Tributes to mayor who died after crash with tractor on A525 in Shropshire
Tributes have been paid to the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme who died after a crash with a tractor on on the A525 in Shropshire
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Councillor Barry Panter died in hospital after a crash on the A525 Newcastle Road, near Woore, in Shropshire on Thursday, February 13.
Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council said its members had been left in shock at the tragedy, and paid tribute to Councillor Panter, who lived in the village of Madeley, North Staffordshire.
A statement issued by the council said: "It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of The Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cllr Barry Panter.
"It follows a road accident on the evening of Thursday, 13 February."
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: "Barry’s friends and colleagues are shocked to hear this news.
"We all saw him on Wednesday, chairing the meeting of full council with his usual authority, and now to hear this is simply terrible.
"My thoughts, and those of the Council, are with his wife Beatrice, family and friends."
Councillor 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, he left home at the age of 19 to join the RAF.
After leaving the military, he then served on the South Wales Constabulary for 23 years, during which time 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 lived in Madeley.
Having first taken in 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 to represent the Loggerheads ward.
West Mercia Police are continuing to investigate the crash and have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them
A spokesman for the force said: "The head-on collision occurred at approximately 6.40pm at Aston Lane in Woore involving a grey Suzuki Splash car and a New Holland tractor.
"Unfortunately, the driver of the Suzuki car, a man in his 70s, has since passed away in hospital.
"Police are investigating the cause of the collision and would like to hear from for any drivers or members of the public at the location with dash cam footage or who may have seen the tractor or car involved.
"Anyone with information can contact PC Craig Byle quoting incident 458i of 13 February via email at Craig.byle@westmercia.police.uk or by calling 07967 300058."
