Reading West MP Martin Salter gave his own personal tribute to former Reading Mayor and leader of the Lib Dem group, the late Bob Green at his funeral yesterday at Reading Crematorium in Caversham.

Mr Salter addressed the mourners saying:-

“There is a horrible inevitability about death. It gives meaning to the expression “nothing lasts forever”.

Yet for so many people in Reading the passing of Bob Green, someone who was one of the most honourable and decent people to ever hold office in our town, will leave us with something lasting.

For we will all take with us lasting memories of this lovely man whose warmth, kindness, humour and humanity could bridge the political divide. This is evidenced by the range of people here today to pay tribute to Bob and the contribution he made to our lives and to our community.

It is always difficult to differentiate between shades of grey but we never had to do that with Bob. He was not a grey man. He loved life and held strong and passionate beliefs and principles for which he would work tirelessly.

I have always believed that if you discount the shades of grey life is full of people who are either dreadful warnings or shining examples.

And Bob Green is a shining example of how it is possible to be active in politics and still retain the respect and admiration of those with whom you agree and those with whom you don’t.

I have chosen a short poem, not about Bob for I wanted those words to be my own, but about the inevitability of our own time limited existence on this earth

It is called the Tree and the Pool

The Tree and the Pool
‘I don’t want my leaves to drop,’ said the tree,
‘I don’t want to freeze,’ said the pool.
‘I don’t want to smile,’ said the sombre man,
‘Or ever to cry,’ said the Fool.
‘I don’t want to open,’ said the bud,
‘I don’t want to end,’ said the night.
‘I don’t want to rise,’ said the neap tide,
‘Or ever to fall,’ said the kite.
They wished and they murmured and whispered,
They said that to change was a crime,
Then a voice from no where answered.
‘You must do what I say,’ said Time.

Speaking after the funeral Mr Salter said:-

“Bob Green had the ability to reach out right across the political spectrum and was one of the most widely respected politicians I have ever worked with. He will be hugely missed and my deepest sympathies go to his wife Jill and the rest of his family at this sad time. They and Reading have lost a truly lovely man”.