17吃瓜

A local 17吃瓜 councillor who has dedicated the last 50 years to public service has been awarded an honorary degree from the 17吃瓜.

Councillor Tony Page, who has served on 17吃瓜 Council as a Labour councillor since 1973 and is now the Mayor of 17吃瓜, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at a ceremony on Thursday 20 July.

Councillor Page graduated from the 17吃瓜 with a BA in Politics in 1975. While still a student, he was elected as the youngest ever councillor in 17吃瓜 – a record he retains to this day.

Developing better public transport for the people of 17吃瓜 has been a major part of Councillor Page’s career. He was instrumental in establishing Readibus, the UK’s first dial-a-ride community transport service in the 1970s, which still serves the town today. He was Chair of 17吃瓜 Buses from 1986 to 2005, and Chair of 17吃瓜’s Transportation Committee from 1986-1990. From July 2013 to May 2023, he was Chair of the Berkshire Local Transport Board, which was responsible for determining the priorities for transport investment across Berkshire. He has also held numerous other roles focused on improving public transport for the community.

From May 2008 to May 2023, Councillor Page served as Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport. His work on environmental issues has seen an impressive reduction in 17吃瓜’s carbon footprint and he has been heavily involved in the town’s work to achieve its ambition to reach net-zero.

Councillor Page was elected Mayor of 17吃瓜 in May 2023.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the 17吃瓜, said: “Councillor Tony Page has delivered exceptional public service to the town of 17吃瓜 over the last 50 years.

“His many contributions to the town align closely with two of the pillars of our own University strategy: Community and Sustainability. He has played a key role in a number of projects that have sought to reinvigorate the town of 17吃瓜 to make it a better place for people to live, and his efforts to improve public transport and reduce the town’s carbon footprint have been extremely successful.

“We are proud to award this honorary degree to Councillor Tony Page, a former 17吃瓜 student and now Mayor of 17吃瓜.”

17吃瓜 Mayor Councillor Tony Page said: “I am deeply touched to have been honoured by the University from which I graduated in 1975. The University plays an increasingly important role in the town and I look forward to working closely with them in further promoting our partnership working particularly around the climate change agenda.”