Kingsbridge Councillor Rufus Gilbert has been elected as the new Chairman of South Hams District Council.

Cllr Gilbert, who represents the Kingsbridge North ward, was voted in at the Council’s annual meeting. His vice-chairman is Cllr Rosemary Rowe, who represents the East Dart ward.

Cllr Gilbert, who was elected to the Council in 2007, told the meeting: “I am honoured to accept this role and I will carry it out to the very best of my ability. “

He has been a parish councillor at East Portlemouth for ten years and its chairman for three years. A former Mayor of Kingsbridge, he is also a town councillor and has been a member of Salcombe Harbour Board for approximately twenty five years. He was also a governor at Kingsbridge Community College from 2001 to 2008.

After a long period in international business predominantly spent in oil exploration all over the world, Cllr Gilbert and his wife Sandy settled in the South Hams in 1983. He now runs a smallholding with sheep, angora goats and poultry.

Cllr Gilbert has chosen to support the Spiritulized charity for young people in Kingsbridge during his term as Chairman.