IT has been a good year for Crediton Town Team, it was noted at the Team’s Annual General Meeting, when an explanation of the team’s work was presented to a lively group of interested people.

Representatives from county, district and town councils, including the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, attended to hear about the wide range of projects the team had been supporting during the past year.

Crediton Town Team is a voluntary group of community activists, set up in 2014, who work towards making Crediton a more vibrant and sustainable community.

Town team chair, Rosemary Stephenson, told the meeting, held in the Market Street Council Chamber, that much of the work had been focussed on last summer’s Crediton Festival.

The team had employed a professional Artistic Director, Rachel Vowles, to give the Festival new impetus.

With more than 47 events across three weeks, including dance, drama, music, sport and more, the Festival had been a great success.

The most popular event had been the Outdoor Cinema in Newcombes Meadow, when more than 600 people went along to watch, sing and dance along to “Mamma Mia”. Plans for CredFest 2019 were already being considered.

Rod Brookes Hocking showed the meeting some exciting images of eight stained glass panels which could be erected through the town celebrating St Boniface.

These two-metre high panels, each with a colourful picture and text, describe the story of how Boniface rose from student to Bishop, converting Germany to Christianity, and being closely associated with the legend of the Christmas tree.

If the town team’s fundraising is successful, the panels will create a trail for visitors to follow, encouraging them to linger longer in the town.

Progress was reported on the team’s most ambitious project, the New Community Hub.

Although this is a long-term project – some years will be needed to raise the money – it is still exciting to imagine a purpose-built performance space for the town, which could include dance studios, meeting rooms, gallery space and even business units, all under one roof.

The team says the next step will be to attract a high profile architect to work on the project and form a skilled steering group to take the project forward.

The Crediton Active Mums Cycling Project was outlined by team member, Lorraine Harris.

Young mums cycle out weekly, with their babies or toddlers in trailers.

This excellent project, supporting mums to get fit and stay connected, was initiated by Active Devon and was now being helped to continue with funding via the town team.

Union Road Moto Velo, the new motorbike shop in town, had also offered to help by storing the bikes. The Bike Shed had already given lots of support to the project, and would continue to repair the bikes for free.

Andrew Vaccari’s excellent listing publication “Get Out EX17” had been helped by the town team and had just attracted some new money. He hoped to restart the paper publication again in the new year.

Tony Gale explained the first steps in a new project called “Well-being Crediton”, encouraging more people to access the excellent social, cultural and sporting activities in the town.

He said the aim would be to keep people happier and healthier and reduce pressure on GP services.

Rosemary invited everyone at the meeting to keep bringing new ideas to the town team. Councillors Nick Way and Margaret Squires thanked the team for its hard work over the year.

To find out more or get involved with the town team’s work, visit: www.creditontownteam.org.uk .

Alan Quick