Tributes have been paid to a former consort of the Mayor of Wakefield following his sudden death.

Peter Davis, who served the district alongside his husband Darren Byford during the 2024/25 municipal year, died on October 19, five days after suffering a heart attack while driving.

Peter, 58, was a respected nurse and a long-standing activist for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Darren, his partner of 21 years, said: “I have lost my soulmate.

During their year representing Wakefield Council's Mayoral Office, Peter (left) and Darren helped raise more than £24,000 for the dementia support charity Memory Action Group.

placeholder image — During their year representing Wakefield Council's Mayoral Office, Peter (left) and Darren helped raise more than £24,000 for the dementia support charity Memory Action Group.

“Everybody is in bits but we are trying to be strong.

“Together with Peter’s family, we are devastated, lost and asking why.

“Peter was only 58 years old, an amazing husband, son, brother, step-dad and friend to so many people.

“The positive of all of this was that Peter was an organ donor.

“He died on the Monday morning and by 3pm that day he had already helped three different people.

Darren said Peter suffered a heart attack on the evening of October 14 while driving home from the Salvation Army in Castleford where he had been running a choir rehearsal session.

Emergency services rescued him from the vehicle in woodland in Allerton Bywater and took him to Leeds General Infirmary where he died on October 19.

Darren added: “The treatment and care he received went above and beyond. They couldn’t have done any more.”

Peter’s mum, Maralyn Davis, said her son was a talented singer and musician who played the trombone and euphonium in Salvation Army bands.

She said: “His family and Salvation Army friends love him to bits.

“He ran a choir in Nelson and was just starting up the choir in Castleford. It was only their second practice. I just hope they keep it going because he spent a lot of time and energy on it.

“It’s very sad that we couldn’t say goodbye to Peter properly but the care at the LGI was amazing.

“He had one-to-one care for five days and nobody left his side.”

He was responsible for setting up the trust’s first Covid vaccination centre at Thackray Museum of Medicine during the pandemic in 2020 before moving into international nurse recruitment, helping to bring over 300 nurses to West Yorkshire from across the world.

In September he was elected as the RCN Council’s representative for Yorkshire and the Humber, with his term due to start in January 2027.

During their year representing Wakefield Council’s Mayoral Office, Peter and Darren helped raise more than £24,000 for the Wakefield-based dementia support charity Memory Action Group (MAG).

Peter’s funeral will take place at Wakefield Crematorium on November 10 at 1.20pm.

A memorial ceremony will be held the following day in Peter’s home town of Nelson in Lancashire, with donations at both events going to MAG.

Tony Reeves, Wakefield Council’s chief executive, said: “Peter represented the Mayoral Office with grace and pride.

“He was a superb ambassador for our district and on behalf of the council I send our deepest condolences to Darren, his family and friends.”

Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: “His contribution to the RCN and to nursing will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

“On behalf of the RCN, I extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.”