Four councillors in Reading are retiring ahead of the local elections this year, including a former council leader and two former mayors.
Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) has been a councillor for 40 years, first being elected in 1986.
In recent times, she served as the council leader for more than 10 years, from 2008 to 2010, and from 2011 to 2019.
Debora Edwards (Labour, Southcote) has served as a councillor for 20 years and as mayor in 2011 and 2018.
Cllr Sarah Hacker (Independent, Battle), the mayor in 2015, is also retiring.
Meanwhile, cllr Sam Juthani (Labour, Caversham Heights) has recently resigned from the council ahead of the end of his term in 2027.
The retiring councillors were bid farewell at the latest full council meeting.
Paying tribute to her colleagues, Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the council leader, said: “Cllr Juthani has served as a diligent ward councillor and colleague to cllr Jenny McGrother (Labour, Caversham Heights), he loved his time serving his ward and others across the town, he very much wishes he was able to complete his term of office, however, work and family commitments led him to the decision that he would have to resign.
“Cllr Edwards, fondly referred to by her colleagues as the Queen of Southcote, was first elected in 2006, so has served 20 years, being re-elected five times.
She was the mayor of Reading twice 2011 and 2018. She raised a record amount of funding for her nominated charities.”
Cllr Edwards was also noted for being the chair and vice-chair of the licensing applications committee and a trustee of homelessness charity Launchpad and the counselling service No5.
Cllr Edwards said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic!
“I’ve never lived in one place longer than I have lived in Reading. I moved around all over the place; my father was in the RAF, and I’ve moved with my husband.
“So when I arrived here in Reading, I thought wow! We’ll be here five years, I won’t get involved, I’ll just crack on, I’ll go to college, I’ll go to work, I’ll look after the children.
“Well, that all changed once I moved here to Southcote, that was it!
“I thought, wow! It’s right near the Linear Park and Holybook, and the people were lovely and calm.”
For cllr Lovelock, Cllr Terry said: “If we had such a thing for councils, she would be the Mother of the Council.
“Jo has been instrumental in several significant projects, such as the regeneration of Dee Park and the expansion of schools at a time of significant pressures.
“She was also instrumental in developing The Oracle shopping centre and the relocation of Reading FC.”
Cllr Lovelock said: “I’m going to miss it! But I’m not Donald Trump! You can’t go on being an effective politician when you are nearing four score years!
“So I think it’s the right time, it doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss it, and I wish you all the very best for the future.”
The tributes were given at the meeting on Tuesday, March 24.
Cllr Hacker was not present at the meeting. A tribute to her service was given at the full council meeting last month.
Mr Juthani’s resignation has created a casual vacancy, meaning voters in Caversham Heights will elect two councillors this May, as incumbent Conservative cllr Isobel Ballsdon is seeking re‑election.
