John Bingham was a passionate supporter of the town, key to several groups including the scouts and the masons and was always ready with a joke.

The 76-year-old moved to Wokingham after working in the print industry and having run a car rental business in London.

He moved to the Joel Park area with his wife Jane in May 1977.

He ran Lucan’s Bistro on Peach Street and took great pleasure in telling customers he was related to the infamous Lord Lucan.

Jane said: “He loved doing that. Lord Lucan was called Richard John Bingham so John told people they were related.

“We had pictures of Lord Lucan up all around the restaurant.” John ran the bistro for ten years until 1999.

He moved on to become a town centre manager, receiving a Civic Award from Wokingham Town Council in 2005 in recognition of his work.

John was a member of the Edwin Flavell Lodge and Cookham Manor chapter of the masons in Berkshire.

John Hibbert worked closely with John Bingham in setting up Wokingham’s drug and pub watch. He said: “What terrible news. All I can say is John was very very much central in starting up the drug and pub watch.

“He received a police commendation. He was absolutely devoted to it but he was absolutely instrumental in getting that up and running.” Adam Miles was a long-standing friend and later colleague of John’s at Miles & Daughters Independent Funeral Directors.

He said: “John worked as a funeral director. He was wonderful and very kind. He put an awful lot of effort into his job, he really went the extra mile to make sure his families were looked after. He would stay in touch with them after the funeral.” For many years John helped organise the Wokinhgam Christmas market. He was in charge of guaranteeing Father Christmas’s attendance every year and rode on the processional train with him.

Jane Bingham said: “He loved doing father Christmas, he did it for the masons and at Harris Court too.

“He loved doing it and he told the children to go to bed early. I remember one year a mother came up and said ‘Thank you for telling them that. They were in bed early for a week before Christmas.” In 2002, Jane and John were invited to a Golden Jubilee Youth Event at Bisham Abbey, where they were introduced to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Jane said: “We were introduced to Her Majesty, she spoke to us both, and then moved away.

“The Duke came and I forgot to introduce John, the Duke said ‘And who are you?’ to John.

“John quickly replied ‘I am the chief handbag carrier!’ The Duke roared with laughter and said ‘I know exactly how you feel.’ “I could have gone under the floor, but was so very proud of John. John had always called himself that when I was county commissioner.” John was the chairman of the chairman of the First Emmbrook Scouts and the Wokingham District Scout Council.

He also served as an independent member of the Wokingham Borough and West Berkshire Standards Committee.

John passed away after years of critical illness. He is survived by his wife of 49 years and two sons, Andrew and Lawrence.

John Bingham was a passionate supporter of the town, key to several groups including the scouts and the masons and was always ready with a joke.

The 76-year-old moved to Wokingham after working in the print industry and having run a car rental business in London.

He moved to the Joel Park area with his wife Jane in May 1977.

He ran Lucan’s Bistro on Peach Street and took great pleasure in telling customers he was related to the infamous Lord Lucan.

Jane said: “He loved doing that. Lord Lucan was called Richard John Bingham so John told people they were related.

“We had pictures of Lord Lucan up all around the restaurant.” John ran the bistro for ten years until 1999.

He moved on to become a town centre manager, receiving a Civic Award from Wokingham Town Council in 2005 in recognition of his work.

John was a member of the Edwin Flavell Lodge and Cookham Manor chapter of the masons in Berkshire.

John Hibbert worked closely with John Bingham in setting up Wokingham’s drug and pub watch. He said: “What terrible news. All I can say is John was very very much central in starting up the drug and pub watch.

“He received a police commendation. He was absolutely devoted to it but he was absolutely instrumental in getting that up and running.” Adam Miles was a long-standing friend and later colleague of John’s at Miles & Daughters Independent Funeral Directors.

He said: “John worked as a funeral director. He was wonderful and very kind. He put an awful lot of effort into his job, he really went the extra mile to make sure his families were looked after. He would stay in touch with them after the funeral.” For many years John helped organise the Wokinhgam Christmas market. He was in charge of guaranteeing Father Christmas’s attendance every year and rode on the processional train with him.

Jane Bingham said: “He loved doing father Christmas, he did it for the masons and at Harris Court too.

“He loved doing it and he told the children to go to bed early. I remember one year a mother came up and said ‘Thank you for telling them that. They were in bed early for a week before Christmas.” In 2002, Jane and John were invited to a Golden Jubilee Youth Event at Bisham Abbey, where they were introduced to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Jane said: “We were introduced to Her Majesty, she spoke to us both, and then moved away.

“The Duke came and I forgot to introduce John, the Duke said ‘And who are you?’ to John.

“John quickly replied ‘I am the chief handbag carrier!’ The Duke roared with laughter and said ‘I know exactly how you feel.’ “I could have gone under the floor, but was so very proud of John. John had always called himself that when I was county commissioner.” John was the chairman of the chairman of the First Emmbrook Scouts and the Wokingham District Scout Council.

He also served as an independent member of the Wokingham Borough and West Berkshire Standards Committee.

John passed away after years of critical illness. He is survived by his wife of 49 years and two sons, Andrew and Lawrence.