CREDITON Mayoress, Mrs Natalia Letch, became a British Citizen at a Citizenship Ceremony held at The Guildhall, Exeter, earlier this month.

Following a lengthy application process, which involved much form-filling and a multiple-choice questionnaire, Russian-born Natalia (nee Putilova), was invited to attend the ceremony. which was presided over by Judge Graham Cottle.

He welcomed the prospective citizens and spoke to them about life in Britain and Devon, including many historical details.

Leading the ceremony was Trish Harrogate, registration service manager and county superintendent registrar.

In her welcome, she said: "On behalf of the Queen, the Government of the United Kingdom and Devon County Council, I would like to welcome you all to The Guildhall for your citizenship ceremony.

"Today I would like to give a very special welcome to our future new citizens who have come from Bangladesh, Canada, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the Ukraine, the United Republic of Tanzania and the United States of America.

"For many of you, today is the final step in the process of becoming a British Citizen and this makes today a very special occasion for celebration."

Then followed the ceremony which involved the swearing of an oath and the presentation of a certificate by Judge Cottle.

Natalia was previously a singer and worked for a Russian television company as an engineer.

She met Frank while on a three-day holiday in Egypt in 2006.

She explained: "We kept in touch and arranged visits and decided to get married.

"We were married in August 2006 in Exeter.

"I was very pleased to be the first to say my oath.

"In Crediton I work for the charity, Hospiscare in the Crediton Hospiscare shop.

"I am a member of the Garden Club and Twinning Association and also of CISCO, Crediton International Social Cultural Organisation.

"I am looking to start a twinning association with a Russian town in the future and Frank and myself are already members of Exeter twinning with Yaroslavl Russia."

Natalia added: "I try to help Frank with his projects and as a local councillor."

Other local residents who became British Citizens at the ceremony were Alfred May and his children Dylan (12) and Tiffany (8).

Alfred and Janet May and their children live at Lapford.

Janet is British and the family moved to Devon in 2003, from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she met Alfred and they had Dylan and Tiffany.

The couple also have a son, Brady (6), who was born in Britain.

Janet and Alfred said they love Devon and feel blessed to be in such a beautiful part of the country.

alan-quick@crediton

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