TRIBUTES have been paid to a former three times mayor of Wokingham who has died.
Frederick William Clark first held the post in 1989 when he was 73, as well as the following year, and a third time in 1999.
Born in 1916, Mr Clark celebrated his 100th birthday last year with a party attended by mayors, friends and family in the Town Hall.
News of his death on October 16 at Lovat House was announced by his daughter Jane Brown.
“Dad lived a very long, rich and fulfilling life,” said Jane.
“He was active in various committees and charities and was very hard-working. He set up his own fire equipment business when he was 68 and ran it successfully until when he was 96. He was still driving at the time.”
Mr Clark was born to Gertrude and Thomas Clark on November 24, 1916 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
He trained as a butcher before marrying Elsie, his wife of nearly 70 years, in 1939.
Conscripted in 1940 into the Royal Army Service Core, Mr Clark spent the next six years in Italy and North Africa.
The couple ran a grocery shop in Grimsby which they sold in 1960 when Fred took a job with Nu-Swift fire Equipment Company as a salesman.
“By 1967 he had risen to the dizzy heights of top salesman and was offered a managers position down south,” said Jane.
In January 1968, Fred, Elsie and Jane moved to Wokingham while son Martin remained in Grimsby.
“My mum decided that the best way to make friends was to join committees so she and dad joined the hospital League of Friends, RNLI, WADE, and became school governors at St Crispin’s,” added Jane.
“Dad was also Chairman of the School PTA. He had always been an ardent supporter of the Conservative party and finally stood for election to the town council.”
Mr Clark was delighted to not only be a grandfather to Martin’s children, Elzpeth and Symon as well as Jane’s three boys Daniel, Jonathan and Mathew, but also with great-grandchildren Joshua, Ben, Mariah, Brogan, Tyler, Jessica, William and Eleanor.
Eleanor and Fred were born exactly 100 years apart.
In addition, Fred was overjoyed with the arrival of Harvey, his great-great-grandchild, who is now three.
“Dad was surrounded by a big loving family,” said Jane.
“His 100th birthday last November was a lovely time with the party at the Town Hall which he really enjoyed.
“He moved into Lovat House in January following a series of falls, and passed away there very peacefully on October 16 drawing a close to a very long, rich and fulfilling life.”
A full civic funeral attended by Town Mayor Cllr Peter Lucey and town councillors will be held at 2pm on Friday, October 27 at All Saints Church in Wokingham. Members of the public are invited to attend. The family has asked for no flowers but for donations to be made to the Mayor’s charities.
