Tributes have poured in for a “highly respected” former mayor who “loved his town”.

Ron Pattle, who served as mayor of Stowmarket on two separate occasions, died on September 14 following a major stroke.

The 92-year-old was well known for his involvement with several town organisations including as president of The Stowmarket Society. His son Jon, 58, said: “He was a town and district councillor for many years and was also at one time chairman of the carnival committee.

“He just looked to make a positive contribution; he liked Stowmarket and wanted to do what he could to make it a better place. He was a founding member of The Stowmarket Society, which is basically a civic society to improve the town and that was what he was all about.”

The current deputy town mayor, Gerard Brewster, was taught by Mr Pattle during his time as teacher at Combs Ford Primary School.

He said: “It was a great pleasure and privilege to serve with Ron in the later days of the old Urban District Council and the early days of the town council.

“As a 10-year-old I had been taught by Ron in primary school and so it was a twist of fate that Ron and I eventually served together as colleagues on the town council. Ron was a great character and had a great love for Stowmarket.

“He was very sincere in the views he had for the town and will be greatly missed.”

Mr Pattle was first elected to the town council in 1968 and also served on what was the Urban District Council, now Mid Suffolk District Council, between 1973-1983.

District councillor John Matthissen said he had been integral to the town’s development.

Mr Pattle was also president of the Friends of the Museum of East Anglian Life and a road safety campaigner.

He was a strong supporter of Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre in the town and played a major part in the building of its swimming pool.

Town clerk David Blackburn said he had been a “highly respected leader”.