Family and former councillors have paid tribute to a “brilliant” former Kingston mayor after he died aged 79.
Michael Mannall, who served as the mayor of Kingston from 1989 to 1990, is known for being the mayor who unveiled the borough’s iconic tumbling red phone boxes. He died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Norfolk, on Monday, July 9 having suffered a heart attack. An “outspoken” mayor, he reportedly asked the council to write his speech for him when he unveiled the controversial 12 tumbling phone boxes in December 1989 as he believed his own words would have been “unprintable”.
Other than the unveiling of one of Kingston’s most famous landmarks, Mr Mannall is also remembered for overseeing the pedestrianisation of parts of Clarence Street.
He met his wife in 1990 and married her four years later. After he retired, they moved to Walsingham.
In October last year, Mr Mannall was one of 13 former mayors to be made an honorary alderman by Kingston Council.
Turner-nominated artist David Mach, whom Mrs Mannall described as a friend of the former mayor, designed the famous Out of Order phone boxes installation. The sculpture has provoked strong feelings from residents since its installation, with Mr Mach once threatening legal action when the boxes were decorated and damaged over Christmas 2013.
Mr Mannall’s funeral will take place at Saint Mary & All Saints Church, in Little Walsingham on Monday, August 1 at 12pm.
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