ONE of West Devon Borough Council's longest serving councillors has been elected as the new mayor of the borough.
Cllr Alison Clish-Green, who has been a member for 26 years, said she was proud and honoured to be elected and would endeavour to do her best to represent the council in the forthcoming year. Cllr John Hockridge, who has also served 26 years, was elected deputy mayor.
Mrs Clish-Green served as a previous mayor in 1997/98. She said there was a saying that a week was a long time in politics and it was certainly the case that we were living in changeable times but West Devon Borough Council had always 'punched above its weight'.
'Whatever the future holds, we at West Devon have done the right thing in progressing partnerships and closer, shared working with other authorities,' she said.
'We are lucky to have such dedicated officers and councillors working together for our community.'
She added that she was looking forward to meeting many individuals and organisations in the coming year and had chosen the charities to support — the Alzheimers Society and Dartmoor Rescue Group.
Outgoing mayor Terry Pearce was praised for his term in office by Cllr Margaret Garton, who said he had undertaken his duties with 'unfailing energy, dignity and cheerfulness'.
Cllr Pearce had only been elected to the council 12 months before he became mayor and said it had been a sharp learning curve but a tremendous honour and privilege.
He said six years ago he had suffered a cerebral bleed which had resulted in the loss of feeling in the left side of his body and his speech was affected, so being mayor of West Devon was a 'tremendous milestone' for him.