VOTERS in Mid Devon last Thursday were greeted by a mother and daughter team who were working together for the first time, despite the team already having half-a-century of election experience.

Glenys Green joined what was then called Tiverton Rural District Council back in 1966 aged 15. She worked on the reception and also helped out in the treasury and planning departments.

It was during her employment with the Council she began to work as a Poll Clerk, helping run a polling station at both local, district and general elections.

She married a farmer in 1970 and resigned from the council in 1974 to focus on the farm, but she decided to keep up her election work.

Fifty years later and working as a Presiding Officer Glenys was joined by her daughter, Olivia Jackson, who took on the role of Poll Clerk for the first time.

Glenys said: “In the past 50 years I think I have missed one election but this is the first time Olivia has been involved so it’s a first for us both really. I am not sure she will want to work with me again after sitting with me for 16 hours though!”

Glenys, who lives near Witheridge and is married with two daughters, added: “Once you start working at the election you do tend to get a bit swept up in it and especially when there was a general election I would work all day in the polling station before staying up all night watching the results come in.

“It’s good to be a part of and I hope Olivia will feel this too. We are already signed up to work the European election too, but maybe that will be my last.”

Jill May, Returning Officer for Mid Devon District Council said: “Glenys has always been a dedicated member of our election staffing team who we know we can rely on.

“Working all day in a polling station, particularly in a rural area, can be mundane but it is necessary for our democracy to be inclusive for all and that is something we know Glenys has always been proud to be part of. I would like to thank her for her work over the past 50 years and it is great to see her joined by Olivia.”

Glenys was presented with a replica ballot box and chocolates at a training event held ahead of last week’s election. With official records for polling staff not kept at the start of Glenys’s career the Council is also keen to hear from other election staff who may be able to beat Glenys’s impressive record.