Tributes paid to Robert Everitt following his death at the weekend

Tributes have been flooding in for former mayor of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and chairman of Suffolk County Council, Robert Everitt, (pictured above) who has suddenly died at the age of 72.

He spent the past four decades as a public servant beginning  his career with St Edmundsbury Council in 1981 where he was a parish councillor in Wickhambrook.

At the county council, he became a councillor in 2017 and chairman in 2022.

Mr Everitt helped with many local causes and was a familiar face in his home town of Bury St Edmunds often seen cycling round on his bicycle  famously doing it once in his Mayoral robes.

He died at the weekend and news of his death was posted on the county council website.

Liz Harsant, the chairman of Suffolk County Council, said he had a “gift for connection; with residents, colleagues, and with causes close to his heart” and “gave his all, time and again, for the people of Suffolk.”

She added: “His values were clear from the very start that ‘you only get out of life what you put in’, and Robert certainly gave his all.

“Whether it was Robert’s time as Mayor of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, or the various cabinet member positions he held, including that of Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, or more recently becoming a county councillor in 2017 and carrying out his duty as chairman in 2022, Robert carried out every responsibility with warmth, dignity, and purpose.

“He had a gift for connection; with residents, colleagues, and with causes close to his heart, from encouraging a love of reading among young people to championing those with hearing impairments and advocating for children with dyslexia.

“We will miss Robert’s calm wisdom, his kindness, tireless spirit, and his unfailing good humour.

On behalf of the council, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Robert’s wife, Diane, their family and loved ones during this very difficult time.”

Matthew Hicks, the leader of the county council, said: “Robert leaves the most incredible legacy.

“He was a remarkable local councillor who could not have been more passionate about Bury St Edmunds. But not only that, he was synonymous with it.

“To know the town was to know Robert, whether as the face for many years of the Christmas Fayre or the regular sightings of him cycling around the town – famously doing it once in his mayoral robes.

“Robert’s loss will be felt deeply across the town and Suffolk more widely but most of all by his wife Diane, his two daughters and their family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all.”

Sarah Stamp, a close colleague and councillor at West Suffolk Council and Bury St Edmunds Town Council, said his death was devastating news.

“In local politics not everyone you meet is in it for the right reasons but Robert was.

“All he wanted was to help make Bury St Edmunds a better place for all of us.

“He was fair and reasoned and compassionate in any debate and it was a pleasure to serve alongside him and an honour to call him my friend,” she added.

Fellow councillor Clive Springett said: “He was a great advocate for Bury St Edmunds, a town he loved with passion.

“The town and county will be a lesser place without Robert in it.”

And Sue Smith, former head of fundraising for the My WiSH charity at the West Suffolk Hospital, said: “Rest in peace Robert, you were honestly one of the most genuine people I have had the pleasure to know.”