Page 1025 - Reading Mercury

government and a substantial part of it in Wokingham. His house is in Wokingham
and he does not plan to move.

WOKINGHAM’S NEW DEPUTY-TOWN CLERK
A new figure was hard at work in the Wokingham Borough Council offices last
week. Mr. John Barnes, aged 41, will replace Mr. Nigel Butler, the present deputy,
when he takes over as Town Clerk.
He has come to Wokingham after more than ten years’ experience as Deputy Clerk
at Alton Urban District Council in Hampshire, but his work in local government has
taken him all over the country.
A Yorkshireman born and bred, Mr. Barnes started his career in his home town of
Halifax straight after leaving school. Except for a two-year break for National Service
he has worked in local government ever since. A married man with three young sons,
Mr. Barnes has moved into a house in Patten Ash Drive, Wokingham, provided by the
council, but he hopes when he has settled in to find a house in the area he can buy.
“I came here because I thought the future looked brighter in Wokingham than in
Alton. Local government reorganisation there would have meant the amalgamation of
four authorities, whereas here it looks as if it will mean only the amalgamation of the
rural council with the borough.
Mr. Barnes will be taking over the servicing of some of the council committees
from Mr. Butler, but at the moment he is not sure which they will be,

th
Thur 7 Oct
SILVER TEA SERVICE FOR TOWN CLERK
The Mayor of Wokingham, Dr. Reginald Child, presented Mr. L. Goddard Smalley
with a silver tea service to mark the retirement last Thursday after 25 years as
Wokingham Town Clerk.
Following the retirement of the Town Clerk, his secretary, Miss Eileen Little, has
decided to retire after 22 years’ service. Miss Little, who lives in Oxford Road,
Wokingham, will retire from her full-time job at the end of the month. But she will
stay with the council part-time as the Mayor’s secretary.
Appointed to take over from Miss Little as Town Clerk’s secretary is Mrs. Hazel
Brooker.

th
Thur 11 Nov
The mayor’s chain dated back to 1890 and the badge is five years older. They were
renovated at a jeweller’s at a cost of £313. The wreath on the badge had become badly
worn and the jeweller recommended that the wreath be re-cut completely.

th
Thur 25 Nov
Lee’s Bakery is moving from Denmark to Peach Street and into the restaurant
business in a big way. The whole of the ground floor of former White’s Furniture
Store will be an open plan shop and bakery. The upper floor will house the
Oakingham Restaurant, the front half of which will be self-service, continental-style
café and the rear half a fully-furnished restaurant aimed at the business man’s lunch
trade and special functions. Mr. W.T.C. Bailey is a joint partner of Don Lee, son of
the founder.

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