I am very proud to take up the role of chair of the Parish Council. Having lived in the village for nearly 20 years with my husband, Andy, and Jack Russell, Maddi I feel that I understand the issues experienced by the community.

Now retired from the Devon and Cornwall Police, I have taken up sheep farming as a hobby and spend my spare time keeping fit through running and gardening and enjoying my lifelong passions of horse riding and travelling.

As chair I hope that my experiences from my previous career, dealing with people and solving problems, will help me become a good and supportive chair of the council, working closely and collaboratively with the members of other committees and parish groups to support people living in and visiting the parish.

The priorities that are set for the Parish based on what is important to you, and you can then hold me and the Parish Council accountable for delivering against those priorities.  But we can only do that if you work to support us so I look forward to working with you to make the Parish a successful and prosperous place both now and for the future.

I am a self-employed chartered engineer. I have run my business from my home in Sampford Courtenay for over 25 years and seek to recruit and train employees from the parish wherever possible.

I have a good working knowledge of planning, conservation and heritage and a particular interest in public finance and accountability. I am opposed to West Devon Borough Council’s Core Strategy, which gives national developers the right to ‘build by stealth’ new towns of 1,500 estate houses of low architectural merit, spoiling Devon’s unique environment and heritage.

I am married to Annette, have one grown-up son living in Bristol and am a keen horse rider and beekeeper.

Colin R. Coleman

Tel:     +44 (0) 1837 54555

Mob:  +44 (0) 7939 277 823

I have lived in Sampford Courtenay since 1980 and have been very involved in village life for the past 35 years, including Britain in Bloom, the Sunday school, and writing and producing pantomimes performed in the village hall.

My work as parish clerk since 2013 has filled any spare moments I have left after working part-time at Surf Bay Leisure in Winkleigh and spending time with my six grandchildren and the rest of the family.

You can contact me at clerk@sampfordcourtenay-pc.gov.uk or ClerkSCPC@gmail.com

I was deputy headteacher and acting head at Winkleigh School from 1981 until I retired in 1996. I then became senior invigilator at Okehampton College until I finally retired.

I have lived in Sampford Courtenay since January 1988 and I have been a parish councillor since 2011.

I moved to Sampford Courtenay in 2017 with my wife Julie after running my private practice for 30 years as a Chartered Surveyor in The Midlands.

I still undertake some surveying work in the local area along side the day to day upkeep of our smallholding where we have sheep, chickens and pygmy goats.

Joy and I both enjoy village life. Being a member of the Council and the Village Hall Committee allows me to be involved the community. I have worked as an artist since I was 21, although for the last couple of years painting has taken second place, with Joy and I building a house, which is looking surprisingly good!

As well as DIY, I like keeping fit and also have an interest in engineering and architecture.  

I was born in Okehampton hospital in 1960 and spent my early life living on a farm in Whiddon Down.  I left home to the bright lights of Okehampton where my main job was working in the record shop "Sounds Familiar " which I truly think was my dream job.

In 1987 I left working in the Plume of Feathers to join HM Prison Service. I started in a women's prison in Essex and after a couple of years I took a catering course and transferred to Chelmsford prison where I spent 9 years in the kitchens. In 1999 I eventually got a transfer back to Devon to Exeter where I became a dog handler. This was an excellent experience and I spent the next 13 years until I took early retirement in 2016.

I now spend my time doing a part time job in the kitchen at Chagford school on a Friday. I took over running a book club in Exbourne after the lady in charge left as no one else wanted to do it, which has got me back into reading again. I have a  dog that keeps me company and busy with walking. I joined the parish council in May 2019 and find it very interesting as there are so many different areas that are covered. 

After 30 years as a police officer, mostly in London,  I retired to Sampford Courtenay in 2013.  I feel very lucky to live in this part of the world and hope to be able to make a useful contribution to the work of the parish council. I look forward to hearing from parishioners and doing what I can to help our community in these interesting times. 

Although not a ‘Devon Boy’ I have lived here since 1977 and married a local maid from Honeychurch at Sampford Courteney Methodist Chapel in 1982. After raising three children and being semi-retired (but seemingly busier than ever) we live on the family farm where my wife was born, tending a small flock of sheep and many acres of wild flowers.  

Having been aware of climate change for many years I am very interested in renewable energy and environmental issues and have successfully driven a fully electric car since 2014.

Previously a Parish Councillor in the nearby parish of Merton and having served on Torridge District Council for 12 years, I have some understanding and experience of local council work. I am pleased to have been elected to serve the community of Sampford Courteney and Honeychurch.

Philip Collins

Glebe Farm

Honeychurch

North Tawton

EX20 2AG

e-mail prc@barometerworld.co.uk

tel 07938 500024