Tributes paid after town's mayor dies from illness

Bob White was serving as mayor of Richmond when he died on Thursday

Tributes have been paid to a mayor who has died of cancer.

Bob White, 76, was serving his third term as mayor of Richmond when he died on Thursday, according to the town council.

Mr White served in the Army with the Royal Signals and was president of the Royal Signals Association as well as being chair of the Richmond branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Mr White also served as mayor in 2013 and 2021.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a council spokesperson said: "It is with great regret that Richmond Town Council announces the sad passing on Thursday of councillor Bob White, mayor of Richmond, following an illness borne with great strength and dignity."

Laurence Lines, secretary of the RBL branch, said: "Bob was a great man and over the years did a huge amount of work supporting and promoting the branch at local, county and national level."

Stuart Parsons, the member for Richmond on North Yorkshire Council and a former mayor of the town himself, said: "It's very said that it has come to this and I hope his wife and family will feel supported.

"Bob and I didn't often see eye to eye politically, but he believed in many causes and worked very hard for them and for the town of Richmond."

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