ILSINGTON Parish Council chairman Maurice Retallick has been re-elected deputy chairman of Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Mr Retallick is a farmer who has always lived in the local area. Besides heading up the parish council he is a trustee of Ilsington United Charities.

He is a keen member of the authority and plays an active role on numerous committees and councils.

His re-election was confirmed at last Friday’s annual meeting of the authority in Bovey Tracey.

At the same meeting Bill Hitchins was elected chairman.

He started his working life running a family agricultural business covering a large part of south west Devon and Dartmoor and later developed an equestrian and pet supply business alongside a small builder’s merchant outlet at Roborough, near Plymouth.

He owns a smallholding which qualifies him as a commoner with rights on Roborough Down where he served as association treasurer for 30 years.

Bill joined Bickleigh Parish Council in 1983 and became chairman in 1987.  He was elected to South Hams District Council in 1991 and appointed deputy leader in 1994.  He has held a variety of senior offices including chairman of the council. He has also previously served as Dartmoor National Park chairman in 2013.

He said: ‘It’s a great honour to be elected chairman by the members of the national park authority. I would also like to thank the authority’s re-elected deputy chairman Maurice Retallick for his unstinting work for Dartmoor, his great knowledge, and his continuing commitment to the national park.

‘We now look to taking on the challenges that we will face over the forthcoming year. Seeking out new partnerships whilst strengthening our current relationships are key for the delivery of national park purposes and we are committed to taking this ethos forward for the benefit of Dartmoor National Park, its communities and those that visit this special place.’

The authority also re-elected James McInnes as chairman of the national park authority’s development management committee.

The authority comprises 19 members. Five are appointed by Devon County Council, five by district councils – two each from West Devon and Teignbridge and one from South Hams.

The remaining nine are Government appointees – four representing Dartmoor parish council interests.

The remaining five are appointed by the Secretary of State to represent the national interest – and are usually local with specialist knowledge of moor issues.