Press Releases

Council’s loyal servants become Honorary Aldermen (PR 1004)

A Government minister, Rector and West Country greengrocer were among the former Ealing councillors honoured for their years of public service last night (Tuesday 19 June).

They were bestowed as Honorary Aldermen of the borough, in recognition of their service to the Council and the borough’s residents.

Many of them had served alongside each other or debated issues across the Council chamber and were re-united at a ceremony in the Mayor’s parlour before the Full Council meeting.

Their work and achievements were also praised by the three party groups on the Council during the meeting.

Ealing’s Mayor, Councillor Mrs Hazel Ware, said: “Every one of this group has been a loyal and dedicated servant to the borough and worked tirelessly for many years to make Ealing a better place.

“It is right that the Council shows its appreciation for their hard work and devotion.”

To qualify for the honour of Honorary Alderman, they have had to either have been elected on four or more occasions, or been Deputy Mayor but not have served as Mayor.

They are:

Gwen Barnes (Lab) - served from 1971 to 1986 representing Elthorne ward.
Glen Barnham (Lab) - served 1971 to 1990 representing Heathfield ward (now South Acton). He was Chairman of the Social Services committee from 1971-1978.
Hilary Benn (Lab) - elected at a by-election in 1979 for Walpole ward. He was chairman of the Education Committee from 1986-1990 and Deputy Leader of the Council in 1994. He is currently the Secretary of State for International Development and MP for Leeds Central.
Patrick Burke (Con) - elected for Cleveland ward at Ealing Council’s formation in 1964 and served until 1978. On standing down he was co-opted on to the Education Committee for the next eight years.
John Cudmore (Lab) - represented Heathfield ward from 1982 to 2006. In 1986 he became Chairman of the Amenities Committee, then Council Leader in 1989. He served as Leader of the Opposition in 1990-1994 but returned as Leader from 1994-2005. He left the Council in 2006.
Eleri Ebenezer (Con) - represented Southfield ward from 1978-94. She was Chairman of the Social Services Committee from 1982-6 and in 1990. She served as the Mayoral consort last year.
Wolf Feldman (Lab) - elected in 1965 at a by-election in what is now the Hobbayne ward. He lost his seat in 1968 but was re-elected in 1971. He served as Chairman of the Housing Committee from 1971-1977. He was later elected as councillor to the former Heathfield ward.
Brenda Hall (Con) - won a by-election in the former Wood End Ward (now largely North Greenford) in 1989 and served until 2002. She was Opposition Planning spokesman from 1994-2002 and served as a Mayoral consort last year.
Derek Harris (Lab) - represented Glebe (now Southall Green) ward from 1971-8, and Northcote (now Southall Broadway) from 1978-90.
Frank Impey (Lab) - represented Northolt West End ward from 1982-90. He was reelected for the same ward in 1994 and served until 2002.
Ron Johnston (Lab) - elected for Horsenden Ward (now split between North Greenford and Perivale) in 1971. He then went on to represent the Greenford Broadway and Northolt West End area until 1990. He has a hall named after him in Greenford Community Centre.
Margaret Majumdar (Lab) - elected for Elthorne Ward in 1982 and served there until 2002. She was then a Northfield Councillor until 2006. She was Chairman of the Education Committee from 1994-1997. She is chair of Elthorne Park School’s governing body.
John Marshall (Con) - elected to Central ward (now split between Ealing Broadway and Ealing Common) in 1971 and later represented Pitshanger (now split between Cleveland and Hanger Hill wards). He was Deputy Leader of the Council from 1978-80 and chairman of the Finance Committee from 1978-86. He later became an MEP for London North and an MP for Hendon South.
Ram Pardesi (Lab) - elected to Northcote ward in 1990 and continued (in the new Southall Broadway ward) until 2006.
Neil Richardson (Lab) - elected four times to four different wards between 1986 and 2002 – Ravenor (now Greenford Broadway), Elthorne, Argyle (now Cleveland) and Northolt Mandeville. He is a former Chairman of the Education Committee and chairman of the Religious Education Committee from 1995-2002. He is Rector of the Holy Cross Church in Greenford and was recently appointed a Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral.
Bachitter Sahota (Lab) – represented the former Glebe Ward from 1978-1998.
Stephen Sears (Lab) – represented Hobbayne Ward from 1986-1990 and 1994-2006. He was Chairman of the Environment Committee from 1994-2000 and Cabinet Member for Environment from 2000-2005. He is also managing director of ECT.
June Shipton (Con) - elected for the former Ravenor ward from 1968-71, Springfield (Central Acton) from 1974-8 and the Ealing Common ward from 1978-86.
Len Turner (Lab) – served in the former Mandeville Ward from 1974-1990. He became Leader of the Opposition in 1995 and Leader of the Council in 1986. He stood down as Leader in 1989 and moved to the West Country.
Walter Ward (Lab) - represented the former Mandeville ward from 1971-1990.
Tony Oliver (Lab) - elected to the former Costons (now Greenford Green) ward in 1986 and appointed Deputy Mayor in 1989.