they provided me with the love and guidance that I needed. I still remember the days when my mother used to walk me to Lomeshaye Junior School and then later to Devroux Primary School, on Carr Road, Nelson. She could not read or write but always said to me "Show me the home work you have done". Just recently I asked my mum "You cannot read or write but why did you always ask me to show you my home work?" She smiled and said, "Because I wanted you to become a barrister."

When I was 10 I moved abroad with my family and spent nine years there learning to cope with a complete new way of life. I returned to England as a 19 year old young man keen and hungry to learn.

I still remember walking down to the College in 1995 and enrolling on what is now known as an ESOL course - I think this has something to do with learning English as a second language. I enjoyed this course so much and the help I got whilst at college I will never forget. A year later I enrolled on the A level programme and it was hard work." Afzal then praised the support he received from his tutors Stella Newton, David Macro and Asghar Ali.

"Whilst at College, like many fellow students, I applied to university. Most of us received letters of acceptance at different universities around the country, but my offer was conditional due to me having no formal high school education in this country. I needed to wait for my A level results. I did not apply to Cambridge or Oxford, but to the University of Central Lancashire. Thanks to God eventually I was offered a place.

In 2000 I graduated with an LLB in law from Preston. I still remember my final year. When in 2001 I was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in London I wore my wig and gown for the first time.

It was Chavasse Court Chambers in Liverpool where I completed my pupilage and became a fully qualified barrister in 2003.

I then began working for David Phillips and Partners, Solicitors, as an in house barrister practising in criminal law. In June last year I received a phone call from my clerk who informed me that I had been instructed in the Rhys Jones murder trial as Junior Counsel. I look back at my last six years as a practising barrister, and to be involved in such a high profile case I think was an achievement for an ex ESOL student from Nelson and Colne College.

I am in the middle of completing my Master's degree in International Law at the University of Liverpool which I have to complete by submitting my dissertation in September this year. So I have not stopped learning. I am currently standing as the parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Party in the next general election; this also keeps me extremely busy. On top of all this I have a young family and a caring wife. My professional life, political life, student life and family life I manage only by hard work and good time management. But still I do have a lot of time to spare.

I say that you only need to work hard. If I had asked you in April last year "How many of you think that Barack Obama will be the next President of United States of America?", I am sure your answers would have been as negative as mine. But he worked very hard and achieved his ambition. You and I need only to work hard to achieve our ambitions and goals in life. The distinction between working hard and very hard is that if you work hard you become a barrister, but if you work very hard you make history like Mr Obama. It may be some of you want to work very hard to make history but by only working hard you can achieve your goals and ambitions.

Ladies and Gentlemen: As I was driving to this event I was reflecting on just how far this former ESOL student had come, and much of that credit has to go to Nelson and Colne College.

The College has a special place in my heart and I always feel proud when I read about the positive things that happen here. I have no doubt that all that I am today can be credited a lot to my time at the College.

I feel proud and honoured that I have been asked to speak today and would like to once again congratulate all the winners, the families and the College, and long may this success continue.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your night."