Newton Abbot and District Civic Society held their annual meeting when guest speaker David Austin gave an informative talk about Austin’s department store.

He related how its birth came about in the 1920s, and how it had changed and progressed since then.

He described the different family members who had contributed to its evolution and success and concluded with a question and answer session.

Members re-elected Keith Stokes-Smith, the society’s founder, as its acting chairman; Martin Davie as deputy chairman; Janet Parrot as membership secretary and treasurer; Michael Martin as planning officer, and Janet Chope as minute secretary.

Various society members will also be assisting in other areas.

The meeting discussed topics including a number of planning applications, membership recruitment, Newton Abbot’s intended heritage asset register, the society’s recent meeting with a number of Teignbridge Council officers, future speakers, the heritage open day and the society’s 2017 civic awards event.

Acting chairman Keith Stokes-Smith thanked all the members for their continued support and its officers for their contribution to the wellbeing of the society and for their voluntary efforts in initiatives in Newton Abbot and the surrounding districts.

He expressed concern that the community was still too often unaware of the society and its activities, often much to their detriment.

He said: ‘We are an independent body doing all we can to make a difference in Newton Abbot and the surrounding districts so that their communities can benefit and enjoy their environment, whether that be to do with housing, roads, green sites, parks, its character or heritage.’