'ONE of the finest councillors this town has known and irreplaceable' — that is the description of Norma Woodcock, who stepped down from Tavistock Town Council at last week's elections. Norma, 68, has served more than 34 years as a councillor, including four as town mayor. She said: ' I decided just before Christmas that it was time to stand down. I have lots of interests and just felt I should move on and give the responsibility and, at times the excitement of the council, to the next generation.' Norma, a former maths teacher, has been married to Gerry, who was head of history at Tavistock College, for 46 years. They have two children, Mark and Dinah. Cllr Ted Sherrell said: ' I will very much miss sharing the council chamber with Norma. It just will not be the same without her.' Cllr Sherrell, who was first elected to the council at the same time as Norma in 1973, decribed her departure as 'the end of an era'. 'With her integrity, vision, wisdom and erudition, Norma has been, in my view, the finest councillor this town has known in the past 50 years. She is irreplaceable.' Originally from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, Norma graduated in mathematics from both London and Cambridge Universities. She taught at Tavistock School before moving into education administration for the Devon Education Authority, where she was responsible for children with special needs. She first became involved in local politics as a young mother, liaising with the council setting up a pre-school playgroup, her work as a school governor and with voluntary organisations. Norma said that after nine elections she is certainly an expert on the town's letterboxes! 'I always stood as an independent councillor and it is important that people on the town council have independent voices so that it fully reflects what they consider to be the best decision for the community, not just simply follow a party political agenda which may not be in the town's best interest,' said Norma. As well as being the founder member of the pre-school playgroup, she has been chairman of Tavistock Citizens Advice Bureau, school governor of the primary school and Gulworthy School, a member of the Plymouth Guild of Community Service and chairman of Tavistock's twinning committee with Pontivy in Brittany and Celle in Germany. Tavistock Town Council is one of the richest in England — from its ownership of many shops and historic buildings bequeathed by the Duke of Bedford in 1911. This has meant the council has a responsibility to protect the town's unique historic heritage, something Norma was happy to do. 'It has been a real privilege to be elected and serve. Along with Ted, who I joined with in 1973, we have seen really innovative councillors — ones who are energetic and hard working and have made a considerable contribution and also some real characters, who have brought a lot of life to the council but, perhaps, not always the greatest judgement,' she added, tongue very much in cheek. 'It has been a real privilege to be on the council and something I have enjoyed very much.' Roger Howard, town clerk for the past eight years, added: 'She has been an excellent councillor and one who has been very keen to look after the best interests of the town. The finances of the town council have been very safe under her guidance.' Caroline Keane, mayor of Tavistock, said: 'Norma has dedicated more than 30 years of continuous hard work, energy and effort to Tavistock and we are very much indebted to her for everything she has done. I am very fond of Norma and it will be a great loss to the council.'