Four Reading councillors are stepping down ahead of this year’s local elections, including a former council leader and two ex-mayors.
Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) is retiring after 40 years as a councillor, first 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) is also standing down after 20 years; she was first elected in 2006, re-elected five times and served as mayor in 2011 and 2018. Cllr Sarah Hacker (Independent, Battle), who was mayor in 2015, is retiring too.
Labour’s Sam Juthani (Caversham Heights) has already resigned ahead of the end of his term in 2027.
The retiring councillors were farewelled at the full council meeting on Tuesday 24 March. Paying tribute, council leader Liz Terry (Labour, Coley) 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.”
On Cllr Edwards, known in the chamber as the Queen of Southcote, Terry noted her charity work and committee roles: Edwards was chair and vice-chair of the licensing applications committee and a trustee of homelessness charity Launchpad and 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.”
On Cllr Lovelock, Terry said: “If we had such a thing for councils, she would be the Mother of the Council. “Jo jas 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 responded: “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.”
Cllr Hacker was not at the meeting; a tribute to her service was given at last month’s full council.
Mr Juthani’s resignation has created a casual vacancy. Voters in Caversham Heights will elect two councillors in May, with incumbent Conservative Cllr Isobel Ballsdon standing for re-election.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
