A former councillor in Reading who has been described as ‘the MP the town never had’ has passed away aged 84.
Christopher Goodall, a former Labour councillor, suffered a stroke in 1999 but fought to keep active ever since.
He was first elected to Reading County Borough Council for Christchurch ward in 1971 and served until 1973 when he was elected on local reorganisation to the new Reading Borough Council.
Mr Goodall was elected chairman of the housing committee in 1973 and served until 1976 when he stood down.
In that time, he was considered as a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Reading North constituency for the February 1974 general election.
Reading North was considered to be highly marginal because of the unpopularity of Ted Heath’s Conservative government, and was considered a potential Labour gain.
Mr Goodall applied to be the candidate, living at Forge Close, Caversham, at the time.
Many potential politicians applied, and as a measure of Mr Goodall’s performance during the selection process, he managed to reach the shortlist, which had to include a woman as Labour was determined to increase the number of female members in the House of Commons.
In the end, Maeve Denby, who had no real connection with Reading, was a serving Oxford City Council member but had fought Henley in the previous election, was selected.
The February 1974 election marked the start of Tony Durant’s parliamentary career and his majority in Reading North over Labour was 2,369, although in October 1974 the Conservative majority over Labour fell to 468.
Mr Goodall was elected to the borough council again in 1997 for Church ward in preparation for the demise of Berkshire County Council and continued to as a borough councillor until 2006, despite having had the stroke in April 1999 and suffering a heart attack and a pulmonary embolism six weeks later.
He was a Labour activist in his youth. Born in Redhill, he and his family lived in Sutton in Surrey. Eventually his father, his sister and Chris himself were elected to Sutton Borough Council as Labour members.
Mr Goodall met Jill, his wife of 56 years, when she was still at school. She moved to Reading as a student at Reading University. They were both members of the Young Socialists, they married and purchased a home in Addington Road.
For some years Mr Goodall worked as a press officer at the Labour Party’s national headquarters.
Later he joined the Islington Gazette as a journalist and remained working there for over 30 years. For the quality of his reporting on the Borough of Islington’s council meetings, councillors voted to give him the Freedom of the Borough of Islington in the early 2000s.
He was also a member of Berkshire County Council from 1981 and continued to serve until 1998.
During this time, he served as chairman of the public protection committee.
Vic Angell, a former borough councillor, said: “Chris and I were first elected to Reading County Borough Council on the same night in May 1971 when we were in our twenties and both journalists – he for Christchurch ward and me for Redlands ward.
“He was the MP Reading never had.
“Despite having differing political views, we became friends, and we both served on Berkshire County Council’s last five years from 1993, again in different parties.
“He was a fighter for those he represented and he bravely fought to keep active, although three years ago he fell very badly only 50 metres from his home in Hawthorn Road, Caversham. His desire not to give up was helped enormously by the Caversham Good Neighbours scheme and Readibus, to whom he was eternally grateful as they transport the elderly and disabled.
“He was also a respected regular for breakfast at Warings Bakery in Caversham. Chris was all substance, minimum ego and deeply knowledgeable on politics and life.”
Kevin Boyle added: “My friend Chris was a good man. We both represented Christchurch division, Reading, on Berkshire County Council in the 1980s, a seat which had two councillors. He was caring and compassionate with our constituents and had a lovely jovial manner.
“My wife, Pauline and I often enjoyed his company with his wife Jill at local concerts, despite being disabled by his stroke. His ability to learn to speak again was amazing. We met regularly for lunch most months, until very recently. I’ll miss that very much. He couldn’t believe how long he had lived, so I’ll be consoled by that.”
Mr Goodall is survived by his wife Jill, son Steve and daughter Katie and grandchildren Adam, Iona, Hollie and Lois.
A funeral service for Mr Goodall will be held at Reading Crematorium on Friday, 14 August at 3.15 pm.
