A VET who can deal with depressed ferrets and Rottweilers with toothache will find the role of Tavistock's new mayor a breeze, according to retiring mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock.

Cllr Ken Sanders was voted the new mayor of Tavistock at the town council's annual meeting on Tuesday night.

As a councillor for 15 years and mayor twice, Cllr Sanders was well qualified to take on the role once more, said Cllr Woodcock.

She told members she had looked up the etymology of Cllr Sander's name, which confirmed his suitability as mayor.

A sander 'smoothed rough edges' — a quality which would prove ideal for the chairman of the council, she said.

And she said professionally, Cllr Sanders possessed the qualities needed to act as mayor: 'I look back over the past year and I have to say that councillors have sometimes been unpredictable, idiosyncratic and some of us have even had egos on display at times.

'The chairman must be someone who is able to temper this. Ken as a vet, who has spent a life dealing with manic depressive ferrets and Rottweilers with toothache, is a man who would find a group of councillors a fairly tame lot!'

Cllr Woodcock said her year as mayor had been a 'privilege and a pleasure' and thanked councillors and staff for their hard work and support.

Cllr Judith Williams paid tribute to Cllr Woodcock for her commitment throughout the year, which included more than 100 civic engagements in addition to dozens of council meetings.

Cllr Williams said: 'Leading the council is no soft option. As councillors we have diverse views, some political leanings, some who shout, some who mumble, but this year although some debates have been taxing, Norma has kept a firm grip on the debates, kept us under control and decisions have been made that will benefit the town in the future,' she said.

Cllr Williams said Cllr Woodcock had also encouraged links with youth of the town — something which was important for the democratic future.

Cllr Sanders said he looked forward to his third term as mayor and his 16th year on the council.

He said: 'Members of the public often say to me "How do you put up with the hassle?"

'To be honest, I have and still do enjoy the challenge of trying to protect and nurture Tavistock for the future, in spite of all the bureaucracy laid upon us from above.'

Cllr Sanders hoped the coming year would be an equable one, but mentioned the concerns of the council regarding extra house building in Tavistock and its consequent effect on infrastructure.

He also stressed the need for affordable housing and hoped town council-owned land may prove useful in the future.

Cllr Sanders said he was delighted to propose Cllr Marjorie Corner as his deputy for the coming year.

'She has always been totally assiduous in everything she has taken on,' said Cllr Sanders, who congratulated Cllr Corner on her recent successful appointment to the Multiple Sclerosis research board in London.

Cllr Corner, who suffers from MS, said it gave her 'great pleasure' to accept the honour.

'I will serve this council and town to the best, and perhaps better than, my ability — thank you councillors, for your confidence in me,' she said.