The Borough of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire, currently has a largely ceremonial mayor. The mayor is responsible for chairing full council meetings as well as representing the council at events, welcoming guests and visiting local organisations. However the role is an ancient one, being first recorded in the 14th century, and has many guises over the years. Former mayors include the following.[1]
Fourteenth century
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2018)
^ ab"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
^"Bedull, Richard, of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^"Hacche, David atte, of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcde"Kent, John I (d.1413), of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdbebfbgbhbibjbkblbmbnbobpbqbrbsbtbubvbwbxbybzcacbcccdcecfcgchcicjckclcmcncocpcqcrcsctcucvcwcxcyczdadbdcdddedfdgdhdidjdkdlDavid Nash Ford (8 December 2007). "Mayors of Reading: A Listing". Royal Berkshire History. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
^ abcdefg"Hunt, John I, of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcd"Cleche, Richard (by 1455-1519/25), of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abc"Gifford (Jeffard), William (by 1489–1538 or later), of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ ab"Justice, William (by 1448–1521), of Southampton and Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ ab"Justice, Richard (by 1488-1548/49), of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcde"Bourne, John II (by 1508–58), of Reading, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcd"Aldworth, Thomas (by 1520–77), of Reading and Wantage, Berks". History of Parliament Online. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
^ abcdWilliam Laud (1841). Original letters and other documents relating to the benefactions of William Laud: Archbishop of Canterbury, to the County of Berks. John Bruce (editor). Berkshire Ashmolean Society.
^ ab"A Brief History of Watlington House". Trustees of Watlington House. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
^ abPhillips, Daphne (1980). The Story of Reading. Countryside Books. p. 138. ISBN 0-905392-07-8.
^ abJohn Watts. The Memorandums of John Watts Esq., Mayor of Reading, 1722–23 and 1728–29. Memorandums, Remarks, and Occurrences, Transacted in the Burrough of Reading During the Two Mayoralties of John Watts, Esq. Kenneth George Burton (editor).
^The Anti-slavery Reporter. Vol. 4. London Society for the Abolition of Slavery in the British Dominions. 1831. p. 48.
^"Folios 157–160. Letter from J J Blandy, Mayor of Reading". nationalarchives.gov.uk (HO 52/6/77). The National Archives.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalamanaoapaqarasatauavawaxayazbabbbcbdSlade, C.F. (1970). Mayors of Reading Fourteenth to Twentieth Century. Reading Central Library: Reading Public Libraries.
^Corley, T. A. B. (2004). "Palmer, George (1818–1897)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21184. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"Arthur Hill JP – Stone carving, by George Blackall Simonds – 1888". Reading Museum. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
^"Royal Statue at Reading". The Times. No. 36942. London. 4 December 1902. p. 8.
^"Action taken to clean up 'filthy' memorial". getreading. 29 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
^ ab"Chronicles of Purley: 1930–1939". Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
^ ab"Obituary: Former Reading mayor Brian Fowles". Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^"Five Reading citizens and the fight for votes for women". Reading Museum. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^David Eggboro (25 February 2014). "WWI letters to go under the hammer at Loughton action house".
^"Phoebe Cusden, Mayor of Reading 1946-47 Photograph by C.E.May - 1946". Reading Museum. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^Frederick C. Padley, "Lockwood, Arthur (1883–1966)", Dictionary of Labour Biography, vol.II, pp.237–239
^"New mayor makes her maiden speech". Evening Post. Reading. 20 May 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"'Fight to preserve office of mayor'". Evening Post. Reading. 8 April 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Council minutes, 12 December 2003" (PDF). Reading Borough Council. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Art boost for Reading". Evening Post. Reading. 23 May 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^Fort, Linda (1 July 2016). "Sadie Bristow, former Mayoress of Reading dies aged 101". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"Bleak times ahead says new mayor". Evening Post. Reading. 21 May 1975. p. 4. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^ ab"New mayor quick to sing town's praises". Evening Post. Reading. 18 May 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Mayor's hopes for youth". Evening Post. Reading. 17 May 1978. p. 19. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Following in his wife's footsteps… the new mayor of Reading". Evening Post. Reading. 16 May 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Meet Mayor Marion [sic] - the new First Citizen". Evening Post. Reading. 14 May 1980. p. 9. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Picture special on the making of the new mayors". Evening Post. Reading. 20 May 1981. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Big ceremony to install new mayor". Evening Post. Reading. 19 May 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Caring Doris is made the town's 'Mother Mayor'". Evening Post. Reading. 25 May 1983. p. 11. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Exit Reading's 'Queen Mum'--enter fiery Ron". Evening Post. Reading. 23 May 1984. p. 9. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Mayor-making". Evening Post. Reading. 22 May 1985. p. 9. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"'Stop bickering', new mayor tells parties". Evening Post. Reading. 28 May 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"New mayor begins year with a bang". Evening Post. Reading. 27 May 1987. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Kay's day to take the chain". Evening Post. Reading. 24 May 1988. p. 11. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Mayor's controversial path". Evening Post. Reading. 24 May 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Mayor's chain handed on". Evening Post. Reading. 23 May 1990. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"[Outgoing] Mayor's anger at Labour cuts". Evening Post. Reading. 17 May 1991. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Tories walk out over election of rebel Fuad". Evening Post. Reading. 20 May 1992. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"First black mayor outlines a tough agenda". Evening Post. Reading. 19 May 1993. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"New mayor's speechless". Evening Post. Reading. 18 May 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Tributes to Reading's mayor: George in dream job for only 22 days". Evening Post. Reading. 9 June 1994. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"New mayor takes office". Evening Post. Reading. 20 July 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"New mayor makes merry". Evening Post. Reading. 17 May 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Day to remember for our new mayor". Evening Post. Reading. 22 May 1996. p. 53. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Rose joins chain gang". Evening Post. Reading. 19 May 1997. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Ready for challenge". Evening Post. Reading. 22 May 1998. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Our mayor for the millennium". Evening Post. Reading. 19 May 1999. p. 1. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
^"Lib Dems announce their contenders as leader calls it a day". Reading Chronicle. 3 April 2008. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
^ ab"Cllr Terry Jones". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ ab"Mayor we go". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. 21 May 2003. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"Fabulous Forbury". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. 16 May 2005. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"Mayor of Reading launches appeal". BBC News. BBC. 13 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"RT: Bet Tickner has died". Reading Today. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^"Cllr Chris Maskell". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^Fort, Linda (22 May 2008). "New mayor: 'I'll ensure fairness'". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"Fred Pugh is Reading's new mayor". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^Millward, David (26 May 2010). "Gul Khan becomes mayor as Con-Lib coalition takes charge". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ ab"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^"Maureen's legacy". Your Voice – Winter 2011. Sanctuary Housing. p. 7. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
^Fort, Linda (11 May 2012). "Mayor's chain at last for Jenny Rynn". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^Fort, Linda (24 May 2013). "Reading's new mayor is a heavy metal fan". www.getreading.co.uk. Trinity Mirror Southern. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
^"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
^Roberts, Hannah (10 January 2022). "Conservative Reading Councillor and former Mayor crosses the floor to join Labour Party". Berkshire Live. Reach PLC. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
^"Our Mayor". Reading Borough Council. 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
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Lists of civic mayors (excluding lord mayors) in the United Kingdom