I AM surprised and slightly puzzled as to why the once accepted practice of perpetuating distinguished local figures by naming new housing estates or an odd road or two after them has gone out of fashion if not lost forever.
Apart from Sydney Simmons, Robert de Courtenay, Albany Savile, Hilary Macey (a miner 1729 benefactress) and General Hunt Holley, little interest is shown by councillors or developers these days in recognising those who once helped to shape our past, despite chances galore as Okehampton's housing stocks have soared.
Okehampton is fortunate in having past studded with flamboyant characters.
The list of MPs from 1300, reads like a page from Debrett, among them Thomas, Robert and William Pitt, at 24 our youngest Prime Minister. What price The Pitts for our next subtopia!
Domestically,the town owes a lot to past businessmen and mayors like George Henry Gratton and Henry Geen, progenitors of the first large scale housing developments.
The latter is also remembered for his pioneering work in generating electricity by water power (1888). Some claim he was the first, William Brown Chamings was mayor so many times, I've lost count.
Written deep in the old borough's history is John Rattenbury, first town clerk, who helped obtain the charter from James I in 1623.
His diary kept from 1626-1647 together with the journal maintained by Richard Shebbeare remains fascinating documents of the town's 17th century life.
John Luxmoore, an Okehampton man, rose to be Bishop of Bristol and Hereford; James Holman Mason, known as the 'Bishop of the Moor' was born and died in Okehampton; John Jehu Newcombe's career spanned 50 years as town clerk; Eden Phillpotts, novelist and playwright lived locally.
It is high time some of these old worthies were dusted off and turned into a name-plate to keep a date with destiny.
With the castle in mind, one old man is still hoping one day to see a Baldwin Drive or Close emerging to outshine the present poverty of thought.
Jack Hellier
Castle Road
Okehampton