Diabetic Mayor of Croydon may have died from influenza

6:50am Wednesday 7th January 2009

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The Mayor of Croydon died on New Year’s Eve after suffering from a severe bout of influenza, it has emerged.

Jonathan Driver, 41, the borough’s youngest mayor, was a diabetic who may have suffered fatal complications after catching the virus.

The popular Conservative councillor was found dead at his Bramley Hill, south Croydon, home during the afternoon of New Year’s Eve after police were forced to break in following calls from concerned relatives.

According to deputy mayor Robert Askey, the unmarried history teacher had been suffering from flu after his entire office came down with the viral infection.

He said: “He was very private about his health and never liked to burden anyone with it. I assumed the virus he had may have had something to do with it but we just don’t know yet.

“Jonathan embodied everything that is good about mayors. He was always warm and friendly and took time to speak to people. When he did speak he made people think they were the most important person there. I have lost a good friend and Croydon has lost a great mayor.”

Derek Withers of the Croydon Lions Club, revealed how he found out about Coun Driver’s diabetes when the mayor visited a charity event in May.

“I first discovered Jonathan’s condition at one of our charity events. His driver came in before the mayor and told us he needed to get him some food. We found out later that day it was because of his diabetes.

“We also heard recently that he had missed a number of appointments because he was taken ill with flu.

“It is such a great loss for us and Croydon, he was a kind and generous man.”

Libby Dowling, care advisor at Diabetes UK, said: “Having flu can seriously affect diabetes control and cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate. This can leave people with diabetes open to many health problems including complications of flu such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

“People with diabetes qualify for a free flu jab and should visit their GPs to make sure that they have the proper protection against the flu virus.”

Conservative member for Selsdon and Ballards ward, Coun Sara Bashford said: “It is absolutely shocking to hear that Jonathan Driver has died. When I heard the news I was so surprised because he was so young.

“He looked unwell at the Christmas carol service. It’s just awful, he was such a lovely man.”

Coun Askey resumed mayoral duties after Coun Driver’s death and flags were flown at half-mast above Croydon Council’s headquarters Taberner House and above the town hall in Katharine Street.

Coun Driver was first elected to the council in 2006, representing his home area of Waddon, where he lived alone for the past seven years. He was also a teacher at Emanuel School in Wandsworth.

Aged only 40 he became Croydon’s youngest mayor, but this accolade was not his first. Coun Driver was also the youngest mayor of nearby Lambeth, aged just 30.

He was a keen singer and a member of the Leatherhead Operatics Society, taking tenor roles in productions of Oliver and Gilbert and Sullivan shows.