The Mayor Next Door
Councillor Lieutenant Colonel Raymond John Beale Royal Fusiliers & Mayor of Newbury
The Man Little detail is known about Raymond (Ray) John Beale’s early life except he was born during the third quarter of 1922 in Barnet, Oxfordshire and his mother’s maiden name was Young. He later graduated from New College, Oxford where he studied German and French. During World War II Ray became an Officer Cadet and on 27th March 1943 appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers with service number 268865. It is not known where he served but likely he met and married his wife Astri Gisholt in post-war Germany where his fluency in German may have been employed with the Army. Ray and Astri moved to Newbury in 1956 and he pursued a teaching career at St Bartholomew’s Grammar School, where in January 1957 he was re-appointed as a Lieutenant on the General List, Territorial Army, Section B for service with the Combined Cadet Force at the school. St Bartholomew’s later making history as the first state school to enrol girls into the Cadet Forces. Ray and Astri had two children, Stephen Frederick born in 1960 and Inga K 1963, Inga later being appointed the first female Chief Executive of Lloyd’s of London in its 325 year history. Ray was promoted to Captain and in January 1969 awarded the Cadet Forces Medal. He was later promoted to Major, Lieutenant Colonel and appointed as St Bartholomew’s CCF Contingent Commander. In April 1982 he was awarded the first clasp to his Cadet Forces Medal. Ray retired from teaching during 1986 becoming involved in local politics in Newbury and elected onto the District Council as a Liberal Democrat Councillor and Charter Trustee representing Falkland Ward. He was also later elected to represent Newbury on Berkshire County Council. He was elected as Deputy Mayor of Newbury in May 1990 and 11 months later as Mayor, a month early following the defeat at the local elections of the then current Mayor Captain Adrian Edwards. On Friday 31st May 1991 at the Old Town Hall in Newbury Ray was formally installed as Mayor with Astri as his Mayoress.
He was invested with the chain of office by Newbury’s only remaining Conservative Councillor Pauline Bodin, and appointed the Rector of Newbury, Reverend David Cook as his Chaplain. Proposing him Councillor Doug Lawrence said of Ray “He has a great interest in Newbury and its historic traditions”. His seconder Councillor George Baker said “Such in the new Mayors energy that he is thought to exist on a diet of Royal Jelly and Phyllosan”. Ray promised that caring and neighbourliness would be the twin themes of his year in office. He said “I want to encourage a sense of caring, of neighbourliness, patience and tolerance in Newbury. It would be a good thing if we forgot our grumbles and did more for other people. We should speak less about each other and more to each other”. Two months later on 17th July aged 69 Ray retired from the CCF retaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Astri died on 23rd May 2009 and in later life Ray continued serving on both the District and County Councils, kept vintage cars, was a Grandfather and Great Grandfather. Ray died on Saturday 15th March 2014 aged 91 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. He was cremated at Berkshire Crematorium on Monday 31st March, many of his family, friends and colleagues from both his teaching and political career being present. Following his death, his son, Stephen said “He was always very enthusiastic about things and he was able to encourage enthusiasm in other people and get them interested in the things he was interested in. He was interested in so many different things and right up to the last few months…local politics and teaching, he had old vintage cars, he was a linguist”. Former Newbury MP David Rendel said ”He was a great supporter of the Liberal Democrats. He was a very loyal and faithful member of ours for a long time and I owe him a lot. His by-election for the County Council was the start of the use of new campaigning ideals and techniques which we hadn’t yet used in West Berkshire. He managed to win his by-election and it started a long, long run of success which culminated in winning the Newbury Parliamentary seat some years later. He became an outstanding County Councillor, he was loyal and faithful not just to my party but also the people of West Berkshire”.
Raymond Beale's World War II Medal award certificate
The Story The group of medals awarded to Raymond John Beale were acquired from E-Bay on 23rd January 2015. They were of interest because of the Cadet Forces Medal and clasp. Once the medal acquisition had been confirmed, initial searches were made on Google to see if there was any information on Ray Beale. The results were instantaneous and surprising! Not only had he been the Commanding Officer of St Bartholomew’s School Combined Cadet Force, but also a Newbury County and District Councillor and Mayor of Newbury in 1991. This was a real revelation and fitted comfortably with the general collecting theme of this collection. The usual trawl of Ancestry.UK and London gazette provided basic detail, as did enquiries with the Newbury Library and copies of the Newbury Weekly News. Interestingly however a very good obituary and excellent photograph appeared on the internet and provided much additional information to build a more in depth biography. The Mayor of Newbury’s office was also contacted and they agreed to provide a copy of Ray in Robes and Chain of Office from his time as Mayor.
Newbury
Official blazon
Arms : Gules on a Fesse Argent between in chief a Teazle Flower between two Garbs and in base as many Swords in saltire points upwards Or a Bar wavy Azure.
Crest: On a Wreath Or and Azure a Castle of three Towers domed Gules flying from the centre tower a forked Pennant Argent charged with a Bar wavy Azure and from the exterior towers a Flag also Azure.
Motto: 'FLORUIT FLOREAT' - May it flourish as it has flourished.
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on June 24, 1948.
Across the centre of the shield is a representation of the River Kennet. Above this is a teasle flower. These were once used to unpick wool and represents the historic woollen industry. The garbs are for agriculture. The crossed swords in base stand for the two Battles of Newbury.
The crest depicts Newbury Castle. The mantling is in the blue and goldcolours of Berkshire county Council.The arms are continued by the Newbury Town Council.
Newbury Borough Council was replaced by Newbury District Council in 1974 and, between 1974 and 1997, Charter Trustees looked after the interests of the town. Newbury is now a civil parish, with parish council responsibilities undertaken by Newbury Town Council since its formation in April 1997. Newbury Town Council currently has 23 councillors, representing seven wards of the town: Brummel Grove, Clay Hill, Falkland, Northcroft, Pyle Hill, Victoria and St Johns. Newbury is part of, and the administrative centre of, the district administered by the unitary authority of West Berkshire and in Parliament is in the Newbury constituency. Newbury is twinned with Braunfels in Germany (1963), Bagnols-sur-Cèze in France (1970), Eeklo in Belgium (1974) and Feltre in Italy (2003). Since 1999 Newbury has formed part of the South East England European Parliament constituency electing MEPs by proportional representation.
Arms : Gules on a Fesse Argent between in chief a Teazle Flower between two Garbs and in base as many Swords in saltire points upwards Or a Bar wavy Azure.
Crest: On a Wreath Or and Azure a Castle of three Towers domed Gules flying from the centre tower a forked Pennant Argent charged with a Bar wavy Azure and from the exterior towers a Flag also Azure.
Motto: 'FLORUIT FLOREAT' - May it flourish as it has flourished.
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on June 24, 1948.
Across the centre of the shield is a representation of the River Kennet. Above this is a teasle flower. These were once used to unpick wool and represents the historic woollen industry. The garbs are for agriculture. The crossed swords in base stand for the two Battles of Newbury.
The crest depicts Newbury Castle. The mantling is in the blue and goldcolours of Berkshire county Council.The arms are continued by the Newbury Town Council.
Newbury Borough Council was replaced by Newbury District Council in 1974 and, between 1974 and 1997, Charter Trustees looked after the interests of the town. Newbury is now a civil parish, with parish council responsibilities undertaken by Newbury Town Council since its formation in April 1997. Newbury Town Council currently has 23 councillors, representing seven wards of the town: Brummel Grove, Clay Hill, Falkland, Northcroft, Pyle Hill, Victoria and St Johns. Newbury is part of, and the administrative centre of, the district administered by the unitary authority of West Berkshire and in Parliament is in the Newbury constituency. Newbury is twinned with Braunfels in Germany (1963), Bagnols-sur-Cèze in France (1970), Eeklo in Belgium (1974) and Feltre in Italy (2003). Since 1999 Newbury has formed part of the South East England European Parliament constituency electing MEPs by proportional representation.
With thanks to Newbury Town Council and Newbury Library for helping put this page together.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Cadet Forces Medal: CAPT. R.J.BEALE. CCF.
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This page last updated 11 May 15