A TOAST TO WOKINGHAM’S HEROES

Calls for Woodley man to receive King’s honour

Inawe of John’s service to the community

John Patey has been honoured for his work with the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal after serving for 50 years.

John, a Wokingham man through and through has dedicated his life to helping and serving others. He served in the Royal Tank Regiment before becoming a retained fireman, firstly in the 1960s when the fire station was at the town hall and then as sub officer when it moved to Denton Road.

AWoodley resident has been hailed a hero after setting up a charity that has received one million items in donations.

When it comes to community spirit, no one deserves that honour more than Ron Goodberry. He was crowned a local hero for his work in setting up a Facebook page called Woodley Volunteer for our Community during Covid and recently local volunteers came together to say a big thank you for his ongoing hard work.

A celebration cake was cut and everyone raised their glasses in a toast to Ronnie at an evening event held at the

Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

And now there are calls that his dedication should be acknowledged even higher up with hopes that he might be nominated for a King’s Birthday or New Year Honour.

The volunteer group he helped set up reached more than one million items with a donation of a bottle of hair shampoo. And the Facebook group now has 1.5million members.

Mr Goodberry told My Wokingham publisher Nick Marr that at times the front room of his home was used as a storage area and looked like a warehouse.

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David Dunham, who coordinates the town’s poppy appeal, said John is a very well-known face in the town. “Even now in his early eighties, John will be the first person out on the streets collecting. He will always make himself available and is very flexible. He just seems to love getting out there, meeting people and chatting to them.”

David added he is always out and about helping people, not just with the Poppy Appeal. “He must have raised thousands of pounds over the years. He could have hung his beret up years ago for a quiet retirement, but he has kept himself fit and is always giving back to the community. I am literally in awe of his service.”

John always attends the Remembrance Day parades in the town, complete with his beret and medals and is often chosen to lay a wreath at the war memorial.

At the recent reception, John received his honour from the High Steward of Wokingham, Lucy Zeal.

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“It all started during the panic buying in the early days of Covid when basic items like bread and toilet paper were disappearing from supermarket shelves as quickly as they were put out,” explained Ronnie.

“Some of us in Woodley decided to set up a group which invited people to donate basic supplies which could be distributed around the town. The aim was to help anyone who was in need. The response from local people was incredible with all sorts of items being handed in such as toiletries, food and clothes.” And the rest is history…

And his community spirit has extended beyond the shores of the UK with him reaching out the hand of help to the people of Ukraine. He added: “I have accompanied volunteers and together we have made five trips to the Ukraine with medical aid and food, all given to us by the people of Woodley.”

His home in Sheckleton Way in Woodley has often resembled a warehouse, so full has it been of the generous donations of food or other goods.

Yet it is the local community he believes is being generous, rather than himself and he says none of this would have been made possible without the kind-hearted people of Woodley.

He brushes off the praise, saying he is not in it for the glory but just wants to help others.

The total number of items received via donations has reached 1,002,584. Now not only is the Woodley man being called a local hero for his ongoing work to help others but also those in the Ukraine are joining in.

Mr. Goodberry said he would not have been able to provide the aid he has without the support from the Woodley community being so kind to help.

And now My Wokingham publisher, Nick Marr, believes his kindness deserves to be honoured at the highest level. “It is people like Ron who dedicate their time to helping others, who deserve to be mentioned in the King’s Birthday or New Year Honours. I hope the people of Woodley and Wokingham will come together in backing this proposal and support our bid to get his work recognised.”

Honours are given to people from all walks of life and all sections of society who have made a difference to their community. Letters of support should be provided from people with first-hand knowledge of the nominee who can endorse their contribution or supply additional information. At least two letters of support are required to support a nomination. Details of how to nominate can be found at www.gov.uk