A VILLAGE clerk who continued to work from a hospital bed while being prepared for surgery has earned the praise of the council he serves.
Staindrop Parish Council had to postpone its meeting on May 17 when the clerk, Tom Bolton, fell ill and was taken to hospital.
The dedicated public servant, however, continued to produce reports and minutes from his sickbed and ensured they were sent digitally to council members.
Councillors were full of praise for Mr Bolton when they eventually met on Thursday, May 24. Cllr Ed Chicken said: “The other day I got an email at seven in the morning and he said ‘I am just waiting to go for my operation now, but can you print this out and put the agenda up otherwise we are not legal’. Well I thought where do people like that come from?”
Cllr Roger Humphries, who filled in for Mr Bolton during the meeting, added: “To produce this material when he has been, literally, pretty much at death’s door actually [is above and beyond the call of duty], and it would be nice to have something in the minutes to thank him.
“I just felt that this is really beyond the call of duty, producing a set of minutes and producing this briefing note as well. So it just indicates the calibre of the man. It is totally selfless and utterly professional.”
Mr Bolton was released from hospital on Thursday, May 29 and is on the mend.
The 62-year-old, who has served the council for about six years, said: “I was bored stiff so it was good to have something to do. I have had a lost of help from the parish council.”
