A COUNCILLOR is heading to America for a “romantic adventure” with his fiancée, after stepping down as leader of Droitwich Spa Town Council.

Cllr Tom Noyes, leader of the council’s ruling Conservative Group, and a former mayor, has now handed the reigns to fellow councillor Alex Sinton.

Also a member of the district council, Cllr Noyes said he will not be standing for re-election in May 2019.

Having got engaged to partner Patricia Taylor, Cllr Noyes, 75, is heading with his bride-to-be to the States to stay with friends in Arizona for a few weeks.

“We both lost our partners around the same time,” explained Cllr Noyes, whose wife Glenise, also a former mayor, died in May 2015.

“Luckily, we found each other, and we have the same outlook on a lot of things.

“It made sense to step aside now, and we’re both ones for a bit of a romantic adventure.”

Town clerk Pam Craney is set to retire at the end of the year, and will be succeeded by assistant clerk Mark Keld.

Cllr Noyes, who will continue as a member of the town council after he returns from his trip to America, felt a new leader and a clerk duo is the best way forward.

“You get to a certain age, and you have things you want to do, and you just get a feeling that the time is right,” he explained.

A fan of western films, Cllr Noyes will also visit the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona – the site of the famous gunfight.

The couple will then stop off in Las Vegas, but the councillor assured they will not be tying the knot in the Chapel of Love.

Speaking at a town council meeting last month, Cllr Sinton said his appointment was a “great pleasure” but “with a shade of sadness”.

“We’ve known each other for a long time, not just [through] this council but our other spheres of activity as well, and I think on behalf of the council – Tom, thank you for everything you have done.

“All the support you have given me and absolutely, it’s your sense of humour and intelligence as well. There’s no doubt. You see the heart of it.”

He added: “Thanks again for everyone’s faith in putting me in this position.”

Cllr Alan Humphries said: “I would also like to say thank you to Cllr Noyes for all the hard work he’s done and also for being so very kind to me in 2015, when I was elected onto this council.

“Cllr Noyes got me involved in all the committees, so I will always be grateful.

“As an aside, I would like to welcome Cllr Sinton.”