Popular Councillor Passes Away (published 19.07.10)

Stalwart local councillor Victor Elliott, 87, sadly passed away on Saturday 17 July following a recent farming accident.

Victor was born in 1923 and was Teignbridge's oldest serving councillor. He had sat on the council since 1991 representing Ipplepen, where he continued to farm actively. He was a Member with a true passion for his job – both as a farmer and councillor – and was known as one of Teignbridge's brightest characters.

He always had a keen interest in the workings of the Development Control Committee and had a real passion to secure affordable housing for young people. Victor served Ipplepen well, notching up over 50 years on the parish council and 19 years on Teignbridge Council.

Victor started work at around 7 or 8 years of age, delivering milk before he went to school. At 14 he went to work in the village shop and later branched out into farming. Apart from serving his country in Italy during the Second World War he worked continuously for another 80 years. He was active up until his accident.  

Phil Shears, Deputy Chief Executive of Teignbridge Council said:

"Vic was a stalwart councillor with an unrivalled passion for his job and the community. His good humour, which was often on display as he did his rounds of the office selling freshly farmed produce to staff, will be sorely missed by us all.

"Despite his 87 years of age, he was an incredibly active farmer and councillor, and was one of our most popular characters. He will be hugely missed and long remembered by all of those who knew and worked with him."

Details have yet to emerge regarding funeral arrangements for Cllr Elliott.