Achievements as Mayor: Initiated “Wokingham in Bloom”. Became the First Patron of West Forest Sinfonia. Signed the Town Twinning Charter with Viry-Chatillon, France. Signed 10 year anniversary affirmation of Town Twinning Charter with Efstadt, Germany. His wife Christine had a stroke in 1983 and was severely paralyzed but fully recovered. As a result John founded Greenvale Stroke Club of Wokingham which provides practical help and support for stroke victims and their families. He also launched a pressure group to save 18 beds at Wokingham
Hospital.
District Council:
Elected as District Councillor for Wescott Ward in 1984 and served for 23 years in that capacity. Served as Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, Chairman of Highways Board, Chairman of Leisure and Technical Services, Chairman of Policy, Vice-Chairman of Social Services, Chairman of Education and Cultural Services etc. He was elected Chairman of Council 1995-1996/1997-1998. He was presented with an illuminated address by the Council on 11th March 2005 for his exemplary service to the community.
Achievements:
As Leader of the Council in collaboration with the Chief Executive he managed, against all odds, to secure from HM Government Unitary Status for Wokingham District Council.
Career
John became a Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager. After a successful career as a professional surveyor he became general manager of a building company and then moved on to become Chief Surveyor of two major construction companies. He moved into banking in the City of London to become Controller of Projects and advisor to the Board of Banque Nationale de Paris on international property matters and was subsequently invited to join Standard Chartered Bank to deal with property issues and major projects world-wide. He set up his own management consultancies in London in 1991.
Among the positions John Green held in Berkshire are; Freeman of the City of London; Member of Court and Council University of Reading (1994-2000); Honorary Member of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E) and R.E.M.E. Association; Member of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (2000-2007); School Governor: St. Crispins Secondary School, Hawthorn Primary School, Southfield School (1997-2001). Corporation Board Member of Bracknell and Wokingham College (1998-2009). Lay Assessor of Wokingham, Bracknell and West Berks Primary Care Trusts (2004-2006)
Personal profile
John actively participated from his youth in soccer, cricket, judo, swimming, rugby football and in later years in golf. He became an accomplished amateur ballroom dancer and was awarded the bronze, silver and gold medal awards with three gold bars of the International Dancing Masters Association and received the International award of the I.D.M.A.
He was a member of Wantage Round Table No 915 and was their Area and National delegate until the age of 40. He was a respected and senior Mason in Berkshire Province and was awarded Provincial Honours. He served inter alia as Worshipful Master, Secretary and Almoner of Priory Lodge No 9268, First Principal of Royal Arch Ascot Chapter No 2460 and M.W.S. of Rose Croix Bombay Chapter No 18. In 1979 he took up politics as a Conservative activist and became inter alia Chairman of Evendons Branch and rose to become a member of the Executive Committee of Wokingham Constituency Conservative Association, Vice-President and a Trustee of the Association. He regularly attended the Constituency surgery held by the elected M.P. for Wokingham, the Rt. Hon. John Redwood M.P., as an advisor and chaired the Wokingham Schools Debates for him for several years.
He retired to Devon and lived in Ilfracombe with his wife, Christine and where he became a published author of Children’s books. He also became Chairman of the Patients Participation Group for the Waterside Medical Practice in Ilfracombe, Devon in 2011 His interests included good food and wine, reading, swimming, music, art, opera and ballet. He was also fluent in French and had studied a number of other languages including Latin and Ancient Greek.
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0081