A book of condolence has opened today in memory of the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme following his sudden death.

Cllr Barry Panter passed away at the weekend following a road accident on the evening of Thursday, 13 February. He was aged 75.

From today the book will be placed in the library area on the ground floor of Castle House and is available all day and the Union Flag in Queens Gardens will remain at half mast until the evening of Mr Panter's funeral. 

A resident of Madeley, Cllr Panter had represented the Loggerheads ward on the borough council since 2016.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: "Since this terrible news emerged, we have been contacted by many people emphasising their appreciation for Barry Panter's work in the community and expressing their shock and sadness at his untimely death.

"We would like to give residents an opportunity to express that in a formal way and then we will pass the book of Condolence to his wife Beatrice."

The Union Flag in Queens Gardens will remain at half mast until the evening of Mr Panter's funeral. (NUL Borough Council)

All mayoral engagements have been cancelled until after the funeral, the date of which is still to be confirmed.

Cllr Panter was serving as the Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25 and was raising money for the Salvation Army and Headway North Staffordshire during his term in office.

Born in Bedford, Mr Panter left home at the age of 19 to join the RAF and after leaving the military, served on the South Wales Constabulary for 23 years. 

The father-of-two received several commendations for his courage and policing work in the community.

Moving to North Staffordshire in 2002, he married again and settled in Madeley.

Having first taken an interest in local affairs by joining his residents' association and serving as a parish councillor and school governor, Cllr Panter was first elected to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in 2016.

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