A FORMER head girl of Tavistock College was last week made mayor of the town. Anne Johnson, a member of the town council for four years, was proposed by Cllr Mandy Govier — she said Mrs Johnson was a Tavistock girl whose family had been linked with the town for generations. 'Anne has always been a community minded girl who became involved in youth work as a teenager and has been working with young people for over 25 years,' said Cllr Govier. The new town mayor had been involved with youth clubs in Tavistock and Whitchurch, and with the ATC, Ten Tors, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, plus many other organisations. 'Anne was pivotal in the setting up of Tavistock Youth Council, which led onto the youth café, a long-held dream of Anne's for Tavistock's young people.' Cllr Johnson worked hard with diligence and humour on the council and had been an exemplary deputy mayor over the past year, said Cllr Govier. Seconding the proposal, Cllr Ted Sherrell praised Cllr Johnson for her commitment, sound judgement, integrity and common sense. 'Also, she is relatively young — a bonus in modern public life where so many of us could double up as characters in "Last of the Summer Wine",' said Cllr Sherrell. Cllr Johnson thanked members for their kind words and said: 'It's a huge honour and privilege to be elected as mayor of Tavistock, the town where I was born. I was challenged when I was head girl that before I was 50, I would be mayor — I am amazed I have met that challenge — but only just!' Cllr Johnson said she would do her best to serve the community and looked forward to meeting many more of the voluntary groups in Tavistock which did such valuable work. Cllr Jenny Metcalf thanked Cllr Caroline Keane, last year's mayor, for her hard work: 'It's not a light duty and Caroline has represented us on many occasions — I hope she has enjoyed herself,' said Cllr Metcalf. 'Her great and unique contribution has been her emphasis on green issues — she cares passionately about these matters.' Cllr Keane thanked the council and its staff for their support: 'I have really enjoyed being mayor, I really love Tavistock and I trust this council will take Tavistock forward as the greatest market town in the South West.' Cllr Robin Pike was proposed as deputy mayor for the coming year. Cllr Johnson said Cllr Pike, who had served the town for 20 years, was a committed councillor who paid keen attention to detail and thoroughly understood the tradition and role of the deputy mayor. Cllr Pike said he was honoured to accept the role and would do his utmost to support the mayor in the coming year.