HAVING served on Huntingdon Town Council for 30 years and held the office of Mayor twice, I believe I have seen more fall-outs, rows and upsets in the authority than most. But it was not all bad: there were some good times. So I read with some interest th

HAVING served on Huntingdon Town Council for 30 years and held the office of Mayor twice, I believe I have seen more fall-outs, rows and upsets in the authority than most. But it was not all bad: there were some good times.

So I read with some interest the present state of affairs with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Huntingdon meeting the town clerk, suspending him from duty and sending him home. I cannot remember it ever reaching this level of over-stretching one's authority in my time.

It does puzzle me why the mayor, who may have really dropped an almighty clanger, has left his political group. Surely it's at troubled times like these that you need supporting colleagues.

We are all aware the post of mayor is not a political appointment but ever since the formation of the present town council the mayor has always been a member of the ruling group and been supported by that group. This has been in preference, many times, to long-serving members from other groups.

On January 19, when the illegal meeting which is causing all the problems was held, both councillors were members of the Tory group, so Councillor Dutton deserting the ship or the ship's crew throwing him overboard does not give the Tory group a clean bill of heath.

I now watch with even more interest how this story may unfold. Has the code of conduct been broken again at the town council? This latest blip has much more drama and intrigue in it than any of my stories from 30 years at the mast.

JIM LOMAX, Windsor Road, Godmanchester