Councillors, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Councillor Barry Panter, who has died following a road accident on the evening of Thursday, 13 February. Cllr Panter was serving as Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme for 2024-25 and represented the Loggerheads ward.
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 sad news is simply terrible.
My thoughts and those of the Council are with his wife Beatrice, family and friends.
The Deputy Mayor, Robert Bettley-Smith, said:
I was devastated to hear of Barry's accident and then to receive the terrible news. I was honoured to be able to serve Barry as Deputy Mayor and also form a friendship with him and Beatrice. My thoughts, prayers and condolences are with Beatrice and the family at this time. A true gentleman and committed Christian who will also be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues.
Born in Bedford, Cllr Panter left home at the age of 19 to join the RAF. After leaving the military, he served on the South Wales Constabulary for 23 years, during which the father-of-two received several commendations for his courage and policing work in the community.
Moving to North Staffordshire in 2002, he took an interest in local affairs by joining his local residents' association and serving as a parish councillor and school governor. Cllr Panter was first elected to the Borough Council in 2016.
