Tributes paid to "father of the council"

Keith Lock "had a wonderful ability to bring people together"

TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of a hugely popular West Berkshire councillor.

Former leader of the council Keith Lock (Lib Dem, Mortimer) is believed to have died of pneumonia at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, on Saturday evening.

West Berkshire Council have today (Monday) released a statement confirming Mr Lock's death.

It said: “It is with great sadness we have to report that Councillor Keith Lock died late on Saturday night. He passed away peacefully. His wife Mollie and daughters were with him.”

The leader of the Liberal Democrats Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West) hailed the man dubbed “the father of the council”.

“Keith was admired by all politicians as a man who worked tirelessly for the people across our district,” he said.

“He had a wonderful ability to bring people together and agree across the political divide. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts go out to his wife and family at this time."

First elected as a district councillor in 1973, Mr Lock had lived in Mortimer for over forty years.

He was a member of Berkshire County Council from 1985 to 1989, and, as former leader of the Liberal Democrats, with the exception of 1999, he served as the leader of Newbury District Council, then West Berkshire Council, from 1994 until 2002.

Current West Berkshire Council leader, Graham Jones (Con, Lambourn), said Mr Lock held a record in public service “second to none”.

He added: “He made a huge contribution to the council and West Berkshire, and has been a great advocate for Mortimer where he had a loyal personal following. He handled debate with an old fashioned courtesy and could hold others to account without needless confrontation."

Paying tribute to the understated manner in which Mr Lock operated, the chief of West Berkshire Council, Nick Carter, said the former leader was instrumental in establishing West Berkshire Council in 1998.

“Whilst his commitment and achievements stand for all to see, it is Keith's approach that I shall always remember,” he said.

“He was never one to seek the limelight, his style being one that saw him effectively working through issues and problems in an open, consensual and often humorous manner. In many ways he set the tone for the whole organisation and the constructive way in which officers and members work together here is, to a large part, down to Keith's initial leadership and guidance. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten."

Stepping down as leader of the Liberal Democrats, he was called “the father of the council” by incumbent leader Lena Rust.

Liberal Democrat group chairwoman, Gwen Mason (Northcroft), said: “Keith was a highly respected and hard working councillor whose efforts were always directed towards helping the communities he served. He will be greatly missed by all his colleagues at West Berkshire Council.”

Mr Lock is survived by his wife and fellow Mortimer ward councillor, Mollie Lock, and three daughters.

If you would like to pay tribute to Mr Lock, email mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk or telephone (01635) 564532.