CREDITON Town Council has said goodbye and thank you to its Town Clerk of the past seven years and welcome to its new Town Clerk.

The Mayor of Crediton paid tribute to the outgoing clerk and said: "After seven years of devoted service to our council and town our wonderful town clerk, Clare Dalley, has decided to make a career change.

"Clare has become a well-known figure in the town, known for her energy, vision and commitment.

"She has greatly helped the council and town to move forward by initiating a whole host of ideas and proposals.

"I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with Clare for seven exciting years.

"We shall miss her and wish her every success in her future career."

Alan Quick, Crediton Courier Editorial Manager, added: “I would like to thank Clare for her assistance to the ‘Courier’ as Town Clerk during the past seven years.

“She has led from the front on many of the Town Council projects and has really helped the town move forward in so many areas.

“Clare has been enthusiastic, professional and diligent in her work and it has been a pleasure to deal with her concerning so many town issues.

“I wish her all the very best for the future.”

The new Town Clerk is Rachel Avery, who worked at Totnes until she became Clerk to three Parish Councils.

Rachel said: “I am very excited to be the new Town Clerk to Crediton Town Council.

“I am Devon born and bred, having lived in Newton Abbot and the surrounding area my whole life.

“Being a bell ringer, I have been able to visit all corners of our beautiful county and can’t wait to move to Mid Devon with my husband and two daughters.

“With 10 years of local government experience, I am looking forward to serving the Town Council both with its day-to-day running but also its current projects and future aspirations and goals.

“We are looking forward to becoming part of what is clearly a very special community.

“It will be great to meet many of you when I am in the office and out and about in the town.

“Let’s all work together to make Crediton as brilliant as it can be.”

Currently Crediton Town Council is assisting many people who need it in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Town Council meetings and events have been postponed or cancelled until further notice.