MILTON Abbot Village Hall was the centre of attention recently when a banner made in felt by a group of ladies from the village was presented to the village hall.

The group was established by Villages in Action, a charity which seeks to bring cultural activities into villages around the county. The charity supplied all the materials and the services of a tutor to teach the necessary skills and to assist when required. The banner was presented to the village hall by Karen Leadbetter, the village co-ordinator for Villages in Action and was received on behalf of the hall and the village by Cyril Blatchford.

Much to his surprise, Mr Blatchford was then the subject of a further presentation to mark his retirement from the management committee, which he has served for some 50 years. Chris Burchell, chairman of the management committee, presented him with a framed print of a painting of Milton Abbot village centre by local artist Penny Haigh.

Mr Burchell said: ‘Cyril, you have been a stalwart of the village for so many years and we are all so grateful to you, not only for your work with the village hall but also your involvement in so many other activities over the years.’