At each Annual Council a new Chairman is elected by the Members.

On 8th May 2008, Cllr Basil F Cane was appointed the Chairman of South Hams District Council for the year 2008/09.  

Cllr Cane is in his fifth year as a District Councillor and has been a Parish Councillor with Brixton Parish Council for more than 30 years.  

He comes from a farming family who have farmed in the South Hams for over 250 years, predominantly in the areas of Brixton, Wembury and Newton Ferrers.

Educated at Brixton Primary School and later at Plymouth College he declined further education preferring to follow in the family tradition of farming and left to commence with work on his Father’s farm.  

He has continued with farming and has diversified, just as his father did, when he started a small holiday caravan site, whilst Cllr Cane and his Wife Pat run a successful bed and breakfast business and holiday homes which they made from their converted barns.

They have been married for 35 years and they have two married sons and three grandchildren.  One of his sons now runs most of the farm, enabling him to spend more time at the Council.

Shortly after his election Cllr Cane said “This is a great honour and I will do all I can to promote the South Hams wherever I go.  I am looking forward to meeting as many residents as possible and aim to visit all the towns and if possible the parishes during my year in office.  I feel so lucky to be living in the South Hams it is really a great place. ”

“My chosen charities for the year are “The Dame Hannah Rogers Trust” and “St Luke’s Hospice”.

Coming up...

Concert by the lake - Sunday 31 August at 3:00pm - Brownstone Manor Farm, Yealmpton
a lakeside setting, with homemade cream teas on the lawns, and the harmonious sounds of the award winning Totnes Band - all for only £10.

Future charity events will be posted on this web page, so watch this space.