Andy Westby told a packed public gallery at Attleborough Town Council that his year in charge of the authority had been defined by "pure venom and vitriol", and warned his successor that the position was a “thankless and un-enviable task”.

His dramatic speech reflected on a tenure that has played host to a range of extraordinary bitter feuds which have dominated talk in the town all year.

Mr Westby has served as the town's mayor since 2025 (Image: Facebook)

“I wish I could say that the past year has been a pleasurable and fulfilling experience but unfortunately I cannot,” he said.

Mr Westby said he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease before he was appointed to the role in May 2025, before being diagnosed with cancer in September.

However he said the mental burden of managing the council had weighed on him more than his health. 

"The physical toll was grim but the psychological strain was much worse and continues unfortunately," he said.

"Some people said I should have resigned as chair and maybe in hindsight that would have been the right thing to do.

"However I took the role I was elected to do very seriously due to the state of the council at the time, and I was determined to do this to the best of my ability, even if it meant attending meetings feeling desperately unwell."

Mr Westby delivered his final address as mayor to a packed out public gallery (Image: Henry Durand)

When Mr Westby assumed the role, members of the authority were already locked in a bitter business dispute that had begun to spill into the council chamber.

One member, Daniel Burcham, had run the Bear pub in the town for two months when his lease was withdrawn by the Taylor family - three generations of whom,........

© Eastern Daily Press