Councillors

Councillor Tony Page has served on Reading Council as a Labour Councillor since 1973, without break. Since 2008 he has been Deputy Leader of Reading Borough Council and Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport. Prior to that he was Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, and then Communities and Neighbourhoods.

He was Chair of Reading Buses – one of 14 remaining Council-owned bus companies in the country – from 1986 until Christmas 2005.

He has represented the Council on the Local Government Association since its inception in 1997 and until 2012 was a member of its Environment and Transport Board. He sat on the Ministerial Bus Forum from 1997 until 2012 and chaired the LGA Task Force, which produced their policy on school transport. He also served on the Task Force responsible for the LGA policy on Road Pricing.

Since 2012 he has been a member of the LGA Safer Communities Board and in his capacity as LGA Licensing Champion in 2014 he chaired the LGA Betting Commission charged with developing detailed policy in respect of the clustering of betting shops and related issues.

From 1997 to 2012 he represented Reading on the Thames Valley Police Authority. Since the abolition of the TVPA he has been Reading’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel responsible for holding the Police and Crime Commissioner to account.

He represents Reading on the South East England Councils and is Leader of the Labour Group and Vice Chairman of SEEC. He also represents Reading on South East Strategic Leaders representing all the counties and unitary authorities in the South East.

In the May 2005 General Election he failed to win the Reading East parliamentary seat by just 475 votes.

I have lived in Reading for over 40 years and started my career working in the retail industry for ten years in 1976; for the last 26 years I have been a self-employed Hackney Carriage driver.

I am happily married with five children and have voluntarily worked for the Pakistan Community Centre helping to organise various events for the local community. I am currently Branch Secretary for the Transport General Workers Union and I am also involved in many case studies with reference to all Hackney Cab drivers.

My interests include playing cricket and badminton, watching several sports and listening to classical music.

In 2006 I stood for Minister Ward and lost by a very slight margin.

Through canvassing and distribution of leaflets for the Labour Party I have been able to interact with the community, introduced myself as a future candidate and in 2007 I was  successfully elected as a Councillor for Abbey Ward.

I was born in the ward I represent; attended Battle School from 1954 to 1966 leaving with one GCE. My first job was as a designer in the studio of one of the town’s major employers, Huntley Boorne & Stevens.

Between 1976 and 1982 I lived and worked in Derbyshire where both of my daughters were born. In 1982 we moved back to West Reading where I have continued to live.

Before being made redundant at the age of 50, I was Pre-press Manager for the LINPAC Metal Packaging Group. In 2007 I became Mayor of Reading and took an unpaid year off from the job I was in at the time in order to devote my time to carrying out my duties as Mayor. After my year as Mayor I chose not to go back to my job but start a degree course in Graphic Design at the University of West London.

Both of my daughters attended local schools, Wilson Primary and Meadway Comprehensive. After leaving Meadway they both went to Reading University where they obtained their degrees. My eldest daughter works for Prudential whilst my youngest daughter works as a teacher at one of the town’s primary schools.

My wife Dorothy was a Deputy Head Teacher at one of the town’s primary schools before taking up the post of Early Years Partnership Project Manager for Reading Borough Council. Her role within the council changed in 2007 when she was appointed Child Care Services Manager. Dorothy is now retired after a career dedicated to educating young people and serving local communities in her role as Child Care Services Manager. I am very proud of my wife.

I have always been a keen sportsman. I have tried my hand at most sports including squash, tennis, hockey and others but mainly played cricket and football for local teams. I was not such a good footballer but I think I was a reasonable local cricketer. Sadly those days are behind me although I still play the odd game of golf but these days I am restricted to supporting Reading FC.

I first started supporting Reading FC when I was 9 but became a lapsed supporter during my mid twenties when love and marriage occupied my life. After the new stadium was built I started supporting my home town team again and have only missed one or two home games since the stadium opened in 1998. On two occasions I have driven back from holiday with my daughter to watch them play at home. My wife thinks we are bonkers!

Reading is important to me, it is where I was born and grew up. I have travelled the country extensively on business and on holiday, I have visited many towns and cities but Reading is the best, it is where I want to live.

I was born in Derby and moved to Reading when I was three. I went to Wilson Primary then Meadway Secondary where I gained 10 GSCEs and 3 A Levels. I then decided to go to the University of Reading where I gained a BSc in Rural Environmental Science.

I worked for Waitrose then joined Prudential which is where I met my husband, Marcel. In 2008 my role was transferred to Capita where I work as a Senior Pension Administrator. I also have a social media job for TotsBots, a cloth nappy company.

It was at Prudential where I became a union rep for Unite (previously MSF and Amicus). As well as being a workplace rep, I am also a fully trained Learning Rep. I have also been a member of the Labour Party since I was 16 and involved locally from a young age.

I married in 2005 and have two sons. The eldest was born in November 2007 and the youngest July 2010.

I have many hobbies. I trained in ballet for 22 years and gained my teaching qualification. I enjoy gardening and growing fruit and vegetables and I am interested in archaeology, geology, history and the environment.

I have lived in Reading, and Battle Ward specifically, almost my entire life. I now live in the heart of the community I represent and I am enjoying being a councillor.

Ayo Sokale is one of the councillors for Caversham. She is a Labour-Cooperative Councillor.

In her day job, She is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Project Manager.  She is a Keen Environmentalist and brings this to her role as a councillor.

Her committee are: 

Vice Chair of Planning Application Committee (PAC)

Corporate Parenting Panel

Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee

AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) Local Liaison Meeting

She shares her activities as a councillor via blog posts.You can read past blog post here:

https://ayosokale.com/2019/05/14/vote-ayo-4-labour-cooperative-councillor-for-caversham/

https://ayosokale.com/blog/page/2/

https://ayosokale.com/2019/12/31/you-elected-me-2/

https://ayosokale.com/2020/12/04/you-elected-me-3/

For further information about Church Ward, please go to: https://ash-pearce-church-ward.co.uk/

Deputy Mayor

Ellie Emberson is nineteen years old and has lived in Reading West since she was born. She lived in Coley until the age of seventeen, first on Brook Street West and later on Trelleck Road. She currently lives on Water Road in Norcot. Ellie has completed her A levels and is currently studying Law part time with the Open University. Ellie is also working as a Legal Ellie Emberson is nineteen years old and has lived in Reading since she was born. Ellie lived in Coley until the age of seventeen, first on Brook Street West and later on Trelleck Road. She currently lives in Norcot ward with her mum and sister. Ellie has completed her A levels and is currently studying Law part time with the Open University whilst working as a legal secretary at a local law firm in Reading. Ellie has been involved in the Labour party since 2015 and was previously involved in the youth parliament.

I was born in Reading and have two grown up children and four grandchildren.

I am a retired special needs teacher.

My hobbies include swimming, reading and socialising with friends and family.

I was first elected to represent Norcot ward in 1986, being re-elected in 1990, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. My current term of office runs until 2020.

I have been Chair of the Housing Committee (1988 to 1993), Chair of Equal Opportunities and Personnel (1993 to 1995), Chair of Community Action (1995 to 1996), Chair of Education (Lead Councillor under the new Council structures) from 1996 to 2004, Deputy Leader from 1996 to 2008, and also Lead Councillor for Corporate Affairs from 2004 to 2008. I was Leader of the Council from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2011 to the present time.

I am also a director of the Reading UK Community Interest Company and am the Council’s representative on the Local Enterprise Partnership Forum

Tony was first elected Reading Borough Council in 1984 and represents Redlands ward for the Labour and Co-operative Parties. As one of the council’s most experienced councillors Tony has held a wide range of positions and is currently Lead Member for Education.

Tony has been Mayor of Reading on two occasions, in 2001/2 and 2014/15. As Chair of Housing in the 1990s Tony led the nationally acclaimed “Empty Homes Strategy” which brought back over 500 disused homes back in to use in Reading, and between 2005 and 2008 was Chairman of Reading Buses overseeing the introduction of the popular colour-coded bus routes.

I have lived in Reading with my family since 1981. I have 5 children and am a grandmother of 6.

I have been Labour Southcote Councillor since 2006 and was re-elected in May 2008. I was honoured to be the Mayor of Reading 2011/2012.

I am on the Family and Friends Fostering Panel and the Parenting Panel. These all cover my areas of interest and expertise.

I have worked not only in the community sector but also in the public and private sector, all of which has given me a lot of working and life experiences. Since living in Reading, I have held a number of voluntary community posts, the most recent being:

• School governor for Manor Primary and Southcote Primary schools.
• Chair and tutor for Southcote IT Experience, an award winning UK Online community project. I write courses and train local people in IT skills.
• Chair of the Steering Group for the Southcote Children’s Centre.
• Governor of the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust until 2010

I run my own book-keeping business dealing with small business accounts. I have a passionate interest in life-long learning and personal development for all. In my free time, I swim, am an avid reader of detective novels and do crosswords to relax.

I have been a Labour Councillor for Southcote Ward since 2003.

I serve on the following committees that deal with day to day council affairs;
Licensing committee, Healthier Reading Partnership, Parenting Panel, and Health Board Tenants Participation Monitoring Group.

I am a member of the Foster Panel, which I find challenging yet very rewarding at times. I am also a Governor at Blessed Hugh Faringdon and at English Martyrs Primary School.

In Southcote I am Chair of the Southcote/Norcot Safer Reading Partnership and serve on the Southcote IT Experience (SITE) committee. I am particularly keen to visit Southcote residents/tenants to discuss their concerns, rather than just rely on contact through telephone or letter. I deal with a variety of issues, including housing, environmental and anti-social behaviour.

I have a particular interest in housing and tenant participation, shaping their living environment and increasing their influence over the services that affect them. I am also involved in health matters and reducing crime which can have a negative impact on residents.

I work full time as a Probation Officer in Slough and am Secretary of the Probation staff trade union, NAPO. I am also a member of NAPO National Executive Committee and Chair of the  Children’s Trust.

When I am not involved in Council matters I enjoy being at home with my partner and two children. I am a keen sports fan and am a season ticket holder for Reading FC and regularly attend London Irish rugby games. Whilst I claim to be knowledgeable about sport, I must admit that I am a better talker than participator

Rachel was first elected to Reading Borough Council in 2010 and represents Whitley ward for the Labour party.  She is also a member of the Cooperative Party and the GMB union.  She is currently Lead Member for Adult Social Care having held the Housing and Neighbourhoods portfolio from 2011-2013.

Professionally Rachel is a director of a small training and consultancy company.  She is a qualified accountant and Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Sample Page