LYDFORD'S Nicholls Hall was filled with well-wishers on Saturday, enjoying a 'sit-down' lunch party provided by the village and church to show appreciation of the Rev Ian Sykes' time as parish priest and to wish him and his wife, Sue, a happy retirement.

Mr Sykes was first Instituted at Lydford on September 13 1997 to be Rector of the parishes of Mary Tavy, Peter Tavy, Brentor and Lydford. Serving these four quite widely separated parishes with very different traditions was challenging and demanding.  

When Mr Sykes reached retirement age, he offered to stay on, unpaid, to be parish priest to just Lydford.

This was accepted gratefully by the parish which had just voted to join the Okehampton Deanery and needed an experienced leader to help with the adjustment to the new team.

Mrs Sykes was pleased to have a little longer working for the Devon Wildlife Trust and also as clerk to the governors of Mary Tavy and Brentor Primary School.

The party included friends, colleagues and people from both old and new groups of parishes, all joining in the good wishes and contributing to the cheque which was presented to the couple to spend in their new home in Hampshire.