Ex-councillor turns epilepsy departure to positive

Crispin Barker said the seizures prevented him from doing his job as a town councillor

A former councillor says he wants to help raise awareness of epilepsy after his worsening seizures forced him to step down.

Crispin Barker resigned as a member of Wellington Town Council in Shropshire on 15 September.

The 67-year-old, who represented Haygate as a Labour councillor since he was elected in 2021, said he started having late-onset epileptic seizures three years ago.

He said he was seizure-free in 2023 and most of 2024, but they "came back worse than before" in November, including episodes that left him needing hospital care.

"I was not and could not do the job properly," said Mr Barker, who served as chairman of the council's events and communications committee.

"It was no good trying to carry on. I was a very committed councillor, and I did not use social media - I preferred to walk and talk to people."

'Hidden disability'

Since his resignation, Mr Barker said he wanted to raise awareness of the condition and how it can affect people's lives.

He said he was unable to drive, and seizures, which he described as an "existential threat", could occur at any time of the day or night, with symptoms he would often not recognise.

He referred to it as a "hidden disability" and said he wore a sunflower lanyard, which advised people to call 999 if they saw him in trouble.

"The more that people are aware of epilepsy, the better," he added.

Mr Barker, who is married and has a stepson, first moved to Telford in 1985 and has lived in Wellington since 1991. He has worked as a lecturer at Telford College for about 30 years.

A by-election to fill the seat vacated by Mr Barker could be held if 10 electors in Haygate ask for one by midnight on Friday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.