Ex-Mayor quits politics

In a shock move, the immediate past Town Mayor gave formal notice this week that he is resigning as a Rother member with effect from Tuesday.

As rumours spread that he had stepped down from his cabinet regeneration portfolio post, he told the Observer: "I have actually resigned from the council as a whole as from January 31 for personal reasons."

The Conservative member declined to enlarge on the nature of the personal reasons. But he emphasised: "This is the only reason I have got.

"I am very supportive of our group and what they are trying to achieve.

"I have loved every minute of the job I was doing but the personal pressures have become too much."

The baker's son from Sidley who turned the family business around financially after the death of his father had served with distinction as chairman of Sidley Traders' Association and president of Bexhill Chamber of Commerce.

He entered local politics with enthusiasm after he and his then wife, Shirley, sold Earl's Bakery and retired.

He won a Rother seat in the Tory stronghold of St Mark's Ward in 2001. He has since served on both the services and resources scrutiny committees, on the planning committee and, briefly, on licensing.

He was Deputy Town Mayor to Cllr Deirdre Williams in 2003-2004, succeeding her as Town Mayor in 2004-2005. His deputy, Cllr Joy Hughes, succeeded him last May.

He told the Observer: "I have thoroughly enjoyed all the debate and tried my hardest to achieve things, not just for Bexhill but for the whole of Rother; to attract new business to the area and investment to the area.

"I shall miss it all dreadfully. But other doors I am sure will open for me to be involved in the community."