Cllr Ian Hall, the Axminster-based councillor who has served a year as chair of Devon County Council, returned to his roots for his civic service.

 Although Cllr Hall lives in Millwey Rise, his father John was born in Whitford and went to Musbury School. A cousin, Norman Partridge,  is remembered on the village war memorial.

Cllr Hall's civic service was held in Musbury parish church , attended by about 140 civic guests, family and friends, and was conducted by the Right Reverend Robert Attwell, Bishop of Exeter.

His son Charles gave an address and, Mrs Penny Corbett, a former teacher and wife of the chairman of Musbury Parish Council, delivered a reading of "The Widow's Mite" which Cllr Hall first heard when a pupil at Axminster school in 1976.

 Tea was served in Musbury Village Hall, courtesy of Jill Vanderwolfe and team Cllr Hall thanked parish councillor Peter Perryman and the Reverend Steven Martin, Rector of the Holyford Commission, which includes Musbury, for assisting with the arrangements. 

 Cllr Hall took to the stage in the village hall to thank all those who had helped him during his term of office. He said had been a humbling to have gained more understanding of the great areas of challenge throughout Devon and to witness such wonderful work by volunteers throughout the community in the county.

 Among those local organisations and bodies represented at the service were parish councils, police and community organisations including Axminster Care Service and ARC. Members of the sporting community in Axminster in which Cllr Hall has been so active were also present.