MAYOR of Okehampton Christine Marsh was described as an 'excellent ambassador for the town' at a formal ceremony last Wednesday in which she was elected as the town's figurehead for a second term.
Town councillor Gill Lower said the mayor had represented Okehampton with 'pride and enthusiasm' at numerous functions from civic ceremonies to pancake races and when addressing local issues she had shown a strong desire for Okehampton to retain its identity.
'People have a feeling of ownership and this has been achieved by encouraging the community to have an active interest in what happens in Okehampton and where positive have an input into the decisions regarding our town,' she said.
Cllr Marsh said it has been a privilege to represent the town and raise its profile.
Over the past year she had attended 98 engagements and 'enjoyed every one of them.'
She said Okehampton was what was known as a growth town — a town that was facing change and it was important to 'go with the flow and not stagnate.'
'We must keep our identity and build on what we have — Okehampton has so much going for it this year with the extra development of industrial land at Exeter Road, the rail freight link, plans for the new hospital and expansion of the primary school,' said Mrs Marsh.
She emphasised the importance of Simmons Park especially in a time of increasing development. She said the town council was going forward with a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding to restore it to its former glory.
A proposed new sports complex would put Okehampton on the map for another reason and, at the Okehampton Show in August, the town's lottery would be launched to raise funds for local causes.
'We have a beautiful town and town benefactors have been very forward thinking giving us so much — we need to build on it for future generations,' she said.
Okehampton Teens to Twenties' youth appraisal and information point in East Street, the Ockment Rivers Improvement Programme, concessionary bus passes and the refurbishment of the council offices, council chamber and market hall were all positive things that had happened over the year, she said.
She hoped to see a greater understanding between the council and the needs of the townspeople and, with everyone working together and a strong community spirit, the town could achieve the things it wanted.
Mrs Marsh thanked the council members for 'having faith' in her and said she would continue to represent the town to the best of her ability.
Cllr Frances Luxton, described as a 'true Ocketonian' and the daughter and grand-daughter of former mayors of the town, was elected as deputy mayor for the coming year.