Outgoing Newton Abbot Mayor presents £2,000 cheque to youth charity

The outgoing Mayor of Newton Abbot, Cllr Alex Hall, has presented a cheque for £2,143 to the youth charity Life Chance Trust.

The handover took place at the council’s Annual Meeting, held at Newton’s Place this week.

The cash had been raised during Cllr Hall’s term of office which was memorable for the fact that, aged 22, he had been the town’s youngest ever Mayor.

Receiving the cheque, the charity’s Head Hannah Moon said she was ‘gobsmacked’ by the sum and thanked Cllr Hall for choosing her organisation as his mayoral charity and then following its activities so closely throughout the past year.

‘Everyone one involved at Life Chance Trust are so grateful to Alex and everyone at the Newton Abbot Town Council for their support,’ she told the meeting.

Paying tribute to Cllr Hall was Freeman Mike Hocking, himself a former Mayor.

He said: ‘I can remember when Alex first came onto this council, a young and very insecure new councillor, but he was not afraid to ask questions or take advice from those of us who had been here some time.

‘Alex became Mayor in 2024 and, with a few pointers from us… stepped right into the role with a sureness and dedication that was to see him through the next 12 months.

‘Alex has conducted council meetings in his own way but with a growing professionalism.

‘He has been a great advocate for this town and this town council and I think we can all agree he has done so much to improve the dialogue between my generation and his.

‘I know we all thank him for a job well done.’

Members went on to elect Cllr Colin Parker as Mayor for 2025/206.

It is the second time he has held the office, the last being in 2011/2012.

He told the meeting that he hoped to ‘grasp the potential’ offered by the likely devolution of powers expected as part of the ongoing local government review and praised the ‘warm and welcoming’ community of Newton Abbot for its efforts to keep the town vibrant.

His adopted charity is Citizens Advice Teignbridge.

Cllr Parker’s wife Jean, who has battled ongoing health challenges, will serve as Mayoress.

Cllr Louise Cooke, who served as Mayor in 2013/2014, was elected Deputy Mayor.