A NEW mayor took the reins in West Devon on Tuesday, as this year's leader of the borough council, Christine Grills, stepped down after her year of office.
Cllr Robin Pike, ward member for Tamarside and a member of Tavistock Town Council, was proposed by Cllr Ted Sherrell.
Cllr Sherrell said Cllr Pike was a West Devon man 'born and bred' who had a great love and understanding of the community.
'To his long service as a councillor, he has brought uncompromising qualities of honesty, vision, integrity and courage. Assuredly he will bring these attributes to the mayoralty during the coming year,' said Cllr Sherrell.
Cllr Roger Mathew said it was a great privilege to second the proposal.
'You always know where you are with Robin — and that is a very great attribute,' he said.
Cllr Pike said it had always been his ambition to serve the community and he was 'very chuffed' to find himself with the mayoral chain around his neck.
After foot and mouth had 'reared its ugly head', West Devon would be facing big challenges and the borough council would have to deal with decisions like it had never done before, said Cllr Pike.
He pledged to visit as many parish councils as he could during his year as mayor 'to gain first hand knowledge of their needs and problems' and would do his best to promote West Devon as 'THE place to be'.
Cllr Dick Eberlie thanked Cllr Grills for her hard work during the past year.
'She has sat with charm and aplomb through a very difficult year,' he said, praising Cllr Grills as quiet, efficient and 'thoroughly energetic' in the way in which she fulfilled her duties as mayor.
And Cllr Peter Hill said Cllr Grills' 'sincere' personality had shone through, doing great credit to the borough throughout the year.
Cllr Grills said it had been 'a great privilege' and a 'marvellous experience' to be mayor of West Devon.
She singled out a visit to Chelfham School near Tavistock which she had found particularly moving and very thought provoking — even when a pet rat was generously plonked on her shoulder!
And Cllr Grills paid particular tribute to her husband Norman for his support despite illness and her stand-in consort, Lesley Smith.
Cllr Richard Phillips, who represents Walkham ward, was voted in as the new deputy mayor of West Devon.
'He is highly conscious of the environment, which is going to play an increasingly important role in the prosperity of West Devon,' said proposer Cllr Sally Monk.
Previous West Devon mayor Margaret Garton said Cllr Phillips was a 'team player' who had thrown himself wholeheartendly into his work as a councillor since he was elected two years ago.