COUNCILLOR Barry Jackman has stepped down from his role at Whitchurch Town Council after 22 years of service.

A statement posted on the council's website read: "During his time as a councillor, Barry has assisted the council with many projects, including the reinstatement of the flag pole on the Town Hall, the refurbishment of the ground floor of the Town Hall, the extension of the cemetery and the installation of the Golden Jubilee Memorial as well as being mayor for four of those years.

"Barry has climbed into the roof space every week to wind the clock on the Town Hall and ensured that it is repaired and maintained.

"A role that he has kindly offered to continue with until a new volunteer can be found.

"Whitchurch Town Council would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry for his long service and wish him well for the future."

Indeed, Mr Jackman spent two separate stints as Mayor of Whitchurch, the first in 2011, followed shortly again in 2015.

Following his first exit as mayor, Mr Jackman said: "It’s been a great pleasure to represent and support our home town in so many ways. We have attended many engagements together. I have been asked what event I thought was the best. It’s impossible to select the best but there have been several highlights.”

Among the milestones that Mr Jackman oversaw as mayor, was the accreditation of Whitchurch into the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ national network, which saw the town become the first community in both the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Test River Valley to receive the title.

He said at the time: “Whitchurch Town Council has supported the scheme from day one and provided the Whitchurch Association with a grant of £100 to aid the application.

“It is an extremely good thing for the town particularly in terms of tourism.”

Among those to offer their thanks to the outgoing councillor was the 'Whitchurch Hampshire - News and Events' group.

On its Facebook page they posted: "This page offers its thanks to this lovely kind man who has given Whitchurch so much, putting his hand to anything from helping residents with problems to sweeping pavements, and from winding the Town Hall clock to setting up numerous projects."