Business leaders praise former mayor

‘We got on quite well with him.’

Business leaders have paid tribute to the work of former mayor Councillor Vernon Whitlock, who has stood down as Honiton Town Council’s representative on the executive committee of Honiton and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Whitlock, who is being replaced by town and district councillor Mike Allen, will be “missed”, the chamber’s December breakfast meeting was told.

Chamber chairman Colin Wright said: “It is a bit of a shame, because we got on quite well with him.

“We will miss him.”

As well as briefing the business community about the council’s work, Mr Whitlock took back concerns raised by chamber members to councillors.