Long serving councillor dies

Published 13 Feb 2011 12:00 5 Comments

LONG serving West Berkshire councillor Keith Lock has died aged 79.

Cllr Lock, who represented Mortimer ward, died of pneumonia last night at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.

The Lib Dem councillor, who was born in Welling, Kent, moved to Mortimer in 1969 and sat on West Berkshire Council from its formation in 1998, having also served on its predecessor, Newbury District Council, since it was formed in 1973.

He served as leader on both councils, from 1994-7 and 1999-2001, and as chairman, from 1993-4 and 2003-4.

West Berkshire's Lib Dem leader, Jeff Brooks, said: "Keith is like the father of the council, with 37 years' devotion to his community.

"He has been an absolute credit to the people of West Berkshire. Never overtly political, he was respected right across the council and was a committed statesman. Keith was a very wise guy and we will miss him greatly."

Cllr Lock went to school in Lewisham, London, and then Woolwich Polytechnic, where he gained a diploma in management studies.

He worked in the biscuits and confectionery industry from 1949-1992, with his last job being European sales manager for the Jacobs group before early retirement in 1992

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 13 Feb 11

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• 

  Former Chairman
  Unregistered User
  Feb 14, 10:03
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  Very sad, he worked enormously hard for the people of West Berkshire,and was honest and straight dealing as a long summers days!
  
  My deep sympathy to Mollie
  
  Jerry ( J.Cottam ) former Chairman of West Berkshire
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  FormerChairman
  Unregistered User
  Feb 14, 10:05
  Report comment

  Very sad, he worked enormously hard for the people of West Berkshire,and was honest and straight dealing as a long summers days!
  
  My deep sympathy to Mollie
  
  Jerry ( J.Cottam ) former Chairman of West Berkshire
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Tahir
  16 posts
  Feb 14, 16:35
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  I knew Keith - what a wonderful man not only a loss to his family but to his friends community and party. I am very sad to hear this sad news.
  
  Tahir
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 0

• 

  martin salter
  Unregistered User
  Feb 17, 09:47
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  Despite our occasional political arguments I always found Keith to be a charming, sincere and caring man. I was proud to have known him and my deepest sympathies to Mollie and his family.
  
  Martin Salter
  
  MP for Reading West 1997 - 2010
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Bob Mowatt
  Unregistered User
  Mar 5, 20:26
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  Keith was a superb Councillor and Voice for the people of Mortimer. He was committed to his community,was a great leader and a man I admired and respected as he was by people from all political parties.
  
  If anyone wanted to have an Icon In politics Keith Lock was that man.
  
  I send my love and best wishes to Mollie and the Girls
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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