IN THE town hall waiting room the group of smartly dressed visitors could be mistaken for a wedding party.

Except these people – most wearing their finest clothes and accompanied by family – are from different countries with vastly different backgrounds.

What unites them is they've made Sheffield their home and have all just been granted British citizenship.

They've come to Sheffield Town Hall to swear their allegiance to the Queen and have their new status formally recognised.

After the short ceremony they'll pose for souvenir photo opportunities with the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, resplendent in ceremonial uniform with his sword at his side.

This formal welcome takes place twice-weekly in the town hall's ceremony rooms, usually reserved for weddings or civil partnerships.

Last year more than 1,000 new Sheffield residents were given a very British welcome and presented with citizenship certificates beneath a gold framed photo of our Queen and the union flag.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

Today it's the turn of a Filipino family, a couple from Zimbabwe, various individuals from Pakistan, a woman from Gambia and people from Sudan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Yemen, Kuwait and Egypt.

For surgeon Ahmed Halawa today's ceremony is the realisation of a dream.

The married father-of-three left Egypt for Kuwait in 1992 to develop his career in medicine.

He then moved to Britain to continue his studies and is now a consultant surgeon, specialising in kidney transplants, at the Northern General Hospital.

Mr Halawa fell in love with Sheffield's greenery and hasn't looked back.

His children, aged 14, 11, and five, are settled in Sheffield schools and his wife Amany is a dentist in the city.

"I did my higher degree in Sheffield so I have an affinity with the city," explained Mr Halawa, as we wait for the citizenship ceremony to get underway.

"The UK is our home country now. We live here, we work here and our friends and family are here. We love Britain.

"We've had 11 years of applying for visas. We felt relieved when I got the letter. I'm glad I won't have to see the Home Office again."

Mr Halawa's wife will apply for her own citizenship – and their children were either born in Britain or become legal through their father's new status. His wife missed the ceremony because of the school run but they plan to celebrate with a family meal at their favourite restaurant, Estikutum in Darnall.

So before he takes his oath and proudly stands for the national anthem, does Mr Halawa feel British?

"My job dictates I'm part of the community whether I'm a British national or not because I'm saving lives regardless. But it makes it more special. I've a sense of belonging now and I feel more integrated with society.

"It's difficult to say whether I'm British or Egyptian because I spent 35 years there.

READ MORE
Your letters.
Today's features.
Latest sport.
Main news index.