MARGATE'S deputy mayor Cllr Mick Tomlinson is recovering in hospital after collapsing when his heart stopped several times.

The 62-year-old, known affectionately as Mr Margate for his dedicated service to the town, had complained of feeling unwell shortly before he suffered a cardiac arrest at a friend’s home in Cliftonville on Friday afternoon.

The former mayor was with his wife Shirley, who is also a district councillor, and she gave him immediate resuscitation.

He was also treated at the scene and in an ambulance by paramedics as his heart revived and stopped several times on the way to the Queen Mother hospital.

His wife said: "Mick is in hospital recovering, undergoing some tests and doing well. We are indebted to the professional expertise of the medical staff and have been overwhelmed by peoples’ kindness and the messages of support, even from people we do not know. I would like to thank them on behalf of myself, Mick and our family."

Council leader Sandy Ezekiel had been with Cllr Tomlinson an hour before his collapse. He said: "It was a real shock to us all. I understand that Shirley was marvellous and her quick thinking and the splendid professional medical staff undoubtedly saved Mick’s life.

"I visited him in hospital and he appears remarkably well considering, although he has a little short term memory loss.

"All his colleagues and friends at the district council and the many organisations and groups he is involved with wish him a full and speedy recovery."

Cllr Tomlinson, who had a triple by-pass heart operation last autumn, has run Margate carnival for more than 50 years and has been a popular disc jockey around the area for a similar time.

He still hosts the Rendezvous Club dances at the Margate Winter Gardens and has already been planning this summer’s carnival parade in August.

He represents Westbrook ward and Shirley represents Garlinge, both for the Conservative party.

* At the suggestion of former Labour councillor Roy Ward, the Charter Trustees have invited Cllr Tomlinson to become a burgess of the borough of Margate.

The title, which is similar to a freeman of the town, reflects his dedicated service to the area. After agreeing to the award at their meeting on Monday, January 28, Cllr Tomlinson received a standing ovation. An investuture will be held at the old town hall in Market Place when he is fully recovered.