One of the most respected local government officers in the history of Bourne was Douglas Reeson, clerk and chief financial officer to Bourne Urban District Council from 1950-62 and the first clerk to Bourne Town Council when it was formed as a result of the local government changes of 1974. During the latter years of the 20th century, his name became synonymous with local government and town affairs, serving with distinction in many spheres, notably as a trustee of Bourne United Charities.

He was born at Lincoln and after attending St Andrew's School and Lincoln Technical College, began his career as a solicitor's junior clerk with the firm J B Anderson and Company, a leading legal establishment in Lincoln where he remained for two years and in 1935, began his work in local government which was to last for 27 years, when he became a junior in the clerk's department at Horncastle Rural District Council.

In 1937, he moved south to become assistant clerk to Gipping Rural District Council in East Suffolk where his tenure was interrupted by the Second World War, joining the Royal Artillery in the ranks and rising to become a commissioned officer, eventually promoted to captain, and seeing active service in East Africa and Burma with the 11th East African Division where he was involved in troop battle training.

Douglas returned to civilian life in 1946 and resumed his career in local government as deputy clerk to Stowmarket Urban District Council in East Suffolk, moving to the adjoining county of Norfolk after two years to become clerk and chief financial officer to Swaffham Urban District Council. A year later, he seized the opportunity for advancement and on 1st July 1950, was appointed in a similar capacity to Bourne UDC.

Apart from past experience, he was well qualified for his work being a Fellow of the Corporation of Certified Secretaries, having passed the final examination in local government law and public administration, and an Associate of the Rating and Valuation Association. He was then also widely known in local government circles, having given evidence before government committees on behalf of the Urban District Council Association.

Mr Reeson is a staunch churchman, becoming a lay reader in 1958 and soon became active in the affairs of the Abbey Church, as secretary of the parochial church council and the committee then devoted to the building of the present church hall in Church Walk. He was also secretary of the Bourne and district Boy Scouts Association and an active freemason with the Hereward Lodge.

In 1962, his career took a different path when he was appointed clerk to the newly formed South Lincolnshire Water Board, an organisation formed through the changes in national administration of water distribution and now superseded by Anglian Water. The board was based in Spalding but Mr Reeson continued to live in Bourne with his wife and son, also Douglas, a pupil of Stamford School, and to retain an active interest in local affairs.

The appointment took effect from June 1st and after his final meeting on Tuesday 8th May,  Bourne UDC acknowledged his loyalty by marking his departure with a civic reception at the Corn Exchange when the chairman, Councillor Dr John Galletly, presented him with a camera and case and an illuminated parchment scroll of appreciation, executed by Mr Tom Jones, son of Councillor Tom Jones, and a student at the Leicester College of Art. It read:

This presentation is a token of the great esteem we past and present members of Bourne Urban District Council hold you not only as Clerk but as a man. Your wisdom, your abounding energy, your integrity, your kindness, have been given in full measure to our town and its people. We all wish you well.

The senior council member, Councillor H L Hudson, said that Mr Reeson had been a wonderful help to the authority and to the town, saving it thousands of pounds by his skill in obtaining grants where others had failed. He added: "But he was a young man and it was while a man is young that he has to make his move and although we are very sorry to lose him, we wish him well and are certain that the water authority is getting such an able clerk to carry out its work."

Mr Reeson was deeply moved by the gifts and the tributes paid to him. "Since I arrived in June 1950", he said, "I have always tried to assist the council and although it is impossible to please all the people all the time, I have always received extreme courtesy everywhere in the town. Bourne seems to me  to be a community of interest that far exceeds that of many other towns, even in Lincolnshire. It might not progress as rapidly as all would wish but its development is sound. Local government might also appear to be a little hog tied by the rules and regulations but members of the council contributed by their work to better living in the community and it will continue to be virile with people like yourselves to uphold the best traditions.

"I have tried to play my part as council clerk, citizen and ratepayer and my wife and son, like myself, have always received the utmost kindness and friendliness from everyone and anyone who wants to live in Bourne  will lack neither welcome nor friends. I hope to live here for many more happy years and will  continue to do what I can for the town."

Mr Reeson remained as clerk with the water board until retirement and he also became a member of South Kesteven District Council in 1974, sitting as an independent for one four year term until defeated at the local government elections in 1978. He also served as clerk to the governors at Bourne Grammar School and clerk and treasurer to Bourne United Charities. In retirement, he lived with his wife Joyce in Maple Gardens, Bourne, but maintained a close interest in many local organisations, notably BUC where he became a trustee until resigning in 2006, always a fund of knowledge about its activities and ready to advise colleagues on complex problems of property and investment. He also continued as a worshipper at the Abbey Church and although less active, served as a lay reader and member of the parochial church council.

He died in Peterborough District Hospital on Thursday 4th February 2010 after collapsing while out on a shopping trip to Stamford. He was 91. His widow was then 89 and their son 63 and living at Stoke-on-Trent. Councillor John Smith, a friend for fifty years, said in tribute: "He was a knowledgeable man and very hard working, the sort of person who never let anyone down and would always do his best to help."

REVISED JULY 2010