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 moved to Langdale, Sampford Courtenay in 2017 from the Midlands with my wife Julie, after running a regional Chartered Surveyors practice for 30 years.

Since moving here, I have embraced the community spirit of the village, spending time on the Village Hall Committee as a Trustee.  During that time, I was lead for the campaign to replace the Village Hall Roof, being successful in obtaining National Lottery funding.

As a Parish Councillor this will be my second term. During my first term I was responsible for footpaths and led the refurbishment of the public toilets which is still an ongoing project.

At Langdale we have developed self-catering holiday accommodation and have a wide variety of livestock including miniature donkeys, pygmy goats, sheep and chickens. 

In my spare time!! I enjoy landscape painting and am passionate about the wildlife here, having set up wildlife cameras around the property for us and our guests to enjoy.

Now technically retired, My wife and I  live on the family farm at Honeychurch, where she 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 a nearby parish and having served on Torridge District Council for 12 years, I have some understanding and experience of local council work. I am pleased to continue to serve the community of Sampford Courteney and Honeychurch.

Philip Collins

Glebe Farm

Honeychurch

North Tawton

EX20 2AG

e-mail Cllr.Collins.SCPC@gmail.com 

tel 07938 500024

Having lived all my life within the parish, mainly in Sampford Courtenay, I look forward to being able to draw on my local experience and that of disability issues where relevant, to assist the community going forwards.

I am currently working at the Exeter Chiefs and am also the Secretary and a player for the West Country Hawks Wheelchair Rugby Club.

I have lived with my family at Solland in Sampford Courtenay for the last 26 years where we have 50 acres of cider apple treas. I am a cider maker by trade having been making cider since I studied plant biology and microbiology at Newcastle University in the mid 1980’s.

Although new to the Parish Council I have some experience in the ‘Not for Profit’ sector. For ten years I was a director of an international children’s charity. I have also served as trustee for a number of smaller charities and churches over the years.

I am currently the Chairman of the Small Independent Cidermakers Association CIC. 

Parishioners may know me or my wife Alison from our farm shop, The Cider Vat, at Solland where you are always welcome to drop in for a cup of tea and a chat about any concerns you may have.