Okehampton Town Council - Mayoral / Civic Page
The role of the Town Mayor
The Mayor is expected to attend all Council and Committee meetings. The Town Mayor automatically becomes a trustee of Okehampton United Charities, Okehampton Educational Foundation, Simmons Homes, and The Charities of Holditch & Others. On appointment the Mayor becomes the President of Cancer Research (Okehampton Branch) and President of the Okehampton Friendly Circle. The Mayor is an honorary member of the Okehampton Rotary Club during his/her term of office.
For those wishing to have the attendance of the Mayor at any function then please contact the Town Hall.
Councillor Bob Tolley, Mayor of Okehampton 2022-23
Cllr Tolley was relected Mayor for a second term in May 2022. Cllr Tolley's chosen charity for the year will continue to be Dream-A-Way, an Exeter based charity who help make dreams come true for Devon's children and adults with disabilities or life affecting health conditions.
Past Mayors from 1890
1890 John Dunning Prickman
1891 William Bird German
1892 George Longdon Fulford
1893 George Longdon Fulford
1894 Simon Peter Brendon Newcombe
1895 Simon Peter Brendon Newcombe
1896 Simon Peter Brendon Newcombe
1897 Thomas Jessop
1898 Thomas Folly Wood
1899 Robert Brealy
1900 Henry Geen
1901 Henry Geen
1902 William Rowse
1903 William Rowse
1904 William Bird German
1905 William Bird German
1906 William Bird German
1907 William Nettleship Hunt
1908 William Nettleship Hunt
1909 John Cornish
1910 John Cornish
1911 William Rowse
1912 William Rowse
1913 Edmund Hunt Holley
1914 Edmund Hunt Holley
1915 Edmund Hunt Holley
1916 Edmund Hunt Holley
1917 Edmund Hunt Holley
1918 William Brown Chamings
1919 William Bird German
1920 Brendon Ball Newcombe
1921 Brendon Ball Newcombe
1922 James Fugler
1923 George Kerslake Blatchford
1924 George Kerslake Blatchford
1925 George Kerslake Blatchford
1926 Percy William Edgcumbe
1927 Percy William Edgcumbe
1928 Albert William Coles
1929 William Brown Chamings
1930 William John Avery
1931 George Underhill Fulford
1932 William Brown Chamings
1933 William Brown Chamings
1934 William Brown Chamings
1935 Samuel James Rich
1936 Samuel James Rich
1937 Samuel James Rich (died 20/08/38)
Norah Elizabeth Rich (elected 19/09/38)
1938 William Brown Chamings
1939 William Brown Chamings
1940 Harold Nicholas Brooking
1941 George Henry Gratton
1942 George Henry Gratton
1943 George Henry Gratton
1944 George Henry Gratton
1945 William Brown Chamings
1946 Walter Henry Passmore
1947 Walter Henry Passmore
1948 Walter Henry Passmore
1949 Walter Henry Passmore
1950 Walter Henry Passmore
1951 Harold Nicholas Brooking
1952 Charles Gwynda Jones
1953 Charles Gwynda Jones
1954 William Francis Brock
1955 Walter Henry Passmore
1956 Frederick Edward Compton
1957 Harry Reginald Horne
1958 Albert William Richmond
1959 Albert William Richmond
1960 Walter William John Cornish
1961 Walter John Passmore
1962 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1963 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1964 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1965 James Frederick Hayhurst
1966 James Frederick Hayhurst
1967 Ronald Ralph Taylor
1968 Ronald Ralph Taylor
1969 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1970 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1971 Henry Reginald Horne
1972 Walter John Passmore
1973 Walter John Passmore
1974 Clement Edward Whittaker White
1975 Margaret Ann Nash
1976 Martin Jeffers Cunliffe
1977 Peter David Woodgate
1978 Walter John Passmore
1979 Walter John Passmore
1980 Brenda Margaret Phyllis Savage
1981 Brenda Margaret Phyllis Savage
1982 Grace Irene White
1983 Edmund Victor Savage
1984 Edmund Victor Savage
1985 Joan Evelyn Pauley
1986 John Mallett Hughes
1987 John Mallett Hughes
1988 Walter John Passmore MBE
1989 Sylvia Westlake
1990 Sylvia Westlake
1991 Mary Alice Vick
1992 Sylvia Westlake
1993 Sylvia Westlake
1994 Sylvia Westlake
1995 Joan Evelyn Pauley
1996 Ebenezer Raymond Vallance
1997 Ebenezer Raymond Vallance
1998 Leonard James Hayward (died 01/04/99)
Christine Marie Marsh (elected 14/04/99)
1999 Christine Marie Marsh
2000 Christine Marie Marsh
2001 Christine Marie Marsh
2002 Christine Marie Marsh
2003 Christine Marie Marsh
2004 Antony Leech
2005 Antony Leech
2006 Frances Margaret Luxton
2007 Antony Frank Leech
2008 Kay Dawn Bickley
2009 David Arnold Weekes
2010 Michael Edward Morse
2011 Maureen Patricia McDonald
2012 Michael Bryn Davies
2013 Michael Bryn Davies
2014 Paul Richard Vachon
2015 Paul Richard Vachon
2016 Janet Goffey
2017 Janet Goffey
2018 Janet Carpenter
2019 Julie Yelland
2020 Julie Yelland
2021 Bob Tolley
2022 Bob Tolley
Mayor's News
Cheque Presentation to the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group 2022
Presentation of cheque by the MayorThe Mayor of Okehampton at the opening of a new Dream-a-way holiday venue
Helping to make dreams come true for Devon’s children and adults with disabilities or life affecting health conditions
Cheque Presentation to the Museum of Dartmoor Life 2022
On Thursday 9th June Cllr Bob Tolley presented the museum of Dartmoor life with a grant cheque for £3500.Carnival 2021
Thank you from the Mayor and Mayoress to the Carnival Committee
I would just like to thank Karen and all of the Carnival Committee for organising and executing a first-class carnival this year under difficult circumstances.
I would also like to thank those participating, both young and old, for dressing up and getting involved, and all those organisations that facilitated it’s smooth and safe transition through their stewarding and traffic control.
Jill and I, during both processions, were delighted to see so many people with smiling faces. During the course of the evening procession, aside from hearing young voices saying ‘Its Father Christmas’ or ‘Is he a King’, the thing we heard the most was the laughing voices on happy faces of cheerful people, enjoying their communities’ traditional activities, celebrations and silly antics.
It was great to see some normality again. So, to the committees, participants, stewards, spectators and Okehampton, well done.
Bob & Jill Tolley
OkeRail 150th Anniversary
The Mayor of Okehampton was joined by the Mayor of West Devon during the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Okehampton's Railway. On Saturday 2nd October 2021 the Mayor read a proclomation and there was an exhibition of artwork from the local school children. On the Sunday a ceremonial key was presented at the Railway stationCivic Service 2021
The Civic Service 2021The Civic service was held on the 19th September in a reduced format due to Covid. The Mayor with the Mace Bearers Basil Jones and David Piper lead the Councillors and dignitories to Fairplace Church.Mayors Coffee Morning
At the end of July Mayor Bob Tolley held a coffee morning in aid of his charity Dream-a way. Representatives from the charity came to the event adn explained what the charity did.New Putting Green
On a very wet July morning serveral of the Councillors and Town Council staff came out to try the newly referbished putting green by the Leisure Centre. A fun time was had by all even if a change of clothes was needed afterwards.Grant to the Museum of Dartmoor Life
On 24th May 2021 Mayor Bob Tolley presented the Museum of Dartmoor Life a chequee fro £3500 while cutting the ribbon to open the Museum for the 2021 season.
The Mayor said " As some of you may know this is my first official engagement as this years Mayor. The venue is rather appropriate, in that if i cock it up, its the best place to make and exhibition of myself.
I must thank the trustees, staff and volunteers on hehalf of the town for hanging on in there, during the pandemic and being able to leap back into action so quickly to get teh museum "public ready" at this earliest opportunity.
I also note whilst you were closed some clever and innovative "YouTube" video ideas have been produced to ensure the educational aspect of your work, got to where it was needed in those difficult months. "