AT a short ceremony attended by representatives of Devon County Council (DCC), Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) and members of the community on Saturday, October 23, Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Council dedicated the refurbished Under 11’s Playground in memory of the late Mid Devon District Council Alderman, Mrs Susan Meads.

Susan’s sons Christopher and Andrew, members of the Parish Council and from the local community looked on as County Councillor Mrs Margaret Squires and Mid Devon District Council Chairman, Cllr Ray Radford cut a rainbow ribbon to open the re-named Meads’ Meadow.

The new accessible play equipment including a climbing frame, roundabout, slide and swings were funded jointly by Pennon Group, MDDC and money from the DCC Localities Fund provided by Cllr Squires.

Presentations were made to Cllr Squires and also to local resident, Heather Sandover, who was instrumental in applying for and securing the funds.

Susan met her husband-to-be, Roy, when he took pity on her as she stood in the pouring rain, offering her a lift in his black Morris Minor.

Susan could regularly be seen driving the car around the lanes almost 60 years later.

The couple moved to Devon when Roy took up a position at the University of Exeter in 1962.

Apple Tree Cottage was chosen as the family home as it was one of only two houses on the market at the time in which her pianist and organist husband Roy’s Steinway grand piano would fit.

A few years later she moved across the garden to Oxford House, where she then lived until her death in 2020.

Despite being a busy young mother, Susan soon became heavily involved in village life, from church and charities, to the then fledgling Playgroup, the Drama Club and the Parish Council.

Charles Sheldrick, Chairman, Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Council, said that Mrs Meads was very proud to have served on the Parish Council for 50 years.

He continued: “Susan was also elected to Mid Devon District Council and served with distinction for 30 years, being made an Honorary Alderman when she stepped down in 2008.

"Having actively canvassed for votes down even the most inaccessible of farm tracks, her depth and breadth of knowledge of the Parish and the District Ward that she served were second to none.

"When the rest of us were stumped as to the location of a planning application Susan could always be relied upon to explain how to get there, what was down the end of the lane and a potted history of the last three generations who had lived there."

Charles added: "Though never particularly fond of technology, Susan managed (with the help of family and carers) to master email and Zoom and was therefore able to participate fully in village life despite Covid restrictions and mobility problems that limited her activities in later years.

"On her round the world voyage aboard the Queen Mary II she kept us all informed and entertained with regular updates of her adventures.

"Jack’s Acre", the other childrens’ play facility in the village was named in honour of the long-term Chair of the Parish Council, Jack Yeandle and so the Parish Council felt it only right that Susan should be similarly remembered for her long service and dedication to the village."