Obituary: Alan Spratling

Adam Hewitt • Published 16 Jul 2009 08:00 0 Comments

FORMER councillor Alan Spratling, who served his ward for 25 uninterrupted years, died at the weekend.

Mr Spratling, pictured, was well-known in Earley and the wider area as a politician, school governor and model railway enthusiast.

The 68-year-old suffered with heart problems and cancer and died at home in Moor Copse Close on Sunday with his family around him.

He was born in Selly Oak, Birmingham, and spent much of his life in Bexleyheath and the Dartford area before moving to Earley around 36 years ago.

He worked in insurance, but spent much of his life dedicated to politics.

He led the then Wokingham District Council twice, from 1996-7 and from 2000-2, and also served stints on Earley Town Council.

His close friend, senior Lib Dem councillor Coling Lawley, saw him shortly before he died.

He said: 'Alan was a thoroughly decent man. I had an awful lot of respect for him, he was a very good friend. He was very inclusive, and if you were in his confidence would share everything. He was steadying, calm and objective, well-liked on all sides, and very proud of building up the Lib Dem group from just a handful to leading the council.'

He was very keen on model railways, and exhibited with two of the area"s best-known clubs, Loddon Vale and N Gauge.

His wife Elaine was too upset to speak to The Chronicle yesterday, but son Phil, 39, from Northampton, said: 'He always thought of other people. He didn"t do things for plaudits or for the glory.

'He was a very loyal and honourable man and I remember him with great fondness - I hope I can live up to him.'

Alan stood down as a councillor for Hillside ward in May last year because of his health problems.

Lib Dem group leader Prue Bray said: 'His 25 uninterrupted years is a recognition of how well he served the residents in his ward. From 2000 to 2002 he led an administration without a majority, which never lost a vote. It was a considerable political balancing act.'

He was a school governor at various times at Hillside and Aldryngton primary schools and Maiden Erlegh School.

Earley town and borough Conservative councillor David Chopping said: 'Alan was a gentleman, one of those relatively rare political opponents you could respect and discuss things with and work with. My Conservative colleagues, without exception, all spoke well of him.'

Retired magistrate Tony Waring knew Alan well from their time on Earley Town Council together.

He said: "He was totally fair, considerate and gentlemanly. It is a great loss to the community."

Alan also leaves daughter Joanne, 38, who lives in Reading.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 16 Jul 09

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