Tribute paid to former mayor Frederick Clark
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former three TWO police officers from Three Mile Cross times mayor of Wokingham who has died. have been honoured for their bravery and
Frederick William Clark first held the quick-thinking which saved two people’s post in 1989 when he was 73, as well as lives. the following year, and a third time in
PC James Baker and PC Alex Gillett, 1999. who are both based at Three Mile
Born in 1916, Mr Clark celebrated his Cross Police Station, joined 20 other 100th birthday last year with a party colleagues from Thames Valley Police attended by mayors, friends and family to be recognised for excellent service in the Town Hall. and courage when confronted with
News of his death on October 16 at some truly daunting scenes by the Joint Lovat House was announced by his Operations Unit (JOU). daughter Jane Brown.
The officers and members of staff, as “Dad lived a very long, rich and well as one police dog, were honoured fulfilling life,” said Jane. at a ceremony at the Sulhamstead police
“He was active in various committees training centre on Thursday, October 5. and charities and was very hard-working.
PC Baker was recognised after he He set up his own fire equipment responded to a motorist who had business when he was 68 and ran it collapsed behind the wheel in Rushey successfully until when he was 96. He Way, Earley. was still driving at the time.”
PC Baker was patrolling the area with Mr Clark was born to Gertrude and a colleague on October 11 last year when Thomas Clark on November 24, 1916 in he came across a vehicle that was parked Grimsby, Lincolnshire. inappropriately. As PC Baker and his
He trained as a butcher before colleague approached the vehicle, they marrying Elsie, his wife of nearly 70 noticed that the man sitting behind the years, in 1939. wheel appeared to be asleep. The officers
Conscripted in 1940 into the Royal attempted to wake the driver but he did Army Service Core, Mr Clark spent the not respond. They quickly determined next six years in Italy and North Africa. that he was unwell and they called up for
The couple ran a grocery shop in medical assistance. Grimsby ground and which into they the sold recovery in 1960 position. when Fred They then took noticed a job the with driver Nu-had Swift stopped fire Equipment breathing and Company so commenced as a sales man. life-saving CPR“By before 1967 ambulance he had risen staff to arrived. the dizzy heights While of top the sales man driver and was was taken offered to a hospital, managers PC Baker position and down his colleague south ,” took said Jane. the man’s vehicle safely back to his home address. In January They then 1968, attended Fred, Elsie the and hospital Jane moved to meet to the Wokingham driver’ s wife while to drop son Martin off the remained car keys and in Grimsby. check on his progress. The
“My mum decided that the best way to man subsequently went on to make a full make friends was to join committees so recovery. she and dad joined the hospital League
PC Alex Gillett was commended of Friends, RNLI, WADE, and became after he performed life-saving CPR on a school governors at St Crispin’s,” added 12-year-old boy.
Jane.
On May 10, 2016, PC Gillett responded “Dad was also Chairman of the School to a call that a boy had gone into cardiac PTA. He had always been an ardent supporter arrest. Together of the Conservative with paramedics, party and PC finally Gillett performed stood for emergency election to first the aid town and council.” playeda crucial role in reviving the boy following Mr Clark several was delighted minutes to of not CPR. only be a grandfather PC Gill et t’ s to Martin’ s enhanced children, first aid Elzpeths kills and played Sy mona signifias well cant as part Jane’ s in the three casualty boys Daniel, being successfully Jonathan and resuscitated. Mat hew, but He also was with air lifted great-to hospital grandchildren where his Joshua, condition Ben, Mariah, was reported Bro g an, ass table. Tyler, Jessica, William and Throughout Eleanor. this incident, PC Gillett provided Eleanor considerable and Fred were assistance born exactly to 100 paramedics years apart. in the performance of CPRIn and addition, setting Fred up was of overjoyed vital medical with the equipment, arrival acting of Harvey, quickly his and great-decisively, greatgrandchild, and utilising who his is enhanced now three. training to save “Dad the was boy’ s surrounded life. by a big loving family ,” Chief said Supt.Ja ne Williams said :“Being able to celebrate “His 100 th the birthday outstanding last bra very November and was dedication a lovely of time our of fi with cers the and party staff at isthea Town great honour. Hall which he really enjoyed.
““He Despite moved being into confronted Lo vat with House armed in January suspects following or faced with a series harrowing of falls, life and or passed death situations, away there these very offipe ace fullycers have not on October hesitated 16 to drawing do their a close very to best a very for long, the rich protection and fulfilling of others. life .”
A“Our full officivi cc ers and funeral staff attended within the by Town JO U are Mayor deployed Cllr Peter to some Luce yo fa nd the town most councillors will be held at 2pm on challenging and often dangerous Friday, October 27 at All Saints Church incidents due to their expertise in in Wokingham. Members of the public specialist areas and it makes me are invited to attend. The family has extremely proud to see how they go asked for no flowers but for donations to above and beyond to help make our be made to the Mayor’s charities. communities safer.”