Tributes are being paid to former Mayor of Newquay and Cornwall Councillor Kevin Towill who has died at the age of 46.
He was first elected to Cornwall Council in 2017 as a Conservative and also served on Newquay Town Council, including a term as Mayor of Newquay in the 2012/2013 civic year and as Deputy Mayor in 2022/2023. Last year he defected to Reform and was re-elected to represent the Newquay Tretherras and Porth division.
Mr Towill was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2024 after experiencing symptoms for a number of years. He underwent a 12-hour operation, followed by a lengthy recovery and a period at Mount Gould rehabilitation hospital in Plymouth. He later returned to public life and resumed his political duties.
Press play to hear Newquay Mayor Drew Creek paying tribute to the former Mayor of Newquay.
Paying tribute, Newquay Mayor Drew Creek said:
“I always found Kevin to be a really good representative of his constituents. He was always very calm and I always had a great deal of respect for his ability to debate and make a healthy point in the chamber. Our politics was world’s apart and often we would strongly disagree. But once that disagreement in the chamber had ended, it was like nothing had happened and I always respect that of Kevin.
“He was a very good local councillor both on Newquay Town Council and Cornwall Council.
“I would like to pass on condolences and thoughts of all the officers and councillors at Newquay Town Council to Kevin’s mum Diana, his friends and of course family at his difficult time.”
“Kevin’s passing leaves a void in our council and in our community. He will be greatly missed, not only for his contributions but for the principled and passionate man he was. Our thoughts are with his family at this most difficult time.”
In recent months Mr Towill had been supporting residents in Nansledan in their campaign for traffic calming measures and improved crossings near the junction of William Hosking Road and Quintrell Road. He also served on several Cornwall Council committees and was a member of the Devon and Cornwall Police Crime Panel.
Newquay MP - Noah Law said in a statement:
"I feel immensely sad about Kevin’s passing.
Whilst I can’t of course pretend for a moment to agree with his politics, Kevin was a genuinely decent man who, especially following his illness, threw himself into his work and helped secure local campaigning victories – working effortlessly together with those of us of all political stripes to get things done in the community like in Nansledan.
My thoughts are with his friends and family at this time. May he rest in peace."
Conservative Cornwall councillor James Mustoe also paid tribute, saying:
“In 2017 he was elected to Cornwall Council and served there ever since, again conducting himself impeccably throughout, including memorably leading the successful campaign to retain a fire control centre for Cornwall.
“In more recent years, Kevin suffered with some of the most challenging health problems I can recall. Despite being incapacitated for what must have been approaching a year, he maintained contact with his residents by email and did his best through what must have been the most difficult of times for him, personally and professionally. It was always good to see him, when he was able to make it out, or virtually, and to encourage him in his fight against a terrible condition.”
Mr Mustoe added: “A good councillor, both locally and at County Hall, but more importantly a good friend, I will miss Kevin tremendously.”
Outside politics, Mr Towill was also a serving member of Newquay Towan Blystra Lions Club, which he joined in 2012.
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