Tributes to Tory chairman who died at party meeting

Tributes have been paid to a "hard-working" Conservative chairman who died at a party meeting.

Andrew McClure had just finished asking a question at a meeting in Bungay, Suffolk, on Monday night when he collapsed, a colleague said.

The 68-year-old, who was chairman of the Broadland and Fakenham Conservative Association in Norfolk, died moments later.

Kate Rushton, the association's agent and organiser, described Mr McClure as a "force to be reckoned with".

"He was extremely hard-working. He was always in the office and always there to help," she said.

"He put in more hours than anyone I know.

"I think everybody's really shocked and saddened. He'll be extremely missed."

The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to Old Grammar Road at 20:41 BST, and "despite the best efforts of emergency responders", a man was pronounced dead.

An air ambulance was also called to the scene.

The meeting at Bungay Community Centre had involved Conservative associations from across Norfolk and Suffolk, as first reported by the Eastern Daily Press.

Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, said Mr McClure was a "peacemaker" and "good at bringing people together".

"He was the heart of my association and instrumental in my re-election campaign," he said.

"As a volunteer, he worked in the constituency office seven days a week during that campaign, and I don't know if I'd have been re-elected without the efforts he put in."

Mr McClure was also a member of Horsford Parish Council.

"He was a quiet, thoughtful and kind man who was very generous with his time," the council posted on Facebook.

"He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Andrew's family."

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