One of Richmond’s longest serving councillors has been praised across the political divide as he stands down.

Bob King did not seek re-election for the Heathfield ward on Richmond Council when the borough went to the polls yesterday.

It will be the first time since he was elected in 1986 that he will not sit in the chamber.

Mr King, who served as mayor in 1995-96, is suffering from myasthenia gravis – a disease that can cause severe muscle weakness – and he said that was the deciding factor in not seeking re-election.

He said: “It has been a privilege to serve as a member for Heathfield ward.

“I shall remember the help and comradeship I have received from my fellow councillors of all political hues and the unswerving professionalism of the officers of the council.

“I hope that over my time I have been able to make a small contribution.”

Councillor Serge Lourie, Richmond’s Liberal Democrat leader, said Mr King had made an “enormous contribution” to education in the borough.

Councillor Nick True, leader of Richmond Conservatives, added: “Bob joined the council in the same year as I and has served continuously for 24 years, always principled and independent.”

Mr King was not the only long-serving councillor to stand down – James Mumford and Pat Parsons both stepped down after 12 consecutive years representing Teddington and Hampton Wick respectively, while Ray Ball, who was a Lib Dem ward member for Hampton for the past four years and was first elected in 1986, did not seek re-election.

Mr Mumford said it had been an honour to serve Teddington and, although it had taken its toll on “health and family life”, he would continue to campaign for safer roads and a borough-wide 20mph speed limit.

The former Lib Dem councillor added: “Much of my time has been spent opposing countless inappropriate developments, especially the damaging proposal to turn Teddington police station into a 30-cell custody suite with high prison walls.

“In a borough such as Richmond, where the Thames is both a delight and a potential threat, it has been encouraging to see the council recognise the dangers of flooding and climate change.

“We also value our parks and open spaces, and I am proud to have played a part in tearing down the hated fence that excluded residents from Buckingham Fields in Hampton.”

Mrs Parsons said she was proud to have served Hampton Wick as a Conservative and wanted to let someone else have the experience.

Mr Ball said he had been in poor health, which had affected his mobility, so had decided it was time to stand down.

Councillor to publish tell-all book

A former mayor is set to write a tell-all book about his time as a councillor in Richmond.

Marc Cranfield-Adams, who is not seeking re-election in the North Richmond ward, said he will be bringing out the book – Rotten Borough, Rotten Politics – later this summer and it “won’t spare some reputations”.

Mr Cranfield-Adams, who was first elected as a Conservative in 2002 and was then re-elected as a Liberal Democrat in 2006.

He served as mayor in 2007-08, before leaving the party and spending his last two years as an independent Conservative.

He said it had been a “great privilege to serve the people of North Richmond”.

Rodney Bennett, a Conservative representative for South Richmond for eight years, is also standing down as is Eleanor Stanier, a long-serving representative in Mortlake.

Mrs Stanier said she had discovered skills she did not know she had and encouraged others to “put their head above the parapet”.

She added: “The satisfaction of helping residents has been a great reward.”

Mr Bennett said he hoped he had made some friends in the council.

Others standing down are one-term Liberal Democrat representatives Carol Stratton, Munira Wilson, George Beevor, Shas Sheehan, Sally Cole and Zoe McLeod.

Councillor Nick True, leader of Richmond Conservatives, said: “Many young, one-term members are giving up. We must find ways to avoid disillusionment and keep talented people involved.

"Politics at a local level is a worthy vocation and I would like to thank them, irrespective of party, for the contribution they made.”