CANTERBURY'S first Lord Mayor Tom Steele has died in hospital near his home in the South of France. He was 69 and had suffered complications following an operation.

In a sad twist, his former civic secretary and friend, Bob Goodwin, died on the same day.

Mr Steele and his wife Janet retired to Plan de la Tour in the Var region of France more than six years ago.

The couple, who used to live in Chartham, near Canterbury, had a holiday home in France and chose to move abroad permanently in their retirement.

Mr Steele was a well-respected school teacher and popular Conservative councillor who joined the city council in 1983. He served as Sheriff of Canterbury and was elected Mayor in 1988 when the office was elevated to the status of Lord Mayor. But he lost his seat in local council elections in May, 1991.

Speaking from her home in the South of France, Mrs Steele said she had been sent many messages of condolence but added that it was too early to say whether she would continue living in the South of France.

Mr Steele also leaves leaves a son, Timothy, and daughter, Jennifer.