FOLLOWING a private burial, a Celebration of the Life of John Daw, well-known farmer and a former chairman of Mid Devon District Council, will be held at the Church of the Holy Cross Crediton, from 2pm on Tuesday, February 4.
Councillor John Daw (71), from Morchard Bishop, passed away on January 9.
John was first elected to the council in 1999 and held a number of roles across a range of committees during more than 20 years on the council.
He was Chairman of the Council from 2015-17.
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Mr Daw (71), was a dairy farmer from Morchard Bishop and Coldridge.
He was actively involved with Devon YFC, the NFU, ARLA, Devon County Show, Mid Devon Show and was a director of Mole Avon Trading Ltd.
A former Crediton Rugby Club player and active member of the committee, a minute’s silence was held before every game at Crediton Rugby Club as a mark of respect during the following weekend.
Crediton Town Councillor and Mid Devon District Councillor, Frank Letch, the Mayor of Crediton, also paid tribute to Mr Daw.
He said: “When I became a Mid Devon District Councillor, at my first full council meeting, the man sitting at the opposite end of the room was the newly-elected chairman, John Daw.
“His booming voice always filled the room with ease, he hardly needed a microphone.
“He was a very kind and thoughtful man and politics never really entered into our friendship.
“He was very supportive of the Town Council‘s bid to buy the council offices and thought its eventual sale was a shame because it did not really benefit our community.
“He was a wise man and you could always guarantee a sensible and thoughtful answer to any query you had. He will be sadly missed by us all.”
John was chairman of Coldridge branch of the Conservative party and was a parish councillor at Coldridge for more than 40 years.
Family flowers only will be accepted at the Celebration of John’s life but donations, if desired, can be made to Devon Air Ambulance Trust, the British Heart Foundation and Epilepsy Research by retiring collection or c/o A White and Sons, Albert Road, Crediton EX17 2BZ.