A FORMER Kingsteignton parish councillor has celebrated 50 years in local government.

Malcolm Vallance is currently clerk to Thelbridge Parish Council.

But his lengthy public service began in 1976 when he was elected to Kingsteignton Parish Council.

He went on to spend 43 years as Sandford Parish clerk, plus a spell as clerk to Crediton Hamlets Parish Council, before joining Thelbridge Parish Council in 2025.

He was first elected as chairman of Kingsteignton Parish Council, aged 27, while working as a tax officer for the Inland Revenue having only served on the council for two years.

At the time, he was thought to have been one of the youngest parish council chairmen.

He vowed then that Kingsteignton ‘must keep its village identity’.

He was also a founding chairman and president of Kingsteignton and Orbec Twinning Association.

During his time in Kingsteignton, he was fundraising secretary of Kingsteignton Swimming Pool Association; organiser, Kingsteignton Bypass and Silver Jubilee Celebrations (1976–1977) and treasurer of Kingsteignton Ram Roasting Fair.

Since leaving Kingsteignton, Mr Vallance has held various positions in Sanford including founding chairman of Sanford Pantomime Association.

He has also been involved in wider organisations away from local government including as chairman of the Mid Devon Branch, Wellbeing (Princess Diana Charitable Initiative); editor, Sandford Parish Council Website and Parish Magazine; photographer and compiler of Sandford’s Community, Covid, and Royal Celebration scrapbooks and as a volunteer steward at Exeter Cathedral.

In May last year, he was given the Sandford Parish Council Recognition Award for 42 years as parish clerk, and the many voluntary hours served in support of the community.

In September last year, he was appointed as a trustee of Devon Communities Together.