A RETIRED Wokingham Borough Council member has become its second honorary alderman after 32 years of service.
Angus Ross, who was mayor, chairman and adopted various executive member roles before stepping down in May 2022, was bestowed the ceremonial title at a ceremony held on Monday, July 24.
Council members voted in favour of the matter “in sincere appreciation of the distinguished public service rendered by him to the Borough of Wokingham.”
Of the title, Mr Ross said: “It’s an honour to be in fact only the second person to receive it. 32 years is a long period to spend in the council and, other than schools and social care, I feel like I’ve been involved over the years in all other areas.
“One of the things to say is that members don’t do things, they set budgets, help create policy and provide a framework, but it’s the officers who do the actual work, so I have to pay tribute to those who carried out the hard work.
“I’m not sure why more people before haven’t received this honour. It requires a two-thirds majority by those attending the meeting, so I guess it cannot be the proposal of just one political party.”
Mr Ross was one of very few recent councillors who operated in both the local authority’s previous two-tier and current unitary set-ups.
He said that one of his first highlights after being elected chairman of Wokingham District Council in 2006 was bringing forward a petition to the Queen to accord borough status, which was duly granted.
“It didn’t give Wokingham any more powers, but it was a more prestigious name and made people start to take note,” he explained.
Having spent two decades as an RAF squadron leader, serving in the UK, Germany and Singapore, Mr Ross was elected councillor of Wokingham Without ward in 1990 and immediately became involved in the planning committee.
He sat on the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority from 2000 and became the first Wokingham Borough Mayor in 2006.
Mr Ross firmly believes he leaves the borough in a better position than he found it more than 30 years ago.
He said: “During my time as lead member for environment, I got involved in so many matters, many of which have come to fruition and are still going strong today. We had whole programmes to upgrade all our leisure centres, for better rights of way and to promote sport.
“I was involved with drainage to improve our resilience against flooding, and of course bedding down the blue bag waste collection and improving recycling.”
“Things will change whatever and whoever is trying to guide the best way forward, but some things are naturally determined by government dictact.”
Before delivering his speech at the council on Monday, Mr Ross explained that public speaking is something he’s gotten more used to, particularly through his various roles.
“I used to get nervous before, but through the year as mayor you have to give so many speeches, I think I became more confident.”
