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Mayor of Cambridge dies during scuba-diving holiday | Mayor of Cambridge dies during scuba-diving holiday |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The mayor of Cambridge has died suddenly while on a scuba-diving holiday with his wife in South Africa. | The mayor of Cambridge has died suddenly while on a scuba-diving holiday with his wife in South Africa. |
Nigel Gawthrope, 61, collapsed on Friday after surfacing from a dive and feeling unwell. The exact cause of his death is unknown. | Nigel Gawthrope, 61, collapsed on Friday after surfacing from a dive and feeling unwell. The exact cause of his death is unknown. |
The city councillor was a popular local figure and had been eight months into his term of office. | The city councillor was a popular local figure and had been eight months into his term of office. |
Council leader Lewis Herbert said he served "with distinction and panache". | Council leader Lewis Herbert said he served "with distinction and panache". |
A keen scuba diver and underwater photographer, Mr Gawthrope was on holiday at a diving resort near Durban with his wife, Jenny. | A keen scuba diver and underwater photographer, Mr Gawthrope was on holiday at a diving resort near Durban with his wife, Jenny. |
Mr Gawthrope was a prolific charity fundraiser and worked at the Cambridge University Press, Judge Business School - and latterly as a porter at Clare College, Cambridge. | Mr Gawthrope was a prolific charity fundraiser and worked at the Cambridge University Press, Judge Business School - and latterly as a porter at Clare College, Cambridge. |
He was particularly proud of his association with the Cambridge children's charity, the Red Hen Project. | He was particularly proud of his association with the Cambridge children's charity, the Red Hen Project. |
He was also a long-standing member of the Unite union and acted as a representative and delegate. | He was also a long-standing member of the Unite union and acted as a representative and delegate. |
'Deep shock' | 'Deep shock' |
Mr Gawthrope was elected to Cambridge City Council serving King's Hedges ward for Labour in 2012 - and again in 2016 - before taking up the mayoral role in May. | Mr Gawthrope was elected to Cambridge City Council serving King's Hedges ward for Labour in 2012 - and again in 2016 - before taking up the mayoral role in May. |
Mr Herbert, leader of the city's 26 Labour councillors, said: "Our thoughts and emotions are with his wife Jenny so far away, and with Nigel's family and close friends at this truly horrible time. | Mr Herbert, leader of the city's 26 Labour councillors, said: "Our thoughts and emotions are with his wife Jenny so far away, and with Nigel's family and close friends at this truly horrible time. |
"As a councillor and mayor of Cambridge, Nigel served with distinction and panache." | "As a councillor and mayor of Cambridge, Nigel served with distinction and panache." |
He added: "Nigel was a one-off. He was a thoroughly engaging individual who will be hard to replace." | He added: "Nigel was a one-off. He was a thoroughly engaging individual who will be hard to replace." |
East of England MEP Alex Mayer said Mr Gawthrope was a "committed ward councillor... who always greeted you with a smile" and described the news as "deeply, deeply sad". | East of England MEP Alex Mayer said Mr Gawthrope was a "committed ward councillor... who always greeted you with a smile" and described the news as "deeply, deeply sad". |
Labour councillor Kevin Price said he and Mr Gawthrope "shared a history of trades union activism within the printing industry". | Labour councillor Kevin Price said he and Mr Gawthrope "shared a history of trades union activism within the printing industry". |
"He loved representing the ward where he grew up," he added, "and many residents in the ward will share our deep shock and sadness at his untimely death." | "He loved representing the ward where he grew up," he added, "and many residents in the ward will share our deep shock and sadness at his untimely death." |
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