THE Rev Denis Hutchings, a retired priest who assists regularly at the parish churches of Tavistock and Gulworthy, recently celebrated 50 years of ordination. 

To mark the occasion, he took a service of holy communion at St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock, attended by more than 60 well-wishers from local parishes, including Lydford and Brent Tor, where he served as parish priest from 1993 to 1995. 

This was followed by celebratory drinks in church, and lunch with his family in the Bedford Hotel.