A wise man keeps secrets under his hat (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

A wise man keeps secrets under his hat

4:11pm Thursday 20th November 2003

• Print
• Email
• Share

AFTER 17 and a half years as chauffeur to The Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, John Brooker stresses he does not have ‘a job’, more a way of life.

John, now 63 years old, was born in Kingston and grew up in Claygate, Esher. After leaving school he spent ten years working in the motor trade before travelling the world as a tour-coach driver, visiting places all over Europe and Scandinavia.

Having moved to Twickenham in 1969, John married his wife Brenda in the early 1970s and they moved to their current house, by Twickenham Green, in 1976.

"I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else except Twickenham," says John. "Even if I won the lottery or something and had all the money in the world, I wouldn’t move."

In 1986 John noticed an advertisement in the Richmond and Twickenham Times for position of chauffeur to the mayor - then Cllr David Cornwall - and decided it could be an opportunity to settle down.

"I was 45, had three kids and thought it was a good idea. The tour driving meant spending a lot of time away from Brenda."

When asked if he enjoys the work, John replies that carrying on for 17 and a half years must speak for its self. And he objects to the word ‘job’: "It’s a way of life really. I do get two days off a week, but they’re always different. It’s not like someone who goes into work and knows they will have the weekend off and what time they’ll finish each day.

"When there’s a council meeting, you don’t know what time it’ll finish and then I take the mayor home afterwards. I was spoilt with the last one," jokes John, "because Dougie [Cllr Douglas Orchard, the previous mayor] lived in Sixth Cross Road, but Cllr Urquhart lives in Grange Road in Barnes, which can be a real trek if the traffic’s bad."

Cllr Nicola Urquhart is the 18th mayor to be chauffeured by John. His full title is ‘chauffeur, mace barer, attendant’ and this includes looking after the deputy mayor, currently Cllr Derek Beattie.

The mace is a ceremonial staff of office which John must carry at various functions: "Like remembrance parades, schools, Westminster Abbey, council meetings - lots of places. The council meetings cannot officially start unless I’ve taken the mace in."

So where does this tradition come from? "Well originally, it was a club used for defence," explains John. "It would be carried to defend a monarch or mayor against attacks. But now it’s become this traditional symbol."

As well as driving duties and mace carrying, John attends to the mayor and deputy, which involves receiving and looking after all the visitors to the Mayor’s Parlour, at York House in Twickenham.

"And when we go to functions, I get out of the car first and go to tell them the mayor has arrived and find out what’s happening," says John.

He finds himself at various functions, meetings, ceremonies and openings, at a plethora of venues such as hospitals, colleges, sports centres and theatres.

John describes many functions as interesting but says: "There’s a lot of hanging about too. I’ve always a book in the car and get loads of reading done.

"It never bothers me, it’s just what I’m used to. I look at the function sheet and might have an hour free, so I’ll pop home."

There are some places John visits which he will never forget. "Places really stick in your mind. One of the most moving experiences for me was going to Arras in France, to the re-interment of two fusiliers who had died in World War I. The corpses had been found as a result of the War Graves Commission; there’re still many people missing.

"The Duke of Kent was at the ceremony in Arras and some fusiliers from Germany. It was all very moving."

John often spends time in the company of the royal family: "I’ll always remember the queen coming here to open Richmond riverside in 1988. And then the Queen Mother came to visit the Royal Star and Garter Home a few years ago. They were special events.

"In fact, the car we use belonged to the Queen Mother. We’ve had this one for 12 years now, it’s a black Daimler, which are no longer made."

How would John describe the mayor’s role? "Well it’s non-political and they are the number one citizen in the borough. There’s lots of traditions and official procedures involved. Like before we visit any other borough, we have to obtain permission for our mayor to wear the chains. In the city of London, for example, other mayors just wear a badge."

The Richmond upon Thames mayoral chains date back to 1890 and first belonged to the borough’s founder mayor - Sir John Whittaker Ellis MP.

John proudly showed me a photograph of himself in his smart uniform, holding the golden mace and stood alongside the current mayor in full regalia.

"That’s the thing about this job," he says, "you end up with plenty of nice photos!"

Any personal opinions are kept close to John’s chest and he refuses to reveal any favourite mayors: "You get close to all of them. I already know them before they take the role, because they’ve been councillors, but then you get to know them properly, all their likes and dislikes."

"I’ve been very lucky with all of them, we’ve always got on well. In that one year you get to know their home and their relatives. I know the cats, the animals, the neighbours in their street. You’re with each other all the time and you become part of the family really."

But John still finds time to be close with his own family and enjoys looking after his three and half-year-old grandson Jordan whenever he can.

As well as a daughter, Jordan’s mother, he has two sons in their late 20’s: "They’re both working, one in advertising and one as a chef, but both still live at home with me and Brenda."

John has two other passions in life: growing vegetables on his patch at Twickenham Allotments and socialising with friends.

"I go down to my club a lot - Twickenham Royal British Legion - to see all my old mates for a few drinks.

"I always drink bitter," he confirms. "I can’t abide this lager stuff."

Despite being an obvious character and popular personality at work and home, John was puzzled as to why I was writing his profile: "Who’s idea was this then?" he kept inquiring.

It was hard to get John talking openly about his work, firstly because it has become second nature and he struggles to know where to begin and secondly because he is not about to give any secrets away.

"I’m like the three wise men; I say nothing. You hear things but you can’t ever repeat them, in fact you try not to take any notice. I just get on with my work and don’t really listen - I’m not interested.

"If I go into a meeting to take some coffees or something, I do what I have to and then get out again. If you don’t hear anything, then you can’t repeat it."

A close relationship with 18 mayors, driving the crest beheld car, holding the official mace, meeting numerous MPs, councillors and celebrities, mixing with royalty… but to John, it’s all in a day’s work.

• Print
• Email
• Share