A FORMER mayor of Pickering has died suddenly at the age of 73.
Councillor Tom Bateman, who was mayor of the town last year, had been a member of the town council for eight years.
London-born Coun Bateman spent 27 years in the Royal Navy as an aircraft artificer serving on HMS Victorious, Indomitable and Jupiter. He was later stationed in Borneo and Malta, before returning to Britain, serving at air stations in Sussex, Glasgow and Cornwall.
On moving to Pickering, he became chief inspector with the Torva Glider Company before joining British Aerospace in Saudi Arabia for five years. He later worked at RAF Fylingdales.
A worldwide traveller, he moved back to Saudi Arabia, where he spent 12 years training warrant officers. Returning to Pickering, he worked for the adult training centre in Scarborough before retiring.
He leaves his wife, Jill, and a daughter, Jane. The funeral will be held at Pickering Par-ish Church at 2pm tomorrow.
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