CREDITON has a new mayor. 

Guy Cochran, a retired police officer, was elected at Crediton Town Council’s annual meeting this evening, Tuesday, May 21. 

Married with three children and two grandchildren, Cllr Cochran has lived in the Crediton area for more than three decades. 

He represents the Crediton Lawrence ward for the Liberal Democrats at Mid Devon District Council and is vice chair of the council’s planning committee. 

He is also the manager of Tedburn St Mary FC’s first team and plays cricket for Yeoford. 

He replaces Liz Brookes-Hocking, who became the town’s mayor in 2021. 

Cllr Cochran said: "Thank you very much for voting me in as chair of the council.  

"I do envisage that we are going to carry on as we have done for the last three years under Cllr Brookes-Hocking and thank you very much for your time as mayor." 

Cllr Brookes-Hocking said: “I have very much enjoyed being the chair for the last three years.  

"Thank you everybody for all the support you've given me.  

"I leave with a feeling that we are pretty much rolling in the same direction, more or less, which is a good feeling. 

"I'd just like to say thank you to everybody in the community who's invited me to do everything from presenting presents to a 100-year-old lady to opening the new Squirrels [scout group] up at North Tawton." 

Also elected was Steve Huxtable as deputy mayor. 

Mayoral elections happen each year at the town council's annual meeting.