Councillor dies after cancer battle

A DISTRICT councillor diagnosed with cancer two months ago has died of his illness.

David Teager, independent group leader at Broadland District Council, died on Tuesday, aged 68.

He became a Conservative member for the Rackheath ward in 1998. It became the Wroxham ward in 2004 and he has continued to represent it ever since.

Mr Teager represented the council on a number of panels and committees, including its health and housing committee, Broadland Environmental Forum and Norfolk Waste Management Partnership.

In 2000 he left the Conservative group to become an independent member, becoming group leader later that year.

In 2005 he became chairman of the council's overview and scrutiny committee. A council spokesman said he was passionate about the role, and about businesses in rural communities, which he represented as a member of the Leader plus Action Group to secure funding for Broadland.

Less than a fortnight ago, Mr Teager revealed how he had been diagnosed with cancer in his lungs and head after being admitted to hospital with what he believed to be a stroke.

He praised staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for the caring and professional way they had looked after him.

Phil Kirby, deputy chief executive of the council, said: “Councillor Teager will be sadly missed for his hard work and dedication; perhaps most for his passion and commitment.

“The lists of committees that Cllr Teager served on in his 11 years of service to Broadland spread to three pages of A4 paper.

“Elected members are often unsung community heroes representing their wards tirelessly through meetings and needing to become knowledgeable on a range of topics from planning and licensing legislation to European funding and the work of Internal Drainage Boards.

“Cllr Teager did all this and more. He was popular with staff and fellow councillors who are all saddened by this news.”