A PASSIONATE defender of tenants’ rights has died after collapsing in the council chamber.

Peter Cleary suffered an aneurysm in the Civic Offices as he was speaking at one of the council’s regular Residents’ Engagement Group meetings.

He was seated and addressing the group when he complained of chest pains, and then collapsed in front of residents and council officers.

Two ambulance crews were called to the Civic Offices in Euclid Street and he was taken to Great Western Hospital but did not survive.

Mr Cleary, in his early seventies, of Elsie Hazel Court, Freshbrook, represented an estimated 1,500 tenants as chairman of the Tenants' Association for Sheltered Housing (TASH).

And now tenants and council officers who were often under fire from him have praised a man who fought hard for those he represented.

Brian Shakespeare, 71, of David Stoddart Gardens, had known Mr Cleary for nine years.

A fellow member of TASH, he was at the council meeting along with a couple of dozen others when the drama unfolded.

He said: “I would like to say Peter devoted many years to council business on behalf of Swindon residents and generated a great deal of respect. I intend to pay my respects by attending his service whenever it is announced.

“All I know is he was taken ill whilst addressing the committee, and died en route to hospital.

“I did my best to help him, along with everybody else. The ambulance service greatly impressed us with their efficiency, but to no avail.

“I would like to add that Mr Peter Cleary will be very sadly missed because of his efforts on behalf of sheltered accommodation residents.”

Bernie Brannan, the director of housing at the council, said: “It’s fair to say for years he has been a passionate campaigner for tenants and done a lot of good work with us in the council to improve the lives of tenants.

“He was challenging sometimes, but his challenges were always constructive. He was highly regarded by us in housing.”

Mr Cleary was taken ill at about 3.15pm on Monday afternoon at the meeting.

The mayor of Swindon, Ray Ballman, was set to pay tribute to him at the full council meeting in the council chamber last night.