IN LAST week?s paper you reported the tragic death of Councillor Peter Hill JP, my colleague at the borough council for the past seven years. Chagford was Peter?s much-loved home, and it may seem remote from us on this side of the moor, but we are deeply in his debt here too for his 50 years of service to the community across West Devon. For a long time he was responsible for care of the council?s houses until they were handed on to West Devon Homes. More recently he has borne the burden of the custody of the council?s finances. This was never an easy job. It was often controversial and always stressful, but it was my privilege to observe Peter playing a key part in recent years in ensuring that the district weathered all the storms and consistently delivered efficient services to the residents of the district. Peter did this work for next to no financial reward and while performing a myriad of other important tasks as reported in your columns week after week, whether as magistrate, chairman of the safety committee, of his parish council, or of this or that across the county. I have met very, very few people in the course of my chequered career who have dedicated themselves so selflessly to a lifetime of public service. Moreover he was such a wise old bird. His good sense, his fairness and his patent integrity shone through in all he said and did at our council. We in Tavistock and Okehampton have been fortunate that such a man as Peter Hill was prepared to give us the benefit of his rare wisdom and his long experience of public service. Dick Eberlie 6 Vigo Mews Parkwood Road Tavistock
