IT was a proud day for South Zeal’s Bill Cann when he was made honorary freeman of South Tawton.

Bill, 74, was presented with a scroll making him honorary freeman of the parish at a tea party held in South Zeal Victory Hall on Sunday, October 20.

The award was given by South Tawton Parish Council to mark Bill’s 52 years as a parish councillor. He only retired from council life in May last year.

Bill has also been a long-time county councillor, having completed 24 years on Devon County Council and 27 years on Dartmoor National Park Authority, including ten years as chairman, a role which saw him made an OBE for services to Dartmoor in 2004. He has also served in the honorary role as a county alderman.

Jane White, vice-chair of the parish council, presented Bill with the scroll on behalf of parish council chairman Andrew Sampson.

Reading a speech for the chairman in his absence, she said: ‘Mr William Cann OBE or just Bill to most of us who know him has been a pillar of strength and a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge for South Tawton Parish Council. When you think of South Tawton Parish Council the first thing that comes to mind has always been Bill.

‘Fifty-two years on this parish council is a long time, a record that will run for a very long time indeed I’m sure. Honorary freeman of South Tawton parish is a certificate that this council takes great pleasure in presenting to you, for all your hard devoted work over the past 52 years. Take it, frame it and show it with pride. There is no better person to receive it.’

The presentation was made on what happened to be Bill and wife Christine’s 48th wedding anniversary and the couple’s two daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren joined councillors who have worked alongside Bill over the years. Afterwards everyone enjoyed a cream tea.

Bill said: ‘It was a big surprise to me. I knew they were going to do something on the day but I didn’t know what. It was a lovely afternoon, really good. Lots of people came and my daughters who have supported me over the years and Christine who has supported me throughout. We’ve had 48 years of married life together and she has always supported me 100 per cent. The family bear the sacrifice because you have to give time to serving on the council. The idea now is to give some more time to the family and my grandchildren.

‘I’ve been on South Tawton Parish Council for 52 years. I joined back in 1967 when I was 22.

‘I joined because the village didn’t have a playing field at that time and I said to the parish council that we wanted to do something for the young people. Mrs Westcott was the senior councillor at that time and she said the best thing to do was to come on the parish council. Two or three of us stood at the next election and we got elected. The South Zeal Recreation Ground came about a few years later.

‘At that time it was just a farmer’s field and it took a lot of work to bring it about. It is like a lot of things with local government. You have to keep plugging away and keep at it.

‘The main thing is you try and serve the community, that is why you are there, to serve the people and if you forget to do that you won’t be much of a councillor to be honest.

‘The scroll will be displayed in a prominent place,’ he said. ‘The OBE and being an alderman are great and that but to be recognised by the people I have known all my life is fantastic really.’