Former Mayor Dies After Collapsing During Meeting of 'Britain's Craziest Council'

A former mayor has died after collapsing during a meeting of Attleborough Town Council, a body that has been nicknamed "Britain's craziest council." Peter Neal, 68, was speaking as a member of the public on Monday evening when he fell to the ground.

Mr. Neal, a former Attleborough councillor and mayor from 2002 to 2003, was addressing the council about the town clerk, who was participating in the meeting via video call from Hampshire, approximately 250 miles away. He expressed concern about the remote arrangement, stating, "Maybe I'm old school but I find it quite frightening that we've got somebody who is our town clerk 250 miles away." He continued, "We have been used to days of old where our clerk was not necessarily in the town but close to the town and knew the ins and outs and the ways forward. And please, please can we find a way forward?"

Following Mr. Neal's collapse, members of the council and the public immediately began administering CPR and deployed a defibrillator. Despite their efforts and the arrival of an air ambulance, Mr. Neal was pronounced dead at the scene. An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed that two ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle, and the air ambulance were dispatched to the incident.

The Attleborough Town Council has been the subject of controversy in recent years, leading to its "craziest council" moniker. Incidents include the resignation of a former deputy mayor amid scrutiny over a £10,000 charity donation from a £20,000 damages settlement related to a bullying claim. Another row involved a request for the clerk to monitor a councillor's emails, sparking allegations of spying. The former deputy mayor was also reportedly involved in a suspected hit-and-run incident.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Daniel Piddington expressed the council's shock and sadness, stating, "It is difficult to put into words the shock and sadness of what happened last night. Those moments will remain with all of us for a very long time." He added, "When Peter needed us, everyone came together without hesitation. We did everything we possibly could to help him until the emergency services arrived." He extended heartfelt condolences to Mr. Neal's family and friends.

Attleborough Boxing Club, of which Mr. Neal was a founding member, remembered him as someone who would be "fondly for his quick wit and attention to detail, and his friendship and care he had for all." The club stated that Mr. Neal would live on in the club's ethos and culture and that they were thankful for his friendship and the energy he injected into the community and the sport.

In tribute to Mr. Neal, the town's flag was lowered to half-mast.