Christopher Goodall, 84, a former Labour councillor in Reading, has died. He suffered a stroke in 1999 but fought to stay active for years afterwards.
Mr Goodall was first elected to Reading County Borough Council for Christchurch ward in 1971 and moved to the new Reading Borough Council after local reorganisation in 1973. He chaired the housing committee from 1973 until 1976.
He was shortlisted for the Labour nomination in Reading North ahead of the February 1974 election but Maeve Denby was chosen.
He served on Berkshire County Council from 1981 to 1998, including as chairman of the public protection committee, and returned to Reading Borough Council in 1997 for Church ward, remaining a councillor until 2006 despite his 1999 stroke and a later heart attack and pulmonary embolism.
Born in Redhill, he and his family lived in Sutton, where his father, sister and he all served on Sutton Borough Council as Labour members. He met his wife Jill through the Young Socialists; they were married for 56 years and settled in Addington Road.
Mr Goodall worked as a press officer at Labour headquarters before joining the Islington Gazette, where he reported for more than 30 years. For his reporting he was later given the Freedom of the Borough of Islington.
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, daughter Katie and grandchildren Adam, Iona, Hollie and Lois.
A funeral service will be held at Reading Crematorium on Friday 14 August at 3.15pm.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
