THE chairman of governors at Tavistock College has appeared before magistrates in Plymouth, charged with eight child sex offences, including one of rape. Alex Wood, 59, of Kilworthy Hill, has been remanded in custody and will appear before Plymouth Crown Court on a date to be fixed. Wood has been charged with rape of a child under the age of 13, engaging in a sex act with a child under the age of 13, procuring a child for sexual offences and five counts of possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The charges have been brought by Kent police who are investigating child abuse offences. Wood has resigned from his role on the governing body of Tavistock College and from the board of governors at St Rumon's Infants School in Tavistock, where he was vice-chairman. A spokesman for the local education authority, which appointed Wood to the governing bodies of both schools, stressed that the charges did not relate to any offences at either school. Colin Eves, principal of Tavistock College, said: 'I have written to parents informing them of Mr Wood's resignation. The matter is sub judice and, because of these proceedings, I can make no further comment.' James McQueen, chairman of governors at St Rumon's School, said: 'We have spoken to parents about these allegations. Mr Wood has been removed as governor. I can say no more while a court case is pending.' Alex Wood, who moved to Tavistock from Kent nine years ago, has been an active member of the Tavistock branch of the Liberal Democrats. Now retired, he previously worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau in Tavistock. He has unsuccessfully stood for the party in several local council elections, most recently in a by election in May this year, when Conservative Philip Sanders beat him for the seat on Tavistock Town Council. l A new chairman of governors has been appointed at the college. He is Terry West, a former teacher who has served as a governor since 1991. Mr West works as a school administrator at a Devon secondary school.