• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Clive Jones being sworn in as MP for Wokingham on Tuesday. Pic: BBC.

    MP: ‘Protect free school meals out of term time’

    Wokingham MP, Clive Jones. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    MP calls for more evening trains

    MP Yuam Yang outside the takeaway.

    MP says sorry for social media post

    Noise and floodlighting would impact the location, it was argued. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Earley sports pitch plans in the floodlight

    The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

    Date set for new restaurant opening

    Berkshire Football awards.

    Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

    Party in the Park 2025. Pic by Stewart Turkington.

    Rain didn’t dampen party spirits as Elms Field hosts Wokingham’s Party in the Park

    Longshot Lane in Bracknell. Pic: Google.

    More fines for heavy vehicles

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

    MP to talk about his first year

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Noise and floodlighting would impact the location, it was argued. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Earley sports pitch plans in the floodlight

    Berkshire Football awards.

    Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

    Chem Campbell

    Reading FC miss out on transfer target to fellow League One club

    Mark Bowen

    Former head of football at Reading FC lands new job

    Peter Markwick

    It’s top of the championship for Wokingham racing driver

    1871 EVENTS PRESENTS: Jimmy Quinn

    Reading FC legend Jimmy Quinn to share his memories of title success and Wembley heartbreak

    Reading FC

    Reading FC to host Swindon Town and Oxford United in pre-season friendlies

    Reading FC fans

    Reading FC chairman Rob Couhig gives update on season ticket sales

    Golf Picture: Pixabay

    Unique Golf Club celebrates 50th anniversary with publication of a history book

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Clive Jones being sworn in as MP for Wokingham on Tuesday. Pic: BBC.

    MP: ‘Protect free school meals out of term time’

    MP Yuam Yang outside the takeaway.

    MP says sorry for social media post

    Noise and floodlighting would impact the location, it was argued. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Earley sports pitch plans in the floodlight

    The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

    Date set for new restaurant opening

    Berkshire Football awards.

    Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

    Longshot Lane in Bracknell. Pic: Google.

    More fines for heavy vehicles

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

    MP to talk about his first year

    There's support for people with dementia, at a singing Memory Lane cafe in Tilehurst and Wokingham. Picture: Remi Walle via Unsplash

    Carers afternoon in Twyford offers information and fun

    Blackcroft Farm, between Arborfield and Farley Hill,

    Plans for 650 homes near Arborfield revealed

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    MP Yuam Yang outside the takeaway.

    MP says sorry for social media post

    The restaurant promises to be a 'vibrant' location and social hub.

    Date set for new restaurant opening

    Party in the Park 2025. Pic by Stewart Turkington.

    Rain didn’t dampen party spirits as Elms Field hosts Wokingham’s Party in the Park

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

    MP to talk about his first year

    MICHAEL TATLOW DARLISON

    Jenni Donato.

    Wokingham businesswoman nominated for award

    Ascot Top Hats is based in Wokingham.

    Ten tips for a top day at Royal Ascot

    Over 350,000 people in the region had been treated for seven common conditions without the need to visit a GP since the programme was launched in January last year.

    Pharmacy First initiative sees over 350,000 consultations in first year

    Thames Valley Air Ambulance Picture: MICHAEL MOLLOY

    Thames Valley Air Ambulance urges people to ‘summer safely’

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    1871 EVENTS PRESENTS: Jimmy Quinn

    Reading FC legend Jimmy Quinn to share his memories of title success and Wembley heartbreak

    RaW Sounds celebrates five years of championing local music

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

    Double Standards

    New play ‘Double Standards’ at South Streets Art Centre to explore hypocrisy in dating

    Wokingham Pride

    Could you help Wokingham Pride 2025?

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Rare form of cancer forces Wokingham borough councillor to stand down

by Phil Creighton
January 11, 2019
in Featured, Politics, Wokingham
Helen Power May

Helen Power

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A COUNCILLOR has had to resign after learning that she has incurable cancer, forcing a by-election.

Last May, Helen Power beat the then executive member for children’s services, Mark Ashwell, to take the Evendons seat for the Liberal Democrats, something that delighted her.

But not long after that victory, Helen learnt that she had an unusual type of incurable cancer.

She took part in a course of “pretty brutal chemotherapy” but said that in September medical experts told her that the treatment had not worked and she probably had less than 12 months to live.

Throughout all this, Helen carried on with her councillor casework, but took time out from October to focus on herself and her family.

Last month Helen started a new chemotherapy treatment which is hoped will have some success.

Related posts

Man wanted in connection with three burglaries in Wokingham and Winnersh

Police provide update on minibus crash where six-year-old boy was killed

But the disease has meant that Helen feels compelled to step down as a borough councillor and concentrate on her health.

Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, she said: “Last year was a year of highs and the lowest of lows for me.

“In May, I was so delighted and proud to be elected as Wokingham borough councillor for Evendons Ward. The supportive and congratulatory messages from so many residents were a joy and inspiration. I thoroughly enjoyed immediately getting stuck into my councillor role.”

Helen said that highlights of her stint as a councillor included being able to work with her fellow Evendons residents on issues such as anti-social behaviour, town centre regeneration, traffic, housing and the recent campaign to save school crossing patrollers.

“Sadly over the summer I was told I had incurable cancer, an unusual type called ‘cancer of unknown primary’,” Helen said.

“I was very fit, healthy and had no family history of cancer. It was a bolt out of the blue and my life was turned upside down. It was so hard to take on board as I felt physically well but it was hard mentally to accept the diagnosis and what it really meant.”

Four cycles of “pretty brutal chemotherapy” followed before a diagnosis in September.

Helen recalled: “After a scan I was told the treatment had not worked and I probably had less than a year to live”.

Although she tried to keep going as normal, as the weeks went on, Helen came to the conclusion that something had to give.

“My councillor work was a great distraction [from the cancer], but by the end of October I realised I had to take some time off to reassess my priorities and remaining time,” she explained.

“I started a different chemotherapy regime in December and I hope it will be more successful and enable me to be ‘living with cancer’ for longer than the statistical time I have been given.

“And so it is with great sadness and disappointment that after such a short time as Evendons ward councillor – a role I was thoroughly enjoying –I realised I had to resign.

“I have to concentrate on my health, family and friends. A councillor role never stops and I could not, in good conscience, carry on without being able to fully commit to the residents I represent.”

Wokingham Liberal Demo-crat deputy leader Cllr Clive Jones said: “It’s a tragedy. For the short time she was a councillor, Helen did a really good job.

“Everyone in the party has been offering support for her. She is an incredibly strong person and very brave.

“It is just a huge shame that she wasn’t able to fulfil her potential.

“We all have huge respect for her.”

The leader of Wokingham Conservatives, Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner, paid tribute to Helen: “I am deeply saddened to hear that Helen will not be able to continue as a councillor.

“Despite our party political differences, Helen deserves praise for the hard work she has done for her residents in the short time since she was elected.

“On behalf of all Wokingham Borough councillors and officers, I want to thank Helen for her service to the community, and offer her and her family our best wishes.”

And Wokingham Labour group leader Cllr Andy Croy said: “I was shocked and saddened to hear Helen is standing down and of her illness. My thoughts are with Helen, her family and her friends.

“It is so horribly unfair. Tragedies like this are a reminder of the things which are really important in our lives – love, family and friends. I hope Helen will have as much of these as is possible.”

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: EvendonsWokinghamWokingham Borough CouncilWokingham ConservativesWokingham Labourwokingham liberal democrats
Previous Post

WIN! A meal for two at L’Ortolan

Next Post

Letters to be performed in Remenham Parish Hall on Saturday

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Peter Markwick

It’s top of the championship for Wokingham racing driver

June 10, 2025
Berkshire Football awards.

Football in Berkshire shortlist revealed

June 11, 2025
Clive Jones being sworn in as MP for Wokingham on Tuesday. Pic: BBC.

MP: ‘Protect free school meals out of term time’

June 11, 2025
Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

MP to talk about his first year

June 11, 2025
Sign up to receive emergency alerts from the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Sign up for AWE emergency texts

June 9, 2025
Reading FC

Reading FC to host Swindon Town and Oxford United in pre-season friendlies

June 10, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.