PARISHIONERS from all over the Hatherleigh Benefice packed the recent carol service at Jacobstowe to say goodbye to the Rev Alex Welby who is leaving after serving the Hatherleigh area for 11 years. At the end of the service of seasonal favourites from the carol singers from Hatherleigh, a presentation was made to Mr Welby. While the churches had given him their own leaving presents, people from all four communities had contributed to a laptop computer and printer for Mr Welby as a mark of their esteem and gratitude for more than a decade of faithful ministry to them all. Ingrid Dodd, lay reader for Hatherleigh Benifice said: ?This was felt to be something he would find useful but would also enjoy and it carried the best wishes for his future from so many people in the area who will miss him very much.?
